Modern valence-bond description of chemical reaction mechanisms: the 1,3-dipolar addition of diazomethane to ethene

The electronic mechanism for the gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane (CH2N2) to ethene (C2H4) is described through spin-coupled (SC) calculations at a sequence of geometries along the intrinsic reaction coordinate obtained at the MP2/6-31G(d) level of theory. It is shown that the bonding rearrangements occurring during the course of this reaction follow a heterolytic pattern, characterized by the movement of three well-identifiable orbital pairs, which are initially responsible for the pi bond in ethene and the C-N pi bond and one of the N-N pi bonds in diazomethane and are retained throughout the entire reaction path from reactants to product. Taken together with our previous SC study of the electronic mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of fulminic acid (HCNO) to ethyne (C2H2) (Theor. Chim. Acc. 1998, 100, 222), the results of the present work suggest strongly that most gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions can be expected to follow a heterolytic mechanism of this type, which does not involve an aromatic transition state. The more conventional aspects of the gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane to ethene, including optimized transition structure geometry, electronic activation energy, activation barrier corrected for zero-point energies, standard enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of activation, have been calculated at the HF/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d,p), QCISD/6-31G(d) and CCD/6-31G(d) levels of theory. We also report the CCD/6-311++G(2d, 2p)//CCD/6-31G(d), MP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G(2d,2p)//CCD/6-31G(d) and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2d, 2p)//CCD/6-31G(d) electronic activation energies.     

Structural studies on ethyl isovalerate by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

We observed the microwave spectrum of ethyl isovalerate by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants of the most abundant conformer were determined. Its structure was investigated by comparison of the experimental rotational constants with those obtained by ab initio methods. In a first step, the rotational constants of various conformers were calculated at the MP2/6-311++G** level of theory. Surprisingly, no agreement with the experimental results was found. Therefore, we concluded that in the case of ethyl isovalerate more advanced quantum chemical methods are required to obtain a reliable molecular geometry. Ab initio calculations carried out at MP3/6-311++G**, MP4/6-311++G**, and CCSD/6-311++G** levels and also density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP/6-311++G** method gave similar results for the rotational constants, but they were clearly distinct from those obtained at the MP2/6-311++G** level. With use of these more advanced methods, the rotational constants of the lowest energy conformer were in good agreement with those obtained from the microwave spectrum.     

Scattering Resonance State of Br＋HBr（v=0）→BrH（v＇=0）＋Br Reaction Explored by Partial Potential Energy Surface Method

The partial potential energy surface（PPES） of Br＋HBr（v=0）→BrH（v＇=0）＋Br was designed by coupling the vibration energy and the minimum energy of the corresponding reaction path, Vmep. All the calculations were performed at the theoritical level of QCISD（T）/6-311＋＋G＊＊//MP2/6-31 1＋＋G＊＊. Based on the analysis of PPES, the dynamic ＂Eyring Lake＂ mechanism gave birth to the scattering resonance state. The resonance energy was also obtained via PPES. Then a lifetime matrix of the resonance state was established by solving the translational wave-function via the numerical propagation method. Then the reaction resonance lifetime was calculated to be 125 fs. It is in good agreement with the experimental result.     

Basis set effects on calculated geometries: 6-311++G** vs. aug-cc-pVDZ

The effect of basis sets on MP2 and CCSD calculated geometries has been investigated for a series of small organic molecules with two to four nonhydrogen atoms. Whereas 6-311++G** usually leads to satisfactory structures, this was not true with aug-cc-pVDZ, although it uses more basis functions than the former set. In addition, the smaller 6-311++G** invariably leads to lower calculated energies than aug-cc-pVDZ. With a given basis set, CCSD gives more satisfactory calculated geometries than MP2, but with a much greater computation time. For the compounds in this report, B3LYP/6-311++G** is quite effective in giving satisfactory calculated geometries at a relatively small computational cost.     

