Theoretical study, and infrared and Raman spectra of copper(II) chelated complex with dibenzoylmethane.

There are some discrepancies in both the vibrational assignments and in the metal-ligand (M-L) bond strengths predicted in the previous studies on the copper (II) chelated complex of dibenzoylmethane, Cu(dbm)2. Also, there is a lack of theoretical structure, Raman spectrum and full vibrational assignment for Cu(dbm)2 in the literatures. Density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level and also MP2 calculations using different basis sets, besides Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Atoms-in-Molecules (AIM) analyses, have been employed to investigate the effect of methyl substitution with the phenyl group on the stabilities of bis(acetylacetonate) copper (II), Cu(acac)2, and Cu(dbm)2 complexes and the electron delocalization in their chelated rings. Measured solid phase infrared and Raman bands for Cu(dbm)2 complex have been interpreted in terms of the calculated vibrational modes and detailed assignment has been presented. We concluded that, theoretically, the results of charge transfer studies, and experimentally, in-phase symmetric O-Cu-O stretching mode of these complexes are very useful measures for M-L bond strength. The electron delocalization in the chelated rings and the M-L bond strength in Cu(dbm)2 are concluded to be higher than those in Cu(acac)2. The calculated geometries and vibrational results are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Photolysis of sulfuric acid vapor by visible solar radiation.

Atmospheric field measurements and models of the stratospheric sulfate aerosol layer led to the suggestion that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) must photolyze at high altitudes. We propose that excitation of vibrational overtones of H2SO4 and its hydrate in the near-infrared and visible leads to photolysis, forming sulfur trioxide (SO3) and water. On the basis of absorption cross sections calculated with ab initio methods calibrated to experimental measurements, we estimated J values that are sufficient to explain stratospheric and mesospheric sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations and the observation of the sulfate layer.