Magic and antimagic protonated water clusters: Exotic structures with unusual dynamic effects

Abstract

It's a kinda magic! Contrary to conventional wisdom that O-H bonds associated with dangling hydrogen atoms and those in the H3O + ion in molecular clusters display characteristic peaks in IR spectra, a dynamic effect makes such peaks disappear, even in the gas phase at low temperatures. This finding helps solve the long-standing problems of magic and antimagic protonated water clusters with 21 (top structures) and 22 (bottom structures) water molecules. (Figure Presented) © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA