Comparison of the use of the MNDO and MINDO/3 methods with ab initio methods to study tautomerism in histamine, 2- and 4-methylhistamine

The semiempirical MNDO and MINDO/3 methods are used to study the various tautomeric forms of histamine, 2-methylhistamine, and 4-methylhistamine. Comparisons of the optimized structures and tautomerization energies are made with values obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations using the 3-21G and STO-3G basis sets. Based on these results and previous comparisons of STO-3G results with x-ray structures, the present results indicate that while there are some differences in the values of the structural parameters, the changes in structure upon tautomerization and/or protonation are very similar. Further analysis of the MNDO and MINDO/3 structures by means of their utilization in 3-21G and STO-3G calculations indicates that either of these semiempirical methods provides reliable values for the structural parameters. Both methods give good qualitative agreement with the ab initio calculations for the relative energies of the various tautomers in the three compounds. In these studies the MNDO method appears to give better quantitative agreement with the 3-21G and STO-3G results than the MINDO/3 method.     

Geometry optimization of the ring-opened oxirane diradical: mechanism of the addition reaction of the triplet oxygen atom to olefins

Geometry optimizations of several low-lying diradical states of the ring-opened oxirane (·CH₂CH₂O·) were performed by using the energy gradients of the UHF MINDO/3, STO-3G and 4-31G solutions. Both the STO-3G and 4-3 IG methods predict that the most stable form is the triplet state of the non-twisted σπ conformation in which the unpaired spins localized on the terminal carbon and oxygen atoms are oriented perpendicularly to each other. The singlet σσ diradical state in which both the radical-site p orbitals are coplanar with the molecular framework is only 2.3 (STO-3G) and 1.2 (4-31G) kcal/mol less stable than the triplet σπ diradical state. It is found that the geometry of the singlet σσ diradical is unique in that the C-C-O angle is noticeably small as compared with various other diradical states. Implications of these results to the mechanism of the oxirane-forming O(³P) + C₂H₄ reaction are discussed.     

Stable conformations of CH3CH2OCH2CH2OH: A comparison of theoretical methods

This article presents the results of an extensive examination of the stable conformations of CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH at various levels of theory. In particular, 41 initial conformations are optimized using the MM2 force field in BIGSTRN-3; the MINDO/3, MNDO, and AM1 Hamiltonians in AMPAC 2.2; the PM3 Hamiltonian in MOPAC 7.0; and at the HF/STO-3G and HF/3-21G levels using Gaussian 92. The optimized HF/3-21G structures are reoptimized at the HF/6-31G(d) level, and the unique structures are optimized again at the MP2 = FULL/6-31G(d) level. In addition, single-point MP2/6-31G(d) calculations are performed using the HF/6-31G(d) geometries. The goal is to determine the relative accuracy of each method and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Proton affinity correlations for alkyl chlorides

Ab initio SCF calculations with minimal STO-3G and extended 44-31G basis sets have been performed on the simple alkyl chlorides, HCl to t-BuCl, and their protonated analogs. MINDO/3 calculations are also reported for these species and a variety of cyclic and bicyclic chlorides. The much closer agreement with experiment for STO-3G proton affinities than for 44-31G values is in sharp contrast to the results for first-row bases. An excellent correlation is found between both the STO-3G and MINDO/3 proton affinities and the charge on the CIH fragment in RCIH⁺. For the acyclic chlorides, correlations of PA's with the polar substituent constant, σ*, and IP's are also reasonable. In addition, the calculated carbonium ion-HCl interaction energy for t-BuClH⁺ indicates that protonated tertiary chlorides are no more than marginally stable in the gas phase.     

A theoretical study on the structure and properties of phenothiazine derivatives and their radical cations

Semiempirical CNDO, AM1, PM3 and ab initio HF/STO-3G, HF/3-21G(d), and HF/6-31(d) methods were employed in the geometry optimization of the phenothiazine and the corresponding radical cation. The results obtained from the PM3 performances were as good as those from the ab initio calculations in the structure optimization of both phenothiazine and phenothiazine radical cation. The PM3 method was used to optimize the structures of a series of N-substituted phenothiazine derivatives and their radical cations. The PM3-optimized results were then analyzed with the ab initio calculation at the 6-311G(d,p) level, which yielded the total energy, frontier molecular orbitals, dipole moments, and charge and spin density distributions of the phenothiazine derivatives and their radical cations.     

