Not quite the last word on the Perkin reaction

Microwave irradiation does not accelerate the rate of the Perkin reaction carried out under normal atmospheric pressure. Water is an essential yet catalytic reactant for the Perkin reaction to occur. Containment of the Perkin reaction in a sealed vessel improves the yield. Two pressure increases are observed during a 4 h reaction time. An induction period is seen in the Perkin reaction when sodium acetate is used as a base. A re-appraisal of the reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of these observations. The use of PFA^® reaction vessels enables the Perkin reaction to occur under aqueous conditions for around 80 reactions/vessel.     

Tracing the minimum-energy path on the free-energy surface

The free-energy profile of a reaction can be estimated in a molecular-dynamics approach by imposing a mechanical constraint along a reaction coordinate (RC). Many recent studies have shown that the temperature can greatly influence the path followed by the reactants. Here, we propose a practical way to construct the minimum-energy path directly on the free-energy surface at a given temperature. First, we follow the blue-moon ensemble method to derive the expression of the free-energy gradient for a given RC. These derivatives are then used to find the actual minimum-energy reaction path at finite temperature, in a way similar to the intrinsic reaction path of Fukui on the potential-energy surface. [K. Fukui, J. Phys. Chem. 74, 4161 (1970)]. Once the path is known, one can calculate the free-energy profile using thermodynamic integration. We also show that the mass-metric correction cancels for many types of constraints, making the procedure easy to use. Finally, the minimum-free-energy path at 300 K for the addition of CCl2 to ethylene is compared with a path based on a simple one-dimensional reaction coordinate. A comparison is also given with the reaction path at 0 K.     

关于反应分子数定义的讨论

There are two different views on the definition of reaction molecularity in physical chemistry textbooks and related literatures so far. We give a deep discussion about this conception herein. Starting with the development of chemical kinetics and the definition of elementary reaction and state-state reaction, we clarify that elementary reaction and state-state reaction are the conceptions belonging to macro-and micro-systems, respectively, and reaction molecularity is also belonging to micro-conception. Based on this conclusion, we think that the more reasonable definition of reaction molecularity should be "the number of chemical particles that take part in a state-state reaction (or an elementary chemi-physical reaction) as a reactant".     

On the complexity of kinetics and the mechanism of the thiosulfate-periodate reaction

The thiosulfate-periodate reaction has been studied spectrophotometrically in a slightly acidic medium at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C in an acetate/acetic acid buffer by monitoring the absorbance in the 250-600 nm wavelength range at a constant ionic strength adjusted by the buffer component sodium acetate. In agreement with a previous study, we found that the reaction cannot be described by a single stoichiometric equation, tetrathionate and sulfate are simultaneously formed, and its ratio strongly depends on the pH. As expected at certain initial concentration ratios of the reactants, the reaction behaves as a clock reaction, but after its appearance, iodine is slowly consumed mainly because of the moderate tetrathionate-iodine reaction. It is also enlightened that the initial rate of the reaction is completely independent of the pH, which apparently contradicts a previous study, which postulates a "supercatalytic" behavior of the hydrogen ion on the title reaction. Significant buffer assistance that may change the absorbance-time profiles was also observed. On the basis of the kinetic data, a robust 28-step kinetic model with 22 fitted parameters is proposed and discussed to explain adequately all of the important characteristics of the kinetic curves.     

烷基自由基β位裂解反应类反应势垒与速率常数的精确计算

提出反应类等键方法并用于高温燃烧机理中一类重要反应——烷基自由基β位裂解反应的反应势垒和速率常数的精确校正计算. 通过10种不同从头算水平对类反应中5个代表反应的反应势垒的计算发现, 用反应类等键反应方法和直接从头算方法获得的5 个代表反应的反应势垒最大绝对偏差的平均值分别为5.32 和16.16 kJ·mol^-1, 表明反应类等键反应方法计算的反应势垒对不同水平从头算方法的依赖性小, 可在较低从头算水平计算得到精确的反应势垒, 解决大分子体系反应势垒的精确计算问题. 此外应用反应类等键反应方法在BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ 从头算水平计算了3 个代表反应的速率常数, 并与文献报道的实验值进行了比较, 其在500-2000 K温度区间内计算速率常数与实验速率常数中较大值与较小值的比值k_max/k_min的平均值为1.67, 最大值也仅有2.49. 表明应用反应类等键反应方法在较低从头算水平即可对同类反应的速率常数进行精确计算.最后在BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ从头算水平用反应类等键反应方法计算了13个烷基自由基β位裂解反应的速率常数.     

Effect of the reaction temperature on the transglycosylation reactions catalyzed by the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Bacillus macerans for the synthesis of large-ring cyclodextrins

The synthesis of cyclodextrins with from 6 to more than 50 glucose units by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) from Bacillus macerans was investigated. Analysis of the synthesized cyclic α-1,4-glucan products showed that a higher yield of large-ring cyclodextrins were obtained with a reaction temperature of 60 °C compared to 40 °C. The yield of large-ring cyclodextrins obtained at 60 °C represented about 50% of the total glucans employed in the reaction. Analysis of the cyclodextrin-forming cyclization reaction and of the coupling reaction of the CGTase resulting in the degradation of mainly the larger cyclic α-1,4-glucans indicated higher rates of the cyclization reaction at 60 °C compared to 40 °C while the opposite was found for the coupling reaction.     

