Molecular structure and conformational stability of allylisocyanate—post-Hartree–Fock and density functional theory studies

The molecular structure and conformational stability of allylisocyanate (CH₂CHCH₂NCO) molecule was studied using the ab initio and DFT methods. The geometries of possible conformers, C-gauche (δ=120°, θ=0°) (δ=C=C–C–N and θ=C–C–N=C) and C-cis N-trans (δ=0° and θ=180°) were optimized employing HF/6-31G^*, MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory of ab initio and BLYP, B3LYP, BPW91 and B3PW91 methods of DFT implementing the atomic basis set 6-311+G(d,p). The structural and physical parameters of the above conformers were discussed with the experimental and theoretical values of the related molecules, methylisocyanate and 3-fluoropropene. It has been found that the N=C=O bond angle is not linear as the experimental result for both the conformers and the theoretical bond angle is 173°. The rotational potential energy surfaces have been performed at the HF/6-31G^*, and MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory. The Fourier decomposition potentials were analysed at the HF/6-31G^*, and MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory. The HF/6-31G^* level of theory predicted that the C-gauche conformer is more stable than the C-cis N-trans conformer by 0.41 kJ/mol, but the MP2 and DFT methods predicted the C-cis N-trans conformer is found to be more stable than the C-gauche conformer. The calculated chemical hardness value at the HF/6-31G^* level of theory predicted the C-cis N-trans form is more stable than C-gauche form, whereas the chemical hardness value at the MP2/6-31G^* level of theory favours the slight preference towards the C-gauge conformer.     

Investigation of the use of B3LYP zero-point energies and geometries in the calculation of enthalpies of formation

The use of B3LYP/6–31G^* zero-point energies and geometries in the calculation of enthalpies of formation has been investigated for the enlarged G2 test set of 148 molecules [J. Chem. Phys. 106 (1997) 1063]. A scale factor of 0.96 for the B3LYP zero-point energies gives an average absolute deviation nearly the same as scaled HF/6–31G^* zero-point energies for G2, G2(MP2), and B3LYP/6–311 + G(3df,2p) enthalpies. A scale factor of 0.98, which has been recommended in some studies, increases the average absolute deviation by about 0.2 kcal/mol. Geometries from B3LYP/6–31G^* are found to do as well as MP2/6–31G^* geometries in the calculation of the enthalpies of formation.     

Electronic structure of N-sulfonylimines

The electronic structure of N-sulfonylimines has been studied in detail using ab initio MO and density functional methods. The S–N rotational barriers in HS(O)₂N=CH₂ at G2MP2 and CBS-Q levels have been found to be 3.25 and 3.43 kcal/mol respectively. Complete optimization at HF/6-31+G^*, MP2(full)/6-31+G^* and B3LYP/6-31+G^* levels have shown that synperiplanar arrangement of S–O with respect to C=N is more stable. NBO analysis has been carried out to quantitatively estimate these delocalisations and charge polarization in RS(O)₂N=CH₂ (R=H, Me, Cl, F). The Lewis basic character in N-sulfonylimines is less compared to N-alkylimines due to anomeric interactions that reduce the lone pair electron density on nitrogen in 1.     

Distance dependence analysis of the electron transfer reactivity for the metastable FeOH2/FeOH2 system: an ab initio investigation

A novel theoretical scheme and ab initio application in discussing the electron transfer (ET) reactivity are presented in this paper, and are also calibrated in terms of the mono-hydrated iron ion system, Fe²⁺–OH₂/Fe³⁺–OH₂. The detailed geometry optimizations have been made at UMP2(full)/6-311+G^* level, and the activation geometrical configuration and the energy have been obtained at this level of theory using the activation model and the ab initio potential energy surface fitted from MP2(full)/6-311+G^* single point energies. The corresponding energy quantities (such as the activation energy, and dissociation energy) have also been obtained at different levels of theory (HF, MP2, MP3, MP4, QCISD and PUHF, PMP2 and PMP3 with the spin-projection) and a same basis set (6-311+G^*). The electron correlation calculations include the all electron correlation and the valence electron correlation. The electronic transmission coefficient is calculated using the ab initio potential energy surface slopes and the coupling matrix element determined from the two-state model and the Slater-type d-electron wave functions. The pair distribution function is calculated using two different schemes. Taking the pair distribution function and the local ET rate into account, a statistically averaged overall observed ET rate scheme and a spherically averaged local ET rate scheme are proposed. The relevant kinetic parameters are obtained in terms of these new schemes at different ab initio calculational levels. The contact distance dependence of these parameters and the applicability of the presented models and ab initio calculational method are also discussed.     

