Complete basis set ab initio computational study of three-dimensional aromaticity in highly symmetric hydrogen clusters

The aromaticity of planar and highly symmetric three-dimensional hydrogen clusters were evaluated with the complete basis set ab initio computational method. The energy of formation of the hydrogen clusters from the hydrogen molecule and hydrogen molecular ions were used in comparison to their relative stabilities. The aromaticity of planar hydrogen clusters, as well as hydrogen clusters in the three dimensions, arranged as highly symmetric regular polyhedra (Plato's polyhedras), were discussed with respect to the Hückel and Möbius aromatic rules.     

An ab initio and matrix isolation infrared study of the 1:1 C2H2–CHCl3 adduct

The details of weak C–Hπ interactions that control several inter and intramolecular structures have been studied experimentally and theoretically for the 1:1 C₂H₂–CHCl₃ adduct. The adduct was generated by depositing acetylene and chloroform in an argon matrix and a 1:1 complex of these species was identified using infrared spectroscopy. Formation of the adduct was evidenced by shifts in the vibrational frequencies compared to C₂H₂ and CHCl₃ species. The molecular structure, vibrational frequencies and stabilization energies of the complex were predicted at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels. Both the computational and experimental data indicate that the C₂H₂–CHCl₃ complex has a weak hydrogen bond involving a C–Hπ interaction, where the C₂H₂ acts as a proton acceptor and the CHCl₃ as the proton donor. In addition, there also appears to be a secondary interaction between one of the chlorine atoms of CHCl₃ and a hydrogen in C₂H₂. The combination of the C–Hπ interaction and the secondary ClH interaction determines the structure and the energetics of the C₂H₂–CHCl₃ complex. In addition to the vibrational assignments for the C₂H₂–CHCl₃ complex we have also observed and assigned features owing to the proton accepting C₂H₂ submolecule in the acetylene dimer.     

Ab initio calculations of minimum-energy pathways of the nucleophilic addition of the H anion, LiH molecule and Li/H ion pair to acetylene and methylacetylene

Ab initio calculations were performed for special points of the minimal energy pathways (MEP) of the nucleophilic addition reactions of the isolated H⁻ anion, LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ion pair to acetylene (A) and methylacetylene (MA) molecules, proceeding in accordance (M) and against (aM) the Markovnikov's rule. All structural parameters were optimized using the restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) method. For the addition of H⁻, the 6-31++G^* basis set was used and for the reactions of LiH and Li⁺/H⁻ the 6-31G^* basis set with the subsequent recalculation of single point energies, taking into account of electron correlation energy by means of the second-order Möller–Plesset perturbation theory at the MP2/6-31++G^** level. The results of calculations demonstrate, that the energy characteristics of both M- and aM-additions with H⁻ do not differ sufficiently (0.1–1.2 kcal/mol for the activation energies (ΔE_a) and the reaction heats (ΔQ)). The substitution of the H atom by the CH₃ group in A molecule results in practically the same values of ΔQ and ΔE_a. On the contrary, for the LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ionic pair, the M-addition is favorable (charge control). It is found that the presence of electrophile decreases the activation energy by 3–5 kcal/mol as compared with the addition of the isolated hydride ion H⁻.     

Computational electrochemistry: aqueous two-electron reduction potentials for substituted quinones

The electrode potentials of some quinone derivatives in aqueous solution have been calculated. The calculations are carried out at the Hartree–Fock and B3LYP levels with the inclusion of entropic and thermochemical corrections to yield free energies of redox reactions. The Polarisable Continuum Model (PCM) is used to describe the solvent. The average error of calculation of electrode potentials is less than 0.03 V and is decreased compared to the average error of methods presented previously. The role of relaxation energies and frequency calculations in improving the results has been investigated.     

Ab initio analysis of the interaction of CO2 with acetylated d-glucopyranose derivatives