Potential-Barrier Profile for the Adiabatic Electron Transfer Reaction in the Condon Approximation

An effective reaction coordinate is introduced and a self-consistent algorithm is proposed for the calculation of the potential barrier profile of the adiabatic electron transfer reaction in a polar solvent, taking into account electron wave functions of reagents with respect to the media polarization. A change in the functions when moving along the reaction coordinate reduces significantly the activation barrier and increases the reaction rate.     

氢原子共线交换反应的动力学计算I.Cl与HCl反应几率的振荡现象研究

我们利用超球坐标对共线Cl+HCl(V-3)→ClH(V'≤3)+Cl作了一维精确量子计算,计算所用势能面是LEPS型,Et=-3.23KJ/mol, 得到了态态反应几率等动力学信息, 通过分析结果发现, 反应是振动绝热的, 即以对角(V'-V')反应几率为主,非对角(V' V')反应几率小于0.1, 反应几率随总能量表现出强裂地振荡, 在有阱的势能面上动力学共振增强。     

Characterizing the mechanism of the double proton transfer in the formamide dimer

The double proton transfer in the formamide dimer is characterized computationally by combining density functional theory and ab initio methods. The intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) is obtained at the B3LYP level of theory. Energies of several points along the IRC are treated by the more rigorous focal point method to test the validity of the B3LYP functional. The reaction mechanism is examined in terms of the energy profile, the reaction force, the chemical potential, and the reaction electronic flux. The energy profile for the activation process of the formamide dimer to the imino ether product obtained with the B3LYP functional is in agreement with the results of the focal point method. Together with the reaction force analysis and the reaction electronic flux a precise assignment of the structural and electronic contributions to the activation barrier becomes possible. The results show that the reaction starts with a structural rearrangement, where the two dimers approach each other, and is followed by electronic changes before the system reaches the transition state. This electronic contribution to the activation barrier steers the activation process. After the transition state is reached, deviations of the B3LYP functional from the more accurate focal point energies become apparent, where the errors may be rationalized in terms of the treatment of exchange. The inconsistency could be assigned to the incapacity of the functional to describe delocalization effects over the whole system.     

Influence of low-frequency vibrations on the chemical reaction rate in the liquid phase for reagent association

A bistable state of a reaction system was theoretically shown to be possible for a multistage chemical reaction in the case of reagent association. The conditions for the bistability origin with a possible substantial change in the rate of reaction product formation were determined. The conditions for the appearance of oscillations of intermediate concentrations and the possibility for the origination of the corresponding acoustic frequencies were studied. The action of external vibrations with the frequency coinciding with that of intrinsic intermediate concentration oscillations can increase the reaction rate of reaction product formation.     

Decomposition of reaction networks: the initial phase of the permanganate/oxalic acid reaction

The determination of all chemical reaction networks composed of elementary reactions for a given net chemical reaction is one of the fundamental problems in chemistry, since the decomposition elucidates the reaction mechanism. It is essential in a wide range of applications: from the derivation of rate laws in physical chemistry to the design of large-scale reactors in process engineering where presence of unexpected side products can disturb operation. As an example we consider the well-known permanganate/oxalic acid reaction. We characterize all intermediate substances that can in principle act (auto-)catalytic, list all possible additional intermediate substances that would suffice to start the reaction without assuming presence of any autocatalyst. In particular, we propose for the first time a minimal network in which the well-known autocatalyst Mn²⁺ is produced. To derive our results we present an automatic method to determine whether a net chemical reaction can be explained by some reaction network with a given list of intermediate substances, how to generate all such networks, and how to suggest more intermediate substances if no network with the initially given substances exists.     

混合多卤甲烷与金属镁反应产生溴氯卡宾及其反应机理的研究

应用CHBr3/CHCl3或CHBr3/CCl4和金属镁在一般的Grignard反应条件下与烯烃反应, 制备偕溴氯环丙烷衍生物。该反应原料易得, 反应条件温和, 产率良好, 后处理方便, 是制备偕溴氯环丙烷衍生物的一种简便的新方法。文中研究了上述反应的单电子转移和自由基链循环的复杂反应机理。     

Solid-phase synthesis of alkyl aryl ethers via the Ullmann condensation

Alkyl aryl ether formation is a frequently employed reaction in organic synthesis. Ullmann condensation is an alternative method to the widely used Mitsunobu reaction and is very useful in situations where application of the Mitsunobu reaction is limited. By application of this reaction to solid-phase synthesis of a series of alkyl aryl ethers, reaction conditions (catalyst, solvent, temperature, time, etc.) for a sterically hindered class of alcohols were investigated and optimized. A range of aryl halides was used to explore the scope of the reaction in solid phase.     

