Solvent effects on endo/exo selective in (4 + 2) cycloadditions of cyanoethylenes.

SCRF calculations on transition structures of cycloadditions of acrylonitrile and maleonitrile to cyclopentadiene and 1,3-butadiene show that the experimentally observed endo preference for the cycloaddition of acrylonitrile to cyclopentadiene is the consequence of solvent influence and not the result of secondary orbital interactions.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Regioselective synthesis of heterocycles and theoretical studies

We report a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between a oxazolium 5-oxide derivative with chloroacrylonitrile or ethyl propiolate as dipolarophiles, in order to obtain substituted pyrrolizidines. Experimentally we found that the reaction is regiospecific with chloroacrylonitrile and regioselective with ethyl propiolate. The secondary attractive orbital interactions from the Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory, the differences in stability of the possible biradical intermediaries postulated for the reaction and some hindrance effects, explain the regioselectivity observed experimentally.     

(Z)-1,2-二苯基-1,3-丁二烯与单取代的乙烯衍生物区位选择性环加成反应

(Z)-1,2-二苯基-1,3-丁二烯分别与甲基乙烯基酮、丙烯酰胺、丙烯腈以及丙烯醛发生环加成反应,均生成顺式和反式的连位取代环己烯衍生物。以IR、¹HNMR和MS鉴定了产物的结构。利用CNDO/2法计算了分子轨道能量和系数,由前线分子轨道理论解释了这种环加成反应的区位选择性。     

A DFT study on the regioselectivity of the reaction of dichloropropynylborane with isoprene

This theoretical study deals with the reaction of isoprene and dichloropropynylborane. We report the results of the DFT calculations applied to the two processes involved, Diels-Alder cycloaddition and 1,4-alkynylboration. The boron influences both the chemoselectivity and the regioselectivity of this reaction through secondary orbital interactions (SOI hereafter) that give rise to transition structures with strong [4 atom + 3 atom] character. The "meta" regioselectivity observed experimentally for the reaction between 2-substituted 1,3-dienes and alkynyldihaloboranes has been explained as a result of the higher stabilization of these transition structures with "meta" orientation. Intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations were performed to determine connectivities and established the remarkable result that the geometrically very similar transition structures leading to both regioisomeric 1,4-alkynylboration products correspond to different pathways. For the "meta" orientation a direct alkynylboration of the diene through a concerted transition structure was found.     

On the origin of cis/trans stereoselectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of substituted pentadienyl acrylates: a comprehensive density functional study

[structures: see text] A gas-phase B3LYP/6-31+G(d) study of substituent effects on the stereochemistry of both intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of 9-E- and 9-Z-substituted pentadienyl acrylates and intermolecular Diels-Alder (DA) reactions between butadiene and monosubstituted alkenes and 3-substituted acrylates is reported and involves the calculation of 230 transition structures. It was found that, although exo ("anti-Alder") addition of monosubstituted ethenes to butadiene is the norm, Alder endo selectivity is more widely predicted for 3-substituted methyl acrylate dienophiles, and this was explained in terms of secondary orbital interactions (SOIs). Whereas cis/trans selectivity for IMDA reactions involving 9-E-substituted pentadienyl acrylates generally follows the normal pattern found for the corresponding intermolecular DA reactions, the 9-Z-substituted stereoisomers generally displayed trans selectivity that was much stronger than can be attributed to effects of the isolated substituent. This is strikingly so with unsaturated electron-withdrawing substituents whose endo selectivities, displayed in intermolecular DA reactions, are reversed in the IMDA reactions of pentadienyl acrylates. The origin of this anomalous Z-effect is explained in terms of the twist-mode asynchronicity concept of Brown and Houk. These ideas are used to explain the stereochemical outcomes of IMDA reactions of other triene systems.     

Orbital interactions in large molecular systems: Adsorption of H2 on Ni surfaces

The concept of orbital interactions is applied to the adsorption of H₂ on to the Ni (110) and (111) surfaces. We calculate first two orbitals of a Ni cluster one of which forms an orbital pair with the σ MO and the other with the σ*MO of a H₂ molecule. Contributions of these paired orbitals of fragments to the density of states of the surface-adsorbate extended system are then examined. It is shown that the orbital of the surface that participates in electron delocalization to σ* of the H₂ molecule is located significantly below the Fermi level both in the (110) and in the (111) adsorption models. The σ MO of H₂ and its counterpart of the surface represent mainly overlap repulsion which is shown to be stronger on the (111) surface than on the (110) surface. It is feasible to understand chemical interactions of large systems by using the paired interacting orbitals.     