Dimers, trimers and oligomers of sulfur oxides: an ab initio and density functional study

Ab initio (HF/3-21G^*), DFT (B3LYP with basis sets 6-31G^*, 6-311+G^* and 6-311+G(2d)) and, in some cases, MP2/6-31G^* calculations, were done on cyclic dimers, trimers, etc. and on acyclic oligomers (with OH and H on the ends) of sulfur monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The four cyclic (SO)_n molecules were (S–O)₂ (1,3,2,4-dioxadithietane, 1a), (S–O)₃ (1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatrithiane, 2a), (S(=O))₄ (tetrathietane 1,2,3,4-tetraoxide, 1b), and (S(=O))₆ (hexathiane 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaoxide, 2b). The four cyclic (SO₂)_n molecules were the dioxide of 1a (1,3,2,4-dioxadithietane 2,4-dioxide, 1c), the trioxide of 2a (1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatrithiane 2,4,6-trioxide, 2c), the tetraoxide of 1b (tetrathietane 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octaoxide, 1d) and the hexaoxide of 2b (hexathiane 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-dodecaoxide, 2d). The 16 acyclic molecules (oxides of disulfane, trisulfane, etc. and oxides of oxadisulfane, dioxatrisulfane, etc.) were (–S–O–)_n, (–S(=O)–)_n, (–S(=O)O–)_n, and (–S(=O)₂–)_n, with n from 2 to 5 and HO, H at the ends. Most of these species are relative minima on the B3LYP/6-31G^* potential energy surface. In energy content, the SO dimer, etc. lie below, and the SO₂ dimer, etc. above, their SO_x components, at all the electron-correlated levels.     

Ab initio prediction of MnOH2/MnOH2 electron transfer reactivity at electron correlation level

An ab initio calculation of electron transfer reactivity of Mn²⁺OH₂/Mn³⁺OH₂ redox system, in gas and in solution, has been made in this paper. The detailed geometry optimization and the scanning of the potential energy surfaces have been carried out at UMP2 (full)/6-311+G^* level. The relevant energy quantities (such as the activation energy and the binding energy) are calculated at different levels of theory (HF, MP2, MP3, MP4 and QCISD and corresponding spin-projection PUHF, PMP2 and PMP3) with the same basis set (6-311+G^*). Both all-electrons and valence electrons have been correlated in energy calculations. The electronic transmission coefficient is calculated using the ab initio potential energy surface slopes and the coupling matrix element determined from the two-state model and the Slater-type d-electron wave functions. The pair distribution function is obtained using both a classical sphere approximation scheme and a novel scheme. The relevant kinetic parameters are obtained at different ab initio levels in terms of the new model. The contact-distance dependence of these parameters and the applicability of the presented models are also discussed.     

