A combined ab initio/Franck-Condon study of the A-X single-vibronic-level emission spectrum of CCl2 and the photodetachment spectrum of CCl2 -.

State-of-the-art ab initio calculations have been carried out on the X1A1, ?3B1 and A1B1 states of CCl2 and the X2B1 state of CCl2-. Franck-Condon factors including anharmonicity have been calculated, between the CCl2 states, and between the CCl2- X2B1 state and the CCl2 states. They are used to simulate the A-X single-vibronic-level (SVL) emission spectra of CCl2 determined by M.-L. Lui et al. [PCCP 2003, 5, 352] and the 364 nm laser photodetachment spectrum of CCl2- obtained by R. L. Schwartz et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 1999, 103, 8213]. Comparison between simulated and observed spectra confirms the vibrational assignments of the X2B1 SVL emission spectra and the T0 position of the A1B1 state of CCl2. For the photodetachment spectrum of CCl2-, spectral simulation shows that the higher binding energy ?3B1(CCl2) <-- X2B1(CCl2-) band is well separated from the X1A1(CCl2) <-- X2B1(CCl2-) band. It is concluded that the observed second band, which overlaps heavily with the X1A1(CCl2) <-- X2B1(CCl2-) band in the photodetachment spectrum of CCl2- cannot be assigned to the CCl2(?3B1) + e --> CCl2-(X2B1) detachment process. Further ab initio calculations carried out in the present investigation support the suggestion that the second band in the 364 nm photodetachment spectrum of CCl2- is due to detachment from an excited state of CCl2-, a linear quartet state, to a triplet state of CCl2. These calculations identify the anionic state to be the lowest 4Sigmag- (4Sigma-) state, which photodetaches vertically to the 3Sigmag- (3Sigma-; adiabatically ?3B1) and/or 3Pi(u) (3Pi) states of CCl2 to give the second band observed in the 364 nm photodetachment spectrum of CCl2-.     

Ab initio calculations on low-lying electronic states of SnCl(2)- and Franck-Condon simulation of its photodetachment spectrum

Geometry optimization and harmonic vibrational frequency calculations have been carried out on low-lying doublet and quartet electronic states of stannous (tin(II)) dichloride anion (SnCl(2)(-)) employing the CASSCF and RCCSD(T) methods. The small-core fully-relativistic effective core potential, ECP28MDF, was used for Sn in these calculations, together with valence basis sets of up to augmented correlation-consistent polarized-valence quintuple-zeta (aug-cc-pV5Z) quality. The ground electronic state of SnCl(2)(-) is determined to be the X(2)B(1) state, with the A(2)B(2) and ?(4)Sigma state, calculated to be ca. 1.50 and 2.72 eV higher in energy respectively. The electron affinities of the X(1)A(1) and ?(3)B(1) states of SnCl(2) have been computed to be 1.568+/-0.007 and 4.458+/-0.002 eV respectively, including contributions of core correlation and extrapolation to the complete basis set limit. The SnCl(2) (X(1)A(1)) + e <-- SnCl(2)(-) (X(2)B(1)) and SnCl(2) (?(3)B(1)) + e <-- SnCl(2)(-) (X(2)B(1)) photodetachment bands have been simulated with computed Franck-Condon factors, which include an allowance for anharmonicity and Duschinsky rotation.     

The singlet-triplet separation in CF2: state-of-the-art ab initio calculations and Franck-Condon simulations including anharmonicity.

