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Multiconfigurational and DFT Methods Applied to Chemical Systems—2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Computational and Theoretical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 11586

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Faculty, Penn State University, Wilkes-Barre Campus, 44 University Drive, Dallas, PA 18612, USA
Interests: computational chemistry; density functional theory; exchange–correlation functionals; multiconfiguration self-consistent field; multireference configuration interaction; multireference coupled cluster theory; near-degenerate electron configurations; excited states electron configurations; dynamic electron correlation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Density functional theory (DFT) has revolutionized the world of computational chemistry for over three decades by providing the best accuracy-to-cost ratio for studying the electronic structure of complex systems. The expansion of computer power and software packages for chemical research has created a window of possibility for the development of new methods and computational investigations into the structure, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, and kinetics. Indeed, computational chemistry has advanced so significantly that it has become a vital counterpart to experimentation. While numerous DFT methods have proven to be widely successful, these exchange–correlation functionals are more accurate for weakly correlated systems.

Strongly correlated systems, whether static or dynamic, need a more sophisticated treatment that overcomes the limitations of single reference methods. Such systems include open-shell complexes, biradicals, reaction intermediates, molecular magnets, and electronically excited states for which a single determinant method provides an inadequate description of the wave function, and multireference methods are needed to allow the switching of orbital occupancies and the formation of multiple electron configurations. For this reason, strong electron correlation and near-degeneracy correlation are often studied with multireference methods such as multiconfiguration self-consistent field, multireference configuration interaction, or multireference coupled cluster theory.

Several multireference methods have been developed over the years that are highly accurate, but their prohibitive cost can render them impractical for larger systems. More recently, blended versions between multiconfiguration methods and density functional theory have shown a more affordable way to treat both near-degeneracy correlation and dynamic correlation in strongly correlated systems.

For this Special Issue, we invite new scientific reports in which multireference and/or DFT methods provide meaningful results over a broad range of chemical applications. Contributions can be presented in the form of full research articles or reviews.

Dr. Adriana Dinescu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • computational chemistry
  • density functional theory
  • exchange–correlation functionals
  • multiconfiguration self-consistent field
  • multireference configuration interaction
  • multireference coupled cluster theory
  • near-degenerate electron configurations
  • excited state electron configurations
  • dynamic electron correlation

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5612 KiB  
Article
Pseudo-Jahn–Teller Effect in Natural Compounds and Its Possible Role in Straintronics I: Hypericin and Its Analogs
by Dagmar Štellerová, Vladimír Lukeš and Martin Breza
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5624; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235624 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 585
Abstract
The distortions and instability of high-symmetry configurations of polyatomic systems in nondegenerate states are usually ascribed to the pseudo-Jahn–Teller effect (PJTE). The geometries of hypericin, isohypericin, and fringelite D were optimized within various symmetry groups. Group-theoretical treatment and (TD-)DFT calculations were used to [...] Read more.
The distortions and instability of high-symmetry configurations of polyatomic systems in nondegenerate states are usually ascribed to the pseudo-Jahn–Teller effect (PJTE). The geometries of hypericin, isohypericin, and fringelite D were optimized within various symmetry groups. Group-theoretical treatment and (TD-)DFT calculations were used to identify the corresponding electronic states during the symmetry descent. The symmetry descent paths (up to the stable structures without imaginary vibrations) were determined using the corresponding imaginary vibrations as their kernel subgroups starting from the highest possible symmetry group. The vibronic interaction between the ground and excited electronic states relates to an increasing energy difference of both states during the symmetry decrease. This criterion was used to identify possible PJTE. We have shown that the PJTE in these naturally occurring compounds could explain only the symmetry descent paths C2v → C2 and C2v → Cs in hypericin, and the D2h → C2v, D2h → C2v → C2, and D2h → C2h ones in fringelite D. The electric dipole moments of hypericin and its analogs were determined prevailingly by the mutual orientations of the hydroxyl groups. The same held for the energies of frontier orbitals in these systems, but their changes during the symmetry descent were less significant. Full article
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13 pages, 6433 KiB  
Article
A Theoretical Study of Positively Curved Circulenes Embedded with Five-Membered Heterocycles: Structures and Inversions
by Yijian Ma, Tianle Dai and Chengshuo Shen
Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5335; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225335 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 615
Abstract
Recently, polycyclic arenes with positive curvature have gained increasing significance in the field of material chemistry. This study specifically explores the inversion barriers of a series of positively curved circulenes by using five-membered heterocycles integrated into the backbone of primitive [5]circulenes and [6]circulenes. [...] Read more.
