Theoretical study of geometrical effect on the deoxygenation of epoxide by singlet carbenes

The mechanism of the abstraction of oxygen from epoxide by carbenes has been investigated using the B3LYP/6-31G* and MP2/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory. According to our model calculations, the reactivity of carbene decreases in the order: four-membered ring carbene > six-membered ring carbene > three-membered ring carbene > five-membered ring carbene vinylidene. Moreover, the present work shows that the singlet–triplet splitting of a carbene can be used as a guide for the prediction of its reactivity.     

Structural elucidation of nitro-substituted five-membered aromatic heterocycles utilizing GIAO DFT calculations

The GIAO (Gauge Including Atomic Orbitals) DFT (Density Functional Theory) method is applied at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d), B3LYP/6-311+G (2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory for the calculation of proton and carbon chemicals shifts and coupling constants for 25 nitro-substituted five-membered heterocycles. Difference (1D NOE) spectra in combination with long-range gHMBC experiments were used as tools for the structural elucidation of nitro-substituted five-membered heterocycles. The assigned NMR data (chemical shifts and coupling constants) for all compounds were found to be in good agreement with theoretical calculations using the GIAO DFT method. The magnitudes of one-bond (1JCH) and long-range (nJCH, n>1) coupling constants were utilized for unambiguous differentiation between regioisomers of nitro-substituted five-membered heterocycles.     

The Dowd-Beckwith ring expansion: a theoretical study

UB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and ROMP2/6-311++G(d,p)//UB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations including the effect of benzene solvent through the PCM-UAHF method render a concerted mechanism without fragmentation as the most favourable one for the Dowd-Beckwith radical ring expansion of the bromomethyl adduct of methyl cyclopentanone-2-carboxylate to yield methyl cyclohexanone-3-carboxylate. The corresponding concerted TS is a bicyclic alcoxy radical.     

Reaction of ketenyl radical with acetylene: a promising route for cyclopropenyl radical

The reaction of the ketenyl radical (HCCO) with acetylene (C(2)H(2)) is very relevant to the oxygen-acetylene flames and fuel-rich combustion process for nitrogen-containing compounds. Unfortunately, except for several rate constant measurements, the mechanism is completely unknown for this reaction. In this paper, detailed theoretical investigations are performed for the HCCO + C(2)H(2) reaction at the G3B3 level using the B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), and QCISD/6-31G(d) geometries. The exclusive fragmentation channel is the formation of the cyclopropenyl radical (c-C(3)H(3)) and carbon monoxide (CO) via the chainlike OCCHCHCH and three-membered ring OC-cCHCHCH intermediates. Thus, the mass spectroscopic peak of C(3)H(3)(+) in a previous experiment can be explained. The calculated overall reaction barrier is 4.4, 4.4, and 5.3 kcal/mol at the G3B3//B3LYP/6-31G(d), G3B3//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), and G3B3//QCISD/6-31G(d) levels, respectively. The title reaction may provide an effective route for generating the long-sought cyclopropenyl radical in the laboratory, which has been the long-standing subject of numerous theoretical studies as the simplest cyclic conjugate radical, and its bulky derivatives were already known. Future experimental investigations for the HCCO + C(2)H(2) reaction are greatly desired to test the predicted fragmentation channel. The implication of the present study in combustion and interstellar processes is discussed.     

NMR spectra, GIAO and charge density calculations of five-membered aromatic heterocycles

The B3LYP/6-31+G(d) molecular geometry optimized structures of 17 five-membered heterocycles were employed together with the gauge including atomic orbitals (GIAO) density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) levels of theory for the calculation of proton and carbon chemicals shifts and coupling constants. The method of geometry optimization for pyrrole (1), N-methylpyrrole (2) and thiophene (7) using the larger 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p) and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ levels of theory gave little difference between calculated and experimental values of coupling constants. In general, the (1)H and 13C chemical shifts for all compounds are in good agreement with theoretical calculations using the smaller 6-31 basis set. The values of nJHH(n=3, 4, 5) and rmnJ(CH)(n=1, 2, 3, 4) were predicted well using the larger 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets and at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p) levels of theory. The computed atomic charges [Mülliken; Natural Bond Orbital Analysis (NBO); Merz-Kollman (MK); CHELP and CHELPG] for the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) geometry optimized structures of 1-17 were used to explore correlations with the experimental proton and carbon chemical shifts.     

