Spectroscopically Determined Molecular Mechanics Model for the Intermolecular Interactions in Hydrogen-Bonded Formic Acid Dimer Structures

Hydrated Formic Acid Clusters and their Interaction with Electrons

We investigate ion formation in hydrated formic acid (FA) clusters upon collision with electrons of variable energy, focusing on electron ionization at 70 eV (EI) and low-energy (1.5-15 eV) electron attachment (EA). To uncover details about the composition of neutral clusters, we aim to elucidate the ion formation processes in FAM ⋅ WN clusters initiated by interaction with electrons and determine the extent of cluster fragmentation. EI predominantly produces protonated [FAm+H]+ ions, and in FA-rich clusters, the stable ring structures surrounding H3O+ ions are formed. In contrast, EA leads to a competition between the formation of intact [FAm ⋅ Wn]- and dissociated [FAm ⋅ Wn-H]- fragment ions, influenced by the cluster size, level of hydration, and electron energy. Our findings reveal a predisposition of low-energy EA towards forming [FAm ⋅ Wn]-, while higher electron energies tend to favor the formation of [FAm ⋅ Wn-H]- due to intracluster ion-molecule reactions. The comparison of positive and negative ion spectra suggests that the mass spectra of FA-rich clusters may indicate their actual size and composition. On the other hand, the more weakly bound water evaporation from the clusters depends strongly on the ionization. Thus, for the hydrated clusters, the neutral cluster size can hardly be estimated from the mass spectra.

Dissecting intermolecular interactions in the condensed phase of ibuprofen and related compounds: the specific role and quantification of hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces

Ibuprofen is a well-established non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibiting the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase. One of the key features defining the ibuprofen structure is the doubly intermolecular O-HO[double bond, length as m-dash]C hydrogen bond in cyclic dimers as know from carboxylic acids and confirmed by X-ray analysis. Until now, there was neither information about the vaporization enthalpy of ibuprofen nor about how this thermal property is determined by the subtle balance between different types of intermolecular interaction. In this study we derive the vaporization enthalpy of ibuprofen from thermochemical experiments to be . We dissected the hydrogen bond energy, EHB = 45.0 kJ mol-1, exclusively from measured vaporization enthalpies of related aliphatic carboxylic acids, their homomorph methyl esters and alkyl acetates, respectively. This contribution from hydrogen bonding could be confirmed almost quantitatively from quantum chemical calculations of ibuprofen clusters, which also suggest dispersion interaction of similar order (Edisp = 47 kJ mol-1). Following the full analysis of the gas-vapor transition enthalpy, we studied the changing structural components from the solid to the liquid phase of ibuprofen by means of Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The cyclic dimers as observed in the X-ray patterns are essentially preserved in the liquid state just above the melting point. However, with increasing temperature the doubly hydrogen-bonded cyclic dimers are replaced by singly hydrogen-bonded linear dimers in the liquid ibuprofen. The transfer enthalpy from the temperature-dependent equilibria of both dimers as obtained from the IR intensity ratios of the vibrational bands quantifies for the first time the energy of the released, single hydrogen bond to be EHB = 21.0 kJ mol-1. Overall, we show that a combination of thermodynamics, infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemistry provides quantification and detailed understanding of structure and molecular interaction in ibuprofen and related compounds.

Formic acid dimers in a nitrogen matrix

Formic acid (HCOOH) dimers are studied by infrared spectroscopy in a nitrogen matrix and by ab initio calculations. We benefit from the use of a nitrogen matrix where the lifetime of the higher-energy (cis) conformer is very long (∼11 h vs. 7 min in an argon matrix). As a result, in a nitrogen matrix, a large proportion of the cis conformer can be produced by vibrational excitation of the lower-energy (trans) conformer. Three trans-trans, four trans-cis, and three cis-cis dimers are found in the experiments. The spectroscopic information on most of these dimers is enriched compared to the previous studies in an argon matrix. The cis-cis dimers of ordinary formic acid (without deuteration) are reported here for the first time. Several conformational processes are obtained using selective excitation by infrared light, some of them also for the first time. In particular, we report on the formation of cis-cis dimers upon vibrational excitation of trans-cis dimers. Tunneling decays of several dimers have been detected in the dark. The tunneling decay of cis-cis dimers of formic acid as well as the stabilization of cis units in cis-cis dimers is also observed for the first time.

Ab initio study of hydrogen bonding in the H3PO2 dimer and H3PO2-DMF complex

The molecular structures and H-bonding interactions in the phosphinic acid dimer and the complex of phosphinic acid with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were investigated by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP level of theory. In order to better understand these phenomena, the individual molecules were also studied. The results were compared with previously obtained data for similar H-bonded complexes of phosphoric and phosphorous acids with DMF. Various correlations were found between geometric characteristics and parameters derived from Bader's theory and natural bond orbital analysis. Graphical abstract Irina V. Fedorova and Lyubov P. Safonova. Ab initio study of hydrogen bonding in the H₃PO₂ dimer and H₃PO₂-DMF complex. The acids of phosphorus are considered suitable candidates for ionomers due to their efficient proton transport properties. In order to better understand their molecular structures and their H-bond characteristics in real liquids, the most stable configurations of the H₃PO₂ dimer and the H₃PO₂-DMF complex were examined using computational methods in quantum chemistry. It was found that the strength of the H-bonding interactions in these systems depends strongly on the environment.

