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At least 361 records · Page 20

Transient Symmetry Controls Photo Dynamics near Conical Intersections

Excited-state chemistry lacks generalised symmetry rules. With many femtochemistry studies focused on individual cases, it is hard to build up the same level of chemical intuition for excited-states as exists for ground states. Here, we unravel the degrees of freedom involved in ultrafast internal conversion (IC) by mapping the vibrational coherence of the initial wavepacket, and the dependence on molecular symmetry in various cyclic tertiary amines. Molecular symmetry plays an important role in the preservation of vibrational coherence in the transit from one electronic state to another. We show here that it is sufficient for the molecule to simply have the possibility of a more symmetric structure to achieve the preservation of vibrational coherence. It can be transient and still lead to preservation. Furthermore, this finding provides an additional angle on how symmetry influences electronic transitions and an additional piece to the puzzle of establishing symmetry-based selection rules for excited-state processes.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Understanding Strain and Failure of a Knot in Polyethylene Using Molecular Dynamics with Machine-Learned Potentials

A neural network potential (NNP) has been developed by fitting to ab initio electronic structure data on hydrocarbons and is used to study failure of linear and knotted polyethylene (PE) chains. A linear PE chain must be highly strained before breaking as the stress is equally distributed across the chain. In contrast, the stress in a PE chain with a 31 or overhand knot, accumulates at the knot’s entrance/exit. We find the strain energy is greatest when the bond length and angle are strained simultaneously, and that the knot weakens the chain by increasing the variance of the C–C–C angle, thereby allowing rupture at lower bond strains. Here, we extend our analysis to both 51 and 52 knots and find that both break at the entrance/exit of a loop. Notably, molecular scale PE knots exhibit many of the same characteristics as knots in a macroscopic rope, with stick–slip phenomena upon tightening and similar points of failure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evolution of Chain Dynamics and Oxidation States with Increasing Chain Length for a Donor–Acceptor-Conjugated Oligomer Series

While it is known that the chain length strongly affects the properties of π-conjugated polymers, the effects of chain length on the molecular structure, chain conformation, and oxidation state properties in donor–acceptor-type conjugated structures remain unclear. This limits our understanding of how the polymer molecular weight impacts material properties. Here, a discrete and monodisperse oligomer series (n = 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, and 21) and polymers (nPB), composed of the donor 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT), the acceptor benzothiadiazole (BTD), and methylthio end-capping groups, are synthesized by C–H-activated cross-coupling. The molecular structure, molecular weight, and dispersity of each oligomer/polymer are thoroughly characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography. This series reveals a rod-to-coil transition at n = 15 and coil formation at polymer length scales of ~28 units via solution small-angle neutron scattering characterization. The oxidation states are deciphered via cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, and density functional theory calculations. Oligomers 3–9 undergo successive one-electron oxidation steps, while 15 and higher undergo multielectron oxidations per step in CH 2 Cl 2 –TBAPF6 at a Pt ultramicroelectrode. The electronic transition of each oxidation state (1+, 2+, 3+, etc.) is tracked by absorption spectroscopy, revealing a “bipolaron to di-polaron” transition at n = 7 at which shorter oligomers prefer bipolaron formation and longer oligomers prefer di-polaron formation in their dication states. Furthermore, oxidized 15 has a lower electronic transition energy compared to its polymer homologue, as shown by spectroelectrochemistry, revealing a synergy between the chain length and the oxidation state properties. This study proves that the convergence limit between small molecule and polymer behavior occurs at approximately 15 units and highlights the property transitions that occur as a function of chain length for a donor–acceptor class of conjugated organic materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Samarium: from a distorted-fcc phase to melting under dynamic compression using in-situ x-ray diffraction

Abstract Lattice and electronic structure interactions for f -electrons are fundamental challenges for lanthanide equation of state development. Difficulties in first-principles calculations, such as density functional theory (DFT), emphasize the need for well-characterized experimental data. Here, we measure in-situ x-ray diffraction of shocked samarium (Sm) and temperature along the Hugoniot for the first time, providing direct evidence for phase transitions. We report direct evidence of a distorted fcc (dfcc) phase at 23 GPa. Shocked samarium melts from the dfcc phase starting at 33 GPa (1333 K), with complete melt at 40 GPa (1468 K). Previous work indicated shock melt at 27 GPa (1200 K), underscoring the significance of x-ray measurements for detecting phase transitions. Interestingly, our observed melting is in sharp contrast with the melting reported by a diamond anvil cell study. These experimental data can tightly constrain first principles calculations and serve as key touchstones for equation of state modeling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Relaxation dynamics in see-saw shaped Dy( iii ) single-molecule magnets

Unusual see-saw shaped Dy( iii ) single-molecule magnets, [K(DME) n ][L Ar Dy(X) 2 ] (L Ar = {C 6 H 4 [(2,6- i PrC 6 H 3 )NC 6 H 4 ] 2 } 2− ), X = Cl ( 1 ) and X = I ( 2 ) were synthesized and display high effective energy barriers ( U eff = 1278–1334 K) in zero field.

Harriman, Katie L. M.↗