Assessment of multicoefficient correlation methods, second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory, and density functional theory for H3O(+)(H2O)n (n = 1-5) and OH(-)(H2O)n (n = 1-4)

We have assessed the ability of 52 methods including 15 multicoefficient correlation methods (MCCMs), two complete basis set (CBS) methods, second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with 5 basis sets, the popular B3LYP hybrid functional with 6 basis sets, and 24 combinations of local density functional and basis set to accurately reproduce reaction energies obtained at the Weizmann-1 level of theory for hydronium, hydroxide, and pure water clusters. The three best methods overall are BMC-CCSD, G3SX(MP3), and M06-L/aug-cc-pVTZ. If only microsolvated ion data is included, M06-L/aug-cc-pVTZ is the best method; it has errors only half as large as the other density functionals. The deviations between the three best performing methods are larger for the larger hydronium- and hydroxide-containing clusters, despite a decrease in the average reaction energy, making it impossible to determine which of the three methods is overall the best, so they might be ranked in order of increasing cost, with BMC-CCSD least expensive, followed by M06-L/aug-cc-pVTZ. However, the cost for M06-L will increase more slowly as cluster size increases. This study shows that the M06-L functional is very promising for condensed-phase simulations of the transport of hydronium and hydroxide ions in aqueous solution.     

OH-与CH2ClF反应的阴离子产物通道

理论研究了羟基负离子(OH^-)与氟氯代甲烷(CH₂ClF)反应的阴离子产物通道. 分别在B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)和B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p)水平上得到反应势能面上各关键物种的优化构型, 进而计算得到谐振频率和零点能. 基于CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,3dp)水平的相对能量, 描述了由质子转移和双分子亲核取代(S_N2)过程生成各阴离子产物的途径. 各阴离子产物途径势垒的计算结果表明质子转移过程是实验中的主要产物通道, 与以往实验测量的结论相符. 此外, 计算还显示双分子亲核取代过程得到了非典型的阴离子产物, 其中动力学效应可能会导致F^-的生成.     

Reexamination of CeCl3 and InCl3 as activators in the diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction in aqueous media

A search for suitable reaction conditions in Mukaiyama-type aldol condensations activated by CeCl(3) and InCl(3) revealed that the reaction proceeds best in i-PrOH/H(2)O (95:5). Contrary to literature precedent, no reaction was observed in pure water, and the encountered destruction of the starting silyl enol ether can be ascribed to initial hydrolysis of the Lewis acid. As anticipated from the dual parameter (pK(h), WERC value) characteristics of CeCl(3) and InCl(3), the former proved more efficient as Lewis acid-promoter, in terms of reaction speed and yield. Nevertheless, InCl(3) was a superior catalyst during evaluation of the diastereoselectivity of the process. In this regard, determination of diastereoselectivity as a function of time showed that the InCl(3)-catalyzed reaction is irreversible, whereas the CeCl(3)-catalyzed reaction is a reversible process. In both cases, formation of the syn product is kinetically preferred, although DeltaDeltaG(++)273K(InCl(3)) = 1.50 kcal/mol versus DeltaDeltaG(++)273K (CeCl(3)) = 0.38 kcal/mol. Molecular modeling (semiempirical PM3, ab initio HF/3-21G*, hybrid B3LYP/3-21G*, and B3LYP/LANL2DZ) of the diastereoselective aldol reaction promoted by InCl(3) supports a "closed", Zimmermann-Traxler transition state.     

Excited state proton transfer in guanine in the gas phase and in water solution: a theoretical study

Theoretical investigations were performed to study the phenomena of ground and electronic excited state proton transfer in the isolated and monohydrated forms of guanine. Ground and transition state geometries were optimized at both the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and HF/6-311G(d,p) levels. The geometries of tautomers including those of transition states corresponding to the proton transfer from the keto to the enol form of guanine were also optimized in the lowest singlet pipi* excited state using the configuration interaction singles (CIS) method and the 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The time-dependent density function theory method augmented with the B3LYP functional (TD-B3LYP) and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was used to compute vertical transition energies using the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) geometries. The TD-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations were also performed using the CIS/6-311G(d,p) geometries to predict the adiabatic transition energies of different tautomers and the excited state proton transfer barrier heights of guanine tautomerization. The effect of the bulk aqueous environment was considered using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The harmonic vibrational frequency calculations were performed to ascertain the nature of potential energy surfaces. The excited state geometries including that of transition states were found to be largely nonplanar. The nonplanar fragment was mostly localized in the six-membered ring. Geometries of the hydrated transition states in the ground and lowest singlet pipi* excited states were found to be zwitterionic in which the water molecule is in the form of hydronium cation (H3O(+)) and guanine is in the anionic form, except for the N9H form in the excited state where water molecule is in the hydroxyl anionic form (OH(-)) and the guanine is in the cationic form. It was found that proton transfer is characterized by a high barrier height both in the gas phase and in the bulk water solution. The explicit inclusion of a water molecule in the proton transfer reaction path reduces the barrier height drastically. The excited state barrier height was generally found to be increased as compared to that in the ground state. On the basis of the current theoretical calculation it appears that the singlet electronic excitation of guanine may not facilitate the excited state proton transfer corresponding to the tautomerization of the keto to the enol form.     