Verbrückte und unverbrückte norbornyl-kationen in der gasphase. Berechnungen zur stabilität isomerer norbornyl-kationen mit hilfe quantenmechanischer verfahren

The geometry and the relative stability of bicyclic compounds 1–20 have been calculated by standard quantum mechanics methods.MINDO/3 yields the following stability order of isomeric norbornyl cations (relative energies in $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$): 1-norbornyl cation 9 (0.0); 1.7 σ-bridged cation 6 (0.7); 7-norbornyl cation (nonplanar) 7 (1.1); 2-norbornyl cation (classical) 2 (4.2); 7-norbornyl cation (planar) 8 (4.3); 2-norbornyl cation (bridged) 1 (6.1). The stability of the same ions calculated by ab initio methods (STO-3G, MINDO/3-geometry) leads to an order more nearly consistent with experimental results: 2-norbornyl cation (classical) 2 (0.0); 2-norbornyl cation (bridged) 1 (5.9); 7-norbornyl cation (planar) 8 (11.1); 1-norbornyl cation 9 (14.6); 7-norbornyl cation (nonplanar) 7 (21.2). For the secondary 7-norbornyl cation, MINDO/3 gives a pyramidal configuration, 3.2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ more stable than the planar form. In contrast, the ab initio results (complete optimization of all geometrical parameters) indicate the planar cation to be the most stable form. The bridged structure of 2-norbornyl cation 1 is calculated (STO-3G, partly optimized) to be 4.3 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ less stable than the classical counterpart, 2. For the lower homologues 12 and 13 (STO-3G, complete geometry optimization), this difference is 6.4 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$. However, more extended basis sets should favour the bridged structures. The hydrogen bridged norbornyl cations 3, 4, and 5 have been calculated (STO-3G, partly optimized) to be 14.4, 23.6 and 29.9 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ less stable than 2. The stability differences between the corresponding tertiary bicyclic ions 10 vs 11, and 14 vs 15 are calculated (ab initio) to be 15.3 and 19.0 kcal/mole, respectively, in favour of classical structures. The influence of methyl substitution at positions C₁ and C₆ (exo) on bridged and unbridged structure of 2-norbornyl cation is calculated. Pyramidal secondary and tertiary 2-norbornyl cations 19 (a; R=H, b; R=CH₃) and 20 (a; R=H, b; r=CH₃) have been used to model the electrical effects in the solvolysis transition states of epimeric 2-norbornyl esters. Due to more efficient hyperconjugation the pyramidal exo cation is stabilized more than the endo cation by 5.2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ for the secondary series and 3.5 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ for the tertiary series. Bonding of endo cation 20 with a nucleophile should be stronger than bonding of exo cation 19 due to more efficient HOMO-LUMO interaction.     

He I and He II spectra of 2-halopyridines

The He I and He II ultraviolet photoelectron spectra of 2-fluoro-, 2-chloro-, 2-bromo-, and 2-iodopyridine have been recorded and interpreted in terms of a composite-molecule model. The sequence of the four lowest ionization energies for 2-fluoro- and 2-chloropyridine is: π₃ (1a₂) > n_N (11a₁) > π₂ (2b₁) > π_pyr (7b₂), whereas for 2-bromo- and 2-iodopyridine the assignment is: π₃ (1a₂) - π_X > n_N (11a₁) > π_X > π₂ (2b₁), where X represents a bromine and iodine lone-pair. Comparison of the He I and He II band intensities confirmed this assignment. However, ab initio calculations at the STO-3G*/STO-3G* and 6–31G**/STO-3G* levels did not agree with the sequence predicted by either the composite-molecule model, simple correlations and the He I/He II cross-section ratios. For the 2-fluoropyridine, a comparison using the HAM/3 model was found to be in agreement with this assignment.     

H.T. Clarke,A handbook of organic analysis,qualitative and quantitative, (Fifth Edition), Edward Arnold,London (1975), Revised by B. Haynes,with E.C. Brick and G.G. Shone,pp. x + 291, price £12.00 (clothbound), 4.95 (paperback)

Ab initio calculations at minimal (STO-3G) and extended (4-31G) basis levels have been carried out for the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical using the unrestricted Hartree-Fock procedure. It is found that the ordering of the long-range proton isotropic hyperfine coupling constants are opposite to the results obtained from semi-empirical INDO calculations. The coupling constants for the extended basis set are a_exo = ?1.71 G, a_endo = ?4.25 G, a_β= 11.41 G, a_α1 = ?66.01 G and a_α2 = ?64.73 G.     

