scholarly journals Unexpected Sandwiched-Layer Structure of the Cocrystal Formed by Hexamethylbenzene with 1,3-Diiodotetrafluorobenzene: A Combined Theoretical and Crystallographic Study

Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Jian-Ge Wang ◽  
Weizhou Wang

The cocrystal formed by hexamethylbenzene (HMB) with 1,3-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (1,3-DITFB) was first synthesized and found to have an unexpected sandwiched-layer structure with alternating HMB layers and 1,3-DITFB layers. To better understand the formation of this special structure, all the noncovalent interactions between these molecules in the gas phase and the cocrystal structure have been investigated in detail by using the dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations. In the cocrystal structure, the theoretically predicted π···π stacking interactions between HMB and the 1,3-DITFB molecules in the gas phase can be clearly seen, whereas there are no π···π stacking interactions between HMB molecules or between 1,3-DITFB molecules. The attractive interactions between HMB molecules in the corrugated HMB layers originate mainly in the dispersion forces. The 1,3-DITFB molecules form a 2D sheet structure via relatively weak C–I···F halogen bonds. The theoretically predicted much stronger C–I···π halogen bonds between HMB and 1,3-DITFB molecules in the gas phase are not found in the cocrystal structure. We concluded that it is the special geometry of 1,3-DITFB that leads to the formation of the sandwiched-layer structure of the cocrystal.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew P. Harding ◽  
Laura J. Kingsley ◽  
Glen Spraggon ◽  
Steven Wheeler

The intrinsic (gas-phase) stacking energies of natural and artificial nucleobases were explored using density functional theory (DFT) and correlated ab initio methods. Ranking the stacking strength of natural nucleobase dimers revealed a preference in binding partner similar to that seen from experiments, namely G > C > A > T > U. Decomposition of these interaction energies using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) showed that these dispersion dominated interactions are modulated by electrostatics. Artificial nucleobases showed a similar stacking preference for natural nucleobases and were also modulated by electrostatic interactions. A robust predictive multivariate model was developed that quantitively predicts the maximum stacking interaction between natural and a wide range of artificial nucleobases using molecular descriptors based on computed electrostatic potentials (ESPs) and the number of heavy atoms. This model should find utility in designing artificial nucleobase analogs that exhibit stacking interactions comparable to those of natural nucleobases. Further analysis of the descriptors in this model unveil the origin of superior stacking abilities of certain nucleobases, including cytosine and guanine.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuyan Jin ◽  
Jiaye Li ◽  
Alireza Ariafard ◽  
Allan J Canty ◽  
Richard AJ O’Hair

Gas-phase ion trap mass spectrometry experiments and density functional theory calculations have been used to examine the routes to the formation of the 1,8-naphthyridine (napy) ligated geminally dimetallated phenyl complexes [(napy)Cu2(Ph)]+, [(napy)Ag2(Ph)]+ and [(napy)CuAg(Ph)]+ via extrusion of CO2 or SO2 under collision-induced dissociation conditions from their corresponding precursor complexes [(napy)Cu2(O2CPh)]+, [(napy)Ag2(O2CPh)]+, [(napy)CuAg(O2CPh)]+ and [(napy)Cu2(O2SPh)]+, [(napy)Ag2(O2SPh)]+, [(napy)CuAg(O2SPh)]+. Desulfination was found to be more facile than decarboxylation. Density functional theory calculations reveal that extrusion proceeds via two transition states: TS1 enables isomerization of the O, O-bridged benzoate to its O-bound form; TS2 involves extrusion of CO2 or SO2 with the concomitant formation of the organometallic cation and has the highest barrier. Of all the organometallic cations, only [(napy)Cu2(Ph)]+ reacts with water via hydrolysis to give [(napy)Cu2(OH)]+, consistent with density functional theory calculations which show that hydrolysis proceeds via the initial formation of the adduct [(napy)Cu2(Ph)(H2O)]+ which then proceeds via TS3 in which the coordinated H2O is deprotonated by the coordinated phenyl anion to give the product complex [(napy)Cu2(OH)(C6H6)]+, which then loses benzene.


Crystals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Jian-Ge Wang ◽  
Weizhou Wang

How many strong C−I⋯N halogen bonds can one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule form in a crystal structure? To answer this question, we investigated in detail the noncovalent interactions between 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene and a series of 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives by employing a combined theoretical and experimental method. The results of the quantum chemical calculations and crystallographic experiments clearly show that there is a structural competition between a C−I⋯N halogen bond and π⋯π stacking interaction. For example, when there are much stronger π⋯π stacking interactions between two 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecules or between two 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecules in the crystal structures, then one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule forms only one C−I⋯N halogen bond with one 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecule. Another example is when π⋯π stacking interactions in the crystal structures are not much stronger, one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule can form two C−I⋯N halogen bonds with two 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecules.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Juarez ◽  
Hui Yin ◽  
Axel Gross

The surface structures of promising cathode materials for zinc-air batteries, Mn3O4 and Co3O4, have been systematically studied under operating conditions by density functional theory calculations. The environment has been taken into account using grand-canonical schemes both for gas-phase and electrochemical conditions. By analysing the structures appearing in the calculated phase diagrams and Pourbaix diagrams in detail, we derive the factors underlying their stability in the gas phase and under electrochemical conditions. Changes in charge, oxidation states and spin states of the metal cations on the surface are discussed and their feasibility as active centers for the oxygen evolution and reduction reaction is thoroughly analyzed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (40) ◽  
pp. 14081-14087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Yan Zhou ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Yong-Qi Ding ◽  
Jia-Bi Ma

The thermal gas-phase reactions of Nb2BN2− cluster anions with carbon dioxide have been explored by using the art of time-of-flight mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations.


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