Theoretical investigation on the GaCl3-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction of N-2,3-butadienyl-2-propynyl-1-amine: three-membered ring versus four-membered ring mechanism

The gallium chloride (GaCl(3))-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction mechanism of N-2,3-butadienyl-2-propynyl-1-amine has been studied at the Becke three-parameter hybrid functional combined with Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional (B3LYP)/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/ 6-31G(d) and the second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation (MP2)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) levels. It was found that the final metathesis product can be yielded via a three-membered or four-membered ring mechanism. The three-membered ring pathway is favorable due to its low energy barrier at the rate determining step. The whole reaction is stepwise and strongly exothermic.     

Gas-phase ion/molecule reactions between dimethoxyphosphonium ions and aromatic hydrocarbons

Ion/molecule reactions between O=P(OCH(3))(2)(+) phosphonium ions and six aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, acenaphthylene and fluorene) were performed in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The O=P(OCH(3))(2)(+) phosphonium ions, formed by electron impact from neutral trimethyl phosphite, were found to react with aromatic hydrocarbons (ArHs) to give (i) an adduct [ArH, O=P(OCH(3))(2)](+) and (ii) for ArHs which have an ionization energy below or equal to 8.14 eV, a radical cation ArH(+ *) by charge transfer reaction. Collision-induced dissociation experiments, which produce fragment ions other than the O=P(OCH(3))(2)(+) ions, indicate that the adduct ions are covalent species. Isotope-labeled ArHs were used to elucidate fragmentation mechanisms. The charge transfer reactions were investigated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The potential energy surface obtained from B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations for the reaction between O=P(OCH(3))(2)(+) and benzene is described.     

o-Quinone methide as alkylating agent of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles. The role of H-bonding and solvent effects on the reactivity through a DFT computational study

The reactivity of the alkylating agent o-quinone methide (o-QM) toward NH(3), H(2)O, and H(2)S, prototypes of nitrogen-, oxygen-, and sulfur-centered nucleophiles, has been studied by quantum chemical methods in the frame of DF theory (B3LYP) in reactions modeling its reactivity in water with biological nucleophiles. The computational analysis explores the reaction of NH(3), H(2)O, and H(2)S with o-QM, both free and H-bonded to a discrete water molecule, with the aim to rationalize the specific and general effect of the solvent on o-QM reactivity. Optimizations of stationary points were done at the B3LYP level using several basis sets [6-31G(d), 6-311+G(d,p), adding d and f functions to the S atom, 6-311+G(d,p),S(2df), and AUG-cc-pVTZ]. The activation energies calculated for the addition reactions were found to be reduced by the assistance of a water molecule, which makes easier the proton-transfer process in these alkylation reactions by at least 12.9, 10.5, and 6.0 kcal mol(-1) [at the B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level], for ammonia, water, and hydrogen sulfide, respectively. A proper comparison of an uncatalyzed with a water-catalyzed reaction mechanism has been made on the basis of activation Gibbs free energies. In gas-phase alkylation of ammonia and water by o-QM, reactions assisted by an additional water molecule H-bonded to o-QM (water-catalyzed mechanism) are favored over their uncatalyzed counterparts by 5.6 and 4.0 kcal mol(-1) [at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level], respectively. In contrast, the hydrogen sulfide alkylation reaction in the gas phase shows a slight preference for a direct alkylation without water assistance, even though the free energy difference (DeltaDeltaG(#)) between the two reaction mechanisms is very small (by 1.0 kcal mol(-1) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p),S(2df) level of theory). The bulk solvent effect, evaluated by the C-PCM model, significantly modifies the relative importance of the uncatalyzed and water-assisted alkylation mechanism by o-QM in comparison to the case in the gas phase. Unexpectedly, the uncatalyzed mechanism becomes highly favored over the catalyzed one in the alkylation reaction of ammonia (by 7.0 kcal mol(-1)) and hydrogen sulfide (by 4.0 kcal mol(-1)). In contrast, activation induced by water complexation still plays an important role in the o-QM hydration reaction in water as solvent.     

