Effect of geminal substitution on the strain energy of dioxiranes. Origin of the low ring strain of dimethyldioxirane

The strain energies (SE) for dioxirane (DO) dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and related dioxiranes have been examined by several methods using high-level computational schemes (G2, G2(MP2), CBS-Q). A series of calculated O-O, C-O, and O-H bond dissociation energies (G2) point to special problems associated with classical homodesmotic reactions involving peroxides. The relative SEs of DO, DMDO, methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (TFDO), and difluorodioxirane (DFDO) have been estimated by combination of the dioxirane with cyclopropane to form the corresponding 1,3-dioxacyclohexane. The relative SE predicted for DMDO (2) is 7 kcal/mol lower than that of DO, while the SE of 1,1-difluorodioxirane (4) is 8 kcal/mol higher. The most reactive dioxirane, methyl (trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (3), has an estimated SE just 1 kcal/mol greater than that of DO but 8 kcal/mol greater than that of DMDO. Six independent methods support the proposed SE for DO of 18 kcal/mol. The SE of the parent dioxirane (DO) has been estimated relative to six-membered ring reference compounds by dimerization of dioxirane and or its combination with cyclopropane. The relative SE of cyclic hydrocarbons, ethers and peroxides have been predicted by the insertion/extrusion of -CH(2)- and -O- fragments into their respective lower and next higher homologues. The moderated SE of DMDO (approximately equal to 11 kcal/mol) has also been estimated on the basis of group equivalent reactions. The unusual thermodynamic stability of DMDO is largely a consequence of combined geminal dimethyl and dioxa substitution effects and its associated strong C-H bonds and C-CH(3) bonds. The data clearly demonstrate that the reference compounds used to estimate the SE for highly substituted small ring cyclic compounds should reflect their molecular architecture having the same substitutents on carbon.     

Role of the somersault rearrangement in the oxidation step for flavin monooxygenases (FMO). A comparison between FMO and conventional xenobiotic oxidation with hydroperoxides

Model quantum mechanical calculations presented for C-4a-flavin hydroperoxide (FlHOOH) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level suggest a new mechanism for flavoprotein monooxygenase (FMO) oxidation involving a concerted homolytic O-O bond cleavage in concert with hydroxyl radical transfer from the flavin hydroperoxide rather than an S(N)2-like displacement by the substrate on the C-4a-hydroperoxide OOH group. Homolytic O-O bond cleavage in a somersault-like rearrangement of hydroperoxide C-4a-flavinhydroperoxide (1) (FLHO-OH → FLHO···HO) produces an internally hydrogen-bonded HO(?) radical intermediate with a classical activation barrier of 27.0 kcal/mol. Model hydroperoxide 1 is used to describe the transition state for the key oxidation step in the paradigm aromatic hydroxylase, p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH). A comparison of the electron distribution in the transition structures for the PHBH hydroxylation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (ΔE(?) = 23.0 kcal/mol) with that of oxidation of trimethylamine (ΔE(?) = 22.3 kcal/mol) and dimethyl sulfide (ΔE? = 14.1 kcal/mol) also suggests a mechanism involving a somersault mechanism in concert with transfer of an HO(?) radical to the nucleophilic heteroatom center with a hydrogen transfer back to the FLH-O residue after the barrier is crossed to produce the final product, FLH-OH. In each case the hydroxylation barrier was less than that of the O-O rearrangement barrier in the absence of a substrate supporting an overall concerted process. All three transition structures bear a resemblance to the TS for the comparable hydroxylation of isobutane (ΔE(?) = 29.2 kcal/mol) and for simple Fenton oxidation by aqueous iron(III) hydroperoxides. To our surprise the oxidation of N- and S-nucleophiles with conventional oxidants such as alkyl hydroperoxides and peracids also proceeds by HO(?) radical transfer in a manner quite similar to that for tricyclic hydroperoxide 1. Stabilization of the developing oxyradical produced by somersault rearrangement for concerted enzymatic oxidation with tricyclic hydroperoxide 1 results in a reduced overall activation barrier.     

