Comprehensive mechanistic study of ion pair SN2 reactions of lithium isocyanate and methyl halides

The anionic S_N2 reactions NCO^? + CH₃X and ion pair S_N2 reactions LiNCO + CH₃X (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) at saturated carbon with inversion and retention mechanisms were investigated at the level of MP2/6‐311+G(d,p). There are two possible reaction pathways in the anionic S_N2 reactions, but eight in the ion pair S_N2 reactions. Calculated results suggest that the previously reported T‐shaped isomer of lithium isocyanate does not exist. All the retention pathways are not favorable based on the analysis of transition structures. Two possible competitive reaction pathways proceed via two six‐member ring inversion transition structures. It is found that there are two steps in the most favorable pathway, in which less stable lithium cyanate should be formed through the isomerization of lithium isocyanate and nucleophilic site (N) subsequently attacks methyl halides from the backside. The thermodynamically and kinetically favorable methyl isocyanate is predicted as major product both in the gas phase anionic and the ion pair S_N2 reactions. In addition, good correlations between the overall barriers relative to separated reactants, ΔH , with geometrical looseness parameter %L^≠ and the heterolytic cleavage energies of the C? X and Li? N (or Li? O) bonds are observed for the anionic and ion pair S_N2 reactions. The trend of variation of the overall barriers predicts the leaving ability of X increase in the order: F < Cl < Br < I. The polarized continuum model (PCM) has been used to evaluate the solvent effects on the two inversion pathways with six‐member transition structures for the reactions of LiNCO + CH₃X. The calculations in solution indicate that solvent effects will retard the rate of reactions and the predicted product, methyl isocyanate, is same as the one in the gas phase. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Ion‐Pair SN2 Substitution: Activation Strain Analyses of Counter‐Ion and Solvent Effects

The ion‐pair S_N2 reactions of model systems M_nF^n?1+CH₃Cl (M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and MgCl⁺; n=0, 1) have been quantum chemically explored by using DFT at the OLYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level. The purpose of this study is threefold: 1) to elucidate how the counterion M⁺ modifies ion‐pair S_N2 reactivity relative to the parent reaction F^?+CH₃Cl; 2) to determine how this influences stereochemical competition between the backside and frontside attacks; and 3) to examine the effect of solvation on these ion‐pair S_N2 pathways. Trends in reactivity are analyzed and explained by using the activation strain model (ASM) of chemical reactivity. The ASM has been extended to treat reactivity in solution. These findings contribute to a more rational design of tailor‐made substitution reactions.     

Mechanism for the gas‐phase reaction between OH and 3‐methylfuran: A theoretical study

The mechanism for the OH + 3‐methylfuran reaction has been studied via ab initio calculations to investigate various reaction pathways on the doublet potential energy surface. Optimizations of the reactants, products, intermediates, and transition structures are conducted using the MP2 level of theory with the 6‐311G(d,p) basis set. The single‐point electronic energy of each optimized geometry is refined with G3MP2 and G3MP2B3 calculations. The theoretical study suggests that the OH + 3‐methylfuran reaction is dominated by the formation of HC(O)CH?C(CH₃)CHOH (P7) and CH(OH)CH?C(CH₃)C(O)H (P9), formed from two low‐lying adducts, IM1 and IM2. The direct hydrogen abstraction pathways and the S_N2 reaction may play a minor or negligible role in the overall reaction of OH with 3‐methylfuran. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Theoretical study of the gas‐phase ion pairs SN2 reactions of LiX with CH3SY (X,Y = F,Cl, Br,I)

The gas‐phase ion pair S_N2 reactions at saturated sulfur LiX + CH₃SY → CH₃SX + LiY (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I) are investigated using the CCSD(T) calculations. The calculated results show that the reactions LiX + CH₃SY are exothermic only when the nucleophile is a heavier lithium halide. Central barrier heights are found to depend primarily on the identity of nucleophile LiX, decreasing in the order LiF > LiCl > LiBr > LiI. Another interesting feature of the ion pair reactions at sulfur is the good correlation between the reaction barriers with geometrical looseness of Li? X and S? Y bonds in the transition state structures. The data for the reaction barriers show good agreement with the prediction of the Marcus equation and its modification. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Theoretical studies on a possible synthesis reaction pathway on N8 (CS) clusters