Predicting Rate Constants for Nucleophilic Reactions of Amines with Diarylcarbenium Ions Using an ONIOM Method

The rate constants of the nucleophilic reactions between amines and benzhydrylium ions were calculated using first-principles theoretical methods. Solvation models including PCM, CPCM, and COSMORS, as well as different types of atomic radii including UA0, UAKS, UAHF, Bondi, and UFF, and several single-point energy calculation methods (B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91, BHANDH, PBEPBE, BMK, M06, MP2, and ONIOM method) were exam-ined. By comparing the correlation between experimental rate constants and the calculated values, the ONIOM(CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p):B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2p))// B3LYP/6-31G(d)/PCM/UFF) method was found to perform the best. This method was then employed to calculate the rate constants of the reactions between diverse amines and diarylcarbenium ions. The calculated rate constants for 65 reactions of amines with diarylcarbenium ions are in agreement with the experimental values, indicating that it is feasible to predict the rate constant of a reaction between an amine and a diarylcarbenium ion through ab initio calculation.     

类锗烯H2C=GeLiCl与RH(R=F,OH, NH2)的插入反应

采用DFT B3LYP和QCISD方法研究了不饱和类锗烯H2C=GeLiCl与RH(R=F, OH, NH2)的插入反应. 在B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)水平上优化了反应势能面上的驻点构型. 结果表明, H2C=GeLiCl与HF、H2O 或NH3发生插入反应的机理相同. QCISD/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)计算的三个反应的势垒分别为173.53、194.48和209.05 kJ·mol-1, 反应热分别为60.18、72.93和75.34 kJ·mol-1. 相同条件下发生插入反应时, 反应活性顺序都是H—F>H—OH>H—NH2.     

2-(3-巯基-2-吡啶基)苯并咪唑分子内质子转移及溶剂化效应

在B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)和TD B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)//CIS/6-31G(d,p)水平上,研究了2-(3-巯基-2-吡啶基)苯并咪唑(MPyBI)在气相和七种溶剂(环己烷、苯、三氯甲烷、乙醇、乙腈、二甲亚砜和水)中基态和激发态的分子内质子转移(GSIPT和ESIPT)过程.在基态势能面的研究中发现,该化合物存在分子内双质子转移,其中分步的双质子转移在动力学上具有优势.同时对激发态质子转移势能面及激发态转移过程中的光物理现象进行了研究,结果表明该化合物存在快速的无能垒的激发态分子内质子转移,随着溶剂极性的增强,可以降低基态过渡态的能垒,改变硫醇式与硫酮式互变异构体的比例,从而灵敏地控制荧光的强度.     

Reaction of ketenyl radical with acetylene: a promising route for cyclopropenyl radical

The reaction of the ketenyl radical (HCCO) with acetylene (C(2)H(2)) is very relevant to the oxygen-acetylene flames and fuel-rich combustion process for nitrogen-containing compounds. Unfortunately, except for several rate constant measurements, the mechanism is completely unknown for this reaction. In this paper, detailed theoretical investigations are performed for the HCCO + C(2)H(2) reaction at the G3B3 level using the B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), and QCISD/6-31G(d) geometries. The exclusive fragmentation channel is the formation of the cyclopropenyl radical (c-C(3)H(3)) and carbon monoxide (CO) via the chainlike OCCHCHCH and three-membered ring OC-cCHCHCH intermediates. Thus, the mass spectroscopic peak of C(3)H(3)(+) in a previous experiment can be explained. The calculated overall reaction barrier is 4.4, 4.4, and 5.3 kcal/mol at the G3B3//B3LYP/6-31G(d), G3B3//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), and G3B3//QCISD/6-31G(d) levels, respectively. The title reaction may provide an effective route for generating the long-sought cyclopropenyl radical in the laboratory, which has been the long-standing subject of numerous theoretical studies as the simplest cyclic conjugate radical, and its bulky derivatives were already known. Future experimental investigations for the HCCO + C(2)H(2) reaction are greatly desired to test the predicted fragmentation channel. The implication of the present study in combustion and interstellar processes is discussed.     

