Gas‐Phase Elimination Reaction of Ethyl (5‐cyanomethyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)carbamate: A Computational Study

The gas‐phase elimination reaction of ethyl (5‐cyanomethyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)carbamate has been studied computationally at the MP2/6–31++G(2d,p) level of theory. The values of the activation parameters and rate constants for the thermal decomposition were evaluated over a temperature range from 405.0 to 458.0 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants was used to deduce the modified Arrhenius expression: log k_{405–458 K} = (9.01 ± 0.49) + (1.32 ± 0.16) log T – (6946 ± 30) 1/T, which is in good agreement with the expression obtained from experimental data. The results confirm that the mechanism is a cis‐concerted elimination that occurs in two steps: The first one corresponds to the formation of ethylene and an intermediate, 5‐(cyanomethyl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl‐carbamic acid, via a six‐membered cyclic transition state, and the second one is the decarboxylation of this intermediate via a four‐membered cyclic transition step, leading to carbon dioxide and the corresponding 1,3,4‐thiadiazole derivative (5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2‐acetonitrile). The connectivity of transition states with their respective minima was verified through intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations, and the progress of the reaction was followed by means of Wiberg bond indices, resulting that both transition states have an “early” character, nearer to the reactants than to the products.     

A DFT/TDDFT Investigation of Excited State Dynamical Mechanism of (E)‐1‐((2,2‐Diphenylhydrazono)methyl)naphthalen‐2‐ol

The excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism of a new compound (E )‐1‐((2,2‐diphenylhydrazono)methyl)naphthalen‐2‐ol ( EDMN ) sensor, reported and synthesized by Mukherjee et al . [Sensors Actuat. B‐Chem . 2014, 202 , 1190], is investigated in detail theoretically. The calculations on primary bond lengths, bond angles, and the corresponding infrared (IR) vibrational spectra and hydrogen‐bond energy involved in intramolecular hydrogen bond between the S₀ and S₁ states confirm that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened in the S₁ state, which reveals the tendency of ESIPT reaction. The fact that the experimental absorption and emission spectra are well reproduced demonstrates the rationality and effectiveness of the time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level of theory we adopt here. Furthermore, intramolecular charge transfer based on the frontier molecular orbitals (MOs) gives indication of the ESIPT reaction. The constructed potential energy curves of both the S₀ and S₁ states while keeping the O─H distance of EDMN fixed at a series of values are used to illustrate the ESIPT process. The lower barrier of ~3.934 kcal/mol in the S₁ state potential energy curve (lower than the 8.254 kcal/mol in the S₀ state) provides the transfer mechanism.     

Experimental and Computational Study of the Thermal Decomposition of 3‐Methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol in m‐Xylene Solution

An experimental study of the thermal decomposition of a β‐hydroxy alkene, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution, has been carried out at five different temperatures in the range of 513.15–563.15 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants for the decomposition of this compound in the corresponding Arrhenius equation is given by ln k (s^?1) = (25.65 ± 1.52) ? (17,944 ± 814) (kJ·mol^?1)·T^?1. A computational study has been carried out at the M05–2X/6–31+G(d,p) level of theory to calculate the rate constants and the activation parameters by the classical transition state theory. There is a good agreement between the experimental and calculated rate constants and activation Gibbs energies. The bonding characteristics of reactant, transition state, and products have been investigated by the natural bond orbital analysis, which provides the natural atomic charges and the Wiberg bond indices. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state, being a concerted and slightly asynchronous process. The results have been compared with those obtained previously by us (Struct Chem 2013, 24, 1811–1816) for the thermal decomposition of 3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution. We can conclude that in the compound studied in this work, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, the effect of substitution at position 3 by a weakly activating CH₃ group is the stabilization of the transition state formed in the reaction and therefore a small increase in the rate of thermal decomposition.     

Amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones as Iron(III) Ligands

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a range of 2‐ and 6‐amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones are described. All the amido‐substituted 3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones have lower pK_a values than 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one (deferiprone). This is due to the inductive effect of the amido group. Furthermore, the pK_a values of the 3‐hydroxy group in 1‐nonsubstituted pyridinones are dramatically lower than those of the corresponding 1‐alkyl analogues, indicating that a strong hydrogen bond exists between the 2‐amido function and the 3‐oxygen anion, which stabilises the anion. As a result of the decreased competition with protons, the pFe³⁺ values of this group of molecules are higher than that of deferiprone. The distribution coefficients of these molecules are also increased despite the lack of a hydrophobic 1‐alkyl substituent and this is ascribed to the intramolecular hydrogen bond. X‐ray diffraction studies confirm the existence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

