A combination of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) and modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) is used to study the enantiodiscriminating interactions between proline and a chiral, self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on gold. The N-acetyl-L-cysteine SAM consists of a mixture of protonated and deprotonated molecules. Whereas both species are influenced by adsorbed proline, only the deprotonated molecules are involved in enantiodiscrimination. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that electrostatics dominates the interaction between the two molecules. By modulating the absolute configuration of proline over the chiral SAM, and a subsequent phase-sensitive detection of the periodically varying signals in the ATR-IR spectra, the small spectral differences between the diastereomeric complexes are spotted. The resulting difference spectrum is in qualitative agreement with the spectrum predicted by the DFT calculations.

Optically active liquid-crystalline side-chain polysiloxanes have been prepared by grafting planar chiral ferrocene-based vinyl monomers onto commercially available polyhydrosiloxane. Two ferrocene monomers have been synthesized: a linear-type monomer, which displays a monotropic chiral smectic C (S_C*) phase and enantiotropic smectic A (S_A) and chiral N (N*) phases, and a laterally branched monomer, which shows an enantiotropic N* phase. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates a monomolecular organization of the monomeric units within the smectic layers. The polymers retain the liquid-crystalline phases of their corresponding monomers. The UV-vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra are in agreement with the structure of the monomers and polymers. The molar absorption coefficient (ϵ) and molar circular dichroic absorption coefficient (Δϵ) values of the polymers are proportional to the number of monomeric units grafted onto them. The absolute configuration of the ferrocene carboxylic acid intermediate, used to synthesize the monomers, has been determined on the basis of CD spectra. The helical twisting power (HTP) of the nematogenic monomer and polymer have been determined in E7, and indicate that such materials could be used as chiral dopants. Finally, this study demonstrates that the nature of chiral phases can be controlled by structural engineering of the organic groups only, with ferrocene acting as the source of chirality.

A method for in situ monitoring of surface and gas species utilizing separately the difference and sum reflectivity of two polarizations, normal and parallel to the surface, measured by polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy is presented. Surface and gas-phase spectra were separately but simultaneously obtained from the reflectivities. The technique is combined with modulation excitation spectroscopy to further enhance the sensitivity, and a small-volume cell was designed for this purpose. CO oxidation over a 40 nm Pt film on aluminum was investigated under moderate pressure (atmospheric pressure, 5% CO, and 5%–40% O₂) at 373–433 K. The surface species involved in the oxidation process and the gas-phase species, both reactant (CO) and product (CO₂), could be simultaneously monitored and analyzed quantitatively. In addition, the reflectivity change of the sample during the reaction was assigned to a near-surface bulk property change, that is, surface reconstruction to the oxide phase. Under an O₂-rich atmosphere, two reactive phases, denoted as low- and high-activity phases, were identified. A large amount of atop CO was observed during the low-activity phase, while the adsorbed CO completely disappeared during the high-activity phase. The presence of an infrared-inactive CO₂ precursor formed by the reaction between surface oxide and gaseous CO during the high-activity phase was inferred. The desorption of the CO₂ precursor is facilitated under a CO-rich atmosphere, most likely, by surface reconstruction to metallic Pt and a competitive adsorption of CO on the surface.

The adsorption of L-glutathione (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly) from ethanol on gold surfaces was studied in situ by both attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy and using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The molecule is firmly anchored to the gold surface through the thiol group. Different IR signals of adsorbed L-glutathione, notably the amide I and ν(–COOH), show significantly different behavior with time, which reveals that their increase is not related to adsorption (mass uptake) alone. This indicates that structural transformations take place during the formation of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM). In particular, the intensity of the acid signal increases quickly only within the first couple of minutes. The complexity of the self-assembling process is confirmed by QCM measurements, which show fast mass uptake within about 100 s followed by a considerably slower regime. The structural change superimposed on the mass uptake is, based on the in situ time-resolved ATR-IR measurements, assigned to the interaction of the acid group of the Gly moiety with the surface. The latter group is protonated in ethanol but deprotonates upon interaction with the gold surface. The protonation–deprotonation equilibrium is sensitive to external stimuli, such as the presence of dissolved L-glutathione molecules. The interaction of the acid group with the surface and concomitant deprotonation proceeds via two distinguishable steps, the first being a reorientation of the molecule, followed by the deprotonation.

Square-wave stimulation used in modulation excitation spectroscopy [D. Baurecht, U.P. Fringeli, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 72 (2001) 3782] can have significant advantages over a simple sinusoidal-wave due to the high odd-frequency terms contained in square-wave, particularly when a system response is close to linear. Phase-sensitive detection (PSD) affords separating the signals of the different frequency terms with a high signal-to-noise ratio by averaging a number of modulation cycles. A modulation excitation experiment applying square-wave stimulation provides the same information as several experiments applying sinusoidal-wave stimulations at the same frequency as the square-wave stimulation and at higher frequencies. The amplitude and the phase lag of a response obtained by PSD at fundamental and higher frequencies using square-wave stimulation are related to the ones obtained by sinusoidal-wave stimulation using transfer function of a general system. Mixing property of a PM-IRRAS (polarization–modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy) flow-through cell was studied by a simple mixing tank model using square-wave concentration stimulation. The advantages of square-wave stimulation are shown by the characterization of the mixing property.

Polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (Pm-irras) is a sensitive tool for the analysis of species residing at gas-solid and gas-liquid interfaces. the polarization-modulation allows excellent back-ground compensation and the analysis of surface/interface species under moderate pressure (e.g. atmospheric pressure of ir-absorbing gases) is possible. we demonstrate a new possibility to extract simultaneously information of gas and solid phases in addition to surface species from the Pm-irras experiments, using co oxidation over Pt film as an example. modulation excitation spectroscopy (mes) has been combined with this technique to enhance the sensitivity and to analyze the kinetic behavior of species. the surface species involved in the oxidation process, the state of Pt, and the gas phase species (co and co₂) could be simultaneously monitored in situ and analyzed quantitatively. the technique can serve as a valuable tool for investigations of various dynamic phenomena occurring at gas-solid interfaces.

The enantiomers of tert-butyl(dimethylamino)phenylphosphine−borane complex 2 have been separated by HPLC using cellulose tris-p-methylbenzoate as chiral stationary phase. The borane protection could be removed without racemization and the P-configuration of the free aminophosphine 1 has shown to be stable in solution. Infrared (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra have been measured in CD₂Cl₂ solution for both enantiomers. B3LYP/6-31+G(d) DFT calculations allowed a prediction that complex (S)-2 exists as three conformers in equilibrium and computed population-weighted IR and VCD spectra. Predicted and experimental IR and VCD spectra compared very well and indicate that enantiomer (+)-2 has the S absolute configuration. This assignment has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study on a single crystal of (+)-2. The crystal structure of enantiomerically pure 2 appears to be very close to the most stable computed conformer which proved to be predominant in solution.

