Entrance channel complexes of cationic aromatic SN2 reactions: IR spectra of fluorobenzene+–(H2O)n clusters

Stepwise microhydration of aromatic amide cations: water solvation networks revealed by the infrared spectra of acetanilide+-(H2O)n clusters (n ≤ 3)

The structure and activity of peptides and proteins strongly rely on their charge state and the interaction with their hydration environment. Here, infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of size-selected microhydrated clusters of cationic acetanilide (AA⁺, N-phenylacetamide), AA⁺-(H₂O)_n with n ≤ 3, are analysed by dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations at the ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVTZ level to determine the stepwise microhydration process of this aromatic peptide model. The IRPD spectra are recorded in the informative X-H stretch (ν_OH, ν_NH, ν_CH, amide A, 2800-3800 cm^-1) and fingerprint (amide I-II, 1000-1900 cm^-1) ranges to probe the preferred hydration motifs and the cluster growth. In the most stable AA⁺-(H₂O)_n structures, the H₂O ligands solvate the acidic NH proton of the amide by forming a hydrogen-bonded solvent network, which strongly benefits from cooperative effects arising from the excess positive charge. Comparison with neutral AA-H₂O reveals the strong impact of ionization on the acidity of the NH proton and the topology of the interaction potential. Comparison with related hydrated formanilide clusters demonstrates the influence of methylation of the amide group (H → CH₃) on the shape of the intermolecular potential and the structure of the hydration shell.

Sequential microhydration of cationic 5-hydroxyindole (5HI+): infrared photodissociation spectra of 5HI+–Wn clusters (W = H2O, n ≤ 4)

The hydrogen-bonding properties of the acidic OH and NH groups of the 5-hydroxyindole cation are probed by infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations of its microhydrated clusters.

Microsolvation of the pyrrole cation (Py+) with nonpolar and polar ligands: infrared spectra of Py+–Ln with L = Ar, N2, and H2O (n ≤ 3)

IR spectra and dispersion-corrected density functional calculations of pyrrole cluster ions with Ar, N₂, and H₂O reveal the competition between H-bonding and π-stacking motifs of this prototypical heterocyclic aromatic cation in a hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvent.

Infrared spectroscopy of hydrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations: naphthalene+–water

The combination of infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations unravels the salient properties of the bifurcated CH⋯O ionic hydrogen bond typical for the PAH⁺–H₂O interaction.

Competing Insertion and External Binding Motifs in Hydrated Neurotransmitters: Infrared Spectra of Protonated Phenylethylamine Monohydrate

Hydration has a drastic impact on the structure and function of flexible biomolecules, such as aromatic ethylamino neurotransmitters. The structure of monohydrated protonated phenylethylamine (H(+) PEA-H2 O) is investigated by infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy of cold cluster ions by using rare-gas (Rg=Ne and Ar) tagging and dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP-D3/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Monohydration of this prototypical neurotransmitter gives an insight into the first step of the formation of its solvation shell, especially regarding the competition between intra- and intermolecular interactions. The spectra of Rg-tagged H(+) PEA-H2 O reveal the presence of a stable insertion structure in which the water molecule is located between the positively charged ammonium group and the phenyl ring of H(+) PEA, acting both as a hydrogen bond acceptor (NH(+) ⋅⋅⋅O) and donor (OH⋅⋅⋅π). Two other nearly equivalent isomers, in which water is externally H bonded to one of the free NH groups, are also identified. The balance between insertion and external hydration strongly depends on temperature.

Infrared consequence spectroscopy of gaseous protonated and metal ion cationized complexes

In this article, the new and exciting techniques of infrared consequence spectroscopy (sometimes called action spectroscopy) of gaseous ions are reviewed. These techniques include vibrational predissociation spectroscopy and infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy and they typically complement one another in the systems studied and the information gained. In recent years infrared consequence spectroscopy has provided long-awaited direct evidence into the structures of gaseous ions from organometallic species to strong ionic hydrogen bonded structures to large biomolecules. Much is being learned with respect to the structures of ions without their stabilizing solvent which can be used to better understand the effect of solvent on their structures. This review mainly covers the topics with which the author has been directly involved in research: structures of proton-bound dimers, protonated amino acids and DNA bases, amino acid and DNA bases bound to metal ions and, more recently, solvated ionic complexes. It is hoped that this review reveals the impact that infrared consequence spectroscopy has had on the field of gaseous ion chemistry.

