Ab Initio Study of H-Bond Dynamics in Three-Component Crystals Comprising (DABCOH+ )n Polycationic Chains.

In this work, the dynamic character of hydrogen-bond (H-bond) networks in two three-component crystals comprising polycationic chains was described. The first studied system was 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium (DABCOH+ ) sulfamate monohydrate, known for its large negative linear compressibility. The second analyzed material was the newly obtained polar salt co-crystal: 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium sulfamate urea. X-ray diffraction measurements enabled us to study the H-bond systems in both crystals using the graph set analysis. Obtained structures served as the initial models for Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics computations. A detailed study of intermolecular interactions and power spectra was conducted. The analysis of time and space correlations between the changes in H-bonds enabled the detection of proton transfer occurring in both systems at 300 K. Further study of those dynamic phenomena was done using the Energy Decomposition Analysis for selected trajectory fragments. Our work should improve the understanding of dielectric and ferroelectric properties of hybrid organic-inorganic materials.

Unravelling the nature of a toluene-fumaronitrile complex.

In this research, the occurrence and anomalous increase of an additional absorption band observed in the spectrum of fumaronitrile dissolved in toluene are explained and characterized. The formation of a stable ground-state complex between these two molecules is evidenced by both experimental and theoretical studies. TD-DFT calculations show that the presence of an unexpected signal in the absorption spectra originates from the photoinduced intermolecular charge-transfer process occurring within this system. The mechanism and the efficiency of the adduct formation were investigated using both spectral measurements (UV-Vis, IR) and quantum-mechanical calculations (DFT). The influence of the solvent polarity on the complex stability was also evaluated. Since the forces responsible for the adduct formation turn out to be of a rather weak, dispersive character, the related equilibrium stability constant is relatively low and becomes even lower with the increase in solvent polarity. Finally, the system was analyzed for the expected fluorescence emission of the resulting complex, but none was observed.

A comparison of the hydrogen bond interaction dynamics in the adenine and thymine crystals: BOMD and spectroscopic study.

In this work we present the comparison study of Adenine and Thymine crystals based on the hydrogen bond dynamics. The ab initio molecular dynamics have been used as the base for the further studied interactions observed inside crystals. The generated power spectra, as well as the fluctuation of the interaction energies, showed large differences between hydrogen bond networks in the considered crystals. The analysis of intermolecular interactions have been done base on the reactivity descriptors as well frontiers orbitals along trajectories. The main results showed that in adenine crystals the intermolecular interactions have three directions and fluctuate, while in the thymine crystal have only two directions and are weak but stable. These results explain also on the difference between adenine and thymine melting temperature.

Path Integral Calculation of the Hydrogen/Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect in Monoamine Oxidase A-Catalyzed Decomposition of Benzylamine.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) is a well-known enzyme responsible for the oxidative deamination of several important monoaminergic neurotransmitters. The rate-limiting step of amine decomposition is hydride anion transfer from the substrate α-CH2 group to the N5 atom of the flavin cofactor moiety. In this work, we focus on MAO A-catalyzed benzylamine decomposition in order to elucidate nuclear quantum effects through the calculation of the hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) kinetic isotope effect. The rate-limiting step of the reaction was simulated using a multiscale approach at the empirical valence bond (EVB) level. We applied path integral quantization using the quantum classical path method (QCP) for the substrate benzylamine as well as the MAO cofactor flavin adenine dinucleotide. The calculated H/D kinetic isotope effect of 6.5 ± 1.4 is in reasonable agreement with the available experimental values.

Comparison of the Hydrogen Bond Interaction Dynamics in the Guanine and Cytosine Crystals: Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics and Spectroscopic Study.

In this work, we present the comparison study of guanine and cytosine crystals based on the hydrogen bond (HB) dynamics. The ab initio molecular dynamics gave us a base for detailed analysis. The analysis of the trajectories by power spectrum generation, as well as the fluctuation of the interaction energies, showed large differences between HB networks in the considered crystals. The charge flow is present in the guanine molecule which forms the flat surfaces in the crystals. In the cytosine zigzag structure, the charge flow is blocked. The interaction energy is significantly less stabilizing in the cytosine structure than in the guanine. Finally, the possible influence of charge transfer on the melting temperature has been discussed.

