Understanding Fermi resonances in the complex vibrational spectra of the methyl groups in methylamines.

Vibrational spectra of the methyl groups in mono-methylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), and trimethylamine (TMA) monomers and their clusters were measured in three experimental set-ups to capture their complex spectral features as a result of bend/umbrella-stretch Fermi resonance (FR). Multiple bands were observed between 2800 and 3000 cm-1 corresponding to the methyl groups for MMA and DMA. On the other hand, the corresponding spectrum of TMA is relatively simple, exhibiting only four prominent bands in the same frequency window, even though TMA has a larger number of methyl groups. The discrete variable representation (DVR) based ab initio anharmonic algorithm with potential energy surface (PES) at CCSD/aug-cc-pVDZ quality is able to capture all the experimentally observed spectral features across all three amines, and the constructed vibrational Hamiltonian was used to analyze the couplings that give rise to the observed FR patterns. It was observed that the vibrational coupling among CH stretch modes on different methyl groups is weak (less than 2 cm-1) and stronger vibrational coupling is found to localize within a methyl group. In MMA and DMA, the complex feature between 2850 and 2950 cm-1 is a consequence of closely packed overtone states that gain intensities by mixing with the stretching modes. The simplification of the spectral pattern of TMA can be understood by the red-shift of the symmetric CH3 stretching modes by about 80 cm-1 relative to MMA, which causes the symmetric CH3 stretch to shift outside the FR window.

Infrared spectroscopic observation of the McLafferty rearrangement in ionized 2-pentanone.

The McLafferty rearrangement is a well-known process in mass spectrometry. In ionization of organic molecules containing a carbonyl group, ß cleavage occurs following transfer of a hydrogen atom of aliphatic CH at the γ position to the carbonyl group. Although the McLafferty rearrangement has undergone numerous mass spectrometric investigations, no spectroscopic investigation of the enolized radical cation generated in the hydrogen atom transfer has been carried out. 2-Pentanone is the simplest ketone containing CH bonds at the γ position. In this study, infrared predissociation spectroscopy for both neutral and ionized 2-pentanone in the gas phase through vacuum ultraviolet ionization detection is performed to investigate the ionization-induced isomerization and to observe the enolized product. An OH stretch band is observed in the infrared spectrum of ionized 2-pentanone, and this demonstrates its enolization accompanying the rearrangement of an alkyl hydrogen. The enolization of ionized 2-pentanone is theoretically supported by the reaction path search based on the anharmonic downward distortion following method.

Migrations and Catalytic Action of Water Molecules in the Ionized Formamide-(H2O)2 Cluster.

Isomerization dynamics involving the migrations, proton transfer reaction, and catalytic actions of water molecules upon vertical ionization of the formamide (FA)-(H2O)2 cluster is investigated by the infrared spectroscopy and theoretical reaction path search calculation. The infrared spectroscopic result indicates the [FA-(H2O)2]+ cation has the hydrogen-bonded structure of the enol isomer cation of formamide and the water dimer. This structure is formed by proton transfer from the CH bond to the carbonyl group through the catalytic action of the water molecules. The isomerization paths involving this enolization in ionized FA-(H2O)2 are explored by using the anharmonic downward distortion following method. We found multiple enolization paths which accompany proton exchanges among the formamide moiety and water molecules through the catalytic actions of the water molecules.

Infrared Spectroscopic Study on Trimethyl Amine Radical Cation: Correlation between Proton-Donating Ability and Structural Deformation.

Barrierless intermolecular proton transfer from a CH bond has recently been reported in the vertical ionization of the trimethyl amine (TMA) dimer. This result indicates the remarkable enhancement of the proton-donating ability of the CH bond in its cationic state. In the present study, we have carried out an infrared spectroscopy of the neutral and cationic TMA in the CH stretch region and their theoretical calculations to investigate the mechanism of enhancement of the proton-donating ability in the cationic state. In the spectrum of the cation, the CH stretch band shows a long tail of up to 2600 cm-1. This tail component is attributed to the CH bond hyperconjugated with the nonbonding orbital at the nitrogen atom through geometry deformation (excitation of molecular vibrations) with the excess energy upon photoionization. This hyperconjugation causes the delocalization of the σ electron of the CH bond to the singly occupied nonbonding orbital so that the proton-donating ability of the CH is enhanced. It is shown that the excitation of the CN stretching vibration is especially effective in promoting the hyperconjugation.

