Ab initio and DFT computer studies of complexes of trimethylphosphine and products of substituted phosphonium cations with hydroxide, chloride and fluoride anions: Phosphorus analogues of choline and acetylcholine

Theoretical calculations (DFT, MP2) are reported for up to four sets of reaction products of trimethylphosphine, (CH₃)₃P, each with H₂O, HCl and HF together with DFT calculations on up to three sets of reaction products of substituted phosphonium cations, (CH₃)₃P–R⁺. These products comprise (a) P(III) normal complexes (CH₃)₃PHY, (b) P(IV) ‘reverse’ complexes Y(H–CH₂)₃P–R, (c) P(IV) ylidic complexes YHCH₂(CH₃)₂P–R and (d) P(V) covalent compounds Y–P(CH₃)₃–R for Y=HO, Cl and F and R=H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₂H₄OH and C₂H₄OC:OCH₃. Calculations are carried out at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level in all cases and also at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level for systems in which R=H. Minimum energy structures are determined for predicted complexes or structures and geometrical properties, harmonic vibrations and BSSE corrected binding energies are reported and compared with the limited experimental information available. Potential energy scans predict equilibria between covalent trigonal bipyramidal P(V) forms and reverse complexes comprising hydrogen bonded or ion pair, tetrahedral P(IV) forms separated by low potential energy barriers. Similar scans are also reported for equilibria between reverse complexes and ylidic complexes for Y=OH and R=CH₃, C₂H₅, C₂H₄OH and C₂H₄OC:OCH₃. Corrected binding energies, structures and values of harmonic modes are discussed in relation to bonding The names ‘pholine’ and ‘acetylpholine’ are suggested for phosphorus analogues to choline and acetylcholine.     

Molecular structure and internal rotation potential of perfluoro (2,4-dimethyl-3-oxa-2,4-diazapentane), (CF3)2N–O–N(CF3)2

Ab initio quantum chemical calculation were performed on R₂N–O–NR₂ type (R=H, F, CH₃ and CF₃) molecules, using the HF, B3LYP and MP2/6-31G* levels of theory. The equilibrium structures and the internal rotation potentials have been determined. Three stable conformers were found for R=H, F and CH₃ while only two in case of R=CF₃. The rotation potential energy curves do not change significantly upon fluorination. The calculations suggests that in the ED measurement of the title compound the NC and NO bond length might have been interchanged.     

Vibrational frequencies and structural determination of disilylcarbodiimide

The vibrational frequencies and corresponding normal mode assignments of disilylcarbodiimide are examined theoretically using the GAUSSIAN98 set of quantum chemistry codes. MP2 and DFT (B3LYP) calculations predict a non-linear structure with C₂ symmetry. All normal modes were successfully assigned to one of eight types of motion (NCN asymmetric stretch, NCN symmetric stretch, Si–H stretch, Si–N stretch, H–Si–H bend, SiH₃ wag, SiH₃ twist, and Si–NN–Si torsion) utilizing the C₂ symmetry of the molecule. Uniform scaling factors were derived for each type of motion. Predicted infrared and Raman intensities are reported. Calculated normal mode frequencies for disilylcarbodiimide-d₆ are also reported.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O₂ possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC ≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂) are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.     

Photochemistry of perfluoroacyl halides in the presence of O2 and CO

Photolyses of CF₃C(O)X and C₂F₅C(O)X (X=Cl, F) at 254 nm in the presence of O₂ yield the perfluorinated radicals C₂F₅O (C₂) and CF₃O (C₁), respectively. The C₂ radicals decompose to give CF₃ radicals:

C₂F₅O→CF₃+CF₂O

which, in turn, react with O₂ leading to the formation of C₁ radicals. When in addition to O₂, CO is present, the C₁ radicals react with it leading to its catalytic oxidation to CO₂. The trioxide CF₃OC(O)O₃C(O)OCF₃ was observed following the photolysis of all four halides in the presence of O₂ and CO.

The other radical partners coming from the initial step in the photolysis (XC(O)) as well as the products of their reaction with O₂ (XC(O)O_y, y=1, 2) do not react with CO but when X=F they lead to the formation of a new stable peroxy molecule with the formula CF₃OC(O)O₂C(O)F. Some of the properties of this new molecule, its stability and its IR features are presented in this work.     

