Theoretical study on the isomerization behavior between alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals

[reaction: see text] Ab initio calculations using 6-311G**, cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVDZ, and a (valence) double-zeta pseudopotential (DZP) basis set, with (QCISD, CCSD(T)) and without (UHF) the inclusion of electron correlation, and density functional methods (BHandHLYP, B3LYP) predict that alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals exist as isomers. At the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BHandHLY/cc-pVDZ level of theory, energy barriers of 15.1 and 17.7-21.7 kJ mol(-)(1) are calculated for the isomerization of s-trans-propenoyl and s-trans-crotonoyl radical to ketenylmethyl and 1-ketenylethyl radical, respectively. Similar results are obtained for the reactions of s-trans isomers involving silyl, germyl, and stannyl groups with energy barriers (DeltaE++) of 12.2-12.4, 13.1-13.9, and 12.9-18.2 kJ mol(-)(1) at the CCSD(T)/DZP//BHandHLYP/DZP calculation, respectively. These results suggest that alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals are not canonical forms but are isomeric species that can rapidly interconvert.     

Successive attachment of electrons to protonated Guanine: (G+H)* radicals and (G+H)- anions

The structures, energetics, and vibrational frequencies of nine hydrogenated 9H-keto-guanine radicals (G+H)(*) and closed-shell anions (G+H)(-) are predicted using the carefully calibrated (Chem. Rev. 2002, 102, 231) B3LYP density functional method in conjunction with a DZP++ basis set. These radical and anionic species come from consecutive electron attachment to the corresponding protonated (G+H)(+) cations in low pH environments. The (G+H)(+) cations are studied using the same level of theory. The proton affinity (PA) of guanine computed in this research (228.1 kcal/mol) is within 0.7 kcal/mol of the latest experiment value. The radicals range over 41 kcal/mol in relative energy, with radical r1, in which H is attached at the C8 site of guanine, having the lowest energy. The lowest energy anion is a2, derived by hydride ion attachment at the C2 site of guanine. No stable N2-site hydride should exist in the gas phase. Structure a9 was predicted to be dissociative in this research. The theoretical adiabatic electron affinities (AEA), vertical electron affinities, and vertical detachment energies were computed, with AEAs ranging from 0.07 to 3.12 eV for the nine radicals.     

Hydrogen atom and hydride anion addition to adenine: structures and energetics.

The radicals and anions derived from the 9H tautomer of adenine by adding a hydrogen atom to one of the four double bonds of the adenine framework have been studied. Computations were carried out using a carefully calibrated density functional (B3LYP) method and basis set (DZP++). Optimized geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies are predicted for eight radicals and anions. The radicals are found to lie in a range of 22 kcal mol(-1), with the radical derived by addition to the C(8) carbon atom being the lowest lying energetically. The anions are predicted to be bound species in the gas phase with an energetic range of 43 kcal mol(-1). Anions produced by addition of a hydride ion to adenine carbon atoms are found to be the most favorable. Six of the anions are predicted to be stable species with respect to electron detachment. The adiabatic electron affinities, vertical electron affinities, and vertical detachment energies are computed for the first time. Electron affinities for these radicals range from 0.0 to 2.0 eV. Radicals produced by addition to a nitrogen atom have near-zero adiabatic electron affinities, while radicals produced by addition at carbon atoms have considerably higher electron affinities.     

Theoretical study on structures and stability of C4P isomers

The structures, energetics, spectroscopies, and stabilities of doublet C(4)P isomeric species are explored at the DFT/B3LYP, QCISD, and CCSD(T) (singlet-point) levels. A total of 12 minimum isomers and 27 interconversion transition states are located. At the CCSD(T)/6-311G(2df)//QCISD/6-311G(d)+ZPVE level, the lowest-lying isomer is a floppy CCCCP 1 (0.0 kcal/mol) mainly featuring a cumulenic structure |C=C=C=C=P*|, which differs much from the analogous C4N radical (|*C-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]N|). The quasi-linearity and the low bending mode of 1 are in contrast to the previous prediction. The second energetically followed isomer PC-cCCC 3 (14.9 kcal/mol) possesses a CCC ring-bonded to CP. The two low-lying isomers are separated by a high-energy ring-closure/open transition state (26.5 kcal/mol) and thus are very promising candidates for future laboratory and astrophysical detection. Furthermore, four high-energy isomers, that is, two bent isomers CCPCC 2 (68.4 kcal/mol) and CCPCC 2' (68.5 kcal/mol) and two cagelike species 10 (56.0 kcal/mol) and 11 (67.9 kcal/mol), are also stabilized by considerable barriers. The present work is the first detailed potential energy survey of CnP clusters and can provide useful information for the investigation of larger CnP radicals and for understanding the isomerism of P-doped C vaporization processes.     

