The marriage of two very powerful techniques - cryogenic matrix isolation spectroscopy and seeded supersonic molecular beams - has led to the development of a novel type of cryogenic matrix isolation spectroscopy in ultracold, near 0 K, He droplets. The technique known as helium nanodroplet isolation (HENDI) has seen tremendeous experimental interest over the past 20 years; this in turn has resulted in the availability of spectroscopic data for many molecules and clusters embedded in He clusters. The experimental findings havemotivated a large number of theoretical calculations. This dissertation focuses on theoretical and computational studies of the rotational dynamics of weakly bound van der Waals clusters with its main theme being the dynamics of molecules and small molecular dimers embedded in superfluid He-4 nanodroplets. The single molecular dopant systems studied were clusters of HCN-(He)N, HX-(He)N, where X = F, Cl, Br as well as NH3-(He)N, with N = 1 - 20. Ground and excited state calculations were performed using the rigid body diffusion Monte Carlo (RBDMC) algorithm. For the excited state calculations a new approach was developed: adiabatic-node DMC (ANDMC). The ANDMC method was used to study the renormalization of molecular rotational constants in He droplets. It revealed that the dynamics depend on a delicate interplay between the gas phase rotational constant value and the anisotropies in the potential energy interaction between the He atom and the dopant. Also presented are the results of the first DMC simulations of the ammonia dimer doped into a small droplet of He-4. Further, a new approach to finding nodal surfaces for DMC simulations was developed that involved using a genetic algorithm (GA). This method was implemented to systematically and automatically compute nodal surfaces of excited states of the HCN-He complex and of the interchange tunneling splitting in the hydrogen-bonded HCl-HCl complex. The classical rotational dynamics of HX-He complexes with X = F, Cl, Br, CN were studied to gain insight into quantum simulations and revealed highly chaotic dynamics for states with J > 0. Fractal Weyl law behavior in an open, chaotic Hamiltonian system is the subject of the final chapter.

Neste trabalho inicialmente foi feita uma breve apresentação sobre a utilização de compostos de bases de Schiff e Cobre(II) como catalisadores na reação de oxidação de sulfetos. Foi feita a determinação das estruturas cristalinas dos compostos: N,N\'-bis(3-etoxisalicilideno)-(1,2etileno- diamina) Cu(II), sistema cristalino ortorrômbico grupo espacial Pbcn a = 7.639(5); b= 12.760(5); c= 19.733(5)Å; V = 1923.4(15) (3)Å3; Dcalc = 1.505 Mg/m3; MM = 435.96; e m = 1.170 mm-1, N,N\'-bis (4-dietilaminasalicilideno) - (1,2etilenodiamina) Cu(II), sistema monoclínico, C2/c, a = 19.571(2); b=9.8514(2)=; c=12.4552(4) Å; Beta = 93.705(9)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1, N,N\'-bis(3-metoxisalicilideno)-(1,2etilenodiamina)Cu(II), sistema ortorrômbico, Pna21, a = 7.5140(6); b= 9.2629(9); c= 24.721(3)Å; V =1720.6(3) Å3; Dcalc = 1.575 Mg,m-1; MM = 407.91; e m = 1.302 mm1 e (SALAHE)Cu(II), monoclínico, P21/C, a = 18.3216(2) Å; b=4.804(3) Å; c=19.801(2)Å; Beta = 98.908(6)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1. Os cálculos teóricos para as quatro moléculas foram efetuados partindo-se das coordenadas atômicas cristalográficas. Foram modeladas, para posterior estudo teórico, as moléculas de vinte e seis compostos de bases de Schiff e Cobre(II) análogos. Foram calculadas 104 variáveis para cada composto, e realizado o estudo de correlação estrutura-atividade catalítica através de métodos de Quimiometria. Foi obtido um modelo de correlação utilizando a classe de compostos de atividade catalítica pré-definida. Finalmente foi realizada a tentativa de previsão de atividade dos vinte e quatro compostos com atividade não conhecida, obtendo-se como resultado a probabilidade de vinte deles serem ativos como catalisadores da conversão sulfeto-sulfóxido . / Initially, in this work, a brief presentation about Schiff bases and their applications as catalysist. The crystalline structure determination was made