Tautomeric and conformational properties of malonamide, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)NH2: electron diffraction and quantum chemical study

The geometric structure of malonamide, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)NH2, has been investigated by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximations with 6-311++G(3df,pd) basis sets). Both GED and quantum chemistry result in the existence of a single diketo conformer in the gas phase. According to GED refinement this conformer possesses (sc,ac) conformation with one C=O bond in synclinal orientation (dihedral angle tau(O=C-C-C)=49.0(3.0) degrees) and the other C=O bond in anticlinal orientation (dihedral angle tau(O=C-C-C)=139.5(3.3) degrees). The experimental geometric parameters are reproduced very closely by the B3LYP method.     

Trifluoromethyl chlorosulfonate, CF3OSO2Cl: gas phase and crystal structure, conformation and vibrational analysis studied by experimental and theoretical methods

The geometric structure and conformational properties of trifluoromethyl chlorosulfonate (chlorosulfuric acid trifluoromethyl ester), CF(3)OSO(2)Cl, have been determined by X-ray crystallography, gas electron diffraction (GED), and vibrational spectroscopy (IR(gas), IR(matrix), and Raman(liquid)). These experimental investigations were supplemented by quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP with 6-311G* and 6-311+G(3df) basis sets). All experimental methods result in a single conformer with gauche orientation of the CF(3) group relative to the S[bond]Cl. The dihedral angle delta(COSCl) is determined to be 91.7(3) degrees in the crystal and 94(3) degrees in the gas phase. This dihedral angle corresponds to a near-eclipsed orientation of the O[bond]C relative to one of the S[double bond]O bonds (delta(CO[bond]SO) = -23.0(3) degrees and -21(3) degrees in the crystal and gas phase, respectively).     

Structure and conformational properties of N-pentafluorosulfur(sulfuroxide difluoride imide) SF5N=S(O)F2: vibrational analysis, gas electron diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structure and conformational properties of N-pentafluorosulfur(sulfuroxide difluoride imide), SF5N=S(O)F2, have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy (IR (gas) and Raman (liquid)), by gas electron diffraction (GED), and by quantum chemical calculations (MP2 and B3LYP with (6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(2df) basis sets). According to GED, the prevailing conformer possesses a syn structure (N-SF5 bond synperiplanar with respect to the bisector of the SF2 group). Splitting of the symmetric N=S=O stretching vibration in gas and liquid spectra demonstrates the presence of a second conformer (11(5)%) with anticlinal orientation of the N-SF5 bond according to quantum chemical calculations. The geometric structure, conformational properties, and vibrational frequencies are well reproduced by quantum chemical calculations.     

Molecular structure of phthalocyaninatotin(II) studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and high-level quantum chemical calculations

The molecular structure of phthalocyaninatotin(II), Sn(II)Pc, is determined by density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) calculations using various basis sets and gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). The quantum chemical calculations show that Sn(II)Pc has C4V symmetry, and this symmetry is consistent with the structure obtained by GED at 427 degrees C. GED locates the Sn atom at h(Sn) ) 112.8(48) pm above the plane defined by the four isoindole N atoms, and a N-Sn bond length of 226.0(10) pm is obtained. Calculation at the B3LYP/ccpVTZ/cc-pVTZ-PP(Sn) level of theory gives h(Sn) ) 114.2 pm and a N-Sn bond length of 229.4 pm. The phthalocyanine (Pc) macrocycle has a slightly nonplanar structure. Generally, the GED results are in good agreement with the X-ray structures and with the computed structure; however, the comparability between these three methods has been questioned. The N-Sn bond lengths determined by GED and X-ray are significantly shorter than those from the B3LYP predictions. Similar trends have been found for C-Sn bonds for conjugated organometallic tin compounds. Computed vibrational frequencies give five low frequencies in the range of 18-54 cm-1, which indicates a flexible molecule.     