The potential energy surfaces of N₈ clusters were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and a possible synthesis reaction pathway for N₈ (C_S) was suggested. The species involved were fully optimized up to the B3LYP/6‐311+G* level of theory. Relative energies were further calculated at the QCISD/6‐311+G*//B3LYP/6‐311+G* level. The reaction rate constants of these steps from the 1 (N₅⁺?N₃^?, complex, C_S) to 2 (N₈, C_S), 2 (N₈, C_S) to 3 (N₈, C_S), 3 (N₈, C_S) to 4 (N₈, D_2d), and 4 (N₈, D_2d) to 5 (N₈, C_S) reactions were predicted by the VTST theory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1334–1339, 2001     

Computational study of SN2 reactions promoted by crown ether: Contact ion pair versus solvent‐separated ion pair mechanism

We examined by quantum chemical methods the mechanism of S_N2 reaction using metal bromide MBr (M = Na, K, Cs) and KX (X= F, Cl) in CH₃CN promoted by crown ether (18‐crown‐6). We focus on whether the metal salts react as a contact ion pair (CIP; M⁺ and X^– in close contact) or as a solvent‐separated ion pair (SSIP; M⁺ and X^– at large distance). In SSIP mechanism, X^– is removed far enough from M⁺ for the metal salt to be considered as “separated” by the effects of the crown ether and the solvent. In the CIP picture, conversely, the coordination of 18‐crown‐6 to M⁺ is not sufficient to overcome the powerful Coulombic interactions between M⁺ and X^–. We find that the CIP route is favored for S_N2 bromination processes using MBr (M = Na, K, Cs). For S_N2 reaction using KF, the feasibility of the two pathways is essentially equal, whereas for S_N2 chlorination by KCl the SSIP route is predicted to be favored.     

Reaction of CH3CHO with Y+: A density functional theoretical study

The reaction mechanism of the Y⁺ cation with CH₃CHO has been investigated with a DFT approach. All the stationary points are determined at the UB3LYP/ECP/6-311++G** level of the theory. Both ground and excited state potential energy surfaces are investigated in detail. The present results show that the title reaction start with the formation of a CH₃CHO-metal complex followed by C-C, aldehyde C-H, methyl C-H and C-O activation. These reactions can lead to four different products (Y⁺CH₄ + CO, Y⁺CO + CH₄, Y⁺COCH₂ + H₂ and Y⁺O + C₂H₄). The minimum energy reaction path is found to involve the spin inversion in the different reaction steps, this potential energy curve-crossing dramatically affects reaction exothermic. The present results may be helpful in understanding the mechanism of the title reaction and further experimental investigation of the reaction.     

Ammonium adduct ion in ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry: 2—Mechanism of elimination of neutrals from the ammonium adduct ion

The mechanism of elimination of ROH (R = H or CH₃) from the ammonium adduct ion, [M+NH₄]⁺, of 1-adamantanol and its methyl ether is examined by using linked-scan metastable ion spectra and by measuring the dependence of the peak intensity ratio [M+NH₄]⁺/[M+NH₄? ROH]⁺ on ammonia pressure. For 1-adamantanol both S_Ni and S_N1 reactions are suggested in metastable ion decomposition, while only the S_N1 mechanism is operative in the ion source. For 1-adamantanol methyl ether the S_N1 reaction predominates both in metastable ion decomposition and in the ion source reaction.     

