Influence of OH⋯N and NH⋯O inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the conformational equilibrium of some 1,3-disubstituted cyclohexanes through NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

The analysis of concentration effects in the (1)H NMR data of cis-3-aminocyclohexanol (ACOL) showed that its diequatorial conformer changes from 60% at 0.01 mol L(-1) to 70% at 0.40 mol L(-1) in acetone-d(6). A similar increase was also observed for the diequatorial conformer of cis-3-N-methylaminocyclohexanol (MCOL), from 32% (CDCl(3) 0.01 mol L(-1)) to 55% (CDCl(3) 0.40 mol L(-1)). The increase in solvent basicity leads to a large stabilization effect for the diequatorial conformer of both compounds too. For ACOL, it changes from 47% (ΔG(eqeq-axax)=0.06 kcal mol(-1)) in CCl(4) to 93% (ΔG(eqeq-axax)=-1.53 kcal mol(-1)) in DMSO, while for MCOL it goes from 7% (ΔG(eqeq-axax)=1.54 kcal mol(-1)) in CCl(4) to 82% (ΔG(eqeq-axax)=-0.88 kcal mol(-1)) in pyridine-d(6). These results indicate that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IAHB) OH?N and NH?O stabilize the diaxial conformers of these compounds in a non-polar solvent. For cis-3-amino-1-methoxycyclohexane (ACNE) and cis-3-N-methylamino-1-methoxy-cyclohexane (MCNE) no changes were observed in equilibrium with the variation of solvent polarity. These results indicate for the first time that the IAHB NH?O is not strong enough to stabilize the diaxial conformer of these compounds and that the conformation equilibria of the cis isomers of compounds ACOL and MCOL are influenced only by the IAHB OH?N. Moreover, the presence of a secondary amino group (93% of diaxial conformer in CCl(4)) leads to an IAHB OH?N stronger than in primary and tertiary amino-derivatives (53 and 54% of diaxial conformer, respectively) for 1,3-disubstituted cyclohexanes. Values obtained from the theoretical data through the B3LYP functional are in agreement with the experimental results and indicate that the IAHB strength that influences the conformational equilibrium of these compounds is the IAHB OH?N. Thus, the IAHB NH?O do not stabilize the diaxial conformer of the cis isomer of compounds ACNE and MCNE showing that the diequatorial conformer will always be more stable than the diaxial conformer, independent of concentration or solvent.     

Benchmark ab initio proton affinity and gas-phase basicity of α-alanine based on coupled-cluster theory and statistical mechanics

We determine the proton affinity (PA) and gas-phase basicity (GB) of amino acid α-alanine at a chemically accurate level by performing explicitly-correlated CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVDZ geometry optimizations and normal mode vibrational frequency calculations as well as CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ energy computations at the possible neutral and protonated geometries. Temperature effects at 298.15 K considering translational, rotational, and vibrational enthalpy and entropy corrections are obtained via standard statistical mechanics utilizing the molecular geometries and the harmonic vibrational energy levels. Both the amino nitrogen (N) and the carbonyl oxygen (O) atoms are proven to be potential protonation sites and a systematic conformational search reveals 3 N- and 9 O-protonated conformers in the 0.00–7.88 and 25.43–30.43 kcal/mol energy ranges at 0 K, respectively. The final computed PA and GB values at (0)298.15 K in case of N-protonation are (214.47)216.80 and 207.07 kcal/mol, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for O-protonation are (189.04)190.63 and 182.31 kcal/mol. The results of the benchmark high-level coupled-cluster computations are utilized to assess the accuracy of several lower-level cost-effective methods such as MP2 and density functional theory with various functionals (SOGGA11-X, M06-2X, PBE0, B3LYP, M06, TPSS).     

The relevant effect of an intramolecular hydrogen bond on the conformational equilibrium of cis-3-methoxycyclohexanol compared to trans-3-methoxycyclohexanol and cis-1,3-dimethoxycyclohexane

1H NMR data show that an increase in the concentration of cis-3-methoxycyclohexanol (cis-3-MCH) shifts the conformational equilibrium from the 1aa conformer, stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IAHB), to the 1ee conformer [X(ee) = 44% (at 0.05 molL(-1)) to 59% (at 0.40 molL(-1)), in CCl4], which forms intermolecular hydrogen bonds (IEHB), as confirmed by IR data. The percentage of 1ee conformer increases with the solvent polarity, from 33% (DeltaG(ee-aa) = 1.72 kJmol(-1)) in cyclohexane (C6D12) to 97% (DeltaG(ee-aa) = -8.41 kJmol(-1)) in DMSO. For trans-3-methoxycyclohexanol (trans-3-MCH), 1ae and 1ea conformers are almost equally present in the studied solvents, 1ae increasing from 41%, in C6D12 (DeltaG(ae-ea) = 0.84 kJmol(-1)), to 49%, in DMSO (DeltaG(ae-ea) = 0.13 kJmol(-1)). A value of 18.4 kJmol(-1) for the strength of IAHB in cis-3-MCH was obtained, from the theoretical data, through the CBS-4M method.     