Chalcogenide-halides of niobium (V). 1. Gas-phase structures of NbOBr(3), NbSBr(3), and NbSCl(3). 2. Matrix infrared spectra and vibrational force fields of NbOBr(3), NbSBr(3), NbSCl(3), and NbOCl(3)

The molecular structures of NbOBr(3), NbSCl(3), and NbSBr(3) have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) at nozzle-tip temperatures of 250 degrees C, taking into account the possible presence of NbOCl(3) as a contaminant in the NbSCl(3) sample and NbOBr(3) in the NbSBr(3) sample. The experimental data are consistent with trigonal-pyramidal molecules having C(3)(v)() symmetry. Infrared spectra of molecules trapped in argon or nitrogen matrices were recorded and exhibit the characteristic fundamental stretching modes for C(3)(v)() species. Well resolved isotopic fine structure ((35)Cl and (37)Cl) was observed for NbSCl(3), and for NbOCl(3) which occurred as an impurity in the NbSCl(3) spectra. Quantum mechanical calculations of the structures and vibrational frequencies of the four YNbX(3) molecules (Y = O, S; X = Cl, Br) were carried out at several levels of theory, most importantly B3LYP DFT with either the Stuttgart RSC ECP or Hay-Wadt (n + 1) ECP VDZ basis set for Nb and the 6-311G basis set for the nonmetal atoms. Theoretical values for the bond lengths are 0.01-0.04 A longer than the experimental ones of type r(a), in accord with general experience, but the bond angles with theoretical minus experimental differences of only 1.0-1.5 degrees are notably accurate. Symmetrized force fields were also calculated. The experimental bond lengths (r(g)/A) and angles ( 90 degree angle (alpha)()/deg) with estimated 2sigma uncertainties from GED are as follows. NbOBr(3): r(Nb=O) = 1.694(7), r(Nb-Br) = 2.429(2), 90 degree angle (O=Nb-Br) = 107.3(5), 90 degree angle (Br-Nb-Br) = 111.5(5). NbSBr(3): r(Nb=S) = 2.134(10), r(Nb-Br) = 2.408(4), 90 degree angle (S=Nb-Br) = 106.6(7), 90 degree angle (Br-Nb-Br) = 112.2(6). NbSCl(3): r(Nb=S) = 2.120(10),r(Nb-Cl) = 2.271(6), 90 degree angle (S=Nb-Cl) = 107.8(12), 90 degree angle (Cl-Nb-Cl) = 111.1(11).     

Molecular structure of the trans and cis isomers of metal-free phthalocyanine studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and high-level quantum chemical calculations: NH tautomerization and calculated vibrational frequencies

The molecular structure of the trans isomer of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) is determined using the gas electron diffraction (GED) method and high-level quantum chemical calculations. B3LYP calculations employing the basis sets 6-31G**, 6-311++G**, and cc-pVTZ give two tautomeric isomers for the inner H atoms, a trans isomer having D2h symmetry and a cis isomer having C2v symmetry. The trans isomer is calculated to be 41.6 (B3LYP/6-311++G**, zero-point corrected) and 37.3 kJ/mol (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, not zero-point corrected) more stable than the cis isomer. However, Hartree-Fock (HF) calculations using different basis sets predict that cis is preferred and that trans does not exist as a stable form of the molecule. The equilibrium composition in the gas phase at 471 degrees C (the temperature of the GED experiment) calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level is 99.8% trans and 0.2% cis. This is in very good agreement with the GED data, which indicate that the mole fraction of the cis isomer is close to zero. The transition states for two mechanisms of the NH tautomerization have been characterized. A concerted mechanism where the two H atoms move simultaneously yields a transition state of D2h symmetry and an energy barrier of 95.8 kJ/mol. A two-step mechanism where a trans isomer is converted to a cis isomer, which is converted into another trans isomer, proceeds via two transition states of C(s) symmetry and an energy barrier of 64.2 kJ/mol according to the B3LYP/6-311++G** calculation. The molecular geometry determined from GED is in very good agreement with the geometry obtained from the quantum chemical calculations. Vibrational frequencies, IR, and Raman intensities have been calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G**. These calculations indicate that the molecule is rather flexible with six vibrational frequencies in the range of 20-84 cm(-1) for the trans isomer. The cis isomer might be detected by infrared matrix spectroscopy since the N-H stretching frequencies are very different for the two isomers.     

