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At least 883 records · Page 49

Stochastic GW -GPU: Rapid Quasi-Particle Energies for Molecules beyond 10,000 Atoms

StochasticGW is a code for computing accurate quasi-particle (QP) energies of molecules and material systems in the GW approximation. StochasticGW utilizes the stochastic Resolution of the Identity (sROI) technique to enable a massively parallel implementation with computational costs that scale semilinearly with system size, allowing the method to access systems with tens of thousands of electrons. Here, we introduce a new implementation, StochasticGW-GPU, for which the main bottleneck steps have been ported to GPUs and give substantial performance improvements over previous versions of the code. We showcase the new code by computing band gaps of hydrogenated silicon clusters (Si x H y ) containing up to 10,001 atoms and 35,144 electrons, and we obtain individual QP energies with a statistical precision of better than ±0.03 eV with times-to-solution of less than 1 h.

Thomas, Phillip S. [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab↗

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Mutations at Positions L50, E166, and L167 Rendering Resistance to Covalent and Noncovalent Inhibitors

SARS-CoV-2 propagation under nirmatrelvir and ensitrelvir pressure selects for main protease (MPro) drug-resistant mutations E166V (DRM2), L50F/E166V (DRM3), E166A/L167F (DRM4), and L50F/E166A/L167F (DRM5). DRM2-DRM5 undergoes N-terminal autoprocessing to produce mature MPro with dimer dissociation constants (K dimer ) 2–3 times larger than that of the wildtype. Co-selection of L50F restores catalytic activity of DRM2 and DRM4 from ~10 to 30%, relative to that of the wild-type enzyme, without altering K dimer . Binding affinities and thermodynamic profiles that parallel the drug selection pressure, exhibiting significant decreases in affinity through entropy/enthalpy compensation, were compared with GC373. Reorganization of the active sites due to mutations observed in the inhibitor-free DRM3 and DRM4 structures as compared to MPro WT may account for the reduced binding affinities, although DRM2 and DRM3 complexes with ensitrelvir are almost identical to MPro WT -ensitrelvir. In conclusion, chemical reactivity changes of the mutant active sites due to differences in electrostatic and protein dynamics effects likely contribute to losses in binding affinities.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Discovery and Development of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting the GAS41 YEATS Domain in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract GAS41 is frequently overexpressed in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). GAS41 contains a YEATS domain, which recognizes acetylated lysine residues on histones to recruit protein complexes and facilitate transcription. Suppression of GAS41 in NSCLC models inhibits cellular proliferation and markedly reduces tumor growth in mouse xenografts, justifying the development of small-molecule inhibitors. We have employed structure-based design and medicinal chemistry optimization to discover DLG-41, a submicromolar inhibitor binding to the GAS41 YEATS domain. DLG-41 potently disrupts the association of GAS41 YEATS with chromatin in mammalian cells and inhibits the proliferation of NSCLC cell lines with submicromolar potency without significantly affecting normal lung fibroblasts. DLG-41 induces more effective growth inhibition in A549 versus GAS41-knockout cells, demonstrating on-target activity. DLG-41 treatment upregulates the CDKN1A gene and downregulates pathways associated with lung cancer cell identity, tumor migration, and invasion. DLG-41 is a promising chemical probe for targeting GAS41 protein in NSCLC models and has potential for future development.

Listunov, Dymytrii [University of Michigan , , , ,↗

Improved Syntheses of 4'-Vinylbenzo-3 n -Crown- n Ethers ( n = 5–7)

We report a convenient, high-yielding, and scalable synthetic approach to the construction of crown ether monomers has been developed. Using this method, a wide-ranging class of polymerizable crown ethers can be efficiently obtained. The identity of the crown ethers was further established using single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Two of the vinylbenzocrown ethers crystallize with water, affording infinite supramolecular assemblies containing hydrogen-bonded water molecules. The crown ethers described in this manuscript will be used as host molecules in separation science.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Probing orientation-specific charge-dipole interactions between hexafluoroisopropanol and halides: A joint photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study

