Theoretical investigation on identical anionic halide‐exchange SN2 reaction processes on N‐haloammonium cation NH3X+ (X = F,Cl, Br,and I)

CCSD(T) calculations have been used for identically nucleophilic substitution reactions on N‐haloammonium cation, X^? + NH₃X⁺ (X = F, Cl, Br, and I), with comparison of classic anionic S_N2 reactions, X^? + CH₃X. The described S_N2 reactions are characterized to a double curve potential, and separated charged reactants proceed to form transition state through a stronger complexation and a charge neutralization process. For title reactions X^? + NH₃X⁺, charge distributions, geometries, energy barriers, and their correlations have been investigated. Central barriers ΔE for X^? + NH₃X⁺ are found to be lower and lie within a relatively narrow range, decreasing in the following order: Cl (21.1 kJ/mol) > F (19.7 kJ/mol) > Br (10.9 kJ/mol) > I (9.1 kJ/mol). The overall barriers ΔE relative to the reactants are negative for all halogens: ?626.0 kJ/mol (F), ?494.1 kJ/mol (Cl), ?484.9 kJ/mol (Br), and ?458.5 kJ/mol (I). Stability energies of the ion–ion complexes ΔE_comp decrease in the order F (645.6 kJ/mol) > Cl (515.2 kJ/mol) > Br (495.8 kJ/mol) > I (467.6 kJ/mol), and are found to correlate well with halogen Mulliken electronegativities (R² = 0.972) and proton affinity of halogen anions X^? (R² = 0.996). Based on polarizable continuum model, solvent effects have investigated, which indicates solvents, especially polar and protic solvents lower the complexation energy dramatically, due to dually solvated reactant ions, and even character of double well potential in reactions X^? + CH₃X has disappeared. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Nontotally symmetric trifurcation of an SN2 reaction pathway

A new type of reaction pathway which involves a nontotally symmetric trifurcation was found and investigated for a typical S_N2‐type reaction, NC^‐ + CH₃X → NC? CH₃ + X^‐ (X = F, Cl). A nontotally symmetric valley‐ridge inflection (VRI) point was located along the C_3v reaction path. For X = F, the minimum energy path (MEP) starting from the transition state (TS) leads to a second‐order saddle point with C_3v symmetry, which connects three product minima of C_s symmetry. For X = Cl, four product minima have been observed, of which three belong to C_s symmetry and one to C_3v symmetry. The branching path from the VRI point to the lower symmetry minima was determined by a linear interpolation technique. The branching mechanism is discussed based on the reaction path curvature and net atomic charges, and the possibility of a nonotally symmetric n‐furcation is discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Calculation of the kinetic energy release of charge separation processes

Kinetic energy release (KER) was studied by experimental methods and semiempirical (MNDO and AM1) molecular orbital calculations in the case of various charge separation processes: loss of a methyl ion from [CH₃? C₄? CH₃]²⁺, [CH₃? C₃? CH₃]²⁺ and [N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine]²⁺. It was found that the KER corresponding to the width of a dish-topped peak at half-height is very close to the mean KER of the process. The calculated potential energy curves of these reactions show significant reverse critical energies, a large part of which was found to be due, in agreement with conventional assumptions, to electric repulsion between the two separating singly charged products. The bond order between the two separating ions is nearly zero in the transition state, so exchange of internal energy between them is unlikely. These explain the good agreement between the (calculated) reverse critical energy and the measured kinetic energy release.     

A CASSCF/CASPT2 study on the low‐lying electronic states of the CH3SS and its cation

Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations with contracted ANO‐RCC basis set were performed for low‐lying electronic states of CH₃SS and its cation in C_s symmetry. For the ground state X²A″ of CH₃SS, the calculated S‐S stretching mode is in good agreement with experimental reports. The electron transitions of CH₃SS⁺, X¹A′ → 1¹A″, X¹A′ → 2¹A′, and X¹A′ → 2¹A″, are predicted at 1.055, 3.247, and 3.841 eV. Moreover, the calculated adiabatic and vertical ionization potential and adiabatic affinity are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The CASSCF/CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) were calculated for S₂‐loss dissociation from the X²A″, 1²A′, and 2²A″ states. The electronic states of the CH₃ radical and S₂ molecule as the dissociation products were carefully determined by checking energies and geometries of the asymptote products. The S₂‐loss PEC for CH₃SS indicate that S₂‐loss dissociation occurs from the X²A″ state leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (X³Σ), the 1²A′ and 2²A″ leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (¹Δ_g). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012.     

