Software update: The ORCA program system—Version 5.0

Exploring the Limits of Intramolecular London Dispersion Stabilization with Bulky Dispersion Energy Donors in Alkane Solution

We present an experimental study of a cyclooctatetraene-based molecular balance disubstituted with increasingly bulky tert-butyl (tBu), adamantyl (Ad), and diamantyl (Dia) substituents in the 1,4-/1,6-positions for which we determined the valence-bond shift equilibrium in n-hexane (hex), n-octane (oct), and n-dodecane (dod). Computations including implicit and explicit solvation support our temperature-dependent NMR equilibrium measurements indicating that the more sterically crowded 1,6-isomer is always favored, irrespective of solvent, and that the free energy is quite insensitive to substituent size.

Theoretical exploration of noncovalent interactions in Sc2C2@C2n (n = 40, 41, and 42)⊂[12]CPP, PF[12]CPP

The encapsulation of fullerenes by carbon nanorings has gained increasing attention because of the unique molecular structure and special properties of the formed complexes. The host-guest interactions between the fullerenes and the carbon nanorings can influence the metal ion orientation and the molecular electronic structure. In this study, we hooped a series of carbide cluster metallofullerenes, namely Sc₂C₂@C_2v(5)-C₈₀, Sc₂C₂@C_3v(8)-C₈₂, and Sc₂C₂@D_2d(23)-C₈₄, with molecular carbon nanorings of [12]cycloparaphenylene ([12]CPP) and perfluoro[12]cycloparaphenylene (PF[12]CPP). The formed complexes were computationally studied via dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations. The results showed that the deformation rate of PF[12]CPP after the formation of the fullerene-containing complexes was significantly smaller than that of [12]CPP. The binding energy and thermodynamic information showed that PF[12]CPP was more suitable for fullerene encapsulation. Moreover, charge population analysis showed that PF[12]CPP transferred more electrons to Sc₂C₂@C_2n (n = 40, 41, and 42) compared with [12]CPP. Energy decomposition and real-space function analyses of host-guest interactions revealed the characteristics and nature of the noncovalent interactions in the supramolecules. These results provide theoretical support for the study of host-guest systems based on metallofullerenes.

Novel Design of Co-Poly(Hydrazide Imide) and Its Complex with Cu(I) for Membrane Separation of Methanol/Dimethyl Carbonate Mixture

Poly(2,2'-biquinoline-6,6'-dicarbohydrazide)-co-(bistrimelliteimide)methylene-bisanthranylide (PHI) and its metal-polymer complex PHI-Cu(I) containing several types of functional groups (hydrazide, carboxyl, amide, and imide fragments) were synthesized to prepare two types of dense nonporous membranes. The study on morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), measurements of mechanical, thermal, and transport properties of the membrane samples was carried out. The main mechanical properties of both membranes do not differ significantly, but the values of ultimate deformation differ palpably as a result of a non-uniform character of the deformation process for the PHI membrane. The thermal analysis based on the curves of thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential thermal (DTA) analyses of the PHI and PHI-Cu(I) membranes revealed peculiarities of the membrane structure. Transport properties were studied in pervaporation (PV) of methanol (MeOH) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) mixtures including an azeotropic point. Intrinsic properties of the penetrant-membrane system were also determined. It was found that the total flux is higher through the PHI membrane, but the PHI-Cu(I) membrane exhibits a higher separation factor. Calculation of the pervaporation separation index (PSI) allowed to conclude that the PHI-Cu(I) membrane exhibits better transport properties as compared with the PHI membrane.

Effect of void-carbon on blue-shifted luminescence in TADF molecules by theoretical simulations

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules have a theoretical 100% photoluminescence quantum yield in comparison with traditional fluorescent materials, leading to broad application in organic light-emitting diode (OLED). However, the application of TADF molecules with conjugated donor-acceptor structures in blue OLED remains a challenge due to their generally narrow energy gap between frontier molecular orbitals. Recently, a strategy has been approved in the improvement of the performance in TADF, in which void-carbon atoms between donor and acceptor fragments (donor-void-acceptor (D-v-A)) could regulate blue light emission. In this study, we first select three reported isomers followed by two proposed D-v-A TADF isomers to verify the feasibility of the void-carbon strategy through evaluation of the electronic structures in the excited state and photophysical properties. We further proposed a series of TADF molecules by replacing different donor and acceptor fragments to assess the applicability of the void-carbon strategy from the aspect of simulations in electronic structures, different properties of donor and acceptor fragments, photophysical properties, and analysis in the molecular conjugation. The results indicate that void-carbon strategy has conditional feasibility and applicability. Donor-acceptor molecular properties could be tuned through void-carbon strategy on aromatic acceptor fragments during the selection of promising candidates of TADF molecules. However, the void-carbon strategy does not work for the molecules with antiaromatic acceptor fragments, where the steric hindrance of the molecules plays a dominant role. Our work provides insightful guidance for the design of the blue-emission TADF molecules.

Assisted Tandem Pd Catalysis Enables Regiodivergent Heck Arylation of Transiently Generated Substituted Enol Ethers

Two complementary regiodivergent Pd-catalyzed assisted tandem [isomerization/Heck arylation] reactions are reported. They provide access to a broad array of acyclic trisubstituted vinyl ethers starting from readily available alkenyl ethers. In both cases, the isomerization is conducted with a [Pd-H] precatalyst supported by tris-tert-butyl phosphine ligands. When the catalyst is modified by the addition of a chelating bisphosphine ligand (dppp), an organic base (Cy2NMe), sodium acetate, and aryl triflates are used as electrophiles, the α-arylation pathway is promoted preferentially. The β-arylation pathway is favored for electron-deficient and electron-neutral aryl halides when the catalyst is simply modified by the addition of an excess of an organic base (Et3N) after completion of the isomerization reaction. Electron-rich aryl halides lead to reduced levels of regiocontrol. The moderate stereoselectivity obtained are proposed to reflect the absence of stereocontrol in the isomerization step. Computational analyses suggest that migratory insertion is selectivity-determining for both the arylations. For the β-selective arylation, an energy decomposition analysis underscored that electronic factors favor α-regioselectivity and steric effects favor β-regioselectivity. Preliminary investigations show that high levels of stereoselectivity can be achieved for the α-selective arylation by ligand control. Complementarily, reaction conditions for postcatalytic stereo-correction have also been identified for each catalytic system.

