Synthesis and Theoretical Investigation of a 1,8‐Bis(bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropeniminyl)naphthalene Proton Sponge Derivative

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of a new proton sponge derivative, 1,8‐bis(bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropeniminyl)naphthalene 4 (DACN), as well as its bis‐protonated counterpart 6 . A crystal structure of 6 is presented, along with variable temperature ¹H NMR data on the BF₄^? salt ( 6?BF₄ ). DFT calculations were performed to investigate the structure of the monoprotonated species 7 and to gain insight into the structural and electronic nature of all three species. The proton affinity (PA) of 4 , calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G++(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level, taking into account thermal corrections from the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) method, was 282.3 kcal mol^?1, while its pK_a was estimated at 27.0. NICS calculations were performed to examine the changes in aromaticity within these systems upon each successive protonation. Lastly, homodesmotic reaction schemes were used in order to estimate the factors contributing to the strong PA predicted for 4 .     

Enthalpy of formation and bond energies on unsaturated oxygenated hydrocarbons using G3MP2B3 calculation methods

Enthalpies of unsaturated oxygenated hydrocarbons and radicals corresponding to the loss of hydrogen atoms from the parent molecules are intermediates and decomposition products in the oxidation and combustion of aromatic and polyaromatic species. Enthalpies (Δ_fH⁰₂₉₈) are calculated for a set of 27 oxygenated and nonoxygenated, unsaturated hydrocarbons and 12 radicals at the G3MP2B3 level of theory and with the commonly used B3LYP/6‐311g(d,p) density functional theory (DFT) method. Standard enthalpies of formation (Δ_fH⁰₂₉₈) are determined from the calculated enthalpy of reaction (ΔH⁰_rxn,298) using isodesmic work reactions with reference species that have accurately known Δ_fH⁰₂₉₈ values. The deviation between G3MP2B3 and B3LYP methods is under ±0.5 kcal mol^?1 for 9 species, 18 other species differs by less than ±1 kcal mol^?1 , and 11 species differ by about 1.5 kcal mol^?1. Under them are 11 radicals derived from the above‐oxygenated hydrocarbons that show good agreement between G3MP2B3 and B3LYP methods. G3 calculations have been performed to further validate enthalpy values, where a discrepancy of more than 2.5 kcal mol^?1 exists between the G3MP3B3 and density functional results. Surprisingly the G3 calculations support the density functional calculations in these several nonagreement cases. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 633–648, 2005     

Theoretical Study on Gas—phase Pyrolytic Reactions of N—Ethyl,Isopropyl and N—t—Butyl Substituted 2—Aminopyrazine

Density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio methods were used to study gas‐phase pyrolytic reaction mechanisms of iV‐ethyl, N‐isopropyl and N‐t‐butyl substituted 2‐aminopyrazine at B3LYP/6–31G* and MP2/6–31G*, respectively. Single‐point energies of all optimized molecular geometries were calculated at B3LYP/6–311 + G(2d,p) level. Results show that the pyrolytic reactions were carried out through a unimolecular first‐order mechanism which were caused by the migration of atom H(17) via a six‐member ring transition state. The activation energies which were verified by vibrational analysis and correlated with zero‐point energies along the reaction channel at B3LYP/6–311 + G(2d,p) level were 252.02 kJ. mo^?1 (N‐ethyl substituted), 235.92 kJ‐mol^?1 (N‐t‐isopropyl substituted) and 234.27 kJ‐mol^?1 (N‐t‐butyl substituted), respectively. The results were in good agreement with available experimental data.     

Rearrangements in Model Peptide‐Type Radicals via Intramolecular Hydrogen‐Atom Transfer

