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We present a new hybrid quantum algorithm to estimate molecular excited and charged states on near-term quantum computers following any VQE-based ground state estimation.

 

In this work we demonstrate a practical prospect of using quantum annealers for simulation of molecular dynamics. A methodology developed for this goal, dubbed Quantum Differential Equations (QDE), is applied to propagate classical trajectories for the vibration of the hydrogen molecule in several regimes: nearly harmonic, highly anharmonic, and dissociative motion. The results obtained using the D-Wave 2000Q quantum annealer are all consistent and quickly converge to the analytical reference solution. Several alternative strategies for such calculations are explored and it was found that the most accurate results and the best efficiency are obtained by combining the quantum annealer with classical post-processing (greedy algorithm). Importantly, the QDE framework developed here is entirely general and can be applied to solve any system of first-order ordinary nonlinear differential equations using a quantum annealer.

 

Formic acid is unique among liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), because its dehydrogenation is highly entropically driven. This enables the evolution of high-pressure hydrogen at mild temperatures that is difficult to achieve with other LOHCs, conceptually by releasing the “spring” of energy stored entropically in the liquid carrier. Applications calling for hydrogen-on-demand, such as vehicle filling, require pressurized H 2 . Hydrogen compression dominates the cost for such applications, yet there are very few reports of selective, catalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid at elevated pressure. Herein, we show that homogenous catalysts with various ligand frameworks, including Noyori-type tridentate (PNP, SNS, SNP, SNPO), bidentate chelates (pyridyl)NHC, (pyridyl)phosphine, (pyridyl)sulfonamide, and their metallic precursors, are suitable catalysts for the dehydrogenation of neat formic acid under self-pressurizing conditions. Quite surprisingly, we discovered that their structural differences can be related to performance differences in their respective structural families, with some tolerant or intolerant of pressure and others that are significantly advantaged by pressurized conditions. We further find important roles for H 2 and CO in catalyst activation and speciation. In fact, for certain systems, CO behaves as a healing reagent when trapped in a pressurizing reactor system, enabling extended life from systems that would be otherwise deactivated. 

Molecular complexes of vanadium catalyze cis-selective anti-Markovnikov hydroboration of alkynes to generate vinyl boronate esters with appreciable turnover numbers of up to 4000 at room temperature. This represents the first example of the use of vanadium in homogeneous catalytic hydroboration of alkynes. The method is tolerant to various functional groups, including C═C double bonds. Accordingly, 1-hexen-5-yne can be quantitatively and selectively reduced at the triple bond, leaving the double bond unaffected. Preliminary computational analysis of the catalytic cycle reveals both two-state reactivity and previously unknown complexity associated with the redox-active ligand. Specifically, it was found that the ligand can shuttle up to two electrons back-and-forth to and from the metal, which thus adapts three different oxidation states on the catalytic reaction coordinate.