Geometrical parameters, vibrational frequencies and relative electronic energies of the X2B1 state of CF2- and the X1A1 and ?3B1 states of CF2 have been calculated. Core-electron effects on the computed minimum-energy geometries and relative electronic energies have been investigated, and relativistic contributions to the computed relative electronic energies calculated. Potential energy functions of the X2B1 state of CF2- and the X1A1 and ?3B1 states of CF2 have been determined, and anharmonic vibrational wavefunctions of these states calculated variationally. Franck-Condon factors including anharmonicity and Duschinsky rotation have been computed and used to simulate the ?-X emission spectrum of CF2 determined by S. Koda [Chem. Phys. Lett. 1978, 55, 353] and the 364 nm laser photodetachment spectrum of CF2- obtained by R. L. Schwartz et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 1999, 103, 8213]. Comparison between theory and experiment shows that the theoretical approach benchmarked in the present study is able to give highly reliable positions for the CF2(X1A1) + e <-- CF2-(X2B1) and CF2(?3B1) + e <-- CF2-(X2B1) bands in the photoelectron spectrum of CF2- and a reliable singlet-triplet gap for CF2. It is therefore concluded that the same theoretical approach should give reliable simulated CCl2(X1A1) + e <-- CCl2-(X2B1) and CCl2(?3B1) + e <-- CCl2-(X2B1) bands in the photodetachment spectrum of CCl2- and a reliable singlet-triplet gap for CCl2.     

An ab initio study of the low-lying electronic states of YO2 and Franck-Condon simulation of the first photodetachment band of YO2(-)

A variety of density functional theory and ab initio methods, including B3LYP, B98, BP86, CASSCF, CASSCF/RS2, CASSCF/MRCI, BD, BD(T), and CCSD(T), with ECP basis sets of up to the quintuple-zeta quality for Y, have been employed to study the X(2)B2 state of YO2 and the X(1)A1 state of YO2(-). Providing that the Y 4s(2)4p(6) outer-core electrons are included in the correlation treatment, the RCCSD(T) method gives the most consistent results and is concluded to be the most reliable and practical computational method for YO2 and YO2(-). In addition, RCCSD(T) potential energy functions (PEFs) of the X(2)B2 state of YO2 and the X(1)A1 state of YO2(-) were computed, employing the ECP28MDF_aug-cc-pwCVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets for Y and O, respectively. Franck-Condon factors, which include allowance for Duschinsky rotation and anharmonicity, were calculated using the computed RCCSD(T) PEFs and were used to simulate the first photodetachment band of YO2(-). The simulated spectrum matches very well with the corresponding experimental 355 nm photodetachment spectrum of Wu, H.; Wang, L.-S. J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 9129, confirming the reliability of the RCCSD(T) PEFs used. Further calculations on low-lying electronic states of YO2 gave T(e)'s and T(vert)'s of the A(2)A1, B(2)B1, and C(2)A2 states of YO2, as well as EAs and VDEs to these states from the X(1)A1 state of YO2(-). On the basis of the ab initio VDEs obtained in the present study, previous assignments of the second and third photodetachment bands of YO2(-) have been revised.     

Ab initio calculations on low-lying electronic states of SbO2- and Franck-Condon simulation of its photodetachment spectrum

Geometry optimization and harmonic vibrational frequency calculations have been carried out on the low-lying singlet and triplet electronic states of the antimony dioxide anion (SbO2-) employing a variety of ab initio methods. Both large-core and small-core relativistic effective core potentials were used for Sb in these calculations, together with valence basis sets of up to augmented correlation-consistent polarized-valence quintuple-zeta (aug-cc-pV5Z) quality. The ground electronic state of SbO2- is determined to be the X (1)A1 state, with the a (3)B1 state, calculated to be approximately 48 kcal mole(-1) (2.1 eV) higher in energy. Further calculations were performed on the X (2)A1, A (2)B2, and B (2)A2 states of SbO2 with the aim to simulating the photodetachment spectrum of SbO(2) (-). Potential energy functions (PEFs) of the X (1)A1 state of SbO2- and the X (2)A1, A (2)B2, and B (2)A2 states of SbO2 were computed at the complete-active-space self-consistent-field multireference internally contracted configuration interaction level with basis sets of augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple-zeta quality. Anharmonic vibrational wave functions obtained from these PEFs were used to compute Franck-Condon factors between the X (1)A1 state of SbO2- and the X (2)A1, A (2)B2, and B (2)A2 states of SbO2, which were then used to simulate the photodetachment spectrum of SbO2-, which is yet to be recorded experimentally.     

