Theoretical study of the reaction of Sc with SCO in gas phase

In order to elucidate the mechanism of reaction M⁺ + SCO, both triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the reaction of Sc⁺ + SCO have been theoretically investigated using the DFT (B3LYP/6-311+G*) level of theory. The geometries for reactants, intermediates, transition states and products were completely optimized. All the transition states were verified by the vibrational analysis and the intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations. The involving potential energy curve-crossing dramatically affects reaction mechanism, reaction rate has been discussed, and the crossing points (CPs) have been localized by the approach suggested by Yoshizawa et al. The present results show that the reaction mechanism are insertion–elimination mechanism both along the C–S and C–O bond activation branches, but the C–S bond activation is much more favorable in energy than the C–O bond activation. All theoretical results not only support the existing conclusions inferred from early experiment, but also complement the pathway and mechanism for this reaction.     

Theoretical study of the reaction of Ni with OCS

The reactivity of Ni⁺ with OCS on both doublet and quartet potential energy surfaces (PES) has been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. The object of this investigation was the elucidation of the reaction mechanism. The calculated results indicated that both the CS and CO bond activations proceed via an insertion–elimination mechanism. Intersystem crossing between the doublet and quartet surfaces may occur along both the CS and CO bond activation branches. The ground states of NiS⁺ and NiO⁺ were found to be quartets, whereas NiCO⁺ and NiCS⁺ have doublet ground states. The CS bond activation is energetically much more favorable than the CO bond activation. All theoretical results are in line with early experiments.     

Theoretical study on the reaction of VS^＋（^3∑^-, 1^Г） with CO

Two possible reaction mechanisms of VS^＋（^3∑^-, 1^Г） with CO in the gas phase have been studied by using B3LYP/TZVP and CCSD（T）/6-311＋G （3df, 3pd） methods： the O/S exchange reaction （VS^＋＋CO→VO^＋＋CS） and the S-transfer reaction （VS^＋ ＋ CO → V^＋ ＋ COS）. The two reactions proceed via two-step and one-step mechanism, respectively. The barriers of the triplet and singlet PESs are 30.6 and 50.9 kcal/mol, respectively, for O/S exchange reaction and 7.3 and 50.2 kcal/mol, respectively, for the S-transfer reaction. The results indicate that the triplet ground state reaction is more favorable, and the S-transfer reaction is more favorable than the O/S exchange reaction, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation.     

Density functional studies of the reactivity in the C–F bond activation of fluoromethane by bare lanthanum monocation

The potential energy surface and reaction mechanism corresponding to the reaction of lanthanum monocation with fluoromethane, which represents a prototype of the activation of C–F bond in fluorohydrocarbons by bare lanthanide cations, have been investigated for the first time by using density functional theory. A direct fluorine abstraction mechanism was revealed, namely after coordination of CH₃F to La⁺, electron transfer from La⁺ to the fluorine takes place, which favours the homolytic cleavage of the C–F bond to form LaF⁺ species and methyl radical. The related thermochemistry data involved in reaction of La⁺+CH₃F were determined, which can act as a guide for further experimental researches. The electron-transfer reactivity of the reaction was analyzed by using a state correlation diagram, in which a strongly avoided crossing behaviour on the transition state region was shown. The calculated state split energy between the ground and excited state on the transition state is 18.01 kcal mol⁻¹. The reaction of La⁺ with CH₃F was concluded to process in the adiabatic potential surface. The present results support the reaction mechanism inferred early from experimental data.     

On the reversible O2 binding of the Fe-porphyrin complex

Electronic mechanism of the reversible O(2) binding by heme was studied by using Density Functional Theory calculations. The ground state of oxyheme was calculated to be open singlet state [Fe(S =1/2) + O(2)(S = 1/2)]. The potential energy surface for singlet state is associative, while that for triplet state is dissociative. Because the ground state of the O(2)+ deoxyheme system is triplet in the dissociation limit [Fe(S = 2) + O(2)(S = 1)], the O(2) binding process requires relativistic spin-orbit interaction to accomplish the intersystem crossing from triplet to singlet states. Owing to the singlet-triplet crossing, the activation energies for both O(2) binding and dissociation become moderate, and hence reversible. We also found that the deviation of the Fe atom from the porphyrin plane is also important reaction coordinate for O(2) binding. The potential surface is associative/dissociative when the Fe atom locates in-plane/out-of-plane.     