A liquid crucible model for aggregation of phenylacetylene in the gas phase.

The aggregation of phenylacetylene in the gas phase was investigated by selectively recording the IR spectra of clusters consisting of up to six monomer units. Analysis of the IR spectra with the aid of B97-D3/aug-cc-pVDZ level calculations reveals the formation of an anti-parallel π-stacked structure of the dimer and a hitherto unknown assembly of clusters incorporating exclusively aromatic C-Hπ interactions between various units of the trimer and higher clusters. The aggregation behaviour of phenylacetylene in the gas phase is fundamentally different from benzene, phenol and aniline vis-à-vis their crystal structures. The structures of the three known polymorphic crystals can be reconciled by the formation of supramolecular synthons with acetylenic C-Hπ interactions, which is preferred over energetically favored aromatic C-Hπ interactions. Furthermore, the small (phenylacetylene)n [n = 3-6] clusters, the structures incorporating aromatic C-Hπ interactions, can be envisaged as liquid-like aggregates which under varied conditions lead to the formation of multiple polymorphs during in situ cryo-crystallization.

IR Spectroscopic Investigation on Isomerization of Ionized Ethylene Glycol.

It has been known that photoionization of ethylene glycol generates protonated methanol when the ionization energy is in the vicinity of the vertical ionization energy. Although two different isomerization paths have been proposed for the protonated methanol production, the isomerization path has not yet been identified. To investigate the isomerization of ionized ethylene glycol, infrared (IR) predissociation spectroscopy based on vacuum ultraviolet photoionization is carried out for neutral and cationic ethylene glycol and partially deuterated isotopomer (HOCD2CD2OH). The IR spectroscopic results indicate that ionized ethylene glycol isomerizes to the protonated methanol-HCO complex, and the isomerization path involving the double proton transfer is identified. This isomerization path is also supported by the theoretical isomerization path search, which demonstrates that several reaction pathways are mutually intercommunicated.

An integrated experimental and theoretical reaction path search: analyses of the multistage reaction of an ionized diethylether dimer involving isomerization, proton transfer, and dissociation.

An ionization-induced multistage reaction of an ionized diethylether (DEE) dimer involving isomerization, proton transfer, and dissociation is investigated by combining infrared (IR) spectroscopy, tandem mass spectrometry, and a theoretical reaction path search. The vertically-ionized DEE dimer isomerizes to a hydrogen-bonded cluster of protonated DEE and the [DEE-H] radical through barrierless intermolecular proton transfer from the CH bond of the ionized moiety. This isomerization process is confirmed by IR spectroscopy and the theoretical reaction path search. The multiple dissociation pathways following the isomerization are analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The isomerized cluster dissociates stepwise into a [protonated DEE-acetaldehyde (AA)] cluster, protonated DEE, and protonated AA. The structure of the fragment ion is also analyzed by IR spectroscopy. The reaction map of the multistage processes is revealed through a harmony of these experimental and theoretical methods.

Infrared Spectroscopic Study of the Acidic CH Bonds in Hydrated Clusters of Cationic Pentane.

Infrared spectroscopy of the hydrated clusters of cationic pentane, which are generated through the vacuum ultraviolet photoionization in the gas phase, is carried out to probe the acidic properties of their CH bonds. The monohydrated pentane cation forms the proton-shared structure, in which the proton of CH in cationic pentane is shared between the pentyl radical and water molecule. In the di- and trihydrated clusters, the proton of CH is completely transferred to the water moiety so that the clusters are composed of the pentyl radical and protonated water cluster. These results indicate that two water molecules are enough to cause the proton transfer from CH of cationic pentane, and thus its acidity is highly enhanced with the ionization.

Antifreeze Activity of Xylomannan from the Mycelium and Fruit Body of Flammulina velutipes.