Exploring the intrinsic polar [4 + 2+] cycloaddition reactivity of gaseous carbosulfonium and carboxonium ions

Gas‐phase reactions of model carbosulfonium ions (CH₃‐S⁺ = CH_2; CH₃CH₂‐S⁺ = CH₂ and Ph‐S⁺ = CH₂) and an O‐analogue carboxonium ion (CH₃‐O⁺ = CH₂) with acyclic (isoprene, 1,3‐butadiene, methyl vinyl ketone) and cyclic (1,3‐cyclohexadiene, thiophene, furan) conjugated dienes were systematically investigated by pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry. As corroborated by B3LYP/6‐311 G(d,p) calculations, the carbosulfonium ions first react at large extents with the dienes forming adducts via simple addition. The nascent adducts, depending on their stability and internal energy, react further via two competitive channels: (1) in reactions with acyclic dienes via cyclization that yields formally [4 + 2⁺] cycloadducts, or (2) in reactions with the cyclic dienes via dissociation by HSR loss that yields methylenation (net CH⁺ transfer) products. In great contrast to its S‐analogues, CH₃‐O⁺ = CH₂ (as well as C₂H₅‐O⁺ = CH₂ and Ph‐O⁺ = CH₂ in reactions with isoprene) forms little or no adduct and proton transfer is the dominant reaction channel. Isomerization to more acidic protonated aldehydes in the course of reaction seems to be the most plausible cause of the contrasting reactivity of carboxonium ions. The CH₂ = CH‐O⁺ = CH₂ ion forms an abundant [4 + 2⁺] cycloadduct with isoprene, but similar to the behavior of such α,β‐unsaturated carboxonium ions in solution, seems to occur across the C = C bond. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical Studies on the Reactions of 1,1,2,2,3,3,4‐Heptafluorocyclopentane with Hydroxyl and Hydrogen Free Radicals

1,1,2,2,3,3,4‐Heptafluorocyclopentane (F7A) has considerable potential to be a new halon replacement due to its environmental friendliness and low‐toxicity. However, the reaction processes of F7A with hydroxyl and hydrogen free radicals, which are of great importance for investigating its fire suppression mechanisms, are still unclear. In this paper, ab inito and density functional theory are used to deduce the possible reaction pathways for the reactions of F7A with hydroxyl and hydrogen free radicals at the CCSD/cc‐pVDZ//B3LYP/6‐311++G (d,p) level of theory. Two distinct reaction pathways including ten elementary reaction channels for F7A with hydroxyl free radical, and five distinct reaction pathways including twenty elementary reaction channels for F7A with hydrogen free radical are investigated. The geometries, vibrational frequencies and reaction energy barriers are also determined. Based on the calculated results, the possible reaction mechanisms are proposed and discussed. The most feasible reaction channel for F7A with hydroxyl free radical is that leads to CH(OH)CH₂(CF₂)₃+·F, and the most feasible reaction channel for F7A with hydrogen free radical is that leads to (CF₂)₃CH₂CH·+HF. The study is helpful to further study its fire suppression mechanisms and promote it to be a new generation of halon replacement.     

Theoretical survey of the reaction between osmium and acetaldehyde

The mechanism of the reaction of osmium atom with acetaldehyde has been investigated with a DFT approach. All the stationary points are determined at the UB3LYP/sdd/6-311++G** level of the theory. Both ground and excited state potential energy surfaces are investigated in detail. The present results show that the title reaction start with the formation of a CH₃CHO-metal complex followed by C-C, aldehyde C-H, C-O, and methyl C-H activation. These reactions can lead to four different products (HOsCH₃ + CO, OsCO + CH₄, OsCOCH₃ + H, and OsO + C₂H₄). The minimum energy reaction path is found to involve the spin inversion in the initial reaction step. This potential energy curve-crossing dramatically affects reaction exothermic. The present results may be helpful in understanding the mechanism of the title reaction and further experimental investigation of the reaction.     