Structure and conformational properties of carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride, O=C(N=S(O)F2)2

The molecular structure and conformational properties of O=C(N=S(O)F₂)₂ (carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride) were determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantumchemical calculations (HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G*). The analysis of the GED intensities resulted in a mixture of 76(12)% syn–syn and 24(12)% syn–anti conformer (ΔH⁰=H⁰(syn–anti)−H⁰(syn–syn)=1.11(32) kcal mol⁻¹) which is in agreement with the interpretation of the IR spectra (68(5)% syn–syn and 32(5)% syn–anti, ΔH⁰=0.87(11) kcal mol⁻¹). syn and anti describe the orientation of the S=N bonds relative to the C=O bond. In both conformers the S=O bonds of the two N=S(O)F₂ groups are trans to the C–N bonds. According to the theoretical calculations, structures with cis orientation of an S=O bond with respect to a C–N bond do not correspond to minima on the energy hyperface. The HF/3-21G* approximation predicts preference of the syn–anti structure (ΔE=−0.11 kcal mol⁻¹) and the B3LYP/6-31G* method results in an energy difference (ΔE=1.85 kcal mol⁻¹) which is slightly larger than the experimental values. The following geometric parameters for the O=C(N=S)₂ skeleton were derived (r_a values with 3σ uncertainties): C=O 1.193 (9) Å, C–N 1.365 (9) Å, S=N 1.466 (5) Å, O=C–N 125.1 (6)° and C–N=S 125.3 (10)°. The geometric parameters are reproduced satisfactorily by the HF/3-21G* approximation, except for the C–N=S angle which is too large by ca. 6°. The B3LYP method predicts all bonds to be too long by 0.02–0.05 Å and the C–N=S angle to be too small by ca. 4°.     

Velocity map imaging of the photolysis of n-C4H9Br in UV region

Using velocity map ion imaging technique, the photodissociation of n-C₄H₉Br in the wavelength range 231–267 nm was studied. The results and our ab initio calculations indicated that the absorption of n-C₄H₉Br in the investigated region originated from the excitations to the lowest three repulsive states, as assigned as 1A″, 2A′ and 3A′ in C_s symmetry. Dissociations occurred on the PES surfaces of the three states, terminating in C₄H₉+Br (²P_3/2) or C₄H₉ + Br^* (²P_1/2) as two channels, and being impacted by an avoided crossing between the PES surfaces of the 2A′ and 3A′ states. The transition dipole to the 1A″ state was perpendicular to the symmetry plane, so perpendicular to the C–Br bond. The transitions to the 3A′ state was polarized parallel to the symmetry plane, and also parallel to the C–Br bond. While the transition dipole to the 2A′ state was in the symmetry plane, but formed an angle of about 53.1° with the C–Br bond. We have also determined the avoided crossing probabilities, which affected the relative fractions of the individual pathways, for the photolysis of n-C₄H₉Br near 234 nm and 267 nm.     

DFT study on the reaction mechanisms of polyfluorosulfonate ester with F

Gas-phase reaction of C(1)F₃S(2)O₂O(3)C(4)H₂C(5)F₃ and F⁻(16) is investigated using DFT method. The geometries of various stationary points and their relative energies are obtained from 6-31+G*, 6-311G**, and 6-311++G** levels. In the S_N2(C) reaction leading to the cleavage of the C(4)–O(3) bond, the reaction complex results from attacking of F⁻ at a hydrogen atom H11 attached to carbon atom C(4). Afterward, F⁻ is attacking the atom C(4) from the backside of the atom O(3) with the help of the neighboring effect, and meanwhile a multi-membered ring, F(16)–H(11)–C(4)–C(5)–F(16), is being formed. The S_N2(C) reaction is irreversible. On the contrary, the S_N2(S) reaction leading to the cleavage of the S(2)–O(3) bond is reversible, and it is initiated by attacking of F⁻ at the atom S(2) from the backside of the atom O(3). The products of the reaction CF₃SO₃CH₂CF₃ +F⁻ should be, thermodynamically, controlled due to the reversibility of the S_N2(S) reaction, and those result, chemospecifically, from the cleavage of the C–O bond. At last, the SCRF calculations confirm that the solvent effect is preferable to the S_N2(C) reaction.     

