The influence of steric effects on the kinetics and mechanism of SNAr reactions of 1‐phenoxy‐nitrobenzenes with aliphatic primary amines in acetonitrile

Rate constants are reported for the reactions of 1‐phenoxy‐dinitrobenzenes, 3 , 1‐phenoxy‐dinitrotrifluoromethylbenzenes, 4 , with n‐propylamine, and 1‐methylheptylamine in acetonitrile as solvent. The results are compared with results reported previously for n‐butylamine, pyrrolidine, and piperidine. Decreasing ring activation leads to lower values of k₁ for nucleophilic attack although this may be mediated by reduced steric congestion around the reaction centre. Specific steric effects, leading to rate retardation, are noted for the ortho‐CF₃ group. In general, reactant‐bearing ortho‐CF₃ group were subject to base catalysis irrespective of the amine nucleophile and values of k_Am/k_?1 are reduced as the size of the amine get bulkier. This is likely to reflect increases in values of k_?1 coupled with decreases in values of k_Am as the proton transfer from zwitterionic intermediates to catalysing amine becomes less thermodynamically favourable.     

Concentration‐dependent solvent effect on the SNAr reaction between 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and morpholine

The nature and extent of preferential solvation in SNAr reaction between 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and morpholine are observed to depend upon the concentration of amine. Positive deviation from ideality is observed during kinetic studies of reactions carried out with lower concentration of the amine, while reaction rates measured for systems containing higher concentration of the amine show negative deviation from ideal behavior. The anomaly originates from the competition between rate‐limiting proton transfer and fluoride abstraction step in the SNAr mechanism. The observations have been explained on the basis of the generally accepted mechanism and by calculation of preferential solvation parameters.     

Hydrogen‐bonded nucleophile effects in ANS: the reactions of 1‐chloro and 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene with 2‐guanidinobenzimidazole, 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)piperidine and N‐(3‐aminopropyl)morpholine in aprotic solvents

The kinetics of the reactions of 2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) and 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene (DNClB) with 2‐guanidinobenzimidazole (2‐GB) at 40 ± 0.2 °C in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), toluene, and in toluene–DMSO mixtures, and with 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)piperidine (2‐AEPip) and N‐(3‐aminopropyl)morpholine (3‐APMo) in toluene at 25 ± 0.2 °C were studied under pseudo first‐order conditions. For the reactions of 2‐GB carried out in pure DMSO, the second‐order rate coefficients were independent of the amine concentration. In contrast, the reactions of 2‐GB with DNFB in toluene, showed a kinetic behaviour consistent with a base‐catalysed decomposition of the zwitterionic intermediate. These results suggest an intramolecular H‐bonding of 2‐GB in toluene, which is not present in DMSO. To confirm this interpretation the reactions were studied in DMSO–toluene mixtures. Small amounts of DMSO produce significant increase in rate that is not expected on the basis of the classical effect of a dipolar aprotic medium; the effect is consistent with the formation of a nucleophile/co‐solvent mixed aggregate. For the reactions of 3‐APMo with both substrates in toluene, the second‐order rate coefficients, k_A, show a linear dependence on the [amine]. 3‐APMo is able to form a six‐membered ring by an intramolecular H‐bond which prevents the formation of self‐aggregates. In contrast, a third order was observed in the reactions with 2‐AEPip: these results can be interpreted as a H‐bonded homo‐aggregate of the amine acting as a better nucleophile than the monomer. Most of these results can be well explained within the frame of the ‘dimer nucleophile’ mechanism. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction kinetics investigation of 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene with substituted anilines in ethyl acetate–methanol mixtures using linear and nonlinear free energy relationships

