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A microhydration study of sulfur mustard (SM) was carried out using M06-2X, B3LYP, B3LYP-D3, and MP2 levels of theory with the 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The changes in energetics, structural parameters and vibrational wavenumbers following the addition of up to three discrete water molecules to SM were analyzed. We observed slight changes in the geometry of SM upon microhydration. The stability of hydrated clusters is due to weak C-H···O-H hydrogen bonds. The free energy change for the formation of the clusters is positive at room temperature and becomes exergonic when the temperature decreases. The infrared stretchings of C-Cl of SM and O-H of water are redshifted upon the addition of water molecules. The findings from this work add to the literature of hydrated SM and can be useful in its detection and subsequent destruction., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.)

Unprecedented homoleptic octathioether macrocyclic coordination to Na(+) in [Na([24]aneS8)](+) has been achieved by using Na[B{3,5-(CF3)2-C6H3}4] as a source of "naked" Na(+) ions and confirmed crystallographically, with d(Na-S) = 2.9561(15)-3.0524(15) Å. Density functional theory calculations show that there is electron transfer from the S 3p and C 2p valence orbitals of the ligand to the 3s and 3p orbitals of the Na(+) ion upon complexation.

The unavailability of monomeric heavy ketone analogues has been ascribed to the evanescence of the very reactive A═E double bond (A and E are the heavier group 14 and group 16 elements, respectively). Can the isolation of any of the monomeric telluro-ketones be assisted by an energetic favorability on its potential energy surface (PES)? In this light, the reaction pathways for the isomerization and decomposition reactions of H2A═Te and HFA═Te (A = C, Si, and Ge) molecules on their singlet state PES have been studied using second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). The barrier heights reported suggest that telluroformaldehyde, silanetellone, and germatellone are kinetically more resistant to unimolecular reactions than the corresponding lighter chalcogen analogues. However, upon replacing a hydrogen atom by fluorine, the barrier heights of most of the isomerization and decomposition reactions are lowered. Among the unimolecular reactions studied for the H2A═Te and HFA═Te (A = C, Si, and Ge) molecules, the decomposition of cis-FGeTeH into HF and GeTe is found to be the most facile reaction, with a barrier height of only 4.6 kcal/mol. We also predict the ground state telluro-ketones to be viable molecules, as they have no imaginary vibrational frequencies and their lowest vibrational frequencies are always >100 cm(-1). In view of the scarcity of information on the chemistry of the mentioned telluro-ketones, the molecular parameters of various isomers and decomposition products have been reported, and should be useful for future experimental investigations.

The atmospherically relevant reactions between dimethyl selenide (DMSe) and the molecular halogens (X(2) = Cl(2), Br(2), and I(2)) have been studied with ab initio calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Geometry optimization calculations showed that the reactions proceed from the reagents to the products (CH(3)SeCH(2)X + HX) via three minima, a van der Waals adduct (DMSe:X(2)), a covalently bound intermediate (DMSeX(2)), and a product-like complex (CH(3)SeCH(2)X:HX). The computed potential energy surfaces are used to predict what molecular species are likely to be observed in spectroscopic experiments such as gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy. It is concluded that, for the reactions of DMSe with Cl(2) and Br(2), the covalent intermediate should be seen in spectroscopic experiments, whereas, in the DMSe + I(2) reaction, the van der Waals adduct DMSe:I(2) should be observed. Comparison is made with previous related calculations and experiments on dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with molecular halogens. The relevance of the results to atmospheric chemistry is discussed. The DMSeX(2) and DMSe:X(2) intermediates are likely to be reservoirs of molecular halogens in the atmosphere which will lead on photolysis to ozone depletion.