for the compounds: N,N\'-bis(3-etoxysalicylidene)- (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), crystal system orthorhombic spatial group Pbcn a = 7.639(5); b= 12.760(5); c= 19.733(5)Å; V = 1923.4(15) (3)Å3; Dcalc = 1.505 Mg/m3; MM = 435.96; e m = 1.170 mm-1, N,N\'-bis (4- diethylaminesalicilidene) - (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), monoclinic, C2/c, a = 19.571(2); b=9.8514(2)=; c=12.4552(4) Å; B= 93.705(9)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1, N,N\'-bis(3-metoxysalicilidene)- (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), orthorhombic, Pna21, a = 7.5140(6); b= 9.2629(9); c= 24.721(3)Å; V =1720.6(3) Å3; Dcalc = 1.575 Mg,m-1; MM = 407.91; e m = 1.302 mm1 e (SALAHE)Cu(II), monoclinic, P21/C, a = 18.3216(2) Å; b=4.804(3) Å; c=19.801(2)Å; B= 98.908(6)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1. The theoretical calculations for the four molecules had been effected starting of the crystallographic atomic coordinates. Twenty-six molecules without determined crystallographic structure had been shaped for theoretical study. 104 variables for each compound had been calculated, and carried through the correlation study structure-catalyst activity through chemometric methods. A separation model was gotten in one single class. Finally the attempt of forecast of activity of twenty four compounds with activity unknown was carried through, getting itself as resulted the probability of twenty in all to be able to become active.

he thesis entitled "Theoretical Studies of pie-Facial Selectivity in Organic Reactions" involve a computational examination of a suitable reactivity problem in organic chemistry. Systematic and efficient -procedures have been developed and tested for rationalizing observed face selectivities in numerous substrates. In a number of cases precise transition state structures have also been computed in a rigorous manner. The molecules examined are by and large sterically unbiased. Considerable emphasis has been placed on obtaining general interpretations, In particular, the relative contributions of various sterio electronic and electrostatic effect have been considered in detail.Predictions of a-face selectivities haw also been made in a few cases. In recent years many mildly perturbed substrates have been shown to undergo pie-face selective reactions. Chapter 1 provides a brief review of the available experimental result involving nucleophilic, electrophilic, radical and Diels- Alder reactions.The current status of theoretical understanding of theae rasults is also summarized.The discussion includes qualitative proposal as well as quantitative calculations on selected substrates. The principal goals of the present work and general features of the MO methods used are briefly discussed.

Neste trabalho inicialmente foi feita uma breve apresentação sobre a utilização de compostos de bases de Schiff e Cobre(II) como catalisadores na reação de oxidação de sulfetos. Foi feita a determinação das estruturas cristalinas dos compostos: N,N\'-bis(3-etoxisalicilideno)-(1,2etileno- diamina) Cu(II), sistema cristalino ortorrômbico grupo espacial Pbcn a = 7.639(5); b= 12.760(5); c= 19.733(5)Å; V = 1923.4(15) (3)Å3; Dcalc = 1.505 Mg/m3; MM = 435.96; e m = 1.170 mm-1, N,N\'-bis (4-dietilaminasalicilideno) - (1,2etilenodiamina) Cu(II), sistema monoclínico, C2/c, a = 19.571(2); b=9.8514(2)=; c=12.4552(4) Å; Beta = 93.705(9)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1, N,N\'-bis(3-metoxisalicilideno)-(1,2etilenodiamina)Cu(II), sistema ortorrômbico, Pna21, a = 7.5140(6); b= 9.2629(9); c= 24.721(3)Å; V =1720.6(3) Å3; Dcalc = 1.575 Mg,m-1; MM = 407.91; e m = 1.302 mm1 e (SALAHE)Cu(II), monoclínico, P21/C, a = 18.3216(2) Å; b=4.804(3) Å; c=19.801(2)Å; Beta = 98.908(6)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1. Os cálculos teóricos para as quatro moléculas foram efetuados partindo-se das coordenadas atômicas cristalográficas. Foram modeladas, para posterior estudo teórico, as moléculas de vinte e seis compostos de bases de Schiff e Cobre(II) análogos. Foram calculadas 104 variáveis para cada composto, e realizado o estudo de correlação