Relative reactivity of peracids versus dioxiranes (DMDO and TFDO) in the epoxidation of alkenes. A combined experimental and theoretical analysis

Comparative analysis of the calculated gas-phase activation barriers (DeltaE++) for the epoxidation of ethylene with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and peroxyformic acid (PFA) [15.2 and 16.4 kcal/mol at QCISD(T)// QCISD/6-31+G(d,p)] and E-2-butene [14.3 and 13.2 kcal/mol at QCISD(T)/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)] suggests similar oxygen atom donor capacities for both oxidants. Competition experiments in CH(2)Cl(2) solvent reveal that DMDO reacts with cyclohexene much faster than peracetic acid/acetic acid under scrupulously dried conditions. The rate of DMDO epoxidation is catalyzed by acetic acid with a reduction in the classical activation barrier of 8 kcal/mol. In many cases, the observed increase in the rate for DMDO epoxidation in solution may be attributed to well-established solvent and hydrogen-bonding effects. This predicted epoxidative reactivity for DMDO is not consistent with what has generally been presumed for a highly strained cyclic peroxide. The strain energy (SE) of DMDO has been reassessed and its moderated value (about 11 kcal/mol) is now more consistent with its inherent gas-phase reactivity toward alkenes in the epoxidation reaction. The unusual thermodynamic stability of DMDO is largely a consequence of the combined geminal dimethyl- and dioxa-substitution effects and unusually strong C-H and C-CH(3) bonds. Methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (TFDO) exhibits much lower calculated activation barriers than DMDO in the epoxidation reaction (the average DeltaDeltaE++ values are about 7.5 kcal/mol). The rate increase relative to DMDO of approximately 10(5), while consistent with the higher strain energy for TFDO (SE approximately 19 kcal/mol) is attributed largely to the inductive effect of the CF(3) group. We have also examined the effect of alkene strain on the rate of epoxidation with PFA. The epoxidation barriers are only slightly higher for the strained alkenes cyclopropene (DeltaE++ = 14.5 kcal/mol) and cyclobutene (DeltaE++ = 13.7 kcal/mol) than for cyclopentene (DeltaE++ = 12.1 kcal/mol), reflecting the fact there is little relief of strain in the transition state. Alkenes strained by twist or pi-bond torsion do exhibit much lower activation barriers.     

Perfluoromethyl fluorocarbonyl peroxide,CF3OOC(O)F: structure,conformations, and vibrational spectra studied by experimental and theoretical methods

The conformational properties and the geometric structure of perfluoromethyl fluorocarbonyl peroxide, CF(3)OOC(O)F, have been studied by matrix IR spectroscopy, gas electron diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations (HF, B3LYP, and MP2 methods with 6-311G* basis sets). Matrix IR spectra imply a mixture of syn and anti conformers (orientation of the C=O bond relative to the O-O bond) with DeltaH degrees = H(anti) degrees - H(syn) degrees = 2.16(22) kcal/mol. At room temperature, the contribution of the anti rotamer is about 3.0%. The O-O bond (1.422(15) A) is within the experimental uncertainties equal to those in related symmetrically substituted peroxides CF(3)OOCF(3) and FC(O)OOC(O)F (1.419(20) and 1.419(9) A, respectively), and the dihedral angle delta(COOC) (111(5) degrees ) is intermediate between the values in these two compounds (123(4) degrees and 83.5(14) degrees, respectively).     

Structure, thermochemistry, and conformational analysis of peroxides ROOR and hydroperoxides ROOH (R = Me, But, CF3)

The equilibrium structures, total energies, and harmonic frequencies of peroxides ROOR and ROOH (R = Me, Bu^t, CF₃) were calculated using the perturbation theory (MP4//MP2 method) and density functional approach (B3LYP) in the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The conformational flexibility of peroxides under rotation about the O-O bond was investigated. It was found that the stable conformation of a peroxide molecule is determined by superposition of the destabilizing effects (repulsion between the lone electron pairs, steric hindrances) and the interaction of the nonbonding orbitals of oxygen atoms with the antibonding orbitals of the adjacent polar bonds. The latter effect stabilizes the nonplanar structure of the peroxide molecule. The role of orbital interactions in manifestation of the d-effect (distortion of the tetrahedral configuration of the X₃CO fragment of peroxide molecule) was revealed. The vibrational spectra of peroxides were calculated and compared with the experimental data. The potential energy distribution over normal vibrations was analyzed. The enthalpies of formation and the bond strengths in the molecules of compounds examined were calculated in the framework of the isodesmic reaction approach.     