Theoretical studies on vibrational spectra of some halides of group IVB elements

The vibrational spectra of group IVB elements halides MX4 (M=Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(II); X=F, Cl, Br and I), have been investigated by ab initio RHF, MP2 and density functional theory B3LYP method with LanL2DZ basis sets. The optimized geometries, calculated vibrational frequencies and Far-IR intensities of MX4 are evaluated via comparison with experimental data. The vibrational frequencies, calculated by these methods, are compared to each other. The results indicate that B3LYP method is more reliable than RHF and MP2 methods for the frequencies calculations for these compounds. With this method, some vibrational frequencies of M2X6(2+)(M=Ti(IV), Zr(IV) and Hf(II); X=F, Cl, Br and I) are also predicted.     

Transition state structure and energetics of the N(2)O + X (X = Cl,Br) reactions

The structural and vibrational properties of the transition state of the N(2)O + X (X = Cl,Br) reactions have been characterized by ab initio methods using density functional theory. We have employed Becke's hybrid functional (B3LYP), and transition state optimizations were performed with 6-31G(d), 6-311G(2d,2p), 6-311+G(3d,2p), and 6-311+G(3df,2p) basis sets. For the chlorine atom reaction the coupled-cluster method (CCSD(T)) with 6-31G(d) basis set was also used. All calculations resulted in transition state structures with a planar cis arrangement of atoms for both reactions. The geometrical parameters of transition states at B3LYP are very similar, and the reaction coordinates involve mainly the breaking of the N-O bond. At CCSD(T)/6-31G(d) level a contribution of the O-Cl forming bond is also observed in the reaction coordinate. In addition, several highly accurate ab initio composite methods of Gaussian-n (G1, G2, G3), their variations (G2(MP2), G3//B3LYP), and complete basis set (CBS-Q, CBS-Q//B3LYP) series of models were applied to compute reaction energetics. All model chemistries predict exothermic reactions. The G3 and G2 methods result in the smallest deviations from experiment, 1.8 and 0 kcal mol(-1), for the enthalpies of reaction for N(2)O reaction with chlorine and bromine, respectively. The G3//B3LYP and G1 methods perform best among the composite methods in predicting energies of the transition state, with a deviation of 1.9 and 3.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively, in the activation energies for the above processes. However, the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) method gives smaller deviations of 0.4 and -1.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The performance of the methodologies applied in predicting transition state energies was analyzed.     

Molecular structure, conformation, and potential to internal rotation of 2,6- and 3,5-difluoronitrobenzene studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

3,5-Difluoronitrobenzene (3,5-DFNB) and 2,6-difluoronitrobenzene (2,6-DFNB) have been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), MP2 ab initio, and by B3LYP density functional calculations. Refinements of r h1 and r e static and r h1 dynamic GED models were carried out for both molecules. Equilibrium r e structures were determined using anharmonic vibrational corrections to the internuclear distances ( r e - r a) calculated from B3LYP/cc-pVTZ cubic force fields. 3,5-DFNB possesses a planar structure of C 2 v symmetry with the following r e values for bond lengths and bond angles: r(C-C) av = 1.378(4) A, r(C-N) = 1.489(6) A, r(N-O) = 1.217(2) A, r(C-F) = 1.347(5) A, angleC6-C1-C2 = 122.6(6) degrees , angleC1-C2-C3 = 117.3(3) degrees , angleC2-C3-C4 = 123.0(3) degrees , angleC3-C4-C5 = 116.9(6) degrees , angleC-C-N = 118.7(3) degrees , angleC-N-O = 117.3(4) degrees , angleO-N-O = 125.5(7) degrees , angleC-C-F = 118.6(7) degrees . The uncertainties in parentheses are three times the standard deviations. As in the case of nitrobenzene, the barrier to internal rotation of the nitro group in 3,5-DFNB, V 90 = 10 +/- 4 kJ/mol, is substantially lower than that predicted by quantum chemical calculations. The presence of substituents in the ortho positions force the nitro group to rotate about the C-N bond, out of the plane of the benzene ring. For 2,6-DFNB, a nonplanar structure of C 2 symmetry with a torsional angle of phi(C-N) = 53.8(14) degrees and the following r e values for structural parameters was determined by the GED analysis: r(C-C) av = 1.383(5) A, r(C-N) = 1.469(7) A, r(N-O) = 1.212(2) A, r(C-F) = 1.344(4) A, angleC6-C1-C2 = 118.7(5) degrees , angleC1-C2-C3 = 121.2(2) degrees , angleC2-C3-C4 = 119.0(2) degrees , angleC3-C4-C5 = 121.1(4) degrees , angleC-C-N = 120.6(2) degrees , angleC-N-O = 115.7(4) degrees , angleO-N-O = 128.6(7) degrees , angleC-C-F = 118.7(5) degrees . The refinement of a dynamic model led to barriers V 0 = 16.5 +/- 1.5 kJ/mol and V 90 = 2.2 +/- 0.5 kJ/mol, which are in good agreement with values predicted by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/ cc-pVTZ calculations. The values of C-F bond lengths are similar in both molecules. This is in contrast to the drastic shortening of the C-F bond in the ortho position in 2-fluoronitrobenzene compared to the C-F bond length in the meta and para position in 3- and 4-fluoronitrobenzene observed in an earlier GED study.     