Theoretical study on stability and properties of NC2O isomers

The structures, energetics, spectroscopies, and stabilities of the doublet NC(2)O radical are explored at density functional theory and ab initio levels. Nine minimum isomers are located connected by 22 interconversion transition states. At the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df)//QCISD/6-311G(d)+ZPVE level, the lowest-lying isomer is bent NCCO 1 (0.0 kcal/mol) with (2)A' state followed by bent isomer CNCO 2 (16.7). Two isomers (1 and 2) and another high-lying species CCNO 4 (99.4) with bent structure are considerably stabilized by a barrier of at least 20 kcal/mol. All of the three isomers should be experimentally or astrophysically observable. This result is consistent with their indication of neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry experiments. Also, the calculated spectroscopic properties and bond distances of known NCCO 1 are consistent with recent experimental observations and theoretical studies. The bonding natures of the isomers 1, 2, and 4 are analyzed. Their molecular properties including the heats of formation, adiabatic ionization potentials, and adiabatic electronic affinities are calculated at the higher levels G3//B3LYP, G3(MP2)//B3LYP, QCISD, and CCSD(T) (single-point). Possible formation strategies of the isomers 1, 2, and 4 in laboratory and space are also discussed in detail.     

The ability of silylenes to bind excess electrons: electron affinities of SiX(2), and SiXY species (X,Y=H,CH(3),SiH(3),F,Cl,Br)

Recently, Ishida and co-workers have isolated silylene radical anions via the one-electron reduction of isolable cyclic dialkylsilylenes, discovering these corresponding radical anions to be relatively stable at low temperatures. Herein we report theoretical predictions of the adiabatic electron affinities (AEA), vertical electron affinities, and vertical detachment energies of a series of methyl, silyl, and halosubstituted silylene compounds. This research utilizes the carefully calibrated DZP++ basis with the combination of the popular nonhybrid and hybrid DFT functionals, BLYP, B3LYP, and BHHLYP. The level of theory employed and the ensemble of species under study confirm the ability of silylenes to bind excess electrons with Si(SiH(3))(2) being the most effective, having a predicted AEA of 1.95 eV. While it is known that methyl substituents have a diminishing effect on the computed electron affinities (EAs), it is shown that fluorine shows an analogous negative effect. Similarly, previous suggestions that Si(CH(3))(2) will not bind an electron appear incorrect, with EA[Si(CH(3))(2)] predicted here to be 0.46 eV.     

Reliable electron affinities of perfluorocyclopropane and perfluorocyclobutane from convergent ab initio computations

To resolve discrepancies concerning the magnitude of the electron affinities of perfluorocyclopropane and perfluorocyclobutane, quantum chemical calculations have been carried out with the MP2 and CCSD(T) methods in conjunction with augmented correlation consistent basis sets (aug-cc-pVX Z, X = D, T, Q). Though no experimental values have been found for perfluorocyclopropane, we estimate its electron affinity to be 0.17 eV (0.00 eV without zero-point vibrational energy corrections). In addition, determination of the electron affinity of perfluorocyclobutane (0.61 and 0.44 eV with and without zero-point vibrational energy corrections, respectively) is in good agreement with experimental values reported by Miller and co-workers (0.63 +/- 0.05 eV). This study also demonstrates that the widely prescribed B3LYP/DZP++ model chemistry for computing electron affinities does not correctly describe these systems.     