Recently, polycyclic arenes with positive curvature have gained increasing significance in the field of material chemistry. This study specifically explores the inversion barriers of a series of positively curved circulenes by using five-membered heterocycles integrated into the backbone of primitive [5]circulenes and [6]circulenes. For hetero[5]circulenes, where one benzenoid ring is replaced by a heterocycle, the inversion barriers exhibit a strong correlation with the rotary angles of the heterocycles, and larger rotary angles result in lower inversion barriers. Additionally, the aromaticity of the circulene undergoes a significant reduction during the inversion process. As the number n of replaced rings increases, the inversion barriers can be adjusted, demonstrating an almost linear relationship with n. In the case of hetero[6]circulenes, molecules bearing heterocycles with small rotary angles also show positive curvatures. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between the radii of the fitted sphere for the circulenes and the inversion barriers, revealing an intriguing inverse proportionality between the fourth power of the radius and the inversion barrier. We anticipate that this research will offer a fresh perspective on studies related to positively curved polycyclic arenes. Full article
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17 pages, 8670 KiB  
Article
A New Insight into the Molecular Mechanism of the Reaction between 2-Methoxyfuran and Ethyl (Z)-3-phenyl-2-nitroprop-2-enoate: An Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) Computational Study
by Mikołaj Sadowski, Ewa Dresler, Aneta Wróblewska and Radomir Jasiński
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4876; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204876 - 14 Oct 2024
Viewed by 846
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of the reaction between 2-methoxyfuran and ethyl (Z)-3-phenyl-2-nitroprop-2-enoate was investigated using wb97xd/6-311+G(d,p)(PCM) quantum chemical calculations. It was found that the most probable reaction mechanism is fundamentally different from what was previously postulated. In particular, six possible zwitterionic intermediates [...] Read more.
The molecular mechanism of the reaction between 2-methoxyfuran and ethyl (Z)-3-phenyl-2-nitroprop-2-enoate was investigated using wb97xd/6-311+G(d,p)(PCM) quantum chemical calculations. It was found that the most probable reaction mechanism is fundamentally different from what was previously postulated. In particular, six possible zwitterionic intermediates were detected on the reaction pathway. Their formation is determined by the nature of local nucleophile/electrophile interactions. Additionally, the channel involving the formation of the exo-nitro Diels–Alder cycloadduct was completely ruled out. Finally, the electronic nature of the five- and six-membered nitronates as potential TACs was evaluated. Full article
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13 pages, 5284 KiB  
Article
Effect of Surface Anions Adsorbed by Rutile TiO2 (001) on Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Reaction: A Density Functional Theory Calculation
by Xiaoyu Jiang, Mengyuan Gao and Hongda Li
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4566; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194566 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 831
Abstract
The adsorption of common anions found in water can have a considerable impact on the surface state and optical characteristics of titanium dioxide (TiO2), which has an important impact on the photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). This work utilizes density functional [...] Read more.
The adsorption of common anions found in water can have a considerable impact on the surface state and optical characteristics of titanium dioxide (TiO2), which has an important impact on the photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). This work utilizes density functional theory (DFT) computations to examine the electronic and optical characteristics of the TiO2 (001) surface under various anion adsorptions in order to clarify their influence on the photocatalytic NRR of TiO2. The modifications in the structure, optical, and electronic properties of TiO2 before and after anion adsorption are investigated. In addition, the routes of Gibbs free energy for the NRR are also evaluated. The results indicate that the adsorption of anions modifies the surface characteristics of TiO2 to a certain degree, hence impacting the separating and recombining charge carriers by affecting the energy gap of TiO2. More importantly, the adsorption of anions can increase the energy barriers for the NRR, thereby exerting a detrimental effect on its photocatalytic activity. These findings provide a valuable theoretical contribution to understanding the photocatalytic reaction process of TiO2 and its potential application of NRR in the actual complex water phase. Full article
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16 pages, 3327 KiB  
Article
Computational Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of a Sorafenib-Containing Ruthenium Complex as an Anticancer Agent for Photoactivated Chemotherapy
by Pierraffaele Barretta, Fortuna Ponte, Daniel Escudero and Gloria Mazzone
Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4298; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184298 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 923
Abstract
Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes are being tested as potential anticancer agents in different therapies, which include conventional chemotherapy and light-activated approaches. A mechanistic study on a recently synthesized dual-action Ru(II) complex [Ru(bpy)2(sora)Cl]+ is described here. It is characterized by two mono-dentate [...] Read more.
Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes are being tested as potential anticancer agents in different therapies, which include conventional chemotherapy and light-activated approaches. A mechanistic study on a recently synthesized dual-action Ru(II) complex [Ru(bpy)2(sora)Cl]+ is described here. It is characterized by two mono-dentate leaving ligands, namely, chloride and sorafenib ligands, which make it possible to form a di-aquo complex able to bind DNA. At the same time, while the released sorafenib can induce ferroptosis, the complex is also able to act as a photosensitizer according to type II photodynamic therapy processes, thus generating one of the most harmful cytotoxic species, 1O2. In order to clarify the mechanism of action of the drug, computational strategies based on density functional theory are exploited. The photophysical properties of the complex, which include the absorption spectrum, the kinetics of ISC, and the character of all the excited states potentially involved in 1O2 generation, as well as the pathway providing the di-aquo complex, are fully explored. Interestingly, the outcomes show that light is needed to form the mono–aquo complex, after releasing both chloride and sorafenib ligands, while the second solvent molecule enters the coordination sphere of the metal once the system has come back to the ground-state potential energy surface. In order to simulate the interaction with canonical DNA, the di-aquo complex interaction with a guanine nucleobase as a model has also been studied. The whole study aims to elucidate the intricate details of the photodissociation process, which could help with designing tailored metal complexes as potential anticancer agents. Full article
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13 pages, 431 KiB  
Article
Effect of Oriented External Electric Fields on the Electronic Properties of Linear Acenes: A Thermally Assisted Occupation DFT Study
by Chi-Yu Chen and Jeng-Da Chai
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4245; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174245 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 911
Abstract
Recently, oriented external electric fields (OEEFs) have earned much attention due to the possibility of tuning the properties of electronic systems. From a theoretical perspective, one can resort to electronic structure calculations to understand how the direction and strength of OEEFs affect the [...] Read more.
Recently, oriented external electric fields (OEEFs) have earned much attention due to the possibility of tuning the properties of electronic systems. From a theoretical perspective, one can resort to electronic structure calculations to understand how the direction and strength of OEEFs affect the properties of electronic systems. However, for multi-reference (MR) systems, calculations employing the popular Kohn–Sham density functional theory with the traditional semilocal and hybrid exchange–correlation energy functionals can yield erroneous results. Owing to its decent compromise between accuracy and efficiency for MR systems at the nanoscale (i.e., MR nanosystems), in this study, thermally assisted occupation density functional theory (TAO-DFT) is adopted to explore the electronic properties of n-acenes (n = 2–10), containing n linearly fused benzene rings, in OEEFs, where the OEEFs of various electric field strengths are applied along the long axes of n-acenes. According to our TAO-DFT calculations, the ground states of n-acenes in OEEFs are singlets for all the cases examined. The effect of OEEFs is shown to be significant on the vertical ionization potentials and vertical electron affinities of ground-state n-acenes with odd-number fused benzene rings. Moreover, the MR character of ground-state n-acenes in OEEFs increases with the increase in the acene length and/or the electric field strength. Full article
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18 pages, 4453 KiB  
Article
Electrospun PVP Fibers as Carriers of Ca2+ Ions to Improve the Osteoinductivity of Titanium-Based Dental Implants
by Janina Roknić, Ines Despotović, Jozefina Katić and Željka Petrović
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4181; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174181 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1225
Abstract
Although titanium and its alloys are widely used as dental implants, they cannot induce the formation of new bone around the implant, which is a basis for the functional integrity and long-term stability of implants. This study focused on the functionalization of the [...] Read more.