Chemical behavior of the biradicaloid (HO...ONO) singlet states of peroxynitrous acid. The oxidation of hydrocarbons, sulfides, and selenides

Various high levels of theory have been applied to the characterization of two higher lying biradicaloid metastable singlet states of peroxynitrous acid. A singlet minimum (cis-2) was located that had an elongated O-O distance (2.17 A) and was only 12.2 kcal/mol [UB3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)+ZPVE] higher in energy than its ground-state precursor. A trans-metastable singlet (trans-2) was 10.9 kcal/mol higher in energy than ground-state HO-ONO. CASSCF(12,10)/6-311+G(d,p) calculations predict the optimized geometries of these cis- and trans-metastable singlets to be close to those obtained with DFT. Optimization of cis- and trans-2 within the COSMO solvent model suggests that both exist as energy minima in polar media. Both cis- and trans-2 exist as hydrogen bonded complexes with several water molecules. These collective data suggest that solvated forms of cis-2.3H(2)O and trans-2.3H(2)O represent the elusive higher lying biradicaloid minima that were recently (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 16204) advocated as the metastable forms of peroxynitrous acid (HOONO). The involvement of metastable trans-2 in the gas phase oxidation of methane and isobutane is firmly established to take place on the unrestricted [UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)] potential energy surface (PES) with classical activations barriers for the hydrogen abstraction step that are 15.7 and 5.9 kcal/mol lower than the corresponding activation energies for producing products methanol and tert-butyl alcohol formed on the restricted PES. The oxidation of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl selenide, two-electron oxidations, proceeds by an S(N)2-like attack of the heteroatom lone pair on the O-O bond of ground-state peroxynitrous acid. No involvement of metastable forms of HO-ONO was discernible.     

Vinyl hydrogen acidities of two stereoisomers

The gas-phase acidities of the vinyl hydrogens of cis- and trans-2-butene were measured by the silane kinetic method in a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. The acidities of ethene and the secondary vinyl hydrogen of propene were measured by the same method. The method was calibrated using the known acidities of methane and benzene. The vinyl hydrogens of trans-2-butene are more acidic than the vinyl hydrogens of cis-2-butene by 4.5 kcal/mol; the acidities of ethene and the secondary vinyl hydrogen of propene are between those of the two butenes. The acidity of cis-2-butene is 409 +/- 2 kcal/mol, and the acidity of trans-2-butene is 405 +/- 2 kcal/mol. Density functional theory calculations are in good agreement with the experiments. The results are discussed in terms of steric interactions, polarizabilities, dipole-dipole interactions, and charge-dipole interactions.     

Conformational equilibria of trans -3-X-cyclohexanols (X = Cl, Br, CH3 and OCH3). A low temperature NMR study and theoretical calculations

The integration of 1H and 13C NMR spectra, at - 90 degrees C in CS2/CD2Cl2 (9:1), for the trans-3-chlorocyclohexanol (1), trans-3-bromocyclohexanol (2), and trans-3-methoxycyclohexanol (4) showed that the equatorial-axial (ea) conformer occurs as ca 63, 63, and 69% in the conformational equilibrium, respectively. This corresponds to the following DeltaG(ea-ae) values (from (1)H spectrum): - 0.32 +/- 0.01, - 0.32 +/- 0.04, - 0.48 +/- 0.05 kcal mol(-1); and to (from 13C spectrum): - 0.31 +/- 0.04, - 0.35 +/- 0.05, and - 0.44 +/- 0.01 kcal mol(-1), respectively, in very good agreement within both series. Thus, although bromine is bulkier than chlorine, the 1,3-diaxial steric effects are similar in these equilibria. However, the integration of (1)H NMR spectrum for the trans-3-methylcyclohexanol (3) gave 90% of the 3ae conformer in the equilibrium, at - 90 degrees C on CS2/CD2Cl2 (9:1), corresponding to a DeltaG(ea-ae) value of 1.31 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1). The values obtained through the additivity rule, with data from monosubstituted cyclohexanes (DeltaG(Ad) = DeltaG(X) + DeltaG(OH)), for compounds 1, 2, and 4 (-0.37 +/- 0.15, - 0.34 +/- 0.09, and - 0.46 +/- 0.04 kcal mol(-1), respectively) are in very good agreement with the experimental values, but it is significantly smaller for compound 3 (0.79 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1)). Theoretical calculations through different levels of theory (HF/6-311 + g**, B3LYP/6-311 + g**, MP2/6-31 + g**, and CBS-4M) showed that CBS-4M is the best method for the study of conformational equilibria for these systems, since it provides DeltaG(ea-ae) values similar to the experimental values.     

