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The thermodynamics and mechanisms of the atmospherically relevant reaction dimethyl sulphide (DMS) + atomic chlorine (Cl) were investigated in the absence and presence of a single water molecule, using electronic structure methods. Stationary points on each reaction surface were located using density functional theory (DFT) with the M06-2X functional with aug-cc-pVDZ (aVDZ) and aug-cc-pVTZ (aVTZ) basis sets. Then fixed point calculations were carried out using the UM06-2X/aVTZ optimised stationary point geometries, with aug-cc-pVnZ basis sets (n = T and Q), using the coupled cluster method [CCSD(T)], as well as the domain-based local pair natural orbitals coupled cluster [DLPNO-UCCSD(T)] approach. Four reaction channels are possible, formation of (A) CH 3 SCH 2 + HCl, (B) CH 3 S + CH 3 Cl, (C) CH 3 SCl + CH 3 , and (C') CH 3 S(Cl)CH 3 . The results show that, in the absence of water, channels A and C' are the dominant channels. In the presence of water, the calculations show that the reaction mechanisms for A and C formation change significantly. Channel A occurs via submerged TSs and is expected to be rapid. Channel B occurs via TSs which present significant energy barriers indicating that this channel is not significant in the presence of water relative to CH 3 SCH 2 + HCl and DMS·Cl adduct formation, as is the case in the absence of water. Channel C was not considered as it is endothermic in the absence of water. In the presence of water, pathways which proceed via (a) DMS·H 2 O + Cl, (b) Cl·H 2 O + DMS and (c) DMS·Cl + H 2 O were considered. It was found that under tropospheric conditions, reactions via pathway (b) are of minor importance relative to those that proceed via pathways (a) and (c). This study has shown that water changes the mechanisms of the DMS + Cl reactions significantly but the presence of water is not expected to affect the overall reaction rate coefficient under atmospheric conditions as the DMS + Cl reaction has a rate coefficient at room temperature close to the collisional limit.

In this study, we used computational methods to investigate the interaction of amphetamine (AMP) with 1,2-indanedione (IND) and 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO) so as to understand whether AMP can be detected in latent fingerprints using either of these reagents. The results show that the binding energies of AMP with IND and DFO were enhanced by the presence of amino acid from -9.29 to -12.35 kcal mol -1 and -7.98 to -10.65 kcal mol -1 , respectively. The physical origins of these interactions could be better understood by symmetry-adapted perturbation theory. The excited state properties of the binding structures with IND demonstrate distinguishable absorption peaks in the UV-vis spectra but zero fluorescence. Furthermore, the UV-vis spectra of the possible reaction products between AMP and the reagents reveal absorption peaks in the visible spectrum. Therefore, we could predict that reaction of AMP with IND would be observable by a reddish colour while with DFO, a colour change to violet is expected. To conclude, the reagents IND and DFO may be used to detect AMP by UV-vis spectroscopy and if their reactions are allowed, the reagents may then act as a potentially rapid, affordable and easy colorimetric test for AMP in latent fingerprints without destruction of the fingerprint sample., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The role of cyclopropane substitution on the ethylene in zw-type [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of cyclic nitrones has been studied within Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the ω B97X-D/6-311G(d,p) computational level. Electron Localization Function (ELF) analysis of the ethylenes shows that the presence the cyclopropane only slightly increases the electron density in the C-C bonding region. Analysis of the Conceptual DFT reactivity indices indicates that the presence of the cyclopropane does not produce any remarkable change in the reactivity of these strained ethylenes. The marginal electrophilic character of ethylene makes the zw-type 32CA reactions of non-polar character. The presence of the cyclopropane in the ethylene decreases the activation enthalpy of the 32CA reactions by only 1.7 and 2.6 kcal mol -1 , and also decreases the ortho regioselectivity. The loss of the strain present in the cyclopropane is responsible for the reduction of the activation enthalpy and the increase of the reaction enthalpy in these non-polar 32CA reactions. The presence of the cyclopropane does not cause any change, neither in the transition state structure (TS) geometries nor in their electronic structure. The very low global electron density transfer (GEDT) computed at the TSs confirms the non-polar character of these 32CA reactions. The ortho regioselectivity experimentally observed in these non-polar 32CA reactions is determined by the most favorable two-center interaction between the less electronegative C1 carbon of nitrone and the non-substituted methylene C5 carbon of the ethylenes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The proposed S N 2 reactions of a hindered organophosphorus reactant with aliphatic and aromatic nucleophiles [Ye et al. , Org. Lett. , 2017, 19 , 5384-5387] were studied theoretically in order to explain the observed stereochemistry of the products. Our computations (using B3LYP as the functional) indicate that the reaction with the aliphatic nucleophile occurs through a backside S N 2@P pathway while the reaction with the aromatic nucleophile proceeds through a novel S N 2@Cl mechanism, followed by a frontside S N 2@C mechanism., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A-234, [EtO-P([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(F)-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me)-N(Et) 2 ], is the suspected A-type nerve agent used in the Skripal attack on the 4th of March 2018. Studies related to the structure and reactivity of this compound are limited. We, therefore, aimed at understanding the underlying hydrolysis mechanism of A-234 within the DFT framework. The attack of the water molecule can occur at the phosphinate and acetoamidine reactive centres. Our theoretical findings indicate that the hydrolysis at the acetoamidine centre is thermodynamically favoured compared to the hydrolysis at the phosphinate centre. The hydrolysis at the acetoamidine moiety may proceed via two pathways, depending on the nitrogen atom participating in the hydrolysis. The main pathway consists of four distinct channels to reach the final product, with the concerted 1,3-proton shift favoured kinetically and thermodynamically in the gas phase and water as solvent. The results are in good agreement with the literature, although some differences in the reaction mechanism were observed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Correction for 'A colorimetric probe for the real-time naked eye detection of cyanide and hydroxide ions in tap water: experimental and theoretical studies' by Veikko Uahengo et al., Analyst, 2019, 144, 6422-6431.