Although titanium and its alloys are widely used as dental implants, they cannot induce the formation of new bone around the implant, which is a basis for the functional integrity and long-term stability of implants. This study focused on the functionalization of the titanium/titanium oxide surface as the gold standard for dental implants, with electrospun composite fibers consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and Ca2+ ions. Polymer fibers as carriers of Ca2+ ions should gradually dissolve, releasing Ca2+ ions into the environment of the implant when it is immersed in a model electrolyte of artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of a porous network of composite fibers on the titanium/titanium oxide surface. The mechanism of the formation of the composite fibers was investigated in detail by quantum chemical calculations at the density functional theory level based on the simulation of possible molecular interactions between Ca2+ ions, polymer fibers and titanium substrate. During the 7-day immersion of the functionalized titanium in artificial saliva, the processes on the titanium/titanium oxide/composite fibers/artificial saliva interface were monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It can be concluded from all the results that the composite fibers formed on titanium have application potential for the development of osteoinductive and thus more biocompatible dental implants. Full article
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14 pages, 6924 KiB  
Article
Trinuclear and Tetranuclear Ruthenium Carbonyl Nitrosyls: Oxidation of a Carbonyl Ligand by an Adjacent Nitrosyl Ligand
by Shengchun Chen, Xuejun Feng, Yaoming Xie, R. Bruce King and Henry F. Schaefer
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4165; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174165 - 3 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 895
Abstract
Trinuclear and tetranuclear ruthenium carbonyls of the types Ru3(CO)n(NO)2, Ru3(N)(CO)n(NO), Ru3(N)2(CO)n, Ru3(N)(CO)n(NCO), Ru3(CO)n(NCO)(NO), Ru4(N)(CO)n(NO), Ru [...] Read more.
Trinuclear and tetranuclear ruthenium carbonyls of the types Ru3(CO)n(NO)2, Ru3(N)(CO)n(NO), Ru3(N)2(CO)n, Ru3(N)(CO)n(NCO), Ru3(CO)n(NCO)(NO), Ru4(N)(CO)n(NO), Ru4(N)(CO)n(NCO), and Ru4(N)2(CO)n related to species observed experimentally in the chemistry of Ru3(CO)10(µ-NO)2 have been investigated using density functional theory. In all cases, the experimentally observed structures have been found to be low-energy structures. The low-energy trinuclear structures typically have a central strongly bent Ru–Ru–Ru chain with terminal CO groups and bridging nitrosyl, isocyanate, and/or nitride ligands across the end of the chain. The low-energy tetranuclear structures typically have a central Ru4N unit with terminal CO groups and a non-bonded pair of ruthenium atoms bridged by a nitrosyl or isocyanate group. Full article
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13 pages, 3670 KiB  
Article
Novel Superhard Boron Nitrides, B2N3 and B3N3: Crystal Chemistry and First-Principles Studies
by Samir F. Matar and Vladimir L. Solozhenko
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4052; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174052 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Tetragonal and hexagonal hybrid sp3/sp2 carbon allotropes C5 were proposed based on crystal chemistry and subsequently used as template structures to identify new binary phases of the B–N system, specifically tetragonal and hexagonal boron nitrides, B2N3 [...] Read more.
Tetragonal and hexagonal hybrid sp3/sp2 carbon allotropes C5 were proposed based on crystal chemistry and subsequently used as template structures to identify new binary phases of the B–N system, specifically tetragonal and hexagonal boron nitrides, B2N3 and B3N3. The ground structures and energy-dependent quantities of the new phases were computed within the framework of quantum density functional theory (DFT). All four new boron nitrides were found to be cohesive and mechanically (elastic constants) stable. Vickers hardness (HV), evaluated by various models, qualified all new phases as superhard (HV > 40 GPa). Dynamically, all new boron nitrides were found to be stable from positive phonon frequencies. The electronic band structures revealed mainly conductive behavior due to the presence of π electrons of sp2-like hybrid atoms. Full article
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20 pages, 2292 KiB  
Article
Kekulé Counts, Clar Numbers, and ZZ Polynomials for All Isomers of (5,6)-Fullerenes C52–C70
by Henryk A. Witek and Rafał Podeszwa
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4013; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174013 - 24 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1240
Abstract
We report an extensive tabulation of several important topological invariants for all the isomers of carbon (5,6)-fullerenes Cn with n = 52–70. The topological invariants (including Kekulé count, Clar count, and Clar number) are computed and reported [...] Read more.
