Unimolecular Rate Constants for the HF and HCl Elimination Reactions from Chemically Activated CF2ClSH

Chemically activated CF₃SH, CFCl₂SH, and CF₂ClSH were formed through combination of SH and CF₃, CFCl₂, and CF₂Cl radicals, respectively. The SH radical was prepared by abstraction of an H‐atom from H₂S by the halocarbon radical produced during photolysis of (CF₃)₂C=O, (CFCl₂)₂C=O, or (CF₂Cl)₂C=O. 1,2‐HX (X = F, Cl) elimination reactions were observed from CF₃SH, CFCl₂SH, and CF₂ClSH with products detected by GC‐MS. The combination reaction of CF₂Cl radicals with SH radicals prepared CF₂ClSH molecules with approximately 318 kJ/mol of internal energy. The experimental rate constants for elimination of HCl and HF from CF₂ClSH were 3 ± 3 × 10¹⁰ and 2 ± 1 × 10⁹ s^?1, respectively. Comparison to Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) calculated rate constants assigned the threshold energies as 171 ± 12 and 205 ± 12 kJ/mol for the unimolecular elimination of HCl and HF, respectively. Theoretical calculations using the B3PW91, MP2, and M062X methods with the 6311+G(2d,p) and 6‐31G(d',p') basis sets established that for a specific method the threshold energies differ by only 4 kJ/mol between the two different basis sets. There was wide variation among the three methods, but the M062X approach appeared to give threshold energies closest to the experimental values. Chemically activated CF₃SH and CFCl₂SH were also prepared with about 318 kcal mol^?1 of internal energy, and the HX (X = F, Cl) elimination reactions were observed. Only HCl loss was detected from CFCl₂SH, but the rate was too fast to measure with our kinetic method; however, based on our detection limit the HF elimination channel is at least 50 times slower.     

Theoretical study of the structure and unimolecular decomposition pathways of ethyloxonium, [CH3CH2OH2]+

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with split-valence plus polarization basis sets and incorporating valence-electron correlation have been performed to determine the equilibrium structure of ethyloxonium ([CH₃CH₂OH₂]⁺) and examine its modes of unimolecular dissociation. An asymmetric structure (1) is predicted to be the most stable form of ethyloxonium, but a second conformational isomer of C_s symmetry lies only 1.4 kJ mol^?1 higher in energy than 1. Four unimolecular decomposition pathways for 1 have been examined involving loss of H₂, CH₄, H₂O or C₂H₄. The most stable fragmentation products, lying 65 kJ mol^?1 above 1, are associated with the H₂ elimination reaction. However, large barriers of 257 and 223 kJ mol^?1 have to be surmounted for H₂ and CH₄ loss, respectively. On the other hand, elimination of either C₂H₄ or H₂O from ethyloxonium can proceed without a barrier to the reverse associations and, with total endothermicities of 130 and 160 kJ mol^?1, respectively, these reactions are expected to dominate at lower energies. A second important equilibrium structure on the surface is a hydrogen-bridged complex, lying 53 kJ mol^?1 above 1. This complex is involved in the C₂H₄ elimination reaction, acts as an intermediate in the proton-transfer reaction connecting [C₂H₅]⁺ +H₂O and C₂H₄ + [H₃O]⁺ and plays an important role in the isotopic scrambling that has been observed experimentally in the elimination of either H₂O or C₂H₄ from ethyloxonium. The proton affinity of ethanol was calculated as 799 kJ mol^?1, in close agreement with the experimental value of 794 kJ mol^?1.     