Theoretical study of the conformational energy hypersurface of cyclotrisarcosyl

The multidimensional Conformational Potential Energy Hypersurface (PEHS) of cyclotrisarcosyl was comprehensively investigated at the DFT (B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)), levels of theory. The equilibrium structures, their relative stability, and the Transition State (TS) structures involved in the conformational interconversion pathways were analyzed. Aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) single point calculations predict a symmetric cis-cis-cis crown conformation as the energetically preferred form for this compound, which is in agreement with the experimental data. The conformational interconversion between the global minimum and the twist form requires 20.88 kcal mol-1 at the MP2/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Our results allow us to form a concise idea about the internal intricacies of the PEHSs of this cyclic tripeptide, describing the conformations as well as the conformational interconversion processes in this hypersurface. In addition, a comparative analysis between the conformational behaviors of cyclotrisarcosyl with that previously reported for cyclotriglycine was carried out     

Inductive effects in radicals calculated from DFT energies; substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yloxy radicals

Energies of a series of 4-substituted 1-oxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yloxy radicals with 18 various substituents were calculated within the framework of the DFT theory at the levels UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and UB3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p)//UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and compared with similar series of the parent alcohols, their deprotonated and protonated forms calculated at the levels B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p). The two levels are of the same performance and both are sufficient for molecules of this type according to comparison with scarce experimental gas-phase acidities and basicities. The substituent effects were analyzed in terms of isodesmic equations. In addition to strong dependence on the substituent inductive effect, a slight dependence on the electronegativity of the first atom of the substituent was proven in certain cases. In all aspects, there is no qualitative difference between the effects on radicals and on similar closed shell species. Radicals behave as slightly electron deficient; the substituent effect is weaker than that on the ions but stronger than on neutral molecules.     

Protonated nitro group: structure, energy and conjugation

Structure of protonated nitro compounds was investigated by calculations at the levels MP2(FC)/6-311++G(2d,2p)//MP2(FC)/6-311++G(2d,2p)(nitromethane and reference compounds) or B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)(nitrobenzene and its 18 meta- and para-substituted derivatives). The group NO2H+ reveals many similarities with the isoelectronic group CO2H as the preferred conformation, conformational equilibrium, and stabilization by interaction (resonance) within the group quantified by means of isodesmic reactions. However, there is a difference in the interaction with donor groups (for instance in 4-nitroaniline) that is much stronger with NO2H+ than with CO2H. This interaction may be called resonance and may be described by standard resonance formulas, but these formulas predict only partially the geometry and cannot explain the great interaction energy.     

Neutral homoaromaticity in some heterocyclic systems

[reaction: see text] Neutral homoaromaticity has been evaluated in heterocyclic systems related to the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton with replacement of CH(2) at C-2 in bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene with X = BH, AlH, Be, Mg, O, S, PH, NH (12); replacement of CH at C-3 in bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dien-2-yl anion with PH, S, NH, O (13); and replacement at C-2 and C-3 with N and O (14). Stabilization energies (SE) are evaluated using density functional theory and homodesmotic equations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level for series 12-14. Stabilization energies are compared with diamagnetic susceptibility exaltations, Lambda, CSGT-B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), and nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), GIAO-B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d). Analysis of frontier orbitals and geometries, B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), and proton affinities of 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene, pyrrole, and related model systems, B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d), provide complementary evidence supporting the division of the substrates evaluated into antihomoaromatic (12, X = BH, AlH, and Be), nonhomoaromatic (12, X = O, S, NH, PH), and homoaromatic (13, X = S, PH, NH, O and 14 X = ON), with 12 (X = Mg) appearing as transitional between anti- and nonhomoaromatic.     

H2FCS单分子分解反应的直接动力学研究

采用量子化学QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)方法研究了H2FCS单分子分解反应的微观动力学性质, 构建了反应势能剖面. 利用经典过渡态理论(TST)与变分过渡态理论(CVT)并结合小曲率隧道效应模型(SCT), 分别计算了在200～3000 K温度范围内的速率常数kTST、kCVT和kCVT/SCT. 计算结果表明, H2FCS可经过不同的反应通道生成10种小分子产物, 脱H反应和HF消去反应为标题反应的主反应通道, 其中HF消去反应产物HCS可由两条反应通道生成. 在200~3000 K温度区间内得到三条反应通道的表观反应速率常数三参数表达式分别为 , 和 . 速率常数计算结果显示, 量子力学隧道效应在低温区间对反应速率常数的影响显著, 而变分效应在计算温度范围内可以忽略.     