Peracetylated d-glucopyranose has a high solubility in CO₂ and can be a promising phase-change physical solvent or absorbent for CO₂, as reported recently. However, peracetylated d-glucopyranose is unstable under acidic atmospheres, especially in sulfur-containing waste gases, and the possibly major decomposition products are 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-glucopyranose, 1-thiol-d-glucopyranose tetraacetate, and 1-mercaptoethyl-d-glucopyranose tetraacetate. Therefore, it is highly interesting to investigate the interaction between CO₂ and these three compounds using ab initio calculations, including geometry optimizations with HF/3-21G, B3LYP/6-31+G** and single-point energy calibration with MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ. The results indicate that the electrostatic interactions between the substrates and CO₂ are mainly influenced by the interaction distance and the numbers of negative charge donors or the interacting pairs involved in the complex. It is furthermore found that ΔE increases significantly if S and O atoms could interact with CO₂ simultaneously. The binding energy is irrelevant if one considers the chemical environment of the O atom (i.e. O_Ac, O_E or O_S) or the S atom (i.e. SEt or SH), and the electronegativity difference between the S and O atoms. The three substrates studied are still excellent CO₂-philes, although their average ΔE (–20 kJ/mol) is slightly lower than that of peracetylated d-glucose (–22 kJ/mol), which has one more O atom that can interact with CO₂. Therefore, the applications of carbohydrates can be expanded to include adsorbents for CO₂, SO₂ or both, and the functional groups attached to the carbohydrate can vary from those to the acetyl groups.     

Fusing C<Subscript>60</Subscript> units without Stone–Wales bond rotations

Abstract  Using ab-initio calculation, we have explored new chemical paths for the coalescence of C₆₀ units into higher fullerenes and novel structures. Besides the Stone–Wales paradigm used for rationalizing the fusion of fullerenes and nanotubes, we demonstrated that an alternative path exists for the fusion of two C₆₀ units. This path uses successive “π–π” additions and subsequent bond reorganizations to lead to a specific C₁₂₀ peanut-like structure. The energies of the chemical barriers, the intermediate structures, and the final product are markedly lower than their counterparts found in the chemical paths based on Stone–Wales bond rotations. The results rationalize the existence of a temperature range in which peanut-like structures are obtained during thermal treatment of peapod structures. Graphical abstract   Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Photoelectron spectra of cyclopolysilanes

Summary He (I) PE spectra of cyclopentasilane and cyclohexasilane show excellent agreement with STO-3 G + ab initio calculations. The HOMO in both compounds is of (SiSi) 3 p character. First IP's appear at 9.4 and 9.6 eV respectively.

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Photoelektronenspektren von Cyclopolysilanen (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Die He (I) PE-Spektren der Cyclosilane Si₅H₁₀ und Si₆H₁₂ zeigen ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung mit STO-3 G + ab initio Rechnungen. Beide Ringe besitzen HOMO's mit (SiSi) 3 p Charakter. Die ersten Ionisierungspotentiale liegen bei 9.4 bzw. 9.6 eV.

     

Ab initio studies of small AlmFen clusters

The equilibrium geometrical structures of small Al_mFe_n clusters have been determined through ab initio calculation of the cluster total energy at the UB3LYP/Lanl2dz level. For dimers of iron and aluminum, the dissociation energies, the equilibrium atomic distances, and the vibrational frequencies were calculated. The agreement between calculations and experiments is reasonable. The ground stable geometrical structures of Fe₄, FeAl₃, Fe₃Al and Fe₂Al₂ clusters favor three-dimension configurations, but Al₄ tetramers are planar structures. The Al-rich tetramers are more stable than the other two composition tetramers. This is different from that of bulk alloys.     

Applicability of the H NMR chemical shifts computed by the ab initio/GIAO-HF methodology to the study of geometrical features of Zn-porphyrin dimers

Several porphyrin dimers have been newly designed and synthesized to construct assemblies with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a bidentate binding ligand. Semi empirical (AM1) and ab initio calculations have been used to study the assemblies generated by the organization of dimers and DABCO, including the computation of ¹H NMR complexation-induced chemical shifts using the ab initio/GIAO methodology. The diagnostic capacity of the theoretical method has been applied to explain experimental results and geometrical features of the complexes.     

Theoretical studies on the structure of M+BF−4 ion pairs M = Li+, NH+4: the role of electrostatics and electron correlation

A systematic investigation of the M⁺BF₄ ⁻ (M = Li or NH₄) ion-pair conformers has been carried out using an electrostatic docking model based on the molecular electrostatic potential topography of the free anion. This method provides a guideline for the subsequent ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) levels. It has been demonstrated that the model presented here yields more than 75% of the HF interaction energy when Li⁺ is the cation involved and more than 90% for the case of NH₄ ⁺. Inclusion of MP2 correlation in the HF-optimized geometries leads to stationary point geometries with different numbers of imaginary frequencies and in some places where the energies of two adjacent conformers are very close, the energy rank order is altered. The HF lowest-energy minima for the Li⁺BF₄ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺BF₄ ⁻ show a bidentate and tridentate coordinating cation, respectively, whereas at the MP2 level, this ordering is reversed. Received: 9 September 1997 / Accepted: 5 November 1997     