锗烯与异硫氰酸反应机理的量子化学研究

采用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法研究了GeH2自由基与HNCS的反应机理,并在B3LYP/6-311++G**水平上对反应物,中间体,过渡态进行了全几何参数优化,通过频率分析和IRC确定中间体和过渡态。为了得到更精确的能量值,用QCISD(T)/6-311++G**方法计算了各个驻点的单点能,计算结果表明单重态的锗烯与异硫氰酸的反应有抽提硫、插入N-H键、抽提亚氨基的路径,而经由三元环中间体的抽提硫反应GeH2+HNCS→IM3→TS2→IM4→TS3→IM5→GeH2S+HNC(P1),反应能垒最低,为主反应通道,甲锗硫醛和异氰氢酸为主产物。锗烯经由四元环中间体抽提硫的反应为竞争反应通道。     

New insights into the bromination reaction for a series of alkenes--a computational study

Ab initio calculations were carried out for the reaction of Br2 with ethene, propene, isobutene, fluoroethene, chloroethene, (E)-1,2-difluoroethene, and (E)-1,2-dichloroethene. For ethene the calculations were also carried out for the reaction with 2Br2. Geometries were optimized at the HF, MP2, and B3LYP levels using the 6-31G(d) and 6-31+G(d) basis sets where for Br both the standard 6-31G and the Binning-Curtiss bromine basis sets were used. Energies were also calculated at the G3MP2 and G3MP2B3 levels. For a single Br2 one mechanism involves a perpendicular attack by Br2 to the C=C bond, and a second mechanism consists of sidewise attack by Br2. Alkenes can react with 2Br2 via several mechanisms, all leading to the dibromo product. The most likely pathway for the reaction of ethene and 2Br2 involves a trans addition of a Br atom from Br3- to one of the bromonium ion carbons. Activation energies, free energies, and enthalpies of activation along with thermodynamic properties (DeltaE, DeltaH, and DeltaG) for each reaction were calculated. We have found that the reaction of ethene with 2Br2 is favored over reaction with only Br2. There is excellent agreement between the calculated free energies of activation for the reaction of ethene and 2Br2 and experimental values in nonpolar aprotic solvents. However, the free energies of activation for the reaction with a single Br2 agrees well with the experimental results for polar protic solvents only when the reaction is mediated by a solvent molecule. A kinetic expression is proposed that accounts for the difference between bromination of alkenes in protic and nonprotic solvents. Some previously unknown heats of formation are reported.     

水助甲酰胺-H2O2氧化乙烯制环氧乙烷反应机理的理论研究

采用MP2方法研究了甲酰胺-H2O2氧化乙烯制取环氧乙烷的反应机理.优化得到了反应物、过渡态、中间体及产物的几何构型并计算了反应势垒.研究结果表明:没有水参与时,反应需要通过四元环过渡态完成,反应势垒很高,在常温下难以进行;有水参与时,在水分子的协助下,反应可以通过六元环过渡态完成,反应势垒较低,常温下反应容易进行.     

Comparison of levels of electronic structure theory in direct dynamics simulations of C2H5F --> HF + C2H4 product energy partitioning

Direct dynamics simulations at the MP2/6-311++G** level of theory were performed to study C(2)H(5)F --> HF + C(2)H(4) product energy partitioning. The simulation results are compared with experiment and a previous MP2/6-31G* simulation. The current simulation with the larger basis set releases more energy to HF vibration and less to HF + C(2)H(4) relative translation as compared to the previous simulation with the 6-31G* basis set. The HF rotation and vibration energy distributions determined from the current simulation are in overall very good agreement with previous experimental studies of C(2)H(5)F dissociation by chemical activation and IRMPA. A comparison of the simulations with experiments suggests there may be important mass effects for energy partitioning in HX elimination from haloalkanes. The transition state (TS) structures and energies calculated with MP2 and the 6-31G* and 6-311++G** basis sets are compared with those calculated using CCD, CCSD, CCSD(T), and the 6-311++G** basis set.     