Intramolecular H‐atom transfer in model peptide‐type radicals was investigated with high‐level quantum‐chemistry calculations. Examination of 1,2‐, 1,3‐, 1,5‐, and 1,6[C ? N]‐H shifts, 1,4‐ and 1,7[C ? C]‐H shifts, and 1,4[N ? N]‐H shifts (Scheme 1), was carried out with a number of theoretical methods. In the first place, the performance of UB3‐LYP (with the 6‐31G(d), 6‐31G(2df,p), and 6‐311+G(d,p) basis sets) and UMP2 (with the 6‐31G(d) basis set) was assessed for the determination of radical geometries. We found that there is only a small basis‐set dependence for the UB3‐LYP structures, and geometries optimized with UB3‐LYP/6‐31G(d) are generally sufficient for use in conjunction with high‐level composite methods in the determination of improved H‐transfer thermochemistry. Methods assessed in this regard include the high‐level composite methods, G3(MP2)‐RAD, CBS‐QB3, and G3//B3‐LYP, as well as the density‐functional methods B3‐LYP, MPWB1K, and BMK in association with the 6‐31+G(d,p) and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets. The high‐level methods give results that are close to one another, while the recently developed functionals MPWB1K and BMK provide cost‐effective alternatives. For the systems considered, the transformation of an N‐centered radical to a C‐centered radical is always exothermic (by 25 kJ ? mol^?1 or more), and this can lead to quite modest barrier heights of less than 60 kJ ? mol^?1 (specifically for 1,5[C ? N]‐H and 1,6[C ? N]‐H shifts). H‐Migration barriers appear to decrease as the ring size in the transition structure (TS) increases, with a lowering of the barrier being found, for example when moving from a rearrangement proceeding via a four‐membered‐ring TS (e.g., the 1,3[C ? N]‐H shift, CH₃? C(O)? NH^. → ^.CH₂? C(O)? NH₂) to a rearrangement proceeding via a six‐membered‐ring TS (e.g., the 1,5[C ? N]‐H shift, ^.NH? CH₂? C(O)? NH? CH₃ → NH₂? CH₂? C(O)? NH? CH₂^.).     

Vitamin C: an experimental and theoretical study on the gas‐phase structure and ion energetics of protonated ascorbic acid

In order to investigate the gas‐phase mechanisms of the acid catalyzed degradation of ascorbic acid (AA) to furan, we undertook a mass spectrometric (ESI/TQ/MS) and theoretical investigation at the B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level of theory. The gaseous reactant species, the protonated AA, [C₆H₈O₆]H⁺, were generated by electrospray ionization of a 10^?3 M H₂O/CH₃OH (1 : 1) AA solution. In order to structurally characterize the gaseous [C₆H₈O₆]H⁺ ionic reactants, we estimated the proton affinity and the gas‐phase basicity of AA by the extended Cooks's kinetic method and by computational methods at the B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level of theory. As expected, computational results identify the carbonyl oxygen atom (O2) of AA as the preferred protonation site. From the experimental proton affinity of 875.0 ± 12 kJ mol^?1 and protonation entropy ΔS_p 108.9 ± 2 J mol^?1 K^?1, a gas‐phase basicity value of AA of 842.5 ± 12 kJ mol^?1 at 298 K was obtained, which is in agreement with the value issuing from quantum mechanical computations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over a VO2‐Exchanged MCM‐22 Zeolite: A DFT Study

The adsorption and the mechanism of the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane over VO₂‐exchanged MCM‐22 are investigated by DFT calculations using the M06‐L functional, which takes into account dispersion contributions to the energy. The adsorption energies of propane are in good agreement with those from computationally much more demanding MP2 calculations and with experimental results. In contrast, B3LYP binding energies are too small. The reaction begins with the movement of a methylene hydrogen atom to the oxygen atom of the VO₂ group, which leads to an isopropyl radical bound to a HO? V? O intermediate. This step is rate determining with the apparent activation energy of 30.9 kcal mol^?1, a value within the range of experimental results for ODH over other silica supports. In the propene formation step, the hydroxyl group is the more reactive group requiring an apparent activation energy of 27.7 kcal mol^?1 compared to that of the oxy group of 40.8 kcal mol^?1. To take the effect of the extended framework into account, single‐point calculations on 120T structures at the same level of theory are performed. The apparent activation energy is reduced to 28.5 kcal mol^?1 by a stabilizing effect caused by the framework. Reoxidation of the catalyst is found to be important for the product release at the end of the reaction.     

A mechanism of the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between the hydrogen nitryl HNO2 and acetylene HCCH: The electron localization function study on evolution of the chemical bonds

The reaction between the simplest nitro compound HNO₂ (hydrogen nitryl) and acetylene HCCH ‐ formally proceeding via 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition ‐ has been studied by means of the B3LYP, MPW1K and MP2 methods. The energy barrier of 20.74 ÷ 32.91 kcal/mol is similar to ΔE_a of the NNO + HCCH process but is essentially larger than computed for the reactions of HCCH with fulminic acid (HCNO) and NNCH₂. Whole process is exothermic with the reaction energy: ?10.87 ÷ ?17.94 kcal/mol. An evolution of the chemical bonding has been analyzed by means of the Bonding Evolution Theory (BET) at the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d) and B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ levels. Two approximations of the reaction path have been considered, namely: the IRC and pseudo‐reaction paths. The reaction requires five steps and seven catastrophes of the fold and cusp type. A different effect of first fold catastrophe has been noticed. At the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d) level one of two nonbonding V_i=1,2(N) attractors is annihilated (F), meanwhile at B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ new V(N) attractor is created (F^?). The chemical bonds are not formed/broken in TS. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Evaluation of DFT Methods and Implicit Solvation Models for Anion‐Binding Host‐Guest Systems