A semi-empirical and ab initio combined approach for the full conformational searches of gaseous lysine and lysine–H2O complex

A full structural search of the canonical, zwitterionic, protonated and deprotonated lysine conformers in gas phase is presented. A total of 17,496 canonical, 972 zwitterionic, 11,664 protonated and 1458 trial deprotonated structures were generated by allowing for all combinations of internal single-bond rotamers. All the trial structures were initially optimized at the AM1 level, and the resulting structures were determined at the B3LYP/6-311G^* level. A total of 927 canonical, 730 protonated and 193 deprotonated conformers were found, but there were no stable zwitterionic structures in the gas phase. The most stable conformers of the canonical, protonated and deprotonated lysine were further optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G^** level. The energies of the most stable structures were determined at the MP2/6-311G(2df,p) level and the vibrational frequencies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G^** level. The rotational constants, dipole moments, zero-point vibrational energies, harmonic frequencies, vertical ionization energies, enthalpies, Gibbs free energies and conformational distributions of gaseous lysine were presented. Numerous new structures are found and the lowest-energy lysine conformer is more stable than the existing one by 1.1 kcal/mol. Hydrogen bonds are classified and may cause significant red-shifts to the associated vibrational frequencies. The calculated proton affinity/dissociation energy and gas-phase basicity/acidity are in good agreement with the experiments. Calculations are also presented for the canonical lysine–H₂O and zwitterionic lysine–H₂O clusters. Interaction between lysine and H₂O significantly affects the relative conformational stabilities. Only one water molecule is sufficient to produce the stable zwitterionic structures in gas phase. The lowest-energy structure is found to be zwitterions when applying the conductor-like polarized continuum solvent model (CPCM) to the lysine–H₂O complexes.     

Theoretical study of azide anion addition to nonpolar and polar double and triple bonds

Transition structures for the 1,3-polar addition of azide anion to hydrogen cyanide, formaldimine, nitrogen, cis- andtrans -diazene, ethylene and acetylene were obtained at the MP2/6-31+G^* theoretical model. The additions can be divided into two groups: addition to a triple bond, giving rise to an aromatic heterocyclic product, and addition to a double bond, forming a non-aromatic product. All transition structures correspond to a concerted mechanism for the polar cycloaddition. Symmetrical dienophiles, apart from cis-diazene, give rise to synchronous transition structures. The anomaly is explained in terms of strong n-n repulsion of the reactants in the transition structure. The reactivity of the compounds can be rationalized in terms of the bond orders of the newly forming bonds, from the frontier orbital energy differences and from the charge transfer from the azide anion to the dienophile. The quantitative correlation of the reactivity has been judged on the basis of the activation energies of the reactions calculated at MP2/6-31+G^* and MP3/6-31+G^*. It is predicted that the addition of azide to nitrogen is the slowest and that the additions to hydrogen cyanide and acetylene have the lowest barriers, in agreement with literature data.     

A theoretical investigation on the potential energy surface of CN2H rotation of the encapsulated 1-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyldiazirine

The potential energy surface (PES) of CN₂H rotation of the encapsulated 1-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyldiazirine (BHD) inside a molecular container: Cram’s hemicarcerand (CH) was explored using two different DFT involved ONIOM methods: B3LYP/6-31G^**//ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G^*: AM1) and B971/6-31G^**//ONIOM(B971/6-31G^*: AM1). The free-state PES of CN₂H rotation was also calculated, respectively by B3LYP/6-31G^**//B3LYP/6-31G^* and B971/6-31G^**//B971/6-31G^* methods for comparison. The findings in this study have shown that the PES profiles differ from each other notably in the two states. In the encapsulated state the rotation barrier corresponding to the free-state conversion with the largest rotation barrier increases by about 2 kcal/mol, which has exceeded the largest rotation barrier in the free-state. The conformational preference behavior towards certain BHD isomers, which might be in better conformational compatibility with the container, has been demonstrated.     

Non-empirical molecular orbital studies of the possibility of ferromagnetic ordering in isoelectron-substituted ferrocarbon modifications

The vertical singlet-triplet (ST) splitting in the C₃H₆ molecule and C₂BH⁻₆ and C₂NH⁺₆ ions has been investigated by means of ab initio calculations. The molecular geometry was either taken as that corresponding to the UHF/6-31G^* or UHF/6-31+G^* energy minimum of the triplet configuration (for C₃H₆, C₂BH⁻₆, C₂NH⁺₆), or was extracted from the ferrocarbon crystal (for C₃H₆). Polarized split-valence basis sets (6-31G^*, 6-31+G^* and 6-311G^**) and fourth-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory at the MP4SDTQ level of approximation provides more reliable ST splitting values, than the MP4SDQ level, the latter being the most accurate method used in our previous work. These calculations prove the presence of ferromagnetic ordering within the same quasi-graphite plane of ferrocarbon crystal. The presence of such ordering has been shown within the same quasi-graphite plane upon substitution of sp³ carbon atoms by ions B⁻, N⁺ and so on.     