Model systems for probing metal cation hydration: the V+(H2O) and ArV+(H2O) complexes

In support of mass-selected infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy experiments, coupled-cluster methods including all single and double excitations (CCSD) and a perturbative contribution from connected triple excitations [CCSD(T)] have been used to study the V+(H2O) and ArV+(H2O) complexes. Equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies were computed for the four lowest-lying quintet states (5A1, 5A2, 5B1, and 5B2), all of which appear within a 6 kcal mol(-1) energy range. Moreover, anharmonic vibrational analyses with complete quartic force fields were executed for the 5A1 states of V+(H2O) and ArV+(H2O). Two different basis sets were used: a Wachters+f V[8s6p4d1f] basis with triple-zeta plus polarization (TZP) for O, H, and Ar; and an Ahlrichs QZVPP V[11s6p5d3f2g] and Ar[9s6p4d2f1g] basis with aug-cc-pVQZ for O and H. The ground state is predicted to be 5A1 for V+(H2O), but argon tagging changes the lowest-lying state to 5B1 for ArV+(H2O). Our computations show an opening of 2 degrees -3 degrees in the equilibrium bond angle of H2O due to its interaction with the metal ion. Zero-point vibrational averaging increases the effective bond angle further by 2.0 degrees -2.5 degrees, mostly because of off-axis motion of the heavy vanadium atom rather than changes in the water bending potential. The total theoretical shift in the bond angle of about +4 degrees is significantly less than the widening near 9 degrees deduced from IRPD experiments. The binding energies (D0) for the successive addition of H2O and Ar to the vanadium cation are 36.2 and 9.4 kcal mol(-1), respectively.     

Ab initio and DFT studies on vibrational spectra of some mixed carbonyl-halide complexes of ruthenium(II)

The vibrational spectra of Ru(CO)6(2+) and some of its mixed carbonyl-halide complexes, cis-Ru(CO)2X4(2-), fac-Ru(CO)3X3- and Ru(CO)5X+ (X = F, Cl, Br and I), have been systematically investigated by ab initio RHF and density functional B3LYP methods with LanL2DZ and SDD basis sets. The calculated vibrational frequencies of complexes Ru(CO)6(2+), cis-Ru(CO)2X4(2-) and fac-Ru(CO)3X3- are evaluated via comparison with the experimental values. In the infrared frequency region, the C-O stretching vibrational frequencies calculated at B3LYP level with two basis sets are in good agreement with the observed values with deviations less than 5%. In the far-infrared region, the B3LYP/SDD method achieved the best results with deviations less than 8% for Ru-X stretching and less than 2% for Ru-C stretching vibrational frequencies. The vibrational frequencies for Ru(CO)5X+ that have not been experimentally reported were predicted.     

Preparation and properties of trifluorothioacetic acid-S-(trifluoromethyl)ester, CF3C(O)SCF3

Trifluorothioacetic acid-S-(trifluoromethyl)ester, CF3C(O)SCF3, was prepared by reacting CF3C(O)Cl and AgSCF3 at 50 degrees C. The compound was characterized by (13)C-, (19)F-NMR, UV, and vibrational spectroscopy as well as by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP methods 6-31G(d) and 6-311+G(2df) basis sets). GED and vibrational spectroscopy result in the presence of a single conformer with C1 symmetry and synperiplanar orientation of the S-CF3 bond relative to the CO bond. This result is in agreement with quantum chemical calculations which predict the anti conformer to be higher in energy by about 4 kcal/mol. An assignment of the IR (gas) and Raman (liquid) spectra is proposed, and the GED analysis results in the following skeletal geometric parameters (r(a) and angle(a) values with 3sigma uncertainties; these parameters are thermal averages and are not inconsistent with calculated equilibrium values): C=O = 1.202(6) A, C-C = 1.525(10) A, S-C(sp(2)) = 1.774(3) A, S-C(sp(3)) = 1.824 (3) A. O=C-C = 118.7(21) degrees, O=C-S = 127.1(15) degrees, C-S-C = 99.8 (13) degrees.     

