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Counterion-Trapped-Molecules: From High Polarity and Enriched IR Spectra to Induced Isomerization.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Wales, David J 

Abstract

We report extensive computational studies of some novel intermolecular systems and their properties. Recombination of alkali-halide counterions separated by a noncovalently trapped hydrocarbon molecule is prevented by significant potential energy barriers, resulting in unusual metastable insertion complexes. These systems are extremely polar, while the inserted molecule is strongly counter-polarized, leading to significant cooperative nonadditivity effects. The compression and electric field produced by the counterions favours isomerization of the trapped molecule via a significant reduction of the barriers to bond rearrangement, in a field-induced mechanochemical process. The predicted IR intensity spectra clearly reflect (1) formation of the insertion complex, rather than simple attachment of alkali halide, and (2) isomerization of the trapped molecule, thus allowing experimental access to these events.

Description

Keywords

IR spectroscopy, ab initio calculations, insertion, ion pairs, isomerization

Journal Title

Chemphyschem

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1439-4235
1439-7641

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N035003/1)
epsrc