Chemo- and periselectivity in the addition of [OsO2(CH2)2] to ethylene: a theoretical study

Quantum chemical calculations by using density functional theory at the B3LYP level have been carried out to elucidate the reaction course for the addition of ethylene to [OsO2(CH2)2] (1). The calculations predict that the kinetically most favorable reaction proceeds with an activation barrier of 8.1 kcal mol(-1) via [3+2] addition across the O=Os=CH2 moiety. This reaction is -42.4 kcal mol(-1) exothermic. Alternatively, the [3+2] addition to the H2C=Os=CH2 fragment of 1 leads to the most stable addition product 4 (-72.7 kcal mol(-1)), yet this process has a higher activation barrier (13.0 kcal mol(-1)). The [3+2] addition to the O=Os=O fragment yielding 2 is kinetically (27.5 kcal mol(-1)) and thermodynamically (-7.0 kcal mol(-1)) the least favorable [3+2] reaction. The formal [2+2] addition to the Os=O and Os=CH2 double bonds proceeds by initial rearrangement of 1 to the metallaoxirane 1 a. The rearrangement 1-->1 a and the following [2+2] additions have significantly higher activation barriers (>30 kcal mol(-1)) than the [3+2] reactions. Another isomer of 1 is the dioxoosmacyclopropane 1 b, which is 56.2 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than 1. The activation barrier for the 1-->1 b isomerization is 15.7 kcal mol(-1). The calculations predict that there are no energetically favorable addition reactions of ethylene with 1 b. The isomeric form 1 c containing a peroxo group is too high in energy to be relevant for the reaction course. The accuracy of the B3LYP results is corroborated by high level post-HF CCSD(T) calculations for a subset of species.     

Theoretical analysis of peroxynitrous acid: characterization of its elusive biradicaloid (HO...ONO) singlet states

Various high levels of theory (DFT, QCISD, BD(TQ), and CASSCF) have been applied to the characterization of two higher-lying biradicaloid singlet states of peroxynitrous acid. A singlet minimum (cis-2) was located that had an elongated O-O distance of 2.17 A and was only 14.4 kcal/mol [UB3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)] higher in energy than its cis-peroxynitrous acid ground-state precursor. A trans metastable higher-lying singlet (trans-2) was 12.8 kcal/mol higher in energy than ground-state HO-ONO. Complete active space calculations [CAS(12,10)/6-311+G(d,p)] predicted the optimized geometries of these cis and trans metastable singlets to be quite close to those obtained with the DFT method. Geometry optimization of both cis- and trans-2 within the COSMO solvent model suggest that both exist as energy minima in polar media with elongated O-O distances of 2.14 and 2.09 A. Both cis- and trans-2 exist as hydrogen-bonded complexes with several water molecules. These collective data suggest that solvated forms of cis-2.3H2O and trans-2.3H2O represent the elusive higher-lying biradicaloid minima that have been previously advocated (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 3125) as the metastable forms of peroxynitrous acid (HOONO*).     

Accurately solving the electronic Schrodinger equation of small atoms and molecules using explicitly correlated (r12-)MR-CI. VIII. Valence excited states of methylene (CH2)

We compute the adiabatic transition energies of methylene (CH(2)) from the ground state to the lowest electronically excited valence states using the r(12)-MR-ACPF-2 method with a large basis set and an extended reference space. We recall that this method aims at reaching the basis-set and full configuration interaction (CI) limits simultaneously. Our best excitation energies, T(e) (T(0)), are 9.22 (8.87) (a (1)A(1), corrected for relativistic and adiabatic effects), 31.98 (31.86) (b (1)B(1)), and 57.62 (57.18) kcal mol(-1) (c (1)A(1)) (both uncorrected). We are able to reach the respective basis-set limits that closely that the remaining errors of our (uncorrected) calculations are clearly due to the MR-ACPF-2 method. While we are unable to assess the error of the latter method in a systematic way, we still believe that it is rather unlikely that the errors of our excitation energies exceed +/-0.10 kcal mol(-1). We finally observe that our (corrected) a state values deviate by only -0.10 (-0.10) kcal mol(-1) from the results of Csaszar et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 118, 10631 (2003)]--who did careful extrapolations to the valence full-CI and basis-set limits and added a correction for the core correlation--and that the deviation from experiment is only -0.13 (-0.13) kcal mol(-1). From these excellent agreements we conclude that our excitation energies to the b and c states are similarly accurate.     