The photoassisted mineralization, i.e., conversion to CO₂ and water, of malonic acid over P25 TiO₂ was investigated by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy in a small volume flow-through cell. Reassignment of the vibrational bands of adsorbed malonic acid, assisted by deuterium labeling, reveals two dissimilar carboxylate groups within the molecule. This indicates adsorption via both carboxylate groups, one in a bridging or bidentate and the other in monodentate coordination. During irradiation the coverage of malonic acid strongly decreases, and oxalate is observed on the surface in at least two different adsorption modes. The major oxalate species observed during irradiation is characterized by monodentate coordination of both carboxylate groups. In the dark, however, part of these species adopts another adsorption mode, possibly interacting only with one carboxylate group. During band gap illumination a large fraction of the surface is not covered by acid. Oxalate is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid. However, the observed transient kinetics of adsorbed malonic and oxalic acid indicates additional pathways not involving oxalate. The rate constant for oxalate decomposition is slightly larger than the one for oxalate formation from malonic acid. As the oxalate is desorbing slowly from the surface its concentration in the liquid phase is small, despite the fact that it is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid.

We have prepared gold nanoparticles covered with N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine and N-isobutyryl-d-cysteine, respectively. These particles with a mean particle size smaller than 2 nm are highly soluble in water and are amenable to chiroptical techniques such as vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Density functional theory shows that the VCD spectra are sensitive toward the conformation of the adsorbed thiol. Based on the comparison between the experimental VCD spectrum and the calculated VCD spectra for different conformers, a preferential conformation of the thiol adsorbed on the gold particles can be proposed. In this conformation the carboxylate group interacts with the gold particle in addition to the sulfur. The particles could furthermore be separated according to their charge and size into well-defined compounds. The optical absorption spectra revealed a well-quantized electronic structure and a systematic red-shift of the absorption onset with increasing gold core size, which was manifested in a color change with particle size. Some compounds showed basically identical absorption spectra as analogous gold particles protected with l-glutathione. This shows that these particles have identical core sizes (10−12, 15 and 18 gold atoms, respectively) and indicates that the number and arrangement of the adsorbed thiol are the same, independent of the two thiols, which have largely different sizes. Some separated compounds show strong optical activity with opposite sign when covered with the d- and l-enantiomer, respectively, of N-isobutyryl-cysteine. The origin of the optical activity in the metal-based transitions is discussed. The observations are consistent with a mechanism based on a chiral footprint on the metal core imparted by the adsorbed thiol.

The adsorption of penicillamine from ethanol on gold was studied in situ by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments. Both ATR-IR and QCM reveal a fast mass uptake. In ethanol, the molecule adopts a zwitterionic form. Upon adsorption, part of the molecules deprotonate at the amine group, which is a relatively slow process that goes along with a strong shift of the ν_as(COO^-) mode. Both ATR-IR and QCM confirm a physisorbed layer. ATR-IR furthermore shows that the latter consists of zwitterionic molecules only, whereas both zwitterionic and anionic species are found in the chemisorbed layer. The infrared spectra of the physisorbed and chemisorbed layers are rather different, and the molecules within both layers seem to be oriented with respect to the surface. The ATR-IR spectra furthermore indicate that all three functional groups of penicillamine (i.e., thiol, carboxylate, and amine) interact with the surface, and density functional theory calculations support this finding. QCM also shows that the molecule uses considerably more space on the surface than molecules of similar size, which supports a three-point interaction. The latter leads to a strong anchoring of the molecule to the metal, which may explain the exceptional capability of penicillamine to bind metals.

Chiral metal surfaces and nanoparticles have the potential to be used for the selective production, the resolution and the detection of enantiomers of a chiral compound, which renders them highly attractive in view of the tremendous consequences of homochirality on earth. Their capability to distinguish between enantiomers of a chemical compound relies on their structure and the ability to form intermolecular interactions. However, molecular-level understanding of the interactions that are at the origin of enantiodiscrimination is lagging behind due to the lack of powerful experimental techniques that are able to spot these interactions selectively with high sensitivity. In this article two techniques based on infrared spectroscopy are presented that are able to selectively target the chiral properties of nanoparticles and interfaces. These are the combination of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) with modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) to probe enantiodiscriminating interactions at chiral solid-liquid interfaces and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), which is used to probe the structure of chirally modified metal nanoparticles.

Attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for investigation of solid catalysts, allowing the detection of liquid-phase products (for on-line reaction monitoring) and the investigation of species adsorbed on the catalyst, during reaction and in the presence of strongly absorbing solvents. Flat model catalysts such as metal films as well as powder catalysts can be investigated. In favorable situations, even changes of the catalyst structure can be followed. In this review, some fundamental concepts of ATR spectroscopy are summarized, and practical aspects, such as cell design and sample preparation, are discussed. The potential and limitations of the method are illustrated with examples. Furthermore, powerful techniques aimed at enhancing signal-to-noise ratios and long-term stability are described, which make use of phase-sensitive detection of periodically varying signals and accurate reference measurements. Until now, only a rather limited number of investigations have been reported that use the ATR technique to study heterogeneous catalytic reactions at solid–liquid interfaces, but the method holds good promise because it is comparatively inexpensive and versatile and can provide a large amount of information.

Density functional theory (DFT) has progressively emerged in the last 40 years as a leading methodology for the modelling and simulation of chemical systems. In this paper, some historical landmarks in the development of this method are outlined, emphasizing on its main characteristic being an electron density-based theory. This is in contrast with wavefunction-based methodologies which were exclusively employed previously. Interestingly, DFT has been first applied to solids, with a rather late recognition by chemists and molecular scientists. After this historical survey, several applications of DFT to the structure and properties of zeolites are reviewed as a tribute to Dr Annick Goursot.