Theoretical study of reaction mechanism for CH2CHX(XH,F, Cl) with ozone

In this work, we study the reaction mechanism of the CH₂CHX(X?H, F, Cl) with ozone reactions, using ab initio MP2 method at 6‐311++g** basis set level. The geometric configurations of reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products were optimized, and the energies were obtained at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G** level. The transition states and intermediates of the reactions were verified by the vibrational analysis. The results show that the ozonolysis of ethylene and its derivatives is reasonable and believable along the Criegee mechanism. The results also show that the activation energies of the controlling steps along the fluoroethylene and chloroethylene with ozone reaction pathways were lower than that along the ethylene with ozone reaction pathway. That is to say, the derivatives of ethylene have the higher activity to react with ozone and deplete the ozone layer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Interaction of anions with perfluoro aromatic compounds

The complexes formed by a variety of anions with perfluoro derivatives of benzene, naphthalene, pyridine, thiophene, and furan have been calculated using DFT (B3LYP/6-31++G**) and MP2 (MP2/6-31++G** and MP2/6-311++G**) ab initio methods. The minimum structures show the anion interacting with the pi-cloud of the aromatic compounds. The interaction energies obtained range between -8 and -19 kcal mol(-1). The results obtained at the MP2/6-31++G** and MP2/6-311++G** levels are similar. However, the B3LYP/6-31++G** results provide longer interaction distances and smaller interaction energies than do the MP2 results. The interaction energies have been partitioned using an electrostatic, polarization, and van der Waals scheme. The AIM analysis of the electron density shows a variety of topologies depending on the aromatic system considered.     

An Ab Initio Study of the Complexes Formed by the Positive Acetylene Ion with the Hydrogen and Nitrogen Molecules and the Argon Atom

The complexes formed by the positive acetylene ion with the hydrogen molecule, the nitrogen molecule, and the argon atom are investigated with ab initio calculations using the 6-311G** and the 6-31+G(2df,2pd) basis sets. MP2/6-311G** energies and optimum geometries are obtained, as well as single-point MP3, MP4, and QCISD(T) energies with the MP2/6-311G** optimized geometries. Single-point calculations are performed with the 6-31+G(2df,2pd) basis set at MP2/6-311G** optimized geometries.     

CH3(2A′)自由基与臭氧反应机理的量子化学研究

用量子化学UMP2方法，在6-311++G**基组水平上研究了CH3(2A′)自由基与臭氧反应机理，全参数优化了反应过程中反应物、中间体、过渡态和产物的几何构型，在UQCISD(T)/6-311++G**水平上计算了它们的能量；并对它们进行了振动分析，以确定中间体和过渡态的真实性；同时应用经典过渡态理论计算了反应的速率常数，并与实验值进行了比较, CH3自由基与臭氧反应速率常数的理论计算结果为: 4.73×10－14 cm3•molecule－1•s－1，与实验报导的结果(k=2.52×10－14 cm3•molecule－1•s－1)很接近，同时发现CH3(2A′)自由基与O3的反应是强放热反应.     

Mixed quantum-classical reaction path dynamics of C2H5F --> C2H4 + HF

A mixed quantum-classical method for calculating product energy partitioning based on a reaction path Hamiltonian is presented and applied to HF elimination from fluoroethane. The goal is to describe the effect of the potential energy release on the product energies using a simple model of quantized transverse vibrational modes coupled to a classical reaction path via the path curvature. Calculations of the minimum energy path were done at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) and MP2/6-311++G** levels of theory, followed by energy-partitioning dynamics calculations. The results for the final HF vibrational state distribution were found to be in good qualitative agreement with both experimental studies and quasiclassical trajectory simulations.     