Understanding the Structure of the Hydrogen Bond Network and Its Influence on Vibrational Spectra in a Prototypical Aprotic Ionic Liquid.

Analysis of the hydrogen bond network in aprotic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM-TFSI) has been performed based on structures obtained from ab initio or classical molecular dynamics simulations. Statistics of different donor and acceptor atoms and the amount of chelating or bifurcated bonds has been presented. Most of the hydrogen bonds in EMIM-TFSI are formed with oxygen atoms as hydrogen acceptors; and the most probable bifurcated bonds are those with a mixed pair of oxygen and nitrogen acceptors. Spectral graph analysis has shown that the cations may form hydrogen bonds with up to five different anions and the connectivity of the whole hydrogen bond network is supported mainly by H-O bonds. In the structures of the liquid simulated via force field-based dynamics, the number of hydrogen bonds is smaller and fluorine atoms are the most favored hydrogen acceptors. One-dimensional potential energy profiles for hydrogen atom displacements and corresponding vibrational frequencies have been calculated for selected C-H bonds. Individual C-H stretching frequencies vary by 200-300 cm-1, indicating differences in local environment of hydrogen atoms forming C-H···O hydrogen bonds.

Spectroscopic study of uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil: Hydrogen bond interactions in crystals and ab-initio molecular dynamics.

Hydrogen bond networks in uracil, 1-methyluracil and 1-methyl-4-thiouracil were studied by ab initio molecular dynamics as well as analysis of the orbital interactions. The power spectra calculated by ab initio molecular dynamics for atoms involved in hydrogen bonds were analyzed. We calculated spectra by using anharmonic approximation based on the autocorrelation function of the atom positions obtained from the Born-Oppenheimer simulations. Our results show the differences between hydrogen bond networks in uracil and its methylated derivatives. The studied methylated derivatives, 1-methyluracil as well as 1-methyl-4-thiouracil, form dimeric structures in the crystal phase, while uracil does not form that kind of structures. The presence of sulfur atom instead oxygen atom reflects weakness of the hydrogen bonds that build dimers.

ETS-NOCV decomposition of the reaction force for double-proton transfer in formamide-derived systems.

The analysis of the electronic-structure changes along IRC paths for double-proton-transfer reactions in the formamide dimer (R1), formamide-thioformamide system (R2), and the thioformamide dimer (R3) was performed based on the extended-transition-state natural orbitals for chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) partitioning of the reaction force, considering the intra-fragments strain and the inter-fragments interaction terms, and further-the electrostatic, Pauli-repulsion and orbital interaction components, with the latter being decomposed into the NOCV components. Two methods of the system partitioning into the fragments were considered ('reactant perspective'/bond-formation, 'product perspective' / bond-breaking). In agreement with previous studies, the results indicate that the major changes in the electronic structure occur in the transition state region; the bond-breaking processes are, however, initiated already in the reactant region, prior to entering the TS region. The electrostatic contributions were identified as the main factor responsible for the increase in the activation barrier in the order R1 < R2 < R3.

The influence of the metal cations and microhydration on the reaction trajectory of the N3 ↔ O2 thymine proton transfer: Quantum mechanical study.

This study involves the intramolecular proton transfer (PT) process on a thymine nucleobase between N3 and O2 atoms. We explore a mechanism for the PT assisted by hexacoordinated divalent metals cations, namely Mg2+ , Zn2+ , and Hg2+ . Our results point out that this reaction corresponds to a two-stage process. The first involves the PT from one of the aqua ligands toward O2. The implications of this stage are the formation of a hydroxo anion bound to the metal center and a positively charged thymine. To proceed to the second stage, a structural change is needed to allow the negatively charged hydroxo ligand to abstract the N3 proton, which represents the final product of the PT reaction. In the presence of the selected hexaaqua cations, the activation barrier is at most 8 kcal/mol. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

ETS-NOCV Decomposition of the Reaction Force: The HCN/CNH Isomerization Reaction Assisted by Water.