Theoretical insights into enantioselective catalysis: the mechanism of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction

The mechanism of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction has been investigated using B3 LYP/6-31G* calculations on a chiral reaction model [cyclohexene+tert-butyl perbenzoate-->cyclohex-2-enyl benzoate+tert-butyl alcohol, catalyzed by a chiral bisoxazoline-copper(I) complex]. Although two previous reaction mechanisms have been considered, the results are consistent with a new mechanistic pathway. This path involves ligand exchange between the catalyst-cyclohexene complex with tert-butyl perbenzoate to give a catalyst-perester complex, which undergoes an (either one- or two-step) oxidative addition reaction to yield a copper(III) complex. The limiting step of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction consists of an intramolecular step involving the abstraction of an allylic hydrogen from cyclohexene [which is pi-bound to the copper(III) complex]. The resulting allyl-copper(III) complex (subsequent to the loss of tert-butanol) can undergo a haptotropic rearrangement by means of an eta1-allyl/eta3-allyl equilibrium, leading to scrambling between vinylic and allylic positions when an isotopically labeled substrate is used. The allyl-copper(III) ion undergoes a stereospecific reductive elimination involving the pi-bond migration to yield a reaction product-catalyst complex, which can regenerate the alkene-copper(I) complex by ligand exchange. The proposed reaction mechanism is consistent with all known experimental results (including enantioselectivity data).     

Defining the Scope of the Acid-Catalyzed Glycosidation of Glycosyl Bromides

Following the recent discovery that traditional silver(I) oxide-promoted glycosidations of glycosyl bromides (Koenigs–Knorr reaction) can be greatly accelerated in the presence of catalytic TMSOTf, reported herein is a dedicated study of all major aspects of this reaction. A thorough investigation of numerous silver salts and careful refinement of the reaction conditions led to an improved mechanistic understanding. This, in turn, led to a significant reduction in the amount of silver salt required for these glycosylations. The progress of this reaction can be monitored by naked eye, and the completion of the reaction can be judged by the disappearance of characteristic dark color of Ag₂O. Further evidence on higher reactivity of benzoylated α-bromides in comparison to that of their benzylated counterparts has been acquired.     

The catalytic effect of the NH3 base on the chemical events in the caryolene‐forming carbocation cascade

Caryolene formation occur asynchronously in a concerted way through carbocationic rearrangements involving the generation of a secondary or a tertiary carbocation whether the reaction proceeds in the absence or in the presence of NH₃, respectively. Both caryolene formation mechanisms are analyzed within the general framework of the reaction force; the reaction force constant is used to gain insights into the synchronicity of the mechanisms and the reaction electronic flux helps to characterize the electronic activity taking place during the reaction. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) level show a clear difference in the mechanisms of the base promoted or base free caryolene formation reactions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A kinetic model for the ultrasound catalyzed hydrolysis of solventless TEOS-water mixtures and the role of the initial additions of ethanol

The acid and ultrasound catalyzed hydrolysis of solventless TEOS-water mixtures are studied, as a function of the initial additions of ethanol to the mixtures, by means of flux calorimetry measurements. A device was specially designed for this purpose. Under acid conditions, our proposed method has been able to resolve hydrolysis from other condensation reactions, by detecting the exothermal hydrolysis reaction heat. The process has been explained by a dissolution and reaction mechanism. Ultrasound forces the dissolution process to start the reaction. The alcohol produced in the reaction helps the dissolution process to further enhance the hydrolysis. Initial amounts of pure ethanol added to the mixtures shorten the start time of the reaction, due to an additional effect of dissolution, and diminish the reaction rate, as a result of the solvent dilution effect. Our dissolution and reaction mechanism modeling describes the main points arising from the experimental data and yields k _H =0.24 M^-1 min^-1 for the second-order hydrolysis rate constant at 39°C.     

Mechanistic study of the oxidation of -ascorbic acid by chloranil at the nitrobenzene water interface

The redox reaction between -ascorbic acid in water and chloranil in nitrobenzene has been studied by means of polarography with an ascending water electrode as well as cyclic voltammetry with a stationary interface. Through accurate measurement of the limiting currents, it has been suggested that the redox reaction should be a two-electron reaction rather than a one-electron reaction described previously. A spectrophotometric technique has also been used to observe that the redox reaction proceeds spontaneously under certain conditions even without electrochemical control. Based on these findings, it has been concluded that the present heterogeneous charge transfer reaction is the ion transfer of chloranil semiquinone radical, which is driven by the homogeneous electron transfer between ascorbic acid and chloranil in the aqueous phase.     

低热固相反应的反应机理研究(Ⅰ)——冷融熔机理和冷溶熔机理的模型

本文提出了低热固相反应的冷融熔机理和冷溶熔机理,其中冷融熔机理主要针对于不含结晶水的反应体系,冷溶熔机理主要针对于含结晶水的反应体系,并对低热固相反应动力学提出冷融熔/冷溶熔、扩散、反应、成核、生长的五步机理。两种机理都避开了分子在固相晶格中的扩散,从而对低热固相反应的扩散问题进行了有效的解释,并给出了低热固相反应的热力学和动力学判据。