Experimental and computational study of the HXeI⋯HY complexes (Y = Br and I)

Complexes of HXeY with HX (Y, X = F, Cl, Br, I): Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory Study and Anharmonic Vibrational Analysis

A comprehensive analysis of the intermolecular interaction energy and anharmonic vibrations of 41 structures of the HXeY⋯HX (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I) family of noble-gas-compound complexes for all possible combinations of Y and X was conducted. New structures were identified, and their interaction energies were studied by means of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory, up to second-order corrections: this provided insight into the physical nature of the interaction in the complexes. The energy components were discussed, in connection to anharmonic frequency analysis. The results show that the induction and dispersion corrections were the main driving forces of the interaction, and that their relative contributions correlated with the complexation effects seen in the vibrational stretching modes of Xe-H and H-X. Reasonably clear patterns of interaction were found for different structures. Our findings corroborate previous findings with better methods, and provide new data. These results suggest that the entire group of the studied complexes can be labelled as "naturally blueshifting", except for the complexes with HI.

Degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) with calcium hydroxide: a thermo-kinetic analysis

Thermal treatment of bromine-contaminated polymers (i.e., as in e-waste) with metal oxides is currently deployed as a mainstream strategy in recycling and resources recovery from these objects. The underlying aim is to capture the bromine content and to produce pure bromine-free hydrocarbons. Bromine originates from the added brominated flame retardants (BFRs) to the polymeric fractions in printed circuits boards, where tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) is the most utilized BFR. Among notable deployed metal oxides is calcium hydroxide, i.e., Ca(OH)₂ that often displays high debromination capacity. Comprehending thermo-kinetic parameters that account for the BFRs:Ca(OH)₂ interaction is instrumental to optimize the operation at an industrial scale. Herein, we report comprehensive kinetics and thermodynamics studies into the pyrolytic and oxidative decomposition of a TBBA:Ca(OH)₂ mixture at four different heating rates, 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^-1, carried out using a thermogravimetric analyser. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and a carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur (CHNS) elemental analyser established the vibrations of the molecules and carbon content of the sample. From the thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) data, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated using iso-conversional methods (KAS, FWO, and Starink), which were further validated by the Coats-Redfern method. The computed activation energies for the pyrolytic decomposition of pure TBBA and its mixture with Ca(OH)₂ reside in the narrow ranges of 111.7-112.1 kJ mol^-1 and 62.8-63.4 kJ mol^-1, respectively (considering the various models). Obtained negative ΔS values suggest the formation of stable products. The synergic effects of the blend exhibited positive values in the low-temperature ranges (200-300 °C) due to the emission of HBr from TBBA and the solid-liquid bromination process occurring between TBBA and Ca(OH)₂. From a practical point of view, data provided herein are useful in efforts that aim to fine-tune operational conditions encountered in real recycling scenarios, i.e., in co-pyrolysis of e-waste with Ca(OH)₂ in rotary kilns.

Charge-Shift Bonding in Xenon Hydrides: An NBO/NRT Investigation on HXeY···HX (Y = Cl, Br, I; X = OH, Cl, Br, I, CCH, CN) via H-Xe Blue-Shift Phenomena

Noble-gas bonding represents curiosity. Some xenon hydrides, such as HXeY (Y = Cl, Br, I) and their hydrogen-bonded complexes HXeY···HX (Y = Cl, Br, I; X = OH, Cl, Br, I, CN, CCH), have been identified in matrixes by observing H-Xe frequencies or its monomer-to-complex blue shifts. However, the H-Xe bonding in HXeY is not yet completely understood. Previous theoretical studies provide two answers. The first one holds that it is a classical covalent bond, based on a single ionic structure H-Xe+ Y-. The second one holds that it is resonance bonding between H-Xe+ Y- and H- Xe+-Y. This study investigates the H-Xe bonding, via unusual blue-shifted phenomena, combined with some NBO/NRT calculations for chosen hydrogen-bonded complexes HXeY···HX (Y = Cl, Br, I; X = OH, Cl, Br, I, CN, CCH). This study provides new insights into the H-Xe bonding in HXeY. The H-Xe bond in HXeY is not a classical covalent bond. It is a charge-shift (CS) bond, a new class of electron-pair bonds, which is proposed by Shaik and Hiberty et al. The unusual blue shift in studied hydrogen-bonded complexes is its H-Xe CS bonding character in IR spectroscopy. It is expected that these studies on the H-Xe bonding and its IR spectroscopic property might assist the chemical community in accepting this new-class electron-pair bond concept.

Matrix-isolation and theoretical study of the HXeCCXeH⋯HCCH and HXeCC⋯HCCH complexes

HXeCCXeH and HXeCC noble-gas hydrides complexed with acetylene.

Matrix site effects on vibrational frequencies of HXeCCH, HXeBr, and HXeI: a hybrid quantum-classical simulation

The matrix shifts of the H-Xe stretching frequency of noble-gas hydrides, HXeCCH, HXeBr, and HXeI in various noble-gas matrices (in Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices) are investigated via the hybrid quantum-classical simulations. The order of the H-Xe stretching frequencies is found to be ν(gas) < ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar) for HXeCCH and HXeBr, while it is ν(gas) < ν(Ne) < ν(Xe) < ν(Ar) < ν(Kr) for HXeI. This order is anomalous with respect to the matrix dielectric constants, and the calculated results reproduce the experimentally observed shifts quite successfully. We also find that the matrix shifts from the gas-phase values are Δν(HXeCCH) ≈ Δν(HXeCl) < Δν(HXeBr) < Δν(HXeI) in the same noble-gas matrix environments, which implies that the weakly bound molecules exhibit large matrix shifts. The local trapping site is analyzed in detail, and it is shown that a realistic modeling of the surrounding matrix environments is essential to describe the unusual matrix shifts accurately.

Matrix-isolation and computational study of the HKrCCH⋯HCCH complex

The HKrCCH⋯HCCH complex is identified in a Kr matrix with the H–Kr stretching bands at 1316.5 and 1305 cm⁻¹. The assignment is fully supported by extensive quantum chemical calculations.