Although supramolecular chemistry is traditionally an experimental discipline, computations have emerged as important tools for the understanding of supramolecules. We have explored how well commonly used density functional theory quantum mechanics and polarizable continuum solvation models can calculate binding affinities of host‐guest systems. We report the calculation of binding affinities for eight host–guest complexes and compare our results to experimentally measured binding free energies that span the range from ?2.3 to ?6.1 kcal mol^?1. These systems consist of four hosts (biotin[6]uril, triphenoxymethane, cryptand, and bis‐thiourea) with different halide ions (F^?, Cl^?, Br^?) in various media including organic and aqueous. The mean average deviation (MAD) of calculated from measured ΔG_a is 2.5 kcal mol^?1 when using B3LYP‐D3 with either CPCM or PCM. This MAD value lowers even more by eliminating two outliers: 1.1 kcal mol^?1 for CPCM and 1.2 kcal mol^?1 for PCM. The best DFT and implicit solvation model combination that we have studied is B3LYP?D3 with either CPCM or PCM.     

Mechanism for the gas‐phase hydrogen fluoride‐mediated decomposition of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) studied by DFT method

Density functional theory has been used to study the mechanism of the decomposition of peroxyacetyl nitrate (CH₃C(O)OONO₂) in hydrogen fluoride clusters containing one to three hydrogen fluoride molecules at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df,3pd) levels. The calculations clarify some of the uncertainties in the mechanism of PAN decomposition in the gas phase. The energy barrier decreases from 30.5 kcal mol^?1 (single hydrogen fluoride) to essentially 18.5 kcal mol^?1 when catalyzed by three hydrogen fluoride molecules. As the size of the hydrogen fluoride cluster is increased, PAN shows increasing ionization along the O? N bond, consistent with the proposed predissociation in which the electrophilicity of the nitrogen atom is enhanced. This reaction is found to proceed through an attack of a fluorine to the PAN nitrogen in concert with a proton transfer to a PAN oxygen. On the basis of our calculations, an alternative reaction mechanism for the decomposition of PAN is proposed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Heterolysis of H2 Across a Classical Lewis Pair, 2,6‐Lutidine⋅BCl3: Synthesis,Characterization, and Mechanism

We report that 2,6‐lutidine?trichloroborane (Lut?BCl₃) reacts with H₂ in toluene, bromobenzene, dichloromethane, and Lut solvents producing the neutral hydride, Lut?BHCl₂. The mechanism was modeled with density functional theory, and energies of stationary states were calculated at the G3(MP2)B3 level of theory. Lut?BCl₃ was calculated to react with H₂ and form the ion pair, [LutH⁺][HBCl₃^?], with a barrier of ΔH^≠=24.7 kcal mol^?1 (ΔG^≠=29.8 kcal mol^?1). Metathesis with a second molecule of Lut?BCl₃ produced Lut?BHCl₂ and [LutH⁺][BCl₄^?]. The overall reaction is exothermic by 6.0 kcal mol^?1 (Δ_rG°=?1.1). Alternate pathways were explored involving the borenium cation (LutBCl₂⁺) and the four‐membered boracycle [(CH₂{NC₅H₃Me})BCl₂]. Barriers for addition of H₂ across the Lut/LutBCl₂⁺ pair and the boracycle B?C bond are substantially higher (ΔG^≠=42.1 and 49.4 kcal mol^?1, respectively), such that these pathways are excluded. The barrier for addition of H₂ to the boracycle B?N bond is comparable (ΔH^≠=28.5 and ΔG^≠=32 kcal mol^?1). Conversion of the intermediate 2‐(BHCl₂CH₂)‐6‐Me(C₅H₃NH) to Lut?BHCl₂ may occur by intermolecular steps involving proton/hydride transfers to Lut/BCl₃. Intramolecular protodeboronation, which could form Lut?BHCl₂ directly, is prohibited by a high barrier (ΔH^≠=52, ΔG^≠=51 kcal mol^?1).     