Diboraanthracene-Doped Polymer Systems for Colour-Tuneable Room-Temperature Organic Afterglow

Organic ultralong room temperature phosphorescence (RTP), or organic afterglow, is a unique phenomenon, gaining widespread attention due to its far-reaching application potential and fundamental interest. Here, two laterally expanded 9,10-dimesityl-dihydro-9,10-diboraanthracene (DBA) derivatives are demonstrated as excellent afterglow materials for red and blue-green light emission, which is traced back to persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence and RTP. The lateral substitution of polycyclic DBA scaffold, together with weak transversal electron-donating mesityl groups, ensures the optimal molecular properties for (reverse) intersystem crossing and long-lived triplet states in a rigid poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix. The achieved afterglow emission quantum yields of up to 3 % and 15 %, afterglow lifetimes up to 0.8 s and 3.2 s and afterglow durations up to 5 s and 25 s (for red and blue-green emitters, respectively) are attributed to the properties of single molecules.

Probing the Size Limit of Dispersion Energy Donors with a Bifluorenylidene Balance: Magic Cyclohexyl

We report the synthesis of 14 2,2'-disubstituted 9,9'-bifluorenylidenes as molecular balances for the quantification of London dispersion interactions between various dispersion energy donors. For all balances, we measured ΔG_Z/E at 333 K using ¹H NMR in seven organic solvents. For various alkyl and aryl substituents, we generally observe a preference for the "folded" Z-isomer due to attractive London dispersion interactions. The cyclohexyl-substituted system shows the largest Z-preference in this study with ΔG_Z/E = -0.6 ± 0.05 kcal mol^-1 in all solvents, owing to the rotational freedom of cyclohexyl groups paired with their large polarizability that maximizes London dispersion interactions. On the other hand, rigid and sterically more demanding substituents like tert-butyl unexpectedly favor the unfolded E-isomer. This is a result of the close relative position in which the functional groups are positioned in this molecular balance. This close proximity is the reason for the increase of Pauli repulsion in the Z-isomers with large rigid substituents (tert-butyl, adamantyl, and diamantyl) which leads to an equilibrium shift toward the unfolded E-form. While we were able to reproduce most of our experimental trends qualitatively using contemporary computational chemistry methods, quantitative accuracy of the employed methods still needs further improvement.

Uncovering the Mechanism of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence in Coplanar Emitters Using Potential Energy Surface Analysis

Planarized emitters exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) have attracted attention due to their narrow emission spectra, improved photostability, and high quantum yields, but with large singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔE_ST) and no heavy atoms, the origin of their TADF remains a subject of debate. Here we prepare two isomeric, coplanar donor-acceptor compounds, with HMAT-2PYM performing dual TADF and room-temperature phosphorescence but with HMAT-4PYM exhibiting only prompt fluorescence. Although conventional TADF design principles suggest that neither isomer should exhibit TADF, we reveal differences in the excited state potential energy surfaces that enable spin-flip processes in only one isomer. We also find that hydrogen bonding is absent between the planar units of these emitters, despite earlier claims of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in similar compounds. Overall, this work demonstrates that potential energy surface analysis is a practical strategy for designing coplanar TADF materials that might otherwise be overlooked by conventional TADF design metrics.

Experimental-theoretical study of laccase as a detoxifier of aflatoxins

We investigate laccase-mediated detoxification of aflatoxins, fungal carcinogenic food contaminants. Our experimental comparison between two aflatoxins with similar structures (AFB₁ and AFG₂) shows significant differences in laccase-mediated detoxification. A multi-scale modeling approach (Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Density Functional Theory) identifies the highly substrate-specific changes required to improve laccase detoxifying performance. We employ a large-scale density functional theory-based approach, involving more than 7000 atoms, to identify the amino acid residues that determine the affinity of laccase for aflatoxins. From this study we conclude: (1) AFB₁ is more challenging to degrade, to the point of complete degradation stalling; (2) AFG₂ is easier to degrade by laccase due to its lack of side products and favorable binding dynamics; and (3) ample opportunities to optimize laccase for aflatoxin degradation exist, especially via mutations leading to π-π stacking. This study identifies a way to optimize laccase for aflatoxin bioremediation and, more generally, contributes to the research efforts aimed at rational enzyme optimization.

Building on the strengths of a double-hybrid density functional for excitation energies and inverted singlet-triplet energy gaps

It is demonstrated that a double hybrid density functional approximation, ωB88PTPSS, that incorporates equipartition of density functional theory and the non-local correlation, however with a meta-generalized gradient approximation correlation functional, as well as with the range-separated exchange of ωB2PLYP, provides accurate excitation energies for conventional systems, as well as correct prescription of negative singlet-triplet gaps for non-conventional systems with inverted gaps, without any necessity for parametric scaling of the same-spin and opposite-spin non-local correlation energies. Examined over "safe" excitations of the QUESTDB set, ωB88PTPSS performs quite well for open-shell systems, correctly and fairly accurately [relative to equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) reference] predicts negative gaps for 50 systems with inverted singlet-triplet gaps, and is one of the leading performers for intramolecular charge-transfer excitations and achieves near-second-order approximate coupled cluster (CC2) and second-order algebraic diagrammatic construction quality for the Q1 and Q2 subsets. Subsequently, we tested ωB88PTPSS on two sets of real-life examples from recent computational chemistry literature-the low energy bands of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and a set of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) systems. For Chl a, ωB88PTPSS qualitatively and quantitatively achieves DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD-level performance and provides excellent agreement with experiment. For TADF systems, ωB88PTPSS agrees quite well with spin-component-scaled CC2 (SCS-CC2) excitation energies, as well as experimental values, for the gaps between the S₁ and T₁ excited states.