A systematic investigation on the neutral and anionic digallium tetraoxide, Ga(2)O(4) has been carried out by using density functional theory (DFT), second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), and the coupled cluster approach with single and double substitutions and a perturbative treatment of the triple excitations [CCSD(T)]. The geometry of neutral Ga(2)O(4) has been proposed earlier, from an experimental study, to adopt a D(2d) symmetry (J. Phys. Chem. 1979, 83, 656). However, the current research reveals that, out of the several isomers considered for neutral and anionic digallium tetraoxide, the (3)B(1u) and (2)B(3g) of the planar D(2h) geometry (7a-D(2h)) are the lowest-energy states for Ga(2)O(4) and Ga(2)O(4)(-). Our computations rule out the D(2d) geometry (3-D(2d)) as a viable contender for neutral Ga(2)O(4). The (3)B(2) (3-D(2d)) state is located above the (3)B(1u) (7-D(2h)) state by at least 4.26 eV. The energies of the low lying states, geometrical parameters, and energetic features (VEDE, AEDE, and AEA) are reported. The AEA of Ga(2)O(4) is calculated to be 3.94 eV (B3LYP), 3.24 eV (MP2), 3.42 eV [CCSD(T)//B3LYP], and 3.38 eV [CCSD(T)//MP2], respectively. In addition, the dissociation energy, D(e), for the process Ga(2)O(4) ((3)B(1u)) → 2GaO(2) ((2)A(2)) is 3.59 eV (B3LYP), 5.08 eV (MP2), 4.82 eV [CCSD(T)//B3LYP], and 4.80 eV [CCSD(T)//MP2]. The results obtained in this work are critically analyzed, discussed, and compared with those of the analogous metal oxides.

Systematic computational studies of stannylene derivatives SnX(2)/SnXY and XSnR/SnR(2)/RSnR' were carried out using density functional theory. The basis sets used for H, F, Cl, Br, C, Si, and Ge atoms are of double-ζ plus polarization quality with additional s- and p-type diffuse functions, denoted DZP++. For the iodine and tin atoms, the Stuttgart-Dresden basis sets, with relativistic small-core effective core potentials (ECP), are used. All geometries are fully optimized with three functionals (BHLYP, BLYP, and B3LYP). Harmonic vibrational wavenumber analyses are performed to evaluate zero-point energy corrections and to determine the nature of the stationary points located. Predicted are four types of neutral-anion separations, plus adiabatic ionization energies (E(IE)) and singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔE(S-T)). The dependence of all three energetic properties upon choice of substituent is remarkably strong. The EA(ad(ZPVE)) values (eV) obtained with the B3LYP functional range from 0.70 eV [Sn(CH(3))(2)] to 2.36 eV [SnI(2)]. The computed E(IE) values lie between 7.33 eV [Sn(SnH(3))(2)] and 11.15 eV [SnF(2)], while the singlet-triplet splittings range from 0.60 eV [Sn(SnH(3))(2)] to 3.40 eV [SnF(2)]. The geometries and energetics compare satisfactorily with the few available experiments, while most of these species are investigated for the first time. Some unusual structures are encountered for the SnXI(+) (X = F, Cl, and Br) cations. The structural parameters and energetics are discussed and compared with the carbene, silylene, and germylene analogues.

A systematic investigation of the X-Ge-CY(3) (X = H, F, Cl, Br, and I; Y = F, Cl, Br, and I) species is carried out using density functional theory. The basis sets used for all atoms (except iodine) in this work are of double-ζ plus polarization quality with additional s- and p-type diffuse functions, and denoted DZP++. Vibrational frequency analyses are performed to evaluate zero-point energy corrections and to determine the nature of the stationary points located. Predicted are four different forms of neutral-anion separations: adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)), zero-point vibrational energy corrected EA(ad(ZPVE)), vertical electron affinity (EA(vert)), and vertical detachment energy (VDE). The electronegativity (χ) reactivity descriptor for the halogens (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) is used as a tool to assess the interrelated properties of these germylenes. The topological position of the halogen atom bound to the divalent germanium center is well correlated with the trend in the electron affinities and singlet-triplet gaps. For the expected XGeCY(3) structures (X = H, F, Cl, Br, and I; Y = F and Cl), the predicted trend in the electron affinities is well correlated with simpler germylene derivatives (J. Phys. Chem. A 2009, 113, 8080). The predicted EA(ad(ZPVE)) values with the BHLYP functional range from 1.66 eV (FGeCCl(3)) to 2.20 eV (IGeCF(3)), while the singlet-triplet splittings range from 1.28 eV (HGeCF(3)) to 2.22 eV (FGeCCl(3)). The XGeCY(3) (Y = Br and I) species are most often characterized by three-membered cyclic systems involving the divalent germanium atom, the carbon atom, and a halogen atom.