Experimental and theoretical study of the homogeneous,unimolecular gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐furoic acid

The kinetics of the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of CO₂ from furoic acid was determined in a static system over the temperature range 415–455°C and pressure range 20–50 Torr. The products are furan and carbon dioxide. The reaction, which is carried out in vessels seasoned with allyl bromide and in the presence of the free‐radical suppressor toluene and/or propene, is homogeneous, unimolecular, and follows a first‐order rate law. The observed rate coefficient is expressed by the following Arrhenius equation: log k₁(s^?1) = (13.28 ± 0.16) ? (220.5 ± 2.1) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Theoretical studies carried out at the B3LYP/6‐31++G** computational level suggest two possible mechanisms according to the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters calculated compared with experimental values. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 298–306, 2007     

An axial tert‐butyl group in strained cyclohexene: X‐ray analysis and theoretical calculations of 2‐(2‐tert‐butylcyclohex‐3‐enyl)propan‐2‐ol

The structure of the title compound, C₁₃H₂₄O, (I), shows a sofa conformation of the ring with two pseudo‐axial substituents. The dihedral angle between these substituents is 131.56 (12)°. Calculations using the B3LYP/6‐31G* level of theory show two minima, one corresponding to the crystal structure and the other to a boat conformation of the ring with two equatorial substituents. The energy of this latter conformation is 17.4 kcal mol⁻¹ higher than that of (I). The molecule forms an infinite co‐operative hydrogen‐bonded chain running in the b direction.     

Vapor-phase Beckmann rearrangement of oxime molecules over H-Faujasite zeolite.

The Beckmann rearrangement (BR) plays an important role in a variety of industries. The mechanism of this reaction rearrangement of oximes with different molecular sizes, specifically, the oximes of formaldehyde (H₂C?NOH), Z‐acetaldehyde (CH₃HC?NOH), E‐acetaldehyde (CH₃HC?NOH) and acetone (CH₃)₂C?NOH, catalyzed by the Faujasite zeolite is investigated by both the quantum cluster and embedded cluster approaches at the B3LYP level of theory using the 6‐31G (d,p) basis set. To enhance the energetic properties, single point calculations are undertaken at MP2/6‐311G(d,p). The rearrangement step, using the bare cluster model, is the rate determining step of the entire reaction of these oxime molecules of which the energy barrier is between 50–70 kcal mol^?1. The more accurate embedded cluster model, in which the effect of the zeolitic framework is included, yields as the rate determining step, the formaldehyde oxime reaction rearrangement with an energy barrier of 50.4 kcal mol^?1. With the inclusion of the methyl substitution at the carbon‐end of formaldehyde oxime, the rate determining step of the reaction becomes the 1,2 H‐shift step for Z‐acetaldehyde oxime (30.5 kcal mol^?1) and acetone oxime (31.2 kcal mol^?1), while, in the E‐acetaldehyde oxime, the rate determining step is either the 1,2 H‐shift (26.2 kcal mol^?1) or the rearrangement step (26.6 kcal mol^?1). These results signify the important role that the effect of the zeolite framework plays in lowering the activation energy by stabilizing all of the ionic species in the process. It should, however, be noted that the sizeable turnover of a reaction catalyzed by the Brønsted acid site might be delayed by the quantitatively high desorption energy of the product and readsorption of the reactant at the active center.     

DFT study on the hydrogen bonds of phenol–cyclohexanone and phenol–H2O2 in the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation

Hydrogen bonds of phenol–cyclohexanone and phenol–H₂O₂ in the studied Baeyer–Villiger (B–V) oxidation have been investigated by HF, B3LYP, and MP2 methods with various basis sets. The accurate single‐point energies were performed using CCSD(T)/6‐31+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ on the optimized geometries of MP2/6‐31+G(d,p). It has been confirmed that B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) could be used to study such hydrogen bonds. Energetic analysis of complexes was carried out using the Xantheas method with BSSE corrected by CP method. Orbital energy order (ε) illuminated that phenol with good hydrogen donor‐acceptor property can interact with cyclohexanone or H₂O₂ to form hydrogen bound complexes, and the binding energies (BE) range from ?4.38 to ?14.06 kcal mol^?1. NBO analysis indicated that the redistribution of atomic charges in the complexes facilitated nucleophilic attack of H₂O₂ on cyclohexanone. The calculated results match remarkably well with the experimental phenomena. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Hetero‐Diels‐Alder and Cheletropic Additions of Sulfur Dioxide to 1,2‐Dimethylidenecycloalkanes. Determination of Thermochemical and Kinetics Parameters for Reactions in Solution and Comparison with Estimates From Quantum Calculations