Monodentate and bidentate trifluoroacetato ligands in bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)thallium(III)—a new dynamic 4:3 piano stool seven-coordinate geometry

The crystal structure of bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato) thallium(III), Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)₂ (2), was established and the coordination sphere around the Tl³⁺ ion is described as 4:3 tetragonal base–trigonal base piano stool seven-coordinate geometry in which the two cis CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups occupy two apical sites. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e. N(2), N(3) and N(4)] strongly bonded to Tl³⁺ is adopted as the reference plane 3N. The pyrrole N(1) ring bearing the methyl group [i.e. C(45)H₃] is the most deviated one from the 3N plane making a dihedral angle of 23.3° whereas smaller angles of 9.9, 2.7 and 4.7° occur with pyrroles N(2), N(3), and N(4), respectively. Because of the larger size of the thallium(III) ion, Tl is considerably out of the 3N plane; its displacement of 1.02 Å is in the same direction as that of the two apical CF₃CO₂ ⁻ ligands. The intermolecular trifluoroacetate exchange process for 2 in CD₂Cl₂ solvent is examined through ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR temperature-dependent measurements. In the slow-exchange region, the CF₃ and carbonyl (CO) carbons of the CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups in 2 are separately located at δ 114.3 [¹J(C–F)=290 Hz, ³J(Tl–C)=411 Hz] and 155.1 [²J(C–F)=37 Hz, ²J(Tl–C)=204 Hz], respectively, at −106 °C. In the same slow-exchange region, the fluorine atoms of 2, Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)⁺ and the free CF₃CO₂ ⁻ are located at δ −73.76 [⁴J(Tl–F)=44 Hz], −73.30 [⁴J(Tl–F)=22 Hz], and −76.15 ppm at −97 °C, respectively.     

FTIR studies on the gas phase laser-induced decomposition of CF3CH2ONO

The unimolecular decomposition of CF₃CH₂O (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) radical generated from 355 nm pulsed nanosecond laser photolysis of CF₃CH₂ONO (2,2,2-trifluoroethylnitrite) in the gas phase has been studied using Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The radical preferentially dissociates via its C–H bond cleavage to yield CF₃CHO (trifluoroacetaldehyde) as the major product. The infrared spectrum of formaldehyde, one of the products of C–C bond dissociation of CF₃CH₂O was not observed under a range of nitrite and argon buffer gas pressures. Similar results were obtained when thermal heating and broadband xenon lamp irradiation of the nitrite were carried out. The addition of high pressures of NO further decreased the production of CF₃CHO since recombination of NO with the trifluoroethoxy radical competes with the unimolecular dissociation process. Surprisingly, CF₃CDO was also the only product observed when the deuterated species CF₃CD₂ONO was photolysed by the 355 nm laser. These observations contradicted MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations which were found to favour the C–C bond dissociation channel. However, 355 nm photolysis of CF₃CH₂ONO in the presence of O₂ yielded trifluoroethylnitrate, CF₃CH₂ONO₂ as the main product while CF₃CHO and CF₂O were also observable at much lower yields.     

A computational study of bond dissociation enthalpies in haloethenes

Carbon–hydrogen bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) were computed for all haloethenes, C₂H_4−nX_n (n=0–3, X=F, Cl, Br, I), at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level using isodesmic reactions. It was found that C–H bond strengths in the monohaloethenes varied substantially, by as much as 18 kJ mol⁻¹, dependent upon the bond's stereochemical position relative to the halogen. BDEs in the dihaloethanes varied in the order CX₂CH–H>(E)-CHXCX–H>(Z)-CHXCX–H. Trends in the computed bond enthalpies were discussed and explained on the basis of relative steric repulsions and hyperconjugative delocalization interactions, as determined from Natural Bond Orbital analysis.     

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of [(CF3)3GePt(PPh3)2]2Hg

The reaction of Pt(PPh₃)_n (n = 3 or 4) with [(CF₃)₃Ge]₂Hg or (CF₃)₃GeHgPt(PPh₃)₂Ge(CF₃)₃ (I) gives a stable diplatinum complex [(CF₃)₃GePt(PPh₃)₂]₂Hg (II). X-Ray analysis has established that compound II contains a Ge---Pt---Hg---Pt---Ge chain of C₂ symmetry. Both of the Pt atoms have distorted square-planar coordinations. The bond lengths are: Pt---Hg, 2.630(2) and 2.665(2) Å; Ge---Pt, 2.410(4) and 2.407(4) Å.

Compound II reacts with dihydrogen in THF solution under mild conditions to give mercury and the hydride (CF₃)₃GePt(PPh₃)₂H. On interaction of II with R₂Hg organomercurials (R = Cl, Et, GeEt₃, Ge(CF₃)₃, Ge(C₆F₅)₃) an unknown reaction takes place: Pt(PPh₃)₂ moieties migrate from the polymetallic grouping into the substrate with the formation of the corresponding RHgPt(PPh₃)₂R complexes or their demercuration products, R₂Pt(PPh₃);, (R = Cl, Et). The latter react further with complex I formed in the first step of the process to give Hg and (CF₃)₃GePt(PPh₃)₂R. The reaction schemes are discussed.     