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene with para‐substituted and meta‐substituted anilines was kinetically investigated in the mixtures of ethyl acetate and methanol at room temperature. The correlation of second‐order rate coefficients with Hammett's substituent constants yields a fairly linear straight line with negative slope in different mole fractions of ethyl acetate–methanol mixtures. The measured rate coefficients of the reaction demonstrated a dramatic variation in ethyl acetate–methanol mixtures with the increasing mole fraction of ethyl acetate. Linear free energy relationship (LFER) investigations confirm that polarity has a major effect on the reaction rate whereas the hydrogen‐bonding ability of the media has a slight effect on it. Nonlinear free energy relationship based on preferential solvation hypothesis showed differences between the microsphere solvation of the solute and the bulk composition of the solvents, and non‐ideal behavior is observed in the trend of the rate coefficients, which cover the LFER results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steric effects on the mechanism of reaction of nucleophilic substitution of β‐substituted alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones with four secondary amines

The kinetics of the reaction of β‐substituted β‐alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones R¹O‐CR²?CH‐COCF₃ ( 1a – e ) [( 1a ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?H; ( 1b ), R¹?R²?CH₃; ( 1c ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C₆H₅; ( 1d ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?V^?pNO₂C₆H₄; ( 1e ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C(CH₃)₃] with four aliphatic amines ( 2a – d ) [( 2a ), (C₂H₅)₂NH; ( 2b ), (i‐C₃H₇)₂NH; ( 2c ), (CH₂)₅NH; ( 2d ), O(CH₂CH₂)₂NH] was studied in two aprotic solvents, hexane and acetonitrile. The least reactive stereoisomeric form of ( 1a – d ) was the most populated ( E‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) form, whereas in ( 1e ), the more reactive form ( Z‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) dominated. The reactions studied proceeded via common transition state formation whose decomposition occurred by ‘uncatalyzed’ and/or ‘catalyzed’ route. Shielding of the reaction centre by bulky β‐substituents lowered abruptly both k′ (‘uncatalyzed’ rate constant) and k″ (‘catalyzed’ rate constant) of this reaction. Bulky amines reduced k″ to a greater extent than k′ as a result of an additional steric retardation to the approach of the bulky amine to its ammonium ion in the transition state. An increase in the electron‐withdrawing ability of the β‐substituent increased ‘uncatalyzed’ k′ due to the acceleration of the initial nucleophile attack (k₁) and ‘uncatalyzed’ decomposition of transition state (k₂) via promoting electrophilic assistance (through transition state 8 ). The amine basicity determined the route of the reaction: the higher amine basicity, the higher k₃/k₂ ratio (a measure of the ‘catalyzed’ route contribution as compared to the ‘uncatalyzed’ process) was. ‘Uncatalyzed’ route predominated for all reactions; however in polar acetonitrile the contribution of the ‘catalyzed’ route was significant for amines with high pK_a and small bulk. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FT‐IR,FT‐Raman and DFT calculations of the salicylanilide derivate 4‐chloro‐2‐(4‐bromophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetate

FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of 4‐chloro‐2‐(4‐bromophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl acetate were recorded and analyzed. The vibrational wavenumbers and corresponding vibrational assignments were examined theoretically using the Gaussian03 set of quantum chemistry codes. The red shift of the NH stretching wavenumber in the infrared (IR) spectrum from the computed wavenumber indicates the weakening of the NH bond resulting in proton transfer to the neighbouring oxygen atom. The simultaneous IR and Raman activations of the CO stretching mode give the charge transfer interaction through a π‐conjugated path. Optimized geometrical parameters of the title compound are in agreement with similar reported structures. From the optimized structure, it is clear that the hydrogen bonding decreases the double bond character of CO bond and increases the double bond character of the C N bonds. The first hyperpolarizability, predicted infrared intensities and Raman activities are reported. The calculated first hyperpolarizability is comparable with the reported values of similar derivatives and is an attractive object for future studies of non‐linear optics. The assignments of the normal modes are done by potential energy distribution (PED) calculations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transmission of polar substituent effects across the cubane ring system: 19F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides revisited