Neutral, radical [CpNi(dithiolene)] complexes fused with seven-membered rings, formulated as [CpNi{S₂C₂S₂(CH₂)₂X}] (X = CH₂, CF₂, C=CH₂, S), have been synthesized in 30-60 % yields from the reactions of nickelocene with the corresponding neutral, square-planar, (dithiolene)nickel complexes [Ni{S₂C₂S₂(CH₂)₂X}₂]. [CpNi{S₂C₂S₂(CH₂)₂X}] (X = C=O) was prepared from nickelocene and [1,3]dithiolo[4,5-b][1,4]dithiepine-2,6-dione under thermal or photochemical conditions. All complexes exhibit reversible oxidation and reduction waves to the cation and anion form, respectively. The terminal groups (X) in the seven-membered ring shift their redox potentials to anodic potentials in the following order: CF₂ > C=O > S > C=CH₂ > CH₂. The singlet EPR responses of [CpNi{S₂C₂S₂(CH₂)₂(X)}] appear at g ≈ 2.0514-2.0529 in dichloromethane solution at room temperature. An NIR absorption is observed at λ_max ≈ 798-848 nm (ε ≈ 1700-2400 sup>-1 cm^-1) in dichloromethane solution. The X-ray structures of the five complexes show two-legged piano-stool geometries around the central nickel atom (formally Ni^III) and strong distortions from planarity of the seven-membered C₂S₂(CH₂)₂X rings. In the solid state, those radical (S = 1/2) species adopt either one-dimensional alternating chain-like motifs (X = CH₂, C=CH₂, S) or dimeric entities characterized by a singlet-triplet magnetic behavior (X = CF₂, C=O).

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are reported for a series of conformationally bistable chiroporphyrins with 8-methylene bridles MBCP-8, which can display either an αααα or an αβαβ orientation of their meso substituents. From DFT geometry optimizations, the most stable form of ZnBCP-8 is found to be the αααα conformer. By passing to NiBCP-8, there is a strong stabilization of the αβαβ conformation with respect to the αααα conformation, consistent with the X-ray structures of αααα-ZnBCP-8 and αβαβ-NiBCP-8. A correlation between the sign of the CD signal in the Soret region and the conformation of the BCP-8 compounds is reported: the αααα conformers H₂BCP-8 and ZnBCP-8 show a positive CD signal, whereas the αβαβ conformers NiBCP-8 and CuBCP-8 exhibit a negative signal. The possible contributions to the rotational strengths of αβαβ-NiBCP-8 and αααα-ZnBCP-8, calculated on the basis of their crystal structures, have been analyzed. The CD signals are found to result from a combination of both the inherent chirality of the porphyrin and of extrinsic contributions due to the chiral bridles. These results may have a broad significance for understanding the chiroptical properties of chiral porphyrins and hemoproteins and for monitoring stimuli-responsive, conformationally bistable chiroporphyrin compounds.

Photoswitching of the dielectric constant has been observed for the first time in the spin-crossover complex [Fe(L)(CN)₂]·H₂O (L=2,13-dimethyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaene, see picture). The electrical detection of a photoinduced change in spin state could allow the use of such complexes in optical information-storage devices.

Frequency shifts of the Ag  I  4d¹⁰5s  ²S_1∕2(F=0,M_F=0) to 4d⁹5s^{2  2}D_5∕2(F^′=2,M_F^′=0) electric-quadrupole transition at 330.6  nm due to external fields are calculated using multiconfigurational self-consistent field methods. As this forbidden transition is free from first order Doppler and Zeeman effects, it is under investigation for the realization of an atomic optical clock. The calculated perturbations are the light shift, the blackbody frequency shift, and the quadratic Zeeman shift. Results show that a total uncertainty of 10⁻¹⁸ could be reach without confining the atoms in a Lamb-Dicke regime in an optical lattice.

The bifunctional of the nonadditive kinetic energy in the reference system of noninteracting electrons ( T^nad_s [ρ_A, ρ_B] = T_s[ρ_A + ρ_B] − T_s[ρ_A] − T_s[ρ_B]) is the key quantity in orbital-free embedding calculations because they hinge on approximations to T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B]. Since T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B] is not linear in ρ_A, the associated potential (functional derivative) T^nad_s [ρ,ρ_B]/δρ|_ρ=ρA(r^→) changes if ρ_A varies. In this work, for two approximations to T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B], which are nonlinear in ρ_A (gradient-free and gradient-dependent), their linearized versions are constructed, and the resulting changes (linearization errors) in various properties of embedded systems (orbital energies, dipole moments, interaction energies, and electron densities) are analyzed. The considered model embedded systems represent typical nonbonding interactions: van der Waals contacts, hydrogen bonds, complexes involving charged species, and intermolecular complexes of the charge-transfer character. For van der Waals and hydrogen bonded complexes, the linearization of T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B] affects negligibly the calculated properties. Even for complexes, for which large complexation induced changes of the electron density can be expected, such as the water molecule in the field of a cation, the linearization errors are about 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the interaction induced shifts of the corresponding properties. Linearization of T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B] is shown to be inadequate for the complexes of a strong charge-transfer character. Compared to gradient-free approximation to T^nad_s [ρ_A,ρ_B], introduction of gradients increases the linearization error.

About 3 µm thick tungsten trioxide film electrodes consisting of partly sintered, 40-80 nm in diameter, particles deposited on conducting glass substrates exhibit high photon-to-current conversion efficiencies for the photooxidation of water, exceeding 70% at 400 nm. This is facilitated by a ca. 40% film porosity resulting in high contact area with the electrolyte. It is shown that the activity of the WO₃ electrodes towards photooxidation of water is enhanced by addition of even small amounts of halide (Cl^-, Br^-) ions to the acidic electrolyte. Photoelectrolysis experiments performed either in acidic electrolytes containing chloride or bromide anions or in a 0.5 M NaCl solution, under simulated 1.5 AM solar illumination, demonstrated long term stability of the photocurrents. Oxygen remains the main product of the photoanodic reaction even in a 0.5 M NaCl solution, a composition close to the sea water, with chlorine accounting for ca. 20% of current efficiency.

Ultrafast infrared transient absorption spectroscopy is used to study the photoinduced bimolecular electron transfer reaction between perylene in the first singlet excited state and 1,4-dicyanobenzene in acetonitrile and dichloromethane. Following vibrational marker modes on both donor and acceptor sides in real time provides direct insight into the structural dynamics during the reaction. A band narrowing on a time scale of a few tens of picoseconds observed on the antisymmetric CN stretching vibration of the dicyanobenzene radical anion indicates that a substantial part of the excess energy is channeled into vibrational modes of the product, despite the fact that the reaction is weakly exergonic. An additional narrowing of the same band on a time scale of several hundreds of picoseconds observed in acetonitrile only is interpreted as a signature of the dissociation of the geminate ion pairs into free ions.

Multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods (CASSCF/CASPT2) have been used to study the chemical bond in the actinide diatoms Ac₂, Th₂, Pa₂, and U₂. Scalar relativistic effects and spin−orbit coupling have been included in the calculations. In the Ac₂ and Th₂ diatoms the atomic 6d, 7s, and 7p orbitals are the significant contributors to the bond, while for the two heavier diatoms, the 5f orbitals become increasingly important. Ac₂ is characterized by a double bond with a ³∑_g^-(0_g⁺) ground state, a bond distance of 3.64. Å, and a bond energy of 1.19 eV. Th₂ has quadruple bond character with a ³D_g(1_g) ground state. The bond distance is 2.76 Å and the bond energy (D₀) 3.28 eV. Pa₂ is characterized by a quintuple bond with a ³∑_g^-(0_g⁺) ground state. The bond distance is 2.37 Å and the bond energy 4.00 eV. The uranium diatom has also a quintuple bond with a ⁷O_g (8_g) ground state, a bond distance of 2.43 Å, and a bond energy of 1.15 eV. It is concluded that the strongest bound actinide diatom is Pa₂, characterized by a well-developed quintuple bond.

The separation of different ring numbered polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was accomplished by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in capillary electrokinetic chromatography. In order to increase the solubilities and selectivities of PAHs, acetonitrile (ACN) was used as an organic modifier. Under the optimised conditions, 11 aromatic compounds were separated within 14.5 min in a running electrolyte containing 10 mM phosphate, 30 mM CTAB, and 40% ACN at pH 6.0. The effects of CTAB and ACN concentrations, voltage and pH on the resolution were investigated. Reproducibilities of migration times range between 0.55 and 1.27 R.S.D.% and peak areas between 1.02 and 7.23 R.S.D.%. Limit of detections (LODs) range between 0.09 and 2.24 μg ml⁻¹. This new and fast separation method of PAHs was applied to cooked oil sample.

One-electron reduction of a diphosphafulvenium dication gives the first stable diphosphafulvenium monoradical cation (see scheme). An X-ray crystal structure analysis, EPR measurements, and DFT calculations clearly show that reduction takes place at the exocyclic double bond and that the excess of electron density is stabilized by the two electron-withdrawing phosphonium groups (see SOMO; P orange, C dark gray, H light gray).

A series of molybdenum and tungsten nitrido, [M(N)(X)(diphos)₂], and imido complexes, [M(NH)(X)(diphos)₂)]Y, (M = Mo, W) with diphosphine coligands (diphos = dppe/depe), various trans ligands (X = N₃^-, Cl^-, NCCH₃) and different counterions (Y^- = Cl^-, BPh₄^-) is investigated. These compounds are studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies; they are also studied with isotope-substitution and optical-absorption, as well as emission, spectroscopies. In the nitrido complexes with trans-azido and -chloro coligands, the metal−N stretch is found at about 980 cm^-1; upon protonation, it is lowered to about 920 cm^-1. The ¹A₁ → ¹E (n → π*) electronic transition is observed for [Mo(N)(N₃)(depe)₂] at 398 nm and shows a progression in the metal−N stretch of 810 cm^-1. The corresponding ³E → ¹A (π* → n) emission band is observed at 542 nm, exhibiting a progression in the metal−N stretch of 980 cm^-1. In the imido system [Mo(NH)(N₃)(depe)₂]BPh₄, the n → π* transition is shifted to lower energy (518 nm) and markedly decreases in intensity. In the trans-nitrile complex [Mo(N)(NCCH₃)(dppe)₂]BPh₄, the metal−N(nitrido) stretching frequency increases to 1016 cm^-1. The n → π* transition now is found at 450 nm, shifting to 525 nm upon protonation. Most importantly, the reduction of this nitrido trans-nitrile complex is drastically facilitated compared to its counterparts with anionic trans-ligands (E_p^red = −1.5 V vs Fc⁺/Fc). On the other hand, the basicity of the nitrido group is decreased (pK_a{[Mo(NH)(NCCH₃)(dppe)₂](BPh₄)₂} = 5). The implications of these findings with respect to the Chatt cycle are discussed.

State-of-the-art generalized gradient approximation (GGA) (PBE, OPBE, RPBE, OLYP, and HCTH), meta-GGA (VSXC and TPSS), and hybrid (B3LYP, B3LYP*, O3LYP, and PBE0) functionals are compared for the determination of the structure and the energetics of the D₃ [Co(bpy)₃]²⁺ complex in the ⁴A₂ and ⁴E trigonal components of the high-spin ⁴T_1g( t⁵_2g e²_g ) state and in the low-spin ²E state of octahedral ²E_g( t⁶_2g e¹_g) parentage. Their comparison extends also to the investigation of the Jahn−Teller instability of the ²E state through the characterization of the extrema of C₂ symmetry of this spin state's potential energy surface. The results obtained for [Co(bpy)₃]²⁺ in either spin manifold are very consistent among the functionals used and are in good agreement with available experimental data. The functionals, however, perform very differently with respect to the spin-state energetics because the calculated values of the high-spin/low-spin energy difference ΔE^el_HL vary between −3212 and 3919 cm^-1. Semilocal functionals tend to give too large ΔE^el_HL values and thus fail to correctly predict the high-spin state as the ground state of the isolated complex, while hybrid functionals tend to overestimate the stability of the high-spin state with respect to the low-spin state. Reliable results are, however, obtained with the OLYP, HCTH, B3LYP*, and O3LYP functionals which perform best for the description of the isolated complex. The optical properties of [Co(bpy)₃]²⁺ in the two spin states are also analyzed on the basis of electronic excitation calculations performed within time-dependent density functional response theory. The calculated absorption and circular dichroism spectra agree well with experimental results.

A new 1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene substituted naphthopyranone 2 has been synthesized and characterized. UV–vis spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetry results, interpreted on the basis of density functional theory, show that 2 displays an intramolecular charge-transfer transition and acts like a donor–acceptor (D–A) system. Furthermore, a weak fluorescence originating from the excited charge-transfer state is observed.