The interactions between hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and halogen anions X? (F?, Cl?, Br?, and I?) have been investigated by negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy (NIPES) and ab initio calculations. The measured NIPE spectrum of each [HFIP·X]? (X = Cl, Br, and I) complex shows the identical pattern to the corresponding X? by shifting to the high electron binding energy side, indicative of formation of [HFIP···X?] structure, in which X? interacts with HFIP via charge-dipole interactions. However, the spectrum of [HFIP·F]? appears completely different from that of F?, and is more similar to the spectrum of the deprotonated HFIP anion (HFIP?H?). The geometry and electron density calculations indicate that a neutral HF molecule is formed upon HFIP interacting with F? via proton transfer, rendering a stable structure of [HFIP?H···HF]?. Two conformers of [HFIP?H·HF]? with HFIP being in synperiplanar and antiperiplanar configurations, respectively, are observed, providing direct experimental evidences to show the distinctly different and orientation-specific interactions between HFIP and halide anions.

Wang, Lei↗

Velocity-Map Imaging and Magnetic-Bottle Photoelectron Spectroscopy of [SeCCH] – : Electronic Properties and Spin–Orbit Splitting

In this work, the recently synthesized acetylide compound KSeCCH containing the main group element selenium within the novel and in crystalline form unprecedented [SeCCH] – anion was successfully investigated in the gas phase by high-resolution velocity-map imaging (VMI) and magnetic-bottle (MB) photoelectron spectroscopy coupled with an electrospray ionization source. Both VMI and MB spectra exhibited identical electron affinities (EA, 2.517 ± 0.002 eV), spin–orbit coupling (SOC) splittings (1492 ± 20 cm –1 ), and Se–C stretching frequencies (573 ± 20 cm –1 ) of the corresponding neutral tetra-atomic radical [SeCCH] • with the VMI spectrum possessing six times higher spectral resolution compared with the MB spectrum. These experimental values were well reproduced by calculations at the CCSD(T) level, in which both the isolated [SeCCH] – anion and the [SeCCH] • radical adopted linear geometries. The simulated spectra based on the calculated Franck–Condon factors, the SOC splitting, and the experimental line width matched well with the measured spectra. Furthermore, comparisons of the EA and SOC splitting values with the previously reported isolobal species [SeCN] • are also made and discussed. The decrease in the EA and SOC splitting of [SeCCH] • is ascribed to the differences in the electronegativities between C and N atoms as well as the electron density on the Se atom in its singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pressure Effects on the Relaxation of an Excited Ethane Molecule in High-Pressure Bath Gases

Here, we use molecular dynamics to calculate the rotational and vibrational energy relaxation of C 2 H 6 in Ar, Kr, and Xe bath gases over a pressure range of 10 to 400 atm and at temperatures of 300 K and 800 K. The C 2 H 6 is instantaneously excited by 80 kcal/mol randomly distributed into both vibrational and rotational modes. The computed relaxation rates show little sensitivity to the identity of the noble gas in the bath. Vibrational relaxation rates show a non-linear pressure dependence at 300 K. At 800 K the reduced range of bath gas densities covered by the range of pressures do not yet show any non-linearity in the pressure dependence. Rotational relaxation is characterized with two relaxation rates. The slower rate is comparable to the vibrational relaxation rate. The faster rate has a linear pressure dependence at 300 K but an irregular, nonlinear pressure dependence at 800 K. To understand this, a model was developed based on approximating the periodic box used in the molecular dynamics simulations by an equal-volume collection of cubes where each cube is sized to allow only single occupancy by the noble gas or the molecule. Combinatorial statistics then leads to a pressure and temperature dependent analytic distribution of the bath gas species the molecule encounters in a collision. This distribution, the dissociation energy of molecule/bath gas complexes and bath gas clusters, and the computed energy release per collision combine to show that only at 300 K is the energy release sufficient to dissociate likely complexes and clusters. This suggests that persistent and pressure-dependent clusters and complexes at 800 K may be responsible for the non-linear pressure dependence of rotational relaxation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Sub-picosecond Production of Solute Radical Cations in Tetrahydrofuran after Radiolysis