The Halogen Bond in Weakly Bonded Complexes and the Consequences for Aromaticity and Spin-Orbit Coupling

The halogen bond complexes CF3X⋯Y and C2F3X⋯Y, with Y = furan, thiophene, selenophene and X = Cl, Br, I, have been studied by using DFT and CCSD(T) in order to understand which factors govern the interaction between the halogen atom X and the aromatic ring. We found that PBE0-dDsC/QZ4P gives an adequate description of the interaction energies in these complexes, compared to CCSD(T) and experimental results. The interaction between the halogen atom X and the π-bonds in perpendicular orientation is stronger than the interaction with the in-plane lone pairs of the heteroatom of the aromatic cycle. The strength of the interaction follows the trend Cl < Br < I; the chalcogenide in the aromatic ring nor the hybridization of the C−X bond play a decisive role. The energy decomposition analysis shows that the interaction energy is dominated by all three contributions, viz., the electrostatic, orbital, and dispersion interactions: not one factor dominates the interaction energy. The aromaticity of the ring is undisturbed upon halogen bond formation: the π-ring current remains equally strong and diatropic in the complex as it is for the free aromatic ring. However, the spin-orbit coupling between the singlet and triplet π→π* states is increased upon halogen bond formation and a faster intersystem crossing between these states is therefore expected.

Triplets with a Twist: Ultrafast Intersystem Crossing in a Series of Electron Acceptor Materials Driven by Conformational Disorder

Control over the populations of singlet and triplet excitons is key to organic semiconductor technologies. In different contexts, triplets can represent an energy loss pathway that must be managed (i.e., solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and lasers) or provide avenues to improve energy conversion (i.e., photon upconversion and multiplication systems). A key consideration in the interplay of singlet and triplet exciton populations in these systems is the rate of intersystem crossing (ISC). In this work, we design, measure, and model a series of new electron acceptor molecules and analyze them using a combination of ultrafast transient absorption and ultrafast broadband photoluminescence spectroscopies. We demonstrate that intramolecular triplet formation occurs within several hundred picoseconds in solution and is accelerated considerably in the solid state. Importantly, ISC occurs with sufficient rapidity to compete with charge formation in modern organic solar cells, implicating triplets in intrinsic exciton loss channels in addition to charge recombination. Density functional theory calculations reveal that ISC occurs in triplet excited states characterized by local deviations from orbital π-symmetry associated with rotationally flexible thiophene rings. In disordered films, structural distortions, therefore, result in significant increases in spin-orbit coupling, enabling rapid ISC. We demonstrate the generality of this proposal in an oligothiophene model system where ISC is symmetry-forbidden and show that conformational disorder introduced by the formation of a solvent glass accelerates ISC, outweighing the lower temperature and increased viscosity. This proposal sheds light on the factors responsible for facile ISC and provides a simple framework for molecular control over spin states.

5,8-Di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione—A New Lipophilic N-oxyl Radical Precursor

N-hydroxyimides are widely known as organocatalysts for aerobic oxidation and oxidative coupling reactions, in which corresponding imide-N-oxyl radicals play the role of catalytically active hydrogen atom abstracting species. The drawbacks of many N-hydroxyimides are poor solubility in low polarity solvents and limited activity in the cleavage of unactivated C–H bonds. To overcome these shortcomings, we have synthesized a new lipophilic N-hydroxyimide, 5,8-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione, with high solubility in low-polarity solvents such as DCM. According to the EPR study, the stability of the corresponding imide-N-oxyl radical is comparable to that of the non-tert-butylated analogue, naphthalimide-N-oxyl radical. DFT calculations showed that the NO–H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) in the synthesized tert-butylated-N-hydroxynaphthalimide is one of the highest in N-hydroxyimide series, which corresponds to high hydrogen atom abstracting reactivity and may be useful in catalysis of strong C–H bond oxidative cleavage. The synthesized compound can be considered as catalyst for liquid-phase free-radical oxidation and oxidative coupling reactions in non-polar media where solubility was previously the limiting factor.

GA, Jensen SR, Eikås RDR, Frediani L. MRChem Multiresolution Analysis Code for Molecular Electronic Structure Calculations: Performance and Scaling Properties

MRChem is a code for molecular electronic structure calculations, based on a multiwavelet adaptive basis representation. We provide a description of our implementation strategy and several benchmark calculations. Systems comprising more than a thousand orbitals are investigated at the Hartree-Fock level of theory, with an emphasis on scaling properties. With our design, terms that formally scale quadratically with the system size in effect have a better scaling because of the implicit screening introduced by the inherent adaptivity of the method: all operations are performed to the requested precision, which serves the dual purpose of minimizing the computational cost and controlling the final error precisely. Comparisons with traditional Gaussian-type orbitals-based software show that MRChem can be competitive with respect to performance.

Regioselective Cycloaddition of Nitrile Imines to 5-Methylidene-3-phenyl-hydantoin: Synthesis and DFT Calculations

Nitrile imine cycloaddition to hydantoins containing an exocyclic C=C double bond has been previously described in a very limited number of examples. In this work, regioselective synthesis of spiro-pyrazoline-imidazolidine-2,4-diones based on a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrile imines to 5-methylidene-3-phenyl-hydantoin have been proposed. It was found that, regardless of the nature of the aryl substituents at the terminal C and N atoms of the C-N-N fragment of nitrile imine (electron donor or electron acceptor), cycloaddition to the 5-methylidenhydantoin exocyclic C=C bond proceeds regioselectively, and the terminal nitrogen atom of the nitrile imine connects to the more sterically hindered carbon atom of the double bond, which leads to the formation of a 5-disubstituted pyrazoline ring. The observed cycloaddition regioselectivity was rationalized using DFT calculations of frontier molecular orbital interactions, global CDFT reactivity indices, and minimum energy paths.