A theoretical ab initio study on the H(2)NO + O(3) reaction

The deviation of the NH(2) pseudo-first-order decay Arrhenius plots of the NH(2) + O(3) reaction at high ozone pressures measured by experimentalists, has been attributed to the regeneration of NH(2) radicals due to the subsequent reactions of the products of this reaction with ozone. Although these products have not yet been characterized experimentally, the radical H(2)NO has been postulated, because it can regenerate NH(2) radicals through the reactions: H(2)NO + O(3) --> NH(2) + O(2) and H(2)NO + O(3) --> HNO + OH + O(2). With the purpose of providing a reasonable explanation from a theoretical point of view to the kinetic observed behaviour of the NH(2) + O(3) system, we have carried ab initio electronic structure calculations on both H(2)NO + O(3) possible reactions. The results obtained in this article, however, predict that of both reactions proposed, only the H(2)NO + O(3) --> NH(2) + O(2) reaction would regenerate indeed NH(2) radicals, explaining thus the deviation of the NH(2) pseudo-first-order decay observed experimentally.     

Ab initio study on the electronic structures of styrene in the Franck-Condon region

The electronic structures of styrene in the Franck‐Condon region have been theoretically examined by means of ab initio complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and the second order multireference Møller‐Plesset calculations. The optimized structure of styrene in S₀ is planar but the torsional motion of the phenyl group is very floppy. The S₁ state is assigned to the local π–π* excitation within the benzene ring. On the other hand, S₂, above S₁ by 0.561 eV, is assigned to a state that resembles the so‐called V‐state of ethylene. The transition intensity of S₀–S₁ is weak, while that of S₀–S₂ is strong. This is in good agreement with the experimental absorption spectrum where the S₀–S₁ and S₀–S₂ transitions are in the energy range of 290–220 nm. The optimized geometry of S₁, characterized by an enlarged benzene ring and its vibrational analyses, further justifies the assignment of the S₁ state. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 9: 928–937, 2002     

Rate coefficients of the CF3CHFCF3 + H → CF3CFCF3 + H2 reaction at different temperatures calculated by transition state theory with ab initio and DFT reaction paths

The minimum energy path (MEP) of the reaction, CF₃CHFCF₃ + H → transition state (TS) → CF₃CFCF₃ + H₂, has been computed at different ab initio levels and with density functional theory (DFT) using different functionals. The computed B3LYP/6‐31++G**, BH&HLYP/cc‐pVDZ, BMK/6‐31++G**, M05/6‐31+G**, M05‐2X/6‐31+G**, UMP2/6‐31++G**, PUMP2/6‐31++G**//UMP2/6‐31++G**, RCCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ//UMP2/6‐31++G**, RCCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ(spd,sp)//UMP2//6‐31++G**, RCCSD(T)/CBS//M05/6‐31+G**, and RCCSD(T)/CBS//UMP2/6‐31++G** MEPs, and associated gradients and Hessians, were used in reaction rate coefficient calculations based on the transition state theory (TST). Reaction rate coefficients were computed between 300 and 1500 K at various levels of TST, which include conventional TST, canonical variational TST (CVT) and improved CVT (ICVT), and with different tunneling corrections, namely, Wigner, zero‐curvature, and small‐curvature (SCT). The computed rate coefficients obtained at different ab initio, DFT and TST levels are compared with experimental values available in the 1000–1200 K temperature range. Based on the rate coefficients computed at the ICVT/SCT level, the highest TST level used in this study, the BH&HLYP functional performs best among all the functionals used, while the RCCSD(T)/CBS//MP2/6‐31++G** level is the best among all the ab initio levels used. Comparing computed reaction rate coefficients obtained at different levels of theory shows that, the computed barrier height has the strongest effect on the computed reaction rate coefficients as expected. Variational effects on the computed rate coefficients are found to be negligibly small. Although tunneling effects are relatively small at high temperatures (～1500 K), SCT corrections are significant at low temperatures (～300 K), and both barrier heights and the magnitudes of the imaginary frequencies affect SCT corrections. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab initio calculations and Franck-Condon simulation of the absorption spectra of GeCl2 including anharmonicity.