Luminophors of the perylene series containing the N,N-dimethylaniline residue in their molecules have been synthesised for the first time; spectral and luminescent properties of these compounds have been studied

Various preparations of the neutral radical [CpNi(dddt)] complex (dddt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate) were investigated with CpNi sources, [Cp₂Ni], [Cp₂Ni](BF₄), [CpNi(CO)]₂, and [CpNi(cod)](BF₄), and dithiolene transfer sources, O=C(dddt), the naked dithiolate (dddt^2-), the monoanion of square-planar Ni dithiolene complex (NBu₄)[Ni(dddt)₂], and the neutral complex [Ni(dddt)₂]. The reaction of [CpNi(cod)](BF₄) with (NBu₄)[Ni(dddt)₂] gave the highest yield for the preparation of [CpNi(dddt)] (86%). [CpNi(ddds)] (ddds = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-diselenolate), [CpNi(dsdt)] (dsdt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-diselenin-2,3-dithiolate), [CpNi(bdt)] (bdt = 1,2-benzenedithiolate), and [CpNi(bds)] (bds = 1,2-benzenediselenolate) were synthesized by the reactions of [Cp₂Ni] with the corresponding neutral Ni dithiolene complexes [Ni(ddds)₂]₂, [Ni(dsdt)₂], [Ni(bdt)₂], and [Ni(bds)₂], respectively. The five, formally Ni^III, radical complexes oxidize and reduce reversibly. They exhibit, in the neutral state, a strong absorption in the NIR region, from 1000 nm in the dddt/ddds/dsdt series to 720 nm in the bdt/bds series with ε values between 2500 and 5000 M^-1 cm^-1. The molecular and solid state structures of the five complexes were determined by X-ray structure analyses. [CpNi(dddt)] and [CpNi(ddds)] are isostructural, while [CpNi(dsdt)] exhibits a closely related structure. Similarly, [CpNi(bdt)] and [CpNi(bds)] are also isostructural. Correlations between structural data and magnetic measurements show the presence of alternated spin chains in [CpNi(dddt)], [CpNi(ddds)], and [CpNi(dsdt)], while a remarkably strong antiferromagnetic interaction in [CpNi(bdt)] and [CpNi(bds)] is attributed to a Cp···Cp face-to-face σ overlap, an original feature in organometallic radical complexes.

The binding of N-heterocyclic carbenes to Ce(III) and U(III) compounds is characterized by quantum chemical methods. Density functional methods are in qualitative agreement with experiment that binding to U(III) is more favorable than to Ce(III); after correcting for basis-set superposition error, quantitative agreement with experiment is achieved with a multireference second-order perturbation theory approach accounting for relativistic effects. The small computed (and observed) preference derives from a combination of several small effects, including differences in electronic binding energies, rovibrational partition functions, and solvation free energies. Prospects for ligand modification to improve the differentiation between lanthanides and actinides are discussed on the basis of computational predictions.

The relative energetics of μ-η¹:η¹ (trans end-on) and μ-η²:η² (side-on) peroxo isomers of Cu₂O₂ fragments supported by 0, 2, 4, and 6 ammonia ligands have been computed with various density functional, coupled-cluster, and multiconfigurational protocols. There is substantial disagreement between the different levels for most cases, although completely renormalized coupled-cluster methods appear to offer the most reliable predictions. The significant biradical character of the end-on peroxo isomer proves problematic for the density functionals, while the demands on active space size and the need to account for interactions between different states in second-order perturbation theory prove challenging for the multireference treatments. In the latter case, it proved impossible to achieve any convincing convergence.

The crystal structure of the disordered modification of Ba₇F₁₂Cl₂ has been carefully re-examined on several new crystals prepared under different conditions of synthesis. All single crystal structure refinements reveal a residual electron density of ~3 e^-/ų in the 0,0,0 position which is explained by the introduction of a small amount of sodium ions in the crystal. The title compound transforms from a disordered to an ordered modification at ~800 °C. New structural data show a change in space group from P6₃/m to P6. During this process, a slight chemical change and the formation of nano-channels in the crystals is observed by electron microscopy. These changes were further studied by electron microprobe analysis, by spectroscopic methods and thermal analysis.

Nice to see U₂! The [PhUUPh] molecule (see picture; U pink, C gray, H white) has been studied by multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods. It was found that a quintuple bond is formed between the two uranium atoms with a U—U bond length of 2.29 Å. The phenyl ligand was used to mimic a bulky terphenyl ligand, which could be a promising candidate for the stabilization of multiply bonded uranium compounds.

Paramagnetic complexes M(CO)₅P(C₆H₅)₂, with M = Cr, Mo, W, have been trapped in irradiated crystals of M(CO)₅P(C₆H₅)₃ (M = Cr, Mo, W) and M(CO)₅PH(C₆H₅)₂ (M = Cr, W) and studied by EPR. The radiolytic scission of a P−C or a P−H bond, responsible for the formation of M(CO)₅P(C₆H₅)₂, is consistent with both the number of EPR sites and the crystal structures. The g and ³¹P hyperfine tensors measured for M(CO)₅P(C₆H₅)₂ present some of the characteristics expected for the diphenylphosphinyl radical. However, compared to Ph₂P^•, the ³¹P isotropic coupling is larger, the dipolar coupling is smaller, and for Mo and W compounds, the g-anisotropy is more pronounced. These properties are well predicted by DFT calculations. In the optimized structures of M(CO)₅P(C₆H₅)₂ (M = Cr, Mo, W), the unpaired electron is mainly confined in a phosphorus p-orbital, which conjugates with the metal d_xz orbital. The trapped species can be described as a transition metal-coordinated phosphinyl radical.

Quantum chemistry can today be employed to invent new molecules and explore unknown molecular bonding. An overview of novel species containing metals bound to polynitrogen clusters is presented. The prediction of metal polyhydrides is discussed. Finally, some species containing gold that behaves as a halogen are described, together with recent advances in actinide chemistry and exploration of the nature of the actinide–actinide chemical bonding.

Vibrational spectra of BH₄^- and its isotopic analogues in a crystalline environment of alkali metals cations (K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺) have been investigated beyond the harmonic approximation using a variational approach supported by computations of B3LYP type anharmonic force fields. From the comparison of the observed and simulated IR spectra, the influence of the anharmonic couplings on the band position and on the relative intensity of the allowed vibrational transitions is discussed. Here, the effect of the crystalline environment induces a blue shift of about 50 and 100 cm^-1 respectively for the bending and stretching modes of BH₄^-. Furthermore, anharmonic effects, which are exclusively well reproduced by a variational approach, are needed to yield reliable positions and relative amplitudes of IR allowed combination and overtone transitions. This leads to theoretical results fitting their experimental counterpart between 6 and 30 cm^-1 in the investigated series.

A series of 6-styryl-2,4-diphenylpyrylium salts exhibiting dual fluorescence has been investigated by fluorescence up-conversion in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The short-wavelength emission is due to an excited state localized on the pyrylium fragment and the long-wavelength emission arises from a charge-transfer state delocalized over the whole molecule. The two fluorescing states do not exhibit a precursor−successor relationship. The rise time of the short-wavelength fluorescence is smaller than 200 fs, and that of the long-wavelength emission depends on the electron-donating property of the styryl group substituent. The rise is almost prompt with the weaker donors but is slower, wavelength and viscosity dependent with the strongest electron-donating group. A model involving a S₂/S₁ conical intersection is proposed to account for these observations.