Aromatic dienophiles. 1. A theoretical study of an inverse-electron demand Diels-Alder reaction between 2-aminopyrrole and 1,3,5-triazine

This study is devoted to a detailed theoretical study of an inverse-electron demand Diels-Alder reaction (IDA) with 1,3,5-triazine as the diene and 2-aminopyrrole 1A(alpha) as the dienophile, which is a key step in a cascade reaction for the one-pot synthesis of purine analogues. Geometries were optimized with the B3LYP/6-31G* method and energies were evaluated with the MP2/6-311++G** method. This IDA reaction occurs through a stepwise mechanism, where the first step corresponds to the nucleophilic attack of 2-aminopyrrole to triazine to form a zwitterionic intermediate, which is in equilibrium with a neutral intermediate through a hydrogen transfer process, followed by a rate-determining ring-closure step. It is shown that the B3LYP method significantly overestimates the activation energy, whereas the MP2 method offers a reasonable activation barrier of 27.9 kcal/mol in the gas phase. The solvation effect has been studied by the PCM model. In DMSO, the calculated activation energy of the IDA reaction is decreased to 24.0 kcal/mol with a strong endothermicity of 17.4 kcal/mol due to the energy penalty of transforming two aromatic reactants into a nonaromatic IDA adduct. The possible stepwise [2+2] pathway is ruled out based on its higher activation and reaction energies than those of the [4+2] pathway. By comparing the IDA reactions of triazine to 2-aminopyrrole and pyrrole, we address two crucial roles of the alpha-amino substituent in lowering activation and reaction energies and controlling the reaction regiochemistry.     

Ab initio studies of aspartic acid conformers in gas phase and in solution

Systematic and extensive conformational searches of aspartic acid in gas phase and in solution have been performed. For the gaseous aspartic acid, a total of 1296 trial canonical structures and 216 trial zwitterionic structures were generated by allowing for all combinations of internal single-bond rotamers. All the trial structures were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G* level and then subjected to further optimization at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. A total of 139 canonical conformers were found, but no stable zwitterionic structure was found. The rotational constants, dipole moments, zero-point vibrational energies, harmonic frequencies, and vertical ionization energies of the canonical conformers were determined. Single-point energies were also calculated at the MP2/6-311++G** and CCSD/6-311++G** levels. The equilibrium distributions of the gaseous conformers at various temperatures were calculated. The proton affinity and gas phase basicity were calculated and the results are in excellent agreement with the experiments. The conformations in the solution were studied with different solvation models. The 216 trial zwitterionic structures were first optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G* level using the Onsager self-consistent reaction field model (SCRF) and then optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level using the conductorlike polarized continuum model (CPCM) SCRF theory. A total of 22 zwitterions conformers were found. The gaseous canonical conformers were combined with the CPCM model and optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. The solvated zwitterionic and canonical structures were further examined by the discrete/SCRF model with one and two water molecules. The incremental solvation of the canonical and zwitterionic structures with up to six water molecules in gas phase was systematically examined. The studies show that combining aspartic acid with at least six water molecules in the gas phase or two water molecules and a SCRF solution model is required to provide qualitatively correct results in the solution.     

Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Bonding Interaction of 1:1 Dimer of HNO with HArF

The hydrogen bonding interaction of 1:1 dimer formed between HNO and HArF molecule has been completely investigated in the present study using Second-order M?ller-Plesset Perturbation (MP2) method in conjunction with 6-311+G**, 6-311++G** and 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis sets. The standard and CP-corrected calculations have been employed to determine the equilibrium structures, the vibrational frequencies and interaction energies. The interaction energies of the dimers were also calculated at G2MP2 level. Two stable structures are found as the minima. Dimer I(H···F)is a five-membered cyclic hydrogen bonded structure and is more stable than the Dimer II(H···O). The blue-shifted N-H···F hydrogen bond is confirmed with standard and CP-corrected calculations by the MP2 and DFT methods in conjunction with different basis sets. The results obtained at MP2 in conjunction with different basis sets show there is a red-shifted hydrogen bond (Ar-H···O) in the Dimer II(H···O). The topological and electronic properties, the origin of red- and blue-shifted hydrogen bonds were investigated at MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) with CP corrected calculations. From the NBO analysis, the reasonable explanations for the red- and blue-shifted hydrogen bonds were proposed.     

