Derek A. Wann

Structures and Aggregation of the Methylamine−Borane Molecules, MenH3−nN·BH3 (n = 1−3), Studied by X-ray Diffraction, Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction, and Quantum Chemical Calculations

The structures of the molecules methylamine-borane, MeH(2)N.BH(3), and dimethylamine-borane, Me(2)HN.BH(3), have been investigated by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations. The crystal structures have also been determined for methylamine-, dimethylamine-, and trimethylamine-borane, Me(n)H(3-n)N.BH(3) (n = 1-3); these are noteworthy for what they reveal about the intermolecular interactions and, particularly, the N-H...H-B dihydrogen bonding in the cases where n = 1 or 2. Hence, structures are now known for all the members of the ammonia- and amine-borane series Me(n)H(3-n)N.BH(3) (n = 0-3) in both the gas and solid phases. The structural variations and energetics of formation of the gaseous adducts are discussed in relation to the basicity of the Me(n)H(3-n)N fragment. The relative importance of secondary interactions in the solid adducts with n = 0-3 has been assessed by the semi-classical density sums (SCDS-PIXEL) approach.

Competition between Halogen, Hydrogen and Dihydrogen Bonding in Brominated Carboranes.

Halogen bonds are a subset of noncovalent interactions with rapidly expanding applications in materials and medicinal chemistry. While halogen bonding is well known in organic compounds, it is new in the field of boron cluster chemistry. We have synthesized and crystallized carboranes containing Br atoms in two different positions, namely, bound to C- and B-vertices. The Br atoms bound to the C-vertices have been found to form halogen bonds in the crystal structures. In contrast, Br atoms bound to B-vertices formed hydrogen bonds. Quantum chemical calculations have revealed that halogen bonding in carboranes can be much stronger than in organic architectures. These findings open new possibilities for applications of carboranes, both in materials and medicinal chemistry.

Cold ablation driven by localized forces in alkali halides

Laser ablation has been widely used for a variety of applications. Since the mechanisms for ablation are strongly dependent on the photoexcitation level, so called cold material processing has relied on the use of high-peak-power laser fluences for which nonthermal processes become dominant; often reaching the universal threshold for plasma formation of ~1 J cm(-2) in most solids. Here we show single-shot time-resolved femtosecond electron diffraction, femtosecond optical reflectivity and ion detection experiments to study the evolution of the ablation process that follows femtosecond 400 nm laser excitation in crystalline sodium chloride, caesium iodide and potassium iodide. The phenomenon in this class of materials occurs well below the threshold for plasma formation and even below the melting point. The results reveal fast electronic and localized structural changes that lead to the ejection of particulates and the formation of micron-deep craters, reflecting the very nature of the strong repulsive forces at play.

A conformational and vibrational study of CF3COSCH2CH3

The molecular structure and conformational properties of S-ethyl trifluorothioacetate, CF(3)COSCH(2)CH(3), were determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman). The experimental investigations were supplemented by ab initio (Moller Plesset of second order) and density functional theory quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory. Both experimental and theoretical methods reveal two structures with C(s) (anti, anti) and C(1) (anti, gauche) symmetries, although there are disagreements about which is more stable. The electron diffraction intensities are best interpreted with a mixture of 51(3)% anti, anti and 49(3)% anti, gauche conformers. This conformational preference was studied using the total energy scheme and the natural bond orbital scheme. In addition, the infrared spectra of CF(3)COSCH(2)CH(3) are reported for the gas, liquid and solid phases as well as the Raman spectrum of the liquid. Using calculated frequencies as a guide, evidence for both C(s) and C(1) structures is obtained in the IR spectra. Harmonic vibrational frequencies and scaled force fields have been calculated for both conformers.