Femtosecond and nanosecond laser flash photolysis was used to determine the photophysical and photochemical processes in aqueous solutions of Fe(III) ion and 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) containing the FeSSA complex and the free ligand. Excitation of the FeSSA complex in the charge transfer band (λ_max = 505 nm) is followed by an ultrafast relaxation to the ground electronic state with two characteristic times of 0.26 and 1.8 ps. The shorter time constant is ascribed to internal conversion to the vibrationally hot electronic ground state of FeSSA and the 1.8 ps time constant is assigned to the vibrational cooling of the ground state. The UV irradiation of the solution (308 nm) leads to the excitation of both the free ligand and the FeSSA complex. The latter relaxes rapidly and the free ligand undergoes intersystem crossing to the triplet state. This system undergoes an irreversible photochemical reaction originating from an electron transfer (k = (9 ± 2) × 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) from the free ligand in the triplet state to the FeSSA complex. This electron transfer is accompanied by an energy transfer between these species (k = (1.3 ± 0.2) × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹).

The ligand-field induced splitting energies of f-levels in lanthanide-containing elpasolites are derived using the first-principles universal orbital-free embedding formalism [Wesolowski and Warshel, J. Phys. Chem. 1993, 97, 8050]. In our previous work concerning chloroelpasolite lattice (Cs₂NaLnCl₆), embedded orbitals and their energies were obtained using an additional assumption concerning the localization of embedded orbitals on preselected atoms leading to rather good ligand-field parameters. In this work, the validity of the localization assumption is examined by lifting it. In variational calculations, each component of the total electron density (this of the cation and that of the ligands) spreads over the whole system. It is found that the corresponding electron densities remain localized around the cation and the ligands, respectively. The calculated splitting energies of f-orbitals in chloroelpasolites are not affected noticeably in the whole lanthanide series. The same computational procedure is used also for other elpasolite lattices (Cs₂NaLnX₆, where X=F, Br, and I)—materials which have not been fabricated or for which the ligand-field splitting parameters are not available.

Rigid p-octiphenyl rods were used to create helical tetrameric π-stacks of blue, red-fluorescent naphthalene diimides that can span lipid bilayer membranes. In lipid vesicles containing quinone as electron acceptors and surrounded by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as hole acceptors, transmembrane proton gradients arose through quinone reduction upon excitation with visible light. Quantitative ultrafast and relatively long-lived charge separation was confirmed as the origin of photosynthetic activity by femtosecond fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. Supramolecular self-organization was essential in that photoactivity was lost upon rod shortening (from p-octiphenyl to biphenyl) and chromophore expansion (from naphthalene diimide to perylene diimide). Ligand intercalation transformed the photoactive scaffolds into ion channels.

The idea of describing a many-electron system using only its electron density, i.e. without constructing its wavefunction, was initiated in the works of Thomas and Fermi. Hohenberg-Kohn theorems of modern density functional theory transformed this idea into an exact theory. The Kohn-Sham formalism, widely used in computer simulations of polyatomic systems today, is based on these theorems but is not orbital-free. It reintroduces orbitals to minimize errors in approximating the total energy. The present review concerns an alternative formalism based also on Hohenberg-Kohn theorems, in which orthogonal orbitals are used not for the whole system but only for subsystems [Cortona, Phys. Rev. B, 44 (1991) 8454]. These orbitals are derived from Kohn-Sham-like one-electron equations, called here Kohn-Sham Equations with Constrained Electron Density (KSCED), in which all terms representing the interactions between the subsystems are expressed as universal functionals of electron density. This formulation provides the formal basis for the orbital-free embedding in first-principles based multi-level simulations of complex systems, in which the orbital-level is retained for a selected subsystem, whereas its environment is described at the orbital-free level [Wesolowski and Warshel, J. Phys. Chem., 97 (1993) 8050]. The formal aspects, development and testing of relevant approximate density functionals, and the possible use of the orbital-free embedding in multi-level modelling are covered in detail in this review. Examples of applications, especially those concerning the electronic structure of embedded systems in the condensed phase are provided.

Multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods show that a quintuple bond is present between the two Cr^I units in the model complex [PhCrCrPh]. The Cr—Cr (1.75 Å) and Cr—Ph (2.02 Å) bonds are shorter than those in the recently reported compound [Ar'CrCrAr'] (Ar'=2,6-(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)₂C₆H₃; 1.83 and 2.15 Å, respectively). This difference is attributed to the additional Cr—Ar' interactions.

Nanosecond laser flash photolysis, absorption and fluorescent spectroscopy were used to study the influence of pH on the photophysical and photochemical processes of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) in aqueous solutions. Information on the excited singlet state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of the SSA ions could be deduced from the dependence of the quantum yield and the spectral maximum of SSA fluorescence on the pH of the medium. The main photochemical active form of SSA at pH < 10 is the dianion (HSSA²⁻). Excitation of this species gives rise to the HSSA²⁻ triplet state, to the SSA_•²⁻ radical anion and to the hydrated electron. In a neutral medium, the main decay channels of these intermediates are T–T annihilation, recombination and capture by the HSSA²⁻ dianion, respectively. A decrease of pH leads to an increase of the second-order rate constants of disappearance of both HSSA²⁻ triplet state and SSA_•²⁻ radical anion due to their protonation.

Experimental (IR and Raman) and theoretical (Kohn-Sham calculations) methods are used in a combined analysis aimed at refining the available structural data concerning the molecular guests in channels formed by stacked dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) crown ether. The calculations are performed for a simplified model comprising isolated DB18C6 unit and its complexes with either H₂O or H₃O⁺ guests, which are the simplest model ingredients of a one-dimensional diluted acid chain, to get structural and energetic data concerning the formation of the complex and to assign the characteristic spectroscopic bands. The oxygen centers in the previously reported crystallographic structure are assigned to either H₂O or protonated species.