estrutura-atividade catalítica através de métodos de Quimiometria. Foi obtido um modelo de correlação utilizando a classe de compostos de atividade catalítica pré-definida. Finalmente foi realizada a tentativa de previsão de atividade dos vinte e quatro compostos com atividade não conhecida, obtendo-se como resultado a probabilidade de vinte deles serem ativos como catalisadores da conversão sulfeto-sulfóxido . / Initially, in this work, a brief presentation about Schiff bases and their applications as catalysist. The crystalline structure determination was made for the compounds: N,N\'-bis(3-etoxysalicylidene)- (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), crystal system orthorhombic spatial group Pbcn a = 7.639(5); b= 12.760(5); c= 19.733(5)Å; V = 1923.4(15) (3)Å3; Dcalc = 1.505 Mg/m3; MM = 435.96; e m = 1.170 mm-1, N,N\'-bis (4- diethylaminesalicilidene) - (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), monoclinic, C2/c, a = 19.571(2); b=9.8514(2)=; c=12.4552(4) Å; B= 93.705(9)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1, N,N\'-bis(3-metoxysalicilidene)- (1,2ethylenediamine) Cu(II), orthorhombic, Pna21, a = 7.5140(6); b= 9.2629(9); c= 24.721(3)Å; V =1720.6(3) Å3; Dcalc = 1.575 Mg,m-1; MM = 407.91; e m = 1.302 mm1 e (SALAHE)Cu(II), monoclinic, P21/C, a = 18.3216(2) Å; b=4.804(3) Å; c=19.801(2)Å; B= 98.908(6)o; V =2396.4(5) Å3; Dcalc=1.358 Mg.m-3; MM= 490.10; e m = 0.944 mm-1. The theoretical calculations for the four molecules had been effected starting of the crystallographic atomic coordinates. Twenty-six molecules without determined crystallographic structure had been shaped for theoretical study. 104 variables for each compound had been calculated, and carried through the correlation study structure-catalyst activity through chemometric methods. A separation model was gotten in one single class. Finally the attempt of forecast of activity of twenty four compounds with activity unknown was carried through, getting itself as resulted the probability of twenty in all to be able to become active.

L’any 2002 tres grups de recerca, entre ells el nostre grup, van demostrar teòricament que la interacció entre anions i anells aromàtics electrodeficients, anomenada interacció anió–, era favorable. Des de llavors s’ha dut a terme un intens estudi de la seva naturalesa física fins la total comprensió. Aquesta tesi es basa amb l’estudi de la interacció anió– des de tres punts de vista. Primerament, la investigació es basa en el disseny teòric de motius estructurals per donar lloc a un receptor on la interacció anió– siga molt favorable, per posteriorment avaluar la força de la interacció experimentalment en dissolució. A continuació, es va analitzar la interrelació entre un gran nombre de combinacions d’interaccions no covalents. A partir d’aquest estudi es defineixen nous conceptes i es proposen diferents formules per calcular efectes de cooperativitat. Finalment, hem anat un pas més enllà en l’estudi de la interacció analitzant: 1) l’impacte de la interacció anió– a sistemes biològics; 2) la influència de modificacions a l’anió sobre la naturalesa física de la interacció. / In 2002 three research groups, among them our research group, theoretically demonstrated that the interaction between anions and electron-deficient aromatic rings, named anion– interaction, was favourable. Since then, an intense study of its physical nature has been performed to understand it completely. This thesis is based on the study of the anion– interaction from three points of view. Firstly, theoretical design of binding units to build a receptor and to obtain the most favourable binding based on anion– interactions. The binding properties of these receptors have been experimentally assessed in solution. Secondly, we have studied the interplay between a great combination of noncovalent interactions. From this study, new concepts and formula to calculate cooperativity effects have been described. Finally, we have study one step further the anion– interaction analysing: 1) the impact of anion– interaction in biological systems; 2) how the modifications in the anion influence the physical nature of the interaction.