A theoretical evaluation of steric and electronic effects on the structure of [OSO4 (NR3)] (NR3 = bulky chiral alkaloid derivative) complexes

Summary The novel theoretical scheme IMOMM, integrating ab initio and molecular mechanics contributions in a single geometry optimization process, is applied to the structural determination of different [OsO₄(NR₃)] (NR₃ = bulky chiral alkaloid derivative) species closely related to active catalysts for the asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins. Computed values compare in a satisfactory way with available X-ray data, the relationship between the Os-N distance and the nature of the NR₃, ligand being properly reproduced. The computational scheme allows the separate quantification of electronic and steric effects, as well as the identification of the specific steric repulsions responsible for the difference.     

MNDO study of reaction paths: Diboration of acetylene

The reaction of B₂H₄ with acetylene has been studied by the MNDO method. It is shown that the reaction is exothermic and proceeds in two steps. The first step is the formation of a three-center -complex and this is the rate-determining step of the reaction. The second step is the rearrangement of the -complex to the product and this step requires a very small amount of activation energy. The activation barrier for the diboration reaction is 12.8 kcal/mol.The proposed mechanism is significantly different from those proposed earlier and explains all experimental data relating to this reaction.     

Simple evaluation of Franck–Condon factors and non‐Condon effects in the Morse potential

The calculation of Franck–Condon factors between different 1‐D Morse potential eigenstates using a formula derived from the Wigner function is discussed. Our numerical calculations using a simple program written in Mathematica are compared with other calculations. We show that our results have a similar accuracy as those calculations performed with more sophisticated methods. We discuss the extension of our method to include non‐Condon effects in the calculation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 88: 280–295, 2002     

The "invisible" 13C NMR chemical shift of the central carbon atom in [(Ph3PAu)6C]2+: a theoretical investigation

The experimental 13C NMR chemical shift of the central carbon atom in the octahedral [(Ph3PAu)6C]2+ cluster was investigated on the basis of relativistic density functional calculations. In order to arrive at independent model conclusions regarding the value of the chemical shift, a systematic study of the dependence of the cluster structure on the phosphine ligands, the chosen density functionals, and the basis set size was conducted. The best structures obtained were then used in the NMR calculations. Because of the cage-like cluster structure a pronounced deshielding of the central carbon nucleus could have been expected. However, upon comparison with the 13C NMR properties of the related complex [C{Au[P(C6H5)2(p-C6H4NMe2)]}6]2+, Schmidbaur et al. have assigned a signal at delta=135.2 ppm to the interstitial carbon atom. Our calculations confirm this value in the region of the aromatic carbon atoms of the triphenylphosphine ligands. The close-lying signals of the 108 phenyl carbon atoms can explain the difficulties of assigning them experimentally.     

Electrostatic calculation of the substituent effect: an efficient test on isolated molecules

The energy of a disubstituted molecule has often been approximated by simple electrostatic formulas that represent the substituents as poles or dipoles. Herein, we test this approach on a new model system that is more direct and more efficient than testing on acid-base properties. The energies of 27 1,4-derivatives of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane were calculated within the framework of the density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level; interaction of the two substituents was evaluated in terms of isodesmic homodesmotic reactions. This interaction energy, checked previously on some experimental gas-phase acidities, was considered to be accurate and served as reference to test the electrostatic approximation. This approximation works well in the qualitative sense as far as the sign and the order of magnitude are concerned: beginning with the strongest interaction between two poles, a weaker interaction between pole and dipole, and the weakest between two dipoles. However, all the electrostatic calculations yield energies that are too small, particularly for weak interaction, and this fundamental defect is not remedied by some possible improvements. In particular, variation of the effective permittivity would require a physically impossible value less than unity. The explanation must lie in a more complex distribution of electron density than anticipated in the electrostatic model. It also follows that possible conclusions about the transmission of substituent effects "through space" have little validity.     

Substituent effects on the kinetics for the chemiluminescence reaction of 6-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-ones (Cypridina luciferin analogues): support for the single electron transfer (SET)-oxygenation mechanism with triplet molecular oxygen

Kinetics of chemiluminescence reactions of 2-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one (1c, Cypridina luciferin analogue) and substituent effects of the 6-aryl group of derivatives 1 strongly suggest that the rate-determining step is a single electron transfer from an anion derived from 1 to a triplet molecular oxygen (O₂) in the oxygenation process.     

Optimum gas chromatographic conditions in wall-coated capillary columns. Extended and simplified forms of the Golay-equation

Band broadening in capillary columns is satisfactorily described by the Golay-equation extended to situations of appreciable pressure drop by Giddings. In practice, however, several simplifications are often made. The effect of these simplifications on the calculated values of the minimum plate height and optimum carrier gas velocity are treated systematically.     

Mechanistic aspects of the Wolff-Kishner reaction. V. The cation effect on the reaction of benzophenone hydrazone in butyl carbitol and decyl alcohol

The rate of the Wolff-Kishner reaction of benzophenone hydrazone in butyl carbitol increases as the cation of the alkoxide base is varied in the order K>Na>Li>Mg. The replacement of butyl carbitol by 1-decanol also accelerates the reaction, and an additional increase is caused by the presence of crown ether. On the basis of changes in the activation parameters, it is concluded that the reactivity of the hydrazone anion increases as the contact ion pair becomes more fully solvated and dissociated.     

Surface effects on phase transition behavior and thermal polymerization of long-chain diynoic acids in micro DSC measurements

Effects of metal surfaces, such as aluminium, silver and gold, on the melting behavior and thermal polymerization of long-chain diynoic acids having a diacetylene group at different positions were investigated by thermal analyses using DSC, TG and other methods. The surface effects of metals were significant in the order of Ag, Al and Au. These effects are attributable to the anchoring of carboxyl group on the surface by chemisorption, which leads to unfavorable condition for polymerization of heptadeca-2,4-diynoic acid. In the case of tricosa-10,12-diynoic acid, containing a flexible methylene chain, inserted between COOH and C≡C?C≡C groups, the anchoring of COOH on the metal surface causes rather favorable effect on the polymerization.