Hydrogen bond nature in formamide (CYHNH2···XH; YO,S, Se,Te; XF,HO, NH2) complexes at their ground and low‐lying excited states

A theoretical study on the nature of hydrogen bond for formamide and its heavy complexes (CYHNH₂···XH; Y?O, S, Se, Te; X?F, HO, NH₂) was performed on the basis of density functional theory and the quantum chemistry analysis. Except for the CYHNH₂···NH₃ complexes, the substitution of O atom at formamide with less electronegative atoms (S, Se, and Te) is found to weaken the hydrogen bond (H‐bond). This substitution results in cyclic structure of hydrated and ammoniated formamide complexes by the formation of bifunctional H‐bonds (Y···H₄X; X···H₃C). Natural bond orbital analysis indicates that the H‐bond is weakened because of less charge transfer from a lone pair orbital of H‐bond acceptor to antibonding orbital of H‐bond donor. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis reveals that the acyclic structure with single H‐bond stabilizes the complexes more than the cyclic structure formed by bifunctional H‐bonds. Natural energy decomposition analysis (NEDA) and block‐localized wavefunction energy decomposition (BLW‐ED) analyses show that the H‐bond stabilization energies of NEDA and BLW‐ED have good correlation with the dissociation energy of formamide complexes and charge transfer from donor to acceptor atom play an important role in H‐bonding. We have also studied the low‐lying electronic excited states (T₁, T₂, and S₁) for CYHNH₂···H₂O complexes to explore the nature of H‐bond on the basis of electronegativity and found that NEDA also establishes a good correlation with relative electronic energy (with respect to their ground state) and H‐bond strength at their excited states. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Proton transfer reactions of hydrazine‐boranes

Hydrazine‐borane and hydrazine‐diborane contain, respectively, 15.4 and 16.9 wt% of hydrogen and are potential materials for hydrogen storage. In this work we present the gas‐phase complexation energies, acidities, and basicities of hydrazine‐borane and hydrazine‐bisborane calculated at MP2/6‐311 + G(d,p) level. We also report the release of dihydrogen from both protonated complexes (ΔG_{hydrazine‐borane} = ?20.9 kcal/mol and ΔG_{hydrazine‐bisborane} = ?27.2 kcal/mol) which is much more exergonic than from analogues amine‐boranes. The addition of the first BH₃ to the hydrazine releases 17.1 kcal/mol, and the second addition releases 15.8 kcal/mol. The attachment of BH₃ also increases the N―H acidity of hydrazine by 46.3 kcal/mol. It was found that the B―H deprotonation leads to intramolecular rearrangement. The basicity values for hydrazine‐borane and ‐bisborane are 180 and 172.8 kcal/mol, respectively. For both complexes the protonation centres are located at the boron moiety. The protonated structure of hydrazine‐bisborane is cyclic and can be described as H₂ captured between a negatively charged B―H hydrogen and positive boron (B―H??H2??B). Atoms in molecules analysis are used to investigate bond paths in concerning structures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

P‐Heterocyclic silylenes: a survey of stability with density functional theory

The effects of phosphorous atom on the stability, multiplicity, and reactivity of six‐member cyclic silylenes are investigated at B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ//B3LYP/6‐31+G* and MP2/6‐311++G**//B3LYP/6‐31+G* coupled with appropriate isodesmic reactions. From a thermodynamic point of view, 1H‐2‐silaphosphinine‐2‐ylidene ( 1_a ) and 1H‐4‐silaphosphinine‐4‐ylidene ( 2_a ) are relatively the most stable with singlet–triplet energy gaps (ΔE_S–T) of 37.0 and 28.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The calculated energy barrier for the 1,2‐H shift of 1_a to the corresponding 2‐silapyridine ( 1 ) is 26.5 kcal/mol, which is lower than the 28.8 kcal/mol required for the 1,4‐H shift of 2_a to the corresponding 4‐silapyridine ( 2 ). In contrast to the previous reports, isodesmic reactions indicate that π‐donor/σ‐donor phosphorous destabilizes the singlet while stabilizes the triplet state. Both 1_a and 2_a silylenes appear invulnerable to the head‐to‐head as well as the head‐to‐tail dimerization, inviting experimental explorations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Can 2‐acylpyrroles form an intramolecular hydrogen bond?

The formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding by certain N‐substituted 2‐acylpyrroles has been demonstrated by B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ calculations, the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, and the natural bond orbital method. Total electron energy densities H_BCP at the bond critical point of the H?O bond were applied to analyze the strength of these interactions. The relations between quantum theory of atoms in molecules, carbonyl stretching vibrational modes ν_{C = O}, and natural bond orbital parameters associated with the formation of the C–H?O interaction have been established. The short contacts were found experimentally in the crystal structure of a new 2‐acylpyrrole derivative 5‐chloro‐2‐oxopentyl‐1‐(5‐chloro‐2‐oxopentyl)pyrrolo‐2‐carboxylate. The influence of 2‐ and N‐substitution of 2‐acylpyrroles on C‐H?O interaction energy is discussed. It was found that the methylene group may act as a proton donor leading to a red‐shift or blue‐shift phenomenon of the ν_C–H stretching mode. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and energetic properties of alkylfluoride–BF3 complexes in the gas phase and condensed‐phase media: computations and matrix infrared spectroscopy

We have undertaken an experimental and computational study of the structural properties of a few alkylfluoride–BF₃ complexes (RF′–BF₃), which are proposed intermediates in a certain class of Friedel–Crafts reactions. Using density functional theory and second‐order Møller–Plesset calculations, we have obtained gas‐phase structures, frequencies, and B–F′ bond potentials for CH₃F–BF₃, (CH₃)₂CHF–BF₃, and (CH₃)₃CF–BF₃. All the complexes are weakly‐bonded in the gas phase, with B–F′ distances (X3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ) of about 2.4 Å and binding energies (MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ) ranging from 5.4 and 6.7 kcal/mol. Accordingly, gas‐phase bond potentials are relatively shallow and flat for these complexes. However, even though the inner walls of the potentials are rather soft (the energies rise by only about 5 to 10 kcal/mol between 2.4 and 1.6 Å), we observe no global or local minima at short B–F′ distances. For the (CH₃)₂CHF–BF₃ and (CH₃)₃CF–BF₃ potentials in dielectric media, we do observe a distinct flattening along the inner wall, which results in shelf‐like region near 1.7 Å, but this feature is not a true local minimum. We have also obtained low‐temperature infrared spectra of the (CH₃)₂CHF–BF₃ complex in solid neon, and the frequencies agree quite favorably with those obtained via computations, which validates the computational assessment of the gas‐phase complexes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational study of singlet and triplet sulfonylnitrenes insertion into the C―C or C―H bonds of ethylene

Formation of N‐sulfonylaziridines, N‐ethylidenesulfonamides, N‐vinylsulfonamides and 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxathiazole 2‐oxides by the reaction of singlet and triplet trifluoromethyl‐, methyl‐ and tosylnitrenes with ethylene is studied computationally at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory in both gas phase and in solution. Singlet sulfonylnitrenes react with ethylene via [1 + 2]‐cycloaddition exothermically to give N‐sulfonylaziridines. Triplet sulfonylnitrenes are formed from the singlet ones by the intersystem crossing with the energy barrier not exceeding 2.5 kcal/mol and react in a stepwise fashion by C‐addition or H‐abstraction. The C‐addition gives rise to the formation of N‐sulfonylaziridines or N‐ethylidenesulfonamides depending on the S―N―C_sp3―C_sp2 dihedral angle, with the barrier to rotation about the N―C_sp3 bond not exceeding 2.5 kcal/mol. The H‐abstraction results in N‐vinylsulfonamides. Transformation of N‐sulfonylaziridines to N‐ethylidenesulfonamides requires to overcome the barrier of 57–60 kcal/mol, N‐ethylidenesulfonamides to 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxathiazole 2‐oxides—74–80 kcal/mol and N‐vinylsulfonamides to N‐ethylidenesulfonamides—about 64 kcal/mol. The use of the polarizable continuum model does not lead to a change of the course of the reaction of trifluoromethanesulfonylnitrene with ethylene and only slightly affects the relative energies of the products, intermediates and transition states. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational study on structures,thermochemical properties,and bond energies of disulfide oxygen (S–S–O)‐bridged CH3SSOH and CH3SS(=O)H and radicals