Theoretical study of the CCl3 radical

Employing the STO-3G and 4–31 G basis sets within the unrestricted Hartree-Fock method the equilibrium structure of the CCl₃ radical was calculated. The calculations predict the radical to be non-planar with both basis sets used. Using the UHF optimized geometries the SWX_α calculations have been performed to calculate energy levels, ionization potentials and electron affinities of CCl₃.     

The electronics structures of small strained rings. An investigation of the interaction between the oxygen and the π orbitals in 3-methyleneoxetane and 3-oxetanone

The ultraviolet photoelectron spectra of 3-methyleneoxetane (I), 3-oxetanone (II) and β-propiol-octane (III) have been investigated for the purpose of studying the interaction processes between the endocyclic oxygen and the methylene or carbonyl groups of I and II, respectively. Molecular orbital calculations at the MINDO/3, MNDO, and STO-3G/431-G levels have been performed to aid analyses of the data. The interaction process occurs primarily through the pseudo-π-CH₂ orbitals for I and II. Substantial stabilizing inductive effects are noted for the lone-pair and π orbitals for these molecules.     

Comparison between ab Initio and Modified INDO-MO Calculations of N20

Both STO-3G ab initio and s-p separation-type-modified INDO semiempirical methods were applied to molecular-orbital calculation of the N₂₀ molecule. From these two methods, the optimized bond distances between the nearest N atoms (d_n-n) and the most calculated thermodynamic data are close to each other. The positive values of ΔH_a° and ΔG_a° for the atomization reaction in this work prove that N₂₀ is stable. In contrast to conventional INDO and MINDO/3, but similar to former AMI and MNDO calculations, both ΔH_r° and ΔG_r° are positive in the formation reaction, which indicates that N₂₀ belongs to the category of high-energy molecules.     

The photoelectron spectrum of tetramethyldiazetine: The elucidation of ring size effects on azo group ionization potentials

The photoelectron spectrum of 3,3,4,4-tetramethyldiazetine (4-Me₄) has been measured. By comparison with the previously reported photoelectron spectra of 3,3-dimethyldiazirine and 3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrazoline, 4-Me₄ has three resolved low energy ionization (8.87, 10.36, and 11.65 eV) with an anomalously low second ionization potential. MINDO/3-and ab initio STO-3G calculations on 3-, 4-, and 5-membered ring azo compounds (diazenes) have been carried out, and these allow definite conclusions about the order of n_?, n₊, and π ionization potentials to be made for the diazetine (n_? < N₊ < π) and for 3,3-dimethyldiazirine and 3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrazoline(n_? < π n₊), in agreement with the predictions of Heilbronner. Ab initio STO-3G calculations on the nitrogen and alkyl fragments of the cyclic diazenes reveal the origin of ionization energy shifts with changes in ring size.     

Photoelectron Spectra of Unsaturated Oxides. I. 1,4-Dioxin and related systems

The He (Iα) photoelectron spectra of the four unsaturated oxides 3,4-dihydropyran ( 6 ), γ-pyran ( 7 ), 2, 3-dihydro-1, 4-dioxin ( 9 ) and 1, 4-dioxin ( 10 ) are reported and analysed. Band assignments are based on ab-initio calculations, using the STO-3G basis set. The proposed orbital sequences (with reference to the coordinate systems given in Table 1) are, for the top three orbitals: 6 , π, nσ, nπ; 7 , 3b₁(π), 1a₂(π), 11a₁(σ); 9 , 11b(π), 12a(σ), 11a(π); 10 , 2b_3u(π), 1b_1g(π), 6a_g(σ). Finally the (almost) localized π-orbitals have been computed by the Foster-Boys localization procedure.     

The electronic structure of peracids. Functional models for cytochrome p-450

An extensive set of ground state ab initio and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations has been performed on both peroxytrifluoroacetic and peroxyacetic acids. The equilibrium geometry of peroxyacetic acid was calculated with the STO-3G and MINDO/3 methods, and peroxide rotational barriers for both peracids were obtained with STO-3G and PCILO. Extended basis set calculations with the 6-31G^** basis were performed for both peracids to compare the electronic structures of these two compounds. Electrostatic potential maps in the region of the peroxide bonds of both peracids were also calculated using INDO wavefunetions. These results are discussed with respect to the enhanced reactivity of peroxytrifluoracetic acid relative to peroxyacetic acid and the nature of the oxygen electrophilicity in these compounds and by analogy in cytochrome P-450, for which peroxytrifluoroacetic acid is considered to be an effective chemical model.     

