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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Investigation of water substitution at RuII complexes by conceptual density function theory approach
Dušan Ćoćić1, Biljana Petrović1, Ralph Puchta2,3,4
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac.
Abstract:
In this paper, we investigated water exchange reactions and substitution of aqua RuII complexes of general formula [Ru(terpy)(N^N)(H2 O)]2+ (where N^N = ethylenediamine (en), 1,2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (ampy) and 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy)) by ammonia and thioformaldehyde. These reactions were studied in detail by applying conceptual density functional theory. This approach enabled us to gain further insight into the underlying reaction mechanism at the microscopic level (involving only direct participants of the reaction, without the influence of the solvent) and to put the concept of reaction mechanism on a quantitative basis. The course of the chemical reaction along the reaction coordinate ξ, is rationalized in terms of reaction energy, force, dipole moment, and reaction electronic flux (REF). The results yield and characterize the significant influence of an intermolecular hydrogen bond formed between the entering and the spectator ligand to the overall energy barrier of the reactions.
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