Thermochemical properties of molecules and cations of MgNnHm (n=1,2 and m=1–6): enthalpies of formation, proton affinities and ionization energies

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations are reported for small neutral molecules and cations containing magnesium, nitrogen and hydrogen. Structures have been optimized using gradient techniques at B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and at MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p). Single-point calculations are reported at QCISD(T)(full)/6-311++G(2df,p) and at CCSD(T)(full)/6-311++G(2df,p) levels using geometries optimized at MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p). Standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K have been calculated at these two higher levels of theory. Other thermochemical properties calculated include ionization energies and proton affinities. The binding enthalpies of ammonia to Mg⁺, MgNH₂⁺ and MgNH₃⁺ are also reported.     

Ab initio molecular orbital study on three feasible mechanisms for substitution of the vinylic carbon in F2C=C(OMs)BMe3−

A substitution on 2,2-difluorovinylic carbon was investigated by using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Three feasible mechanisms, which are the S_N1-like, the S_N2-type and the addition-elimination mechanisms, were ex- amined for a model borate, 2,2-difluoro-1-mesyloxyvinyl(trimethyl)borate. Four TSs were obtained depending on the position of Li⁺ around the vinylborate although activation energies in the gas phase are rather high (ca. 30–40 kcal mol⁻¹) in comparison with that expected from the experimental conditions. It was confirmed at the SCRF-IPCM calculations that the solvent effect reduces the acti- vation energy of one S_N2-type mechanism very much (4. l kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-31+G^*//RHF/6-31+G^/s* level of theory) while those for the other mechanisms do not change very much. Therefore, the S_N2-type mechanism is applicable to the substitution reaction observed for the vinylborate.     

An ab initio potential energy surface for the υ4 vibrational mode of hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, the levels and the torsional microstates of hydrogen peroxide are determined from fully optimized ab initio calculations using a nuclear model in one dimension. Calculations have been performed at the MP2 level with the 6-311 G(2df,2pd), 6-31 1+G(2df,2pd), cc-pVTZ and AUG-cc-pVTZ basis sets including polarization orbitals and diffuse functions. The most stable conformation, calculated with the MP2/AUG-cc-pVTZ approach, is a trans–gauche conformer lying at 67.5° from the trans structure. By using the same level of calculations, the heights of the trans and cis barriers have been determined to be 386.5 and 2643.8 cm⁻¹ in a good agreement with the experimental data. The variational torsional levels split into four components by the tunnelling effect of the barriers. The splitting of the fundamental level caused by the trans barrier has been found to be 11.8683 cm⁻¹, whereas the splitting caused by the cis barrier is insignificant under n=2. Current ab initio energies confirm the experimental assignments and verify the separability of the torsion from the rest of the vibrations. However, the experimental relation of dependence on the torsion of the rotational constants cannot be reproduced in one-dimension and depends on several additional vibrational effects.     

Vibrational spectra and density functional study of propylgermane

Raman and infrared spectra of propylgermane, CH₃CH₂CH₂GeH₃, and its Ge-deuterated analog, CH₃CH₂CH₂GeD₃, were investigated in their gaseous, liquid and solid states. The normal coordinate treatment was carried out by density functional theory (DFT) calculation, using B3LYP/6-31G^* and 6-311++G^** basis sets, and the corresponding fundamental vibrations were assigned. The trans (T) and gauche (G) forms around the central C–C bond coexisted in the gaseous and liquid states and only the T form existed in the solid state. From the temperature dependent measurements of the Raman spectra in the liquid state, the enthalpy difference was found to be ΔH(T−G)=−0.36±0.02 kcalmol⁻¹ with the T form being more stable. The energy differences between the isomers obtained by DFT calculations were ΔE(T−G)=−0.46 kcalmol⁻¹ and ΔE(T−G)=−0.87 kcalmol⁻¹ by the 6-31G^* basis set and 6-311++G^** basis set, respectively.     