An energy decomposition scheme applicable to strongly interacting systems

An energy decomposition scheme useful for the analysis of the coupled types of interactions in strongly interacting systems is developed within the Hartree-Fock approximation. A dominant characteristic of the scheme is that it involves the interactions between vacant orbitals of component molecules, as can be justified from the third-order perturbation theory. On the basis ofab initio molecular orbital calculations, the utility of the scheme is illustrated for the BH₃-NH₃ complexation and the S_N2 reaction of CH₄ with H^–. It is found that the charge transfer from electron donor (i.e. NH₃ or H^–) to acceptor (i.e. BH₃ or CH₄) is strongly coupled with the polarization of the acceptor, to contribute appreciably to the stabilization of the entire system. A specific role of this coupling mode in the progress of reactions is discussed.     

RADICAL IONS 561,2 ONE-ELECTRON OXIDATION OF 1,2-DITHIETE DERIVATIVES

Abstract

Novel 1,2-dithiete derivatives R₂C₂S₂ with R = [sbnd]C(CH₃)₃ and [sbnd]C(CH₃)₂[sbnd]CH₂[sbnd]CH₂[sbnd]CH₂[sbnd]C(CH₃)₂[sbnd] are readily oxidized by the one-electron transfer system AlCl₃/H₂CCl₂ to their radical cations. The single line ESR spectra, on high amplification, exhibit ³³S satellites in natural abundance. Both the ESR data, i.e. rather large g values and ³³S hyperfine coupling constants as well as MNDO closed and open shell calculations for the parent molecule H₂C₂S₂ illustrate that spin and positive charge are predominantly located in the SS bridge of the four-membered ring.     

An MNDO study of the reaction of methanol with fulminic acid and acetonitrile oxide

The reaction pathway of fulminic acid (HCNO) and acetonitrile oxide (CH₃CNO) with methanol as a nucleophile (RCNO + CH₃OH → RC(OCH₃)?NOH) and the formation of H-bonded complex with methanol have been studied using the MNDO method. MNDO-SCF calculations were performed with complete geometry optimization using the Davidon–Fletcher–Powell method. The reaction pathways were studied by varying all the bond lengths, the bond angles and the twist angles, using the distance C₃? O₂(R) between the carbon of the 1,3-dipoles and the oxygen of the methanol molecule as the reaction coordinate. The reaction is exothermic and proceeds in two steps. The first step is the formation of a five-centered hydrogen-bonded complex (INT ) and is the rate-determining step of the reaction. The second step involves the rearrangement of the H-bonded complex to the product, and this step requires a very small amount of activation energy. Thus, there is an intermediate on the reaction pathway, and therefore, the reaction is stepwise. Acetonitrile oxide is less reactive (activation energy 34.59 kcal/mol) relative to fulminic acid (activation energy 28.91 kcal/mol).     

Lithium Choreography: Intramolecular Arylations of Carbamate‐Stabilised Carbanions and Their Mechanisms Probed by In Situ IR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

Deprotonation of O‐allyl, O‐propargyl or O‐benzyl carbamates in the presence of a lithium counterion leads to carbamate‐stabilised organolithium compounds that may be quenched with electrophiles. We now report that when the allylic, propargylic or benzylic carbamate bears an N‐aryl substituent, an aryl migration takes place, leading to stereochemical inversion and C‐arylation of the carbamate α to oxygen. The aryl migration is an intramolecular S_NAr reaction, despite the lack of anion‐stabilising aryl substituents. Our in situ IR studies reveal a number of intermediates along the rearrangement pathway, including a “pre‐lithiation complex,” the deprotonated carbamate, the rearranged anion, and the final arylated carbamate. No evidence was obtained for a dearomatised intermediate during the aryl migration. DFT calculations predict that during the reaction the solvated Li cation moves from the carbanion centre, thus freeing its lone pair for nucleophilic attack on the remote phenyl ring. This charge separation leads to several alternative conformations. The one having Li⁺ bound to the carbamate oxygen gives rise to the lowest‐energy transition structure, and also leads to inversion of the configuration. In agreement with the IR studies, the DFT calculations fail to locate a dearomatised intermediate.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the gas-phase interaction between ionized nitrile sulfides and pyridine

