Structures of [(CO2)n(CH3OH)m]− (n = 1−4, m = 1, 2) Cluster Anions

Vibrational Characterization of Radical Ion Adducts between Imidazole and CO2

We address the molecular level origins of the dramatic difference in the catalytic mechanisms of CO₂ activation by the seemingly similar molecules pyridine (Py) and imidazole (Im). This is accomplished by comparing the fundamental interactions of CO₂ radical anions with Py and Im in the isolated, gas phase PyCO₂^- and ImCO₂^- complexes. These species are prepared by condensation of the neutral compounds onto a (CO₂) _n^- cluster ion beam by entrainment in a supersonic jet ion source. The structures of the anionic complexes are determined by theoretical analysis of their vibrational spectra, obtained by IR photodissociation of weakly bound CO₂ molecules in a photofragmentation mass spectrometer. Although the radical PyCO₂^- system adopts a carbamate-like configuration corresponding to formation of an N-C covalent bond, the ImCO₂^- species is revealed to be best described as an ion-molecule complex in which an oxygen atom in the CO₂^- radical anion is H-bonded to the NH group. Species that feature a covalent N-C interaction in ImCO₂^- are calculated to be locally stable structures, but are much higher in energy than the largely electrostatically bound ion-molecule complex. These results support the suggestion from solution phase electrochemical studies (Bocarsly et al. ACS Catal. 2012, 2, 1684-1692) that the N atoms are not directly involved in the catalytic activation of CO₂ by Im.

IR photodissociation spectroscopy of (OCS)n(+) and (OCS)n(-) cluster ions: Similarity and dissimilarity in the structure of CO2, OCS, and CS2 cluster ions

Infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of (OCS)n(+) and (OCS)n(-) (n = 2-6) cluster ions are measured in the 1000-2300 cm(-1) region; these clusters show strong CO stretching vibrations in this region. For (OCS)2 +) and (OCS)2(-), we utilize the messenger technique by attaching an Ar atom to measure their IR spectra. The IRPD spectrum of (OCS)2 (+)Ar shows two bands at 2095 and 2120 cm(-1). On the basis of quantum chemical calculations, these bands are assigned to a C2 isomer of (OCS)2 (+), in which an intermolecular semi-covalent bond is formed between the sulfur ends of the two OCS components by the charge resonance interaction, and the positive charge is delocalized over the dimer. The (OCS)n(+) (n = 3-6) cluster ions show a few bands assignable to "solvent" OCS molecules in the 2000-2080 cm(-1) region, in addition to the bands due to the (OCS)2(+) ion core at ∼2090 and ∼2120 cm(-1), suggesting that the dimer ion core is kept in (OCS)3-6(+). For the (OCS)n(-) cluster anions, the IRPD spectra indicate the coexistence of a few isomers with an OCS(-) or (OCS)2(-) anion core over the cluster range of n = 2-6. The (OCS)2(-)Ar anion displays two strong bands at 1674 and 1994 cm(-1). These bands can be assigned to a Cs isomer with an OCS(-) anion core. For the n = 2-4 anions, this OCS(-) anion core form is dominant. In addition to the bands of the OCS(-) core isomer, we found another band at ∼1740 cm(-1), which can be assigned to isomers having an (OCS)2(-) ion core; this dimer core has C2 symmetry and (2)A electronic state. The IRPD spectra of the n = 3-6 anions show two IR bands at ∼1660 and ∼2020 cm(-1). The intensity of the latter component relative to that of the former one becomes stronger and stronger with increasing the size from n = 2 to 4, which corresponds to the increase of "solvent" OCS molecules attached to the OCS(-) ion core, but it suddenly decreases at n = 5 and 6. These IR spectral features of the n = 5 and 6 anions are ascribed to the formation of another (OCS)2(-) ion core having C2v symmetry with (2)B2 electronic state.

Structural evolution of the [(CO2)n(H2O)]- cluster anions: quantifying the effect of hydration on the excess charge accommodation motif

The [(CO2)n(H2O)]- cluster anions are studied using infrared photodissociation (IPD) spectroscopy in the 2800-3800 cm(-1) range. The observed IPD spectra display a drastic change in the vibrational band features at n = 4, indicating a sharp discontinuity in the structural evolution of the monohydrated cluster anions. The n = 2 and 3 spectra are composed of a series of sharp bands around 3600 cm(-1), which are assignable to the stretching vibrations of H2O bound to C2O4- in a double ionic hydrogen-bonding (DIHB) configuration, as was previously discussed (J. Chem. Phys. 2005, 122, 094303). In the n > or = 4 spectrum, a pair of intense bands additionally appears at approximately 3300 cm(-1). With the aid of ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-31+G* level, the 3300 cm(-1) bands are assigned to the bending overtone and the hydrogen-bonded OH vibration of H2O bound to CO2- via a single O-H...O linkage. Thus, the structures of [(CO2)n(H2O)]- evolve with cluster size such that DIHB to C2O4- is favored in the smaller clusters with n = 2 and 3 whereas CO2- is preferentially stabilized via the formation of a single ionic hydrogen-bonding (SIHB) configuration in the larger clusters with n > or = 4.