Thermochemistry of the higher chlorine oxides ClOx (x=3, 4) and Cl2Ox (x=3–7)†

Heats of formation for ClO₃, ClO₄, Cl₂O₃, Cl₂O₄, Cl₂O₅, Cl₂O₆ and Cl₂O₇ molecules are determined at the B3LYP, B3PW91, mPW1PW91 and B1LYP levels of the density functional theory employing a series of extended basis sets, and using Gaussian-3 model chemistries. Modified Gaussian-3 calculations, which employ accurate B3LYP/6-311+G(3d2f) molecular geometries and vibrational frequencies, were also performed. Heats of formation were calculated from both total atomization energies and isodesmic reaction schemes. The latter method in conjunction with Gaussian-3 models leads to the most reliable results. The best values at 298 K for ClO₃, ClO₄, Cl₂O₃ and Cl₂O₄ as derived from an average of G3//B3LYP and G3//B3LYP/6-311+G(3d2f) calculations are 43.1, 54.8, 31.7 and 37.4 kcal mol⁻¹. From calculations carried out at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP and G3(MP2)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3d2f) levels, heats of formation for Cl₂O₅, Cl₂O₆ and Cl₂O₇ are predicted to be 53.2, 52.2 and 61.5 kcal mol⁻¹. All best values are reproduced within 1 kcal mol⁻¹ by using mPW1PW91/6-311+G(3d2f) isodesmic energies. Enthalpy changes for relevant Cl–O bond fission reactions are reported. Comparisons with previous thermodynamics data are made.     

An ab initio and density functional theory study of the dimethylzinc-hydrogen selenide adduct: (CH3)2Zn:SeH2

The molecular structure (equilibrium geometry) and binding energy of the dimethylzinc (DMZn)-hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) adduct, (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂, have been computed with ab initio molecular orbital and density functional theory (DFT) methods and, where possible, compared with experimental results. The structure of the precursors DMZn and H₂Se are perturbed to only a small extent upon adduct formation. (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂ was found to be 3 kcal mol⁻¹ less stable than the precursors at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p) level of computation, indicating that the (CH₃)₂Zn:SeH₂ adduct is unlikely to be a stable gas-phase species under chemical vapour deposition conditions. Further calculations at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(2d,p) level of computation suggest that the 1:2 adduct species, (CH₃)₂Zn:(SeH₂)₂, is much less stable than the 1:1 adduct and consequently the precursors by 19 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Conformational stability of 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of rare gas solutions

Variable temperature (−55 to −135°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane, BrCH₂CH₂F, dissolved in liquid krypton and xenon have been recorded. From these data, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 108±9 cm⁻¹ (1.296±0.113 kJ/mol) and 112±8 cm⁻¹ (1.346±0.098 kJ/mol) from the krypton and xenon solutions, respectively, with the trans conformer the more stable rotamer. Complete vibrational assignments are presented for both conformers which are consistent with the predicted frequencies obtained from the ab initio MP2/6-31G^* calculations. The optimized geometries, conformational stabilities, harmonic force fields, infrared intensities, Raman activities, and depolarization ratios have been obtained from RHF/6-31G^* and/or MP2/6-31G^* ab initio calculations. These quantities are compared to the corresponding experimental quantities when appropriate. Structural parameters and conformational stability have also been obtained from MP2/6-311+G^** calculations. Combining the ab initio predicted structural parameters with the microwave rotational constants, r_o parameters have been obtained for the gauche conformer.     