Decomposition reactions of azo compounds,as studied by quantum chemistry methods and the parabolic model

Decomposition reactions of azoalkanes of different structure were studied by quantum chemistry methods (MP2/6-311++G** calculations) and by the method of three intersecting parabolas (M3IP). The MP2 method was used to obtain the transition-state geometries, the bond lengths in the molecules under study, and the activation energies. Possible mechanisms of decomposition are discussed. Concerted decomposition of branched azoalkanes was shown to be the most probable mechanism of the process. The M3IP method was used to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of concerted decomposition of azoalkanes and to determine and evaluate the main factors affecting the activation energy (E). The stabilization energy of the radical being formed in the decomposition reaction is one of the key factors determining the concerted mechanism. The kinetic parameters calculated by the two independent methods are in good agreement.

     

Correlated ab initio quantum chemical calculations of di- and trisaccharide conformations

High level correlated quantum chemical calculations, using MP2 and local MP2 theory, have been performed for conformations of the disaccharide, beta-maltose, and the trisaccharide, 3,6-di-O-(alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranose. For beta-maltose, MP2 and local MP2 calculations using the 6-311++G** basis set are in good agreement, predicting a global minimum gas-phase conformation with a counterclockwise hydrogen bond network and the experimentally-observed intersaccharide hydrogen bonding arrangement. For conformations of 3,6-di-O-(alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranose, MP2/6-311++G**, and local MP2/6-311++G** calculations do not provide a consensus prediction of relative energetics, with the MP2 method finding large differences in stability between extended and folded trisaccharide conformations. Local MP2 calculations, less susceptible to intramolecular basis set superposition errors, predict a narrower range of trisaccharide energetics, in line with estimates from Hartree-Fock theory and B3LYP and BP86 density functionals. All levels of theory predict compact, highly hydrogen-bonded conformations as lowest in energy on the in vacuo potential energy surface of the trisaccharide. These high level, correlated local MP2/6-311++G** calculations of di- and trisaccharide energetics constitute potential reference data in the development and testing of improved empirical and semiempirical potentials for modeling of carbohydrates in the condensed phase.     

气相中O3与HSO自由基间的氢键复合物

气相中O3与HSO自由基之间的相互作用及其反应在大气化学中非常重要. 在DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G**和MP2/6-311++G**水平上求得O3+HSO复合物势能面上的稳定构型, B3LYP方法得到了三种构型(复合物I, II和III), 而MP2方法只能得到一种构型(复合物II). 在复合物I和III中, HSO单元中的1H原子作为质子供体, 与O3分子中的端基O原子作为质子受体相互作用, 形成红移氢键复合物; 而在复合物II中, 虽与复合物I和III中具有相同的质子供体和质子受体, 却形成了蓝移氢键复合物. B3LYP/6-311++G**水平上计算的单体间相互作用能的计算考虑了基组重叠误差(BSSE)和零点振动能(ZPVE)校正, 其值在-3.37到-4.55 kJ·mol-1之间. 采用自然键轨道理论(NBO)对单体间相互作用的本质进行了考查, 并通过分子中原子理论(AIM)分析了三种复合物中氢键的电子密度拓扑性质.     

Investigation of conformational stability and vibrational spectra of halomethylsulfonyl isocyanates

The conformational behavior and structural stability of chloro- and fluoromethylsulfonyl isocyanates were investigated by quantum mechanical DFT and ab initio MP2 calculations. The 6-311++G^** basis set was employed to include polarization and diffuse functions in the calculations. The molecules were found to exist in a mixture of two stable gauche conformations. The potential scans were calculated from which the rotational barriers could be estimated. The vibrational frequencies and spectra were computed at B3LYP/6-311++G^** level. The potential energy distributions were then calculated to provide tentative vibrational assignment for the normal modes of the stable conformers of both molecules.