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The transition point from a two-dimensional (2D) to a three-dimensional (3D) structure in a series of small gold clusters remains a topic of continuing debate. In the present study, coupled-cluster CCSD(T) and DFT calculations are performed to re-examine the relative energies of several low-lying isomers of Au12, aiming to shed new light on this issue. At odds with many previous reports on the preference of a planar di-capped elongated-hexagon structure, the Au12 size is found to energetically prefer a globular cup-like form with C2v symmetry. While DFT results are not able to assign the most stable form of Au12 as the relative energies between the lowest-lying isomers are strongly functional-dependent, coupled-cluster theory calculations point out the preference of a 3D structure for having a D3h symmetry. Such a prediction is further supported by a comparison of the vibrational spectra computed using the revTPSS density functional with the available experimental infrared ones that were previously recorded from the far-IR multiple photon dissociation (FIR-MPD) experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Au17 gold cluster was experimentally produced in the gas phase and characterized by its vibrational spectrum recorded using far-IR multiple photon dissociation (FIR-MPD) of Au17Kr. DFT and coupled-cluster theory PNO-LCCSD(T)-F12 computations reveal that, at odds with most previous reports, Au17 prefers two star-like forms derived from a pentaprism added by two extra Au atoms on both top and bottom surfaces of the pentaprism, along with five other Au atoms each attached on a lateral face. A good agreement between calculated and FIR-MPD spectra indicates a predominant presence of these star-like isomers. Stabilization of a star form arises from strong orbital interactions of an Au12 core with a five-Au-atom string. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum chemical computations were used to reinvestigate the geometries, spectroscopic, and energetic properties of the gold clusters Au27q in three charge states (q = 1, 0, −1). Density functional theory (DFT) and the domain‐based local pair natural orbital modification of the coupled‐cluster theory DLPNO‐CCSD(T) calculations revealed that, at variance with earlier reports in the literature, while the anion Au27− tends to exist in a tube‐like form, both the lowest‐energy Au27 and Au27+ isomers exhibit a pyramidal shape. However, several isomers were found to lie very close in energy, thus rendering a structural transition and their coexistence easy to occur. More specifically, the equilibrium geometry of the neutral Au27 is a core‐shell pyramid‐like structure with one gold atom located inside. We also identified a novel ground state for the anion Au27− and located for the first time the global minimum of the cation Au27+. The vertical detachment energies of the neutral and anionic states were also computed and used to assign the available experimental photoelectron spectra. Although many Au27 isomers were predicted to be energetically quasi‐degenerate, the corresponding distinctive vibrational signatures can be used as fingerprints for the identification of cluster geometrical features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory methods were employed to clarify the adsorption/desorption behaviors of the thione‐containing mercaptopurine and thioguanine drugs on the gold surface using both small Au6 and Au8 clusters as model reactants. Structural features, thermodynamic parameters, bonding characteristics, and electronic properties of the resulting complexes were investigated using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) and LC‐BLYP functionals along with correlation‐consistent basis sets, namely cc‐pVDZ‐PP for gold and cc‐pVTZ for non‐metals. Computed results show that the drug molecules tend to anchor on the gold cluster at the S atom with binding energies around −34 to −40 kcal/mol (in vacuum) and − 28 to −32 kcal/mol (in aqueous solution). As compared to Au8, Au6 undergoes a shorter recovery time and a larger change of energy gap that could be converted to an electrical signal for selective detection of the drugs. Furthermore, interactions between the drugs and gold clusters are reversible processes and a drug release mechanism was also proposed. Accordingly, the drugs are able to separate from the gold surface due to either a slight change of pH in tumor cells or the presence of cysteine residues in protein matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed to examine the adsorption behaviors of cysteine on the gold surface using Au6 and Au8 species as model reactants. Computed results show that cysteine molecules prefer to bind with gold clusters via the S-atom of the thiol group in vacuum and thiolate group in water. The gas-phase adsorption energies are around 20.2 kcal/mol for Au6 and 24.4 kcal/mol for Au8. In water environment, such values are slightly reduced for Au6 (19.6 kcal/mol), but increased a little more for Au8 (25.6 kcal/mol). As a result, if a visible light with a frequency of ν ≈ 6 × 1014 Hz (500 nm) is applied, the time for the recovery of Au6 and Au8 from the most stable complexes will be about 0.38 and 9.3 × 103 s, respectively, at 298 K in water. The Au6 is in addition found to benefit from a larger change of energy gap that could be converted to an electrical signal for detection of cysteine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We would like to make a few comments on the results reported in a recent paper in this journal by Tsuneda, J. Comput. Chem, 2019, 40, 206. The structures of some pure silver clusters were not correctly assigned. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first-principles calculations are carried out to explore more intensely on geometric, spectroscopic and electronic properties of M 20 (M = Cu, Ag, Au) species. Computed results show that the global minima of these clusters are compact, nearly spherical structures, while other low-lying isomers exhibit the oblate or probate shapes. For Cu 20 , we find it is in a C 3 symmetry form rather than the C s conformation as previously suggested. The vertical ionization energies for lower-lying isomers are also computed and assigned with respect to available experimental values. Although several isomers were predicted to be similar in energy content, the corresponding vibrational signatures are so distinctive that could be used as fingerprint signals to identify their geometrical forms. More importantly, the enhanced stability of these systems can be understood in terms of the phenomenological shell model. Computed results also recognize that the structures and properties of Ag 20 and Cu 20 clusters are similar and prefer compact structures, while Au 20 cluster exhibits structures different from with a tetrahedral form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric, energetic and electronic properties of Aun clusters, n = 2–20 are determined using DFT calculations (BB95/cc-pVTZ-PP). Global equilibrium structures were confirmed or found, and the growth mechanism was established. Au-clusters prefer 2D-geometries up to Au 11 and are generated from the lowest-lying isomer of the smaller size by adding an extra gold atom. Transition from an oblate form to a pyramid is observed at Au 17 . Au n containing 17–20 atoms favor tetrahedral evolution by adding atoms to the Frank-Kasper 16-vertex. Binding energy per atom, second-order difference of energy, and one-step fragmentation energy show that Au 6 and Au 20 have high thermodynamic stability. Their valence electrons of generate magic numbers that can be understood using the phenomenological shell model. Due to Jahn-Teller effect, Au 16 is characterized by oblate structure whereas the anion Au 16 -exhibits Frank-Kasper form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions of hydrolysis products of cisplatin and its asymmetric derivatives cis - and trans -[PtCl 2 ( i Pram)(Mepz)] with guanine were studied using DFT methods. These interactions are dominated by electrostatic effects, namely hydrogen bond contributions and there exists a charge flow from H-atoms of ligands to the O-atoms of guanine. The replacement of NH 3 moieties by larger functional groups accompanies with a moderate reaction between Pt II and guanine molecule, diminishing the cytotoxicity of the drug. The asymmetric and symmetric NH 2 stretching modes of complexes having strong hydrogen bond interactions are red shifted importantly as compared to complexes without presence of hydrogen bond interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive theoretical investigation on structuresand propertiesof niobium clusters in the range from 13 to 20 atoms, in three differentcharged states, is performed by using the BPW91 and M06 functionalsand the cc-pVDZ-PP basis set. These species are predicted to preferlow spin ground state, i.e., singlet (for even electron) and doublet(for odd electron) systems. In terms of growth mechanism, a compactstructure with one Nb encapsulated by a cage formed from five andsix triangles is found to be favored over an icosahedral evolution.Unlike many 3d metals, whose volumes are much smaller, 13 and 19 Nbatoms clusters do not exist as icosahedra and double-icosahedra. Adistinct case is Nb15as it bears a slightly distortedbcc structure. For some systems, several lower lying isomers are computedto be so close in energy that DFT computations cannot clearly establishtheir ground electronic states. The existence of structural isomerswith comparable energy content is established for Nbnspecieswith n= 13, 18, 19, and 20 in both neutral and chargedstates. The vibrational (IR) spectra are also calculated. While thespectra of smaller systems are strongly dependent on addition or removalof an electron from the neutral, the spectra of the larger size clustersare mostly independent of the charged state. The neutrals and theircorresponding ions usually have a quite similar IR pattern. Electronaffinities (EA), ionization energies (IE), average binding energies,dissociation energies, and frontier orbital energy gaps are evaluated.The computed EAs and IEs are generally in fair agreement with experiment.The Nb15system is observed to be stable and it can forma highly symmetric structure in all charged states with both openand closed electron shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Properties of a series of MnX n with X=H, F, Cl, Br and n =1–4 are investigated using DFT, CCSD(T) and CASPT2 computations. The B3P86/6-311++G(3df,2d) method appears to be suitable for predicting their structures whose geometries and IR spectra are dependent on the charge state. While MnX2 are linear, MnX3 and MnX4 are characterized by high symmetry shape. The π-bonding type is observed for and . In halides, a different type of bonds is formed as p-orbitals of halogens can overlap with empty metal d-orbitals allowing a more effective electron transfer and high spin ground electronic states. Vibrational frequencies and basic energetic quantities are computed and compared with available experiments. Several previous thermochemical quantities are re-evaluated, and the heats of formation of Mn-compounds can be determined with reasonable accuracy using the B3LYP functional. However, while calculated ionization energies are in agreement with experiment, electron affinities are obtained with large deviations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Density functional theory approaches are employed to elucidate the structural features and electronic properties of cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes with water, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 4-benzoyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one. Geometrical parameters are optimized using B3PW91, B3LYP functionals in conjunction with def2-TZVP, LanL2DZ and 6-311 + G basis sets. Computed results show that the complex energetically prefers a pseudo-pentagonal bipyramidal shape in the ground state. The nature of intramolecular interactions between Mo(VI) and ligands is evaluated by analyzing the natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The