The He(Iα) Photoelectron Spectra of Substituted 1,2-Dithietes

The He(Iα) photoelectron (PE.) spectra of a series of substituted 1,2-dithietes have been recorded and assigned with respect to the orbital sequence derived from an STO-3G model calculation and by correlation with the PE. spectra of related compounds. The results provide additional support for the presence of a closed, four-membered ring moiety in all the 1,2-dithietes investigated. In all cases the two highest occupied molecular orbitals are b₂(π)= HOMO, a₂(π), with exception of 3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-dithiete where the sequence b₂(π), a₂(π) or a₂(π), b₂(π) is uncertain.     

Photoelectron spectra of cyclopolysilanes

Summary He (I) PE spectra of cyclopentasilane and cyclohexasilane show excellent agreement with STO-3 G + ab initio calculations. The HOMO in both compounds is of (SiSi) 3 p character. First IP's appear at 9.4 and 9.6 eV respectively.

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Photoelektronenspektren von Cyclopolysilanen (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Die He (I) PE-Spektren der Cyclosilane Si₅H₁₀ und Si₆H₁₂ zeigen ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung mit STO-3 G + ab initio Rechnungen. Beide Ringe besitzen HOMO's mit (SiSi) 3 p Charakter. Die ersten Ionisierungspotentiale liegen bei 9.4 bzw. 9.6 eV.

     

A nonelectrocyclic path from the cyclobutene cation radical to the 1,3-butadiene cation radical

The conversion of the cyclobutene cation radical to the 1,3-butadiene cation radical has been studied using MINDO /3 and ab initio SCF MO methods. Not only smooth electrocyclic but also stepwise, non-electrocyclic routes were considered. Both calculational methods agree that the preferred reaction path is a novel nonelectrocyclic one proceeding through an intermediate “cyclopropylcarbinyl cation radical.” The quantitative agreement in the activation parameters calculated by the two methods is excellent. The proposed intermediate also provides an attractive explanation for the mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns of the cyclobutene and butadiene cation radicals.     

Bond lengthening and through-bond interactions in p,p'-dibenzene and related molecules

The structure of p,p'-dibenzene (PDB) has been investigated by full geometry optimizations using the empirical force field (EFF) and MINDO/3 methods. While other structural parameters are in good agreement, the central bond length calculated by MINDO/3 (1.595 Å), as confirmed by an ab initio (STO-3G basis set) optimization (1.596 Å), is in striking contrast to the corresponding length calculated by EFF (1.543 Å). A detailed analysis of the electronic structure of PDB based on a quantitative perturbational molecular orbital treatment reveals that through-bond coupling of the four π systems is responsible for an elongation of the σ bond which mediates this interaction. Further studies using the EFF and MINDO/3 approaches demonstrate that extended C-C single bonds can arise even in structures with fewer than four π systems. The effect of substituents on the central bond length in PDB has been briefly investigated. (MINDO/3). A variety of other structures have been identified in which bond lengthening may result from through-bond coupling.     

The rearrangement of the cubane radical cation in solution

The rearrangement of the cubane radical cation (1*+) was examined both experimentally (anodic as well as (photo)chemical oxidation of cubane 1 in acetonitrile) and computationally at coupled cluster, DFT, and MP2 [BCCD(T)/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G* ZPVE as well as BCCD(T)/cc-pVDZ//MP2/6-31G* + ZPVE] levels of theory. The interconversion of the twelve C2v degenerate structures of 1*+ is associated with a sizable activation energy of 1.6 kcalmol(-1). The barriers for the isomerization of 1*- to the cuneane radical cation (2*+) and for the C-C bond fragmentation to the secocubane-4,7-diyl radical cation (10*+) are virtually identical (deltaH0++ = 7.8 and 7.9 kcalmol(-1), respectively). The low-barrier rearrangement of 10*+ to the more stable syn-tricyclooctadiene radical cation 3*+ favors the fragmentation pathway that terminates with the cyclooctatetraene radical cation 6*+. Experimental single-electron transfer (SET) oxidation of cubane in acetonitrile with photoexcited 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene, in combination with back electron transfer to the transient radical cation, also shows that 1*+ preferentially follows a multistep rearrangement to 6*+ through 10*+ and 3*+ rather than through 2*+. This was confirmed by the oxidation of syn-tricyclooctadiene (3), which, like 1, also forms 6 in the SET oxidation/rearrangement/electron-recapture process. In contrast, cuneane (2) is oxidized exclusively to semibullvalene (9) under analogous conditions. The rearrangement of 1*+ to 6*+ via 3*+, which was recently observed spectroscopically upon ionization in a hydrocarbon glass matrix, is also favored in solution.