Conformations of trimethyl phosphite: a matrix isolation infrared and ab initio study

The conformations of trimethyl phosphite (TMPhite) were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. TMPhite was trapped in a nitrogen matrix using an effusive source maintained at two different temperatures (298 and 410 K) and a supersonic jet source. The experimental studies were supported by ab initio computations performed at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level. Computations identified four minima for TMPhite, corresponding to conformers with C(1)(TG(±)G(±)), C(s)(TG(+)G(-)), C(1)(G(±)TT), and C(3)(G(±)G(±)G(±)) structures, given in order of increasing energy. Computations of the transition state structures connecting the C(s)(TG(+)G(-)) and C(1)(G(±)TT) conformers to the global minimum C(1)(TG(±)G(±)) structure were also carried out. The barriers for the interconversion of C(s)(TG(+)G(-)) and C(1)(G(±)TT) to the ground state C(1)(TG(±)G(±)) conformer were 0.2 and 0.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Comparison of conformational preferences of TMPhite with the related carbon compound, trimethoxymethane, and the organic phosphate, trimethyl phosphate, was also made using natural bond orbital analysis.     

Substituent effects on structural stability of formyl ketene and analysis of vibrational spectra of formyl haloketenes and formyl methylketene.

The conformational behavior and the structural stability of formyl fluoroketene, formyl chloroketene and formyl methylketene were investigated by utilizing quantum mechanical DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31I + + G** and ab initio calculations at MP2/6-311 + + G** levels. The three molecules were predicted to have a planar s-cis<-->s-trans conformational equilibrium. From the calculations, the direction of the conformational equilibrium was found to be dependent on the nature of the substituting group. In formyl haloketenes, the cis conformation, where the C=O group eclipses the ketenic group, was expected to be of lower energy than the trans conformer. In the case of formyl methylketene the conformational stability was reversed and the trans form (the aldehydic hydrogen eclipsing the ketenic group) was calculated to be about 2 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than the cis form. The calculated cis-trans energy barrier was found to be in the order: fluoride (15.3 kcal mol(-1)) > chloride (13.1 kcal mol(-1)) > methyl (11.7 kcal mol(-1). Full optimization was performed at the ground and the transition states of the molecules. The vibrational frequencies for the stable conformers of the three ketenic systems were computed at the DFT-B3LYP level, and the zero-point corrections were included into the calculated rotational barriers. Complete vibrational assignments were made on the basis of both normal coordinate calculations and comparison with experimental results of similar molecules.     

Equilibrium thermodynamic studies in water: reactions of dihydrogen with rhodium(III) porphyrins relevant to Rh-Rh, Rh-H, and Rh-OH bond energetics

Aqueous solutions of rhodium(III) tetra p-sulfonatophenyl porphyrin ((TSPP)Rh(III)) complexes react with dihydrogen to produce equilibrium distributions between six rhodium species including rhodium hydride, rhodium(I), and rhodium(II) dimer complexes. Equilibrium thermodynamic studies (298 K) for this system establish the quantitative relationships that define the distribution of species in aqueous solution as a function of the dihydrogen and hydrogen ion concentrations through direct measurement of five equilibrium constants along with dissociation energies of D(2)O and dihydrogen in water. The hydride complex ([(TSPP)Rh-D(D(2)O)](-4)) is a weak acid (K(a)(298 K) = (8.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-8)). Equilibrium constants and free energy changes for a series of reactions that could not be directly determined including homolysis reactions of the Rh(II)-Rh(II) dimer with water (D(2)O) and dihydrogen (D(2)) are derived from the directly measured equilibria. The rhodium hydride (Rh-D)(aq) and rhodium hydroxide (Rh-OD)(aq) bond dissociation free energies for [(TSPP)Rh-D(D(2)O)](-4) and [(TSPP)Rh-OD(D(2)O)](-4) in water are nearly equal (Rh-D = 60 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1), Rh-OD = 62 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). Free energy changes in aqueous media are reported for reactions that substitute hydroxide (OD(-)) (-11.9 +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1)), hydride (D(-)) (-54.9 kcal mol(-1)), and (TSPP)Rh(I): (-7.3 +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1)) for a water in [(TSPP)Rh(III)(D(2)O)(2)](-3) and for the rhodium hydride [(TSPP)Rh-D(D(2)O)](-4) to dissociate to produce a proton (9.7 +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1)), a hydrogen atom (approximately 60 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)), and a hydride (D(-)) (54.9 kcal mol(-1)) in water.     

Hydrogen-shift isomerism: mass spectrometry of isomeric benzenesulfonate and 2-, 3- and 4-dehydrobenzenesulfonic acid anions in the gas phase

The isomeric 3- and 4-dehydrobenzenesulfonic acid anions b and c were prepared by collision induced dissociation (CID) of the [M - H](-) ions of isomeric sulfobenzoic acids obtained by negative electrospray ionization (ESI). The CID spectra (MS(3)) of anions b and c are different from each other, and both are different from that of the isomeric benzenesulfonate anion a, obtained from benzenesulfonic acid. The stability of ions b and c shows that 1,2-proton transfer does not take place in this system under the conditions of the CID experiment. Density functional (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p) level of theory show that benzenesulfonate anion a is the most stable isomer, and the energies of isomers b and c are higher by more than 65 kcal mol(-1). The calculated energies of the transition states involved in the 1,2-hydrogen migration leading to the interconversion of the isomeric anions are very high (>120 kcal mol(-1)relative to ion a, barrier energies >55 kcal mol(-1)), much higher than those of transition structures leading to fragmentation. This situation does not allow isomerization of ions b and c to a, under the conditions of the CID experiments. The isomeric 2-dehydrobenzenesulfonic acid anion isomerizes to the benzenesulfonate anion a by a facile proton transfer from the SO(3)H group to the adjacent position 2. The results of this work indicate that the gas phase deprotonation of meta- and para-sulfobenzoic acids is a kinetically controlled process.     

Structures, internal rotor potentials, and thermochemical properties for a series of nitrocarbonyls, nitroolefins, corresponding nitrites, and their carbon centered radicals

Structures, enthalpy (Δ(f)H°(298)), entropy (S°(T)), and heat capacity (C(p)(T)) are determined for a series of nitrocarbonyls, nitroolefins, corresponding nitrites, and their carbon centered radicals using the density functional B3LYP and composite CBS-QB3 calculations. Enthalpies of formation (Δ(f)H°(298)) are determined at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p), and composite CBS-QB3 levels using several work reactions for each species. Entropy (S) and heat capacity (C(p)(T)) values from vibration, translational, and external rotational contributions are calculated using the rigid-rotor-harmonic-oscillator approximation based on the vibration frequencies and structures obtained from the density functional studies. Contribution to Δ(f)H(T), S, and C(p)(T) from the analysis on the internal rotors is included. Recommended values for enthalpies of formation of the most stable conformers of nitroacetone cc(═o)cno2, acetonitrite cc(═o)ono, nitroacetate cc(═o)no2, and acetyl nitrite cc(═o)ono are -51.6 kcal mol(-1), -51.3 kcal mol(-1), -45.4 kcal mol(-1), and -58.2 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The calculated Δ(f)H°(298) for nitroethylene c═cno2 is 7.6 kcal mol(-1) and for vinyl nitrite c═cono is 7.2 kcal mol(-1). We also found an unusual phenomena: an intramolecular transfer reaction (isomerization) with a low barrier (3.6 kcal mol(-1)) in the acetyl nitrite. The NO of the nitrite (R-ONO) in CH(3)C(═O')ONO moves to the C═O' oxygen in a motion of a stretching frequency and then a shift to the carbonyl oxygen (marked as O' for illustration purposes).     

Reactions of halogens with Pt(II) complexes of N-alkyl- and N,N-dialkyl-N'-benzoylthioureas: oxidative addition and formation of an I2 inclusion compound