Photocatalytic Activity of the V2O5 Catalyst toward Selected Pharmaceuticals and Their Mixture: Influence of the Molecular Structure on the Efficiency of the Process

Due to the inability of conventional wastewater treatment procedures to remove organic pharmaceutical pollutants, active pharmaceutical components remain in wastewater and even reach tap water. In terms of pharmaceutical pollutants, the scientific community focuses on β-blockers due to their extensive (over)usage and moderately high solubility. In this study, the photocatalytic activity of V2O5 was investigated through the degradation of nadolol (NAD), pindolol (PIN), metoprolol (MET), and their mixture under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in water. For the preparation of V2O5, facile hydrothermal synthesis was used. The structural, morphological, and surface properties and purity of synthesized V2O5 powder were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray, and Raman spectroscopy. SEM micrographs showed hexagonal-shaped platelets with well-defined morphology of materials with diameters in the range of 10−65 µm and thickness of around a few microns. X-ray diffraction identified only one crystalline phase in the sample. The Raman scattering measurements taken on the catalyst confirmed the result of XRPD. Degradation kinetics were monitored by ultra-fast liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The results showed that in individual solutions, photocatalytic degradation of MET and NAD was relatively insignificant (<10%). However, in the PIN case, the degradation was significant (64%). In the mixture, the photodegradation efficiency of MET and NAD slightly increased (15% and 13%). Conversely, it reduced the PIN to the still satisfactory value of 40%. Computational analysis based on molecular and periodic density functional theory calculations was used to complement our experimental findings. Calculations of the average local ionization energy indicate that the PIN is the most reactive of all three considered molecules in terms of removing an electron from it.

C-O Bond Activation in Mononuclear Lanthanide Oxocarbonyl Complexes OLn(η2-CO) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd)

Fundamental investigation of metal-CO interactions is of great importance for the development of high-performance catalysts to CO activation. Herein, a series of side-on bonded mononuclear lanthanide (Ln) oxocarbonyl complexes OLn(η²-CO) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) have been prepared and identified in solid argon matrices. The complexes exhibit uncommonly low C-O stretching bands near 1630 cm^-1, indicating remarkable C-O bond activation in these Ln analogues. The η²-CO ligand in OLn(η²-CO) can be claimed as an anion on the basis of the experimental observations and quantum chemistry investigations, although the CO anion is commonly considered to be unstable with electron auto-detachment. The CO activation in OLn(η²-CO) is attributed to the photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer from LnO to CO rather than the generally accepted metal → CO π back-donation, which conforms to the traditional Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson motif. Energy decomposition analysis combined with natural orbitals for chemical valence calculations demonstrates that the bonding between LnO and η²-CO arises from the combination of dominant ionic forces (>76%) and normal Lewis "acid-base" interactions. The fundamental findings provide guidelines for the catalyst design of CO activation.

ωB97X-3c: A composite range-separated hybrid DFT method with a molecule-optimized polarized valence double-ζ basis set

A new composite density functional theory (DFT) method is presented. It is based on ωB97X-V as one of the best-performing density functionals for the GMTKN55 thermochemistry database and completes the family of "3c" methods toward range-separated hybrid DFT. This method is consistently available for all elements up to Rn (Z = 1-86). Its further key ingredients are a polarized valence double-ζ (vDZP) Gaussian basis set, which was fully optimized in molecular DFT calculations, in combination with large-core effective core potentials and a specially adapted D4 dispersion correction. Unlike most existing double-ζ atomic orbital sets, vDZP shows only small basis set superposition errors (BSSEs) and can compete with standard sets of triple-ζ quality. Small residual BSSE effects are efficiently absorbed by the D4 damping scheme, which overall eliminates the need for an explicit treatment or empirical corrections for BSSE. Thorough tests on a variety of thermochemistry benchmark sets show that the new composite method, dubbed ωB97X-3c, is on par with or even outperforms standard hybrid DFT methods in a quadruple-zeta basis set at a small fraction of the computational cost. Particular strengths of this method are the description of non-covalent interactions and barrier heights, for which it is among the best-performing density functionals overall.

Virtual Screening of Soybean Protein Isolate-Binding Phytochemicals and Interaction Characterization

Soybean protein isolate (SPI) and small molecule interactions have drawn more and more attention regarding their benefits for both parts, while research on large-scale investigations and comparisons of different compounds is absent. In this study, a high throughput virtual screening was applied on a phytochemical database with 1130 compounds to pinpoint the potential SPI binder. Pentagalloylglucose, narcissoside, poliumoside, isoginkgetin, and avicurin were selected as the top-five ranking molecules for further validation. Fluorescence quenching assays illustrated that isoginkgetin has a significantly higher apparent binding constant (Ka) of (0.060 ± 0.020) × 106 L·mol-1, followed by avicularin ((0.058 ± 0.010) × 106 L·mol-1), pentagalloylglucose ((0.049 ± 0.010) × 106 L·mol-1), narcissoside ((0.0013 ± 0.0004) × 106 L·mol-1), and poliumoside ((0.0012 ± 0.0006) × 106 L·mol-1). Interface characterization by MD simulation showed that protein residues E172, H173, G202, and V204 are highly involved in hydrogen bonding with the two carbonyl oxygens of isoginketin, which could be the crucial events in SPI binding. Van der Waals force was identified as the major driven force for isoginketin binding. Our study explored SPI-phytochemical interaction through multiple strategies, revealing the molecular binding details of isoginkgetin as a novel SPI binder, which has important implications for the utilization of the SPI-phytochemical complex in food applications.

Semirigid discotic dimers: flexible but not flexible enough?

Two diastereomeric dibenzo[a,c]phenazine 1,2-cyclohexyl bridged diesters were prepared and their phase properties examined. While the trans dimer exhibited a broad columnar liquid crystal phase, the cis dimer was amorphous at all temperatures studied. This difference was attributed to the conformational dynamics of the two systems. NMR and DFT studies indicate that both dimers adopt folded and unfolded conformers in solution. While their folded geometries were similar, the trans dimer adopts an extended, largely planar structure, whereas the cis dimer is limited to non-planar unfolded structures and likely disrupts columnar ordering. Geometric constraints imposed by the cylcic linker were also important for columnar stability, with the trans dimer clearing 40 °C lower than the corresponding acyclic 2R,3R-butyl linked dimer, likely because the cyclohexyl group hinders π-π stacking in the unfolded conformation of the former.