Polarizable Atomic Multipole-based Molecular Mechanics for Organic Molecules

An empirical potential based on permanent atomic multipoles and atomic induced dipoles is reported for alkanes, alcohols, amines, sulfides, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, amides, aromatics and other small organic molecules. Permanent atomic multipole moments through quadrupole moments have been derived from gas phase ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The van der Waals parameters are obtained by fitting to gas phase homodimer QM energies and structures, as well as experimental densities and heats of vaporization of neat liquids. As a validation, the hydrogen bonding energies and structures of gas phase heterodimers with water are evaluated using the resulting potential. For 32 homo- and heterodimers, the association energy agrees with ab initio results to within 0.4 kcal/mol. The RMS deviation of hydrogen bond distance from QM optimized geometry is less than 0.06 Å. In addition, liquid self-diffusion and static dielectric constants computed from molecular dynamics simulation are consistent with experimental values. The force field is also used to compute the solvation free energy of 27 compounds not included in the parameterization process, with a RMS error of 0.69 kcal/mol. The results obtained in this study suggest the AMOEBA force field performs well across different environments and phases. The key algorithms involved in the electrostatic model and a protocol for developing parameters are detailed to facilitate extension to additional molecular systems.

An atomic charge-charge flux-dipole flux atom-in-molecule decomposition for molecular dipole-moment derivatives and infrared fundamental intensities

The molecular dipole moment and its derivatives are determined from atomic charges, atomic dipoles, and their fluxes obtained from AIM formalism and calculated at the MP2(FC)/6-311++G(3d,3p) level for 16 molecules: 6 diatomic hydrides, CO, HCN, OCS, CO2, CS2, C2H2, C2N2, H2O, H2CO, and CH4. Root-mean-square (rms) errors of 0.052 D and 0.019 e are found for the dipole moments and their derivatives calculated using AIM parameters when compared with those obtained directly from the MP2(FC)/6-311++G(3d,3p) calculations and 0.097 D and 0.049 e when compared to the experimental values. The major deviations occur for the NaH, HF, and H2O molecules. Parallel polar tensor elements for the diatomic and linear polyatomic molecules, except H2, HF, LiH, and NaH, have values resulting from cancellations of substantial contributions from atomic charge fluxes and atomic dipole fluxes. These fluxes have a large negative correlation coefficient, -0.97. IR fundamental intensity sums for CO, HCN, OCS, CO2, CS2, C2H2, C2N2, H2CO, and CH4 calculated using AIM charges, charge fluxes, and atomic dipole fluxes have rms errors of 14.9 km mol(-1) when compared with sums calculated directly from the molecular wave function and 36.2 km mol(-1) relative to experimental values. The classical model proposed here to calculate dipole-moment derivatives is compared with the charge-charge flux-overlap model long used by spectroscopists for interpreting IR vibrational intensities. The utility of the AIM atomic charges and dipoles was illustrated by calculating the forces exerted on molecules by a charged particle. AIM quantities were able to reproduce forces due to a +0.1 e particle over a 3-8-A separation range for the CO and HF molecules in collinear and perpendicular arrangements. These results show that IR intensities do contain information relevant to the study of intermolecular interactions.

Vibrational dynamics of carboxylic acid dimers in gas and dilute solution

Ultrafast mid-IR transient absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the vibrational dynamics of hydrogen-bonded cyclic dimers of trifluoroacetic acid and formic acid in both the gas and solution phases (0.05 M in CCl(4)). Ultrafast excitation of the broad O-H cyclic dimer band leads, in the gas phase, to large-scale structural changes of the dimer creating a species with a distinct free O-H stretching band on 20 ps and 200 ps timescales. These timescales are assigned to ring-opening and dissociation of the dimer, respectively. In the solution phase, no such structural rearrangement occurs and our results are consistent with previous studies. The gas phase dynamics are insensitive to both the specific excitation energy (over a span of 550 cm(-1)) and the chemical identity of the dimer.