An identified class of antifreeze, a xylomannan-based thermal hysteresis (TH)-producing glycolipid, has been discovered from diverse taxa, including plants, insects, and amphibians. We isolated xylomannan from the mycelium and fruit body of the basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes using successive hot extraction with water, 2% and 25% aqueous KOH, and gel filtration chromatography. The xylomannan from the fruit body had a recrystallization inhibiting (RI) activity (RI=0.44) at 0.5 mg/mL. The dried weight yield of the fruit body (7.7×10(-2)%, w/w) was higher than that of the mycelium. Although the purified xylomannan from both soures were composed of mannose and xylose in a 2 : 1 molar ratio, the molecular weight of the xylomannan from the mycelium and fruit body was 320,000 and 240,000, respectively. The RI activity of mycelial xylomannan was higher than that from the fruit body (RI=0.57) at 45 µg/mL. Although this RI activity was able to remain constant after exposure to various conditions, we confirmed that the decrease of RI activity was stimulated by the decrease of molecular weight that was caused by heating during the alkaline condition. The survival rate of the CHO cells at -20℃ for two days increased to 97% due to the addition of 20 µg/mL of purified xylomannan. This was the first report to indicate that xylomannan from the mycelium of Flammulina velutipes had a high level of ice recrystallization inhibiting activity like antifreeze proteins from plants and had rhe potential to become a new material for cell storage.

Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation of the Acidic CH Bonds in Cationic n-Alkanes: Pentane, Hexane, and Heptane.

Radical cations of n-alkanes (pentane, hexane, and heptane) in the gas phase are investigated by infrared predissociation spectroscopy with the argon or nitrogen tagging. All-trans and gauche-involving conformers are identified for these cations by comparisons of observed infrared spectra and vibrational simulations. Intense CH stretch bands are observed in the frequency region lower than the normal alkyl CH stretch frequency. These low frequencies and high intensities of the CH stretch bands are caused by the CH bond weakening and the enhanced positive charge of the hydrogen atoms through the delocalization of the σ electron in the CH bonds. These effects of the delocalization of the σ electron result in the enhanced acidity of the CH bonds. The conformation as well as alkyl chain length dependence of the acidity of the CH bonds is demonstrated by the CH stretch frequency shift trend.

Hyperconjugation in diethyl ether cation versus diethyl sulfide cation.

Ionization of a molecule can greatly alter its electronic structure as well as its geometric structure. In this collaborative experimental and theoretical study, we examined variance in hyperconjugation upon ionization of diethyl ether (DEE) and diethyl sulfide (DES). We obtained the experimental gas phase vibrational spectra of DEE, DES, DEE(+), DES(+), DEE(+)-Ar, and DES(+)-Ar in the wavenumber region of 2500 to 3600 cm(-1). For DEE(+) and DEE(+)-Ar, we observed a greatly red shifted CH stretching peak at 2700 cm(-1), while the lowest CH stretching peaks for DEE, DES, DES(+) and DES(+)-Ar were observed around 2850 cm(-1). For DEE(+), we calculated a drastic red shifted CH stretching peak at 2760 cm(-1), but for DEE, DES, and DES(+) the lowest CH stretching peaks were calculated to be at 2860, 2945, and 2908 cm(-1), respectively. In addition, for DEE, the minima (maxima) geometry in the neutral state becomes a maxima (minima) geometry in the cationic state, while similar minima geometries are seen in neutral and cationic states of DES. These experimental and theoretical findings were rationalized through the natural bond orbital analysis by quantifying the hyperconjugation between the σCH orbital and the ionized singly occupied p orbital of the oxygen (sulfur) in DEE(+) (DES(+)). This study showed how orientation with the ionized orbital can greatly affect the neighboring CH bond strength and its polarity, as well as the geometry of the system. Furthermore, this change in the CH bond strength between DEE(+) and DES(+) is quantified from the energies for intramolecular proton transfer in the two cations.

Infrared spectroscopic investigation of photoionization-induced acidic C-H bonds in cyclic ethers.