Periodic density functional theory study of methane activation over La(2)O(3): activity of O(2-), O(-), O(2)(2-), oxygen point defect,and Sr(2+)-doped surface sites

Results of gradient-corrected periodic density functional theory calculations are reported for hydrogen abstraction from methane at O(s)(2-), O(s)(-), O(2)(s)(2-) point defect, and Sr(2+)-doped surface sites on La(2)O(3)(001). The results show that the anionic O(s)(-) species is the most active surface oxygen site. The overall reaction energy to activate methane at an O(s)(-) site to form a surface hydroxyl group and gas-phase (*)CH(3) radical is 8.2 kcal/mol, with an activation barrier of 10.1 kcal/mol. The binding energy of hydrogen at an site O(s)(-) is -102 kcal/mol. An oxygen site with similar activity can be generated by doping strontium into the oxide by a direct Sr(2+)/La(3+) exchange at the surface. The O(-)-like nature of the surface site is reflected in a calculated hydrogen binding energy of -109.7 kcal/mol. Calculations indicate that surface peroxide (O(2(s))(2-)) sites can be generated by adsorption of O(2) at surface oxygen vacancies, as well as by dissociative adsorption of O(2) across the closed-shell oxide surface of La(2)O(3)(001). The overall reaction energy and apparent activation barrier for the latter pathway are calculated to be only 12.1 and 33.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Irrespective of the route to peroxide formation, the O(2)(s)(2-) intermediate is characterized by a bent orientation with respect to the surface and an O-O bond length of 1.47 A; both attributes are consistent with structural features characteristic of classical peroxides. We found surface peroxide sites to be slightly less favorable for H-abstraction from methane than the O(s)(-) species, with DeltaE(rxn)(CH(4)) = 39.3 kcal/mol, E(act) = 47.3 kcal/mol, and DeltaE(ads)(H) = -71.5 kcal/mol. A possible mechanism for oxidative coupling of methane over La(2)O(3)(001) involving surface peroxides as the active oxygen source is suggested.     

Insights into the mechanism of selective olefin epoxidation catalyzed by [gamma-(SiO4)W10O32H4]4-. A computational study

A mechanism for the H2O2-based epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by the lacunary polyoxometalate (POM) [gamma-(SiO4)W10O32H4]4- (1) has been investigated at the DFT level. In this study, for the first time a "hydroperoxy" mechanism for this important process has been proposed. It is divided into two steps and investigated using the whole lacunary compound as a model. In the first step, a hydroperoxy (W-OOH) species and a water molecule are generated. The formation of this nonradical oxidant (W-OOH), consistent with the experimental suggestions, occurs with a barrier of 4.4 (7.2) kcal/mol (the number without parenthesis includes solvent effects in benzene, while the one with parenthesis is in the gas phase). In the second step, the O-O bond of the W-OOH species is cleaved, and an epoxide is formed. This step has a barrier of 38.7 (40.0) kcal/mol. It was found that the presence of one and two (CH3)4N+ countercations significantly reduces the rate-limiting barrier by 7.6 (8.3) and 11.9 (12.6) kcal/mol, respectively, and makes this lacunary POM a very efficient catalyst for epoxidation of olefins by hydrogen peroxide. It was demonstrated that the lacunary polyoxometalate basically acts as a mononuclear W(VI) complex in activating the oxidant, a conceptually noteworthy finding.     

Peroxycarbenium-mediated C-C bond formation: applications to the synthesis of hydroperoxides and peroxides

The Lewis acid-mediated reaction of alkene nucleophiles with peroxyacetals provides an effective route for the synthesis of homologated peroxides and hydroperoxides. In the presence of Lewis acids such as TiCl(4), SnCl(4), and trimethylsilyl triflate, peroxyacetals and peroxyketals undergo reaction with allyltrimethylsilane, silyl enol ethers, and silyl ketene acetals to afford homoallyl peroxides, 3-peroxyketones, and 3-peroxyalkanoates, respectively. Reactions of peroxyacetals are Lewis acid dependent; TiCl(4) promotes formation of ethers while SnCl(4) and trimethylsilyl triflate promote formation of peroxides. Lewis acid-promoted reactions of silylated hydroperoxyacetals furnish silylated hydroperoxides, which can be deprotected to homologated hydroperoxides. Hydroperoxyketals undergo Lewis acid-mediated allylation to furnish 1,2-dioxolanes via attack of hydroperoxide on the intermediate carbocation. Lewis acid-mediated cyclization of unsaturated peroxyacetals furnishes 1,2-dioxanes, 1,2-dioxepanes, and 1,2-dioxacanes through 6-endo/exo, 7-endo/endo, and 8-endo/endo pathways. The corresponding reactions involving 6-endo/endo and 5-endo/exo pathways were unsuccessful.     