Structural stability, S-O rotational barrier and vibrational analyses of monomeric non-planar halosulfonic acids X-SO2-OH (X=F, Cl and Br)

The structural stability of halosulfonic acids X-SO2-OH (X=F, Cl and Br) were investigated by DFT-B3LYP/6-311+G** and ab initio MP2/6-311+G** calculations. The potential energy curve for the XSOH internal rotation around S-O bond was consistent with one minimum that corresponds to non-linear structure with XSOH torsional angle of about 80 degrees . The vibrational frequencies were computed at DFT-B3LYP level for the stable non-planar structure of the three molecules. Normal coordinate calculations were then carried out and the potential energy distributions (PED) were calculated for the molecules. On the basis of PED values and comparison with experimental data reliable assignments were provided for normal modes of fluoro-, chloro- and bromosulfonic acids.     

Fluoroformyl trifluoroacetyl disulfide, FC(O)SSC(O)CF3: synthesis, structure in solid and gaseous states, and conformational properties

Fluoroformyl trifluoroacetyl disulfide, FC(O)SSC(O)CF3, is prepared by quantitative reaction between FC(O)SCl and CF(3)C(O)SH. The conformational properties and geometric structure of the gaseous molecule have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy (IR(gas), Raman(liquid), IR(matrix)), gas electron diffraction (GED), and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 methods). The disulfide bond length derived from the GED analysis amounts 2.023(3) Angstroms, and the dihedral angle around this bond, phi(CS-SC), is 77.7(21) degrees, being the smallest dihedral angle measured for noncyclic disulfides in the gas phase. The compound exhibits a conformational equilibrium at room temperature having the most stable form C(1) symmetry with a synperiplanar (sp-sp) orientation of both carbonyl groups with respect to the disulfide bond. A second form was observed in IR spectra of the Ar matrix isolated compound at cryogenic temperatures, corresponding to a conformer that possess the carbonyl bond of the FC(O) moiety in antiperiplanar position with respect to the S-S single bond (ap-sp). A DeltaH degrees = - = 1.34(11) kcal/mol has been determined by IR(matrix) spectroscopy. The structure of single crystal of FC(O)SSC(O)CF3 was determinate by X-ray diffraction analysis at low temperature using a miniature zone melting procedure. The crystalline solid (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 5.240(4)Angstroms, b = 23.319(17)Angstroms, c = 6.196(4)Angstroms, beta = 113.14(3) degrees) consists exclusively of the (sp-sp) conformation. The geometrical parameters agree with those obtained for the molecule in the gas phase.     

Fluorocarbonyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, FC(O)OSO2CF3: structure and conformational properties in the gaseous and condensed phases

Pure fluorocarbonyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, FC(O)OSO(2)CF(3), is prepared in about 70% yield by the ambient-temperature reaction between FC(O)SCl and AgCF(3)SO(3). The geometric structure and conformational properties of the gaseous molecule have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED), vibrational spectroscopy [IR(gas), IR(matrix), and Raman(liquid)] and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP with 6-311G basis sets); in addition, the solid-state structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. FC(O)OSO(2)CF(3) exists in the gas phase as a mixture of trans [FC(O) group trans with respect to the CF(3) group] and gauche conformers with the trans form prevailing [67(8)% from GED and 59(5)% from IR(matrix) measurements]. In both conformers the C=O bond of the FC(O) group is oriented synperiplanar with respect to the S-O single bond. The experimental free energy difference between the two forms, DeltaG degrees = 0.49(13) kcal mol(-1) (GED) and 0.22(12) kcal mol(-1) (IR), is slightly smaller than the calculated value (0.74-0.94 kcal mol(-1)). The crystalline solid at 150 K [monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.983(1) A, b = 6.4613(6) A, c = 8.8508(8) A, beta = 104.786(2) degrees ] consists exclusively of the trans conformer.     