Structures and heats of formation of the neutral and ionic PNO, NOP, and NPO systems from electronic structure calculations

High level ab initio electronic structure calculations using the coupled cluster CCSD(T) method with augmented correlation-consistent basis sets extrapolated to the complete basis set limit have been performed on the PNO, NOP, and NPO isomers and their corresponding anions and cations. Geometries for all species were optimized up through the aug-cc-pV(Q+d)Z level and vibrational frequencies were calculated with the aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z basis set. The most stable of the three isomers is NPO and it is predicted to have a heat of formation of 23.3 kcal/mol. PNO is predicted to be only 1.7 kcal/mol higher in energy. The calculated adiabatic ionization potential of NPO is 12.07 eV and the calculated adiabatic electron affinity is 2.34 eV. The calculated adiabatic ionization potential of PNO is 10.27 eV and the calculated adiabatic electron affinity is only 0.24 eV. NOP is predicted to be much higher in energy by 29.9 kcal/mol. The calculated rotational constants for PNO and NPO should allow for these species to be spectroscopically distinguished. The adiabatic bond dissociation energies for the P[Single Bond]N, P[Single Bond]O, and N[Single Bond]O bonds in NPO and PNO are the same within approximately 10 kcal/mol and fall in the range of 72-83 kcal/mol.     

Assessing alkyl-, silyl-, and halo-substituent effects on the electron affinities of silyl radicals

Neutral anion energy differences for a large class of alpha-substituted silyl radicals have been computed to determine the effect of alkyl, silyl, and halo substituents on their electron affinities. In particular, we report theoretical predictions of the adiabatic electron affinities (AEAs), vertical electron affinities (VEAs), and vertical detachment energies (VDEs) for a series of methyl-, silyl-, and halo-substituted silyl radical compounds. This work utilizes the carefully calibrated DZP++ basis set, in conjunction with the pure BLYP and OLYP functionals, as well as with the hybrid B3LYP, BHLYP, PBE1PBE, MPW1K, and O3LYP functionals. Bromine has the largest effect in stabilizing the anions, and the BLYP/DZP++ AEA for SiBr(3) is 3.29 eV. The other predicted electron affinities are for SiH(3) (1.37 eV), SiH(2)CH(3) (1.09 eV), SiH(2)F (1.54 eV), SiH(2)Cl (1.94 eV), SiH(2)Br (2.05 eV), SiH(2)(SiH(3)) (1.77 eV), SiH(CH(3))(2) (0.92 eV), SiHF(2) (1.86 eV), SiHCl(2) (2.53 eV), SiHBr(2) (2.67 eV), Si(CH(3))(3) (0.86 eV), SiF(3) (2.66 eV), SiCl(3) (3.21 eV), Si(SiH(3))(3) (2.25 eV), and SiFClBr (3.13 eV). For the five silyl radicals where experimental data are available, the BLYP functional gives the most accurate determination of AEAs; the average absolute error is 0.04(1) eV, whereas the corresponding errors for the O3LYP, MPW1K, PBE1PBE, B3LYP, OLYP, and BHLYP functionals are 0.05(8), 0.06(0), 0.06(3), 0.08(5), 0.11(5), and 0.15(3) eV, respectively.     

全氟代金刚烷及其自由基的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法:BHLYP、B3LYP、BP86、BLYP,在全电子的双ζ基组加极化函数和弥散函数(DZP＋)基组下,计算了全氟代金刚烷(C10F16)及其自由基(C10F15)的总能量、优化几何构型、电子亲和势和谐振频率.在B3LYP水平上所得到的可靠绝热电子亲和势(EAad)分别为: C10F16, 1.06 eV; C10F15, 4.11和 3.03 eV.     

Perfluoroadamantane and its negative ion

As a general rule, saturated hydrocarbons are unable to bind an electron, i.e., their electron affinities are negative, but the corresponding perfluorinated molecules can have significant electron affinities, especially in the case of branched and ring systems. Four different density functional theory (DFT) methods in conjunction with double-zeta plus polarization function augmented diffuse function basis sets (DZP++) have been employed to study the equilibrium geometries, electron affinities, and vibrational frequencies of the adamantane (C10H16) and perfluoroadamantane (C10F16) molecules. Three types of neutral-anion separations reported are the adiabatic electron affinity, the vertical electron affinity, and the vertical detachment energy. The adiabatic electron affinity predicted at the DZP++ B3LYP level of theory for adamantane is, as expected, negative (-0.58 eV), while that for perfluoroadamantane is distinctly positive, namely, 1.06 eV (or 1.31 eV after correction for zero-point vibrational energies).     