Gas‐phase intramolecular anion rearrangements of some trimethylsilyl‐containing systems revisited. A theoretical approach

Ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory have been carried out for three prototypical rearrangement processes of organosilicon anion systems. The first two are reactions of enolate ions which involve oxygen–silicon bond formation via three‐ and four‐membered states, respectively. The overall reactions are: The ΔG (reaction) values for the two processes are +175 and +51 kJ mol^?1, with maximum barriers (to the highest transition state) of +55 and +159 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The third studied process is the following: (CH₃O)C(?CH₂)Si(CH₃)₂CH → (CH₃)₂(C₂H₅)Si^? + CH₂CO, a process involving an S_Ni reaction between ‐CH and CH₃O‐ followed by silicon–carbon bond cleavage. The reaction is favourable [ΔG(reaction) = ?39 kJ mol^?1] with the barrier for the S_Ni process being 175 kJ mol^?1. The previous experimental and the current theoretical data are complementary and in agreement. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uncovering an oxide ion substitution for the OH− + CH3F reaction

Theoretical investigations on chemical reactions allow us to understand the dynamics of the possible pathways and identify new unexpected routes. Here, we develop a global analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction in order to perform high-level dynamics simulations. Besides bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) and proton abstraction, our quasi-classical trajectory computations reveal a novel oxide ion substitution leading to the HF + CH₃O⁻ products. This exothermic reaction pathway occurs via the CH₃OH⋯F⁻ deep potential well of the S_N2 product channel as a result of a proton abstraction from the hydroxyl group by the fluoride ion. The present detailed dynamics study of the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction focusing on the surprising oxide ion substitution demonstrates how incomplete our knowledge is of fundamental chemical reactions.

Reaction dynamics simulations on a high-level ab initio analytical potential energy surface reveal a novel oxide ion substitution channel for the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction.     

Computational study toward understanding the photodissociation mechanism of sarin

The potential energy surface for sarin (C₄H₁₀FO₂P) dissociation into (CH₃)₂CHO+PO(F)(CH₃), CH₃+(CH₃)₂CHOPO(F), and F+(CH₃)₂CHOPO(CH₃) in the T₁ and S₁ states were investigated at the complete‐active‐space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) with the 6‐31G** and aug‐cc‐PVDZ basis sets. The different reaction pathways are characterized on the basis of the computed potential energy surface and surface crossing point, the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) was used to calculate the vertical energies based on the CAS(8,7)/6‐31G** optimized excited structures, which may provide some new insights into the mechanism of the ultraviolet photo‐degradation of sarin molecules. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Correlated one‐electron wave functions

Using four basis sets, 6‐311G(d,p), 6‐31+G(d,p), 6‐311++G(2d,2p), and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd), the optimized structures with all real frequencies were obtained at the MP2 level for dimers CH₂O? HF, CH₂O? H₂O, CH₂O? NH₃, and CH₂O? CH₄. The structures of CH₂O? HF, CH₂O? H₂O, and CH₂O? NH₃ are cycle‐shaped, which result from the larger bend of σ‐type hydrogen bonds. The bend of σ‐type H‐bond O…H? Y (Y?F, O, N) is illustrated and interpreted by an attractive interaction of a chemically intuitive π‐type hydrogen bond. The π‐type hydrogen bond is the interaction between one of the acidic H atoms of CH₂O and lone pair(s) on the F atom in HF, the O atom in H₂O, or the N atom in NH₃. By contrast with above the three dimers, for CH₂O? CH₄, because there is not a π‐type hydrogen‐bond to bend its linear hydrogen bond, the structure of CH₂O? CH₄ is a noncyclic shaped. The interaction energy of hydrogen bonds and the π‐type H‐bond are calculated and discussed at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3df,3pd) level. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Theoretical study on the gas‐phase reaction mechanism between rhodium monoxide and methane for methanol production