The treatment of cis-[Pt(II)(L(1a/b)-S,O)2] complexes of N,N-diethyl- (HL(1a)) and N,N-di(n-butyl)-N'-benzoylthiourea (HL(1b)) with I2 or Br2 in chloroform, leads to rapid oxidative addition to yield several geometric isomers of [Pt(IV)(L-S,O)(2)X(2)](X = I, Br); the reactions can be monitored by (195)Pt NMR and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The products cis-[Pt(IV)(L(1a)-S,O)2I2] and cis-[Pt(IV)(L(1a)-S,O)2Br2], which have been isolated and structurally characterized, are the first-reported crystal structures of complexes of Pt(iv) with this class of ligand. Molecules of 6 pack such that the I-Pt-I axes are essentially aligned, with unusually close nearest-neighbour iodide contacts (3.553(1)A). These short II intermolecular interactions lead to infinite chains of weakly connected molecules in crystals of the compound. No such interactions are evident in the corresponding crystals of . Reaction of the Pt(II) complex of N-propyl-N'-benzoylthiourea (H2L(2a))cis-/trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2Br2] with Br2 also results in oxidative addition, to yield trans-Pt(IV)(H2L(2a)-S)2Br4. By contrast, treatment of cis-/trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2] with I2 does not lead to an oxidative addition product, yielding instead an interesting iodine inclusion compound of Pt(II), trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2.I2. In 8, short intermolecular II distances of 3.453(1)A between I2 and coordinated iodide ions in trans-[Pt(II)(H(2)L(2a)-S)(2)I(2)] molecules, result in infinite chains of weakly linked trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2]...I2 groups in the lattice. However, the empirically estimated bond order of 0.75 for the included I2 molecules does not support the possible existence of discrete tetraiodide ions (I4(2-)) in the lattice of compound 8.     

Proton migration and tautomerism in protonated triglycine.

Proton migration in protonated glycylglycylglycine (GGG) has been investigated by using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory. On the protonated GGG energy hypersurface 19 critical points have been characterized, 11 as minima and 8 as first-order saddle points. Transition state structures for interconversion between eight of these minima are reported, starting from a structure in which there is protonation at the amino nitrogen of the N-terminal glycyl residue following the migration of the proton until there is fragmentation into protonated 2-aminomethyl-5-oxazolone (the b(2) ion) and glycine. Individual free energy barriers are small, ranging from 4.3 to 18.1 kcal mol(-)(1). The most favorable site of protonation on GGG is the carbonyl oxygen of the N-terminal residue. This isomer is stabilized by a hydrogen bond of the type O-H.N with the N-terminal nitrogen atom, resulting in a compact five-membered ring. Another oxygen-protonated isomer with hydrogen bonding of the type O-H.O, resulting in a seven-membered ring, is only 0.1 kcal mol(-)(1) higher in free energy. Protonation on the N-terminal nitrogen atom produces an isomer that is about 1 kcal mol(-)(1) higher in free energy than isomers resulting from protonation on the carbonyl oxygen of the N-terminal residue. The calculated energy barrier to generate the b(2) ion from protonated GGG is 32.5 kcal mol(-)(1) via TS(6-->7). The calculated basicity and proton affinity of GGG from our results are 216.3 and 223.8 kcal mol(-)(1), respectively. These values are 3-4 kcal mol(-)(1) lower than those from previous calculations and are in excellent agreement with recently revised experimental values.     

An unprecedented co-crystal including a cis-high-spin and a trans-low-spin FeII complex molecule

Two structurally and magnetically nonequivalent isomeric molecules, a cis-high-spin and a trans-low-spin isomer constitute the unit cell of a new iron(II) complex {cis-[FeL(B5)(NCS)(2)].trans-[FeL(B5)(NCS)(2)]}.CH(3)OH, , (L(B5) = N,N'-bis((2-N-methylimidazol-1-yl)methylene))-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine); the synthesis, X-ray structure, and magnetic and M?ssbauer study of this unique example of co-crystallised geometric, conformational and electronic isomers are reported.     

Structure and reactivity of bis(silyl) dihydride complexes (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))(2)(H)(2): model compounds and real intermediates in a dehydrogenative C-Si bond forming reaction