Dynamical Bifurcation in Gas‐Phase XH− + CH3Y SN2 Reactions: The Role of Energy Flow and Redistribution in Avoiding the Minimum Energy Path

The gas‐phase reactions of XH^? (X=O, S) + CH₃Y (Y=F, Cl, Br) span nearly the whole range of S_N2 pathways, and show an intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) (minimum energy path) with a deep well owing to the CH₃XH???Y^? (or CH₃S^????HF) hydrogen‐bonded postreaction complex. MP2 quasiclassical‐type direct dynamics starting at the [HX???CH₃???Y]^? transition‐state (TS) structure reveal distinct mechanistic behaviors. Trajectories that yield the separated CH₃XH+Y^? (or CH₃S^?+HF) products directly are non‐IRC, whereas those that sample the CH₃XH???Y^? (or CH₃S^????HF) complex are IRC. The IRCIRC/non‐IRC ratios of 90:10, 40:60, 25:75, 2:98, 0:100, and 0:100 are obtained for (X, Y)=(S, F), (O, F), (S, Cl), (S, Br), (O, Cl), and (O, Br), respectively. The properties of the energy profiles after the TS cannot provide a rationalization of these results. Analysis of the energy flow in dynamics shows that the trajectories cross a dynamical bifurcation, and that the inability to follow the minimum energy path arises from long vibration periods of the X?C???Y bending mode. The partition of the available energy to the products into vibrational, rotational, and translational energies reveals that if the vibrational contribution is more than 80 %, non‐IRC behavior dominates, unless the relative fraction of the rotational and translational components is similar, in which case a richer dynamical mechanism is shown, with an IRC/non‐IRC ratio that correlates to this relative fraction.     

An ab initio molecular orbital study of the deprotonation of amines

The geometries of the amines NH₂X and amido anions NHX^?, where X = H, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, C₂H, CHO, and CN have been optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations with a 4-31G basis set. The profiles to rotation about the N? X bonds in CH₃NH^?, NH₂NH^?, and HONH^? are very similar to those for the isoprotic and isoelectronic neutral compounds CH₃OH, NH₂OH, and HOOH. The amines with unsaturated bonds adjacent to the nitrogen atoms undergo considerable skeletal rearrangement on deprotonation such that most of the negative charge of the anion is on the substituent. The computed order of acidity for the amines NH₂X is X = CN > HCO > F ≈ C₂H > OH > NH₂ > CH₃ > H and for the reaction NHX^? + H⁺ → NH₂X the computed energies vary over the range 373–438 kcal/mol.     

The reactions of hydrogen atoms with bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfide

The reactions of hydrogen atoms produced by the mercury-photosensitized decomposition of H₂ with bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfide has been studied. The rate coefficient for the primary reaction, H + CF₃SSCF₃ → CF₃SH + CF₃S, was determined in competition with the reaction H + C₂H₄S → SH + C₂H₄ to have the value k = (3.0 ± 0.18) × 10¹⁴ exp[-(4560 ± 140)/RT] cm³ mol^?1 S^?1. The high A factor can be partially accounted for by assuming free rotation for the two CF₃ groups and the SCF₃ groups about the S—S bond in the transition state. The relatively high activation energy is attributed to inductive and orbital overlap effects. CH₃SH, H₂S, and CF₃SH all react with CF₃SSCF₃ to yield solid complexes which were not explored further.     

Rate constants and transition‐state geometry of reactions of alkyl,alkoxyl, and peroxyl radicals with thiols

Enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant of 9 alkyl, 3 acyl, 3 alkoxyl, and 9 peroxyl radicals with alkanethiols, benzenethiol, and L ‐cysteine are calculated. The intersection parabolas model is used for activation energy calculations. Depending on the structure of attacking radical, the activation energy of reactions with alkylthiols varies from 3 to 43 kJ mol^?1 for alkyl radicals, from 7 to 9 kJ mol^?1 for alkoxyl, and from 18 to 35 kJ mol^?1 for peroxyl radicals. The influence of adjacent π‐bonds on activation energy is estimated. The polar effect is found in reactions of hydroxyalkyl and acyl radicals with alkylthiols. The steric effect is observed in reactions of alkyl radicals with tert‐alkylthiols. All these factors are characterized via increments of activation energy. Quantum chemical calculations of activation energy and geometry of transition state were performed for model reactions: C^?H₃ + CH₃SH, CH₃O^? + CH₃SH, and HO₂^? + CH₃SH with using density functional theory and Gaussian‐98. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 284–293, 2009     

Minimal basis sets in calculations of intermolecular interaction energies

Several minimal (7, 3/3) Gaussian basis sets have been used to calculate the energies and some other properties of CH₄ and H₂O. Improved basis sets developed for these molecules have been extended to NH₃ and HF and employed to H₂CO and CH₃OH. Interaction energies between XH_n molecules have been calculated using the old and the new minimal basis sets. The results obtained with the new basis sets are comparable in accuracy to those calculated with significantly more extended basis sets involving polarization functions. Binding energies calculated using the counterpoise method are not much different for the new and the old minimal basis sets, and are likely to be more accurate than the results of much more extended calculations.     