Modern valence-bond description of chemical reaction mechanisms: the 1,3-dipolar addition of diazomethane to ethene

The electronic mechanism for the gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane (CH2N2) to ethene (C2H4) is described through spin-coupled (SC) calculations at a sequence of geometries along the intrinsic reaction coordinate obtained at the MP2/6-31G(d) level of theory. It is shown that the bonding rearrangements occurring during the course of this reaction follow a heterolytic pattern, characterized by the movement of three well-identifiable orbital pairs, which are initially responsible for the pi bond in ethene and the C-N pi bond and one of the N-N pi bonds in diazomethane and are retained throughout the entire reaction path from reactants to product. Taken together with our previous SC study of the electronic mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of fulminic acid (HCNO) to ethyne (C2H2) (Theor. Chim. Acc. 1998, 100, 222), the results of the present work suggest strongly that most gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions can be expected to follow a heterolytic mechanism of this type, which does not involve an aromatic transition state. The more conventional aspects of the gas-phase concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane to ethene, including optimized transition structure geometry, electronic activation energy, activation barrier corrected for zero-point energies, standard enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of activation, have been calculated at the HF/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d,p), QCISD/6-31G(d) and CCD/6-31G(d) levels of theory. We also report the CCD/6-311++G(2d, 2p)//CCD/6-31G(d), MP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G(2d,2p)//CCD/6-31G(d) and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2d, 2p)//CCD/6-31G(d) electronic activation energies.     

Kinetics of the multichannel reaction of methanethiyl radical (CH3S*) with 3O2

The CH3S* + O2 reaction system is considered an important process in atmospheric chemistry and in combustion as a pathway for the exothermic conversion of methane-thiyl radical, CH3S*. Several density functional and ab initio computational methods are used in this study to determine thermochemical parameters, reaction paths, and kinetic barriers in the CH3S* + O2 reaction system. The data are also used to evaluate feasibility of the DFT methods for higher molecular weight oxy-sulfur hydrocarbons, where sulfur presents added complexity from its many valence states. The methods include: B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p), CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p), B3P86/6-311G(2d,2p)//B3P86/6-31G(d), B3PW91/6-311++G(3df,2p), G3MP2, and CBS-QB3. The well depth for the CH3S* + 3O2 reaction to the syn-CH3SOO* adduct is found to be 9.7 kcal/mol. Low barrier exit channels from the syn-CH3SOO* adduct include: CH2S + HO2, (TS6, E(a) is 12.5 kcal/mol), CH3 + SO2 via CH3SO2 (TS2', E(a) is 17.8) and CH3SO + O (TS17, E(a) is 24.7) where the activation energy is relative to the syn-CH3SOO* stabilized adduct. The transition state (TS5) for formation of the CH3SOO adduct from CH3S* + O2 and the reverse dissociation of CH3SOO to CH3S* + O2 is relatively tight compared to typical association and simple bond dissociation reactions; this is a result of the very weak interaction. Reverse reaction is the dominant dissociation path due to enthalpy and entropy considerations. The rate constants from the chemical activation reaction and from the stabilized adduct to these products are estimated as functions of temperature and pressure. Our forward rate constant and CH3S loss profile are in agreement with the experiments under similar conditions. Of the methods above, the G3MP2 and CBS-QB3 composite methods are recommended for thermochemical determinations on these carbon-sulfur-oxygen systems, when they are feasible.     

CH3SS与XO (X＝F,Cl, Br)反应过程的电子密度拓扑研究

利用MP2/6-311＋＋G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311＋＋G(d,p)对CH3SS与XO (X＝F, Cl, Br)的反应机理进行了研究. 着重从电子密度拓扑分析角度讨论了化学键的生成和断裂. 计算结果表明单线态反应为主要反应通道, 且由于该通道的反应能垒低、放热明显, 说明CH3SS与XO在大气中比较容易进行. 电子密度拓扑分析表明, 在单线态抽氢反应通道中存在着四元环状过渡结构, 随着反应进行, 此四元环状过渡结构通过一个T-型结构变为三元环状过渡结构, 最后环状结构消失得到产物.     

Acid/base catalysis by pure water: the aldol reaction

[reaction: see text] The mechanism of aldol reactions in pure water has been studied with density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G(3d,3p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)). The reaction is a three-step process that involves: (1) water autoionization generates catalytic hydroxide and hydronium ions, (2) hydroxide and hydronium ions rapidly convert donor aldehyde or ketone into enol, and (3) C-C bond formation and proton transfer occur to give the aldol product. This study provides a general basis for understanding acid/base catalysis by pure water.     

A new scheme for determining the intramolecular seven-membered ring N-H...O=C hydrogen-bonding energies of glycine and alanine peptides

In this paper a new scheme was proposed to calculate the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding energies in peptides and was applied to calculate the intramolecular seven-membered ring N-H...O=C hydrogen-bonding energies of the glycine and alanine peptides. The density-functional theory B3LYP6-31G(d) and B3LYP6-311G(d,p) methods and the second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory MP26-31G(d) method were used to calculate the optimal geometries and frequencies of glycine and alanine peptides and related structures. MP26-311++G(d,p), MP26-311++G(3df,2p), and MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ methods were then used to evaluate the single-point energies. It was found that the B3LYP6-31G(d), MP26-31G(d), and B3LYP6-311G(d,p) methods yield almost similar structural parameters for the conformers of the glycine and alanine dipeptides. MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ predicts that the intramolecular seven-membered ring N-H...O=C hydrogen-bonding strength has a value of 5.54 kcal/mol in glycine dipeptide and 5.73 and 5.19 kcal/mol in alanine dipeptides, while the steric repulsive interactions of the seven-membered ring conformers are 4.13 kcal/mol in glycine dipeptide and 6.62 and 3.71 kcal/mol in alanine dipeptides. It was also found that MP26-311++G(3df,2p) gives as accurate intramolecular N-H...O=C hydrogen-bonding energies and steric repulsive interactions as the much more costly MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ does.     