Geometrical parameters, vibrational frequencies and relative electronic energies of the X1A1, ?3B1 and A1B1 states of GeCl2 have been calculated at the CCSD(T) and/or CASSCF/MRCI level with basis sets of up to aug-cc-pV5Z quality. Core electron correlation and relativistic contributions were also investigated. RCCSD(T)/ aug-cc-pVQZ potential energy functions (PEFs) of the X1A1 and ?3B, states, and a CASSCF/MRCl/aug-cc-pVQZ PEF of the A1B1 state of GeCl2 are reported. Anharmonic vibrational wavefunctions of these electronic states of GeCl2, obtained variationally using the computed PEFs, are employed to calculate the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) of the ?-X and A-X transitions of GeCl2. Simulated absorption spectra of these transitions based on the computed FCFs are compared with the corresponding experimental laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of Karolczak et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 1993, 98, 60-70]. Excellent agreement is obtained between the simulated absorption spectrum and observed LIF spectrum of the ?-X transition of GeCl2, which confirms the molecular carrier, the electronic states involved and the vibrational assignments of the LIF spectrum. However, comparison between the simulated absorption spectrum and experimental LIF spectrum of the A-X transition of GeCl2 leads to a revision of vibrational assignments of the LIF spectrum and suggests that the X1A1 state of GeCl2 was prepared in the experimental work, with a non-Boltzmann vibrational population distribution. The X(0,0,1) level is populated over 4000 times more than expected from a Boltzmann distribution at 60 K, which is appropriate for the relative population of the other low-lying vibrational levels, such as the X(1,0,0) and X(0,1,0) levels.     

Analysis of the intermolecular interaction between CH(3)OCH(3), CF(3)OCH(3), CF(3)OCF(3), and CH(4): high level ab initio calculations

The intermolecular interaction energies of the CH₃OCH₃? CH₄, CF₃OCH₃? CH₄, and CF₃OCF₃? CH₄ systems were calculated by ab initio molecular orbital method with the electron correlation correction at the second order Møller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) method. The interaction energies of 10 orientations of complexes were calculated for each system. The largest interaction energies calculated for the three systems are ?1.06, ?0.70, and ?0.80 kcal/mol, respectively. The inclusion of electron correlation increases the attraction significantly. It gains the attraction ?1.47, ?1.19, and ?1.27 kcal/mol, respectively. The dispersion interaction is found to be the major source of the attraction in these systems. In the CH₃OCH₃? CH₄ system, the electrostatic interaction (?0.34 kcal/mol) increases the attraction substantially, while the electrostatic energies in the other systems are not large. Fluorine substitution of the ether decreases the electrostatic interaction, and therefore, decreases the attraction. In addition the orientation dependence of the interaction energy is decreased by the substitution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 1472–1479, 2002     

Mechanism of the O2(1Δg) generation from the Cl2/H2O2 basic aqueous solution explored by the combined ab initio calculation and nonadiabatic dynamics simulation

In the present work, mechanism of the O₂(¹Δ_g) generation from the reaction of the dissolved Cl₂ with H₂O₂ in basic aqueous solution has been explored by the combined ab initio calculation and nonadiabatic dynamics simulation, together with different solvent models. Three possible pathways have been determined for the O₂(¹Δ_g) generation, but two of them are sequentially downhill processes until formation of the OOCl⁻ complex with water, which are of high exothermic character. Once the complex is formed, singlet molecular oxygen is easily generated by its decomposition along the singlet-state pathway. However, triplet molecular oxygen of O₂() can be produced with considerable probability through nonadiabatic intersystem crossing in the ¹Δ_g/ intersection region. It has been found that the coupled solvent, heavy-atom, and nonadiabatic effects have an important influence on the quantum yield of the O₂(¹Δ_g) generation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An ab initio/RRKM study of product branching ratios in the photodissociation of buta-1,2- and -1,3-dienes and but-2-yne at 193 nm