Diterpenoids from Sigesbeckia glabrescens with anti-inflammatory and AChE inhibitory activities

Fourteen previously undescribed diterpenoids, including seven ent-pimarane-type diterpenoids and seven phytane-type diterpenes, together with five known ones, were isolated from the aerial parts of Sigesbeckia glabrescens. The structures and absolute configurations of undescribed compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic techniques, ECD calculations, Mo₂(OAC)₄-induced ECD, Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄-induced ECD, calculated ¹³C NMR, and chemical methods. In the anti-inflammatory bioassay, siegetalis H showed potent inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 murine macrophages with an IC₅₀ value at 17.29 μM. Furthermore, siegetalis H suppressed the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, siegetalis H suppressed the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, as well as the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, the AChE inhibition assay displayed that 3-O-acetyldarutigenol had a remarkable inhibitory effect against AChE with an IC₅₀ value at 7.02 μM. Kinetic study on 3-O-acetyldarutigenol indicated that it acted as a mixed-type inhibitor, and the binding mode was explored by molecular docking.

N,N'-Diaryldihydrophenazines as a Sustainable and Cost-Effective Alternative to Precious Metal Complexes in the Photoredox-Catalyzed Alkylation of Aryl Alkyl Ketones

An inexpensive and highly efficient metal-free alternative to commonly used Ru- and Ir-based catalysts was proposed. It was shown that the new 2,7-di-tert-butyl-5,10-bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5,10-dihydrophenazine outcompeted the iridium phenylpyridyl complex in photoredox activity in the alkylation of silyl enol ethers yielding aryl alkyl ketones. The reaction occurred under visible light irradiation at room temperature and was also applicable to drug derivatives (ibuprofen and naproxen). In-depth photophysical, electrochemical, and quantum chemical studies showed that the aforementioned N,N-diaryldihydrophenazine exhibited enhanced properties that were essential for the photoredox catalysis (a long-lived triplet excited state, strong reducing ability, high stability of the radical cations formed in single-electron-transfer event, and chemical inertness of the catalyst with respect to reactants). Importantly, the substituted N,N'-diaryldihydrophenazines could be obtained directly from diaryl amines; a facile, easily handled and scaled-up one-pot synthetic procedure was elaborated.

Performance of Localized-Orbital Coupled-Cluster Approaches for the Conformational Energies of Longer n-Alkane Chains

We report an update and enhancement of the ACONFL (conformer energies of large alkanes [J. Phys. Chem. A2022,126, 3521-3535]) dataset. For the ACONF12 (n-dodecane) subset, we report basis set limit canonical coupled-cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [i.e., CCSD(T)] reference data obtained from the MP2-F12/cc-pV{T,Q}Z-F12 extrapolation, [CCSD(F12*)-MP2-F12]/aug-cc-pVTZ-F12, and a (T) correction from conventional CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV{D,T}Z calculations. Then, we explored the performance of a variety of single and composite localized-orbital CCSD(T) approximations, ultimately finding an affordable localized natural orbital CCSD(T) [LNO-CCSD(T)]-based post-MP2 correction that agrees to 0.006 kcal/mol mean absolute deviation with the revised canonical reference data. In tandem with canonical MP2-F12 complete basis set extrapolation, this was then used to re-evaluate the ACONF16 and ACONF20 subsets for n-hexadecane and n-icosane, respectively. Combining those with the revised canonical reference data for the dodecane conformers (i.e., ACONF12 subset), a revised ACONFL set was obtained. It was then used to assess the performance of different localized-orbital coupled-cluster approaches, such as pair natural orbital localized CCSD(T) [PNO-LCCSD(T)] as implemented in MOLPRO, DLPNO-CCSD(T0) and DLPNO-CCSD(T1) as implemented in ORCA, and LNO-CCSD(T) as implemented in MRCC, at their respective "Normal", "Tight", "vTight", and "vvTight" accuracy settings. For a given accuracy threshold and basis set, DLPNO-CCSD(T1) and DLPNO-CCSD(T0) perform comparably. With "VeryTightPNO" cutoffs, explicitly correlated DLPNO-CCSD(T1)-F12/VDZ-F12 is the best pick among all the DLPNO-based methods tested. To isolate basis set incompleteness from localized-orbital-related truncation errors (domain, LNOs), we have also compared the localized coupled-cluster approaches with canonical DF-CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ for the ACONF12 set. We found that gradually tightening the cutoffs improves the performance of LNO-CCSD(T), and using a composite scheme such as vTight + 0.50[vTight - Tight] improves things further. For DLPNO-CCSD(T1), "TightPNO" and "VeryTightPNO" offer a statistically similar accuracy, which gets slightly better when TCutPNO is extrapolated to the complete PNO space limit. Similar to Brauer et al.'s [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.2016,18 (31), 20905-20925] previous report for the S66x8 noncovalent interactions, the dispersion-corrected direct random phase approximation (dRPA)-based double hybrids perform remarkably well for the ACONFL set. While the revised reference data do not affect any conclusions on the less accurate methods, they may upend orderings for more accurate methods with error statistics on the same order as the difference between reference datasets.

Novel Selective and Low-Toxic Inhibitor of LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) One Important Cysteine Protease for Leishmania Virulence

Leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent, yet neglected disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In the search for newer, safer, and more effective antileishmanial compounds, we herein present a study of the mode of action in addition to a detailed structural and biological characterization of LQOF-G6 [N-benzoyl-N'-benzyl-N″-(4-tertbutylphenyl)guanidine]. X-ray crystallography and extensive NMR experiments revealed that LQOF-G6 nearly exclusively adopts the Z conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The investigated guanidine showed selective inhibitory activity on Leishmania major cysteine protease LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) with ~73% inhibition and an IC50-CPB of 6.0 µM. This compound did not show any activity against the mammalian homologues cathepsin L and B. LQOF-G6 has been found to be nontoxic toward both organs and several cell lines, and no signs of hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity were observed from the analysis of biochemical clinical plasma markers in the treated mice. Docking simulations and experimental NMR measurements showed a clear contribution of the conformational parameters to the strength of the binding in the active site of the enzyme, and thus fit the differences in the inhibition values of LQOF-G6 compared to the other guanidines. Furthermore, the resulting data render LQOF-G6 suitable for further development as an antileishmanial drug.