Electron affinities of uracil: microsolvation effects and polarizable continuum model

We present adiabatic electron affinities (AEAs) and the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of the uracil molecule interacting with one to five water molecules. Credibility of MP2 and DFT/B3LYP calculations is supported by comparison with available benchmark CCSD(T) data. AEAs and VDEs obtained by MP2 and DFT/B3LYP methods copy trends of benchmark CCSD(T) results for the free uracil and uracil-water complexes in the gas phase being by 0.20 - 0.28 eV higher than CCSD(T) values depending on the particular structure of the complex. AEAs and VDEs from MP2 are underestimated by 0.09-0.15 eV. For the free uracil and uracil-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1,2,3,5) complexes, we also consider the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and discuss the importance of the microsolvation when combined with PCM. AEAs and VDEs of uracil and uracil-water complexes enhance rapidly with increasing relative dielectric constant (ε) of the solvent. Highest AEAs and VDEs of the U(H(2)O)(5) complexes from B3LYP with ε = 78.4 are 2.03 and 2.81 eV, respectively, utilizing the correction from CCSD(T). Specific structural features of the microsolvated uracil-(H(2)O)(n) complexes and their anions are preserved also upon considering PCM in calculations of AEAs and VDEs.     

A theoretical survey on the structures, energetics, and isomerization pathways of the B(5)O radical

Boron-centered radicals have received growing interest. Recently, two groups reported density functional theory investigations (GGA-PW91 and B3LYP) on a hexa-atomic boron-oxide radical, B(5)O, which has led to great discrepancies on the type of low-lying structures. In this article, we not only explore the energetics of doublet and quartet B(5)O isomers at high electron-correlated levels (CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df), CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ, and G3B3) but also investigate the isomerization and fragmentation stability of the low-lying B(5)O isomers. All the high-level studies consistently show that the B(5)O radical possesses a belt-like ground structure (2)01 in doublet electronic state followed by isomer (2)02 with an exocyclic - BO moiety at around 3.0 kcal/mol. Kinetically, (2)01 and (2)02 are separated by a considerable barrier of about 20 kcal/mol. Thus, the two isomeric forms of B(5)O radical should be very promising for isolation in laboratory. However, the other four isomers reported recently are all kinetically unstable toward conversion to (2)01 and (2)02. The high thermodynamic and kinetic stability of (2)01 and (2)02 might make them as important building cores in the growth of boron-oxide clusters. This results would also help deeply understand the oxidation and doping mechanism of pure boron clusters.     

Accurate energetics of small molecules containing third-row atoms Ga-Kr: a comparison of advanced ab initio and density functional theory

Advanced ab initio [coupled cluster theory through quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))] and density functional (B3LYP) computational chemistry approaches were used in combination with the standard and augmented correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets [cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, where n=D(2), T(3), Q(4), and 5] to investigate the energetic and structural properties of small molecules containing third-row (Ga-Kr) atoms. These molecules were taken from the Gaussian-2 (G2) extended test set for third-row atoms. Several different schemes were used to extrapolate the calculated energies to the complete basis set (CBS) limit for CCSD(T) and the Kohn-Sham (KS) limit for B3LYP. Zero point energy and spin orbital corrections were included in the results. Overall, CCSD(T) atomization energies, ionization energies, proton affinities, and electron affinities are in good agreement with experiment, within 1.1 kcal/mol when the CBS limit has been determined using a series of two basis sets of at least triple zeta quality. For B3LYP, the overall mean absolute deviation from experiment for the three properties and the series of molecules is more significant at the KS limit, within 2.3 and 2.6 kcal/mol for the cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ basis set series, respectively.     