Addition of ammonia to AlH3 and BH3. Why does only aluminum form 2:1 adducts?

The electronic structures of the mono- and bisammonia adducts EH3NH3 and EH3(NH3)2, E = B and Al, have been investigated using ab initio electronic structure methods. Geometries were optimized at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. Higher-level correlated methods (MP4(SDTQ), QCISD(T), CCSD(T)), as well as the G2 and CBS-Q methods, were used to obtain accurate bond dissociation energies. The E-N bond dissociation energy (De) is computed near 33 kcal/mol (E = B) and 31 kca/mol (E = Al), respectively. Whereas the Al-N bond energy pertaining to the second ammonia molecule in AlH3(NH3)2 is 11-12 kcal/mol, only a transition-state structure may be located for the species BH3(NH3)2. We analyze factors which may distinguish Al from B with respect to the formation of stable bisamine adducts. The most significant difference relates to electronegativity and hence the propensity of boron to engage in predominantly covalent bonding, as compared with the bonding of aluminum with ammonia, which shows substantial electrostatic character. Neither steric factors nor the participation of d-orbitals is found to play an important role in differentiating aluminum from boron. The lesser electronegativity of third-row elements appears to be the critical common feature allowing the formation of hypercoordinate complexes of these elements in contrast to their second-row analogues. Consideration of some group 14 analogues and hard/soft acid/base effects supports this view.     

Beta-trimethylsilyl cyclopropylcarbenes

Thermal decomposition of the in situ generated lithium salt of the tosylhydrazone derivative of cyclopropyl trimethylsilylmethyl ketone gave 1-cyclopropyl-1-trimethylsilylethylene, a product of exclusive silyl migration. Thermal decomposition of the sodium salts of tosylhydrazone derivatives of 1-trimethylsilylcyclopropyl alkyl ketones also gave methylenecyclopropane products derived from trimethylsilyl migration. These reactions were interpreted in terms of rapid trimethylsilyl migration to carbene-like centers that compete effectively with ring expansion processes of cyclopropylcarbenes. Computational studies (B3LYP/6-31G) suggest that cyclopropyl stabilization of carbenes is more effective than beta-trimethylsilyl stabilization. However, beta-trimethylsilyl stabilized conformations are easily attained, and these conformations can lead to silyl migrations. There are two minimum energy conformations of methyl-1-trimethylsilylcyclopropylcarbene, 27, and the rotational barrier to interconversion of these conformations (5.4 kcal/mol) is substantially lower than in the parent cyclopropylcarbene (15 kcal/mol). The onset of a stabilizing interaction in the transition state between the carbene vacant orbital with the adjacent Si-C sigma-orbital is proposed. Computational studies also show a very small (2.0 kcal/mol) barrier for trimethylsilyl migration in trimethylsilylmethyl cyclopropylcarbene, 11.     

Theoretical Study on Dissociation Potential Energy Surface of Peroxynitric Acid

The lowest energy structures of peroxynitric acid have been studied with B3LYP/6-311+ G(2d,2p) method. The potential energy surfaces (PES) along the O-N and O-Obonds have been scanned at CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ level, respectively. The calculated results show that on the O-N PES, the O3-N4 bond length of the loose transition state is 2.82 ? and the corresponding energy barrier is 25.6 kcal/mol, while on the O-O PES, the loose transition state with of O2-O3 bond length of 2.35 ? has the energy barrier of 37.4 kcal/mol. Thus the primary reaction path for peroxynitric acid is the dissociation into HO₂ and NO₂.     