Asymmetric Catalytic Formal 1,4‐Allylation of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters: Allylboration/Oxy‐Cope Rearrangement

A highly enantioselective formal conjugate allyl addition of allylboronic acids to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters has been realized by employing a chiral Ni^II/N,N′‐dioxide complex as the catalyst. This transformation proceeds by an allylboration/oxy‐Cope rearrangement sequence, providing a facile and rapid route to γ‐allyl‐α‐ketoesters with moderate to good yields (65–92 %) and excellent ee values (90–99 % ee). The isolation of 1,2‐allylboration products provided insight into the mechanism of the subsequent oxy‐Cope rearrangement reaction: substrate‐induced chiral transfer and a chiral Lewis acid accelerated process. Based on the experimental investigations and DFT calculations, a rare boatlike transition‐state model is proposed as the origin of high chirality transfer during the oxy‐Cope rearrangement.     

Gas‐phase pyrolytic reactions of esters of 2‐pyridine and 8‐quinoline sulfonic acid

The rates of gas‐phase thermal elimination reaction of esters of 2‐pyridine sulfonic acid and 8‐quinoline sulfonic acid have been measured over at least 50° for each compound. The relative rates of the first‐order unimolecular decomposition at 500 K for the primary:secondary esters suggest that C O bond breaking is kinetically more significant than C H bond breaking, leading to a transition state of carbocationic character. This is consistent with the electron‐donating effect provided by the methoxy substituent in 2‐p‐methoxyphenylethyl of 2‐pyridine and 8‐quinoline sulfonate esters stabilizing the carbocation center. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 771–775, 2000     

Z and E rotamers of N‐formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one and their interconversion as studied by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

N‐Formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one (compound 2 ), an important intermediate in the NIH Opiate Total Synthesis, presumably exists as a mixture of two rotamers (Z and E) in both CHCl₃ and DMSO at room temperature due to the hindered rotation of its N‐C18 bond in the amide moiety. By comparing the experimental ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of a single rotamer and the mixture of compound 2 in CDCl₃ with the calculated chemical shifts of the geometry optimized Z and E rotamers utilizing density functional theory, the crystalline rotamer of compound 2 was characterized as having the E configuration. The energy barrier between the two rotamers was also determined with the temperature dependence of ¹H and ¹³C NMR coalescence experiments, and then compared with that from the reaction path for the interconversion of the two rotamers calculated at the level of B3LYP/6‐31G*. Detailed geometry of the ground state and the transition states of both rotamers are given and discussed. Copyright © 2012 This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

1,2‐migration in N‐phosphano functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbenes

1,2‐Migration of the phosphano‐group to the carbene center in N‐phosphano functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbenes has been studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. An intramolecular mechanism with a three‐center transition state structure seems to be most plausible for the isolated carbenes, while an intermolecular pathway catalyzed by azolium salts may be preferable for a migration proceeding in the course of generating the carbenes in situ. Our calculations show that amino‐substitution at the phosphorus atom and an enhanced nucleophilicity of the heterocycle scaffold facilitate the phosphorus shift. Calculated singlet‐triplet energy gaps do not correlate with thermodynamic stability of the studied carbenes and their disposition toward the 1,2‐rearrangement. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylenes are always zwitterions

The nitration of tetraiodoethylene (7) yields 1,1‐diiodo‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (8). The latter reacts with alkylamines 9 or alkyldiamines 11 to give the corresponding acyclic 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylenes 10 or their cyclic analogs 12, respectively. On the basis of liquid and solid‐state ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR data, x‐ray analysis and ab initio calculations, we suggest that the title compounds are always zwitterionic and that the C_A–C_N bond is not a true double bond. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Enantioselectivity of Transition Metal‐Catalyzed 1,3‐Cycloadditions of 2‐Diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones

The formal 1,3‐cycloaddition of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones 1a –1 d to acyclic and cyclic enol ethers in the presence of Rh^II‐catalysts to afford dihydrofurans has been investigated. Reaction with a cis/trans mixture of 1‐ethoxyprop‐1‐ene ( 13a ) yielded the dihydrofuran 14a with a cis/trans ratio of 85 : 15, while that with (Z)‐1‐ethoxy‐3,3,3‐trifluoroprop‐1‐ene ( 13b ) gave the cis‐product 14b exclusively. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction is consistent with a concerted rather than stepwise mechanism for cycloaddition. The asymmetric cycloaddition of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐dione ( 1a ) or 2‐diazodimedone (=2‐diazo‐5,5‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,3‐dione; 1b ) to furan and dihydrofuran was investigated with a representative selection of chiral, nonracemic Rh^II catalysts, but no significant enantioselectivity was observed, and the reported enantioselective cycloadditions of these diazo compounds could not be reproduced. The absence of enantioselectivity in the cycloadditions of 2‐diazocyclohexane‐1,3‐diones is tentatively explained in terms of the Hammond postulate. The transition state for the cycloaddition occurs early on the reaction coordinate owing to the high reactivity of the intermediate metallocarbene. An early transition state is associated with low selectivity. In contrast, the transition state for transfer of stabilized metallocarbenes occurs later, and the reactions exhibit higher selectivity.     