Observation and rovibrational analysis of the ν2 band of HCN–HCl

The high-resolution infrared absorption spectrum of an equilibrium mixture of HCN and HCl in a static gas long-path absorption cell is recorded in the 2500–2900 cm⁻¹ spectral region at 205 K. The spectrum shows rovibrational structure which has the typical appearance of a parallel band of a linear molecule and is assigned to the intramolecular H–Cl stretching vibration band ν₂ of the linear HCN–H³⁵Cl heterodimer. The rovibrational analysis of the band yield a band origin ν₀ of 2779.0968(12) cm⁻¹ together with a value for the upper-state rotational constant B′ of 0.067722(2) cm⁻¹. The observed red shift of 107 cm⁻¹ for the ν₂ band of HCN–H³⁵Cl relative to the H–Cl stretching vibration band of monomer H³⁵Cl is in excellent agreement with results from the MP2/6−311++G** level of theory. The value of the upper-state rotational constant shows that the intermolecular hydrogen bond shortens by 0.022 Å upon intramolecular vibrational excitation of the ν₂ mode.     

The Reaction of Sodium Perfluoroalkanesulfinate with PCl3

The reaction between sodium perfluoroalkanesulfinate(1)(Rf=a, Cl(CF₂)₄;b, Cl(CF₂)6;c, Cl(CF₂)₈;d, n-C₆F₁₃;e, n-C₈F₁₇;f, H(CF₂)₄OCF₂CF₂)andphosphorus trichloride in acetonitrile at 0℃ resulted in the formation of anunstable intermediate, which was hydrolysed directly with aqueous sodium hydro-xide solution to give the corresponding perfluorocarboxylic acid in good yield.     

DFT study on the reaction mechanisms of polyfluorosulfonate ester with F

Gas-phase reaction of C(1)F₃S(2)O₂O(3)C(4)H₂C(5)F₃ and F⁻(16) is investigated using DFT method. The geometries of various stationary points and their relative energies are obtained from 6-31+G*, 6-311G**, and 6-311++G** levels. In the S_N2(C) reaction leading to the cleavage of the C(4)–O(3) bond, the reaction complex results from attacking of F⁻ at a hydrogen atom H11 attached to carbon atom C(4). Afterward, F⁻ is attacking the atom C(4) from the backside of the atom O(3) with the help of the neighboring effect, and meanwhile a multi-membered ring, F(16)–H(11)–C(4)–C(5)–F(16), is being formed. The S_N2(C) reaction is irreversible. On the contrary, the S_N2(S) reaction leading to the cleavage of the S(2)–O(3) bond is reversible, and it is initiated by attacking of F⁻ at the atom S(2) from the backside of the atom O(3). The products of the reaction CF₃SO₃CH₂CF₃ +F⁻ should be, thermodynamically, controlled due to the reversibility of the S_N2(S) reaction, and those result, chemospecifically, from the cleavage of the C–O bond. At last, the SCRF calculations confirm that the solvent effect is preferable to the S_N2(C) reaction.     

The rotational spectrum of propynyl isocyanide

Propynyl isocyanide, CH₃C₂NC, has been prepared by vacuum pyrolysis of pentacarbonyl-(1,2-dichloropropenyl isocyanide) chromium, (CO)₅Cr–CN–C(Cl)=C(Cl)CH₃, and its ground state millimeter and microwave spectrum has been observed for the first time. r_s structural parameters of this molecule with a C_3v symmetry could be obtained from the rotational constants of several isotopomers: r_(C1–C2)=1.456(2) Å, r_(C2–C3)=1.206(2) Å, r_(C3–N)= 1.316(2) Å, r_(N–C4)= 1.175(2) Å, r_(H–C1)= 1.090(1) Å, >HCC=110.7(4)°. The nitrogen quadrupole coupling constant has been determined to be 878(2) kHz and measurements of the Stark effect allowed to obtain an electric dipole moment of 4.19(3) Debye. The results fit well into a series of related compounds and are in good agreement with data from ab initio calculations.     

Direct dynamics studies on the hydrogen abstraction reactions CF3O+CH4(CD4)→CF3OH(CF3OD)+CH3(CD3)

The dynamics properties of the hydrogen abstraction reaction CF₃O+CH₄→CF₃OH+CH₃ are studied by dual-level direct dynamics method. Optimization calculations are preformed by B3LYP and MP2 with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set, and the single-point calculations are done at the multi-coefficient correction method based on quadratic configuration interaction with single and double excitations (MC-QCISD) method. The rate constants are evaluated by canonical variational transition-state theory with a small-curvature tunneling correction over a wide range of temperature 200–2000 K. The agreement between theoretical and experimental rate constants is good in the measured temperature range. The calculated results show that the variational effect is small and almost neglected over the whole temperature range, whereas, the tunneling correction plays a role in the lower temperature range. The kinetic isotope effect for the reaction is ‘normal’. The value of k_H/k_D is 2.38 at room temperature and it decreases with the temperature increasing.     