Enthalpy of the gas-phase CO2 + Mg reaction from ab initio total energies

Various highly accurate ab initio composite methods of Gaussian-n (G1, G2, G3), their variations (G2(MP2), G3(MP2), G3//B3LYP, G3(MP2)//B3LYP), and complete basis set (CBS-Q, CBS-Q//B3LYP) series of models were applied to compute reaction enthalpies of the ground-state reaction of CO2 with Mg. All model chemistries predict highly endothermic reactions, with DeltaH(298) = 63.6-69.7 kcal x mol(-1). The difference between the calculated reaction enthalpies and the experimental value, evaluated with recommended experimental standard enthalpies of formation for products and reactants, is more than 20 kcal x mol(-1) for all methods. This difference originates in the incorrect experimental enthalpy of formation of gaseous MgO given in thermochemical databases. When the theoretical formation enthalpy for MgO calculated by a particular method is used, the deviation is reduced to 1.3 kcal x mol(-1). The performance of the methodologies used to calculate the heat of this particular reaction and the enthalpy of formation of MgO are discussed.     

A density functional study of O-O bond cleavage for a biomimetic non-heme iron complex demonstrating an Fe(v)-intermediate

Density functional theory using the B3LYP hybrid functional has been employed to investigate the reactivity of Fe(TPA) complexes (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), which are known to catalyze stereospecific hydrocarbon oxidation when H(2)O(2) is used as oxidant. The reaction pathway leading to O-O bond heterolysis in the active catalytic species Fe(III)(TPA)-OOH has been explored, and it is shown that a high-valent iron-oxo intermediate is formed, where an Fe(V) oxidation state is attained, in agreement with previous suggestions based on experiments. In contrast to the analogous intermediate [(Por.)Fe(IV)=O](+1) in P450, the TPA ligand is not oxidized, and the electrons are extracted almost exclusively from the mononuclear iron center. The corresponding homolytic O-O bond cleavage, yielding the two oxidants Fe(IV)=O and the OH. radical, has also been considered, and it is shown that this pathway is inaccessible in the hydrocarbon oxidation reaction with Fe(TPA) and hydrogen peroxide. Investigations have also been performed for the O-O cleavage in the Fe(III)(TPA)-alkylperoxide species. In this case, the barrier for O-O homolysis is found to be slightly lower, leading to loss of stereospecificity and supporting the experimental conclusion that this is the preferred pathway for alkylperoxide oxidants. The difference between hydroperoxide and alkylperoxide as oxidant derives from the higher O-O bond strength for hydrogen peroxide (by 8.0 kcal/mol).     

Interaction of water, alkyl hydroperoxide, and allylic alcohol with a single-site homogeneous Ti-Si epoxidation catalyst: A spectroscopic and computational study

Tetrakis(trimethylsiloxy)titanium (TTMST, Ti(OSiMe3)4) possesses an isolated Ti center and is a highly active homogeneous catalyst in epoxidation of various olefins. The structure of TTMST resembles that of the active sites in some heterogeneous Ti-Si epoxidation catalysts, especially silylated titania-silica mixed oxides. Water cleaves the Ti-O-Si bond and deactivates the catalyst. An alkyl hydroperoxide, TBHP (tert-butyl hydroperoxide), does not cleave the Ti-O-Si bond, but interacts via weak hydrogen-bonding as supported by NMR, DOSY, IR, and computational studies. ATR-IR spectroscopy combined with computational investigations shows that more than one, that is, up to four, TBHP can undergo hydrogen-bonding with TTMST, leading to the activation of the O-O bond of TBHP. The greater the number of TBHP molecules that form hydrogen bonds to TTMST, the more electrophilic the O-O bond becomes, and the more active the complex is for epoxidation. An allylic alcohol, 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, does not interact strongly with TTMST, but the interaction is prominent when it interacts with the TTMST-TBHP complex. On the basis of the experimental and theoretical findings, a hydrogen-bond-assisted epoxidation mechanism of TTMST is suggested.     