A series of stable complexes, (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))(2)(H)(2) ((SiR(3))(2) = (SiH(2)Ph)(2), 3a; (SiHPh(2))(2), 3b; (SiMe(2)CH(2)CH(2)SiMe(2)), 3c), has been synthesized by the reaction of hydridosilanes with (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiMe(3))H(3) or (PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiMe(3))H. Compounds 3a and 3c adopt overall pentagonal bipyramidal geometries in solution and the solid state, with phosphine and silyl ligands defining trigonal bipyramids and ruthenium hydrides arranged in the equatorial plane. Compound 3a exhibits meridional phosphines, with both silyl ligands equatorial, whereas the constraints of the chelate in 3c result in both axial and equatorial silyl environments and facial phosphines. Although there is no evidence for agostic Si-H interactions in 3a and 3b, the equatorial silyl group in 3c is in close contact with one hydride (1.81(4) A) and is moderately close to the other hydride (2.15(3) A) in the solid state and solution (nu(Ru.H.Si) = 1740 cm(-)(1) and nu(RuH) = 1940 cm(-)(1)). The analogous bis(silyl) dihydride, (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiMe(3))(2)(H)(2) (3d), is not stable at room temperature, but can be generated in situ at low temperature from the 16e(-) complex (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiMe(3))H (1) and HSiMe(3). Complexes 3b and 3d have been characterized by multinuclear, variable temperature NMR and appear to be isostructural with 3a. All four complexes exhibit dynamic NMR spectra, but the slow exchange limit could not be observed for 3c. Treatment of 1 with HSiMe(3) at room temperature leads to formation of (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3))H(3) (4b) via a CH functionalization process critical to catalytic dehydrocoupling of HSiMe(3) at higher temperatures. Closer inspection of this reaction between -110 and -10 degrees C by NMR reveals a plethora of silyl hydride phosphine complexes formed by ligand redistribution prior to CH activation. Above ca. 0 degrees C this mixture converts cleanly via silane dehydrogenation to the very stable tris(phosphine) trihydride carbosilyl complex 4b. The structure of 4b was determined crystallographically and exhibits a tetrahedral P(3)Si environment around the metal with the three hydrides adjacent to silicon and capping the P(2)Si faces. Although strong Si.HRu interactions are not indicated in the structure or by IR, the HSi distances (2.00(4) - 2.09(4) A) and average coupling constant (J(SiH) = 25 Hz) suggest some degree of nonclassical SiH bonding in the RuH(3)Si moiety. The least hindered complex, 3a, reacts with carbon monoxide principally via an H(2) elimination pathway to yield mer-(PMe(3))(3)(CO)Ru(SiH(2)Ph)(2), with SiH elimination as a minor process. However, only SiH elimination and formation of (PMe(3))(3)(CO)Ru(SiR(3))H is observed for 3b-d. The most hindered bis(silyl) complex, 3d, is extremely labile and even in the absence of CO undergoes SiH reductive elimination to generate the 16e(-) species 1 (DeltaH(SiH)(-)(elim) = 11.0 +/- 0.6 kcal x mol(-)(1) and DeltaS(SiH)(-)(elim) = 40 +/- 2 cal x mol(-)(1) x K(-)(1); Delta = 9.2 +/- 0.8 kcal x mol(-)(1) and Delta = 9 +/- 3 cal x mol(-)(1).K(-)(1)). The minimum barrier for the H(2) reductive elimination can be estimated, and is higher than that for silane elimination at temperatures above ca. -50 degrees C. The thermodynamic preferences for oxidative additions to 1 are dominated by entropy contributions and steric effects. Addition of H(2) is by far most favorable, whereas the relative aptitudes for intramolecular silyl CH activation and intermolecular SiH addition are strongly dependent on temperature (DeltaH(SiH)(-)(add) = -11.0 +/- 0.6 kcal x mol(-)(1) and DeltaS(SiH)(-)(add) = -40 +/- 2 cal.mol(-)(1) x K(-)(1); DeltaH(beta)(-CH)(-)(add) = -2.7 +/- 0.3 kcal x mol(-)(1) and DeltaS(beta)(-CH)(-)(add) = -6 +/- 1 cal x mol(-)(1) x K(-)(1)). Kinetic preferences for oxidative additions to 1 - intermolecular SiH and intramolecular CH - have been also quantified: Delta = -1.8 +/- 0.8 kcal x mol(-)(1) and Delta = -31 +/- 3 cal x mol(-)(1).K(-)(1); Delta = 16.4 +/- 0.6 kcal x mol(-)(1) and Delta = -13 +/- 6 cal x mol(-)(1).K(-)(1). The relative enthalpies of activation (-)(1) x K(-)(1)). Kinetic preferences for oxidative additions to 1 - intermolecular SiH and intramolecular CH - have been also quantified: Delta (H)SiH(add) = 1.8 +/- 0.8 kcal x mol(-)(1) and Delta S((SiH-add) =31+/- 3 cal x mol(-)(1) x K(-)(1); Delta S (SiH -add) = 16.4 +/- 0.6 kcal x mol(-)(1) and =Delta S (SiH -CH -add) =13+/- 6 cal x mol(-)(1) x K(-)(1). The relative enthalpies of activation are interpreted in terms of strong SiH sigma-complex formation - and much weaker CH coordination - in the transition state for oxidative addition.     