Cleavage of disulfide bonds is a common method used in linking peptides to proteins in biochemical reactions. The structures, internal rotor potentials, bond energies, and thermochemical properties (Δ_fH°, S°, and Cp(T)) of the S–S bridge molecules CH₃SSOH and CH₃SS(=O)H and the radicals CH₃SS?=O and C?H₂SSOH that correspond to H‐atom loss are determined by computational chemistry. Structure and thermochemical parameters (S° and Cp(T)) are determined using density functional Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP)/6‐31++G (d, p), B3LYP/6‐311++G (3df, 2p). The enthalpies of formation for stable species are calculated using the total energies at B3LYP/6‐31++G (d, p), B3LYP/6‐311++G (3df, 2p), and the higher level composite CBS–QB3 levels with work reactions that are close to isodesmic in most cases. The enthalpies of formation for CH₃SSOH, CH₃SS(=O)H are ?38.3 and ?16.6 kcal mol^?1, respectively, where the difference is in enthalpy RSO–H versus RS(=O)–H bonding. The C–H bond energy of CH₃SSOH is 99.2 kcal mol^?1, and the O–H bond energy is weaker at 76.9 kcal mol^?1. Cleavage of the weak O–H bond in CH₃SSOH results in an electron rearrangement upon loss of the CH₃SSO–H hydrogen atom; the radical rearranges to form the more stable CH₃SS· = O radical structure. Cleavage of the C–H bond in CH₃SS(=O)H results in an unstable [CH₂SS(=O)H]* intermediate, which decomposes exothermically to lower energy CH₂ = S + HSO. The CH₃SS(=O)–H bond energy is quite weak at 54.8 kcal mol^?1 with the H–C bond estimated at between 91 and 98 kcal mol^?1. Disulfide bond energies for CH₃S–SOH and CH3S–S(=O)H are low: 67.1 and 39.2 kcal mol^?1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium‐catalyzed cyclization of 2‐alkynyl‐N‐ethanoyl anilines to indoles: synthesis,structural, spectroscopic,and mechanistic study

This study reports a facial regio‐selective synthesis of 2‐alkyl‐N‐ethanoyl indoles from substituted‐N‐ethanoyl anilines employing palladium (II) chloride, which acts as a cyclization catalyst. The mechanistic trait of palladium‐based cyclization is also explored by employing density functional theory. In a two‐step mechanism, the palladium, which attaches to the ethylene carbons, promotes the proton transfer and cyclization. The gas‐phase barrier height of the first transition state is 37 kcal/mol, indicating the rate‐determining step of this reaction. Incorporating acetonitrile through the solvation model on density solvation model reduces the barrier height to 31 kcal/mol. In the presence of solvent, the electron‐releasing (–CH₃) group has a greater influence on the reduction of the barrier height compared with the electron‐withdrawing group (–Cl). These results further confirm that solvent plays an important role on palladium‐catalyzed proton transfer and cyclization. For unveiling structural, spectroscopic, and photophysical properties, experimental and computational studies are also performed. Thermodynamic analysis discloses that these reactions are exothermic. The highest occupied molecular orbital?lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap (4.9–5.0 eV) confirms that these compounds are more chemically reactive than indole. The calculated UV–Vis spectra by time‐dependent density functional theory exhibit strong peaks at 290, 246, and 232 nm, in good agreement with the experimental results. Moreover, experimental and computed ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the indole derivatives are well correlated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of proton donors on the intramolecular coordination C=O→Si–F in (acyloxymethyl)trifluorosilanes. Ab initio,DFT and FTIR study,QTAIM analysis