Infrared (IR) predissociation spectroscopy based on vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization detection is performed for the neutral and cationic tetrahydrofuran (THF) and tetrahydropyran (THP). The CH bonds in neutral THF and THP are regarded as aprotic, even though the CH bonds are weakened by the negative hyperconjugation. After 118 nm photoionization, however, the negative hyperconjugation changes to the positive hyperconjugation and their CH bond acidities remarkably increase. In the IR spectrum of the THF cation, an intense band is observed at ca. 2700 cm(-1). This band is assigned to the antisymmetric stretch vibration of the two CαH bonds next to the oxygen atom. The high intensity and low frequency of this band are due to the delocalization of the σ electrons of the two CαH bonds to the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) through the hyperconjugation. In the IR spectrum of the THP cation, on the other hand, the stretch bands of the CαH bonds do not show obvious low-frequency shift and intensity enhancement, while the stretch band of the equatorial CγH bond, at the para-position to the oxygen atom, appears at 2855 cm(-1) with high intensity. This acidity enhancement of the equatorial CγH bond is attributed to the mutiple hyperconjugation among the CγH bond, two CαCß bonds, and SOMO of the oxygen atom. These results suggest that the difference of the hyperconjugation mechanism between the THF and THP cations arises from their preferable conformations.

The large variation in acidity of diethyl ether cation induced by internal rotation about a single covalent bond.

In the IR spectrum of the diethyl ether cation, an extraordinarily intense band, with an extremely broad bandwidth, was observed at 2700 cm(-1), much lower frequency than normal CH stretch frequencies. This band is assigned to the stretch band of the CH bond, which is hyperconjugated with the singly occupied molecular orbital of the oxygen atom. The hyperconjugation causes the delocalization of the σ electron of the CH bond so that it enhances the acidity of the CH bond as well as the CH stretch band intensity. Theoretical simulation shows that the strength of hyperconjugation varies greatly with internal rotation of the ethyl group, and this is reflected in the large width of the observed CH stretch band. These results indicate that the DEE cation drastically changes its property from aprotic to highly acidic by the rotational isomerization of the ethyl group.

Acid-base formalism in dispersion-stabilized S-H···Y (Y═O, S) hydrogen-bonding interactions.

The role of sulfhydryl (S-H) group as hydrogen bond donor is not as well studied as that of hydroxyl (O-H). In this work we report on the hydrogen-bonding properties of S-H donor in 1:1 complexes of H2S with diethyl ether (Et2O), dibutyl ether (Bu2O), and 1,4-dioxane (DO). The complexes were prepared in supersonic jet and investigated using infrared predissociation spectroscopy based on VUV photoionization detection. The IR spectra of all the complexes showed the presence of a broad, intensity-enhanced, and red-shifted hydrogen-bonded S-H stretching transition. The S-H stretching frequency was red-shifted by 46, 63, and 49 cm(-1) in H2S-Et2O, H2S-Bu2O, and H2S-DO complexes, respectively, suggesting that all the complexes are S-H···O bound. Computationally, two different S-H···O bound structures, namely, "coplanar" and "perpendicular", were obtained as the minimum energy structures for these complexes at the MP2/6-311++G** level, with the former being the global minimum. However, with Dunning-type basis sets (aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ) only the perpendicular structures were found to be stable at the MP2 level. The large widths of the bound S-H stretch observed in the experimental spectra (fwhm of 35 to 80 cm(-1)) were attributed to inhomogeneous broadening due to multiple conformations of the alkyl chains in the coplanar and perpendicular structures populated in the jet. The frequency shifts in the hydrogen-bonded S-H stretching mode as well as the bond dissociation energies of all S-H···Y (Y═O,S) complexes of H2S, which includes the H2S dimer and H2S-methanol (H2S-MeOH) complexes reported in our previous work (ChemPhysChem 2013, 14, 905-914), were found to scale linearly with the proton affinity of the acceptor molecule. In this regard the S-H group, like O-H, is found to conform to the widely accepted acid-base nature of hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Isomer-selective infrared spectroscopy of the cationic trimethylamine dimer to reveal its charge sharing and enhanced acidity of the methyl groups.

Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of the trimethylamine dimer cation generated by the vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization is isomer-selectively carried out by monitoring two main fragment channels, protonated trimethylamine and the trimethylamine monomer cation. The spectral carriers monitored by these two channels are assigned to different isomers of the trimethylamine dimer cation. One is the charge-shared (hemibond) structure, in which the positive charge is intermolecularly delocalized over the dimer through the interaction between the nonbonding orbitals of the nitrogen atoms. In the other isomer, a proton of a methyl group in the ionized moiety is intermolecularly transferred to the nitrogen atom of the neutral moiety and is shared between the carbon and nitrogen atoms. The latter isomer shows that the methyl groups of cationic trimethylamine are highly acidic. This example demonstrates characteristic properties of radical cations with alkyl groups.

The Intermolecular S−H⋠⋠⋠Y (Y=S,O) hydrogen bond in the H2S dimer and the H2 S-MeOH complex.

The nature of the S−H⋅⋅⋅S hydrogen-bonding interaction in the H2 S dimer and its structure has been the focus of several theoretical studies. This is partly due to its structural similarity and close relationship with the well-studied water dimer and partly because it represents the simplest prototypical example of hydrogen bonding involving a sulfur atom. Although there is some IR data on the H2 S dimer and higher homomers from cold matrix experiments, there are no IR spectroscopic reports on S−H⋅⋅⋅S hydrogen bonding in the gas phase to-date. We present experimental evidence using VUV ionization-detected IR-predissociation spectroscopy (VUV-ID-IRPDS) for this weak hydrogen-bonding interaction in the H2 S dimer. The proton-donating S−H bond is found to be red-shifted by 31 cm(-1) . We were also able to observe and assign the symmetric (ν1 ) stretch of the acceptor and an unresolved feature owing to the free S−H of the donor and the antisymmetric (ν3 ) SH stretch of the acceptor. In addition we show that the heteromolecular H2 S-MeOH complex, for which both S−H⋅⋅⋅O and O−H⋅⋅⋅S interactions are possible, is S-H⋅⋅⋅O bound.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of isomerization reactions of ionized acetone and its dimer.

Ionization dynamics of acetone and its dimer in supersonic jets is investigated by a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques, both of which have recently been developed. In experiments, the neutral and the cationic structures are explored by infrared predissociation spectroscopy with the vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization detection schemes. Reaction paths following the one-photon ionization of the acetone monomer and its dimer have been studied by the joint use of several theoretical methods including the ab initio molecular dynamics, the global reaction route mapping, the intrinsic reaction coordinate, and the artificial force induced reaction calculations. Upon one-photon ionization, the dimer isomerizes to the H-bonded form, in which the enol cation of acetone is bound to the neutral molecule, while this enolization is energetically forbidden in the acetone monomer. The enolization of the dimer cation occurs through a two-step proton-transfer from the methyl group of the ionized moiety, and is catalyzed by the neutral moiety within the dimer cation.

Long-range migration of a water molecule to catalyze a tautomerization in photoionization of the hydrated formamide cluster.

The dynamics on the vacuum-ultraviolet one-photon ionization of a formamide-water cluster is investigated by a combination of theoretical reaction-path search and infrared spectroscopic methods. A keto-enol tautomerization of the formamide moiety occurs after photoionization by a catalytic action of the water molecule accompanied with its long-distance migration; the water molecule in the cluster migrates almost one turn around the formamide moiety. During the migration, the water molecule abstracts the proton of CH in the formamide moiety and carries it to the O atom side in the carbonyl group through a "catch and release"-type catalytic action.

Intermolecular proton-transfer in acetic acid clusters induced by vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy based on vacuum-ultraviolet one-photon ionization detection was carried out to investigate geometric structures of neutral and cationic clusters of acetic acid: (CH(3)COOH)(2), CH(3)COOH-CH(3)OH, and CH(3)COOH-H(2)O. All the neutral clusters have cyclic-type intermolecular structures, in which acetic acid and solvent molecules act as both hydrogen donors and acceptors, and two hydrogen-bonds are formed. On the other hand, (CH(3)COOH)(2) (+) and (CH(3)COOH-CH(3)OH)(+) form proton-transferred structures, where the acetic acid moiety donates the proton to the counter molecule. (CH(3)COOH-H(2)O)(+) has a non-proton-transferred structure, where CH(3)COOH(+) and H(2)O are hydrogen-bonded. The origin of these structural differences among the cluster cations is discussed with the relative sizes of the proton affinities of the cluster components and the potential energy curves along the proton-transfer coordinate.