Rate coefficients at 297 K for proton transfer reactions with H2O. Comparisons with classical theories and exothermicity

Rate coefficients for proton transfer reactions of the type XH⁺ + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + X where X = H₂, CH₄, CO, N₂, CO₂ and N₂O and the type H₂O + X^? → XH + OH^? where X = H, NH₂ and C₂H₅NH have been measured at 297 K using the flowing afterglow technique. The results compare favourably with the predictions of the average-dipole-orientation theory. A trend is observed with exothermicity on a plot of (k_exp/k_ADO)_{298 K} versus ?ΔH_{298 K}⁰. The question is raised whether the relatively low probability observed for slightly exothermic proton transfer reactions is a consequence of reaction mechanism or results from the presence of a small activation energy barrier.     

The fragmentations of [M-H]- anions derived from underivatised peptides. The side-chain loss of H2S from Cys. A joint experimental and theoretical study

Loss of H₂S is the characteristic Cys side‐chain fragmentation of the [M? H]^? anions of Cys‐containing peptides. A combination of experiment and theory suggests that this reaction is initiated from the Cys enolate anion as follows: RNH‐^?C(CH₂SH)CONHR′ Ø [RNHC(?CH₂)CONHR′ (HS^?)] Ø [RNHC(?CH₂)CO‐HNR′‐H]^?+H₂S. This process is facile. Calculations at the HF/6‐31G(d)//AM1 level of theory indicate that the initial anion needs only ≥20.1 kcal mol^?1 of excess energy to effect loss of H₂S. Loss of CH₂S is a minor process, RNHCH(CH₂SH)CON^?‐R′ Ø RNHCH(CH₂S^?)CONHR′ Ø RNH ^?CHCONHR+CH₂S, requiring an excess energy of ≥50.2 kcal mol^?1. When Cys occupies the C‐terminal end of a peptide, the major fragmentation from the [M–H]^? species involves loss of (H₂S+CO₂). A deuterium‐labelling study suggests that this could either be a charge‐remote reaction (a process which occurs remote from and uninfluenced by the charged centre in the molecule), or an anionic reaction initiated from the C‐terminal CO₂^? group. These processes have barriers requiring the starting material to have an excess energy of ≥79.6 (charge‐remote) or ≥67.1 (anion‐directed) kcal mol^?1, respectively, at the HF/6‐31G(d)//AM1 level of theory. The corresponding losses of CH₂O and H₂O from the [M? H]^? anions of Ser‐containing peptides require ≥35.6 and ≥44.4 kcal mol^?1 of excess energy (calculated at the AM1 level of theory), explaining why loss of CH₂O is the characteristic side‐chain loss of Ser in the negative ion mode. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational study on the mechanism for the gas‐phase reaction of dimethyl disulfide with OH