Ab initio G2M(MP2)//B3LYP/6-311G** calculations have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of photodissociation of buta-1,2- and -1,3-dienes and but-2-yne after their internal conversion into the vibrationally hot ground electronic state. The detailed study of the potential-energy surface was followed by microcanonical RRKM calculations of energy-dependent rate constants for individual reaction steps (at 193 nm photoexcitation and under collision-free conditions) and by solution of kinetic equations aimed at predicting the product branching ratios. For buta-1,2-diene, the major dissociation channels are found to be the single Cbond;C bond cleavage to form the methyl and propargyl radicals and loss of hydrogen atoms from various positions to produce the but-2-yn-1-yl (p1), buta-1,2-dien-4-yl (p2), and but-1-yn-3-yl (p3) isomers of C(4)H(5). The calculated branching ratio of the CH(3) + C(3)H(3)/C(4)H(5) + H products, 87.9:5.9, is in a good agreement with the recent experimental value of 96:4 (ref. 21) taking into account that a significant amount of the C(4)H(5) product undergoes secondary dissociation to C(4)H(4) + H. The isomerization of buta-1,2-diene to buta-1,3-diene or but-2-yne appears to be slower than its one-step decomposition and plays only a minor role. On the other hand, the buta-1,3-diene-->buta-1,2-diene, buta-1,3-diene-->but-2-yne, and buta-1,3-diene-->cyclobutene rearrangements are significant in the dissociation of buta-1,3-diene, which is shown to be a more complex process. The major reaction products are still CH(3) + C(3)H(3), formed after the isomerization of buta-1,3-diene to buta-1,2-diene, but the contribution of the other radical channels, C(4)H(5) + H and C(2)H(3) + C(2)H(3), as well as two molecular channels, C(2)H(2) + C(2)H(4) and C(4)H(4) + H(2), significantly increases. The overall calculated C(4)H(5) + H/CH(3) + C(3)H(3)/C(2)H(3) + C(2)H(3)/C(4)H(4) + H(2)/C(2)H(2) + C(2)H(4) branching ratio is 24.0:49.6:4.6:6.1:15.2, which agrees with the experimental value of 20:50:8:2:2022 within 5 % margins. For but-2-yne, the one-step decomposition pathways, which include mostly H atom loss to produce p1 and, to a minor extent, molecular hydrogen elimination to yield methylethynylcarbene, play an approximately even role with that of the channels that involve the isomerization of but-2-yne to buta-1,2- or -1,3-dienes. p1 + H are the most important reaction products, with a branching ratio of 56.6 %, followed by CH(3) + C(3)H(3) (23.8 %). The overall C(4)H(5) + H/CH(3) + C(3)H(3)/C(2)H(3) + C(2)H(3)/C(4)H(4) + H(2)/C(2)H(2) + C(2)H(4) branching ratio is predicted as 62.0:23.8:2.5:5.7:5.6. Contrary to buta-1,2- and -1,3-dienes, photodissociation of but-2-yne is expected to produce more hydrogen atoms than methyl radicals. The isomerization mechanisms between various isomers of the C(4)H(6) molecule including buta-1,2- and -1,3-dienes, but-2-yne, 1-methylcyclopropene, dimethylvinylidene, and cyclobutene have been also characterized in detail.     

FA(I):A(+) and FA(II):Cu(+) laser activity and photographic sensitization at the low coordinated surfaces of AgBr ab initio calculations