¹⁹F NMR shieldings of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides ( 4 ) for a set of substituents (X?H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH, F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^? and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT‐GIAO theoretical model. The level of theory, B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d,p), provided ¹⁹F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) in good agreement with experimental values where known. By means of NBO analysis, various molecular parameters were obtained from the optimized geometries. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated ¹⁹F SCS and polar field, resonance and group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F, σ_R and σ_x, respectively) and also the NBO derived molecular parameters (fluorine natural charges (Q_n), electron occupancies on fluorine of lone pairs (n_F) and occupation number of the C? F antibonding orbital (σ_CF*)). The key determining parameters appear to be n_F and σ_CF*(occup). Both factors are a function of the electrostatic field influence of the substituent (σ_F effect) but are counteractive in their influence on the shifts. No evidence for a significant resonance effect influence on the shifts could be identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculated polar substituent effects on the stability of 4‐substituted(X) ‐ cub‐1‐yl and ‐bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐1‐yl cations: a DFT study

The effects of substituents on the stability of 4‐substituted(X) cub‐1‐yl cations ( 2 ), as well as the benchmark 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐1‐yl cation systems ( 7 ), for a set of substituents (X = H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH , F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^?, and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT theoretical model at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d,p) level of theory. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated relative hydride affinities (ΔE, kcal/mol) of the appropriate isodesmic reactions for 2 / 7 and polar field/group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F and σ_χ, respectively). The analysis reveals that the ΔE values of both systems are best described by a combination of both substituent constants. This highlights the distinction between through‐space and through‐bond electronic influences characterized by σ_F and σ_χ, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalysis by hydrogen chloride in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol

A homogeneous, molecular, gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐ buten‐3‐ol catalyzed by hydrogen chloride in the temperature range 325–386 °C and pressure range 34–149 torr are described. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.01 ± 0.31) ? (109.5 ± 2.8) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1 and for 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.50 ± 0.18) ? (116.5 ± 1.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Electron delocalization of the CH₂?CH and C₆H₅ appears to be an important effect in the rate enhancement of acid catalyzed tertiary alcohols in the gas phase. A concerted six‐member cyclic transition state type of mechanism appears to be, as described before, a rational interpretation for the dehydration process of these substrates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A computational study (DFT,MP2, and GIAO‐DFT) of substituent effects on protonation regioselectivity in β,β‐disubstituted vinyldiazonium cations: formation of highly delocalized carbenium/diazonium dications

Protonation reactions were studied by quantum‐chemical theoretical methods (DFT and MP2) for a series of β,β‐disubstituted vinyldiazonium cations ( 1 ⁺ – 14 ⁺ ), bearing stabilizing electron‐releasing groups (H₃CO? , (H₃C)₂N? , H₃C? , (H₃C)₃Si? , as well as halogens F, Cl). Taking into account the various mesomeric forms that these species can represent, protonations at C_α, at the β‐substituent, and at N_β were considered. The energetically most favored pathway in all cases was C_α protonation, which formally corresponds to trapping of the mesomeric diazonium ylid. Based on the computed properties (optimized geometries, NPA‐charge densities, and multinuclear GIAO‐NMR chemical shifts), the resulting dications can best be viewed as carbenium/diazonium dications, in which the carbocation is further delocalized into the β‐substituent. For the α‐nitro derivative 15 , protonation of the nitro group was predicted to be the most favored reaction, while C_α‐ and N_β‐protonation resulted in the loss of the nitronium ion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐Phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione in the ene reactions with cyclohexene, 1‐hexene and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene. The heat of reaction and the influence of temperature and pressure on the reaction rate

The values of the enthalpy (53.3; 51.3; 20.0 kJ mol^?1), entropy (?106; ?122; ?144 J mol^?1K^?1), and volume of activation (?29.1; ?31.0; ?cm³ mol^?1), the reaction volume (?25.0; ?26.6; ?cm³ mol^?1) and reaction enthalpy (?155.9; ?158.2; ?150.2 kJ mol^?1) have been obtained for the first time for the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione 1 , with cyclohexene 4 , 1‐hexene 6 , and with 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene 8 , respectively. The ratio of the values of the activation volume to the reaction volume (?V^≠_corr/ΔV_{r ? n}) in the ene reactions under study, 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 , appeared to be the same, namely 1.16. The large negative values of the entropy and the volume of activation of studied reactions 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 better correspond to the cyclic structure of the activated complex at the stage determining the reaction rate. The equilibrium constants of these ene reactions can be estimated as exceeding 10¹⁸ L mol^?1, and these reactions can be considered irreversible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculated polar substituent effects on the stability of 3‐substituted(X) bicyclo[1.1.1]pent‐1‐yl cations and 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl cations: a DFT study