Synthesis and characterization of [chloro{2(1H)-pyridinethione-S}{tris(pyridin-2-ylthiolato)methyl-C,N,N′,N″]}nickel(II)], [Ni(TPTM)(SPyH)Cl]

The compound, [chloro{2(1H)-pyridinethione-S}{tris(pyridin-2-ylthiolato)methyl-C,N,N′,N″]}nickel(II)], [Ni(TPTM)(SPyH)Cl], was isolated from the reaction between NiCl₂ · 6H₂O and tris(pyridin-2-ylthiolato)methane in aqueous EtOH. X-ray crystallography at 120 K revealed an octahedral arrangement about Ni with a tetradentate tris(pyridin-2-ylthio)methyl-C,N,N,N ligand, a monodentate 2(1H)-pyridinethione-S ligand and a chloride. The 2(1H)-pyridinethione-S ligand was derived from tris(pyridin-2-ylthio)methane probably via an acid catalysed hydrolysis reaction. Intramolecular N–H–Cl and C–H–Cl interactions help to cement the molecular structure. Weak C–H–Cl and C–H–S hydrogen bonding interactions link molecules of [Ni(TPTM)(SPyH)Cl] into a 3D array. EPR and UV spectra, and Hartree–Fock theoretical calculations are reported.     

Vibrational frequencies and structural determination of 1,1-difluoro-1,2-propadiene

The normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of 1,1-difluoro-1,2-propadiene in C_2v symmetry are examined theoretically using the 98 set of quantum chemistry codes. All normal modes were successfully assigned to one of 11 types of motion (C=C stretch, C–H stretch, C–F stretch, CH₂ scissors, CF₂ scissors, CH₂ wag, CF₂ wag, CH₂ rock, CF₂ rock, CF₂ twist, and C=C=C bend) predicted by a group theoretical analysis. Comparing the vibrational frequencies with IR and Raman spectra available in the literature, a set of scaling factors is derived. Predicted infrared intensities and Raman activities are reported. Predicted normal mode frequencies of 1,1-difluoro-1,2-propadiene-d₂ are reported.     

Hydrogen-bonding interaction between acetic acid and pyridine 1:1 complex

Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and pyridine (C₅H₅N) 1:1 complex was subjected to Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations using 6-311G(d,p) basis set. Five equilibrium isomers were located, and the most stable structure has a strong NH–O hydrogen-bonding interaction. A normal-mode analysis of the vibrations of the five isomers was carried out and compared with the experimental values. The calculations indicate that solvents enhance significantly the strength of hydrogen bond as shown by the decrease of the N–H distance and appreciable red shift of the H–O vibration mode and blue shift of NH–O vibration mode.     

Absolute dipole differential oscillator strengths for inner shell spectra from high resolution electron energy loss studies of the freon molecules CF4, CF3Cl, CF2Cl2, CFCl3 and CCl4

Absolute differential photoabsorption oscillator strengths (cross sections) for the F 1s, C 1s, and Cl 2p, 2s inner shells of the freon molecules CF₃Cl, CF₂Cl₂ and CFCl₃ have been derived from high resolution electron energy loss spectra obtained under dipole dominated conditions of high impact energy (3 keV) and zero degree mean scattering angle. Differential oscillator strengths have also been obtained from earlier reported electron energy loss spectra for CF₄ and CCl₄. The spectra are analyzed using the MO picture and the potential barrier model.     

Adsorption of polyacrylic acid on aluminium oxide: DRIFT spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT) spectroscopy was used to study the adsorption process of the water-soluble polyacrylic acid (PAA) polymer on hydrous δ-Al₂O₃. Vibrational assignment of PAA, sodium polyacrylate, (Na–PA) and the PA-oxide surface complex was achieved by comparison of observed band position and intensity in the DRIFT spectra with wavenumbers and intensities from ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. The presented data of polyacrylic acid suggest that IR data calculated ab initio on relatively short oligomers (quantum-mechanical oligomer approach) may provide valuable information regarding the interpretation of polyelectrolyte infrared spectra. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to sorb PAA onto the δ-Al₂O₃ surface. The results obtained from DRIFT studies were compared with adsorption isotherm experiments in order to relate the level of PAA coverage to the nature of the surface complex. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on PAA/Al₂O₃ clusters were used to model possible surface complexes. Strong correlation were found between theoretical and observed DRIFT frequencies of the antisymmetric R-COO⁻ vibration. A number of possible configurations of the polyacrylic acid/aluminate surface complex were tested via ab initio calculations. These possible configurations included different di-aluminium octahedral Al³⁺ surface models. Results obtained from adsorption isotherm experiments, DRIFT spectra and ab initio calculations indicate that the carboxylate oxygens bridge an Al³⁺-octahedral dimer [Al₂(OH)₂4(H₂O)2(OH)] in a ligand-exchange inner sphere complex.