The gas‐phase reaction mechanism between methane and rhodium monoxide for the formation of methanol, syngas, formaldehyde, water, and methyl radical have been studied in detail on the doublet and quartet state potential energy surfaces at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD//B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD level. Over the 300–1100 K temperature range, the branching ratio for the Rh(⁴F) + CH₃OH channel is 97.5–100%, whereas the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is 0.0–2.5%, and the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is so small to be ruled out. The minimum energy reaction pathway for the main product methanol formation involving two spin inversions prefers to both start and terminate on the ground quartet state, where the ground doublet intermediate CH₃RhOH is energetically preferred, and its formation rate constant over the 300–1100 K temperature range is fitted by k_CH3RhOH = 7.03 × 10⁶ exp(?69.484/RT) dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. On the other hand, the main products shall be Rh + CH₃OH in the reactions of RhO + CH₄, CH₂ORh + H₂, Rh + CO +2H₂, and RhCH₂ + H₂O, whereas the main products shall be CH₂ORh + H₂ in the reaction of Rh + CH₃OH. Meanwhile, the doublet intermediates H₂RhOCH₂ and CH₃RhOH are predicted to be energetically favored in the reactions of Rh + CH₃OH and CH₂ORh + H₂ and in the reaction of RhCH₂ + H₂O, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010     

Rate constants calculation of hydrogen abstraction reactions CH3CHBr + HBr and CH3CBr2 + HBr

Dual‐level direct dynamics method is used to study the kinetic properties of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH₃CHBr + HBr → CH₃CH₂Br + Br (R1) and CH₃CBr₂ + HBr → CH₃CHBr₂ + Br (R2). Optimized geometries and frequencies of all the stationary points and extra points along the minimum‐energy path are obtained at the MPW1K/6‐311+G(d,p), MPW1K/ma‐TZVP, and BMK/6‐311+G(d,p) levels. Two complexes with energies less than that of the reactants are located in the entrance of each reaction at the MPW1K/6‐311+G(d,p) and MPW1K/ma‐TZVP levels, respectively. The energy profiles are further refined with the interpolated single‐point energies method at the G2M(RCC5)//MPW1K/6‐311+G(d,p) level of theory. By the improved canonical variational transition‐state theory with the small‐curvature tunneling correction (SCT), the rate constants are evaluated over a wide temperature range of 200–2000 K. Our calculations have shown that the radical reactivity decreases from CH₃CHBr to CH₃CBr₂. Finally, the total rate constants are fitted by two modified Arrhenius expression. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DFT investigation of the mechanism of CH2CO + O(3P) reaction

A detailed theoretical survey of the potential energy surface (PES) for the CH₂CO + O(³P) reaction is carried out at the QCISD(T)/6‐311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) level. The geometries, vibrational frequencies, and energies of all stationary points involved in the reaction are calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) level. More accurate energy information is provided by single‐point calculations at the QCISD(T)/6‐311+G(3df,2p) level. Relationships of the reactants, transition states, intermediates, and products are confirmed by the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations. The results suggest that P1(CH₂+CO₂) is the most important product. This study presents highlights of the mechanism of the title reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

NHC catalyzed CO2 fixation with epoxides: Probable mechanisms reveal ter molecular pathway

Six different pathways for the NHC-mediated CO₂ transformation reaction of epoxide to cyclic carbonate are investigated with DFT method at MPWB1K/6-311++G(3df,2p) level which confirms that the most favorable pathway is ter molecular in nature and passes through a regioselective S_N2 anti-attack of NHC on the least substituted carbon of the epoxide-CO₂ complex.     

Grignard Reaction as a Result of Tunneling of the Triplet Branch of the Reaction Through a Singlet Barrier

Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out to study the mechanism of the Grignard reaction Mg + CH₃F. The reaction between Mg, CH₃F gives rise to a triplet complex which has a lower energythan the corresponding singlet complex at MgFCH₃ angles ranging from 60 to 139°. The transition from thesinglet branch of the reaction to the nonequilibrium triplet branch results in decomposition of CH₃F with formation of various final products. A linear Grignard reagent CH₃-Mg-F is formed by simultaneous homolytic CH₃-F dissociation and ionic covalent interaction of the methyl group and the fluorine atom with the magnesium cation arising in the course of the reaction. Normal mode frequencies for the Mg + CH₃F complex at various MgFCH₃ are were calculated. The calculation results nicely agree with experimental data.