The ultrafast ground state recovery (GSR) dynamics of the radical cation of perylene, Pe^•+, generated upon bimolecular photoinduced electron transfer in acetonitrile, has been investigated using pump−pump−probe spectroscopy. With 1,4-dicyanobenzene as electron acceptor, the free ion yield is substantial and the GSR dynamics of Pe^•+ was found to depend on the time delay between the first and second pump pulses, Δt₁₂, i.e., on the “age” of the ion. At short Δt₁₂, the GSR dynamics is biphasic, and at Δt₁₂ larger than about500 ps, it becomes exponential with a time constant around 3 ps. With trans-1,2-dicyanoethylene as acceptor, the free ion yield is essentially zero and the GSR dynamics of Pe^•+ remains biphasic independently of Δt₁₂. The change of dynamics observed with 1,4-dicyanobenzene is ascribed to the transition from paired to free solvated ion, because in the pair, the excited ion has an additional decay channel to the ground state, i.e., charge recombination followed by charge separation. The rate constants deduced from the analysis of these GSR dynamics are all fully consistent with this hypothesis.

The excited-state dynamics of the DNA bisintercalator YOYO-1 and of two derivatives has been investigated using ultrafast fluorescence up-conversion and time-correlated single photon counting. The free dyes in water exist in two forms: nonaggregated dyes and intramolecular H-type aggregates, the latter form being only very weakly fluorescent because of excitonic interaction. The excited-state dynamics of the nonaggregated dyes is dominated by a nonradiative decay with a time constant of the order of 5 ps associated with large amplitude motion around the monomethine bridge of the cyanine chromophores. The strong fluorescence enhancement observed upon binding of the dyes to DNA is due to both the inhibition of this nonradiative deactivation of the nonaggregated dyes and the dissociation of the aggregates and thus to the disruption of the excitonic interaction. However, the interaction between the two chromophoric moieties in DNA is sufficient to enable ultrafast hopping of the excitation energy as revealed by the decay of the fluorescence anisotropy. Finally, these dyes act as solvation probes since a dynamic fluorescence Stokes shift was observed both in bulk water and in DNA. Very similar time scales were found in bulk water and in DNA.

The photophysical properties of the ferric catecholate spin-crossover compounds [(TPA)Fe(R-Cat)]X (TPA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; X=PF₆^-, BPh₄^-; R-Cat=catecholate dianion substituted by R=NO₂, Cl, or H) are investigated in the solid state. The catecholate-to-iron(III) charge-transfer bands are sensitive both to the spin state of the metal ion and the charge-transfer interactions associated with the different catecholate substituents. Vibronic progressions are identified in the near-infrared (NIR) absorption of the low-spin species. Evidence for a low-temperature photoexcitation process is provided. The relaxation dynamics between 10 and 100 K indicate a pure tunneling process below ≈40 K, and a thermally activated region at higher temperatures. The relaxation rate constants in the tunneling regime at low temperature, k_HL(T→0), vary in the range from 0.58 to 8.84 s^-1. These values are in qualitative agreement with the inverse energy-gap law and with structural parameters. A comparison with ferrous spin-crossover complexes shows that the high-spin to low-spin relaxation is generally faster for ferric complexes, owing to the smaller bond length changes for the latter. However, in the present case the corresponding rate constants are smaller than expected based on the single configurational coordinate model. This is attributed to the combined influence of the electronic configuration and the molecular geometry.

The high-spin → low-spin relaxation in spin-crossover compounds can be described as non-adiabatic multi-phonon process in the strong coupling limit, in which the low-temperature tunnelling rate increases exponentially with the zero-point energy difference between the two states. Based on the hypothesis that the experimental bond length difference between the high-spin and the low-spin state of ~0.2 Å is also valid for low-spin iron(II) complexes, extrapolation of the single configurational coordinate model allows an estimate of the zero-point energy difference for low-spin complexes from kinetic data. DFT calculations on low-spin [Fe(bpy)₃]²⁺ support the structural assumption. However, for low-spin [Fe(terpy)₂]²⁺ the relaxation rate constant shows an anomalous behaviour in so far as it is more in line with spin-crossover systems. This is attributed to very anisotropic bond length changes associated with the spin state change, and the subsequent breakdown of the single mode model.

A planar π-conjugated heteroaromatic molecule 1 has been synthesized and fully characterized; it combines two characteristics, a charge-transfer transition originating from its inherent donor–acceptor nature in its neutral state and an intervalence charge-transfer transition in its 1²⁺ mixed-valence state.

The dynamic Stokes shift of coumarin 153 has been measured in two room-temperature ionic liquids, 1-(3-cyanopropyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, using the fluorescence up-conversion technique with a 230 fs instrumental response function. A component of about 10−15% of the total solvation shift is found to take place on an ultrafast time scale < 10 ps. The amplitude of this component is substantially less than assumed previously by other authors. The origin of the difference in findings could be partly due to chromophore-internal conformational changes on the ultrafast time scale, superimposed to solvation-relaxation, or due to conformational changes of the chromophore ground state in polar and apolar environments. First three-pulse photon-echo peak-shift experiments on indocyanine green in room-temperature ionic liquids and in ethanol indicate a difference in the inertial component of the early solvent relaxation of <100 fs.

Computer simulation methods using orbital level of description only for a selected part of the larger systems are prone to the artificial charge leak to the parts which are described without orbitals. The absence of orbitals in one of the subsystems makes it impossible to impose explicitly the orthogonality condition. Using the subsystem formulation of density functional theory, it is shown that the absence of explicit condition of orthogonality between orbitals belonging to different subsystems, does not cause any breakdown of this type of description for the chosen intermolecular complexes (F⁻H₂O and Li⁺H₂O), for which a significant charge-leak problem could be a priori expected.

Matrix isolation infrared (IR) studies have been carried out on the vaporisation of the alkali-metal azides MN₃ (M = Na, K, Rb and Cs). The results show that under high vacuum conditions, molecular KN₃, RbN₃ and CsN₃ are present as stable high-temperature vapour species, together with variable amounts of nitrogen gas and the corresponding metal atoms. The characterisation of these molecular azides is supported by ab initio molecular orbital calculations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and for CsN₃ in particular, by the detection of the isotopomers Cs(¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁴N) and Cs(¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁴N). The IR spectra are assigned to a "side-on" (C_2v) structure by comparison with the spectral features predicted both by vibrational analysis and calculation. The most intense IR features for KN₃, RbN₃ and CsN₃ isolated in nitrogen matrices lie at 2005, 2004.4 and 2002.2 cm^-1, respectively, and correspond to the N₃ asymmetric stretch. The N₃ bending mode in CsN₃ is identified at 629 cm^-1. An additional feature routinely observed in these experiments occurred at approximately 2323 cm^-1 and is assigned to molecular N₂, perturbed by the close proximity of an alkali-metal atom. The position of this band appeared to show very little cation dependence, but its intensity correlated with the extent of sample thermal decomposition.