The mechanisms for the reaction of CH₃SSCH₃ with OH radical are investigated at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. Five channels have been obtained and six transition state structures have been located for the title reaction. The initial association between CH₃SSCH₃ and OH, which forms two low‐energy adducts named as CH₃S(OH)SCH₃ (IM1 and IM2), is confirmed to be a barrierless process, The S? S bond rupture and H? S bond formation of IM1 lead to the products P1(CH₃SH + CH₃SO) with a barrier height of 40.00 kJ mol^?1. The reaction energy of Path 1 is ?74.04 kJ mol^?1. P1 is the most abundant in view of both thermodynamics and dynamics. In addition, IMs can lead to the products P2 (CH₃S + CH₃SOH), P3 (H₂O + CH₂S + CH₃S), P4 (CH₃ + CH₃SSOH), and P5 (CH₄ + CH₃SSO) by addition‐elimination or hydrogen abstraction mechanism. All products are thermodynamically favorable except for P4 (CH₃ + CH₃SSOH). The reaction energies of Path 2, Path 3, Path 4, and Path 5 are ?28.42, ?46.90, 28.03, and ?89.47 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Path 5 is the least favorable channel despite its largest exothermicity (?89.47 kJ mol^?1) because this process must undergo two barriers of TS5 (109.0 kJ mol^?1) and TS6 (25.49 kJ mol^?1). Hopefully, the results presented in this study may provide helpful information on deep insight into the reaction mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Relative stability of onium states of nitrogen,oxygen, sulfur,and selenium atoms in cations formed in the elimination processes

Using the HF, B3LYP, and MP2 methods in the 6−31+G(d) basis with zero-point energy corrections, quantum chemical calculations of energy characteristics were carried out for the model molecules CH₂=XH⁺ (X = NH, O, S, Se) formed from the molecules YCH₂XH (Y = NH₂, OH, SH, SeH, Cl) either through the elimination of Y-anions or as a result of the abstraction of neutral species YH from these molecules upon their interaction with a proton. Stabilities of the onium states of nitrogen atom were shown to be considerably higher than those of the onium states of chalcogen derivatives, with the lowest stability shown by the models with the Cl atom being in the onium state. The results have been formulated in the form of stability series of the onium compounds and allowed one to interpret certain features of the aminomethylation reaction (the Mannich reaction), hydroxy- and alkoxymethylation, thio- and selenomethylation, and chloromethylation (the Blanc reaction).     

Umsetzung von N-Trimethylmetall(IVb)-trialkylphosphiniminen mit Halogenwasserstoffen

Reaction of N-Trimethylmetal(IVb) Trialkylphosphine Imines with Hydrogen Halides Investigations of the reaction of N-trimethylmetal(IVb)-substituted phosphine imines with hydrogen have been carried out. With one mole of HX phosphonium halides of the general formula [R₃P? NH? MMe₃]^⊕X^? (R = CH₃, C₂H₅; M = Si, Ge, Sn; X = Cl, Br, J) are obtained. A second mole of HX causes M? N bond cleavage, yielding aminophosphonium halides, [R₃P? NH₂]^⊕X^?.     

Cooperativity between the Halogen Bond and the Hydrogen Bond in H3N⋅⋅⋅XY⋅⋅⋅HF Complexes (X,Y=F,Cl, Br)

Ab initio calculations are used to provide information on H₃N???XY???HF triads (X, Y=F, Cl, Br) each having a halogen bond and a hydrogen bond. The investigated triads include H₃N???Br₂‐HF, H₃N???Cl₂???HF, H₃N???BrCI???HF, H₃N???BrF???HF, and H₃N???ClF???HF. To understand the properties of the systems better, the corresponding dyads are also investigated. Molecular geometries, binding energies, and infrared spectra of monomers, dyads, and triads are studied at the MP2 level of theory with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. Because the primary aim of this study is to examine cooperative effects, particular attention is given to parameters such as cooperative energies, many‐body interaction energies, and cooperativity factors. The cooperative energy ranges from ?1.45 to ?4.64 kcal mol^?1, the three‐body interaction energy from ?2.17 to ?6.71 kcal mol^?1, and the cooperativity factor from 1.27 to 4.35. These results indicate significant cooperativity between the halogen and hydrogen bonds in these complexes. This cooperativity is much greater than that between hydrogen bonds. The effect of a halogen bond on a hydrogen bond is more pronounced than that of a hydrogen bond on a halogen bond.     