Dimethylalkoxygallanes: Monomeric versus Dimeric Gas-Phase Structures

The molecular structures of the vapors produced on heating dimethylalkoxygallanes of the type [Me(2)Ga(OR)](2) have been determined by gas electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations. In the solid state [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (1) and [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)](2) (2) adopt dimeric structures, although only the monomeric forms [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))] (1a) and [Me(2)Ga(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)] (2a) were observed in the gas phase. For comparison the structure of the vapor produced on heating [Me(2)Ga(O(t)Bu)](2) (3) was also studied by gas electron diffraction. In contrast to 1 and 2, compound 3 is dimeric in the gas phase, as well as in the solid state. The gas-phase structures of 1a and 2a exhibit five-membered rings formed by a dative bond between Ga and the donor atom (N or O) from the donor-functionalized alkoxide. In 3 there is no possibility of a monomeric structure being stabilized by the formation of such a dative bond since only a monofunctional alkoxide is present in the molecule.

The gas-phase structure of octaphenyloctasilsesquioxane Si8O12Ph8 and the crystal structures of Si8O12(p-tolyl)8 and Si8O12(p-ClCH2C6H4)8

The equilibrium molecular structure of octaphenyloctasilsesquioxane Si(8)O(12)Ph(8) in the gas phase has been determined by electron diffraction. It was found to have D(4) point-group symmetry, with Si-O bond lengths of 1.634(15)-1.645(19) A, and a narrow range [147.5(45)-149.8(24) degrees] of Si-O-Si angles. The structures of Si(8)O(12)(p-tolyl)(8) and Si(8)O(12)(p-ClCH(2)C(6)H(4))(8) have been determined by X-ray diffraction and are found to have Si(8)O(12) cages significantly distorted from the symmetry found for Si(8)O(12)Ph(8) in the gas phase. Thus, Si-O-Si angles range between 144.2(2)-151.64(16) degrees for Si(8)O(12)(p-tolyl)(8), and between 138.8(2)-164.2(2) degrees for Si(8)O(12)(p-ClCH(2)C(6)H(4))(8). These three structures show how much a Si(8)O(12) cage may be distorted away from an ideal structure, free from intermolecular forces, by packing forces in a crystalline lattice.

Accurate structures from combined gas electron diffraction and liquid crystal NMR data; the importance of anisotropy of indirect couplings for 1,4-difluorobenzene

Gas-phase electron-diffraction scattering data and dipolar couplings from NMR experiments in four different liquid crystal solvents have been combined to give a high-accuracy molecular structure of 1,4-difluorobenzene. The anisotropic components of the CF and FF indirect couplings have been deduced directly from the experimental data. The resultant structure has standard deviations of around 0.2 pm for interatomic distances and less than 0.20 for inter-bond angles.

The phonon spectrum of phase-I ammonia: reassignment of lattice mode symmetries from combined molecular and lattice dynamics calculations.

The zone-center phonon spectra of phase-I ammonia and deuterated ammonia have been obtained from plane-wave DFT molecular dynamics and localized basis set harmonic lattice dynamics simulations. These data have proved to be excellent for benchmarking the two approaches. Significant changes to the assignments of the experimental low-frequency lattice modes are proposed on the basis of the calculated data. The magnitude of the splitting of the longitudinal and transverse optical modes has been determined and is shown to be significant in some cases. The high-frequency internal mode region of the spectrum has also been obtained and is shown to be in excellent agreement with the results of previous studies. The symmetry coordinates and Davydov splittings of the internal modes are fully analyzed.

Primary phosphines studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations. Are they different from amines?

The molecular structures of allyl-, allenyl-, propargyl-, vinyl-, ethynyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, and chloromethyl-phosphine have been determined from gas-phase electron diffraction data employing the SARACEN method. The experimental geometric parameters are compared with those obtained using ab initio calculations performed at the MP2 level using both Pople-type basis sets and the correlation-consistent basis sets of Dunning. The structure and conformational behavior of each molecule have been analyzed and, where possible, comparisons made to the analogous amine. For systems with multiple conformers, differences in the CCP bond angle of approximately 5 degrees between conformers are common. Trends in the key parameters are identified and compared with those found in similar systems.

Dimethylalkoxygallane incorporating a donor-functionalised alkoxide: the monomeric gas-phase structure†

The structure of the vapour produced upon heating the dimethylalkoxygallane [Me(2)GaOCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)](2) has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio molecular orbital calculations; only the monomeric form [Me(2)GaOCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2)] is observed in the vapour, with the nitrogen atom forming a dative bond with the metal centre.