Below −60° and without catalyst, 1,2‐dimethylidenecyclopentane ( 16 ), 1,2‐dimethylidenecyclohexane ( 13 ), 1,2‐dimethylidenecycloheptane ( 17 ), and 1,2‐dimethylidenecyclooctane ( 18 ) add to sulfur dioxide in the hetero‐Diels‐Alder mode, giving the corresponding sultines 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐cyclopent[d][1,2]oxathiin 3‐oxide ( 19 ), 1,4,5,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2,3‐benzoxathiin 3‐oxide ( 14 ), 4,5,6,7,8,9‐hexahydro‐1H‐cyclohept[d][1,2]oxathiin 3‐oxide ( 20 ), and 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10‐octahydrocyclooct[d][1,2]oxathiin 3‐oxide ( 21 ), respectively. Above −40°, the sultines are isomerized into the corresponding sulfolenes 3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐1H‐cyclopenta[c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide ( 22 ), 1,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydrobenzo[c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide ( 15 ), 3,4,5,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐1H‐cyclohepta[c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide ( 23 ), and 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9‐octahydrocycloocta[c]thiophene 2,2‐dioxide ( 24 ). Kinetics and thermodynamics data were collected for these reactions. The sultines are ca. 10 kcal/mol Diels‐Alder additions (ΔH^≠( 16 −36±3 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) in agreement with third‐order rate laws that imply that two molecules of SO₂ intervene in the transition states of these cycloadditions. Similar observations were made for the cheletropic additions of SO₂. Attempts to simulate the thermodynamics and kinetics parameters of the reactions of SO₂ with dienes 16 and 13 by density‐functional theory (DFT) suggest that the calculations require an appropriate number of polarization functions in the basis set employed. A satisfactory recipe to compute the SO₂ additions to large dienes can be: B3LYP/6‐31G(d) geometry optimizations followed by B3LYP/6‐31+G(2df,p) single‐point calculations or G2(MP2,SVP) estimates on the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) geometries.     

An experimental and theoretical approach to the molecular structure of 3‐{[4‐(3‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐ indol‐2‐one

The title molecule, 3‐{[4‐(3‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one (C₂₂H₂₀N₄O₁S₁), was prepared and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV–visible, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 8.3401(5), b = 5.6976(3), c = 20.8155(14) Å, and β = 95.144(5)°. Molecular geometry from X‐ray experiment and vibrational frequencies of the title compound in the ground state has been calculated using the Hartree–Fock with 6‐31G(d, p) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d, p) and 6‐311G(d, p) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters, and the theoretical vibrational frequencies values show good agreement with experimental data. Density functional theory calculations of the title compound and thermodynamic properties were performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d, p) level of theory. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

The role of the basis set and the level of quantum mechanical theory in the prediction of the structure and reactivity of cisplatin

In this article, we conducted an extensive ab initio study on the importance of the level of theory and the basis set for theoretical predictions of the structure and reactivity of cisplatin [cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cDDP)]. Initially, the role of the basis set for the Pt atom was assessed using 24 different basis sets, including three all‐electron basis sets (ABS). In addition, a modified all‐electron double zeta polarized basis set (mDZP) was proposed by adding a set of diffuse d functions onto the existing DZP basis set. The energy barrier and the rate constant for the first chloride/water exchange ligand process, namely, the aquation reaction, were taken as benchmarks for which reliable experimental data are available. At the B3LYP/mDZP/6‐31+G(d) level (the first basis set is for Pt and the last set is for all of the light atoms), the energy barrier was 22.8 kcal mol^?1, which is in agreement with the average experimental value, 22.9 ± 0.4 kcal mol^?1. For the other accessible ABS (DZP and ADZP), the corresponding values were 15.4 and 24.5 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The ADZP and mDZP are notably similar, raising the importance of diffuse d functions for the prediction of the kinetic properties of cDDP. In this article, we also analyze the ligand basis set and the level of theory effects by considering 36 basis sets at distinct levels of theory, namely, Hartree‐Fock, MP2, and several DFT functionals. From a survey of the data, we recommend the mPW1PW91/mDZP/6‐31+G(d) or B3PW91/mDZP/6‐31+G(d) levels to describe the structure and reactivity of cDDP and its small derivatives. Conversely, for large molecules containing a cisplatin motif (for example, the cDDP‐DNA complex), the lower levels B3LYP/LANL2DZ/6‐31+G(d) and B3LYP/SBKJC‐VDZ/6‐31+G(d) are suggested. At these levels of theory, the predicted energy barrier was 26.0 and 25.9 kcal mol^?1, respectively, which is only 13% higher than the actual value. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A computational mechanistic study of the deamination reaction of melamine