The intramolecular С=O→Si coordination in H‐complexes of (acetoxymethyl)trifluorosilane and (benzoyloxymethyl)trifluorosilane with proton donors HCl, PhOH, MeOH, and CHCl₃ was investigated by density functional theory and second‐order Møller‐Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) methods. Interrelation and mutual influence of the intramolecular coordination bond С=O→Si and intermolecular hydrogen bonds C=O···H and Si–F···H in H‐complexes was established using the AIM and NBO analyses. The С=O→Si coordination is weakened by the C=O···H hydrogen bonding but enhanced by the Si–F_ax···H hydrogen bonding. The structure of H‐complexes of (acetoxymethyl)trifluorosilane with proton donors in solution was determined by comparing the ν(C=O) and ν(Si–F) frequencies calculated using the conductor‐like polarizable continuum model and their experimental Fourier transform infrared values. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Possibility of non‐adiabatic level crossing by DFT study of tautomerism and potential energy surfaces in of 3‐hydroxy‐5‐(pyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one and its tautomer

3‐Hydroxy‐5‐(pyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one (HYPO, T1) and 2‐hydroxy‐5‐(pyrimidine‐2‐yl)‐3H‐pyrrole‐3‐one (HYPO, T2) have designed in this research to study potential energy curves for their dynamic motions and possibility of crossing between levels. Study of tautomerism shows that T1 tautomer is more stable than T2 (about 5.83 kJ/mol). Dynamic study of possible motions show rate constants (highest possible) equal to 8.82 M/s for tautomerism, 1.70 × 10⁹ M/s for relative rotation of ring (rr) and 3.67 × 10⁶ M/s for rotation of OH bond (br). Moreover, variations of orbital populations, NBO charges, hybridations, and acceptor–donor interactions in IRC steps have been investigated to study the possibility of non‐adiabatic crossing between tautomerism and ring rotation potential energy curves. The data showed that in spite of the fact that these two potentials share three common points, these two potential curves cannot have non‐adiabatic crossing because of different symmetries and a large difference between their barrier energies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Basicity of the polydentate captodative aminoenones. Ab initio,DFT, and FTIR study

Electron donating ability of the oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon atoms of captodative aminoenones R'CH = C(NR₂)EWG, EWG = CHO, C(O)Me, C(O)CF₃, C(O)Ph was investigated using ab initio and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, Natural Bond Analysis (NBO) analysis, and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy. The influence of both electron withdrawing group (EWG) and double bond substituents on the proton affinity of the basic centers, orbital interaction, as well as resonance stabilization energies between heteroatoms and double bonds are discussed. The results obtained are critically compared with the push–pull aminoenones. The comparison of experimental values ΔνOH and theoretical values of H‐bonding energy was used to determine the H‐complex type of aminoenone with phenol and the H‐bond strength. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elaborating the excited state behavior of 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine coupling with methanol solvent

We present a theoretical investigation about the excited state dynamical mechanism of 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine (DMAPIP‐c). Within the framework of density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we reasonably repeat the experimental electronic spectra, which further confirm the theoretical level used in this work is feasible. Given the best complex model, 3 methanol (MeOH) solvent molecules should be connected with DMAPIP‐c forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH complex in both ground state and excited state. Exploring the changes about bond lengths and bond angles involved in hydrogen bond wires, we find the O7‐H8···N9 one should be largely strengthened in the S₁ state, which plays an important role in facilitating the excited state intermolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. In addition, the analyses about infrared vibrational spectra also confirm this conclusion. The redistribution about charges distinguished via frontier molecular orbitals based on the photoexcitation, we do find tendency of ESIPT reaction due to the most charges located around N9 atom in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. Based on constructing the potential energy curves of both S₀ and S₁ states, we not only confirm that the ESIPT process should firstly occur along with hydrogen bond wire O7‐H8···N9, but also find a low potential energy barrier 8.898 kcal/mol supports the ESIPT reaction in the S₁ state forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT configuration. Subsequently, DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT could twist its dimethylamino moiety with a lower barrier 3.475 kcal/mol forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT‐TICT structure. Our work not only successfully explains previous experimental work but also paves the way for the further applications about DMAPIP‐c sensor in future.     

