Substituent effects on acidity of aryl‐substituted fluoroalkanes: a computational study

The gas‐phase acidities (GA) of various aryl‐substituted fluoroalkanes, XC₆H₄CH(R¹)R², were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311 + G(d,p). The acidity values of alkanes having a common substituent X varied significantly with the change of R¹ and R². Their changes in acidity of 1 and 2 having two strong electron‐withdrawing groups (CF₃ or C₂F₅) at the deprotonation site and 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 having no fluorine atom at β‐position were linearly correlated with the corrected number of fluorine atoms contained in the fluorinated alkyl group (R² > 0.999). On the other hand, the GA values of β‐fluorine substituted alkanes ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ) deviated in a stronger acid direction from the line. The enhanced acidity was attributed to the additional stabilization of the conjugate anion caused by the β‐fluorine negative hyperconjugation. The magnitude of β‐fluorine negative hyperconjugation of the fluorinated alkyl group (ΔG^o_β‐F) given by the deviations from the line decreased with increasing electron‐withdrawing ability of substituent X on the benzene ring, indicating that β‐fluorine negative hyperconjugation competes with the electronic effect of the substituent X. The GA_el values obtained by subtraction ΔG^o_β‐F from the apparent GA value were successfully correlated in terms of the Yukawa–Tsuno equation. The obtained ρ_el and r^?_el values were linearly related to the GA_el value of the respective phenyl‐substituted fluoroalkanes, supporting our previous conclusion that the ρ and r^? values for the substituent effect caused by the electronic effects of the substituent on the acidity are determined by the thermodynamic stability of the parent ion (ring substituent = H). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transmission of polar substituent effects across the cubane ring system: 19F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides revisited

¹⁹F NMR shieldings of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides ( 4 ) for a set of substituents (X?H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH, F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^? and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT‐GIAO theoretical model. The level of theory, B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d,p), provided ¹⁹F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) in good agreement with experimental values where known. By means of NBO analysis, various molecular parameters were obtained from the optimized geometries. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated ¹⁹F SCS and polar field, resonance and group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F, σ_R and σ_x, respectively) and also the NBO derived molecular parameters (fluorine natural charges (Q_n), electron occupancies on fluorine of lone pairs (n_F) and occupation number of the C? F antibonding orbital (σ_CF*)). The key determining parameters appear to be n_F and σ_CF*(occup). Both factors are a function of the electrostatic field influence of the substituent (σ_F effect) but are counteractive in their influence on the shifts. No evidence for a significant resonance effect influence on the shifts could be identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1,5‐electrocyclization versus 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and 2‐phospha‐allylides: a DFT investigation

The competitive 1,5‐electrocyclization versus intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides has been investigated theoretically at the DFT (B3LYP/6‐311 + +G**//B3LYP/6‐31G**) level. 1,5‐Electrocyclization follows pericyclic mechanism and its activation barrier is lower than that for the pseudopericyclic mechanism by ～5–6 kcal mol^?1. The activation barriers for 1,5‐electrocyclization of imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides are found to be smaller than those for their nonphosphorus analogues by ～3–5 kcal mol^?1. There appears to be a good correlation between the activation barrier for intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift and the density of the negative charge at C8, except for the ylides having fluorine substituent at this position ( 7b and 8b ). The presence of fluorine atom reduces the density of the negative charge at C8 (in 7b it becomes positively charged) and thus raises the activation barrier. The ylides 7f and 8f having CF₃ group at C8, in preference to the 1,5‐proton shift, follow an alternative route leading to different carbenes which is accompanied by the loss of HF. The carbenes Pr _{7 , 8b – e} resulting from intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift have a strong tendency to undergo intramolecular S_N2 type reaction, the activation barrier being 7–28 kcal mol^?1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculated polar substituent effects on the stability of 4‐substituted(X) ‐ cub‐1‐yl and ‐bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐1‐yl cations: a DFT study