Gas electron diffraction analysis on S-methyl thioacetate, CH3C(O)SCH3

The molecular structure of S-methyl thioacetate, CH3C(O)SCH3, was determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) with the assistance of quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G and MP2/6-31G). Experimental and theoretical methods result in a structure with syn conformation (C=O double bond syn with respect to the S-C(H3) single bond). The following skeletal geometric parameters were derived from the GED analysis (ra values with 3sigma uncertainties): C=O = 1.214(3), C-C = 1.499(5), S-C(sp2) = 1.781(6), S-C(sp3) = 1.805(6) angstroms, O=C-C = 123.4(8) degrees, O=C-S = 122.8(5) degrees and C-S-C = 99.2(9) degrees.     

Theoretical studies of molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole

The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of 2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (C8H7N3S) in the ground state has been calculated using the Hartree-Fock and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d) basis set. The optimized geometric bond lengths and bond angles obtained by using HF and DFT (B3LYP) show the best agreement with the experimental data. Comparison of the observed fundamental vibrational frequencies of 2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (C8H7N3S) and calculated results by density functional B3LYP and Hartree-Fock methods indicate that B3LYP is superior to the scaled Hartree-Fock approach for molecular vibrational problems.     

Spectral analysis of acetylcholine halides by density functional theory calculations

The optimized molecular structures, vibrational frequencies and ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of acetylcholine halides (F, Cl, and Br) have been investigated using density functional theory (B3LYP) method with 6-311G(d) basis set. The comparison of their experimental and calculated IR, R and NMR spectra of the compounds has indicated that the spectra of three optimized minimum energy conformers can simultaneously exist in one experimental spectrum. Thus, it was concluded that the compounds simultaneously exist in three conformations in the ground state. The calculated optimized geometric parameters (bond lengths and bond angles), vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts for the minimum energy conformers were seen to be in a good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. All the assignments of the theoretical frequencies were performed by potential energy distributions using VEDA 4 program.     

Tautomeric and conformational properties of acetoacetamide: electron diffraction and quantum chemical study

The tautomeric properties of acetoacetamide, CH3C(O)CH2C(O)NH2, have been investigated by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximations with 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311++G(3df,pd) basis sets). GED results in a mixture of 63(7)% enol tautomer and 37(7)% diketo form at 74(5) degrees C. Only one enol form with the O-H bond adjacent to the methyl group (CH3C(OH)=CHC(O)NH2) and only one diketo conformer (with dihedral angles tau(O=C(CH3)-C-C) = 31.7(7.5) degrees and tau(O=C(NH2)-C(H2)-C(O)) = 130.9(4.5) degrees ) are present. The calculated tautomeric composition varies in a wide range depending on the quantum chemical method and basis set. Only the B3LYP method with small basis sets reproduces the experimental composition correctly.     

A coupled-cluster study of the structure and vibrational spectra of pyrazole and imidazole

Harmonic force fields were calculated at the corresponding optimized geometries for pyrazole and imidazole at the HF, B3LYP, MP2, CCSD and CCSD(T) levels using the 6-31G* basis set and at the HF and B3LYP levels using the cc-pVTZ basis set. The agreement between the calculated and experimental geometries by the CCSD and CCSD(T) methods was generally similar to that obtained with the B3LYP and MP2 methods. The force fields were scaled using one-scale-factor (1SF), 3SF and 7SF scaling schemes. The scale factors were varied with respect to the experimental frequencies. Using 7SF scaling, the root-mean-square (RMS) deviation of the calculated frequencies from the experimental frequencies by the HF, B3LYP, MP2, CCSD and CCSD(T) methods and the 6-31G* basis set was 16, 7, 13, 11 and 11 cm(-1), respectively. This shows that the B3LYP method is preferred for force field calculations over the perturbative MP2, CCSD and CCSD(T) methods. Using 1SF scaling, the CCSD(T) scale factor was 0.931, the highest among the five methods used but close to that obtained with the B3LYP method and the cc-pVTZ basis set with lower RMS deviation.