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1. Quantum spin state selectivity and magnetic tuning of ultracold chemical reactions of triplet alkali-metal dimers with alkali-metal atoms

   Rebekah Hermsmeier, Jacek Kłos ( January 2021 , Physical review letters)

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2. Signatures of Non-universal Quantum Dynamics of Ultracold Chemical Reactions of Polar Alkali Dimer Molecules with Alkali Metal Atoms: Li( 2 S) + NaLi( a 3 Σ + ) → Na( 2 S) + Li 2 ( a 3 Σ u + )

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00159  

   Morita, Masato ; Kendrick, Brian K. ; Kłos, Jacek ; Kotochigova, Svetlana ; Brumer, Paul ; Tscherbul, Timur V. ( April 2023 , The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters)
3. The impact of the electric field of metal ions on the vibrations and internal hydrogen bond strength in alkali metal ion di- and triglycine complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0117311  

   Meyer, Katharina A. E. ; Nickson, Kathleen A. ; Garand, Etienne ( November 2022 , The Journal of Chemical Physics)

   Using infrared predissociation spectroscopy of cryogenic ions, we revisit the vibrational spectra of alkali metal ion (Li+, Na+, K+) di- and triglycine complexes. We assign their most stable conformation, which involves metal ion coordination to all C=O groups and an internal NH⋯NH2 hydrogen bond in the peptide backbone. An analysis of the spectral shifts of the OH and C=O stretching vibrations across the different metal ions and peptide chain lengths shows that these are largely caused by the electric field of the metal ion, which varies in strength as a function of the square of the distance. The metal ion–peptide interaction also remotely modulates the strength of internal hydrogen bonding in the peptide backbone via the weakening of the amide C=O bond, resulting in a decrease in internal hydrogen bond strength from Li+ > Na+ > K+.

    

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4. Photoelectron spectra of alkali metal–ammonia microjets: From blue electrolyte to bronze metal

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz7607  

   Buttersack, Tillmann ; Mason, Philip E. ; McMullen, Ryan S. ; Schewe, H. Christian ; Martinek, Tomas ; Brezina, Krystof ; Crhan, Martin ; Gomez, Axel ; Hein, Dennis ; Wartner, Garlef ; et al ( June 2020 , Science)

   Experimental studies of the electronic structure of excess electrons in liquids—archetypal quantum solutes—have been largely restricted to very dilute electron concentrations. We overcame this limitation by applying soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to characterize excess electrons originating from steadily increasing amounts of alkali metals dissolved in refrigerated liquid ammonia microjets. As concentration rises, a narrow peak at ~2 electron volts, corresponding to vertical photodetachment of localized solvated electrons and dielectrons, transforms continuously into a band with a sharp Fermi edge accompanied by a plasmon peak, characteristic of delocalized metallic electrons. Through our experimental approach combined with ab initio calculations of localized electrons and dielectrons, we obtain a clear picture of the energetics and density of states of the ammoniated electrons over the gradual transition from dilute blue electrolytes to concentrated bronze metallic solutions.

    

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5. Markovnikov alcohols via epoxide hydroboration by molecular alkali metal catalysts

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105119  

   Zhang, Guoqi ; Zeng, Haisu ; Zheng, Shengping ; Neary, Michelle C. ; Dub, Pavel A. ( October 2022 , iScience)