The twofold potentials of F(A)(I):Au(+) and F(A)(II)Cu(+) color centers at the low coordinated surfaces of AgBr thin films in providing tunable laser activity and photographic sensitization were investigated using ab initio methods of molecular electronic structure calculations. Clusters of variable size were embedded in simulated Coulomb fields that closely approximated the Madelung fields of the host surfaces, and the nearest neighbor ions to the F(A) defect site were allowed to relax to equilibrium in each case. Based on the calculated Stokes shifted optical transition bands and horizontal shifts along the configuration coordinate diagrams, both F(A)(I):Au(+) and F(A)(II):Cu(+) color centers were found to be laser active. The laser activity faded quickly as the bromide ion coordination decreased from 5 (flat) to 4 (edge) to 3 (corner) and as the size of the impurity cation increased from Cu(+) to Au(+). The latter relation was explainable in terms of the axial perturbation of the impurity cation. The smallest calculated Stokes-shift at the corner surface suggested that emission had the same oscillator strength as absorption. All relaxed excited states RESs of the defect containing surfaces were deep below the lower edges of the conduction bands of the defect free ground state surfaces, indicating that F(A)(I):Au(+) and F(A)(II):Cu(+) are suitable laser defects. The probability of orientational destruction of the two centers attributed to the assumed RES saddle point ion configurations along the <110> axis was found to be directly proportional to the size of the impurity cation, with activation energy barriers of about 0.655-3.294 eV for Cu(+), and about 1.887-3.404 eV for Au(+). The possibility of exciton (energy) transfer from the sites of higher coordination to those of lower coordination is demonstrated. The more laser active F(A)(II):Cu(+) center was more easily formed than the less laser active F(A)(I):Au(+) center. The Glasner-Tompkins empirical relation was generalized to include F(A) centers at the low coordinated surfaces of silver bromide thin film. As far as color photographic sensitization is concerned, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of the selected dye molecules in the excited states were high enough for electron injection. F(A) defect formation and rotational diffusion of silver clusters reduced the energy gaps between the excited dye molecules and the lower edges of the conduction bands and allowed for hole injection. About 54-60% of the reduction of silver ions at the flat surface of AgBr was attributed to the host anions and F(A) defect formation, leaving about 40-46% for the reduction of photoelectrons as well as the electrons of the developer or dye molecules. The unrelaxed rotational diffusions of the central Ag(4) by 90 degrees decreased the latter percentage, but were severely hindered by activation energy barriers.     

Unimolecular isomerization/decomposition of cyclopentadienyl and related bimolecular reverse process: ab initio MO/statistical theory study

The cyclopentadienyl radical decomposition has been studied in detail by high‐level correlation MO methods combined with multichannel RRKM rate constant calculations. The product channels of the reaction were examined by calculating their pressure‐dependent branching rate constants. The overall reaction rate has been shown to be controlled by the first transition state corresponding to 1,2‐hydrogen atom migration. Also, the reverse bimolecular reactions (C₃H₃ + C₂H₂ → products) have been included in the study. We provide a summary of pressure dependent rate constant expressions for the 1000–3000 K temperature range that may be useful for kinetic modeling of relevant combustion systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 415–425, 2000     

Ab initio HF-SCF study of naphthazarin: Geometries,isomerism, hydrogen bonding,and vibrational spectrum

The structural properties and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of a series of structures of naphthazarin molecule were investigated by ab initio HF-SCF methods. The geometries of theC _2v ,C _2h ,D _2h , andC _s symmetry structures were optimized using split-valence basis sets. MP2/6-31G^*// HF/6-31G single-point energy calculations indicate that theC _2v isomer (5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is the lowest energy structure of the molecule and that theC _2h symmetry one (4,8-dihydroxy-1,5-naphthoquinone), lying 37 kJ/mol above theC _2v form, is the other stable isomer of naphthazarin. At the HF/6-31G level, the intramolecular proton exchange between two equivalentC _2v structures is a two-step process where each proton can be independently transferred through an unsymmetrical potential having a 1,5-quinone intermediate, theC _2h symmetry structure, and two equivalent transition states ofC _s symmetry, with a barrier height equal to 38 kJ/ mol (MP2/6-31G^*//HF/6-31G). The study of naphthazarin molecule is flanked by a theoretical investigation on theC _2v andC _2h isomers of the parent naphthoquinone and dihydroxynaphthalene molecules. The SCF vibrational spectrum of the ground state of naphthazarin, harmonic frequencies, and infrared and Raman band intensities were computed at the HF/6-31G level. The results of the calculations are compared with the matrix isolation FT-IR spectroscopy measurements and with the infrared and Raman spectra of the crystal molecule.     

Berry pseudorotation mechanism for the interpretation of the 19F NMR spectrum in PF5 by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.

For the first time, theoretical evidence that confirms the importance of the Berry pseudorotation process in the interpretation of the 19F NMR spectrum of phosphorus pentafluoride (PF5) is presented. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to generate a large number of configurations used for NMR parameter computations at the density functional theory level. Two different temperatures were set to highlight the effect of pseudorotation process on the NMR spectrum. Average 19F chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants calculated for the five fluorine atoms converge towards the NMR equivalence of the five atoms when the Berry pseudorotation mechanism is accounted for.     