The effects of substituents on the stability of 4‐substituted(X) cub‐1‐yl cations ( 2 ), as well as the benchmark 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐1‐yl cation systems ( 7 ), for a set of substituents (X = H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH , F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^?, and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT theoretical model at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d,p) level of theory. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated relative hydride affinities (ΔE, kcal/mol) of the appropriate isodesmic reactions for 2 / 7 and polar field/group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F and σ_χ, respectively). The analysis reveals that the ΔE values of both systems are best described by a combination of both substituent constants. This highlights the distinction between through‐space and through‐bond electronic influences characterized by σ_F and σ_χ, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effect study on δc values of the bridge group carbons in disubstituted cinnamyl aniline series

The ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts δ_c of bridge group carbons (C‐β, C‐α, and C═N) were measured in this work for a wide set of substituted cinnamyl anilines p‐XC₆H₄CH═CHCH═NC₆H₄Y‐p (X = NO₂, Cl, H, Me, MeO, or NMe₂; Y = NO₂, CN, CO₂Et, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, or NMe₂) and were used to study the substituent effect. In the study on ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the titled compounds with single substituent changed, for every bridge carbon δ_c, the effect of cinnamyl substituent X is opposite to that of aniline substituent Y. That is, the action of the same substituent on different aromatic rings is different from the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, and for C‐β, C‐α, and C═N, the choice of correlation equation depends on the ratio ρ_F(Y)/ρ_R(Y). When the ratio ρ_F(Y)/ρ_R(Y) is close to 1, the chemical shifts of bridge carbons can be well correlated with the single‐parameter equation; otherwise, it is better to adopt the dual‐parameter equation for correlation, and the further the values of ρ_F(Y)/ρ_R(Y) stray from 1, the more suitable the corresponding δ_c values are to be correlated with the dual‐parameter equation. In the study on δ_c of model compounds with simultaneous variations of substituents X and Y, for δ_c(C═N), a multi‐parameter correlation equation is obtained, and the substituent cross‐interaction item Δσ² is suitable to scale the interaction between substituents; however, for δ_c(C‐α and C‐β), the substituent cross‐interaction item Δσ² is perhaps too small to be observed. The multi‐parameter correlation equations can be recommended to predict well the corresponding δ_c values of disubstituted cinnamyl anilines. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effect investigation of 3‐(2, 4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one. Part 1. Correlation analysis of 13C NMR chemical shifts

A series of substituted chlorinated chalcones namely, 3‐(2,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one, have been synthesized, X being H, NH₂, OMe, Me, F, Cl, CO₂Et, CN, and NO₂. Dual substituent parameter (DSP) models of ¹³C NMR chemical shift (CS) have revealed that π‐polarization concept could be utilized to explain the reverse field effect at CO, the enhanced substituent field effect at CO, C‐2, and C‐5, and the decreased sensitivity of substituent field effect at C‐6. Chlorine atoms dipole direction at the benzylidene ring either enhances or reduces substituent effect depending on how they couple with the substituent dipole at the probe site. The correlation of ¹³C NMR CS of C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6 with σ and σ indicates that chlorine atoms in the benzylidine ring deplete the ring from charges. Both MSP of Hammett and DSP of Taft ¹³C NMR CS models give similar trends of substituent effects at C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6. However, the former fail to give a significant correlation for CO and C‐6 ¹³C NMR CS. MSP of σ_q and DSP of Taft and Reynolds models significantly correlated ¹³C NMR CS of C_β. MSP of σ_q fails to correlate C‐1′ ¹³C NMR CS. Investigation of ¹³C NMR CS of non‐chlorinated chalcones series: 3‐phenyl‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one has revealed similar trends of substituent effects as in the chlorinated chalcones series for C‐1′, CO, C_α, and C_β. In contrast, the substituent effect of the non‐chlorinated chalcone series at C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6 did not correlate with any substituent constant. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A natural bond orbital analysis of aryl‐substituted polyfluorinated carbanions: negative hyperconjugation