Molecular orbital calculations of ring opening of the isoelectronic cyclopropylcarbinyl radical, cyclopropoxy radical, and cyclopropylaminium radical cation series of radical clocks

Detailed molecular orbital calculations were directed to the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical (1), the cyclopropoxy radical (2), and the cyclopropylaminium radical cation (3) as well as their ring-opened products. Since a considerable amount of data are published about cyclopropylcarbinyl radicals, calculations were made for this species and related ring-opened products as a reference for 2 and 3 and their reactions. Radicals 1-3 have practical utility as "radical clocks" that can be used to time other radical reactions. Radical 3 is of further interest in photoelectron-transfer processes where the back-electron-transfer process may be suppressed by rapid ring opening. Calculations have been carried out at the UHF/6-31G*, MP4//MP2/6-31G*, DFT B3LYP/6-31G*, and CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//QCISD/cc-pVDZ levels. Energies are corrected to 298 K, and the barriers between species are reported in terms of Arrhenius E(a) and log A values along with differences in enthalpies, free energies, and entropies. The CCSD(T)-calculated energy barrier for ring opening of 1 is E(a) = 9.70, DeltaG* = 8.49 kcal/mol, which compares favorably to the previously calculated value of E(a) = 9.53 kcal/mol by the G2 method, but is higher than an experimental value of 7.05 kcal/mol. Our CCSD(T)-calculated E(a) value is also higher by 1.8 kcal/mol than a previously reported CBS-RAD//B3LYP/6-31G* calculation. The cyclopropoxy radical has a very small barrier to ring opening (CCSD(T), E(a) = 0.64 kcal/mol) and should be a very sensitive time clock. Of the three series studied, the cyclopropylaminium radical cation is most complex. In agreement with experimental data, bisected cyclopropylaminium radical cation is not found, but instead a ring-opened species is found. A perpendicular cyclopropylaminium radical cation (4) was found as a transition-state structure. Rotation of the 2p orbital in 4 to the bisected array results in ring opening. The minimum onset energy of photoionization of cyclopropylamine was calculated to be 201.5 kcal/mol (CCSD(T)) compared to experimental values of between about 201 and 204 kcal/mol. Calculations were made on the closely related cyclopropylcarbinyl and bicyclobutonium cations. Stabilization of the bisected cyclopropylcarbinyl conformer relative to the perpendicular species is much greater for the cations (29.1 kcal/ mol, QCISD) compared to the radicals (3.10 kcal/mol, QCISD). A search was made for analogues to the bicyclobutonium cation in the radical series 1 and 2 and the radical cation series 3. No comparable species were found. A rationale was made for some conflicting calculations involving the cyclopropylcarbinyl and bicyclobutonium cations. The order of stability of the cyclopropyl-X radicals was calculated to be X = CH2 > X = O > X = NH2+, where the latter species has no barrier for ring opening. The relative rate of ring opening for cyclopropyl-X radicals X = CH2 to X = O was calculated to be 3.1 x 10(6) s(-1) at 298 K (QCISD).     

Global investigation on the potential energy surface of CH3CN: application of the scaled hypersphere search method

An extensive quantum chemical study of the potential energy surface (PES) for all possible isomerization and dissociation reactions of CH3CN is reported at the DFT (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) and CCSD(T)/ cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. The pathways around the equilibrium structures can be discovered by the scaled hypersphere search (SHS) method, which enables us to make a global analysis of the potential energy surface for a given chemical composition in combination with a downhill-walk algorithm. Seventeen equilibrium structures and 59 interconversion transition states have been found on the singlet PES. The four lowest lying isomers with thermodynamic stability are also kinetically stable with the lowest conversion barriers of 49.69-101.53 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, whereas three-membered-ring isomers c-CH2NCH, c-CH2CNH, and c-CHNHCH can be considered as metastable intermediates which can further convert into the low-lying chain-like isomers and higher lying acyclic isomers with the lowest conversion energies of 21.70-59.99 kcal/mol. Thirteen available dissociation channels depending on the different initial isomers have been identified. A prediction can be made for the possible mechanism explaining the migration of a hydrogen atom in competition with the CC bond dissociation. Several new energetically accessible pathways are found to be responsible for the migration of the hydrogen atom. The present results demonstrate that the SHS method is an efficient and powerful technique for global mapping of reaction pathways on PESs.     