Yttrium and Lithium Complexes with Diamidophosphane Ligand Bearing 2,1,3-Benzothiazolyl Substituent: Polydentate Complexation and Reversible NH–PH Tautomery

Deprotonation of a bis(amino)phosphane H2L = PhP(HNBtd)2 bearing a heterocyclic Btd = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-yl substituents at nitrogen atoms by silylamides LiNTms2 and Y(NTms2)3 (Tms = trimethylsilylamide) results in lithium and yttrium complexes with the deprotonated HL– and L2– forms as κ2-N and κ4-N chelating ligands. A binuclear complex [LiHL]2 was crystallized from Et2O, and was shown to reversibly dissociate in thf (tetrahydrofuran) with the NH(soln)–PH(crystal) tautomeric shift; the compound [Li2L] was spectroscopically characterized. Yttrium readily forms stable bis-ligand complexes [YL2]– and [YL(HL)]. In the latter, the H atom in HL resides on phosphorus; the coordination sphere remains accessible to another ligands, and it was crystallized as [{YL(HL)}2(µ-dioxane)] species (YN8O coordination). In the former complex, the coordination sphere was saturated (YN8) by closer bound ligands; it was crystallized as a salt with [Li(thf)4]+. The monoligand complex could not be cleanly obtained in a 1:1 reaction of H2L and Y(NTms2)3, and was only crystallographically characterized as a dimer [YL(NTms)2]2. Partial oxidation of the central P atom with the formation of phosphine-oxide ligands PhP(O)(NBtd)2– was observed. They co-crystallize in the same position as non-oxidized ligands in [YL2]– and [YL(NTms2)]2 species and participate in bonding between two units in the latter. TD-DFT calculations reveal that main transitions in the visible region of electronic spectra correspond to the charge transfer bands mostly associated with the orbitals located on Btd fragments.

Stability of Hydroxo/Oxo/Fluoro Zirconates vs. Hafniates—A DFT Study

We performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations on binary and ternary oxo/fluoro crystals of the geochemical twin pair zirconium and hafnium to evaluate and compare their stabilities. This is the first DFT study on bulk ZrF4 or HfF4, as well as on a hypothetical ZrOF2 or HfOF2 bulk crystal. For α-MO2, β-MF4 and MOF2, we have found significantly higher cohesive energies for the respective hafnium species. This suggests a considerable gap in affinity toward fluorine and oxygen between the twin pair in the solid state. In agreement with experimental findings, this gap is slightly more pronounced for fluorine. This study is also the first to evaluate the theoretical, endothermic mono-hydroxylation of the respective fluorides or oxyfluorides to model the difference in affinity toward fluoride versus hydroxide. For these, we could also find a slight energetic preference for the hafnium compound.

Calculation of Mass Spectra with the QCxMS Method for Negatively and Multiply Charged Molecules

Analysis and validation of a mass spectrometry (MS) experiment are usually performed by comparison to reference spectra. However, if references are missing, measured spectra cannot be properly matched. To close this gap, the Quantum Chemical Mass Spectrometry (QCxMS) program has been developed. It enables fully automatic calculations of electron ionization (EI) and positive ion collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra of singly charged molecular ions. In this work, the extension to negative and multiple ion charge for the CID run mode is presented. QCxMS is now capable of calculating structures carrying any charge, without the need for pretabulated fragmentation pathways or machine learning of database spectra. Mass spectra of four single negatively charged and two multiple positively charged organic ions with molecular sizes from 12 to 92 atoms were computed and compared to reference spectra. The underlying Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were conducted using the semiempirical quantum mechanical GFN2-xTB method, while for some small molecules, ab initio DFT-based MD simulations were performed. Detailed insights into the fragmentation pathways were gained, and the effects of the computed charge assignments on the resulting spectrum are discussed. Especially for the negative ion mode, the influence of the deprotonation site to create the anion was found to be substantial. Doubly charged fragments could successfully be calculated fully automatically for the first time, while higher charged structures introduced severe assignment problems. Overall, this extension of the QCxMS program further enhances its applicability and underlines its value as a sophisticated toolkit for CID-based tandem MS structure elucidation.

The (E, Z) Isomerization of C-methoxycarbonyl-N-aryl Chlorohydrazones

Since chlorohydrazones are planar molecules, it is in principle possible to distinguish between their E and Z stereoisomers. Chlorohydrazones are known to preferentially assume the Z configuration around the C=N double bond, and their (E, Z) isomerization is almost suppressed at room temperature. The lack, or rather the difficulty, of such an isomerization has been conveniently addressed by the in-depth theoretical study of seven C-methoxycarbonyl-N-aryl chlorohydrazones (aryl = phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 4-iodophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, and 2-iodophenyl). DFT ωB97M-D4/cc-pVTZ calculations of these C-methoxycarbonyl-N-aryl chlorohydrazones, supported by the XRD determination of the molecular structure, provided a complete picture of the isomerization processes in the studied compounds. The analysis of the energetics, molecular geometry, and electronic structure (the latter in the framework of the Quantum Theory of Atoms In Molecules) showed that the Z isomers are thermodynamically favored because, within the low-energy planar isomers with extensive π conjugation, the electrostatic interactions between the dipoles of the C–O, C–Cl, and N–H bonds overcome the stabilization induced by the N–H ··· O bond present in the E isomers. We confirmed that the (E, Z) isomerization occurs by the umklapp mechanism, in which the –NHAr moiety rotates in the molecular plane towards a linear C=N–N configuration and then proceeds to the other isomer. The (E, Z) isomerization is very slow at room temperature because the umklapp interconversion has high barriers (≈110 kJ/mol) despite the extended π electron delocalization present in the transition state.