Aryl‐substituted polyfluorinated carbanions, ArCHR_f^? where R_f = CF₃ ( 1 ), C₂F₅ ( 2 ), i‐C₃F₇ ( 3 ), and t‐C₄F₉ ( 4 ), were analyzed by means of the natural bond orbital (NBO) theory at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) computational level. A lone pair NBO at the formal anionic center carbon (Cα) was not found in the Lewis structure. Instead, significant donor/acceptor NBO interactions between π(Cα‐C1) and σ*(Cβ‐F) or σ*(Cβ‐Cγ) were observed for 1 , 2 , 3a (strong electron‐withdrawing substituent, from p‐CF₃ to p‐NO₂), and 4 . Their second‐order donor/acceptor perturbation interaction energy, E(2), values decreased with the increase of the stability of carbanions. A larger E(2) value corresponds to longer Cβ‐F and Cβ‐Cγ bonds and a shorter Cα‐Cβ bond, indicating that the E(2) values can be associated with the negative hyperconjugation of the Cβ‐F and Cβ‐Cγ bonds. In accordance with this, the E(2) values for π(Cα‐C1) → σ*(Cβ‐F) were linearly correlated with the ΔG^o_β‐F values (an empirical measure of β‐fluorine negative hyperconjugation obtained from an increased acidity). In 3b (weak electron‐withdrawing substituents, from H to m‐NO₂) very large E(2) values for LP(Fβ) → π*(Cα‐Cβ) were obtained. This was attributed to the Cβ‐F bond cleavage and the Cα‐Cβ double bond formation in the Lewis structure that is caused by the extremely strong negative hyperconjugation of the Cβ‐F bond.     

Comparison of the 13C (C = N) chemical shifts of substituted N‐(phenyl‐ethylene)‐anilines and substituted N‐(benzylidene)‐anilines

Comparison of ¹³C NMR of C = N bond chemical shifts δ_C(C = N) in substituted N‐(phenyl‐ethylene)‐anilines XArC(Me) = NArY (XPEAYs) with that in substituted N‐(benzylidene)‐anilines XArCH = NArY (XBAYs) was carried out. The δ_C(C = N) of 61 samples of XPEAYs were measured, and the substituent effect on their δ_C(C = N) were investigated. The results show the factors affecting the δ_C(C = N) of XPEAYs are quite different from that of XBAYs. A penta‐parameter correlation equation was obtained for the 61 compounds, which has correlation coefficient 0.9922 and standard error 0.12 ppm. The result indicates that, in XPEAYs, the inductive effects of substituents X and Y are major factors affecting the δ_C(C = N), while the conjugative effect of them have very little effect on the δ_C(C = N) and can be ignored. The substituent‐specific cross‐interaction effects between X and Y and between Me of C = N bond and substituent Y are important factors affecting the δ_C(C = N). Also, the excited‐state substituent parameter of substitute Y has certain contribution to the δ_C(C = N). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conformational analysis of N‐phenyl‐ and N‐trifyl‐4,4‐dimethyl‐4‐silathiane 1‐sulfimides

N‐Substituted 4,4‐dimethyl‐4‐silathiane 1‐sulfimides [R = Ph ( 1 ), CF₃ ( 2 )] were studied experimentally by variable temperature dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Low temperature ¹³C NMR spectra of the two compounds revealed the frozen ring inversion process and approximately equal content of the axial and equatorial conformers. Calculations of the 4‐silathiane derivatives 1 , 2 and the model compound [R = Me ( 3 )] as well as their carbon analogs, the similarly N‐substituted thiane 1‐sulfimides [R = Ph ( 4 ), CF₃ ( 5 ), Me ( 6 )] at the DFT/B3LYP/6–311G(d,p) level in the gas phase and in chloroform solution using the PCM model at the same level of theory showed a strong dependence of the relative stability of the conformer on the solvent. The electronegative trifluoromethyl group increases the relative stability of the axial conformer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The β‐silicon effect. 4: substituent effects on the solvolysis of 1‐alkyl‐2‐(aryldimethylsilyl)ethyl trifluoroacetates