Understanding the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Allenes

We have quantum chemically studied the reactivity, site-, and regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between methyl azide and various allenes, including the archetypal allene propadiene, heteroallenes, and cyclic allenes, by using density functional theory (DFT). The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactivity of linear (hetero)allenes decreases as the number of heteroatoms in the allene increases, and formation of the 1,5-adduct is, in all cases, favored over the 1,4-adduct. Both effects find their origin in the strength of the primary orbital interactions. The cycloaddition reactivity of cyclic allenes was also investigated, and the increased predistortion of allenes, that results upon cyclization, leads to systematically lower activation barriers not due to the expected variations in the strain energy, but instead from the differences in the interaction energy. The geometric predistortion of cyclic allenes enhances the reactivity compared to linear allenes through a unique mechanism that involves a smaller HOMO–LUMO gap, which manifests as more stabilizing orbital interactions.     

van der Waals corrected density functional calculations of the adsorption of benzene on the Cu (111) surface

We investigate the performance of several van der Waals (vdW) functionals at calculating the interactions between benzene and the copper (111) surface, using the local orbital approach in the SIESTA code. We demonstrate the importance of using surface optimized basis sets to calculate properties of pure surfaces, including surface energies and the work function. We quantify the errors created using (3 × 3) supercells to study adsorbate interactions using much larger supercells, and show non‐negligible errors in the binding energies and separation distances. We examine the eight high‐symmetry orientations of benzene on the Cu (111) surface, reporting the binding energies, separation distance, and change in work function. The optimized vdW‐DF(optB88‐vdW) functional provides superior results to the vdW‐DF(revPBE) and vdW‐DF2(rPW86) functionals, and closely matches the experimental and experimentally deduced values. This work demonstrates that local orbital methods using appropriate basis sets combined with a vdW functional can model adsorption between metal surfaces and organic molecules.     

DFT study on the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between alkenyl-M(0) (M = Cr, W) carbene complexes and neutral 1,3-dienes

The thermal Diels-Alder reaction between alkenylmetal(0) Fischer carbenes and 1,3-dienes (isoprene and cyclopentadiene) has been studied computationally within the density functional theory framework. The selectivity of the [4 + 2] cycloadditions between alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes and isoprene is similar to the selectivity computed for the reactions involving Lewis acid complexed acrylates. The experimentally observed complete endo selectivity in the [4 + 2] cycloadditions of alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes with cyclopentadiene, which takes place under kinetic control, may be due in part to the presence of stabilizing secondary orbital interactions. These interactions are stronger than the analogues in the metal-free processes. The [4 + 2] cycloadditions between alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes and neutral dienes occur concertedly via transition structures which are more asynchronous and less aromatic than their non-organometallic analogues, a behavior which is extensible to the reactions between Lewis acid complexed acrylates.     

Face-selective Diels-Alder reactions between unsymmetrical cyclohexadienes and symmetric trans-dienophile: an experimental and computational investigation

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the Diels-Alder reactions between 2-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-cyclohexadienes (2-11) and (E)-1,4-diphenylbut-2-ene-1,4-dione (1) is reported. Two diastereomeric products, 5-endo-6-exo- (nx) and 5-exo-6-endo- (xn) dibenzoyl derivatives, are possible with symmetric trans-dienophile (1). While in many cases 5-endo-6-exo product is preferred over the corresponding 5-exo-6-endo product, the product ratio nx:xn is found to vary with the position of substituents on the diene. The density functional theory studies with the mPW1PW91/6-31G* as well as the B3LYP/6-31G* levels reveal that the electrostatic repulsion between the oxygen lone pairs on the diene and the dienophile is critical to the observed product selectivities. The optimized transition state geometries though appeared to involve secondary orbital interactions, careful examination of the frontier Kohn-Sham orbitals as well as calculations with the natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses confirm the absence of SOI in these transition states. In the case of methyl-substituted dienes, a cumulative effect of steric and electrostatic interactions between the diene and the dienophile is found to be the controlling element toward the observed selectivity.     