Amine-Reactive BODIPY Dye: Spectral Properties and Application for Protein Labeling

A boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative reactive towards amino groups of proteins (NHS-Ph-BODIPY) was synthesized. Spectroscopic and photophysical properties of amine-reactive NHS-Ph-BODIPY and its non-reactive precursor (COOH-Ph-BODIPY) in a number of organic solvents were investigated. Both fluorescent dyes were characterized by green absorption (521-532 nm) and fluorescence (538-552 nm) and medium molar absorption coefficients (46,500-118,500 M^-1·cm^-1) and fluorescence quantum yields (0.32 - 0.73). Solvent polarizability and dipolarity were found to play a crucial role in solvent effects on COOH-Ph-BODIPY and NHS-Ph-BODIPY absorption and emission bands maxima. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to show why solvent polarizability and dipolarity are important as well as to understand how the nature of the substituent affects spectroscopic properties of the fluorescent dyes. NHS-Ph-BODIPY was used for fluorescent labeling of a number of proteins. Conjugation of NHS-Ph-BODIPY with bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulted in bathochromic shifts of absorption and emission bands and noticeable fluorescence quenching (about 1.5 times). It was demonstrated that the sensitivity of BSA detection with NHS-Ph-BODIPY was up to eight times higher than with Coomassie brilliant blue while the sensitivity of PII-like protein PotN (PotN) detection with NHS-Ph-BODIPY and Coomassie brilliant blue was almost the same. On the basis of the molecular docking results, the most probable binding sites of NHS-Ph-BODIPY in BSA and PotN and the corresponding binding free energies were estimated.

New Ferrocene-Based Metalloligand with Two Triazole Carboxamide Pendant Arms and Its Iron(II) Complex: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Magnetic Properties and Theoretical Calculations

The new ferrocene-based metalloligand bis (N-4-[3,5-di-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoyl])ferrocene carboxamide (L) was prepared through derivatization of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid with 4-amino-3,5-di(pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole. The composition and purity of L in the solid state was determined with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and its crystal structure with single-crystal X-ray analysis, which revealed that the substituted cyclopentadienyl rings adopt the antiperiplanar conformation and the crystal structure of L is stabilized by O–H···N and N–H···O hydrogen bonds. The molecular properties of L in solution were investigated with NMR and UV-VIS spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry disclosed irreversible redox behavior providing one oxidation peak at E1/2 = 1.133 V vs. SHE. Furthermore, the polymeric FeII complex {Fe(L)(C(CN)3)2}n (1) was prepared and characterized with elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The last two methods confirmed that a mixture of low- and high-spin species is present in 1; however, the spin crossover properties were absent. The presented study was also supported by theoretical calculations at the DFT/TD-DFT level of theory using TPSS and TPSSh functionals.

The Influence of the Electron Density in Acyl Protecting Groups on the Selectivity of Galactose Formation

The stereoselective formation of 1,2-cis-glycosidic bonds is a major bottleneck in the synthesis of carbohydrates. We here investigate how the electron density in acyl protecting groups influences the stereoselectivity by fine-tuning the efficiency of remote participation. Electron-rich C4-pivaloylated galactose building blocks show an unprecedented α-selectivity. The trifluoroacetylated counterpart with electron-withdrawing groups, on the other hand, exhibits a lower selectivity. Cryogenic infrared spectroscopy in helium nanodroplets and density functional theory calculations revealed the existence of dioxolenium-type intermediates for this reaction, which suggests that remote participation of the pivaloyl protecting group is the origin of the high α-selectivity of the pivaloylated building blocks. According to these findings, an α-selective galactose building block for glycosynthesis is developed based on rational considerations and is subsequently employed in automated glycan assembly exhibiting complete stereoselectivity. Based on the obtained selectivities in the glycosylation reactions and the results from infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory, we suggest a mechanism by which these reactions could proceed.

Computational Exploration of the Intersystem Crossing from the X̃3A2 to the ã1A1 State in Boryl Nitrenes upon Photoexcitation

The boryl nitrene CatBN (Cat = catecholato) turns highly reactive toward small inert molecules upon irradiation of its triplet ground state X̃³A₂ with light of wavelength λ > 550 nm. A computational study of a model boryl nitrene using complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) theory provides evidence for the population of the highly reactive electronic state ã¹A₁ upon irradiation. Potential energy scans connecting different critical points (minima, minimum energy crossing points, and conical intersections) reveal two possible pathways that could relax photoexcited boryl nitrene from the Franck-Condon region of óB₁ to the ã¹A₁ state minimum. Considering the energy barriers to relaxation from one electronic state to another and the magnitude of spin-orbit couplings, the energetically most favorable pathway involves photoexcitation to óB₂, followed by intersystem crossing to the open-shell singlet state (b̃¹A₂) and internal conversion to ã¹A₁. The relevant minimum energy crossing point is about 7-8 kcal mol^-1 higher in energy than the Franck-Condon region.

Interaction of Glutamic Acid/Protonated Glutamic Acid with Amide and Water Molecules: A Theoretical Study

Amino acids are important nitrogen-containing compounds and organic carbon components that exist widely in the atmosphere. The formation of atmospheric aerosols is affected by their interactions with amides. The dimers formed by glutamic acid (Glu) or protonated glutamic acid (Glu⁺) with three kinds of amide molecules (formamide FA, acetamide AA, urea U) and the hydrated clusters formed by Glu or Glu⁺, U molecules along with one to six water molecules were systematically studied at the M06-2X/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level. U is predicted to form a more stable structure with Glu/Glu⁺ than FA and AA by thermodynamics. If the concentration ratio of FA to U is less than 10⁴, U will play a critical role in NPF. The degree of hydration in Glu⁺-mU-nW is higher than that of Glu-mU-nW (m = 0, 1; n = 0-6) clusters. Notably, Glu contributes more to the Rayleigh scattering properties than glutaric acid and sulfuric acid, and thus may lead to the destruction of atmospheric visibility. This study is helpful to better understand the properties of organic aerosols containing amino acids or amides.

Cluster-in-Molecule Method Combined with the Domain-Based Local Pair Natural Orbital Approach for Electron Correlation Calculations of Periodic Systems

The cluster-in-molecule (CIM) method was extended to systems with periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) in a previous work (PBC-CIM) [J. Chem. Theory Comput.2019, 15, 2933], which is able to compute the electronic structures of periodic systems at second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) levels. However, the high computational costs of CCSD with respect to the size of clusters limit the usage of PBC-CIM to crystals with small or medium unit cells. In this work, we further develop the PBC-CIM method by employing the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) methods for the electron correlation calculations of clusters to reduce the computational costs. The combined approach allows CCSD with perturbative triples, denoted as CCSD(T), to be computationally available for accurate descriptions of periodic systems. The distant-pair correction is also implemented to improve the accuracy of PBC-CIM. As in the molecular cases, the distant pair correction significantly improves the accuracy of various PBC-CIM methods with few additional costs. The PBC-CIM-DLPNO-CCSD(T) approach has been applied to investigate the optimized lattice parameter of the cubic LiCl crystal and two adsorption problems (CO on the NaCl(100) surface and H₂O on the h-BN surface). The results show that the CIM-DLPNO-CCSD(T) method offers accurate and efficient descriptions for the studied systems. Another application to the cohesive energy of the acetic acid crystal reveals that large basis sets are necessary for reliable calculations on the cohesive energies of molecular crystals.