Solvolysis rates of 2‐(aryldimethylsilyl)‐1‐methylethyl and 2‐(aryldimethylsilyl)‐1‐tert‐butylethyl trifluoroacetates were determined conductimetrically in 60% (v/v) aqueous ethanol. The effects of aryl substituents at the silicon atom on the solvolysis rates at 50 °C were correlated with parameters of r⁺ = 0.15 with the Yukawa–Tsuno equation, giving ρ values of ?1.5 for both secondary α‐Me and α‐tert‐Bu systems. The ρ values for those secondary systems are less negative than ?1.75 for the 2‐(aryldimethylsilyl)ethyl system that proceeds by the Eaborn (non‐vertical) mechanism, while they are distinctly more negative than ?0.99 for 2‐(aryldimethylsilyl)‐1‐phenylethyl system that should proceed by the Lambert (vertical) mechanism. There was a fairly linear relationship between the reaction constants (ρ) for the β‐silyl substituent effects and the solvolysis reactivities for a series of β‐silyl substrates. The solvolyses of the α‐Me and tert‐Bu substrates proceed through the transition state (TS) with an appreciable degree of the β‐silyl participation, close to the Eaborn (non‐vertical) TS rather than to the Lambert (vertical) TS. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas‐phase acidity of bis[(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl]imides. Effects of the perfluoroalkyl group on the acidity

The gas‐phase acidity (GA) values were determined for a number of perfluoroalkyl‐substituted sulfonylimides by measuring proton‐transfer equilibria using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometer. The GA scale below 286.5 kcal mol^?1 for (CF₃SO₂)₂NH was extended and partially revised. The GA value of (C₄F₉SO₂)₂NH which is currently the strongest acid was revised from 284.1 to 278.6 kcal mol^?1. The effect of fluorine atoms on the acidity of perfluoroalkyl‐substituted sulfonylimides was described with the following model where N_(α), N_(β), N_(γ), and N_(δ) are the numbers of fluorine atoms at α, β, γ, and δ position in R_fSO₂ (R_f = perfluoroalkyl group), respectively. This correlation indicates that the electron‐withdrawing ability of the R_fSO₂ group can be described in terms of the number of fluorine atoms in the perfluoroalkyl group corrected by taking into account their positions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effects on the 13C NMR chemical shifts of the imine carbon in N‐(4‐X–benzylidene)‐4‐(4‐Y–styryl) anilines

Long‐range electronic substituent effects were targeted using the substituent dependence of δ_C(C═N), and specific cross‐interactions were explored extendedly. A wide set of N‐(4‐X–benzylidene)‐4‐(4‐Y–styryl) anilines, p‐X–C₆H₄CH═NC₆H₄CH═CHC₆H₄–p‐Y (X = NMe₂, OMe, Me, H, Cl, F, CN, or NO₂; Y = NMe₂, OMe, Me, H, Cl, or CN) were prepared for this study, and their ¹³C NMR chemical shifts δ_C(C═N) of C═N bonds were measured. The results show that both the inductive and resonance effects of the substituents Y on the δ_C(C═N) of p‐X–C₆H₄CH═NC₆H₄CH═CHC₆H₄–p‐Y are less than those of the substituents Y in p‐X–C₆H₄CH═NC₆H₄–p‐Y. Moreover, the sensitivity of the electronic character of the C═N function to electron donation/electron withdrawal by the substituent X or Y attenuates as the length of the conjugated chain is elongated. It was confirmed that the substituent cross‐interaction is an important factor influencing δ_C(C═N), not only when both X and Y are varied but also when either X or Y is fixed. The long‐range transmission of the specific cross‐interaction effects on δ_C(C═N) decreases with increasing conjugated distance between X and Y. The results of this study suggest that there is a long‐range transmission of the substituent effects in p‐X–C₆H₄CH═NC₆H₄CH═CHC₆H₄–p‐Y. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hartree–Fock and density functional theory study of remote substituent effects on heterolytic Fe–N bond energies of p‐G‐C6H4NHFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and p‐G‐C6H4N(COMe)Fe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5)