Non-convertional hydrogen bonding interaction of BH3NH3 complexes: a comparative theoretical study

A new type of hydrogen bond, called a dihydrogen bond, has recently been introduced. In this bond hydrogen is donated to (hydridic) hydrogen. In this paper, ab initio HF, MP2 and DFT(B3LYP) levels of theory with different basis sets in combination with counterpoise procedure for basis set superposition error correction have been applied to BH₃NH₃ dimer and BH₃NH₃ complexes of methane, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, water, methanol and hydrogen fluoride to understand the features of dihydrogen bond. The optimized geometric parameters and interaction energies for various isomers at different levels are estimated. The structures obtained at different computational levels are in agreement with each other. Dihydrogen bond does not occur in both BH₃NH₃⋯CH₄ and BH₃NH₃⋯NH₃ complexes. Apart from the B–H⋯H–N dihydrogen bond found in the BH₃NH₃ crystal and dimmer, the B–H⋯H–X (XC, O, F) dihydrogen bonds have been observed in the BH₃NH₃⋯HCN, BH₃NH₃⋯H₂O, BH₃NH₃⋯CH₃OH and BH₃NH₃⋯HF complexes, while the classic H bonds also exist in the last three complexes. As for the complexes in which only dihydrogen bonds appear the strength of dihydrogen bonds ranges from 17.9 to 18.9 kJ mol⁻¹ at B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p) level. Binding energies obtained from the MP2 and B3LYP optimized structures are more sensitive to basis sets than those from the HF method. Larger basis functions generally tend to produce slightly longer intermolecular distances, and the B3LYP and MP2 methods generate shorter intermolecular distances though they usually produce longer bond lengths compared with those at the HF level. The infrared spectrum frequencies, IR intensities and the vibrational frequency shifts are reported. Finally the solution phase studies on BH₃NH₃⋯HF complex are also carried out using the Onsager reaction field model with a range of dielectric constants from 2 to 80 at B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p) level.     

A theoretical study of C4H5N isomers: Comparison of cyano and isocyano as substituents

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations using a 3-21G basis set have been used to optimize geometries for pyrrole, CH₃(X)CCH₂, CH₃(H)CCHX (both cis and trans), c-C₃H₅X, and CH₂CHCH₂X, where X is CN and NC. In all the alkenyl derivatives methyl groups are found to adopt the conformation in which the methyl hydrogen eclipses the double bond. 6-31G*∥3-21G level calculations show the alkenyl cyanides to be of similar energy to pyrrole, but the isocyanides are ～20 kcal mol^?1 higher in energy. For both substituents the cyclopropyl derivatives are higher in energy by ～10 kcal mol^?1. At the 6-31G* level ring strain is 27.7 kcal mol^?1 for the cyanide and 30.6 kcal mol^?1 for the isocyanide. Data on the relative energies of RCN and RNC are compared when R is (i) a saturated hydrocarbon, (ii) an unsaturated hydrocarbon, (iii) an α-carbenium ion, (iv) an allyl cation, and (v) an α-carbanion.     

Ab initio calculations on phosphorus compounds. II. Effects of disubstitution on ligand apicophilicity in phosphoranes

Geometry optimizations at the HF/3-21G(*) and HF/6-31G* levels of ab initio theory have been carried out for various isomers of model disubstituted phosphoranes PH₃XY(X, Y?OH, CH₃, NH₂, and SH). Reasonable agreement was obtained between the optimized geometries and available crystal structure data for analogous compounds. The isomers were further characterized by frequency calculations. The MP2/6-31G*//6-31G* + ZPE energy data reveal that the interactions between the ligands are relatively small (0–4 kcal mol^?1) for the most stable conformations of the isomers. Hence, for these conformations the apicophilicities (based upon monosubstituted phosphoranes) are approximately additive. The less stable PH₃XY conformations are in general transition states or higher-order saddle points, and their interligand interactions are larger in magnitude (up to 10 kcal mol^?1); the results with these conformations suggest that apicophilicities may not be as additive for some highly substituted phosphoranes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics and mechanism for the reactions of H atoms with CH3SH and C2H5SH

A kinetic study of the reactions of H atoms with CH₃SH and C₂H₅SH has been carried out at 298 K by the discharge flow technique with EPR and mass spectrometric analysis of the species. The pressure was 1 torr. It was found: k₁ = (2.20 ± 0.20) × 10^?12 for the reaction H + CH₃SH (1) and k₂ = (2.40 ± 0.16) × 10^?12 for the reaction H + C₂H₅SH (2). Units are cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. A mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction products and a computer simulation of the reacting systems have shown that reaction (1) proceeds through two mechanisms leading to the formation of CH₃S + H₂ (1a) and CH₃ + H₂S (1b).     