The effects of substituents on the stability of 3‐substituted(X) bicyclo[1.1.1]pent‐1‐yl cations (3) and 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl cations (4), for a set of substituents (X = H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, CHO, COOH , F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^?, and NH₃⁺) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT theoretical model at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d,p) and B3LYP/6‐31 + G (d) levels of theory, respectively. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated relative hydride affinities (ΔE, kcal/mol) of the appropriate isodesmic reactions for 3/4 and polar field/group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F and σ_χ, respectively). The analysis reveals that the ΔE values for both systems are best described by a combination of both substituent constants. The result highlights the importance of the σ_χ dependency of charge delocalization in these systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical studies on the hydrogen abstraction reactions of methyl esters with HO2 radical and the following β‐scission reactions

Unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters are ubiquitous in biodiesel fuels. The C = C double bond greatly affects the combustion characteristics of biodiesel, especially its ignition behavior at low temperatures. In this work, we report detailed theoretical study on the mechanism and kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of linear unsaturated C6 methyl esters with hydroperoxy radical (HO₂), which play a critical role in the low‐temperature combustion of biodiesel. Reaction profiles are obtained via intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) analysis including the formation of reactant complexes and product complexes at the entrance and exit channels, respectively. The potential energy surfaces are explored at the CBS‐QB3 level. The following β‐scission reactions of the forming radicals are also investigated at the same level of theory. The high‐pressure limit rate constants for all the reactions in the temperature range from 500 to 2000 K are calculated via conventional transition‐state theory with quantum tunneling effect and fitted to the modified Arrhenius expression.     

A DFT study on the (2 + 3) cycloaddition reactions of 2‐nitropropene‐1 with Z‐C,N‐diarylnitrones

B3LYP/6‐31G* calculations for competing (2 + 3)‐cycloaddition pathways for 2‐nitropropene‐1 (1) to Z‐C, N‐diarylnitrones ( 2a – e ) suggest a concerted reaction mechanism. However, the results point to the strongly asymmetric nature of transition complexes. Increasing polarity of the reaction environment and presence of electron‐donating substituents in the nitrone phenyl rings contribute to the higher asymmetry of these structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical calculations of the kinetics and mechanisms of the gas phase elimination of primary,secondary, and tertiary 2‐hydroxyalkylbenzenes

Theoretical study of the elimination kinetics of 2‐phenylethanol, 1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, and 2‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol in the gas‐phase has been carried out at the MP2/6‐31G(d,p), 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) levels of theory. The three substrates undergo two parallel elimination reactions. The first elimination appears to proceed through a six‐membered cyclic transition state to give toluene and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone. The second parallel elimination takes place through a four‐membered cyclic transition state producing water and the corresponding unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon. Results from MP2/6‐31G(d,p) and MPW1PW91/6‐31++G(d,p) methods were found to be in good agreement with the experimental kinetic and thermodynamic parameters in the formation of toluene and the corresponding carbonyl compound. However, the results for PBEPBE/6‐31G(d,p) were in better agreement with the experimental data for the second parallel reaction yielding water and the corresponding unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon. The charge distribution differences in the TS related to the substitution by methyl groups in the substrates can account for the observed reaction rate coefficients. The synchronicity parameters imply semi‐polar transition states for these elimination reactions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations of di‐amino acid peptides: α‐ and β‐N‐acetyl‐L‐Asp‐L‐Glu in the solid state