A systematic theoretical investigation was carried out to study the reactions of various germylenes with germane. Molecular structures of the reactants (GeX(2) and GeHX, where X = H, F, Cl and Br) plus GeH(4), transition states, and products have been optimized to understand the effects of halo-substituted germylenes. The basis set used is of double-zeta plus polarization quality with additional s- and p-type diffuse functions. Consistent with experiment, the theoretical gas-phase reaction GeH(2) + GeH(4) --> Ge(2)H(6) possesses a negative activation energy. The predicted activation energies reveal interesting trends for both mono- and di- halo-substituted germylenes, -1.5 [GeH(2)], +20.5 [GeHF], +59.9 [GeF(2)], +18.0 [GeHCl], +46.8 [GeCl(2)], +17.3 [GeHBr], and +42.9 kcal mol(-1) [GeBr(2)]. There is a noteworthy relationship between the activation energies and the singlet-triplet splittings of the divalent germylenes. We report for the first time rate constants for the transfer of hydrogen, evaluated using standard transition-state theory with tunneling corrections. These results are analyzed and compared to the available experimental and previous theoretical findings for the gas-phase reactions involving germylene derivatives and germanium analogues.

A systematic investigation of the GeX(2) and GeXY species was carried out using the popular DFT functionals BLYP, B3LYP, and BHHLYP. Predicted are the singlet-triplet energy gaps and four types of neutral-anion separations: adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)), zero-point vibrational energy corrected EA(ad(ZPVE)), vertical electron affinity (EA(vert)), and vertical detachment energy. The basis sets used for all atoms in this work are of double-zeta plus polarization quality with additional s- and p-type diffuse functions denoted DZP++, except for iodine where the 6-311G(d,p) basis set is used. The geometries are fully optimized with each functional independently. Vibrational frequency analyses were performed to compute zero-point energy corrections and to determine the nature of the stationary points. The geometries and the relative energies are discussed and compared with the carbon and silicon analogues. The EA(ad(ZPVE)) values (eV) obtained with the B3LYP functional range from 0.62 eV [Ge(CH(3))(2)] to 2.08 eV [Ge(GeH(3))(2)]. These results compare satisfactorily with the few available experiments, but most are reported for the first time. Similarly, the predicted singlet-triplet energy separations range from 13.8 kcal mol(-1) [Ge(SiH(3))(2)] to 85.0 kcal mol(-1) [GeF(2)]. Invariably, as one progresses down the periodic table C --> Si --> Ge, the "great divide" occurs between carbon and silicon.

Molecular structures, energetics, vibrational frequencies, and electron affinities are predicted for the phenylethynyl radical and its isomers. Electron affinities are computed using density functional theory, -namely, the BHLYP, BLYP, B3LYP, BP86, BPW91, and B3PW91 functionals-, employing the double-zeta plus polarization DZP++ basis set; this level of theory is known to perform well for the computation of electron affinities. Furthermore, ab initio computations employing perturbation theory, coupled cluster with single and double excitations [CCSD], and the inclusion of perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] are performed to determine the relative energies of the isomers. These higher level computations are performed with the correlation consistent family of basis sets cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5). Three electronic states are probed for the phenylethynyl radical. In C2v symmetry, the out-of-plane (2B1) radical is predicted to lie about 10 kcal/mol below the in-plane (2B2) radical by DFT methods, which becomes 9.4 kcal/mol with the consideration of the CCSD(T) method. The energy difference between the lowest pi and sigma electronic states of the phenylethynyl radical is also about 10 kcal/mol according to DFT; however, CCSD(T) with the cc-pVQZ basis set shows this energy separation to be just 1.8 kcal/mol. The theoretical electron affinities of the phenylethynyl radical are predicted to be 3.00 eV (B3LYP/DZP++) and 3.03 eV (CCSD(T)/DZP++//MP2/DZP++). The adiabatic electron affinities (EAad) of the three isomers of phenylethynyl, that is, the ortho-, meta-, and para-ethynylphenyl, are predicted to be 1.45, 1.40, and 1.43 eV, respectively. Hence, the phenylethynyl radical binds an electron far more effectively than the three other radicals studied. Thermochemical predictions, such as the bond dissociation energies of the aromatic and ethynyl C-H bonds and the proton affinities of the phenylethynyl and ethynylphenyl anions, are also reported.