The gas-phase reactivity of ionized nitrile sulfides, R-C≡N⁺-S^·, towards neutral pyridine was studied both experimentally (six sector hybrid mass spectrometer) and theoretically (density functional theory and Møller-Plesset ab initio calculations). An ionized sulfur atom transfer and a cycloaddition process respectively yielding ionized pyridine N-thioxide and a thiazolopyridinium cation were observed. Whereas the very efficient S^·+ transfer reaction probably involves the intermediacy of several ion-molecule complexes, the thiazolopyridinium ion formation is likely to be initiated by an electrophilic attack of the R-C≡N⁺-S^· ion on the nitrogen atom of pyridine; the resulting intermediate then undergo an intramolecular substitution of an α-hydrogen atom by the sulfur atom.     

Ab initio molecular orbital study on the gas phase SN2 reaction F + CH3Cl → CH3F + Cl

Ab-initio molecular orbital (MO) and direct ab initio dynamics calculations have been applied to the gas phase S_N2 reaction F⁻ + CH₃Cl → CH₃F + Cl⁻. Several basis sets were examined in order to select the most convenient and best fitted basis set to that of high-quality calculations. The Hartree–Fock (HF) 3−21+G(d) calculation reasonably represents a potential energy surface calculated at the MP2/6−311++G(2df,2pd) level. A direct ab initio dynamics calculation at the HF/3−21+G(d) level was carried out for the S_N2 reaction. A full dimensional ab initio potential energy surface including all degrees of freedom was used in the dynamics calculation. Total energies and gradients were calculated at each time step. Two initial configurations at time zero were examined in the direct dynamics calculations: one is a near collinear collision, and the other is a side-attack collision. It was found that in the near collinear collision almost all total available energy is partitioned into two modes: the relative translational mode between the products (40%) and the C − F stretching mode (60%). The other internal modes of CH₃F were still in the ground state. The lifetimes of the early- and late-complexes F⁻ … CH₃Cl and FCH₃ … Cl⁻ are significantly short enough to dissociate directly to the products. On the other hand, in the side-attack collision, the relative translation energy was about 20% of total available energy.     

Density functional study of S(N) 2 substitution reactions for CH(3) Cl + CX(1) X(2•-) (X(1) X(2) = HH, HF, HCl, HBr, HI, FF, ClCl, BrBr, and II)

A systematic investigation on the S_N2 displacement reactions of nine carbene radical anions toward the substrate CH₃Cl has been theoretically carried out using the popular density functional theory functional BHandHLYP level with different basis sets 6‐31+G (d, p)/relativistic effective core potential (RECP), 6‐311++G (d, p)/RECP, and aug‐cc‐pVTZ/RECP. The studied models are CX¹X^2?? + CH₃Cl → X²X¹CH₃C^? + Cl^?, with CX¹X^2?? = CH₂^??, CHF^??, CHCl^??, CHBr^??, CHI^??, CF₂^??, CCl₂^??, CBr₂^??, and CI₂^??. The main results are proposed as follows: (a) Based on natural bond orbital (NBO), proton affinity (PA), and ionization energy (IE) analysis, reactant CH₂^?? should be a strongest base among the anion‐containing species (CX¹X^2??) and so more favorable nucleophile. (b) Regardless of frontside attacking pathway or backside one, the S_N2 reaction starts at an identical precomplex whose formation with no barrier. (c) The back‐S_N2 pathway is much more preferred than the front‐S_N2 one in terms of the energy gaps [ΔE(front)?ΔE(back)], steric demand, NBO population analysis. Thus, the back‐S_N2 reaction was discussed in detail. On the one hand, based on the energy barriers (ΔE and ΔE) analysis, we have strongly affirmed that the stabilization of back attacking transition states (b‐TSs) presents increase in the order: b‐TS‐CI₂ < b‐TS‐CBr₂ < b‐TS‐CCl₂ < b‐TS‐CHI < b‐TS‐CHBr < b‐TS‐CHCl < b‐TS‐CF₂ < b‐TS‐CHF < b‐TS‐CH₂. On the other hand, depended on discussions of the correlations of ΔE with influence factors (PA, IE, bond order, and ΔE), we have explored how and to what extent they affect the reactions. Moreover, we have predicted that the less size of substitution (α‐atom) required for the gas‐phase reaction with α‐nucleophile is related to the α‐effect and estimated that the reaction with the stronger PA nucleophile, holding the lighter substituted atom, corresponds to the greater exothermicity given out from reactants to products. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2012     