Herein, a colorimetric sensor (L) based on a naphthyl derivative bearing hydrazone receptors was synthesized via a one-step reaction process, and its recognition properties towards biologically important anions in an acetonitrile-water mixture were investigated by naked-eye observation and UV-Vis and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The molar addition of anions, such as TBAF - , TBAOH - , TBACN - and TBAAcO - , induced a significant red shift in the charge transfer band (Δλ = 73 nm, from 337 nm to 410 nm), in agreement with visible "naked eye" detectable colorimetric activities; in addition, soaked-in-L paper strips were prepared, which could significantly discriminate cyanide (KCN) and hydroxide (NaOH) ions dissolved in tap water via the litmus test method. This study was complemented by density functional theory computations to gain more insight into the interaction between L and anions.

A Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) study of the regio- and stereoselectivity of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of 1 H -phosphorinium-3-olate and 1-methylphosphorinium-3-olate with methyl methacrylate was carried out using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. In order to test the method dependence for the most favorable reaction path leading to the 1 H -substituted 6- exo cycloadduct (CA) various functionals using higher basis sets were taken into consideration in the gas phase. An analysis of the energetic parameters indicates that the reaction path leading to 6- exo CA are kinetically as well as thermodynamically favored in the gas phase, THF and ethanol. The calculated energetic parameters of the 32CA reaction of these phosphorus derivatives were compared with those of methyl acrylate and their nitrogen analogues. Investigation of the global electron density transfer at the TSs indicates that these 32CA reactions have non-polar character, while electron localisation function topological analysis of the C-C bond formation along the most favorable reaction path indicates that these 32CA reactions take place through a non-concerted two-stage one-step mechanism, via highly asynchronous TSs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A novel Pd-ZnO-expanded graphite (EG) photoelectrode was constructed from a Pd-ZnO-EG nanocomposite synthesised by a hydrothermal method and characterised using various techniques such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Cyclic voltammetry and photocurrent response measurements were also carried out on the electrode. The Pd-ZnO-EG electrode was employed in the photoelectrocatalytic removal of 4-nitrophenol as a target water pollutant at a neutral pH and with a current density of 7 mA cm -2 . Optical studies revealed that the Pd-ZnO-EG absorbed strongly in the visible light region. The Pd-ZnO-EG electrode showed improved photoelectrocatalytic activity in relation to ZnO-EG and EG electrodes for the removal of the 4-nitrophenol. The photocurrent responses showed that the Pd-ZnO-EG nanocomposite electrode could be employed as a good photoelectrode for photoelectrocatalytic processes and environmental remediation such as treatment of industrial waste waters. Density functional theory method was used to model the oxidative degradation of 4-nitrophenol by the hydroxyl radical which generates hydroquinone, benzoquinone, 4-nitrocatechol, 4-nitroresorcinol and the opening of the 4-nitrophenol ring. Furthermore, the hydroxyl radical is regenerated and can further oxidise the ring structure and initiate a new degradation process., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Metal-cyclen complexes have a number of important applications. However, the coordination chemistry between metal ions and cyclen-based macrocycles is much less well studied compared to their metal ion-crown ether analogues. This work, which makes a contribution to address this imbalance by studying complex ions of the type [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + , was initiated by results of an experimental study which prepared some Group 1 metal cyclen complexes, namely [Li(Me 4 cyclen)(H 2 O)][BAr F ] and [Na(Me 4 cyclen)(THF)][BAr F ] and obtained their X-ray crystal structures [J. M. Dyke, W. Levason, M. E. Light, D. Pugh, G. Reid, H. Bhakhoa, P. Ramasami, and L. Rhyman, Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 13853]. The lowest [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + minimum energy structures (M = Li, Na, K, and L = H 2 O, THF, DEE, MeOH, DCM) are studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The geometry of each [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + structure and, in particular, the conformation of L are found to be mainly governed by steric hindrance which decreases as the size of the ionic radius increases from Li + → Na + → K + . Good agreement of computed geometrical parameters of [Li(Me 4 cyclen)(H 2 O)] + and [Na(Me 4 cyclen)(THF)] + with the corresponding geometrical parameters derived from the crystal structures [Li(Me 4 cyclen)(H 2 O)] + [BAr F ] - and [Na(Me 4 cyclen)(THF)] + [BAr F ] - is obtained. Bonding analysis indicates that the stability of the [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + structures originates mainly from ionic interaction between the Me 4 cyclen/L ligands and the M + centres. The experimental observation that [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + [BAr F ] - complexes could be prepared in crystalline form for M + = Li + and Na + , but that experiments aimed at synthesising the corresponding K + , Rb + , and Cs + complexes failed resulting in formation of [Me 4 cyclenH][BAr F ] is investigated using DFT and explicitly correlated calculations, and explained by considering production of [Me 4 cyclenH] + by a hydrolysis reaction, involving traces of water, which competes with [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + formation. [Me 4 cyclenH] + formation dominates for M + = K + , Rb + , and Cs + whereas formation of [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + is energetically favoured for M + = Li + and Na + . The results indicate that the number and type of ligands, play a key role in stabilising the [M(Me 4 cyclen)] + complexes and it is hoped that this work will encourage experimentalists to prepare and characterise other [M(Me 4 cyclen)(L)] + complexes.