Ab initio study of some peroxides. HOOH, CH3OOH and, CH3OOCH3

The geometries of HOOH, CH₃OOH, and CH₃OOCH₃, were optimized with different basis sets (3-21G, 6-31G^*(*) and D95^**) at different levels of theory (HF, MP2, MP4, and CI). HF/3-21G optimizations result in planar trans conformations for all three peroxides. HF/6-31G^** calculations predict skew conformations for HOOH and CH₃OOH, but a planar trans struture for CH₃OOCH₃. For the larger basis set the calculated bond lengths, especially the O-O bonds, are too short. Optimizations for HOOH including electron correlation at the MP2, MP3, MP4, CI, and CCD level improve the agreement for bond lengths and the OOH angle, but result in dihedral angles Which are too large by 3– 8°. In the case of CH₃OOCH₃, similar calculations at the MP2 and CI level predict planar trans structures instead of the experimentally observed skew conformation. On the other hand, MP4 single point calculations at MP2 optimized parameters result in a correct skew structure. For all three peroxides a computationally “economic” method, i.e., single point calculations at MP2 or MP4 level with HF/3-21G optimized parameters, result in close agreement between calculated and experimental structures.     

A study of the unimolecular dissociation of the 2-buten-2-yl radical via the 193 nm photodissociation of 2-chloro-2-butene

This work investigates the unimolecular dissociation of the 2-buten-2-yl radical. This radical has three potentially competing reaction pathways: C-C fission to form CH3 + propyne, C-H fission to form H + 1,2-butadiene, and C-H fission to produce H + 2-butyne. The experiments were designed to probe the branching to the three unimolecular dissociation pathways of the radical and to test theoretical predictions of the relevant dissociation barriers. Our crossed laser-molecular beam studies show that 193 nm photolysis of 2-chloro-2-butene produces 2-buten-2-yl in the initial photolytic step. A minor C-Cl bond fission channel forms electronically excited 2-buten-2-yl radicals and the dominant C-Cl bond fission channel produces ground-state 2-buten-2-yl radicals with a range of internal energies that spans the barriers to dissociation of the radical. Detection of the stable 2-buten-2-yl radicals allows a determination of the translational, and therefore internal, energy that marks the onset of dissociation of the radical. The experimental determination of the lowest-energy dissociation barrier gave 31 +/- 2 kcal/mol, in agreement with the 32.8 +/- 2 kcal/mol barrier to C-C fission at the G3//B3LYP level of theory. Our experiments detected products of all three dissociation channels of unstable 2-buten-2-yl as well as a competing HCl elimination channel in the photolysis of 2-chloro-2-butene. The results allow us to benchmark electronic structure calculations on the unimolecular dissociation reactions of the 2-buten-2-yl radical as well as the CH3 + propyne and H + 1,2-butadiene bimolecular reactions. They also allow us to critique prior experimental work on the H + 1,2-butadiene reaction.     

Singlet oxygen production in the reaction of superoxide with organic peroxides

[reaction: see text] A selective chemiluminescent probe for singlet oxygen has been employed to detect and quantify singlet oxygen in the reactions of superoxide with organic peroxides. The production of singlet oxygen has been quantified in the reaction of superoxide with benzoyl peroxide (BP). No singlet oxygen was detected in the reactions of superoxide with cumyl peroxide, tert-butyl peroxide, or tert-butyl hydroperoxide. On the basis of these results and on the temperature dependence of the reaction, we proposed a mechanism for singlet oxygen formation in the reaction of superoxide with BP.     

2-Silyl group effect on the reactivity of cyclopentane-1,3-diyls. Intramolecular ring-closure versus silyl migration

Generation of singlet and triplet 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyls and their reactivity have been investigated in the thermal and photochemical denitrogenation of 2,3-diaza-7-silylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene. 5-Silylcyclopentene (silyl migration product) is quantitatively obtained, while 5-silylbicyclo[2.1.0]pentane (intramolecular ring-closure product) is not detected in the denitrogenation reactions. Deuterium labeling studies clarify that 5-silylcyclopentene is formed by a suprafacial [1,2] silyl migration in singlet 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyl. UDFT calculations closely reproduce the observed reactivity of the singlet diradical: The enthalpic barriers of the intramolecular ring-closure are calculated to be DeltaH++exo468 = 5.8 kcal/mol and DeltaH++endo468 = 6.7 kcal/mol, which are much higher than the energy barrier for the [1,2] silyl migration, DeltaH++468 = 2.7 kcal/mol. The notable effect of the silyl group on raising the energy barrier of the intramolecular cyclization is rationalized by an electronic configuration of the lowest singlet state of 2-silylcyclopentane-1,3-diyls.     