叠氮化氰的光解离机理

采用多参考态方法,在MRCI+Q//CAS(10,9)/6-311+G(2df)水平上对叠氮化氰(N3CN)的光解离机理进行理论研究.优化得到基态(S0)和低激发态(S1、S2、T1)势能面上的极小点、过渡态、内转换交叉点(IC-S1/S0)和隙间窜跃交叉点(ISC-S1/T1)的结构和能量,构建反应势能面.在MRCI+Q//CAS(10,9)水平上计算N3CN的垂直激发能,并和实验值进行对比.结果表明,在S0、S1、S2和T1态势能面上,N—N键断裂生成N2+NCN是主要解离途径,而C—N键断裂通道是次要通道.实验观测到220 nm处的吸收峰对应分子由S0态到S1态的激发,对应主要光解离产物为NCN[a1△g];而在275 nm处的吸收峰则对应分子被激发到T1态,然后直接生成基态产物NCN[X3Σg-].我们的理论结果与实验测量符合得很好.     

A THEORETICAL TREATMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC STATES OF THIONINE AND RELATED MOLECULES

Abstract— –Problems associated with the protolytic equilibria of thionine and related molecules in their lowest excited electronic states were investigated. The theoretical arguments are based on semi-empirical SCF MO (CI) calculations for the π-electronic system of these molecules; all singly excited configurations were included in the CI. The results indicate that the basic form of thionine in its ground, first excited singlet and lowest triplet state is protonated at the heterocyclic N atom. The difference of the p K values of these three states can be explained in terms of the calculated charge densities. The photochemical reactivity of the lowest triplet of the acidic form of thionine (³TH₂²⁺) differs greatly from that of the lowest triplet of the basic form (³TH⁺). Some arguments for the assignment of nπ* character to ³TH₂²⁺ and ππ* character to ³TH⁺ are advanced.     

Theoretical study of the reaction of carbon monoxide with oxygen molecules in the ground triplet and singlet delta states

Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to study the reaction of carbon monoxide with molecular oxygen in the ground triplet and singlet delta states. Transition states and intermediates that connect the reactants with products of the reaction on the triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces were identified on the base of coupled-cluster method. The values of energy barriers were refined by using compound techniques such as CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, and G3. The calculations showed that there exists an intersection of triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces. This fact leads to the appearance of two channels for the triplet CO+O(2)(X(3)Σ(g)(-)) reaction, which produces atomic oxygen in the ground O((3)P) and excited O((1)D) states. The appropriate rate constants of all reaction paths were estimated on the base of nonvariational transition-state theory. It was found that the singlet reaction rate constant is much greater than the triplet one and that the reaction channel CO+O(2)(a(1)Δ(g)) should be taken into consideration to interpret the experimental data on the oxidation of CO by molecular oxygen.     

氧硫化碳在230 nm光激发下的S(~3P)解离通道

在230nm激光激发下,氧硫化碳(OCS)分子迅速解离生成振动基态但高转动激发的CO(X~1∑_g~+,v=0,J=42-69)碎片,并通过共振增强多光子电离技术实现其离子化。通过检测处于J=56-69转动激发态CO碎片的离子速度聚焦影像,我们获得了各转动态CO碎片的速度分布和空间角度分布,其中包含了S(1D)+CO的单重态和S(~3P_J)+CO三重态解离通道的贡献。不同的转动态CO碎片对应三重态产物通道的量子产率略有不同,经加权平均我们得到230 nm附近光解OCS分子中S(3P)解离通道的量子产率为4.16%。结合高精度量化计算的OCS分子势能面和吸收截面的信息,我们获得了OCS光解的三重态解离机理,即基态OCS(X~1A')分子吸收一个光子激发到弯曲的A~1A'态之后,通过内转换跃迁回弯曲构型的基电子态,随后在C-S键断裂过程中与2~3A"(c~3A")态强烈耦合并沿后者势能面绝热解离。     

Molecular structure and conformational stability of allylisocyanate—post-Hartree–Fock and density functional theory studies