Neutral homoaromaticity in some heterocyclic systems

[reaction: see text] Neutral homoaromaticity has been evaluated in heterocyclic systems related to the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton with replacement of CH(2) at C-2 in bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene with X = BH, AlH, Be, Mg, O, S, PH, NH (12); replacement of CH at C-3 in bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dien-2-yl anion with PH, S, NH, O (13); and replacement at C-2 and C-3 with N and O (14). Stabilization energies (SE) are evaluated using density functional theory and homodesmotic equations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level for series 12-14. Stabilization energies are compared with diamagnetic susceptibility exaltations, Lambda, CSGT-B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), and nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), GIAO-B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d). Analysis of frontier orbitals and geometries, B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), and proton affinities of 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene, pyrrole, and related model systems, B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), provide complementary evidence supporting the division of the substrates evaluated into antihomoaromatic (12, X = BH, AlH, and Be), nonhomoaromatic (12, X = O, S, NH, PH), and homoaromatic (13, X = S, PH, NH, O and 14 X = ON), with 12 (X = Mg) appearing as transitional between anti- and nonhomoaromatic.     

Mechanisms of solvolyses of acid chlorides and chloroformates. Chloroacetyl and phenylacetyl chloride as similarity models

[reaction: see text] Rate constants and product selectivities (S = ([ester product]/[acid product]) x ([water]/[alcohol solvent]) are reported for solvolyses of chloroacetyl chloride (3) at -10 degrees C and phenylacetyl chloride (4) at 0 degrees C in ethanol/ and methanol/water mixtures. Additional kinetic data are reported for solvolyses in acetone/water, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol(TFE)/water, and TFE/ethanol mixtures. Selectivities and solvent effects for 3, including the kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE) of 2.18 for methanol, are similar to those for solvolyses of p-nitrobenzoyl chloride (1, Z = NO(2)); rate constants in acetone/water are consistent with a third-order mechanism, and rates and products in ethanol/ and methanol/water mixtures can be explained quantitatively by competing third-order mechanisms in which one molecule of solvent (alcohol or water) acts as a nucleophile and another acts as a general base (an addition/elimination reaction channel). Selectivities increase for 3 as water is added to alcohol. Solvent effects on rate constants for solvolyses of 3 are very similar to those of methyl chloroformate, but acetyl chloride shows a lower KSIE, and a higher sensitivity to solvent-ionizing power, explained by a change to an S(N)2/S(N)1 (ionization) reaction channel. Solvolyses of 4 undergo a change from the addition/elimination channel in ethanol to the ionization channel in aqueous ethanol (<80% v/v alcohol). The reasons for change in reaction channels are discussed in terms of the gas-phase stabilities of acylium ions, calculated using Gaussian 03 (HF/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d), and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) MO theory).     

DFT study on mechanism of the classical Biginelli reaction

The condensation of benzaldehyde, urea, and ethyl acetoacetate according to the procedure described by Biginelli was investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G（d）, B3LYP/6-31 ＋G（d,p）, and B3LYP/6-311＋G（3df,2p）//B3LYP/6-31＋G（d,p） levels to explore the reaction mechanism. According to the mechanism proposed by Kappe, structures of five intermediates were optimized and four transition states were found. The calculation results proved that the mechanism proposed by Kappe is right.     

Quantum chemical calculations based on ONIOM and the DFT methods in the inclusion complex: doxycycline/2-O-Me-β-cyclodextrin

A computational study of inclusion complexes of 2-methyl-βCD with Doxycycline tautomeric (enol and keto form) has been performed with several combinations of ONIOM hybrid calculations. The reliability of the ONIOM2 calculations at the integrated level, ONIOM2 (M05-2X/6-31G(d): M05-2X/3-21G*), ONIOM2 (M05-2X/6-31G(d):HF/3-21G*), ONIOM2 (B3LYP/6-31G(d):HF/3-21G*), ONIOM2 (B3LYP/6-31G(d):B3LYP/3-21G*) and ONIOM2 (B3PW91/6-31G(d):B3PW91/3-21G*) was examined. Their complexation, binding, deformation and stabilization energies, and geometrical data were compared with those of the target geometry structure optimized at the M05-2X/6-31G(d) level of theory. Mixed combinations ONIOM2 (M05-2X 6-31G(d):HF 3-21G*) and ONIOM2 (B3LYP 6-31G(d):HF 3-21G*) reproduces nearly the target geometry structure and provides realistic energetic results at a relatively low computational cost.     