Mo–OH2 interaction is rather weak with an average distance of 2.445 Å and a very low Mayer bond order of 0.235. The vibrational signatures and vertical electronic transitions of some excitations are examined and compared to available experimental data. The most favorable sites for electrophilic, nucleophilic attack or protonation were also identified using the noncovalent interaction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO adsorption on vanadium-doped gold clusters AunV with n = 1-14 is studied by density functional theory computations, using the BB95 and B3LYP functionals along with the cc-pVDZ-PP basis for metals and cc-pVTZ for non-metals. When both Au and V sites are exposed, CO adsorption on V is thermodynamically favorable because with partially filling d orbitals vanadium is more willing to interact with CO empty or filled orbitals. When vanadium is confined inside a gold cage, the low-coordinated Au atoms become the preferred sites for CO attachment. The presence of V tends to reinforce CO adsorption as compared with the bare gold clusters. The diatomic AuV is predicted to have the largest CO adsorption affinity as it has a typical π-back donation bond. AunV-CO complexes typically have the larger CO binding energies and larger CO frequency shift than the isoatomic gold-carbonyl Aun+1-CO counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to explore the geometric, spectroscopic, and electronic properties of three magic silver clusters Agn (n = 8, 18, and 20) in detail. The computed results show that the global minima of these clusters are compact, near-spherical structures, while other low-lying isomers exhibit oblate or prolate shapes. Vertical ionization energies for the low-lying isomers were also computed and assigned with respect to available experimental values. Although several isomers were predicted to have similar energies, their electronic and vibrational signatures were quite distinctive, meaning that they could be used as fingerprint signals to distinguish between isomers. In addition, the electronic structures of these systems were explored using the phenomenological shell model. Calculations for the coinage metal clusters M20 (M = Cu, Ag, Au) indicated that the structures and properties of the Ag cluster are similar to those of the Cu cluster in that both Cu20 and Ag20 prefer a compact structure whereas Au20 prefers to adopt a tetrahedral form.Shell Orbitals of Ag8 Cluster [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Mercaptopurine is an effective anticancer medicine yet known with serious adverse reactions, thus requiring further attempts to enhance its biological targeting. Small gold clusters Aun (n = 2–10) were used as model reactants to simulate the surface of gold nanoparticles. The computed results show that the drug molecules tend to anchor on the gold clusters at the S atom with the associated binding energies varying from −50 to −34 kcal mol−1 (in vacuum) and from −42 to −28 kcal mol−1 (in aqueous solution). Furthermore, the adsorption of the drug onto the gold surface is considered as a reversible process, and the mechanism of drug releasing was found to be triggerable by internal factors, such as a pH change or the concentrated presence of thiol amino acids in cancerous protein structures. Method: Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were performed to probe the nature of interactions between the drug and gold nanoparticles. Structural features, thermodynamic parameters, bonding characteristics, and electronic properties of the resulting complexes were investigated at the PBE//cc-pVTZ/cc-pVDZ-PP level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold and gold-based clusters are still receiving special attention owing to their diverse applicability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the structures, the lone-pair affinity of some small Aun clusters (n = 16, 17, and the effects of chromium dopant on their properties. Regarding Au16, the boat-like Cs conformation and the hollow Td form are found to be energetically quasi-degenerate and strongly competing as the ground state. In terms of Au17, a star-like cage is computed to be more stable than the putative global minimum reported in preceding studies. Given Au16Cr isomer, a novel structure for the lowest energy is proposed. Binding energies of these species with CO, NH3, and PH3 ligands are also provided as an in-depth reference to the literature. Present results altogether encourage further theoretical implementations, e.g., CCSD(T) and experimental probes, e.g., the infrared, to validate the findings, thus harnessing the potentiality of the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational approaches are employed to elucidate the binding mechanism and the SERS phenomenon of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) adsorbed on the tetrahedral Au20 cluster as a simple model for a nanostructured gold surface. Computations are carried out in both vacuum and aqueous environments using a continuum model. In the gaseous phase and neutral conditions, interaction of 6MP with the gold cluster is mostly dominated by a covalent Au−S bond and partially stabilized by the Au⋅⋅⋅H−N coupling. However, in acidic solution, the nonconventional Au⋅⋅⋅H−S hydrogen-bond becomes the most favorable binding mode. The 6MP affinity for gold clusters decreases in the order of vacuum > neutral solution > acidic medium. During the adsorption, the energy gap of Au20 substantially declines, leading to an increase in its electrical conductivity, which can be converted to an electrical noise. Moreover, such interaction is likely a reversible process and triggered by either the low pH in sick tissues or the presence of cysteine residues in protein matrices. While N−H bending and stretching vibrations play major roles in the SERS phenomenon of 6MP on gold surfaces in neutral solution, the strongest enhancement in acidic environment is mostly due to an Au⋅⋅⋅H−S coupling, rather than an aromatic ring-gold surface π overlap as previously proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]