Polyethers: Structural analysis of the 1,4,5,8-tetraoxadecalins and 2,2'-bis(1,3-dioxolane) by photoelectron spectroscopy,molecular mechanics and molecular orbital calculations

The photoelectron (PE) spectrum of cis-1,4,5,8-tetraoxadecalin exhibits in contrast to most polyoxa compounds an extremely well resolved low energy pan due to large ‘through-bond’ interactions between the oxygen lone pairs and the ideally oriented C-C bonds. The ‘through-bond’ interactions of the cis- as well as the unknown trans-1,4,5,8-tetraoxadecalin are discussed based on simple perturbation molecular orbital theory and PRDDO molecular orbital calculations. Additionally the PE spectrum of 2,2'-bis (1,3-dioxolane) is reported. Molecular mechanics (MM1 and MM2) and molecular orbital (PRDDO) calculations of the different conformations of the 1,4,5,8-telraoxadecalin and 2,2'-bis(1,3-dioxolane) systems allow the absence of the trans-1, 4,5,8-tetraoxadecalin, and the cis-trans energy difference in the series decalin, 1,8-dioxadecalin and 1,4,5,8-tetraoxadecalin systems to be explained.     

The regiochemistry and stereochemistry of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of cyclic nitrones

A comparative study of the regio- and stereo-chemical behaviour of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a series of alkenes with 1-pyrroline 1-oxide and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine 1-oxide has been carried out. The high degree of both regio- and stereochemical control observed in these reactions has been explained in terms of frontier orbital interaction, steric factors, and secondary orbital interaction in the transition state. While most common alkenes (both mono- and 1,1-di-substituted) gave 2-substituted cycloadducts, highly polarized alkene dimethyl methylenemalonate afforded mainly regioisomeric 3-substituted cycloadduct. Significant secondary orbital interaction is observed with the non-conjugated substituents, hydroxymethyl and its derivatives.     

Non-bonded interactions in 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedithione and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thio-1,3-cyclobutanedione

Electronic absorption and emission spectra as well as He(I) photoelectron spectra of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedithione and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1-3-thio-1,3-cyclobutanedione have been interpreted on the basis of molecular orbital calculations. The results show that the non-bonded orbital of the dithione is split owing to through-bond interaction, the magnitude of splitting being 0.4 eV. The π* orbital of the dithione appears to be split by about 0.2 eV. Electronic absorption spectra show evidence for the existence of four n—π* transitions, arising out of the splitting of the orbitals referred to above, just as in the case of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedione. Electronic and photoelectron spectra of the thio-dione show evidence for weak interaction between the CS and C&.zdbnd;O groups, probably via π* orbitals. Infrared spectra of both the dithione and the thio-dione are consistent with the planar cyclobutane ring; the ring-puckering frequency responsible for non-bonded interactions is around 67 cm^?1 in both the dithione and the thio-dione, the value not being very different from that in the dione. The 1,3-transannular distance is also similar in the three molecules.     

A hydrogen rearrangement of formamidine and the solvent effects thereupon

The nature of the 1,3 hydrogen rearrangement of formamidine (H₂N-CH=NH) and the solvent effects on that reaction are studied with ab initio molecular orbital calculations on the basis of the supermolecule model. The reaction path and the motion of the migrating hydrogen atom are traced by using the concept of the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC). Four types of orientation of one water molecule to formamidine at the transition state of reaction are examined and the results are discussed from the standpoint of the orbital interactions.     

Controlling cis/trans-selectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of benzo-tethered, ester linked 1,3,9-decatrienes

Predictions from DFT (B3LYP/6-31 G(d))-computed stereoisomer product distributions for intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions have been successfully replicated in the laboratory. Benzo-tethered hexadienyl acrylates generally undergo moderately trans-selective IMDA reactions which, as suggested by DFT calculation, arise from two opposing transition structure (TS) features: stabilising secondary orbital interactions, which are stronger in the cis-TSs, and stabilising pi-conjugative interactions between the benzo moiety and the 1,3-diene component - which are stronger in trans-TSs. Substrates carrying a removable substituent (i.e. Br or TMS) at C3 of the diene or C12 of the aromatic ring are predicted to undergo highly cis-selective thermal IMDA reactions by steric destabilisation of the trans-TS. A substrate carrying a two atom tether between C3 and C12 is predicted to undergo a highly trans-selective intramolecular cycloaddition by destabilisation of the cis-TS. These calculations are borne out experimentally.     

Conformational Analysis by Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The conformation of organic molecules may be determined by means of photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy if there are orbital interactions present which depend on a dihedral angle. Straightforward application of the method requires that all ionization bands of interest can be assigned unambiguously and that inductive effects and secondary orbital interactions do not occur or can be accounted for appropriately. In many cases, this method complements conventional methods of conformational analysis. PE conformational analysis is particularly suited to compounds containing vicinal lone pairs or π systems.     