Density functional theory and ab initio studies of the structure and energetics of digallium tetraoxide, Ga2O4, in the gas phase

A systematic investigation on the neutral and anionic digallium tetraoxide, Ga(2)O(4) has been carried out by using density functional theory (DFT), second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), and the coupled cluster approach with single and double substitutions and a perturbative treatment of the triple excitations [CCSD(T)]. The geometry of neutral Ga(2)O(4) has been proposed earlier, from an experimental study, to adopt a D(2d) symmetry (J. Phys. Chem. 1979, 83, 656). However, the current research reveals that, out of the several isomers considered for neutral and anionic digallium tetraoxide, the (3)B(1u) and (2)B(3g) of the planar D(2h) geometry (7a-D(2h)) are the lowest-energy states for Ga(2)O(4) and Ga(2)O(4)(-). Our computations rule out the D(2d) geometry (3-D(2d)) as a viable contender for neutral Ga(2)O(4). The (3)B(2) (3-D(2d)) state is located above the (3)B(1u) (7-D(2h)) state by at least 4.26 eV. The energies of the low lying states, geometrical parameters, and energetic features (VEDE, AEDE, and AEA) are reported. The AEA of Ga(2)O(4) is calculated to be 3.94 eV (B3LYP), 3.24 eV (MP2), 3.42 eV [CCSD(T)//B3LYP], and 3.38 eV [CCSD(T)//MP2], respectively. In addition, the dissociation energy, D(e), for the process Ga(2)O(4) ((3)B(1u)) → 2GaO(2) ((2)A(2)) is 3.59 eV (B3LYP), 5.08 eV (MP2), 4.82 eV [CCSD(T)//B3LYP], and 4.80 eV [CCSD(T)//MP2]. The results obtained in this work are critically analyzed, discussed, and compared with those of the analogous metal oxides.     

Tetrafluorobenzyne thermochemistry: experiment and theory

Gas-phase thermodynamic properties of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzyne (1 H-(2)) were determined by Fourier transform mass spectrometry and ab initio and density functional theory methods. 1,2,3,4-Tetrafluorobenzyne radical anion was generated by abstraction of a proton and a hydrogen atom upon reaction of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzene (1) with O(-.). The resulting structure was confirmed by converting it to a species which could be independently prepared. Bracketing results provided the proton affinity of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzyne radical anion and the electron affinities of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzyne and 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorophenyl radical. These measured values were combined in a thermodynamic cycle to provide the heat of hydrogenation of 1 H(2) (DeltaH degree (hyd) = 367 +/- 18 kJ mol(-1)) and the first and second CH bond dissociation energies of 1 (481 +/- 11 and 321 +/- 13 kJ mol(-1)). The same approach failed for the meta and para isomers, but their energetics were examined using B3LYP and CCSD(T) computations.     

Thermochemical studies of N-methylpyrazole and N-methylimidazole

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectra of the N-methyl-5-pyrazolide anion and the N-methyl-5-imidazolide anion are reported. The photoelectron spectra of both isomers display extended vibrational progressions in the X2A' ground states of the corresponding radicals that are well reproduced by Franck-Condon simulations, based on the results of B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The electron affinities of the N-methyl-5-pyrazolyl radical and the N-methyl-5-imidazolyl radical are 2.054 +/- 0.006 eV and 1.987 +/- 0.008 eV, respectively. Broad vibronic features of the A(2)A' ' states are also observed in the spectra. The gas-phase acidities of N-methylpyrazole and N-methylimidazole are determined from measurements of proton-transfer rate constants using a flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube instrument. The acidity of N-methylpyrazole is measured to be Delta(acid)G(298) = 376.9 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(acid)H(298) = 384.0 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1), whereas the acidity of N-methylimidazole is determined to be Delta(acid)G(298) = 380.2 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(acid)H(298)= 388.1 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1). The gas-phase acidities are combined with the electron affinities in a negative ion thermochemical cycle to determine the C5-H bond dissociation energies, D(0)(C5-H, N-methylpyrazole) = 116.4 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and D(0)(C5-H, N-methylimidazole) = 119.0 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1). The bond strengths reported here are consistent with previously reported bond strengths of pyrazole and imidazole; however, the error bars are significantly reduced.