skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Progress toward a one-electron model for the non-valence correlation-bound anions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Abstract A one-electron model Hamiltonian is used to characterize the non-valence correlation-bound (NVCB) anions of hexagonal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) C 6 n 2 H 6 n ( n = 3–7). The model incorporates atomic electrostatic moments up to the quadrupole, coupled inducible charges and dipoles, and atom-centered repulsive Gaussians to describe the interaction between the excess electron and PAH. These model components are parameterized on and validated against all-electron calculations. Good agreement is found between the static dipole polarizabilities obtained from the model and those from PBE0 density functional theory and second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory calculations. In the model, charge flow dominates the in-plane polarizability of PAHs larger than C 54 H 18 , yielding an approximately quadratic scaling of the mean polarizabilty with the number of carbon atoms. Inclusion of electrostatic interactions decreases the electron binding energies for the largest PAHs considered by about 20% and shift charge distribution from above and below the plane of the ring system toward the periphery. Analysis of the electrostatic and polarization interactions provides insight into qualitative trends in the electron binding energy and the charge distribution of the lowest energy NVCB anion.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2028826
PAR ID:
10353228
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Electronic Structure
Volume:
4
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2516-1075
Page Range / eLocation ID:
014010
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. The present study evaluates the potential combination of charge-transfer electron-donor–acceptor π–π complexation and C—H hydrogen bonding to form colored cocrystals. The crystal structures of the red 1:1 cocrystals formed from the isomeric pyridines 4- and 3-{2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyridine with 1-[2-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethynyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene, both C 14 H 4 F 4 N 2 O 4 ·C 15 H 14 N 2 , are reported. Intermolecular interaction energy calculations confirm that π-stacking interactions dominate the intermolecular interactions within each crystal structure. The close contacts revealed by Hirshfeld surface calculations are predominantly C—H interactions with N, O, and F atoms. 
    more » « less
  2. null (Ed.)
    Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to examine the binding strength of one and two methane molecule(s) with graphene (62 and 186 carbon atoms) and model systems of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, pyrene, and coronene). We explored different possibilities of binding modes of methane such as one, two, and three C-H interacting with small π-systems. Two methane molecules were considered to bind from the same as well as opposite sides of the plane of benzene and other πsystems including graphene models. Our results show that methane molecule prefers to bind with three C-H…π interactions with all the π-systems except benzene. The preference of tripod configuration of methane on the surface of graphene systems strongly agrees with the neutron diffraction experiment of methane on graphitized carbon black. The binding strength is almost doubled by increasing the number of methane molecules from one to two. Importantly, two methane molecules prefer to bind on the same side rather than opposite sides of the plane of graphene due to stabilizing CH…HC interactions between them in addition to six CH…π interactions. Interestingly, binding strength contributions from CH…HC interactions (approx. 0.4–0.5 kcal/mol) of two methane molecules on the surface are analogous to methane dimer complex free from the surface of graphene. C-H stretching frequency shifts, bond lengths, and binding distances support the presence of CH…HC interactions between two methane molecules. Structures of complexes, binding energies, and C-H stretching frequency shifts agree with available experimental data 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract Both methyl groups and benzene rings are exceedingly common, and they lie near one another in many chemical situations. DFT calculations are used to gauge the strength of the attractive forces between them, and to better understand the phenomena that underlie this attraction. Methane and benzene are taken as the starting point, and substituents of both electron‐withdrawing and donating types are added to each. The interaction energy varies between 1.4 and 5.0 kcal/mol, depending upon the substituents placed on the two groups. The nature of the binding is analyzed via Atoms in Molecules (AIM), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO), Symmetry‐Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts, and electron density shift diagrams. While there is a sizable electrostatic component, it is dispersion that dominates these interactions, particularly the weaker ones. As such, these interactions cannot be categorized unambiguously as either H‐bonds or tetrel bonds. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract Achieving selective molecular recognition of hydrophilic anions in water remains a formidable challenge due to the competitive nature of water and the high hydration energies of target anions such as sulfate. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a simple dicationic tetralactam macrocycle (BPTL2⁺·2Cl⁻) capable of binding highly hydrated anions in water via charge‐assisted hydrogen bonding. Structural, spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and computational studies reveal that BPTL2⁺ exhibits a strong binding affinity for sulfate (Ka = 2892 M⁻¹), driven primarily by entropic gain from water release and reinforced by electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and DFT‐optimized structures confirm the formation of directional [N─H•••O] and [C─H•••O] hydrogen bonds. Comparative studies with a control macrocycle (6Na+•HCTL6−) that has a charge‐neutral binding cavity underscore the essential role of cationic charge in overcoming desolvation enthalpic penalties. The receptor displays anti‐Hofmeister selectivity, preferentially binding more hydrophilic anions. This work provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms of anion recognition in water. It establishes charge‐assisted hydrogen bonding as a powerful strategy for developing next‐generation receptors for sensing, separation, sequestration, transport, and catalysis in aqueous environments. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract A halobenzene molecule contains several sites that are capable of acting in an electron‐donating capacity within a H−bond. One set of such sites comprise the lone electron pairs of the halogen (X) atoms on the periphery of the ring. The π‐electron system above the ring plane can also fulfill this function in many cases. DFT calculations are applied to compare and contrast the propensity of these two site types to engage in such a H−bond within the context of mono, di, tri, tetra, and hexasubstituted halobenzenes. The X atoms chosen for study comprise the full set: F, Cl, Br, and I. It is found that even when the electrostatic potential of the X lone pair is more negative than that above the ring, it is the latter position which is the preferred binding site of HCl in most cases. This preference switches over to the X lone pair only for higher order of substitution, with n=4 or 6. This pattern is explained in large measure by the higher contribution of dispersion when the proton donor is located above the ring. 
    more » « less