Hydrogen-Bonded Networks in Ethanol Proton Wires: IR Spectra of (EtOH)qH+−Ln Clusters (L = Ar/N2, q ≤ 4, n ≤ 5)

Infrared spectroscopy and theoretical structure analyses of protonated fluoroalcohol clusters: the impact of fluorination on the hydrogen bond networks

To explore the impact of fluorination on the hydrogen bond networks of protonated alkylalcohols, infrared spectroscopy and theoretical computations of protonated 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol clusters, H⁺(TFE)_n, (n = 4-7), were performed. It has been demonstrated that the development of the hydrogen bond networks from a linear type to cyclic types occurs in this size region for the protonated alkylalcohol clusters. In contrast, infrared spectroscopy of H⁺(TFE)_n in the OH/CH stretch region clearly indicated that the linear type structures are held in the whole size range, irrespective of temperature of the clusters. The extensive stable isomer structure search of H⁺(TFE)_n based on our latest sampling approach supported the strong preference of the linear type hydrogen bond networks. Detailed analyses of the free OH stretching vibrational bands evidenced the intra- and intermolecular OH⋯FC interactions in the clusters. In addition, infrared spectra of protonated clusters of 2,2-difluoroethanol, 2,2-difluoropropanol, and 3,3,3-trifluoropropanol were measured for n = 4 and 5, and their spectra also indicated the effective inhibition of the cyclic hydrogen bond network formation by the fluorination.

How many methanol molecules effectively solvate an excess proton in the gas phase? Infrared spectroscopy of H+(methanol)n-benzene clusters

An excess proton in a hydrogen-bonded system enhances the strength of hydrogen bonds of the surrounding molecules. The extent of this influence can be a measure of the number of molecules effectively solvating the excess proton. Such extent in methanol has been discussed by the observation of the π-hydrogen-bonded OH stretch bands of the terminal sites of protonated methanol clusters, H⁺(methanol)_n, in benzene solutions, and it has been concluded that ∼8 molecules effectively solvate the excess proton (Stoyanov et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 3596-3604). In the present study, we performed infrared spectroscopy of H⁺(methanol)_n-benzene clusters in the gas phase. The cluster size and hydrogen-bonded network structure are identified by the tandem mass spectrometric technique and the comparison of the observed infrared spectra with density functional theory calculations. Though changes of the preferred hydrogen bond network type occur with the increase of cluster size in the gas phase clusters, the observed size dependence of the π-hydrogen bonded OH frequency agrees well with that in the benzene solutions. This means that the observations in both the gas and condensed phases catch the same physical essence of the excess proton solvation by methanol.

Anharmonic Coupling Revealed by the Vibrational Spectra of Solvated Protonated Methanol: Fermi Resonance, Combination Bands, and Isotope Effect

Intriguing vibrational features of solvated protonated methanol between 2400-3800 cm^-1 are recorded by infrared predissociation spectroscopy. Positions of absorption bands corresponding to OH stretching modes are sensitive to changes in solvation environments, thus leading to changes in these vibrational features. Two anharmonic coupling mechanisms, Fermi resonance (FR) contributed by bending overtones and combination band (CB) associated with intermolecular stretching modes, are known to lead to band splitting of OH stretching fundamentals in solvated hydronium and ammonium. Theoretical analyses based on the ab initio anharmonic algorithm not only well reproduce the experimentally observed features but also elucidate the magnitudes of such couplings and the resulting interplay between these two mechanisms, which provide convincing assignments of the spectral patterns. Moreover, while the hydroxyl group plays the leading role in all the above-mentioned features, the role of the methyl group is also analyzed. Through the H/D isotope substitution, we identify overtones of the methyl-hydroxyl rocking modes and their participation in FR.

The FELion cryogenic ion trap beam line at the FELIX free-electron laser laboratory: infrared signatures of primary alcohol cations

The FELion beamline – a cryogenic 22-pole trap for vibrational spectroscopy of molecular ions at the FELIX Laboratory.