The nature and strength of metal–ligand bonds in organotransition‐metal complexes are crucial to the understanding of organometallic reactions and catalysis. Quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory have been used to investigate heterolytic Fe–N bond energies of para‐substituted anilinyldicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)iron [p‐G‐C₆H₄NH(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, abbreviated as p‐G‐C₆H₄NHFp (1), where G = NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂] and para‐substituted α‐acetylanilinyldicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)iron [p‐G‐C₆H₄N(COMe)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, abbreviated as p‐G‐C₆H₄N(COMe)Fp (2)] complexes. The results show that BP86 and TPSSTPSS can provide the best price/performance ratio and more accurate predictions in the study of ΔH_het(Fe–N)'s. The linear correlations [r = 0.98 (g, 1a), 0.93 (g, 2b)] between the substituent effects of heterolytic Fe–N bond energies [ΔΔH_het(Fe–N)'s] of series 1 and 2 and the differences of acidic dissociation constants (ΔpK_a) of N–H bonds of p‐G‐C₆H₄NH₂ and p‐G‐C₆H₄NH(COMe) imply that the governing structural factors for these bond scissions are similar. And the linear correlations [r = ?0.99 (g, 1c), ?0.92 (g, 2d)] between ΔΔH_het(Fe–N)'s and the substituent σ_p^? constants show that these correlations are in accordance with Hammett linear free energy relationships. The polar effects of these substituents and the basis set effects influence the accuracy of ΔH_het(Fe–N)'s. ΔΔH_het(Fe–N)'s(1, 2) follow the captodative principle. ME_{α‐COMe, para‐G}s include the influences of the whole molecules. The correlation of ME_{α‐COMe, para‐G}s with σ_p^? is excellent. ME_{α‐COMe, para‐G}s rather than ΔΔH_het(Fe–N)'s in series 2 are more suitable indexes for the overall substituent effects on ΔH_het(Fe–N)'s(2). Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extended X‐ray absorption fine structure and multiple‐scattering simulation of nickel dithiolene complexes Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2n (n = −2, −1, 0) and an olefin adduct Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2(1‐hexene)

A series of Ni dithiolene complexes Ni[S₂C₂(CF₃)]₂ⁿ (n = ?2, ?1, 0) ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and a 1‐hexene adduct Ni[S₂C₂(CF₃)₂]₂(C₆H₁₂) ( 4 ) have been examined by Ni K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) and extended X‐ray absorption fine‐structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. Ni XANES for 1 – 3 reveals clear pre‐edge features and approximately +0.7 eV shift in the Ni K‐edge position for `one‐electron' oxidation. EXAFS simulation shows that the Ni—S bond distances for 1 , 2 and 3 (2.11–2.16 Å) are within the typical values for square planar complexes and decrease by ～0.022 Å for each `one‐electron' oxidation. The changes in Ni K‐edge energy positions and Ni—S distances are consistent with the `non‐innocent' character of the dithiolene ligand. The Ni—C interactions at ～3.0 Å are analyzed and the multiple‐scattering parameters are also determined, leading to a better simulation for the overall EXAFS spectra. The 1‐hexene adduct 4 presents no pre‐edge feature, and its Ni K‐edge position shifts by ?0.8 eV in comparison with its starting dithiolene complex 3 . Consistently, EXAFS also showed that the Ni—S distances in 4 elongate by ～0.046 Å in comparison with 3 . The evidence confirms that the neutral complex is `reduced' upon addition of olefin, presumably by olefin donating the π‐electron density to the LUMO of 3 as suggested by UV/visible spectroscopy in the literature.     