Vibrations and Thermodynamics of Clusters of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Molecules: The Role of Internal Modes

The vibrational spectra of clusters of coronene molecules are theoretically calculated using a mixed quantum/classical scheme, each molecule being described by a tight-binding Hamiltonian, the intermolecular forces being provided by explicit Lennard-Jones and point charge sites. The normal modes of vibrations are shown to exhibit significant variations upon clustering. In particular, for large clusters intra- and intermolecular modes tend to mix and fill the mid-infrared range. We also calculate the heat capacity of the (C24H12)8 cluster as a function of temperature, emphasizing the isomerizations that take place during melting. Quantum delocalization effects, as obtained from the Pitzer-Gwinn semiclassical approximation, are important enough to wash out all signatures of the structural transitions on the caloric curve. On the basis of a simple two-state model we estimate that clusters containing about 300 molecules are required for melting to be detected on the caloric curve.

Infrared spectrum of NH4+(H2O): Evidence for mode specific fragmentation

The gas phase infrared spectrum (3250-3810 cm-1) of the singly hydrated ammonium ion, NH4+(H2O), has been recorded by action spectroscopy of mass selected and isolated ions. The four bands obtained are assigned to N-H stretching modes and to O-H stretching modes. The N-H stretching modes observed are blueshifted with respect to the corresponding modes of the free NH4+ ion, whereas a redshift is observed with respect to the modes of the free NH3 molecule. The O-H stretching modes observed are redshifted when compared to the free H2O molecule. The asymmetric stretching modes give rise to rotationally resolved perpendicular transitions. The K-type equidistant rotational spacings of 11.1(2) cm-1 (NH4+) and 29(3) cm-1 (H2O) deviate systematically from the corresponding values of the free molecules, a fact which is rationalized in terms of a symmetric top analysis. The relative band intensities recorded compare favorably with predictions of high level ab initio calculations, except on the nu3(H2O) band for which the observed value is about 20 times weaker than the calculated one. The nu3(H2O)/nu1(H2O) intensity ratios from other published action spectra in other cationic complexes vary such that the nu3(H2O) intensities become smaller the stronger the complexes are bound. The recorded ratios vary, in particular, among the data collected from action spectra that were recorded with and without rare gas tagging. The calculated anharmonic coupling constants in NH4+(H2O) further suggest that the coupling of the nu3(H2O) and nu1(H2O) modes to other cluster modes indeed varies by orders of magnitude. These findings together render a picture of a mode specific fragmentation dynamic that modulates band intensities in action spectra with respect to absorption spectra. Additional high level electronic structure calculations at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles with a perturbative treatment of triple excitations [CCSD(T)] level of theory with large basis sets allow for the determination of an accurate binding energy and enthalpy of the NH4+(H2O) cluster. The authors' extrapolated values at the CCSD(T) complete basis set limit are De [NH4+-(H2O)]=-85.40(+/-0.24) kJ/mol and DeltaH(298 K) [NH4+-(H2O)]=-78.3(+/-0.3) kJ/mol (CC2), in which double standard deviations are indicated in parentheses.

The World of Non-Covalent Interactions: 2006

The review focusses on the fundamental importance of non-covalent interactions in nature by illustrating specific examples from chemistry, physics and the biosciences. Laser spectroscopic methods and both ab initio and molecular modelling procedures used for the study of non-covalent interactions in molecular clusters are briefly outlined. The role of structure and geometry, stabilization energy, potential and free energy surfaces for molecular clusters is extensively discussed in the light of the most advanced ab initio computational results for the CCSD(T) method, extrapolated to the CBS limit. The most important types of non-covalent complexes are classified and several small and medium size non-covalent systems, including H-bonded and improper H-bonded complexes, nucleic acid base pairs, and peptides and proteins are discussed with some detail. Finally, we evaluate the interpretation of experimental results in comparison with state of the art theoretical models: this is illustrated for phenol...Ar, the benzene dimer and nucleic acid base pairs. A review with 270 references.