Ultrafast hole transfer from solvent radical cations produced by radiolysis with ~10 ps, 9 MeV electron pulses to solutes was investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Because of rapid fragmentation of initially produced THF +• , solute radical cations are not expected and have not previously been reported. Using 9,9-Dihexyl-2,7-dibromofluorene (Br 2 F) at 5 to 1000 mM, Br 2 F +• was observed with radiation chemical yields up to G = 2.23 / 100 eV absorbed. While more than half of this was the result of direct solute ionization, the results highlight the importance of capture of holes from THF +• prior to solvation and fragmentation. The observed data show a time-resolution limited (15 ps) rise in transient absorption of Br 2 F +• , identical in form to reports of pre-solvated or dry electron capture in water and a few organic liquids, including THF. The results were thus interpreted with a similar formalism, finding C 37 = 1.7 M, the concentration at which 37% of holes escape capture. The yield of solvent hole capture can be accounted for by the formation of solvent holes adjacent to solute molecules reacting faster than they can fragment, however mechanisms such as delocalized holes or rapid hopping may play a role. Finally, low temperature results find over two times more capture, supporting the speculation that if THF +• was longer lived, the yield of capture in under 15 ps would have been at least 2x larger at 1 M Br 2 F, possibly capturing nearly all available holes from the solvent.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Resolving Discrepancies between State-of-the-Art Theory and Experiment for HO 2 + HO 2 via Multiscale Informatics

Recent high-level theoretical calculations predict a mild temperature dependence for HO 2 + HO 2 inconsistent with state-of-the-art experimental determinations that upheld the stronger temperature dependence observed in early experiments. Via MultiScale Informatics analysis of the theoretical and experimental data, we identified an alternative interpretation of the raw experimental data that uses HO 2 + HO 2 rate constants nearly identical to theoretical predictions---implying that the theoretical and experimental data are actually consistent, at least when considering the raw data from experimental studies. Here, similar analyses of typical signals from low-temperature experiments indicate that an HOOOOH intermediate---identified by recent theory but absent from earlier interpretations---yields modest effects that are smaller than, but may have contributed to, the scatter in data among different experiments. More generally, the findings demonstrate that modern chemical theories and experiments have progressed to a point where meaningful comparison requires joint consideration of their data simultaneously.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Spin–Orbit versus Hyperfine Coupling-Mediated Intersystem Crossing in a Radical Pair

While spin–orbit coupling (SOC) is typically the dominant interaction that couples singlet and triplet states within individual chromophores, hyperfine coupling (HFC) becomes important in multichromophoric systems, particularly in relation to the radical pair mechanism. Here, we use TD-DFT to calculate the spin–orbit coupling and hyperfine coupling between the first singlet and triplet charge transfer states of the radical pair 2 Pyrene– and 2 N,N-dimethylaniline + . We show that, as the intermolecular donor–acceptor distance grows, SOC decays to zero (as one would expect) because singlet and triplet states are characterized by identical orbitals in space, while the HFC remains comparatively constant. Here, the switching region occurs around 4 Å, beyond which HFC dominates over SOC as far as defining the rate of intersystem crossing (ISC).

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Elucidating Anomalous Intensity Ratios in Chlorine L-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: Multiplet Effects and Core Rydberg Transitions

A relativistic core–valence-separated equation-of-motion coupled cluster (CVS-EOM-CC) study of chlorine L 2,3 -edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra using CH 3 Cl and CH 2 ICl as representative molecules is reported. The nearly identical intensity for the main features in the L 2 - and L 3 -edge XANES spectra is attributed to multiplet effects and the overlap between core–valence and core Rydberg transitions. The multiplet effects originating from the interaction between the core hole and the C–Cl σ* orbitals account for around half of the deviation of the L 3 and L 2 intensity ratio from the 2:1 ratio of the numbers of 2p 3/2 and 2p 1/2 electrons. The 2p 3/2 → 4s core Rydberg transitions are shown to overlap with the 2p 1/2 → σ* transitions and contribute to the other half of the intensity anomaly. Here, we demonstrate that triple excitations in CVS-EOM-CC calculations play important roles in accurate simulation of the overlap between the 2p 1/2 → σ* and 2p 3/2 → 4s transitions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-Pressure Rate Rules for Ether Alkylperoxy Radical Isomerization