Competition between hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces in intermolecular structure formation of protonated branched-chain alcohol clusters

To investigate the influence of bulky alkyl groups on hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) network structures of alcohols, infrared (IR) spectra of protonated clusters of 2-propanol (2-PrOH) and tert-butyl alcohol (t-BuOH) were observed in the OH and CH stretch regions. In addition, by varying the tag species, the temperature dependence profile of the isomer population of H+(t-BuOH)n was revealed. An extensive search for stable isomers was performed using dispersion-corrected density functional theory methods, and temperature-dependent IR spectral simulations were done on the basis of the harmonic superposition approximation. The computational results qualitatively agreed with the observed size and temperature dependence of the H-bonded network structures of these protonated bulky alcohol clusters. However, the difficulty in the quantitative evaluation of dispersion was also demonstrated. It was shown that H+(2-PrOH)n (n = 4-7) have essentially the same network structures as the protonated normal alcohol clusters studied so far. On the other hand, H+(t-BuOH)n (n = 4-8) showed a clear preference for the smaller-membered ring structures, that is very different from the preference of the protonated normal alcohol clusters. The origin of the different structure preferences was discussed in terms of the steric effect and dispersion.

Hydrogen bond network structures of protonated short-chain alcohol clusters

Protonated alcohol clusters enable extraction of the physical essence of the nature of hydrogen bond networks.

Quantitative Temperature Dependence of the Microscopic Hydration Structures Investigated by Ultraviolet Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Hydrated Phenol Cations

To discuss the temperature effect on microscopic hydration structures in clusters, relative populations of the isomers having different hydration structures at well-defined temperatures are quite important. In the present study, we measured ultraviolet photodissociation spectra of the temperature-controlled hydrated phenol cation [PhOH(H₂O)₅]⁺ trapped in the 22-pole ion trap. Two isomers having a distinct hydration motif with each other are identified in the spectra, and a clear change in the relative populations is observed in the temperature range from 30 to 150 K. This behavior is quantitatively interpreted by statistical mechanical estimation based on density functional theory calculations. A ring with tail-type hydration motif is dominant in cold conditions, whereas a chain-like motif is dominant in hot conditions. The present study provides very quantitative information about the temperature effect on the microscopic hydration structures.

IR spectrum of the protonated neurotransmitter 2-phenylethylamine: dispersion and anharmonicity of the NH3(+)-π interaction

The structure and dynamics of the highly flexible side chain of (protonated) phenylethylamino neurotransmitters are essential for their function. The geometric, vibrational, and energetic properties of the protonated neutrotransmitter 2-phenylethylamine (H(+)PEA) are characterized in the N-H stretch range by infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy of cold ions using rare gas tagging (Rg = Ne and Ar) and anharmonic calculations at the B3LYP-D3/(aug-)cc-pVTZ level including dispersion corrections. A single folded gauche conformer (G) protonated at the basic amino group and stabilized by an intramolecular NH(+)-π interaction is observed. The dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations reveal the important effects of dispersion on the cation-π interaction and the large vibrational anharmonicity of the NH3(+) group involved in the NH(+)-π hydrogen bond. They allow for assigning overtone and combination bands and explain anomalous intensities observed in previous IR multiple-photon dissociation spectra. Comparison with neutral PEA reveals the large effects of protonation on the geometric and electronic structure.

Hydrogen-bonded ring closing and opening of protonated methanol clusters H+(CH3OH)n (n = 4–8) with the inert gas tagging

Temperature dependence of hydrogen bond network structures of protonated methanol clusters is explored by IR spectroscopy and DFT simulations.

Diastereo-specific conformational properties of neutral, protonated and radical cation forms of (1R,2S)-cis- and (1R,2R)-trans-amino-indanol by gas phase spectroscopy

The effects of ionisation and protonation on the geometric and electronic structure of a prototypical aromatic amino-alcohol with two chiral centres are revealed by IR and UV spectroscopy.

