Magnetically induced ring currents in naphthalene-fused heteroporphyrinoids.

The magnetically induced current density of an intriguing naphthalene-fused heteroporphyrin has been studied, using the quantum-chemical, gauge-including magnetically induced currents (GIMIC) method. The ring-current strengths and current-density pathways for the heteroporphyrin, its Pd complex, and the analogous quinoline-fused heteroporphyrin provide detailed information about their aromatic properties. The three porphyrinoids have similar current-density pathways and are almost as aromatic as free-base porphyrin.

Dispersion forces drive water oxidation in molecular ruthenium catalysts.

Rational design of artificial water-splitting catalysts is central for developing new sustainable energy technology. However, the catalytic efficiency of the natural light-driven water-splitting enzyme, photosystem II, has been remarkably difficult to achieve artificially. Here we study the molecular mechanism of ruthenium-based molecular catalysts by integrating quantum chemical calculations with inorganic synthesis and functional studies.

Nuclear Magnetic Shieldings of Stacked Aromatic and Antiaromatic Molecules.

Nuclear magnetic shieldings have been calculated at the density functional theory (DFT) level for stacks of benzene, hexadehydro[12]annulene, dodecadehydro[18]annulene, and hexabenzocoronene. The magnetic shieldings due to the ring currents in the adjacent molecules have been estimated by calculating nucleus independent molecular shieldings for the monomer in the atomic positions of neighbor molecules. The calculations show that the independent shielding model works reasonably well for the H NMR shieldings of benzene and hexadehydro[12]annulene, whereas for the larger molecules and for the C NMR shieldings the interaction between the molecules leads to shielding effects that are at least of the same size as the ring current contributions from the adjacent molecules.

Calculations of current densities for neutral and doubly charged persubstituted benzenes using effective core potentials.

Magnetically induced current density susceptibilities and ring-current strengths have been calculated for neutral and doubly charged persubstituted benzenes CX and CX with X = F, Cl, Br, I, At, SeH, SeMe, TeH, TeMe, and SbH. The current densities have been calculated using the gauge-including magnetically induced current (GIMIC) method, which has been interfaced to the Gaussian electronic structure code rendering current density calculations using effective core potentials (ECP) feasible. Relativistic effects on the ring-current strengths have been assessed by employing ECP calculations of the current densities.