Catalysis by hydrogen chloride in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol

A homogeneous, molecular, gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐ buten‐3‐ol catalyzed by hydrogen chloride in the temperature range 325–386 °C and pressure range 34–149 torr are described. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.01 ± 0.31) ? (109.5 ± 2.8) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1 and for 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.50 ± 0.18) ? (116.5 ± 1.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Electron delocalization of the CH₂?CH and C₆H₅ appears to be an important effect in the rate enhancement of acid catalyzed tertiary alcohols in the gas phase. A concerted six‐member cyclic transition state type of mechanism appears to be, as described before, a rational interpretation for the dehydration process of these substrates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hartree–Fock and density functional theory study of remote substituent effects on gas‐phase heterolytic Fe–O and Fe–S bond energies of p‐G‐C6H4OFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and p‐G‐C6H4SFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5)

The knowledge of accurate bond strengths is a fundamental basis for a proper analysis of chemical reaction mechanisms. Quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory have been used to investigate heterolytic Fe–O and Fe–S bond energies of para‐substituted phenoxydicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [p‐G‐C₆H₄O(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, abbreviated as p‐G‐C₆H₄OFp ( 1 ), where G = NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂] and para‐substituted benzenethiolatodicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [p‐G‐C₆H₄S(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, abbreviated as p‐G‐C₆H₄SFp ( 2 )] complexes. The results show that BP86 and TPSSTPSS can provide the best price/performance ratio and more accurate predictions in the study of ΔH_het(Fe–O)'s and ΔH_het(Fe–S)'s. The excellent linear free‐energy relations [r = 0.99 (g, 1a), 1.00 (g, 2b)] among the ΔΔH_het (Fe–O)'s and Δpk_a's of O–H bonds of p‐G‐C₆H₄OH or ΔΔH_het(Fe‐S)'s and Δpk_a's of S–H bonds of p‐G‐C₆H₄SH imply that the governing structural factors for these bond scissions are similar. And the linear correlations [r = ?0.99 (g, 1g), ?0.98 (g, 2h)] among the ΔΔH_het (Fe‐O)'s or ΔΔH_het(Fe‐S)'s and the substituent σ_p^? constants show that these correlations are in accordance with Hammett linear free‐energy relationships. The polar effects of these substituents and the basis set effects influence the accuracy of ΔH_het(Fe–O)'s or ΔH_het(Fe–S)'s. ΔΔH_het(Fe–O)'s(g) ( 1 ) and ΔΔH_het(Fe–S)'s(g)( 2 ) follow the Capto‐dative principle. The substituent effects on the Fe–O bonds are much stronger than those on the less polar Fe–S bonds. Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of ortho‐substituents in SE1 protonolysis of phenylmercuric chloride

The kinetics of the reactions of o‐substituted phenylmercuric chlorides, o‐RC₆H₄HgCl (R = CH₃, H, C₂H₅O, CH₃O, C₆H₅, F, COOC₂H₅, Cl, Br, CF₃, NO₂), with hydrochloric acid in 80% aqueous dioxane in the presence of NaI were studied. The reactions are of the first order. The rate constant at 40°C decreases in the order of R: CH₃ > H > C₂H₅O > CH₃O > C₆H₅ > F > COOC₂H₅ > Cl > Br > CF₃ > NO₂. The analysis of effects of those o‐substitutes is carried out through multiple regression of log k/k_H with the corresponding inductive substituent constants σ_I and the various resonance substituent constants σ, σ_R(BA), σ, σ and σ_x, and the corresponding Swain–Lupton field effect constant and resonance effect constant . The results showed that o‐substituent intramolecular coordination with the neighbor mercury (field effect) is the main effect in effects of o‐substituents on rate of the S_E1 protonolysis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Density functional theory study of substituent effects on gas‐phase heterolytic Fe–O and Fe–S bond energies of m‐G‐C6H4OFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and m‐G‐C6H4SFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5)