Integration of cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation spectroscopy with a mass spectrometric interface to an electrochemical cell

Cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation (CIVP) spectroscopy is used to structurally characterize electrochemically (EC)-generated oxidation products of the benchmark compound reserpine. Ionic products were isolated using EC-electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled to a 25 K ion trap prior to injection into a double-focusing, tandem time-of-flight photofragmentation mass spectrometer. Vibrational predissociation spectroscopy was carried out by photoevaporation of weakly bound N2 adducts over the range 800-3800 cm(-1) in a linear (i.e., single photon) action regime, thus enabling direct comparison of the experimental vibrational pattern with harmonic calculations. The locations of the NH and OH stretching fundamentals are most consistent with formation of 9-hydroxyreserpine, which is a different isomer than considered previously. This approach thus provides a powerful structural dimension for the analysis of electrochemical processes detected with the sensitivity of mass spectrometry.

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.

Theoretical Analyses of the Morphological Development of the Hydrogen Bond Network in Protonated Methanol Clusters

Extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out on various structural isomers of protonated methanol clusters, H(+)(MeOH)n (n = 2-9), to analyze the morphological development of the hydrogen bond network in the clusters with an increase of the cluster size. Coexistence of multiple structural isomers is demonstrated by the nearly degenerated energies. Moreover, significant temperature dependence of the preferential isomer structure is shown by the calculated Gibbs free energies. The previously reported infrared spectra of H(+)(MeOH)n (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 138) are revisited on the basis of the spectral simulations of the isomers by DFT calculations.

Infrared spectroscopy and structure of photochemically protonated biomolecules in the gas phase: a noradrenaline analogue, lysine and alanyl alanine

A novel photochemical technique combined with mass spectrometry and resonant infrared multiphoton dissociation spectroscopy (R-IRMPD) has been used to record infrared vibrational spectra of the free protonated noradrenaline analogue, 2-amino-1-phenylethanol (APE-H(+)), the amino acid, lysine (Lys-H(+)), and the dipeptide, alanyl alanine (Ala-Ala-H(+)) in the gas phase. Coupling their spectra, obtained in the OH, NH and CH stretch regions, with ab initio calculations has allowed assignment of their preferred protonation sites and conformations. This simple technique will have wide applicability in future investigations of protonated biomolecular structure and conformation.

IR plus vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of neutral and ionic organic acid monomers and clusters: Propanoic acid

The vibrational spectrum of molecular propanoic acid, cooled in a supersonic expansion, in the region of 2500 to 7500 cm(-1) is obtained employing infrared plus vacuum ultraviolet nonresonant ionization detected spectroscopy. The fundamental and first overtone of the CH and OH stretch modes of cold propanoic acid molecules can be identified in the spectrum. Propanoic acid neutral and ionic clusters are also studied employing nonresonant ion dip and photodissociation spectroscopic techniques, respectively. For the neutral dimer, a sequence of features observed at ca. 2500-2700 cm(-1) can be assigned as combination bands of low frequency modes with the COH bending overtone; these features characterize the cyclic dimer ring structure. IR spectra of the larger neutral clusters n=3, 4, 5 indicate that they also have cyclic structures in which the OH groups are engaged in the cluster hydrogen bonding network. The CH groups are not involved in this hydrogen bonding structure. Free OH features are observed for the protonated ion clusters (C(2)H(5)COOH)(n)H(+), n=1,...,5, indicating that at least one OH group of these cluster ions is not involved in the cluster hydrogen bonding network. A comparison of the results for four hydrogen bonding neutral and ionic clusters (CH(3)OH, C(2)H(5)OH, CH(3)COOH, and C(2)H(5)COOH) is presented and discussed.

Spectroscopic Identification of Carbenium and Ammonium Isomers of Protonated Aniline (AnH+): IR Spectra of Weakly Bound AnH+−Ln Clusters (L = Ar, N2)

Infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of mass-selected clusters composed of protonated aniline (C6H8N+ = AnH+) and a variable number of neutral ligands (L = Ar, N2) are obtained in the N-H stretch range. The AnH+ -Ln complexes (n < or = 3) are produced by chemical ionization in a supersonic expansion of An, H2, and L. The IRPD spectra of AnH+-Ln feature the unambiguous fingerprints of at least two different AnH+ nucleation centers, namely, the ammonium isomer (5) and the carbenium ions (1 and/or 3) corresponding to protonation at the N atom and at the C atoms in the para and/or ortho positions, respectively. Protonation at the meta and ipso positions is not observed. Both classes of observed AnH+-Ln isomers exhibit very different photofragmentation behavior upon vibrational excitation arising from the different interaction strengths of the AnH+ cores with the surrounding neutral ligands. Analysis of the incremental N-H stretch frequency shifts as a function of cluster size shows that microsolvation of both 5 and 1/3 in Ar and N2 starts with the formation of intermolecular H bonds of the ligands to the acidic NH protons and proceeds by intermolecular pi bonding to the aromatic ring. The analysis of both the photofragmentation branching ratios and the N-H stretch frequencies demonstrates that the N-H bonds in 5 are weaker and more acidic than those in 1/3, leading to stronger intermolecular H bonds with L. The interpretation of the spectroscopic data is supported by density functional calculations conducted at the B3LYP level using the 6-31G* and 6-311G(2df,2pd) basis sets. Comparison with clusters of neutral aniline and the aniline radical cation demonstrates the drastic effect of protonation and ionization on the acidity of the N-H bonds and the topology of the intermolecular potential, in particular on the preferred aromatic substrate-nonpolar ligand recognition motif.

Infrared plus vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of neutral and ionic ethanol monomers and clusters

A high sensitivity spectroscopy is employed to detect vibrational antiitions of ethanol neutrals and ions in a supersonic expansion. The infrared (IR) features located at 3682 and 3667 cm(-1) can be assigned to the OH stretch for the two neutral C(2)H(5)OH conformers, anti and gauche, respectively. Their overtone energies located at 7179 (anti) and 7141 (gauche) cm(-1) are also identified. The OH fundamental stretch for ethanol ions is redshifted around 210 cm(-1), while the CH stretch modes are unchanged for neutral and ionic C(2)H(5)OH at around 2900-3000 cm(-1). The charge on the ethanol ion is apparently localized on the oxygen atom. IR induced photodissociation spectroscopy is applied to the study of neutral and protonated ethanol clusters. Neutral and protonated ethanol cluster vibrations are observed. The CH modes are not perturbed by the clustering process. Neutral clusters display only hydrogen bonded OH features, while the protonated ionic clusters display both hydrogen bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded features. These spectroscopic results are analyzed to obtain qualitative structural information on neutral and ionic ethanol clusters.

HCl Solvation at the Surface and within Methanol Clusters/Nanoparticles II: Evidence for Molecular Wires

Condensed-phase solvation of HCl on and within methanol nanoparticles was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, on-the-fly molecular dynamics as implemented in the density functional code Quickstep (which is part of the CP2K package), and ab initio calculations. Adsorption and solvation stages are identified and assigned with the help of calculated infrared spectra obtained from the simulations. The results have been further checked with MP2-level ab initio calculations. The range of acid solvation states extends from the single-coordinated slightly stretched HCl to proton-sharing with Zundel-like methanol O...H+...X- states, and finally to MeOH2+...Cl- units with full proton transfer. Furthermore, once the proton moves to methanol, it is mobilized along methanol molecular chains. Since the proton dynamics reflects the evolving local structures, the "proton" spectra display broad bands usually with underlying continua.

IR Spectroscopic Features of Gaseous C7H7O+ Ions: Benzylium versus Tropylium Ion Structures

Gaseous [C7H7O]+ ions have been formed by protonation of benzaldehyde or tropone (2,4,6-cycloheptatrienone) in the cell of an FT-ICR mass spectrometer using C2H5(+) as a Brønsted acid. The so-formed species have been assayed by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) using the free electron laser (FEL) at the CLIO (Centre Laser Infrarouge Orsay) facility. The IRMPD features are quite distinct for ions from the two different precursors, pointing to two different isomers. A number of potential structures for [C7H7O]+ ions have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and their relative energies and IR spectra are reported. On this basis, the IRMPD spectra of [C7H7O]+ ions are found to display features characteristic of O-protonated species, with no evidence of any further skeletal rearrangements. The so-formed ions are thus hydroxy-substituted benzylium and tropylium ions, respectively, representative members of the benzylium/tropylium ion family. The IRMPD assay using the FEL laser light has allowed their unambiguous discrimination where other mass spectrometric techniques have yielded a less conclusive answer.