Thermochemical properties of molecules and cations of MgNnHm (n=1,2 and m=1–6): enthalpies of formation, proton affinities and ionization energies

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations are reported for small neutral molecules and cations containing magnesium, nitrogen and hydrogen. Structures have been optimized using gradient techniques at B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and at MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p). Single-point calculations are reported at QCISD(T)(full)/6-311++G(2df,p) and at CCSD(T)(full)/6-311++G(2df,p) levels using geometries optimized at MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p). Standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K have been calculated at these two higher levels of theory. Other thermochemical properties calculated include ionization energies and proton affinities. The binding enthalpies of ammonia to Mg⁺, MgNH₂⁺ and MgNH₃⁺ are also reported.     

Tris(trimethylsilyl)methane is not an effective mediator of radical reactions

The reductive dehalogenation of organohalides by tris(trimethylsilyl)methane has been re-investigated. Contrary to claims made in a recent publication (Tetrahedron Lett.2006, 47, 5163-5165), (TMS)₃CH does not reduce organohalides. In competition experiments between (TMS)₃CH and the poor chain mediator Et₃SiH, the latter performed the reduction. Computational investigations support these experimental findings and indicate that the C-H bond of (TMS)₃CH is too strong for this compound to serve as an effective mediator of radical reactions.     

On Li-chelating additives to electrolytes for Li batteries

The relative affinity of several electrochemically stable bi- and polydentate organic ligands (containing ether, amino, carbonate or phosphonate moieties) to Li ion was estimated by ab?initio calculations at the MP2/6-31G(d) level comparing their calculated binding energies (BEs). Polyether 12-crown-4 and a bisphosphonate, which is covalently locked in a cyclic “chelating” conformation, are stronger Li⁺ chelators than isosparteine and 1,2-methylenebisphosphonate (an open-chain compound). Organic biscarbonates are the weakest complexing agents among the ligands considered. Although BE values were calculated for the gas phase, the order of ligand complexation ability obtained is also considered relevant to solutions since the difference between the BEs for these three groups of ligands is significant. The same calculations that were performed for complexes of Li ion and different organic carbonate diesters (solvents usually used in Li-ion batteries) allowed singling out of conformationally locked bisphosphonates as new battery life-prolonging additives to carbonate electrolytes.     

Aromaticity of anthranil and its isomers, 1,2-benzisoxazole and benzoxazole

Direct computation of the π-current density, that is, the ‘ring current’, of anthranil (1) and its isomers 1,2-benzisoxazole (2) and benzoxazole (3) reveals different patterns of current flow: isomers 2 and 3 sustain strong benzene-like currents in the six-membered and bifurcated flow in the five-membered ring, whereas, in keeping with its lower thermodynamic stability, 1 has only a perimeter circulation without separate monocycle currents. Although the ring current criterion does not offer a sharp distinction between 2 and 3, their difference in thermodynamic stability is identical to that between isoxazole (4) and oxazole (5) suggesting an aromaticity order 1 < 2 ≈ 3.     

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-oxazole and -thiazole

The azoles 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole (HPO) and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole (HPT) have been synthesised and studied in order to compare their photophysical characteristics. Their absorption and emission properties are reported in non-polar, alcoholic and aqueous media. Ground and excited state pK data were determined by spectroscopy and a model is proposed to explain the behaviour of HPT and HPO as a function of the pH. Excitation spectra and quantum chemical calculations suggest an equilibrium of ground state conformers. The calculations also predict a small energy barrier for rotation in the first excited singlet state for the proton transferred tautomers. The resulting twisted structure of the tautomer form possesses a biradicaloid nature, and is near-degenerate in energy with the first excited triplet state.     

Classical versus redox tautomerism: substituent effects on the keto/enol and sulfoxide/sulfenic acid equilibria

MP2/6-311+G** ab initio calculations have been carried out for a classical example of tautomerism, the keto/enol [RCOCH₃/RC(OH)CH₂] and an example of redox tautomerism, the sulfoxide/sulfenic acid [RS(O)H/RSOH]. Eleven R substituents have been examined. Both equilibria show proportional energies and similar dependence on the Swain-Lupton Fand Rparameters.