The ESIPT mechanism of dibenzimidazolo diimine sensor: a detailed TDDFT study

Spectroscopic investigations on excited state proton transfer of a new dibenzimidazolo diimine sensor (DDS) were reported by Goswami et al. recently. In our present work, based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism of DDS is studied theoretically. Our calculated results reproduced absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of the previous experiment, which verifies that the TDDFT method we adopted is reasonable and effective. The calculated dominating bond lengths and bond angles involved in hydrogen bond demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened. In addition, the phenomenon of hydrogen bond reinforce has also been testified based on infrared vibrational spectra. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of ESIPT process. The calculated frontier molecular orbitals further demonstrate that the excited state proton transfer is likely to occur. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along O–H coordinate, the potential energy barrier of about 5.02 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₀ state. However, a lower potential energy barrier of 0.195 kcal/mol is found in the S₁ state, which demonstrates that the proton transfer process is more likely to happen in the S₁ state than the S₀ state. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the photo‐excitation effectively. Moreover, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching could be explained based on the ESIPT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Is it possible to synthesize organic Ar compound? a theoretical study

The currently synthesized noble gas (Ng) molecules are mostly xenon or krypton compounds. HArF is the only experimentally prepared compound containing a light Ng atom. In this work, a new argon compound with the formula HArC₄CN, was predicted to be theoretically stable (5.66 kcal/mol at ROCCSD(T)/6-311++g(2d,2p) level of theory). Two decomposition transition states were found, i.e. the 3-body and 2-body decomposition, which produces H, Ar and C₄CN or HC₄CN and Ar respectively. The HArC4CN molecule is meta-stable, but the low energy barrier between the stable molecule and the 3-body transition state makes it possible to synthesize from the three fragments and the high energy barrier between the minimum and the 2-body transition state prevented it from decomposing. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and electron localization function (ELF) analysis show a strong ionic bond between Ar and C atoms whereas covalent between Ar and H. Compared with previous work, it is the conjugation effect of ?C₄CN as well as the its electronegativity that activates the noble gas atom and results in a stable noble gas compound.     

Theoretical investigation on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone

Spectroscopic studies on excited‐state proton transfer of a new chromophore 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone (BFHC) have been reported recently. In the present work, based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT), the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of BFHC is investigated theoretically. The calculated primary bond lengths and angles involved in hydrogen bond demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened. In addition, the phenomenon of hydrogen bond reinforce has also been testified based on infrared (IR) vibrational spectra as well as the calculated hydrogen bonding energies. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of excited state proton transfer. Our calculated results reproduced absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of experiment, which verifies that the TD‐DFT theory we used is reasonable and effective. The calculated Frontier Molecular Orbitals (MOs) further demonstrate that the excited state proton transfer is likely to occur. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along O―H coordinate, the potential energy barrier of about 14.5 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₀ state. However, a lower potential energy barrier of 5.4 kcal/mol is found in the S₁ state, which demonstrates that the proton transfer process is more likely to happen in the S₁ state than the S₀ state. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the photo‐excitation effectively. Moreover, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching could be explained based on the ESIPT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Halogen bond between hypervalent halogens YF3/YF5 (Y=Cl,Br, I) and H2X (X= O,S, Se)

ABSTRACT

The complexes of H₂X (X?=?O, S, Se) with hypervalent halogens YF₃ and YF₅ (Y?=?Cl, Br, I) have been studied. The σ-hole on the Y atom participates in a halogen bond with the lone pair on the chalcogen atom. In addition, some secondary interactions coexist with the halogen bond in most complexes. The interaction energy correlates with the nature of both X and Y atoms. In most cases, the complex is more stable for the heavier Y atom and the lighter X atom. Of course, there are some exceptions in H₂X···YF₃. YF₃ forms a more stable complex with H₂X than does YF₅. These complexes are dominated by electrostatic interaction and the halogen bond involving H₂S and H₂Se exhibits some covalent character.

Halogen bond plays an important role in chemical reactions and multivalent halogens can regulate chemical reactions by participating in a halogen bond. Thus we compare the effect of the chalcogen electron donor on the strength and nature of halogen bonding involving multivalent halogens.     