Poly(hydrogen Fluorides) with the Tetramethylammonium Cation: Preparation,Stability Ranges,Crystal Structures, [HnFn+1]− Anion Homology,Hydrogen Bonding F-H…︁F [2]

The melting diagram of the system (CH₃)₄NF? HF was studied between 50 and 100 mole-% HF and from ?185°C to the respective liquidus temperatures (at most 162°C) by difference thermal analysis aided by temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction. The system was found to be quasi-binary with the HF-rich intermediary stable compounds (CH₃)₄NF · 2 HF (melting point 110°C), (CH₃)₄NF · 3 HF (20°C, decomposition), (CH₃)₄NF · 5 HF (?76°C, decomposition), and (CH₃)₄NF · 7 HF (?110°C, decomposition), most of which undergo solid-solid phase transitions. Crystal structures were determined of the low-temperature form of (CH₃)₄NF · 2 HF (stable below 83°C, orthorhombic, space group Pbca, Z = 8 formula units per unit cell), the high-temperature form of (CH₃)₄NF · 3 HF (stable above ?87°C, monoclinic, P2/c, Z = 4), and of (CH₃)₄NF · 5 HF (tetragonal, I4 , Z = 2). The structures are those of poly(hydrogen fluorides) (CH₃)₄N[H_nF_n+1] with homologous anions [H₂F₃]^?, [H₃F₄]^?, and [H₅F₆]^?, respectively, formed by strong hydrogen bonding F? H…?F. The anion [H₅F₆]^? is the first one of this composition established by crystal structure analysis. Its structure can be written as [(FH)₂FHF(HF)₂]^? with four equivalent terminal hydrogen bonds of 248.4 pm and a very short central one of 226.6 pm (F…?F distances) through a 4 point of the space group.     

Complexes of adamantane‐based group 13 Lewis acids and superacids: Bonding analysis and thermodynamics of hydrogen splitting

The electronic structure and chemical bonding in donor–acceptor complexes formed by group 13 element adamantane and perfluorinated adamantane derivatives EC₉R′₁₅ (E = B, Al; R′ = H, F) with Lewis bases XR₃ and XC₉H₁₅ (X = N, P; R= H, CH₃) have been studied using energy decomposition analysis at the BP86/TZ2P level of theory. Larger stability of complexes with perfluorinated adamantane derivatives is mainly due to better electrostatic and orbital interactions. Deformation energies of the fragments and Pauli repulsion are of less importance, with exception for the boron‐phosphorus complexes. The MO analysis reveals that LUMO energies of EC₉R′₁₅ significantly decrease upon fluorination (by 4.7 and 3.6 eV for E = B and Al, respectively) which results in an increase of orbital interaction energies by 27–38 (B) and 15–26 (Al) kcal mol^?1. HOMO energies of XR₃ increase in order PH₃ < NH₃ < PMe₃ < PC₉H₁₅ < NMe₃ < NC₉H₁₅. For the studied complexes, there is a linear correlation between the dissociation energy of the complex and the energy difference between HOMO of the donor and LUMO of the acceptor. The fluorination of the Lewis acid significantly reduces standard enthalpies of the heterolytic hydrogen splitting H₂ + D + A = [HD]⁺ + [HA]^?. Analysis of several types of the [HD]⁺···[HA]^? ion pair formation in the gas phase reveals that structures with additional H···F interactions are energetically favorable. Taking into account the ion pair formation, hydrogen splitting is predicted to be highly exothermic in case of the perfluorinated derivatives both in the gas phase and in solution. Thus, fluorinated adamantane‐based Lewis superacids are attractive synthetic targets for the construction of the donor–acceptor cryptands. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.