Cobalt(III) complexes of monodentate N9-bound adeninate (ade-), [Co(ade-kappaN9)Cl(en)2]+ (en = 1,2-diaminoethane): syntheses, crystal structures, and protonation behaviors of the geometrical isomers

In acidic aqueous solution, a cobalt(III) complex containing monodentate N(9)-bound adeninate (ade(-)), cis-[Co(ade-kappaN(9))Cl(en)(2)]Cl (cis-[1]Cl), underwent protonation to the adeninate moiety without geometrical isomerization or decomposition of the Co(III) coordination sphere, and complexes of cis-[CoCl(Hade)(en)(2)]Cl(2) (cis-[2]Cl(2)) and cis-[Co(H(2)ade)Cl(en)(2)]Cl(3) (cis-[3]Cl(3)) could be isolated. The pK(a) values of the Hade and H(2)ade(+) complexes are 6.03(1) and 2.53(12), respectively, at 20 degrees C in 0.1 M aqueous NaCl. The single-crystal X-ray analyses of cis-[2]Cl(2).0.5H(2)O and cis-[3]Cl(2)(BF(4)).H(2)O revealed that protonation took place first at the adeninate N(7) and then at the N(1) atoms to form adenine tautomer (7H-Hade-kappaN(9)) and cationic adeninium (1H,7H-H(2)ade(+)-kappaN(9)) complexes, respectively. On the other hand, addition of NaOH to an aqueous solution of cis-[1]Cl afforded a mixture of geometrical isomers of the hydroxo-adeninato complex, cis- and trans-[Co(ade-kappaN(9))(OH)(en)(2)](+). The trans-isomer of chloro-adeninato complex trans-[Co(ade-kappaN(9))Cl(en)(2)]BF(4) (trans-[1]BF(4)) was synthesized by a reaction of cis-[2](BF(4))(2) and sodium methoxide in methanol. This isomer in acidic aqueous solution was also stable toward isomerization, affording the corresponding adenine tautomer and adeninium complexes (pK(a) = 5.21(1) and 2.48(9), respectively, at 20 degrees C in 0.1 M aqueous NaCl). The protonated product of trans-[Co(7H-Hade-kappaN(9))Cl(en)(2)](BF(4))(2).H(2)O (trans-[2](BF(4))(2).H(2)O) could also be characterized by X-ray analysis. Furthermore, the hydrogen-bonding interactions of the adeninate/adenine tautomer complexes cis-[1]BF(4), cis-[2](BF(4))(2), and trans-[2](BF(4))(2) with 1-cyclohexyluracil in acetonitrile-d(3) were investigated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of trans-[Co(ade)(H(2)O)(en)(2)]HPO(4).3H(2)O, which was obtained by a reaction of trans-[Co(ade)(OH)(en)(2)]BF(4) and NaH(2)PO(4), was also determined.     

Theoretical study of the electrocyclic ring closure of hydroxypentadienyl cations

At the 6-311G* level of theory, DFT methods predict that the rearrangement of 1,4-dihydroxy-5-methylpentadienyl cation 1 (R = Me) to protonated trans-3-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-4-en-1-one 2, an intermediate step in the Piancatelli reaction or rearrangement of furfuryl carbinols to trans-2-alkyl(aryl)-3-hydroxycyclopent-4-en-1-one, is a concerted electrocyclic process. Energetic, magnetic, and stereochemical criteria are consistent with a conrotatory electrocyclic ring closure of the most stable out,out-1 isomer to afford trans-2. Although the out,in-1 isomer is thermodynamically destabilized by 6.84 kcal mol(-1), the activation energy for its cyclization is slightly lower (5.29 kcal mol(-1) versus 5.95 kcal mol(-1)). The cyclization of the isomers of 1 with the C1-hydroxy group inwards showed considerably higher activation energies than their outwards counterparts. in,out-1, although close in energy to out,out-1 (difference of 1.57 kcal mol(-1)) required about 10 kcal mol(-1) more to reach the corresponding transition structure. The value measured for the activation energy of in,in-1 (17.32 kcal mol(-1)) eliminates the alternative conrotatory electrocyclization of this isomer to provide trans-2. Geometric scrambling by isomerization of the terminal C1--C2 bond of 1 is also unlikely to compete with electrocyclization. The possibility to interpret the 1-->2 reaction as a nonpericyclic cationic cyclization was also examined through NBO analysis, and the study of bond lengths and atomic charges. It was found that the 1-->2 concerted rearrangement benefits from charge separation at the cyclization termini, an effect not observed in related concerted electrocyclic processes, such as the classical Nazarov reaction 3-->4 or the cyclization of the isomeric 2-hydroxypentadienyl cation 5.