Experimental and ab initio structural study of the ketotin compounds,X3SnCR2CH2COMe: crystal structures of X3SnCMe2CH2COMe (X = Cl and I)

The MeCOCH₂CMe₂ ligand in X₃SnCMe₂CH₂COMe ( 2 ; X = halide) acts as a C,O‐chelating group both in the solid state and in non‐coordinating solutions. The intramolecular Sn? O bond lengths in trigonal bipyramidal 2 (X = Cl and I), as determined by X‐ray crystallography, indicate that the stronger interaction occurs in 2 X = Cl. Comparisons with the Sn? O bond lengths in the estertin trihalides, X₃SnCH₂CH₂CO₂R ( 1 ; R = Me), suggest that the latter form stronger chelates than do 2 . In chlorocarbon solution, 2 (X = Cl, I) undergoes exchange reactions, as shown by NMR spectra, to give all possible halide derivatives, ∑(Cl_nI_3?nSnCMe₂CH₂COMe) (n = 0–3). Various ab initio calculations on 2 and X₃SnCH₂CH₂COMe ( 3 ) have been carried out. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental structures of 2 for X = Cl or I are reported. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DFT and ab initio calculations on two reactions between hydrogen atoms and the fire suppressants 2-H heptafluoropropane and CF3Br

Reaction enthalpies and barrier heights of the reactions CF3Br+H-->CF3+HBr {reaction (1)} and CF3CHFCF3+H-->CF3CFCF3+H2 {reaction (2)} have been calculated at the near state-of-the-art ab initio level, and also by employing the B3LYP, BH&HLYP, BB1K, MPW1K, MPWB1K and TPSS1KCIS functionals. In addition, the integrated molecular orbital+molecular orbital (IMOMO) method has been used to study reaction (2). The ab initio benchmark values of the reaction enthalpy (298 K) and barrier height (0 K) of reaction (2) are reported for the first time {-(0.7+/-0.7) and 13.3+/-0.5 kcal/mole respectively}. When density functional theory (DFT) results are compared with ab initio benchmarks for both reactions (1) and (2), the MPWB1K functional is found to have the best performance of the six functionals used. The IMOMO method with the RCCSD/aug-cc-pVTZ and/or RCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ levels, as the high levels of calculation on the model system, gives reaction enthalpies and barrier heights of reaction (2), which agree with ab initio benchmark values to within 1 kcal/mole. Computed key geometrical parameters and imaginary vibrational frequencies of the transition state structures of reactions (1) and (2) obtained at different levels of calculation are compared. The magnitudes of the computed imaginary vibrational frequencies of the transition states of both reactions considered are found to be very sensitive to the levels of calculation used to obtain them. The heat of formation (298 K) of CF3CFCF3 calculated at the near state-of-the-art level has a value of -(318+/-3) kcal/mole.     

Thioformaldehyde S-methylide and thioacetone S-methylide: an ab initio MO study of structure and cycloaddition reactivity

The mechanisms of cycloaddition of thioformaldehyde S-methylide and thioacetone S-methylide, as models for an alkyl-substituted ylide, to thioformaldehyde and thioacetone, as well as to ethene as a model for a C=C double bond have been studied by ab initio calculations. Restricted and unrestricted B3LYP/6-31G* calculations were performed for the geometries of ground states, transition structures, and intermediates. Although basis sets with more polarization functions were tested, the 6-31G* basis set was applied throughout. Single-point CASPT2 calculations are reported for analysis of the unsubstituted system. The stabilities of structures with high biradical character seem to be overestimated by DFT methods in comparison to CASPT2. The general trends of the results are independent of the level of theory. Thioformaldehyde adds to thioformaldehyde S-methylide without activation energy, and the activation energies for two-step biradical pathways to 1,3-dithiolane are low. C,S biradicals are more stable than C,C biradicals. The two-step cycloaddition is not competitive with the concerted cycloaddition. Methyl substitution in the 1,3-dipole and the dipolarophile does not change the mechanistic relationships. TSs for the concerted formation of the regioisomeric cycloadducts of thioacetone Smethylide and thioacetone were located. Concerted addition remains the preferred reaction. The reactivity of the C=S double bond is high relative to that of the C=C double bond.