The partitioning of the reaction force based on the extended-transition-state natural orbital for chemical valence (ETS-NOCV) scheme has been proposed. This approach, together with the analysis of reaction electronic flux (REF), has been applied in a description of the changes in the electronic structure along the IRC pathway for the HCN/CNH isomerization reaction assisted by water. Two complementary ways of partitioning the system into molecular fragments have been considered ("reactant perspective" and "product perspective"). The results show that the ETS-NOCV picture is fully consistent with REF and bond-order changes. In addition, proposed ETS-NOCV decomposition of the reaction force allows for the quantitative assessment of the influence of the observed bond-breaking and bond-formation processes, providing detailed information about the reaction-driving and reaction-retarding force components within the assumed partitioning scheme. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Infrared Spectroscopy and Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on Deuterium Substitution in the Crystalline Benzoic Acid.

In this study we present complementary computational and experimental studies of hydrogen bond interaction in crystalline benzoic acid and its deuterated and partially deuterated derivatives. The experimental part of the presented work includes preparation of partially deuterated samples and measurement of attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR spectra. Analysis of the geometrical parameters and time course of dipole moment of crystalline benzoic acid and its deuterated and partially deuterated derivatives by Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) enabled us to deeply analyze the IR spectra. Presented simulations based on BOMD gave us opportunity to investigate individual motion and its contribution to the IR spectra. The band contours calculated using Fourier transform of autocorrelation function are in quantitative agreement with the experimental spectra. Characterization of single bands was carried out by "normal coordinate analysis". The salient point of our study is a comparison of the spectra of the deuterated and partially deuterated crystalline benzoic acid with that of the nondeuterated one. Furthermore, we have applied the principal component analysis for analysis of the number of components in partially deuterated systems. In this study, we reveal that the arrangements of hydrogen and deuterium atoms in partially deuterated samples are random.

Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics Study on Proton Dynamics of Strong Hydrogen Bonds in Aspirin Crystals, with Emphasis on Differences between Two Crystal Forms.

In this study, the proton dynamics of hydrogen bonds for two forms of crystalline aspirin was investigated by the Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) method. Analysis of the geometrical parameters of hydrogen bonds using BOMD reveals significant differences in hydrogen bonding between the two crystalline forms of aspirin, Form I and Form II. Analysis of the trajectory for Form I shows spontaneous proton transfer in cyclic dimers, which is absent in Form II. Quantization of the O-H stretching modes allows a detailed discussion on the strength of hydrogen-bonding interactions. The focal point of our study is examination of the hydrogen bond characteristics in the crystal structure and clarification of the influence of hydrogen bonding on the presence of the two crystalline forms of aspirin. In the BOMD method, thermal motions were taken into account. Solving the Schrödinger equation for the snapshots of 2D proton potentials, extracted from MD, gives the best agreement with IR spectra. The character of medium-strong hydrogen bonds in Form I of aspirin was compared with that of weaker hydrogen bonds in aspirin Form II. Two proton minima are present in the potential function for the hydrogen bonds in Form I. The band contours, calculated by using one- and two-dimensional O-H quantization, reflect the differences in the hydrogen bond strengths between the two crystalline forms of aspirin, as well as the strong hydrogen bonding in the cyclic dimers of Form I and the medium-strong hydrogen bonding in Form II.

Car-Parrinello Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Infrared Spectra of Crystalline Vitamin C with Analysis of Double Minimum Proton Potentials for Medium-Strong Hydrogen Bonds.

We studied proton dynamics of a hydrogen bonds of the crystalline l-ascorbic acid. Our approach was based on the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. The focal point of our study was simulation of the infrared spectra of l-ascorbic acid associated with the O-H stretching modes that are very sensitive to the strength of hydrogen bonding. In the l-ascorbic acid there are four kinds of hydrogen bonds. We calculated their spectra by using anharmonic approximation and the time course of the dipole moment function as obtained from the Car-Parrinello simulation. The quantization of the nuclear motion of the protons was made to perform detailed analysis of strength and properties of hydrogen bonds. We presented double minimum proton potentials with small value of barriers for medium-strong hydrogen bonds. We have also shown the difference character of medium-strong hydrogen bonds compared to weaker hydrogen bonds in the l-ascorbic acid.