Intuitive Understanding of σ Delocalization in Loose and σ Localization in Tight Helical Conformations of an Oligosilane Chain.

Conformational effects on the σ-electron delocalization in oligosilanes are addressed by Hartree-Fock and time-dependent density functional theory calculations (B3LYP, 6-311G**) at MP2 optimized geometries of permethylated uniformly helical linear oligosilanes (all-ω-Sin R2n+2 ) up to n=16 and for backbone dihedral angles ω=55-180°. The extent of σ delocalization is judged by the partition ratio of the highest occupied molecular orbital and is reflected in the dependence of its shape and energy and of UV absorption spectra on n. The results agree with known spectra of all-transoid loose-helix conformers (all-[±165]-Sin Me2n+2 ) and reveal a transition at ω≈90° from the "σ-delocalized" limit at ω=180° toward and close to the physically non-realizable "σ-localized" tight-helix limit ω=0 with entirely different properties. The distinction is also obtained in the Hückel Ladder H and C models of σ delocalization. An easy intuitive way to understand the origin of the two contrasting limits is to first view the linear chain as two subchains with alternating primary and vicinal interactions (σ hyperconjugation), one consisting of the odd and the other of the even σ(SiSi) bonds, and then allow the two subchains to interact by geminal interactions (σ conjugation).

A multichannel electron energy loss spectrometer for low-temperature condensed films.

We describe a wide-gap multichannel cylindrical deflection electron energy analyzer suitable for measuring the weak signals characteristic of electronically inelastic electron energy loss spectra. The analyzer has nearly ideal fringing field termination, and its resolution and energy dispersion were characterized as a function of energy by solving numerically the equation of motion of electrons in an ideal cylindrical electric field. The numerical results for the radial location of the electrons at the detector as a function of the entrance location, angle, and energy are closely approximated by a second order polynomial, and match closely with those observed. The detection efficiency of the analyzer is 100-150 times better than that of an equivalent single-channel instrument, but limited energy transmission of the zoom lens system used in our case reduced it by a factor of about 2. The performance of the new instrument was demonstrated by measuring the (3)E(1u) electronic spectrum of benzene in only 2 min and the spectrum of endo-benzotricyclo[4.2.1.0(2.5)]nonane.