The Group 1 complexes, [M(Me6[18]aneN6)][BAr(F)] (M = Li-Cs; Me6[18]aneN6 = 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexamethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane; BAr(F) = tetrakis{3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl}borate), are obtained in high yield by reaction of the macrocycle with M[BAr(F)] in anhydrous CH2Cl2 solution, and characterised spectroscopically ((1)H, (13)C{(1)H}, (7)Li, (23)Na, and (133)Cs NMR), by microanalysis and, for M = Li, K, and Rb, by single crystal X-ray analysis. The structures show N6-coordination to the metal ion; the small ionic radius for Li(+) leads to a puckered conformation. In contrast, the K(+) ion fits well into the N6 plane, with the [BAr(F)](-) anions above and below, leading to two K(+) species in the asymmetric unit (a hexagonal planar [K(Me6[18]aneN6)](+) cation and a '[K(Me6[18]aneN6)(κ(1)-BAr(F))2](-) anion', with long axial KF interactions). The Rb(+) ion sits above the N6 plane, with two long axial RbF interactions in one cation and two long, mutually cis RbF interactions in the other. The unusual sandwich cations, [M(Me3tacn)2](+) (M = Na, K; distorted octahedral, N6 donor set) and half-sandwich cations [Li(Me3tacn)(thf)](+) (distorted tetrahedron, N3O donor set), [Li(Me4cyclen)(OH2)](+), and [Na(Me4cyclen)(thf)](+) (both distorted square pyramids with N4O donor sets) were also prepared (Me3tacn = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, Me4cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, using the BP86 and B3LYP functionals, show that the accessibility of the [M(Me3tacn)2](+) sandwich cations depends strongly on the M(+) ionic radius, such that it is sufficiently large to avoid steric clashing between the Me groups of the two rings, and small enough to avoid very acute N-M-N chelate angles. The calculations also show that coordination to the Group 1 cation involves significant donation of electron density from the p-orbitals on the N atoms of the macrocycle, rather than purely electrostatic interactions.

The reactions of dimethylsulfide (DMS) with molecular iodine (I(2)) and iodine monochloride (ICl) have been studied by infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy by co-condensation of the reagents in an inert gas matrix. Molecular adducts of DMS + I(2) and DMS + ICl have also been prepared using standard synthetic methods. The vapour above each of these adducts trapped in an inert gas matrix gave the same infrared spectrum as that recorded for the corresponding co-condensation reaction. In each case, the infrared spectrum has been interpreted in terms of a van der Waals adduct, DMS : I(2) and DMS : ICl, with the aid of infrared spectra computed for their minimum energy structures at the MP2 level. Computed relative energies of minima and transition states on the potential energy surfaces of these reactions were used to understand why they do not proceed further than the reactant complexes DMS : I(2) and DMS : ICl. The main findings of this research are compared with results obtained earlier for the DMS + Cl(2) and DMS + Br(2) reactions, and the atmospheric implications of the conclusions are also considered.