High-energy conformer of formic acid in solid neon: Giant difference between the proton tunneling rates ofcismonomer andtrans-cisdimer

We study the conformational reorganization of formic acid (FA) in solid neon and report the higher-energy cis-FA monomer and one form of the trans-cis FA dimers. They were prepared by selective vibrational excitation of the trans-FA monomer and trans-trans dimer. The proton tunneling decay of cis-FA monomer is surprisingly very fast in solid neon, two orders of magnitude faster than in solid argon. It was also found that the stability of the trans-cis dimer against proton tunneling is enormously enhanced in solid neon compared to the monomer (by a factor of approximately 300). These results are discussed in terms of matrix solvation and hydrogen bonding.

cis−trans Formic Acid Dimer: Experimental Observation and Improved Stability against Proton Tunneling

We prepared the first cis-trans dimer of formic acid and measured its vibrational spectrum in a low-temperature Ar matrix. This preparation was done by selective vibrational excitation of the trans-trans noncyclic dimer. It was found that the stability of the cis-trans dimer against proton tunneling is strongly improved compared to the monomer, especially at elevated temperatures (>30 K). This surprising phenomenon was explained by differences in dynamical, energetic, and vibrational properties of the dimer and monomer. The obtained results show that the proton tunneling reactions can be strongly modified in the hydrogen-bonded solid network compared to the monomeric species.

Does the most stable formic acid tetramer have π stacking or C–H⋯O interactions?

Density functional theory (DFT), Moller-Plesset (MP) perturbation theory, and coupled-cluster calculations are used to examine low-energy minima on the potential energy surface of the formic acid tetramer (HCOOH)(4). The potential energy surface is rather flat with respect to rotation of one of the dimers, relative to the other dimer in an aligned stack, about the axis passing through the inversion centers of the dimers. Our best calculations suggest that an aligned pi-pi stack of two dimers is very likely to be the global minimum but there are two other pi-pi stacks within 0.5 kcal /mol. Moreover, a fourth pi-pi stack, a planar association of two dimers held together by C-H...O interactions, and a bowl structure all lie within 1 kcal /mol of the lowest-energy structure.

New theoretical insight into the interactions and properties of formic acid: Development of a quantum-based pair potential for formic acid

We performed ab initio quantum-chemical studies for the development of intra- and intermolecular interaction potentials for formic acid for use in molecular-dynamics simulations of formic acid molecular crystal. The formic acid structures considered in the ab initio studies include both the cis and trans monomers which are the conformers that have been postulated as part of chains constituting liquid and crystal phases under extreme conditions. Although the cis to trans transformation is not energetically favored, the trans isomer was found as a component of stable gas-phase species. Our decomposition scheme for the interaction energy indicates that the hydrogen-bonded complexes are dominated by the Hartree-Fock forces while parallel clusters are stabilized by the electron correlation energy. The calculated three-body and higher interactions are found to be negligible, thus rationalizing the development of an atom-atom pair potential for formic acid based on high-level ab initio calculations of small formic acid clusters. Here we present an atom-atom pair potential that includes both intra- and inter molecular degrees of freedom for formic acid. The newly developed pair potential is used to examine formic acid in the condensed phase via molecular-dynamics simulations. The isothermal compression under hydrostatic pressure obtained from molecular-dynamics simulations is in good agreement with experiment. Further, the calculated equilibrium melting temperature is found to be in good agreement with experiment.

Anion of the formic acid dimer as a model for intermolecular proton transfer induced by a π* excess electron

The neutral and anionic formic acid dimers have been studied at the second-order Moller-Plesset and coupled-cluster level of theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations with augmented, correlation-consistent basis sets of double- and triple-zeta quality. Scans of the potential-energy surface for the anion were performed at the density-functional level of theory with a hybrid B3LYP functional and a high-quality basis set. Our main finding is that the formic acid dimer is susceptible to intermolecular proton transfer upon an excess electron attachment. The unpaired electron occupies a pi(*) orbital, the molecular moiety that accommodates an excess electron "buckles," and a proton is transferred to the unit where the excess electron is localized. As a consequence of these geometrical transformations, the electron vertical detachment energy becomes substantial, 2.35 eV. The anion is barely adiabatically unstable with respect to the neutral at 0 K. However, at standard conditions and in terms of Gibbs free energy, the anion is more stable than the neutral by +37 meV. The neutral and anionic dimers display different IR characteristics. In summary, the formic acid dimer can exist in two quasidegenerate states (neutral and anionic), which can be viewed as "zero" and "one" in the binary system. These two states are switchable and distinguishable.

Polar isomer of formic acid dimers formed in helium nanodroplets

The infrared spectrum of formic acid dimers in helium nanodroplets has been observed corresponding to excitation of the "free" OH and CH stretches. The experimental results are consistent with a polar acyclic structure for the dimer. The formation of this structure in helium, as opposed to the much more stable cyclic isomer with two O-H...O hydrogen bonds, is attributed to the unique growth conditions that exist in helium droplets, at a temperature of 0.37 K. Theoretical calculations are also reported to aid in the interpretation of the experimental results. At long range the intermolecular interaction between the two monomers is dominated by the dipole-dipole interaction, which favors the formation of a polar dimer. By following the minimum-energy path, the calculations predict the formation of an acyclic dimer having one O-H...O and one C-H...O contact. This structure corresponds to a local minimum on the potential energy surface and differs significantly from the structure observed in the gas phase.