Several controversial questions in the field of bimolecular photoinduced electron transfer reactions in polar solvents are first briefly reviewed. Results obtained in our group using ultrafast spectroscopy and giving a new insight into these problems will then be described. They concern the driving force dependence of the charge separation distance, the formation of the reaction product in an electronic excited state, the absence of normal region for weakly exergonic charge recombination processes and the excitation wavelength dependence of the CR dynamics of donor–acceptor complexes.

The oxidative half-reaction of oxygen atom transfer from nitrate to an Mo^IV complex has been investigated at various levels of theory. Two models have been used to simulate the enzyme active site. In the second, more advanced model, additional amino acid residues capable of significantly affecting the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme were included. B3LYP/6-31+G*, ONIOM, and orbital-free embedding approaches have been used to construct the potential energy profile and to qualitatively compare the results of a QM/MM study with those obtained by a full quantum mechanical strategy. The study has confirmed the utility of the orbital-free embedding method in the description of enzymatic processes.

Accurately describing the relative energetics of alternative bis(μ-oxo) and μ-η²:η² peroxo isomers of Cu₂O₂ cores supported by 0, 2, 4, and 6 ammonia ligands is remarkably challenging for a wide variety of theoretical models, primarily owing to the difficulty of maintaining a balanced description of rapidly changing dynamical and nondynamical electron correlation effects and a varying degree of biradical character along the isomerization coordinate. The completely renormalized coupled-cluster level of theory including triple excitations and extremely efficient pure density functional levels of theory quantitatively agree with one another and also agree qualitatively with experimental results for Cu₂O₂ cores supported by analogous but larger ligands. Standard coupled-cluster methods, such as CCSD(T), are in most cases considerably less accurate and exhibit poor convergence in predicted relative energies. Hybrid density functionals significantly underestimate the stability of the bis(μ-oxo) form, with the magnitude of the error being directly proportional to the percentage Hartree−Fock exchange in the functional. Single-root CASPT2 multireference second-order perturbation theory, by contrast, significantly overestimates the stability of bis(μ-oxo) isomers. Implications of these results for modeling the mechanism of C−H bond activation by supported Cu₂O₂ cores, like that found in the active site of oxytyrosinase, are discussed.

Results from quantum chemical calculations that predict the existence of a series of diuranium molecules are reported. Two diuranium chlorides, U₂Cl₆ and U₂Cl₈^2-, and three different carboxylates, U₂(OCHO)₄, U₂(OCHO)₆, and U₂(OCHO)₄Cl₂ have been studied. All species have been found to be stable with a multiply bonded U₂ unit.

Cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy show that cationic phospholium groups are good electron acceptors whose reduction leads to a neutral radical where the unpaired electron is mainly delocalized on the carbon atoms of the five-membered ring. DFT calculations together with the crystal structure of phospholiums indicate that the electron addition causes a drastic diminution of the exocyclic CPC angle. The SOMO of reduced phospholium is compared to the SOMO of the phosphole radical anion.

The local structure and optical and vibrational properties associated with Mn²⁺-doped cubic AMF₃ (A = K, Rb; M = Mg, Zn, Cd) fluoroperovskites are studied by means of embedding calculations using Kohn–Sham equations with constrained electron density. It is shown that while an electronic parameter like 10Dq essentially depends on the Mn²⁺–F⁻ distance, the local vibration frequencies ω_i (i = a_1g, e_g modes) are dominated by the interaction between F⁻ ligands and nearest M²⁺ ions lying along bonding directions. The high ω_a values observed for KMgF₃:Mn²⁺ and KZnF₃:Mn²⁺, the huge variations of ω_e and ω_a frequencies when the host lattice is changed, as well as the increase of Huang–Rhys factors and the Stokes shift following the host lattice parameter, are shown to be related to this elastic coupling of the MnF₆⁴⁻ complex to the rest of the host lattice. The present results support the conclusion that the Stokes shift is determined by the interaction of the excited ⁴T_1g state with a_1g and e_g local modes while the coupling with the t_2g shear mode is not relevant. The variations of local vibrational frequencies and the Stokes shift induced by a hydrostatic pressure on a given system are shown to be rather different to those produced by the chemical pressure associated with distinct host lattices.

In supramolecular systems, the interaction between different units modulates their photophysical properties. a) For platinum(II) complexes with ligands that have extended π systems, π-stacking and direct metal-metal interactions result in the formation of excimers with characteristically red-shifted luminescence. Time-resolved emission spectra show clear evidence of dual luminescence. b) In phthalocyanines to which electron-donating tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) groups have been fused, the luminescence is strongly quenched by intramolecular electron transfer. The luminescence can be switched on by oxidation of the TTF groups. c) The luminescence of ruthenium tris-bipyridyl derivatives is strongly influenced by the environment. Linked to biotin, the luminescence quantum yield of such a complex is enhanced by 30 % upon binding to avidin. Furthermore, the binding to avidin induces a circular-dichroism signal from the π-π* transition of the initially racemic ruthenium tris-bipyridyl derivative.

The formalism based on the total energy bifunctional (E[ρ_I,ρ_II]) is used to derive interaction energies for several hydrogen-bonded complexes (water dimer, HCN–HF, H₂CO–H₂O, and MeOH–H₂O). Benchmark ab initio data taken from the literature were used as a reference in the assessment of the performance of gradient-free [local density approximation (LDA)] and gradient-dependent [generalized gradient approximation (GGA)] approximations to the exchange-correlation and nonadditive kinetic-energy components of E[ρ_I,ρ_II]. On average, LDA performs better than GGA. The average absolute error of calculated LDA interaction energies amounts to 1.0 kJ/mol. For H₂CO–H₂O and H₂O–H₂O complexes, the potential-energy curves corresponding to the stretching of the intermolecular distance are also calculated. The positions of the minima are in a good agreement (less than 0.2 Å) with the reference ab initio data. Both variational and nonvariational calculations are performed to assess the energetic effects associated with complexation-induced deformations of molecular electron densities.

We report the synthesis, crystal structure and electrochemical behaviour of a complex in which the Ph group of the phosphaalkene PhC(H)=PMes* (Mes*: 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) is coordinated to a chromium tricarbonyl group. The EPR spectra resulting from electrochemical and chemical reductions are described and the experimental g and hyperfine tensors (³¹P)T, as determined from the EPR data, are compared with those predicted by DFT calculations for the radical anion (Cr(CO)₃, PhC(H)=PMes)^·−. The structural changes caused by the addition of an electron to the neutral complex are described, together with an estimation of the contribution of Cr(CO)₃ to the stabilization of the radical anion.