Conformation-dependent state selectivity in O-O cleavage of ONOONO: an "inorganic cope rearrangement" helps explain the observed negative activation energy in the oxidation of nitric oxide by dioxygen

ONOONO has been proposed as an intermediate in the oxidation of nitric oxide by dioxygen to yield nitrogen dioxide. The O-O bond breaking reactions of this unusual peroxide, and subsequent rearrangements, were evaluated using CBS-QB3 and B3LYP/6-311G hybrid density functional theory. The three stable conformers (cis,cis-, cis,trans-, and trans,trans-ONOONO, based on the O-N-O-O dihedral angles of either approximately 0 degrees or approximately 180 degrees ) are predicted to have very different O-O cleavage barriers: 2.4, 13.0, and 29.8 kcal/mol, respectively. These large differences arise because bond breaking leads to correlation of the nascent NO(2) fragments with either the ground (2)A(1) state or the excited (2)B(2) state of NO(2), depending on the starting ONOONO conformation. A cis-oriented NO(2) fragment correlates with the (2)A(1) state, whereas a trans-oriented NO(2) fragment correlates with the (2)B(2) state. Each NO(2) fragment that correlates with (2)A(1) lowers the O-O homolysis energy by approximately 15 kcal/mol, similar to the approximately 17-25 kcal/mol (2)A(1) --> (2)B(2) energy difference in NO(2). Hence, this provides an unusual example of conformation-dependent electronic state selectivity. The O-O bond homolysis of cis,cis-ONOONO is particularly interesting because it has a very low barrier and arises from the most stable ONOONO conformer, and also due to obvious similarities to the well-known [3,3]-sigmatropic shift of 1,5-hexadiene, i.e., the Cope rearrangement. As an additional proof of our state selectivity postulate, a comparison is also made to breakage of the O-O bond of cis,cis-formyl peroxide, where no significant stabilization of the transition state is available because the (2)A(1) and (2)B(2) states of formyloxy radical are near-degenerate in energy. In the case of trans,trans-ONOONO, the O-O bond breaking transition state is a concerted rearrangement yielding O(2)NNO(2), whereas for cis,cis- and cis,trans-ONOONO, the initially formed NO(2) radical pairs can undergo further rearrangement to yield ONONO(2). It is proposed that previous spectroscopic observations of certain N=O stretching frequencies in argon-matrix-isolated products from the reaction of NO with O(2) (or (18)O(2)) are likely from ONONO(2), not the OONO radical as reported.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on the thermal decomposition of heterocyclic nitrosimines

A series of substituted 2-nitrosiminobenzothiazolines (2) were synthesized by the nitrosation of the corresponding 2-iminobenzothiazolines (6). Thermal decomposition of 2a--f and of the seleno analogue 7 in methanol and of 3-methyl-2-nitrosobenzothiazoline (2a) in acetonitrile, 1,4-dioxane, and cyclohexane followed first-order kinetics. The activation parameters for thermal deazetization of 2a were measured in cyclohexane (Delta H(++) = 25.3 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol, Delta S(++) = 1.3 +/- 1.5 eu) and in methanol (Delta H(++) = 22.5 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol, Delta S(++) = -12.9 +/- 2.1 eu). These results indicate a unimolecular decomposition and are consistent with a proposed stepwise mechanism involving cyclization of the nitrosimine followed by loss of N(2). The ground-state conformations of the parent nitrosiminothiazoline (9a) and transition states for rotation around the exocyclic C==N bond, electrocyclic ring closure, and loss of N(2) were calculated using ab initio molecular orbital theory at the MP2/6-31G* level. The calculated gas-phase barrier height for the loss of N(2) from 9a (25.2 kcal/mol, MP4(SDQ, FC)/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* + ZPE) compares favorably with the experimental barrier for 2a of 25.3 kcal/mol in cyclohexane. The potential energy surface is unusual; the rotational transition state 9a-rot-ts connects directly to the orthogonal transition state for ring-closure 9aTS. The decoupling of rotational and pseudopericyclic bond-forming transition states is contrasted with the single pericyclic transition state (15TS) for the electrocyclic ring-opening of oxetene (15) to acrolein (16). For comparison, the calculated homolytic strength of the N--NO bond is 40.0 kcal/mol (MP4(SDQ, FC)/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* + ZPE).