Computer-assisted design of asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions between dimethylvinylborane and chiral nitrones

This report describes a theoretical study of the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions between dimethylvinylborane and different chiral nitrones, aimed at identifying the requisite structural features to achieve high levels of selectivity. Excellent regioselectivities towards the formation of the 5-borylisoxazolidines are computed in all cases due to the presence of a strong secondary orbital interaction between the boron of the vinylborane and the oxygen of the nitrones. While these transition structures show [3+3] character, 4-boryl regioisomeric structures have classical [3+2] character with weak carbon-boron secondary orbital interactions. Endo transition structures leading to the favoured products adopt chair-like conformations only, unlike their exo counterparts, which exhibit either boat or twist-boat structures. Placing a stereocentre adjacent to the nitrone nitrogen appears to be an effective strategy to stereodiscriminate the anti and syn approaches of the dipolarophile.     

Nickel(II)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Imines with Alkylidene Malonates

We demonstrated an asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine betaines with alkylidene malonates by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Ni^II complex as a catalyst. Both aromatic‐ and aliphatic‐substituted alkylidene malonates were found to be suitable for the reaction. A range of trans‐pyrazolone derivatives was exclusively obtained with excellent yields (up to 99 % yield) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee) under mild reaction conditions. The reaction could be carried out on a gram scale with the good results being maintained. Control experiments were performed to elucidate the specific diastereoselectivity of the reaction. The formation of single trans isomers was dominated by secondary orbital interactions between the ester groups of the dipolarophile and the azomethine imine. On the basis of the experimental results and previous reports, a possible catalytic model was assumed.     

Coexistence of 1,3-butadiene conformers in ionization energies and Dyson orbitals

The minimum-energy structures on the torsional potential-energy surface of 1,3-butadiene have been studied quantum mechanically using a range of models including ab initio Hartree-Fock and second-order M?ller-Plesset theories, outer valence Green's function, and density-functional theory with a hybrid functional and statistical average orbital potential model in order to understand the binding-energy (ionization energy) spectra and orbital cross sections observed by experiments. The unique full geometry optimization process locates the s-trans-1,3-butadiene as the global minimum structure and the s-gauche-1,3-butadiene as the local minimum structure. The latter possesses the dihedral angle of the central carbon bond of 32.81 degrees in agreement with the range of 30 degrees-41 degrees obtained by other theoretical models. Ionization energies in the outer valence space of the conformer pair have been obtained using Hartree-Fock, outer valence Green's function, and density-functional (statistical average orbital potentials) models, respectively. The Hartree-Fock results indicate that electron correlation (and orbital relaxation) effects become more significant towards the inner shell. The spectroscopic pole strengths calculated in the Green's function model are in the range of 0.85-0.91, suggesting that the independent particle picture is a good approximation in the present study. The binding energies from the density-functional (statisticaly averaged orbital potential) model are in good agreement with photoelectron spectroscopy, and the simulated Dyson orbitals in momentum space approximated by the density-functional orbitals using plane-wave impulse approximation agree well with those from experimental electron momentum spectroscopy. The coexistence of the conformer pair under the experimental conditions is supported by the approximated experimental binding-energy spectra due to the split conformer orbital energies, as well as the orbital momentum distributions of the mixed conformer pair observed in the orbital cross sections of electron momentum spectroscopy.     

How Ionization Catalyzes Diels-Alder Reactions

The catalytic effect of ionization on the Diels-Alder reaction between 1,3-butadiene and acrylaldehyde has been studied using relativistic density functional theory (DFT). Removal of an electron from the dienophile, acrylaldehyde, significantly accelerates the Diels-Alder reaction and shifts the reaction mechanism from concerted asynchronous for the neutral Diels-Alder reaction to stepwise for the radical-cation Diels-Alder reaction. Our detailed activation strain and Kohn-Sham molecular orbital analyses reveal how ionization of the dienophile enhances the Diels-Alder reactivity via two mechanisms: (i) by amplifying the asymmetry in the dienophile's occupied π-orbitals to such an extent that the reaction goes from concerted asynchronous to stepwise and thus with substantially less steric (Pauli) repulsion per reaction step; (ii) by enhancing the stabilizing orbital interactions that result from the ability of the singly occupied molecular orbital of the radical-cation dienophile to engage in an additional three-electron bonding interaction with the highest occupied molecular orbital of the diene.