Studies on the effect of the cation nature on the kinetics of the isotopic exchange reaction between chloride ion and O,O-diphenylphosphorochloridothionate in acetonitrile

Rate constants and activation parameters for the isotopic exchange reactions between (PhO)₂PSCl and M³⁶Cl (M = Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, n-Bu₄N⁺, Et₃HN⁺, EtH₃N⁺, Li⁺) in acetonitrile were measured in order to find the effect of the cation nature onthe kinetics of the reaction. The rate constants measured for a range of concentrations of Et₃HN³⁶Cl, EtH₃N³⁶Cl, and Li³⁶Cl were analyzed using the Acree equation. The equivalent conductance of LiCl in acetonitrile was determined. The nature of the cation has no effect on the mechanism of the reaction. The cation changes only the experimental rate constant proportionally to the dissociation degree of the salt. Smaller values of the rate constant and smaller activation parameters ΔH? and ΔS? for the reaction with Li³⁶Cl indicate the existenceof the intermolecular interaction between lithium ions and O,O-diphenylphosphorochloridothionate.     

Dynamic simulation, kinetics and mechanisms of surface reaction on oxides

The mechanism of S_Ni(Si) and S_Ei reactions on silica surfaces were studied by AM1 and MNDO/H methods in cluster approach. Potential energy surface profile (PESP) calculations were carried out by adiabatic and dynamic reaction coordinate (ARC, DRC) methods.     

Nucleophilic Substitution at Phosphorus Centers (SN2@P)

We have studied the characteristics of archetypal model systems for bimolecular nucleophilic substitution at phosphorus (S_N2@P) and, for comparison, at carbon (S_N2@C) and silicon (S_N2@Si) centers. In our studies, we applied the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of density functional theory (DFT) at the OLYP/TZ2P level. Our model systems cover nucleophilic substitution at carbon in X^?+CH₃Y (S_N2@C), at silicon in X^?+SiH₃Y (S_N2@Si), at tricoordinate phosphorus in X^?+PH₂Y (S_N2@P3), and at tetracoordinate phosphorus in X^?+POH₂Y (S_N2@P4). The main feature of going from S_N2@C to S_N2@P is the loss of the characteristic double‐well potential energy surface (PES) involving a transition state [X? CH₃? Y]^? and the occurrence of a single‐well PES with a stable transition complex, namely, [X? PH₂? Y]^? or [X? POH₂? Y]^?. The differences between S_N2@P3 and S_N2@P4 are relatively small. We explored both the symmetric and asymmetric (i.e. X, Y=Cl, OH) S_N2 reactions in our model systems, the competition between backside and frontside pathways, and the dependence of the reactions on the conformation of the reactants. Furthermore, we studied the effect, on the symmetric and asymmetric S_N2@P3 and S_N2@P4 reactions, of replacing hydrogen substituents at the phosphorus centers by chlorine and fluorine in the model systems X^?+PR₂Y and X^?+POR₂Y, with R=Cl, F. An interesting phenomenon is the occurrence of a triple‐well PES not only in the symmetric, but also in the asymmetric S_N2@P4 reactions of X^?+POCl₂? Y.     