Origin of Decomposition in a Family of Molybdenum Precursor Compounds

The bis(tert-butylimido)-molybdenum(VI) framework has been used successfully in the design of vapor-phase precursors for molybdenum-containing thin films, so understanding its thermal behavior is important for such applications. Here, we report the thermal decomposition mechanism for a series of volatile bis(alkylimido)-dichloromolybdenum(VI) adducts with neutral N,N'-chelating ligands, to probe the stability and decomposition pathways for these molecules. The alkyl groups explored were tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, 1-adamantyl, and a cyclic imido (from 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diamine). We also report the synthesis of the new tert-octyl imido adducts, (^tOctN)₂MoCl₂·L (L = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine or 2,2'-bipyridine), which have been fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. We found that the decomposition of all compounds follows the same general pathway, proceeding first by the dissociation of the chelating ligand to give the coordinatively unsaturated species (RN)₂MoCl₂. Subsequent dimerization results in either an imido bridged adduct, [(RN)Mo(μ-NR)Cl₂]₂, or a chloride bridged adduct, [(RN)₂Mo(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, depending on the size of the R group. The dimeric species then likely undergoes an intramolecular γ-hydrogen transfer to yield a nitrido-amido adduct, (RHN)MoNCl₂, and an alkene. Ultimately, the resulting molybdenum species appears to decompose into free tert-alkylamine and Mo₂N or Mo₂C. The thermolysis reactions have been monitored using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and the volatile decomposition products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A key intermediate has also been detected using electron ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry. Finally, a detailed computational investigation supports the mechanism outlined above and helps explain the relative stabilities of different N,N'-chelated bis(alkylimido)-dichloromolybdenum(VI) adducts.

Dynamics of the Energy Transfer Process in Eu(III) Complexes Containing Polydentate Ligands Based on Pyridine, Quinoline, and Isoquinoline as Chromophoric Antennae

In this work, we investigated from a theoretical point of view the dynamics of the energy transfer process from the ligand to Eu(III) ion for 12 isomeric species originating from six different complexes differing by nature of the ligand and the total charge. The cationic complexes present the general formula [Eu(L)(H₂O)₂]⁺ (where L = bpcd^2– = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N′-diacetate; bQcd^2– = N,N′-bis(2-quinolinmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N′-diacetate; and bisoQcd^2– = N,N′-bis(2-isoquinolinmethyl)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane N,N′-diacetate), while the neutral complexes present the Eu(L)(H₂O)₂ formula (where L = PyC3A^3– = N-picolyl-N,N′,N′-trans-1,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate; QC3A^3– = N-quinolyl-N,N′,N′-trans-1,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate; and isoQC3A^3– = N-isoquinolyl-N,N′,N′-trans-1,2-cyclohexylenediaminetriacetate). Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations provided the energy of the ligand excited donor states, distances between donor and acceptor orbitals involved in the energy transfer mechanism (R_L), spin-orbit coupling matrix elements, and excited-state reorganization energies. The intramolecular energy transfer (IET) rates for both singlet-triplet intersystem crossing and ligand-to-metal (and vice versa) involving a multitude of ligand and Eu(III) levels and the theoretical overall quantum yields (ϕ_ovl) were calculated (the latter for the first time without the introduction of experimental parameters). This was achieved using a blend of DFT, Judd–Ofelt theory, IET theory, and rate equation modeling. Thanks to this study, for each isomeric species, the most efficient IET process feeding the Eu(III) excited state, its related physical mechanism (exchange interaction), and the reasons for a better or worse overall energy transfer efficiency (η_sens) in the different complexes were determined. The spectroscopically measured ϕ_ovl values are in good agreement with the ones obtained theoretically in this work.

Photophysical properties of 12 Eu(III) complexes with pyridine, quinoline, and isoquinoline ligands in aqueous solutions were elucidated and predicted through a theoretical protocol using a blend of DFT, Judd−Ofelt theory, intramolecular energy transfer theory, and coupled rate equation modeling calculations. The theoretical procedure is general and can be extended to any lanthanide-based complexes.

Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Eutectic Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) Acetal/Formal Degradation Profile: Nontargeted Identification of Antioxidant Derivatives

In the eutectic mixture of bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) acetal (BDNPA) and bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal (BDNPF), also known as nitroplasticizer (NP), n-phenyl-β-naphthylamine (PBNA), an antioxidant, is used to improve the long-term storage of NP. PBNA scavenges nitrogen oxides (e.g., NO _x radicals) that are evolved from NP decomposition, hence slowing down the degradation of NP. Yet, little is known about the associated chemical reaction between NP and PBNA. Herein, using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF), we thoroughly characterize nitrated PBNA derivatives with up to five NO₂ moieties in terms of retention time, mass verification, fragmentation pattern, and correlation with NP degradation. The propagation of PBNA nitration is found to depend on the temperature and acidity of the NP system and can be utilized as an indirect, yet reliable, means of determining the extent of NP degradation. At low temperatures (<55 °C), we find that the scavenging efficiency of PBNA is nullified when three NO₂ moieties are added to PBNA. Hence, the dinitro derivative can be used as a reliable indicator for the onset of hydrolytic NP degradation. At elevated temperatures (≥55 °C) and especially in the dry environment, the trace amount of water in the condensed NP (<700 ppm) is essentially removed, which accelerates the production of reactive species (e.g., HONO, HNO₃ and NO _x ). In return, the increased acidity due to HNO₃ formation catalyzes the hydrolysis of NP and PBNA nitro derivatives into 2,2-dinitropropanol (DNPOH) and nitrophenol/dinitrophenol, respectively.