Vibrational spectra and potential energy distributions for 3-cyclopropenecarboxaldehyde by density functional and normal coordinate calculations

The structural stability and internal rotation in 3-cylopropenecarboxaldehyde were investigated by ab initio calculations with 6-311++G^** basis set. The calculations were carried out at the restricted Hartree–Fock (HF) and the Density Functional B3LYP levels. The vibrational frequencies were computed at HF and DFT-B3LYP levels. Normal coordinate calculations were carried out and potential energy distributions were calculated for the cis and the trans conformers of the molecule.     

Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability, ab initio calculations, and vibrational assignments for methylaminothiophosphoryl difluoride

Infrared spectra (4000–50 cm⁻¹) of the vapor, amorphous and crystalline solids and Raman spectra (3600–10 cm⁻¹) of the liquid with qualitative depolarization data as well as the amorphous and crystalline solids of methylaminothiophosphoryl difluoride, CH₃N(H)P(=S)F₂, and three deuterated species, CD₃N(H)P(=S)F₂, CH₃N(D)P(=S)F₂, and CD₃N(D)P(=S)F₂, have been recorded. The spectra indicate that in the vapor, liquid and amorphous solid a small amount of a second conformer is present, whereas only one conformer remains in the low temperature crystalline phase. The near-infrared spectra of the vapor confirms the existence of two conformers in the gas phase. Asymmetric top contour simulation of the vapor shows that the trans conformer is the predominant vapor phase conformer. From a temperature study of the Raman spectrum of the liquid the enthalpy difference between the trans and near-cis conformers was determined to be 368±15 cm⁻¹ (4.41±0.2 kJ/mol), with the trans conformer being thermodynamically preferred. Ab Initio calculations with structure optimization using the 6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets at the restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and/or with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order (MP2) support the occurrence of near-trans (5° from trans) and near-cis (20° from cis) conformers. From the RHF/6-31G(d) calculation the near-trans conformer is predicted to be the more stable form by 451 cm⁻¹ (5.35 kJ/mol) and from the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculation by 387 cm⁻¹ (4.63 kJ/mol). All of the normal modes of the near-trans rotamer have been assigned based on infrared band contours, depolarization values and group frequencies and the assignment is supported by the normal coordinate calculation utilizing harmonic force constants from the MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations.     

Structure and conformational properties of carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride, O=C(N=S(O)F2)2

The molecular structure and conformational properties of O=C(N=S(O)F₂)₂ (carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride) were determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantumchemical calculations (HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G*). The analysis of the GED intensities resulted in a mixture of 76(12)% syn–syn and 24(12)% syn–anti conformer (ΔH⁰=H⁰(syn–anti)−H⁰(syn–syn)=1.11(32) kcal mol⁻¹) which is in agreement with the interpretation of the IR spectra (68(5)% syn–syn and 32(5)% syn–anti, ΔH⁰=0.87(11) kcal mol⁻¹). syn and anti describe the orientation of the S=N bonds relative to the C=O bond. In both conformers the S=O bonds of the two N=S(O)F₂ groups are trans to the C–N bonds. According to the theoretical calculations, structures with cis orientation of an S=O bond with respect to a C–N bond do not correspond to minima on the energy hyperface. The HF/3-21G* approximation predicts preference of the syn–anti structure (ΔE=−0.11 kcal mol⁻¹) and the B3LYP/6-31G* method results in an energy difference (ΔE=1.85 kcal mol⁻¹) which is slightly larger than the experimental values. The following geometric parameters for the O=C(N=S)₂ skeleton were derived (r_a values with 3σ uncertainties): C=O 1.193 (9) Å, C–N 1.365 (9) Å, S=N 1.466 (5) Å, O=C–N 125.1 (6)° and C–N=S 125.3 (10)°. The geometric parameters are reproduced satisfactorily by the HF/3-21G* approximation, except for the C–N=S angle which is too large by ca. 6°. The B3LYP method predicts all bonds to be too long by 0.02–0.05 Å and the C–N=S angle to be too small by ca. 4°.