The first isomerization reaction of an alkylperoxy (RO 2 ) radical holds significant importance in low-temperature oxidation, as it governs the branching ratios of the hydroperoxyalkyl (QOOH) radicals, which influence the competition between the chain-propagation and chain-branching reactions. In this study, we systematically calculated high-pressure rate rules for the RO 2 isomerization reaction of monoethers, exploring 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-membered ring transition states. Primary, secondary, and tertiary carbon sites, where both the abstracting peroxy group and the abstracted hydrogen are located, were considered, with particular emphasis on distinguishing between secondary carbons adjacent (alpha) and nonadjacent to the ether functional group. Using the G4//B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2pd) level of theory and the transition state theory, we estimated the rate constants and the Arrhenius coefficient for over 120 possible isomerization reactions. We examined the effect of ring size and ring atoms, revealing that 6- and 7-membered ring isomerizations were generally the fastest. The impact of the ether functional group on transition states was investigated by comparing reactions with identical ring size, peroxy, and radical positions, but with the ether functional group positioned either outside (i.e., out) or inside (i.e., in) the transition state ring, leading to differences in the rate constants. When comparing to analogous alkane rate constants, differences of up to an order of magnitude were observed, underscoring the need for caution when assigning rate rules by analogy. We applied our rate constants in the di-iso-butyl ether kinetic model and evaluated their influence on low-temperature chemistry finding that they altered the branching ratios by up to a factor of 9, highlighting the significance of site-specific rate constants for more accurate low-temperature modeling.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ultrafast Correlation Energy Estimator

A virtually no-cost method is proposed that can compute the correlation energies of general, covalently bonded, organic, and inorganic molecules (including conjugated π-electron systems) with a well-defined dominant Lewis structure at the accuracy of 99.5% of the near-exact values determined by the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] in the complete-basis-set (CBS) limit. This Correlation Energy Per Bond (CEPB) method assigns a partial correlation energy to each bond type (characterized by the identities of the two atoms forming the bond and its integer bond order) and to a lone pair, regardless of the bond length, bond angle, sp-hybridization, π-electron conjugation, ionicity, noncovalent interactions, etc. At its current stage, the method is mainly suitable for near-equilibrium geometries. The correlation energies per bond are determined by a fit to the CCSD(T)/CBS benchmarks. It can neither improve the equilibrium structures nor discern conformers or positional isomers, yet its accuracy for reaction energies rivals that of the second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory, which is far more expensive. Its promising performance underscores the possibility that surprisingly compact, chemically intuitive molecular fragments exist into which correlation energies can be partitioned, leading to various ultrafast correlation-energy estimators tailored to different purposes.

Binding energy↗

Machine Learning Analysis of Direct Dynamics Trajectory Outcomes for Thermal Deazetization of 2,3-Diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene

Experimentally, the thermal gas-phase deazetization of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (1) results in the loss of N2 and the formation of bicyclo products 3 (exo) and 4 (endo) in a nonstatistical ratio, with preference for the exo product. Here, we report unrestricted M06-2X quasiclassical trajectories initialized from the concerted N2 ejection transition state that were able to replicate the experimental preference to form 3. We found that the 3:4 ratio results from the relative amounts of very fast (ballistic) exotype trajectories versus trajectories that lead to the 1,3-diradical intermediate 2. These quasiclassical trajectories provided a set of transition-state vibrational, velocity, momenta, and geometric features for the machine learning analysis. Additionally, a selection of popular supervised classification algorithms (e.g., random forest) provided poor prediction of trajectory outcomes based on only transition-state vibrational quanta and energy features. However, these machine learning models provided more accurate predictions using atomic velocities and atomic positions, attaining ~70% accuracy using initial conditions and between 85 and 95% accuracy at later reaction time steps. This increased accuracy allowed the feature importance analysis to reveal that, at the later-time analysis, the methylene bridge out-of-plane bending is correlated with trajectory outcomes for the formation of either the exo product or toward the diradical intermediate. Possible reasons for the struggle of machine learning algorithms to classify trajectories based on transition-state features is the heavily overlapping feature values, the finite but very large possible vibrational mode combinations, and the possibility of chaos as trajectories propagate. We examined this chaos by comparing a set of nearly identical trajectories that differed by only a very small scaling of the kinetic energies resulting from the transition-state reaction coordinate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Microsolvation in V + (H 2 O) n Clusters Studied with Selected-Ion Infrared Spectroscopy

