Low frequency internal modes of 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, tetramethylpyrazine and tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone INS, Raman, infrared and theoretical DFT studies.

The results of inelastic neutron scattering (INS), Raman and infrared (IR) studies on 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene), tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (TMBQ) in the solid state are reported. The observed frequencies are analyzed on the basis of DFT calculations. The low frequency region, below 400 cm(-1), related to the torsional and bending out-of-plane vibrations of the CH(3) groups, is of particular interest. The detailed analysis is possible due to the simulation of the INS spectra by using the auntie-CLIMAX program. It is shown that the observed low frequency INS bands are dramatically shifted, compared to the calculated ones, towards higher frequencies. Although one cannot exclude deficiencies of theoretical methods as applied to low frequency modes, it seems more probable the interpretation based on an existence of non-conventional CH(...)pi, CH(...)N, CH(...)O hydrogen bonds formed by the methyl groups in crystalline phases.

Rotational tunneling of methyl groups in low temperature phases of mesitylene: potentials and structural implications.

Mesitylene can be stabilized at He temperature in three solid phases of so far unknown crystal structures. Rotational tunneling of methyl groups is based on rotational potentials and used to characterize structural aspects. In phase III found after the first fast cooling of the sample three nonequivalent methyl rotors with splittings of 2.7, 4.1 and 16.3 microeV are observed. Three other unresolved bands are identified by their librational modes. In the second phase II the metastability is emphasized by tunneling energies still changing at temperatures T< or = 12 K. Above this temperature tunneling bands at 6.6, 12.5, 15.0 and 18.3 microeV evolve in the manner characteristic of coupling to phonons. In the equilibrium phase I a single tunnel splitting of 10.2 microeV represents all methyl groups. A unit cell containing a single molecule at a site of threefold symmetry explains quantitatively this spectrum. Phases II and III most likely contain two nonequivalent molecules in the unit cell with no local symmetry in phase II and a mirror plane in phase III. The good moderator properties for neutrons are most likely not connected to the low energy tunneling bands but to a dense vibrational phonon density of states.

Inelastic neutron scattering studies on dichloro-1,4-benzoquinones.

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of 2,6-dichloro- and 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone were compared with Raman and infra-red (IR) spectra and analysed in detail below 1800 cm(-1). The analysis was based on calculations tending towards simulation of spectra by using GAUSSIAN (HF, DFT/B3LYP and BLYP/6-31G(d,p)), and auntieCLIMAX programs. The correlations between calculated and experimental (either INS or Raman and IR) frequencies enabled to analyse the problem of scaling factors (SFs). The advantages of INS technique was shown in studies of low frequency vibrations with participation of H-atoms. The macroscopic lattice effect at low temperatures on INS spectra is discussed.

NMR and inelastic incoherent neutron scattering (IINS) studies of monohydroxy-17 and -21-substituted derivatives of progesterone.

Internal dynamics of 17- and 21-substituted progesterone derivatives was studied by the methods NMR, inelastic incoherent neutron scattering (IINS) and quantum chemical calculations. Comparison of the computer simulation of the phonon density of states (PDS) spectrum performed by the density functional theory (DFT) method with the spectrum obtained after a transformation of the experimental results permits an interpretation of subsequent modes. Only for 17OH prg the second moment of NMR line decreases to 10 G2 near room temperature, most probably because of the oscillations about direction of inter-molecular hydrogen bond. Significant mobility of protons in this compound is also confirmed by a low intensity of the elastic peak in INS and broadening of this spectrum.

DFT studies of the structure and vibrational spectra of 8-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide.

The geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of 8-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (8-HQNO) and its deuterated derivative (8-DQNO) were obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) with the BLYP and B3LYP functionals and 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The optimized bond lengths and bond angles are in good agreement with the X-ray data. The IR and INS spectra of 8-HQNO and 8-DQNO computed at the DFT level reproduce the vibrational wavenumbers and intensities with an accuracy, which allows reliable vibrational assignments.

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) studies on 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ).

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of solid 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone were measured and compared with IR and Raman data. The INS spectrum is very well reproduced in the region below 1000 cm(-1) by DFT calculations on the B3LYP/6-311++G** level using Gaussian and Climax programs. To get a better agreement one should take into account additional interactions of OH groups in the solid state leading to an increase of the gamma(OH) frequency and to a decrease of frequencies for modes in which the delta(OH) participates. The studies of the deuterated compound in IR enabled to correct the assignment of gamma(OH) vibrations. Highly asymmetric nu(OH) band observed in IR spectrum with sharp maximum at about 3300 cm(-1) is discussed in terms of a stochastic approach to the analysis of hydrogen bonded systems.

Inelastic neutron scattering studies on low frequency vibrations of pentachlorophenol.

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and DFT theoretical studies on pentachlorophenol (PCP) and d-PCP were performed. IR and Raman spectra were also measured for comparison. A special attention was focused on low frequency modes in INS spectra, which provide information about modes into which the co-ordinates of the hydrogen and chlorine atoms are involved. The intensity of respective INS bands is discussed based on the cross-sections of nuclei and calculated relative amplitudes of vibrations. The appearance of overtones and summation frequencies in INS spectra was evidenced.