Substituent Effects on the Low-Lying Singlet and Triplet States of Methylene

The relative energies of the three lower-lying singlet states (here called S_a, S_b, and S_c for the sake of generality) and the lowest triplet state of CHX and CX₂ carbenes (in which X = Li, BeH, BH₂, NH₂, OH, or F) are evaluated by means of the semiempirical MNDO method as well as, for some species, by means of ab initio calculations at the 6-31G, MP3/6-31G, and MP3/6-31G* levels. Calculations for CH(CN) and C(CN)₂ are also reported. In spite of the known MNDO overestimation of the stability of the σ¹π¹ configurations of methylene, this method turns out to be satisfactory for most carbenes reported here. Emphasis is put on the appearance of the plots of the ΔH values vs. the carbene bond angles for the different states and on the seldom considered S_b states (¹B₁ for C_2v carbenes). A carbene classification is proposed on the basis of the form of these plots. For carbenes with π-acceptor substituents such as those of “type IA”, open-shell, diradical configurations are predicted for the lowest singlet states, so that no significant structural differences should be expected between their lowest singlet and triplet states. On the other hand, for carbenes with strong π-donor substituents, either “type ID” or “IID”, the closed-shell singlets appear to be the ground states, and the singlet and triplet behaviors should be much more clearly distinguishable.     

Uncovering an oxide ion substitution for the OH− + CH3F reaction

Theoretical investigations on chemical reactions allow us to understand the dynamics of the possible pathways and identify new unexpected routes. Here, we develop a global analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction in order to perform high-level dynamics simulations. Besides bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) and proton abstraction, our quasi-classical trajectory computations reveal a novel oxide ion substitution leading to the HF + CH₃O⁻ products. This exothermic reaction pathway occurs via the CH₃OH⋯F⁻ deep potential well of the S_N2 product channel as a result of a proton abstraction from the hydroxyl group by the fluoride ion. The present detailed dynamics study of the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction focusing on the surprising oxide ion substitution demonstrates how incomplete our knowledge is of fundamental chemical reactions.

Reaction dynamics simulations on a high-level ab initio analytical potential energy surface reveal a novel oxide ion substitution channel for the OH⁻ + CH₃F reaction.     

An investigation of the electron density of a Jahn–Teller‐distorted CrII cation: the crystal structure and charge density of hexakis(acetonitrile‐κN)chromium(II) bis(tetraphenylborate) acetonitrile disolvate

In the crystal structure of the title homoleptic Cr^II complex, [Cr(CH₃CN)₆](C₂₄H₂₀B)₂·CH₃CN, the [Cr(CH₃CN)₆]²⁺ cation is a high‐spin d⁴ complex with strong static, rather than dynamic, Jahn–Teller distortion. The electron density of the cation was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray refinements using aspherical structure factors from wavefunction calculations. The detailed picture of the electronic density allowed us to assess the extent and directionality of the Jahn–Teller distortion of the Cr^II cation away from idealized octahedral symmetry. The topological analysis of the aspherical d‐electron density about the Cr^II cation showed that there are significant valence charge concentrations along the axial Cr—N axes. Likewise, there were significant valence charge depletions about the Cr^II cation along the equatorial Cr—N bonds. These charge concentrations are in accordance with a Jahn–Teller‐distorted six‐coordinate complex.     

STRUCTURE OF OXIDIZED DISULFIDE BONDS AS CALCULATED BY THE CNDO/2 METHOD

Abstract

ONDO/2 calculations indicate that disulfide cation radicals, e.g. HSSH⁺ and CH₃SSCH₃ ⁺, have a trans-planar structure in contrast to the twisted structure of the parent molecule. The main reason for this difference is the removal of an electron from the sulfur lone-pair orbitals. The bond energy in the disulfide cation radical is much lower than in the parent molecule, which makes the reaction CH₃SSCH₃ ⁺ → CH₃S→ + CH₃S⁺ allowed, as observed previously in radiolysis of CH₃SSCH₃ single crystals.