Gas phase ion-molecule clusters of the form V + (H 2 O) n (n = 1-30) are produced by laser vaporization in a supersonic expansion. These ions are analyzed and mass-selected with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and investigated with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy. The small clusters (n ≤ 7) are studied with argon tagging, while the larger clusters are studied via the elimination of water molecules. The vibrational spectra for the small clusters include only free O-H stretching vibrations, while larger clusters exhibit red-shifted hydrogen bonding vibrations. The spectral patterns reveal that the coordination around V + ions is completed with four water molecules. A symmetric square-planar structure forms for the n = 4 ion, and this becomes the core ion in larger structures. Clusters up to n = 8 have mostly two-dimensional structures, but hydrogen bonding networks evolve to three-dimensional structures in larger clusters. The free O-H vibration of AAD (acceptor-acceptor-donor) coordinated surface molecules converges to a frequency near that of bulk water by the cluster size of n = 30. However, the splitting of this vibration for AAD- versus AD-coordinated molecules is still different compared to other singly-charged or doubly-charged cation-water clusters. Finally, this indicates that cation identity and charge-site location in the cluster can produce discernible spectral differences for clusters in this size range.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Resolving Heterogeneous Dynamics of Excess Protons in Aqueous Solution with Rate Theory

Rate theories have found great utility across the chemical sciences by providing a physically transparent way to analyze dynamical processes. Here we demonstrate the benefits of using transition state theory and Marcus theory to study the rate of proton transfer in HCl solutions. By using long ab initio molecular dynamics simulations we show that good agreement is obtained between these two different formulations of rate theory and how they can be used to study the pathways and life-time of proton transfer in aqueous solution. Since both rate theory formulations utilize identical sets of molecular data, this provides a self-consistent theoretical picture of the rates of aqueous phase proton transfer. Specifically, we isolate and quantify the rates of proton transfer, ion-pair dissociation, and solvent exchange in concentrated HCl solutions. Our analysis predicts a concentration dependence to both proton transfer and ion-pairing. Moreover, our estimate of the life-time for the Zundel species is 0.8 ps and 1.3 ps for 2M and 8M HCl, respectively. In this paper, we demonstrate that concentration effects, can indeed be quantified through the combination of state-of-the-art simulation and theory and provides a picture of the important correlations between the cation (hydronium) and the counter-ion in acid solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quantifying Species Populations in Multivalent Borohydride Electrolytes

Multivalent batteries represent an important beyond Li-ion energy storage concept. The prospect of calcium batteries, in particular, has emerged recently due to novel electrolyte demonstrations, especially that of a ground-breaking combination of the borohydride salt Ca(BH 4 ) 2 dissolved in tetrahydrofuran. Recent analysis of magnesium and calcium versions of this electrolyte led to the identification of divergent speciation pathways for Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ despite identical anions and solvents, owing to differences in cation size and attendant flexibility of coordination. To test these proposed speciation equilibria and develop a more quantitative understanding thereof, we have applied pulsed-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy to study these electrolytes. Additionally, concentration-dependent variation in anion diffusivities and solution dipole relaxations, interpreted with the aid of molecular dynamics simulations, confirms these divergent Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ speciation pathways. These results provide a more quantitative description of the electroactive species populations. We find that these species are present in relatively small quantities, even in the highly active Ca(BH 4 ) 2 /tetrahydrofuran electrolyte. This finding helps interpret previous characterizations of metal deposition efficiency and morphology control and thus provides important fundamental insight into the dynamic properties of multivalent electrolytes for next-generation batteries.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Specific Ion Solvation and Pairing Effects in Glycerol Carbonate

Identifying the driving forces behind the solvation of inorganic salts by nonaqueous solvents is an important step in the development of green solvents. Here we focus on one promising solvent: glycerol carbonate (GC). Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we build upon our previous work by detailing glycerol carbonate’s interactions with a series of anions, a lithium ion, and the LiF ion pair. Through these investigations, we highlight the changes in solvation behavior as the anion size increases, the competition of binding shown by lithium for the oxygens of GC, and the behavior of the LiF ion pair in a GC solution. These results in this work indicate the importance of the cation’s identity in ion-pairing structure and dynamics and lend insight into the key factors behind the specific ion effects seen in GC.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