We report an extensive tabulation of several important topological invariants for all the isomers of carbon (5,6)-fullerenes Cn with n = 52–70. The topological invariants (including Kekulé count, Clar count, and Clar number) are computed and reported in the form of the corresponding Zhang–Zhang (ZZ) polynomials. The ZZ polynomials appear to be distinct for each isomer cage, providing a unique label that allows for differentiation between various isomers. Several chemical applications of the computed invariants are reported. The results suggest rather weak correlation between the Kekulé count, Clar count, Clar number invariants, and isomer stability, calling into doubt the predictive power of these topological invariants in discriminating the most stable isomer of a given fullerene. The only exception is the Clar count/Kekulé count ratio, which seems to be the most important diagnostic discovered from our analysis. Stronger correlations are detected between Pauling bond orders computed from Kekulé structures (or Clar covers) and the corresponding equilibrium bond lengths determined from the optimized DFTB geometries of all 30,579 isomers of C20–C70. Full article
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18 pages, 5667 KiB  
Article
Theoretical Investigation of the Pyridinium-Inspired Catalytic Dehydration of Heptafluoro-Iso-Butyramide for the Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Insulating Gas Heptafluoro-Iso-Butyronitrile
by Jiageng Xiong, Hua Hou and Baoshan Wang
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3952; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163952 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 760
Abstract
Heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile (i-C3F7CN) represents a feasible eco-friendly replacement gas for the most potent greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride in various high-voltage power transmission equipment. The reaction mechanisms for the in situ synthesis of i-C3F7CN [...] Read more.
Heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile (i-C3F7CN) represents a feasible eco-friendly replacement gas for the most potent greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride in various high-voltage power transmission equipment. The reaction mechanisms for the in situ synthesis of i-C3F7CN from heptafluoro-iso-butyramide [i-C3F7C(O)NH2] in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and pyridine (Py) in dimethylformamide solution have been studied within density functional theory with M06-2X exchange–correlation functional with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set and the high-level ab initio complete basis set quadratic CBS-QB3 method. It is revealed that the unimolecular dehydration of i-C3F7C(O)NH2 can be catalyzed efficiently by TFAA in terms of both kinetic and thermodynamic aspects, producing i-C3F7CN and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Furthermore, Py is capable of reducing the energy barrier of the rate-determining step through hydrogen abstraction to form pyridinium hydrogen. The synergic effect of the TFAA/Py co-catalyst plays a pivotal role in the production of i-C3F7CN as the Gibbs free energy barrier can be lowered by more than 40 kcal/mol with the ratio of TFAA:2Py, in accordance with the experimental observation. The present theoretical work provides new insights into the rational design on the novel catalysts for large-scale synthesis of the perfluorinated nitriles. Full article
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14 pages, 2268 KiB  
Article
Triel Bonds between BH3/C5H4BX and M(MDA)2 (X = H, CN, F, CH3, NH2; M = Ni, Pd, Pt, MDA = Enolated Malondialdehyde) and Group 10 Transition Metal Electron Donors
by Xin Wang, Zhihao Niu, Sean A. C. McDowell and Qingzhong Li
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071602 - 3 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1154
Abstract
A systematic theoretical study was conducted on the triel bonds (TrB) within the BH3∙∙∙M(MDA)2 and C5H4BX∙∙∙M(MDA)2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, X = H, CN, F, CH3, NH2, MDA = enolated [...] Read more.
A systematic theoretical study was conducted on the triel bonds (TrB) within the BH3∙∙∙M(MDA)2 and C5H4BX∙∙∙M(MDA)2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, X = H, CN, F, CH3, NH2, MDA = enolated malondialdehyde) complexes, with BH3 and C5H4BX acting as the electron acceptors and the square-coordinated M(MDA)2 acting as the electron donor. The interaction energies of these systems range between −4.71 and −33.18 kcal/mol. The larger the transition metal center M, the greater the enhancement of the TrB, with σ–hole TrBs found to be stronger than π–hole TrBs. In the σ–hole TrB complex, an electron-withdrawing substituent on the C opposite to the B atom enhances the TrB, while an electron-donating substituent has little effect on the strength of TrB in the Pd and Pt complexes but enhances the TrB in the Ni-containing complexes. The van der Waals interaction plays an important role in stabilizing these binary systems, and its contribution diminishes with increasing M size. The orbital effect within these systems is largely due to charge transfer from the dz2 orbital of M into the empty pz orbital of B. Full article
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