Experimental vibrational spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the di‐amino acid peptide derivatives α‐ and β‐N‐acetyl‐L‐Asp‐L‐Glu have been undertaken. Raman and infrared spectra have been recorded for samples in the solid state. DFT simulations were conducted using the B3‐LYP correlation functional and the cc‐pVDZ basis set to determine energy minimized/geometry optimized structures (based on a single isolated molecule in the gaseous state). Normal coordinate calculations have provided vibrational assignments for fundamental modes, including their potential energy distributions. Significant differences are observed between α‐ and β‐N‐acetyl‐L‐Asp‐L‐Glu both in the computed structures and in the vibrational spectra. The combination of experimental and calculated spectra provide an insight into the structural and vibrational spectroscopic properties of di‐amino acid peptide derivatives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DFT study of the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with maleimide,maleic anhydride,methylacrylate and some simple substituted alkenes

DFT calculations involving the B3LYP functional and 6‐31G(d) basis set have been performed to rationalize the reactivity, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity and diasteriofacial selectivity in the context of 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition (13DC) reactions of a few acyclic and two cyclic azomethine ylides (AY) leading to enantiomeric/ diasteriomeric excess of the products. In particular, N‐substituted and C‐substituted AYs have been considered for reactions with the substituted ethylenes, maleimide, maleic anhydride and methyl acrylate. From an analysis of the results of calculation for the selected reactions, the regio‐ and exo/endo‐stereoselectivity have been explained. Reactions were followed through transition state (TS) structure optimization, calculation of IRC and activation energies. A rationalization of the trends in regioselectivity and enantioselectivity was attempted with the help of HOMO–LUMO energies, electrophilicity differences (Δω) and an analysis of Pauling's bond order (PBO) in the TS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational (solute–solvent cluster + PCM) study of medium effects on the experimental 13C and 1H NMR chemical shifts of lactones and lactams

Solvent effects on the ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of some lactones: β‐propiolactone, γ‐butyrolactone, δ‐valerolactone and ε‐caprolactone, as well as lactams: azetidin‐2‐one, pyrrolidin‐2‐one, δ‐valerolactam and ε‐caprolactam have been investigated and discussed in a wide range of solvents. The experimental results were compared with density functional calculations using a large basis set. Solvent effects were computed by means of an integrated approach including the polarizable continuum model and an optimum number of explicit solvent molecules surrounding the solute. The agreement between computed and experimental chemical shifts fully validates our integrated approach. In order to quantify and elucidate the origin of the solvent effects on the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of the selected compounds, a multi‐linear regression analysis has been carried out using the empirical Kamlet–Abboud–Taft solvatochromic parameters. It has been found that there is a good correlation between the solvent‐induced chemical shifts of ¹³C and the π* scale of solvent dipolarity polarizability. ¹H chemical shifts are affected mainly by the dipolarity–polarizability and the basicity of the solvent. An excellent agreement has been obtained between the calculated and the experimental data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectroscopic and thermal studies on the inclusion of trans‐cinnamic acid and a number of its hydroxyl‐derivatives with α, β and γ‐cyclodextrins molecules

The inclusion compounds of α‐, β‐ and γ‐cyclodextrins (α‐CD, β‐CD and γ‐CD) with trans‐cinnamic acid (t‐CIA), 3‐hydroxy‐trans‐cinnamic acid (t‐3OHCIA), 4‐hydroxy‐trans‐cinnamic acid (t‐4OHCIA) and 3,4‐dihydroxy‐trans‐cinnamic acid (t‐3,4OHCIA) were prepared and characterized, in the solid state, by means of thermogravimetry and Raman spectroscopy. The effects of the inclusion process on the guest molecules and on the hydrogen bond interactions of the guest were studied by monitoring sensitive vibrational modes, such as CO, CC and ring C H stretching modes. By combining Raman and TG data with ab initio calculations and information from CSD database on similar compounds, inclusion geometries for the different compounds are proposed. The size of the host cavity and the maximization of host/guest hydrogen‐bonding contacts appear to be the main factors determining the inclusion geometries. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.