The molecular structure and conformational stability of allylisocyanate (CH₂CHCH₂NCO) molecule was studied using the ab initio and DFT methods. The geometries of possible conformers, C-gauche (δ=120°, θ=0°) (δ=C=C–C–N and θ=C–C–N=C) and C-cis N-trans (δ=0° and θ=180°) were optimized employing HF/6-31G^*, MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory of ab initio and BLYP, B3LYP, BPW91 and B3PW91 methods of DFT implementing the atomic basis set 6-311+G(d,p). The structural and physical parameters of the above conformers were discussed with the experimental and theoretical values of the related molecules, methylisocyanate and 3-fluoropropene. It has been found that the N=C=O bond angle is not linear as the experimental result for both the conformers and the theoretical bond angle is 173°. The rotational potential energy surfaces have been performed at the HF/6-31G^*, and MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory. The Fourier decomposition potentials were analysed at the HF/6-31G^*, and MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory. The HF/6-31G^* level of theory predicted that the C-gauche conformer is more stable than the C-cis N-trans conformer by 0.41 kJ/mol, but the MP2 and DFT methods predicted the C-cis N-trans conformer is found to be more stable than the C-gauche conformer. The calculated chemical hardness value at the HF/6-31G^* level of theory predicted the C-cis N-trans form is more stable than C-gauche form, whereas the chemical hardness value at the MP2/6-31G^* level of theory favours the slight preference towards the C-gauge conformer.     

Structure and stability of thiourea with water, DFT and MP2 calculations

The relative stabilities of thiourea in water are investigated computationally by considering thiourea–water complexes containing up to 1–6 water molecules (CS(NH₂)₂(H₂O)_n=1–6) using density functional theory and MP2 ab initio molecular orbital theory. The results show that the thiourea complex is stable and has an unusually high affinity for incoming water molecules. The clusters are progressively stabilized by the addition of water molecules, as indicated by the increasing of the binding energy. The binding energy of the cluster to each H₂O molecule is about 33 kJ mol⁻¹ for n=1–5.The C–S bond, N–C bond distance, Mulliken populations and binding energy keep approximately constant as the clusters increase in size with an increasing number of H₂O molecules. As the solvation progresses, the C–S distance increases monotonically while the Mulliken populations on the C–S bond reduces monotonically with the addition of each H₂O molecule, indicating that the C–S bond of the thiourea unit in the clusters is de-stabilized with an increasing number of H₂O molecules. Charge transfers for the clusters are mainly found at N, S atoms of the thiourea.     

Theoretical studies of the NTO unimolecular decomposition

This work studies 39 decomposition paths among 18 intermediates and 14 transition states. Three types of intra-molecular proton migration and the direct scission of C–NO₂ were regarded as the initial steps of the unimolecular decomposition of NTO. The activation energies of the radicalization C–NO₂ homolysis step are 79.158, 79.781 and 80.652 kcal mol⁻¹. The activation energies of the ionization C–NO⁻¹₂ scission step are 262.488, 263.138 and 272.278 kcal mol⁻¹. The bottle neck activation energies of the C–NO₂H cleavage are 54.936, 63.257 and 71.247 kcal mol⁻¹. Two paths have the smallest bottle neck activation energy. Both of them have two proton migration steps and one internal rotation step prior to C–NO₂H cleavage. At lower temperatures, energy accumulated slowly. When the energy is high enough and reaction time is long enough for structure transformation, these two mechanisms should be the most probable decomposition paths. At high temperatures, the shortest (four steps) mechanism which goes through radicalization C–NO₂ scission should be the dominant path. There are five tautomers found in this study. Four of them are intra-molecular proton migration tautomers. The other one is an internal rotational tautomer. Their energy barriers for structure transfer are lower than any of the activation energies of the decomposition reactions. It may be regarded as one explanation of the insensitive property of NTO.     

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of the lowest triplet state of thymine and thymidine

Vibrational spectra of the lowest energy triplet states of thymine and its 2′-deoxyribonucleoside, thymidine, are reported for the first time. Time-resolved infrared (TRIR) difference spectra were recorded over seven decades of time from 300 fs to 3 μs using femtosecond and nanosecond pump-probe techniques. The carbonyl stretch bands in the triplet state are seen at 1603 and 1700 cm⁻¹ in room-temperature acetonitrile-d₃ solution. These bands and additional ones observed between 1300 and 1450 cm⁻¹ are quenched by dissolved oxygen on a nanosecond time scale. Density-functional calculations accurately predict the difference spectrum between triplet and singlet IR absorption cross sections, confirming the peak assignments and elucidating the nature of the vibrational modes. In the triplet state, the C4O carbonyl exhibits substantial single-bond character, explaining the large (70 cm⁻¹) red shift in this vibration, relative to the singlet ground state. Femtosecond TRIR measurements unambiguously demonstrate that the triplet state is fully formed within the first 10 ps after excitation, ruling out a relaxed ¹nπ^* state as the triplet precursor.     