The knowledge of accurate bond strengths is a fundamental basis for a proper analysis of chemical reaction mechanisms. Quantum chemical calculations at different levels of theory have been used to investigate heterolytic Fe–O and Fe–S bond energies of (meta‐substituted phenoxy)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄OFp ( 1 )] and (meta‐substituted benzenethiolato)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄SFp ( 2 )] complexes. In this study, Fp is (η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, and G is NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂. The results show that Tao–Perdew–Staroverov–Scuseria and Becke's power‐series ansatz from 1997 with dispersion corrections functionals can provide the best price/performance ratio and accurate predictions of ΔH_het(Fe–O)'s and ΔH_het(Fe–S)'s. The excellent linear free energy relations [r = 1.00 (g, 1e), 1.00 (g, 2b)] among the ΔΔH_het (Fe–O)'s and δΔG⁰ of O?H bonds of m‐G‐C₆H₄OH or ΔΔH_het(Fe–S)'s and ΔpK_a's of S?H bonds of m‐G‐C₆H₄SH imply that the governing structural factors for these bond scissions are similar. And, the linear correlations [r = ?0.97 (g, 1 g), ?0.97 (g, 2 h)] among the ΔΔH_het (Fe–O)'s or ΔΔH_het(Fe–S)'s and the substituent σ_m constants show that these correlations are in accordance with Hammett linear free energy relationships. The inductive effects of these substituents and the basis set effects influence the accuracy of ΔH_het(Fe–O)'s or ΔH_het(Fe–S)'s. The ΔΔH_het(Fe–O)'s(g) (1) and ΔΔH_het(Fe–S)'s(g)(2) follow the capto‐dative Principle. The substituent effects on the Fe–O bonds are much stronger than those on the less polar Fe–S bonds. Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effects on gas‐phase homolytic Fe–N bond energies of m‐G‐C6H4NHFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and m‐G‐C6H4N(COMe)Fe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) studied using density functional theory methods

One of the most fundamental properties in chemistry is the bond dissociation energy, the energy required to break a specific bond of a molecule. In this paper, the Fe–N homolytic bond dissociation energies [ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s] of 2 series of (meta‐substituted anilinyl)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄NHFp ( 1 )] and (meta‐substituted α‐acetylanilinyl)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄N(COMe)Fp ( 2 )] were studied using density functional theory methods with large basis sets. In this study, Fp is (η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, and G is NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂. The results show that Tao‐Perdew‐Staroverov‐Scuseria, Minnesota 2006, and Becke's power‐series ansatz from 1997 with dispersion corrections functionals can provide the best price/performance ratio and accurate predictions of ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. The ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s ( 1 and 2 ) conform to the captodative principle. The polar effects of the meta‐substituents show the dominant role to the magnitudes of ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. σ_α· and σ_c· values for meta‐substituents are all related to polar effects. Spin‐delocalization effects of the meta‐substituents in ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s are small but not necessarily zero. RE plays an important role in determining the net substituent effects on ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes.     

Substituent effects on gas‐phase homolytic Fe–O and Fe–S bond energies of m‐G‐C6H4OFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and m‐G‐C6H4SFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) studied using Hartree–Fock and density functional theory methods

The thermochemistry of organometallic complexes in solution and in the gas phase has been an area of increasing research interest. In this paper, the Fe–O and Fe–S homolytic bond dissociation energies [ΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s and ΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s] of two series of meta‐substituted phenoxydicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄OFp ( 1 )] and (meta‐substituted benzenethiolato)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄SFp ( 2 )] were studied using Hartree–Fock and density functional theory methods with large basis sets. In this study, Fp is (η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, and G are NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂. The results show that Tao–Perdew–Staroverov–Scuseria and Minnesota 2006 functionals can provide the best price/performance ratio and accurate predictions of ΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s and ΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s. The polar effects of the meta substituents show that the dominant role to the magnitudes of ΔΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s or ΔΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s. σ_α·, σ_c· values for meta substituents are all related to polar effects. Spin‐delocalization effects of the meta substituents in ΔΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s and ΔΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s are small but not necessarily zero. Molecular effects rather than ΔΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s and ΔΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s are more suitable indexes for the overall substituent effects on ΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s and ΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s. The meta substituent effects of meta‐electron‐withdrawing groups on the Fe–S bonds are much stronger than those on the Fe–O bonds. For meta‐electron‐donating groups, the meta substituent effects have the comparable magnitudes between series 1 and 2 . ΔΔH_homo(Fe–O)'s ( 1 ) and ΔΔH_homo(Fe–S)'s ( 2 ) conform to the captodative principle. Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.