苯并氧化呋咱稳定性和异构化的DFT和ab initio研究

运用B3LYP/6-31G(d)密度泛函理论（DFT）方法对苯并氧化呋咱、邻二亚硝基苯及其间的异构化反应进行了计算研究。结果表明,苯并氧化呋咱的分子总能量比邻二亚硝基苯的低;由苯并氧化呋咱异构为邻二亚硝基苯的正向反应活化能（Ea+=51.0kJ/mol）,与文献实测值（58.6kJ/mol）较接近,而其逆向反应活化能（Ea-=4.6kJ/mol）很小,从而揭示了苯并氧化呋咱比邻二亚硝基苯更稳定·此外,进行了HF/3-21G、HF/6-31G(d)和MP2/6-31G(d)//6-31G(d)水平下相应的计算,发现B3LYP-DFT的结果较abinitio为优。谐振动频率的B3LYP/6-31G(d)计算还支持了邻二亚硝基苯为苯并氧化呋咱“自-自”互变重排反应的中间体。     

Inductive effects in radicals calculated from DFT energies; substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yloxy radicals

Energies of a series of 4-substituted 1-oxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yloxy radicals with 18 various substituents were calculated within the framework of the DFT theory at the levels UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and UB3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p)//UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and compared with similar series of the parent alcohols, their deprotonated and protonated forms calculated at the levels B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p). The two levels are of the same performance and both are sufficient for molecules of this type according to comparison with scarce experimental gas-phase acidities and basicities. The substituent effects were analyzed in terms of isodesmic equations. In addition to strong dependence on the substituent inductive effect, a slight dependence on the electronegativity of the first atom of the substituent was proven in certain cases. In all aspects, there is no qualitative difference between the effects on radicals and on similar closed shell species. Radicals behave as slightly electron deficient; the substituent effect is weaker than that on the ions but stronger than on neutral molecules.     

OH-与CH2CIF反应的阴离子产物通道

理论研究了羟基负离子(OH-)与氟氯代甲烷(CH2CIF)反应的阴离子产物通道.分别在B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)和B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p)水平上得到反应势能面上各关键物种的优化构型,进而计算得到谐振频率和零点能.基于CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,3dp)水平的相对能量,描述了由质子转移和双分子亲核取代(SN2)过程生成各阴离子产物的途径.各阴离子产物途径势垒的计算结果表明质子转移过程是实验中的主要产物通道,与以往实验测量的结论相符.此外,计算还显示双分子亲核取代过程得到了非典型的阴离子产物,其中动力学效应可能会导致F-的生成.     

NMR spectra, GIAO and charge density calculations of five-membered aromatic heterocycles

The B3LYP/6-31+G(d) molecular geometry optimized structures of 17 five-membered heterocycles were employed together with the gauge including atomic orbitals (GIAO) density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) levels of theory for the calculation of proton and carbon chemicals shifts and coupling constants. The method of geometry optimization for pyrrole (1), N-methylpyrrole (2) and thiophene (7) using the larger 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p) and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ levels of theory gave little difference between calculated and experimental values of coupling constants. In general, the (1)H and 13C chemical shifts for all compounds are in good agreement with theoretical calculations using the smaller 6-31 basis set. The values of nJHH(n=3, 4, 5) and rmnJ(CH)(n=1, 2, 3, 4) were predicted well using the larger 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets and at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p) levels of theory. The computed atomic charges [Mülliken; Natural Bond Orbital Analysis (NBO); Merz-Kollman (MK); CHELP and CHELPG] for the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) geometry optimized structures of 1-17 were used to explore correlations with the experimental proton and carbon chemical shifts.     

D-苯丙氨酸与Cu＋(1S0, 3d10)气相反应理论研究

用量子化学密度泛函(DFT)方法研究D-苯丙氨酸与一价基态金属阳离子Cu^＋在气相中反应的机理. 在B3LYP/6-31G*水平上, 优化了反应包含的4个反应通道的反应物、中间体、过渡态和产物的几何构型, 并采用B3LYP/DZVP, B3LYP/[6-311＋G**(C,H,O)＋Lanl2dz(Cu)], B3LYP/6-311＋G**, MP2/6-311＋G** 等方法对各驻点进行了单点能计算. 通过对计算结果的分析, 获得了其单重态反应势能面的一般轮廓、各驻点几何构型优化参数, 明确了其反应机理.