Theoretical Studies on Thermal Decomposition of Benzoyl Peroxide in Ground State

Systematic studies of the thermal decomposition mechanism of benzoyl peroxide(BPO) in ground state,leading to various intermediates, products and the potential energy surface(PES) of possible dissociation reactions were made computationally. The structures of the transition states and the activation energies for all the paths causing the formation of the reaction products mentioned above were calculated by the AM1 semiempirical method. This method is shown to to be one predict correctly the preferred pathway for the title reaction. It has been found that in ground state, the thermal decomposition of benzoyl peroxide has two kinds of paths. The first pathway PhC(O)O--OC(O)Ph→PhC(O)O→Ph CO2 produces finally phenyl radicals and carbon dioxide. And the second pathway PhC (O) OO--C (O) Ph→PhC (O) OO PhC (O)→PhC(O) O2→Ph CO O2, via which the reaction takes place only in two steps, produces oxygen and PhC(O) radicals, and the further thermal dissociation of PhC(O) is quite difficult because of the high activation energy in ground state. The calculated activation energies and reaction enthalpies are in good agreement with the experimental values. The research results also show that also the thermal dissociation process of the two bonds or the three bonds for the benzoyl peroxide doesn‘t take place in ground state.     

Ground-and Excited-State Characterization of an Electrostatic Complex between Tetrakis-(4-Sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin and 16-Pyrimidinium Crown-4

Abstract— We report the formation of an electrostatic complex between (16-pyrimidinium crown-4)tetranitrate (16PC4) and tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (4SP) in aqueous solution. Ground-state complex formation results in a red shift of the 4SP visible absorption bands and a decrease in absorbance of the Soret band. The equilibrium constant for complex formation (determined from optical titrations) is found to be (2.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁵ M ⁻¹. In addition, the data fit to an expression describing a 1:1 stoichiometry. Excitation of the complex results in quenching of both the excited singlet and triplet states of the associated porphyrin. The singlet-state lifetime decreases from 10 ns for the free porphyrin to 1.5 ns in the presence of 16PC4 at low solution ionic strengths. In addition, evidence is presented for triplet-state quenching within the complex with k _q= (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ s⁻¹. The mechanism of quenching is tentatively assigned to electron transfer from either the excited singlet or excited triplet state of the porphyrin to the ground state of the 16PC4.     

Theoretical study on reaction mechanism of the vinyl radical with nitrogen atom

The complex triplet potential energy surface of the C₂H₃N system is investigated at the UB3LYP and CCSD(T) (single-point) levels in order to explore the possible reaction mechanism of C₂H₃ radical with N(⁴S). Eleven minimum isomers and 18 transition states are located. Possible energetically allowed reaction pathways leading to various low-lying dissociation products are obtained. Starting from the energy-rich reactant C₂H₃+N(⁴S), the first step is the attack of the N atom on the C atom having one H atom attached in C₂H₃ radical and form the intermediate C₂H₃N(1). The associated intermediate 1 can lead to product P₁ CH₂CN+H and P₂ ³CH₂+³HCN by the cleavage of C–H bond and C–C bond, respectively. The most favorable pathway for the C₂H₃+N(⁴S) reaction is the channel leading to P₁, which is preferred to that of P₂ due to the comparative lower energy barrier. The formation of P₃ ³C₂H₂+³NH through hydrogen-abstraction mechanism is also feasible, especially at high temperature. The other pathways are less competitive comparatively.     

镍催化氮杂环丁酮和丁二烯环加成反应机制的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法对镍催化1-Boc-3-氮杂环丁酮和2,3-二甲基-1,3-丁二烯的环加成反应进行了理论研究. 计算结果表明, 该反应采用氧化加成机制而非实验推测的β-碳消除机制. 氧化加成机制主要由3个基元反应步骤组成, 分别为氮杂环丁酮底物中C—C(=O)键的氧化加成、 二烯顺式插入Ni—C(=O)键、 以及还原消除生成八元氮杂环产物, 其中烯烃插入是整个反应的决速步骤, 反应能垒为86.74 kJ/mol. 通过探讨烯烃分别插入到Ni—C(=O) 键和Ni—C(sp³) 键的2种反应途径分析了烯烃插入步骤的区域选择性, 得到了与实验数据基本一致的结果.