Preferential solvational effects on the Cr(VI) oxidation of benzylamines in benzene/2‐methylpropan‐2‐ol mixtures

Imidazolium fluorochromate (IFC) oxidation of 11 meta‐ and para‐substituted benzylamines, in varying mole fractions of benzene/2‐methylpropan‐2‐ol binary mixtures, is first order in IFC and acid and zero order in substrate. The Hammett correlation yielded a U‐shaped curve, indicating a change in the relative importance of bond formation and bond fission in the transition state. The rate data failed to correlate with macroscopic solvent parameters such as ε_r and E. The correlation of k_obs with Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters suggests that H‐bonding between the reacting species and the solvent plays a major role in governing the reactivity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 159–167, 2010     

Ring opening of boriranes vis‐à‐vis aziridines: An ab initio and DFT probe on the mechanisms

Borirane undergoes ring opening reaction with NOCl and HNF₂ yielding the corresponding alkenes. Ab initio and density functional investigations of this reaction with cis‐ and trans‐2,3‐dimethylboriranes reveal that these reactions take place in a single step through the formation of a prereactive complex and a transition state giving the alkene with the same stereochemistry. Calculations clearly show that the concerted cleavage of C? B bonds leads to retention of stereochemistry. Further, it shows that HNF₂ cleaves boriranes more efficiently than does NOCl. Intrinsic reaction coordinate analyses and bond order analysis describe the nature of the transition state very well and fix the reaction mechanism. Solvent effect calculations through PCM model, with acetonitrile and CCl₄ as solvents, do not alter the gas phase results significantly. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

[DBU‐H]+ and H2o as effective catalyst form for 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones: A DFT Study

DFT investigations are carried out to explore the effective catalyst forms of DBU and H₂O and the mechanism for the formation of 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]‐pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones. Three main pathways are disclosed under unassisted, water‐catalyzed, DBU and water cocatalyzed conditions, which involves concerted nucleophilic addition and H‐transfer, concerted intramolecular cyclization and H‐transfer, and Dimroth rearrangement to form the product. The results indicated that the DBU and water cocatalyzed pathway is the most favored one as compared to the rest two pathways. The water donates one H to DBU and accepts H from 2‐amino‐nicotinonitrile ( 1 ), forming [DBU‐H]⁺‐H₂O as effective catalyst form in the proton migration transition state rather than [DBU‐H]⁺‐OH^?. The hydrogen bond between [DBU‐H]⁺···H₂O··· 1 ^? decreases the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step. Our calculated results open a new insight for the green catalyst model of DBU‐H₂O. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of the Petasis‐type Boronic Mannich Reaction of Organoboronic Acids,Amines, and α‐Hydroxy Aldehydes

The mechanism of a typical Petasis‐type boronic mannich reaction (the styrylboronic acid, dibenzylamine, and α‐hydroxylpropionaldehyde) has been investigated using density functional theory calculations. According to our calculations, the reaction is most likely to proceed through the following steps: 1) the nucleophilic addition of the amine to the aldehyde to form the carbinolamine; 2) the dehydration of the carbinolamine; 3) the formation of the tetra‐coordinated borate intermediate; 4) the C? C bond formation by the intramolecular transfer of the styryl group; 5) the hydrolysis of the resulting intermediate to give the final products. The highest point on the energy profile is the transition state for the C? C bond formation (118.8 kJ·mol^?1 above the reactants in ethanol). Our results can give reasonable explanations on some experimental facts observed for many Petasis‐type boronic Mannich reactions.     

Chiral oxazoline substituted optically active poly(m‐phenylene)s: Synthesis and coupling polymerizations of (S)‐4‐benzyl‐2‐(3,5‐dihalidephenyl) oxazoline using transition metal catalysts

Optically active poly(m‐phenylene)s substituted with chiral oxazoline derivatives have been synthesized by the nickel‐catalyzed Yamamoto coupling reaction of optically active (S)‐4‐benzyl‐2‐(3,5‐dihalidephenyl)oxazoline derivatives (X = Br or I). The structures and chiroptical properties of the polymers were characterized by spectroscopic methods and thermal gravimetric analyses. The polymers showed higher absolute optical specific rotation values than their corresponding monomer, and showed a Cotton effect at transition region of conjugated main chain. The optical activities of the polymers should be attributed to the higher order structure such as helical conformations. Moreover, the helical conformation could be induced by addition of metal salts into polymer solutions. The polymers showed good thermal stabilities, which was attributable to the oxazoline side chains. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Theoretical calculations on the mechanisms of the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐chloro‐1‐phenylethane, 3‐chloro‐1‐phenylpropane, 4‐chloro‐1‐phenylbutane, 5‐chloro‐1‐phenylpentane,and their corresponding chloroalkanes: The effect of the phenyl ring

The kinetics and mechanisms of the dehydrochlorination of 2‐chloro‐1‐ phenylethane, 3‐chloro‐1‐phenylpropane, 4‐chloro‐1‐phenylbutane, 5‐chloro‐1‐phenylpentane, and their corresponding chloroalkanes were examined by means of electronic structure calculation using density functional theory methods B3LYP/6–31G(d,p), B3LYP/6–31++G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6–31G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6–31++G(d,p), PBEPBE/6–31G(d,p), and PBEPBE/6–31++G(d,p). The potential energy surface was investigated for the minimum energy path. Calculated enthalpies and energies of activation are in good agreement with experimental values using the MPW1PW91 and B3LYP methods. The transition state of these reactions is a four‐centered cyclic structure. The reported experimental results proposing neighboring group participation by the phenyl group was not supported by theoretical calculations. The rate‐determining process in these reactions is the breaking of Cl? C bond. The reactions are described as concerted moderately polar and nonsynchronous. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 292–302, 2011     

A Simple and Facile Synthesis of 4‐Phenylquinoline‐fused Pyrrolidin‐2‐ones

In the present investigation, a simple and facile synthesis of a series of 4‐phenylquinoline‐fused pyrrolidin‐2‐ones, namely, 9‐phenyl‐2‐substituted‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐b]quinolin‐1‐ones is described, involving the tandem intermolecular C‐N bond formation reaction between readily available ethyl 2‐(chloromethyl)‐4‐phenylquinoline‐3‐carboxylate and various amines followed by in situ intramolecular C–N bond cyclization process in the presence of EtOH‐AcOH (v/v, 10:1) solvent system as the reaction medium.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one initiated by lanthanum isopropoxide in bulk

Lanthanum isopropoxide (La(OiPr)₃) has been synthesized and employed for ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one in bulk as a single‐component initiator. The influences of reaction conditions such as initiator concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the polymerization were investigated. The kinetics indicated that the polymerization is first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration. The Mechanistic investigations according to ¹H NMR spectrum analysis demonstrated that the polymerization of PDO proceeded through a coordination‐insertion mechanism with a rupture of the acyl‐oxygen bond of the monomer rather than the alkyl‐oxygen bond cleavage. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5214–5222, 2008     

A vinylene‐linked benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole low‐bandgap polymer

A new heteroarylene‐vinylene donor–acceptor polymer P(BDT‐V‐BTD) with reduced bandgap has been synthesized and its photophysical, electronic and photovoltaic properties investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The structure of the polymer comprises an unprecedented combination of a strong donor (4,8‐dialkoxy‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene, BDT), a strong acceptor (2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole, BTD) and a vinylene spacer. The new polymer was obtained by a metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling Stille reaction and fully characterized by NMR, UV–vis absorption, GPC, TGA, DSC and electrochemistry. Detailed ab initio computations with solvation effects have been performed for the monomer and model oligomers. The electrochemical investigation has ascertained the ambipolar character of the polymer and energetic values of HOMO, LUMO and bandgap matching materials‐design rules for optimized organic photovoltaic devices. The HOMO and LUMO energies are consistently lower than those of previous heteroarylene‐vinylene polymer while the introduction of the vinylene spacer afforded lower bandgaps compared to the analogous system P(BDT‐BTD) with no spacer between the aromatic rings. These superior properties should allow for enhanced photovoltages and photocurrents in photovoltaic devices in combination with PCBM. Preliminary photovoltaic investigation afforded relatively modest power conversion efficiencies of 0.74% (AM 1.5G, 100 mW/cm²), albeit higher than that of previous heteroarylene‐vinylene polymers and comparable to that of P(BDT‐BTD). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012