A detailed computational study of the deamination reaction of melamine by OH^–, n H₂O/OH^–, n H₂O (where n = 1, 2, 3), and protonated melamine with H₂O, has been carried out using density functional theory and ab initio calculations. All structures were optimized at M06/6‐31G(d) level of theory, as well as with the B3LYP functional with each of the basis sets: 6‐31G(d), 6‐31 + G(d), 6‐31G(2df,p), and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd). B3LYP, M06, and ω B97XD calculations with 6‐31 + G(d,p) have also been performed. All structures were optimized at B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level of theory for deamination simulations in an aqueous medium, using both the polarizable continuum solvation model and the solvation model based on solute electron density. Composite method calculations have been conducted at G4MP2 and CBS‐QB3. Fifteen different mechanistic pathways were explored. Most pathways consisted of two key steps: formation of a tetrahedral intermediate and in the final step, an intermediate that dissociates to products via a 1,3‐proton shift. The lowest overall activation energy, 111 kJ mol^?1 at G4MP2, was obtained for the deamination of melamine with 3H₂O/OH^?.     

Gas‐phase basicity of 2‐furaldehyde

2‐Furaldehyde (2‐FA), also known as furfural or 2‐furancarboxaldehyde, is an heterocyclic aldehyde that can be obtained from the thermal dehydration of pentose monosaccharides. This molecule can be considered as an important sustainable intermediate for the preparation of a great variety of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and furan‐based polymers. Despite the great importance of this molecule, its gas‐phase basicity (GB) has never been measured. In this work, the GB of 2‐FA was determined by the extended Cooks's kinetic method from electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometric experiments along with theoretical calculations. As expected, computational results identify the aldehydic oxygen atom of 2‐FA as the preferred protonation site. The geometries of O‐O‐cis and O‐O‐trans 2‐FA and of their six different protomers were calculated at the B3LYP/aug‐TZV(d,p) level of theory; proton affinity (PA) values were also calculated at the G3(MP2, CCSD(T)) level of theory. The experimental PA was estimated to be 847.9 ± 3.8 kJ mol^?1, the protonation entropy 115.1 ± 5.03 J mol^?1 K^?1 and the GB 813.6 ± 4.08 kJ mol^?1 at 298 K. From the PA value, a ΔH°_f of 533.0 ± 12.4 kJ mol^?1 for protonated 2‐FA was derived. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrosilylation Induced by N→Si Intramolecular Coordination: Spontaneous Transformation of Organosilanes into 1‐Aza‐Silole‐Type Molecules in the Absence of a Catalyst

Our attempts to synthesize the N→Si intramolecularly coordinated organosilanes Ph₂L¹SiH ( 1 a ), PhL¹SiH₂ ( 2 a ), Ph₂L²SiH ( 3 a ), and PhL²SiH₂ ( 4 a ) containing a CH?N imine group (in which L¹ is the C,N‐chelating ligand {2‐[CH?N(C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂)]C₆H₄}^? and L² is {2‐[CH?N(tBu)]C₆H₄}^?) yielded 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 1 ), 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 2 ), 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 3 ), and 1‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 4 ), respectively. Isolated organosilicon amides 1 – 4 are an outcome of the spontaneous hydrosilylation of the CH?N imine moiety induced by N→Si intramolecular coordination. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of organosilanes 1 a – 4 a and their corresponding hydrosilylated products 1 – 4 were optimized and fully characterized at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular structure determination of 1 – 3 suggested the presence of a Si?N double bond. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, however, shows a very strong donor–acceptor interaction between the lone pair of the nitrogen atom and the formal empty p orbital on the silicon and therefore, the calculations show that the Si?N bond is highly polarized pointing to a predominantly zwitterionic Si⁺N^? bond in 1 – 4 . Since compounds 1 – 4 are hydrosilylated products of 1 a – 4 a , the free energies (ΔG₂₉₈), enthalpies (ΔH₂₉₈), and entropies (ΔH₂₉₈) were computed for the hydrosilylation reaction of 1 a – 4 a with both B3LYP and B3LYP‐D methods. On the basis of the very negative ΔG₂₉₈ values, the hydrosilylation reaction is highly exergonic and compounds 1 a – 4 a are spontaneously transformed into 1 – 4 in the absence of a catalyst.