Hydrogen bonding and excited state properties of the photoexcited hydrogen‐bonded (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate complexes

The time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method has been performed to investigate the excited state and hydrogen bonding dynamics of a series of photoinduced hydrogen‐bonded complexes formed by (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate with water molecules in vacuum. The ground state geometric optimizations and electronic transition energies as well as corresponding oscillator strengths of the low‐lying electronic excited states of the (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate monomer and its hydrogen‐bonded complexes O₁‐H₂O, O₂‐H₂O, and O₁O₂‐(H₂O)₂ were calculated by the density functional theory and TDDFT methods, respectively. It is found that in the excited states S₁ and S₂, the intermolecular hydrogen bond formed with carbonyl oxygen is strengthened and induces an excitation energy redshift, whereas the hydrogen bond formed with phenolate oxygen is weakened and results in an excitation energy blueshift. This can be confirmed based on the excited state geometric optimizations by the TDDFT method. Furthermore, the frontier molecular orbital analysis reveals that the states with the maximum oscillator strength are mainly contributed by the orbital transition from the highest occupied molecular orbital to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. These states are of locally excited character, and they correspond to single‐bond isomerization while the double bond remains unchanged in vacuum.     

Can tetra‐tert‐butylethylene be formed by ion–ion recombination or ion–molecule reaction of two di‐tert‐butylcarbene units?—a DFT study

The reaction channels of di‐tert‐butylcarbene ( 2 ), its radical anion, ( 3 ) and its radical cation ( 4 ) were investigated theoretically by using DFT/B3LYP with 6‐31+G(d) basis set and 6‐311+G(2d,p) for single point energy calculations. Conversion of the neutral carbene 2 to the charged species 3 and 4 results in significant geometric changes. In cation 4 two different types of C? (CH₃)₃ bonds are observed: one elongated sigma bond called “axial” with 1.61 Å and two normal sigma bonds with a bond length of 1.55 Å. Species 2 and 4 have an electron deficient carbon center; therefore, migration of CH₃ and H is observed from adjacent tert‐butyl groups with low activation energies in the range of 6–9 kcal/mol like similar Wagner–Meerwein rearrangements in the neopentyl‐cation system. Neutral carbene 2 shows C? H insertion to give a cyclopropane derivative with an activation energy of 6.1 kcal/mol in agreement with former calculations. Contrary to species 2 and 4 , the radical anion 3 has an electron rich carbon center which results in much higher calculated activation energies of 26.3 and 42.1 kcal/mol for H and CH₃ migrations, respectively. NBO charge distribution indicates that the hydrogen migrates as a proton. The central issue of this work is the question: how can tetra‐tert‐butylethylene ( 1 ) be prepared from reaction of either species 2 , 3 , or 4 as precursors? The ion–ion reaction between 3 and 4 to give alkene 1 with a calculated reaction enthalpy of 203.5 kcal/mol is extremely exothermic. This high energy decomposes alkene 1 after its formation into two molecules of carbene 2 spontaneously. Ion–molecule reaction of radical anion 3 with the neutral carbene 2 is a much better choice: via a proper oriented charge–transfer complex the radical anion of tetra‐tert‐butylethylene (11) is formed. The electron affinity of 1 was calculated to be negligible. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of protonation on individual hydrogen bonds in the 8-oxoguanine-cytosine base pair: NMR,NBO and AIM analyses

Protonation increases the total binding energy of the 8-oxoguanine-cytosine (8OG:C) base pair by 60–70% at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,?p) level of theory. It changes the individual H-bond energies, estimated from electron charge densities at bond critical points, by 1.16 to ?16.41?kcal?mol^?1. The individual H-bond energies and the two bond X–Y spin–spin coupling constants (^2hJ_X–Y) increase with protonation where 8OG behaves as an H-bond donor; the reverse is true for the H-bonds in which the 8OG unit acts as an H-bond acceptor. Similar to ^2hJ_X–Y, the value of ^1hJ_O–H (a one-bond H?···?Y spin–spin coupling constant) is distance dependent and in linear correlation with the O?···?H distance, but the ^1hJ_N–H values are independent of the N–H distance and the PSO term is the predominant portion in it. The ¹J_X–H spin–spin coupling constant is dominated by the negative FC term for all hydrogen bonds, although the PSO term is the best to investigate the behaviour of ¹J_X–H across the X–H?·?Y H-bond.