The nature and role of 8-deltacyclyl and 7-isodeltacyclyl cations in solvolytic reactions of parent brosylates

Solvolysis of exo-8-deltacyclyl brosylate proceeds directly through a C(2) delocalized cation to exo-8-deltacyclyl acetate. The solvolysis of the endo epimer presents a more complex picture, reacting via a classical deltacyclyl cation, the nonclassical C(2) delocalized cation, and the isodeltacyclyl cation. The solvolysis of exo-7-isodeltacyclyl brosylate generates the 7-isodeltacyclyl ion and subsequently the C(2) delocalized deltacyclyl cation forming 8-deltacyclyl acetate and exo-7-isodeltacyclyl acetate. The cationic intermediates in these three related reaction manifolds are characterized using density functional methods at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) and BPW91/6-311+G(3df, 2p)//BPW91/6-31G(d) levels.     

CH3CH2S自由基H迁移异构化及裂解反应的理论研究

采用密度泛函方法(B3LYP)在6-311+G(d,p)基组水平上研究了CH3CH2S自由基H迁移异构化以及裂解反应的微观动力学机理. 在QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)+ZPE水平上进行了单点能校正. 利用经典过渡态理论(TST)与变分过渡态理论(CVT)分别计算了在200~2000 K温度区间内的速率常数kTST和kCVT, 同时获得了经小曲率隧道效应模型(SCT)校正后的速率常数kCVT/SCT. 研究结果表明, CH3CH2S自由基1,2-H迁移、1,3-H迁移、C—C键断裂和β-C—H键断裂反应的势垒ΔE≠分别为149.74, 144.34, 168.79和198.29 kJ/mol. 当温度低于800 K时, 主要发生1,2-H迁移反应, 高于1800 K时, 主要表现为C—C键断裂反应, 在1300—1800 K范围内, 1,3-H迁移反应是优势通道, 在计算的整个温度段内, β-C—H键断裂反应可以忽略.     

Mechanism of cis-enamide formation from N-(alpha-silyl)allyl amides: synthetic potential of stepwise dyotropic rearrangements

A novel transformation of silyl amides to N-cis-propenyl amides was recently reported, the reaction of which is a formal 10-electron double sigmatropic, or dyotropic, rearrangement. Density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G(3d,3p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) have been carried out to investigate the mechanism of this reaction. A two-step process involving sequential 1,4-silyl and 1,4-hydrogen shifts is predicted. The 1,3-dipolar azomethine ylide intermediate profits from charge stabilization by allylic resonance and phenyl conjugation. The consecutive thermal migration of two sigma-bonds (stepwise dyotropic rearrangement) is an example of a host of reactions with synthetic potential.     

CH2F自由基与HNCO反应机理的理论研究

The reaction mechanism of CH2F radical with HNCO was investigated by density functional theory (DFT)at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. The geometries of the reactants, the intermediates, the transition states and the products were optimized. The transition states were verified through the vibration analysis.The relative energies were calculated at the QCISD(T)/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. Seven feasible reaction pathways of the reaction were studied. The results indicate that the pathway (5) is the most favorable to occur, so it is the main pathway of the reaction.     

Theoretical Studies on the Aminolysis of Ester: Effects of the Catalysis and Substituent to the Reaction of Methyl Indole-3-acetate with Ammonia

A comprehensive exploration of the aminolysis mechanism for methyl indole-3-acetate with ammonia is carried out by employing the B3 LYP/6-311++G(d,p), M06-2 X/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/6-311++G(d,p)//M06-2 X/6-311++G(d,p) levels. Two alterative reaction channels of the concerted and addition/elimination stepwise processes including the uncatalyzed, base-catalyzed reactions are taken into consideration. Subsequently, the substituent effects and solvent effects in methanol are also evaluated at the M06-2 X/6-311++G(d,p) level. The calculated results indicate that the calculated values of M06-2 X level are quite close to those of MP2, the stepwise pathway has more advantages to the concerted one for all of the reaction processes and the catalyst facilitates the proton migration and decreases the energy barriers as well. It is shown that the most preferred mechanism is the based-catalyzed stepwise process, the substituent of NH2 group slightly accelerates all the aminolysis reaction processes, and the solvent effect does not remarkably change the mechanism of the reaction.