Electrons Mediate the Gas‐Phase Oxidation of Formic Acid with Ozone

Gas‐phase reactions of CO₃^.? with formic acid are studied using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometry. Signal loss indicates the release of a free electron, with the formation of neutral reaction products. This is corroborated by adding traces of SF₆ to the reaction gas, which scavenges 38 % of the electrons. Quantum chemical calculations of the reaction potential energy surface provide a reaction path for the formation of neutral carbon dioxide and water as the thermochemically favored products. From the literature, it is known that free electrons in the troposphere attach to O₂, which in turn transfer the electron to O₃. O₃^.? reacts with CO₂ to form CO₃^.?. The reaction reported here formally closes the catalytic cycle for the oxidation of formic acid with ozone, catalyzed by free electrons.     

Density Functional Theory Mechanistic Study of Boron‐Catalyzed N‐Alkylation of Amines with Formic Acid: Formic Acid Activation by Silylation Reaction

New methodology for the alkylation of amines is an intriguing issue in both academia and industry. Recently, several groups reported the metal‐free B(C₆F₅)₃‐catalyzed N‐alkylation of amines, but the mechanistic details of these important reactions are unclear. Herein, a computational study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the N‐alkylation of amines with formic acid catalyzed by the Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃ in the presence of hydrosilane. We found that the reaction started with the activation of formic acid through a novel model. Then, the high electrophilicity of the C center of the formic acid unit and the nucleophilic character of the amine resulted in a C?N coupling reaction. Finally, two sequential silyl‐group and H^? transfer steps occurred to generate the final product. Upon comparing the reaction barrier and the hydrogenation of indole, our mechanism is more favorable than that proposed by the group of Yu and Fu.     

Water Catalysis of the Reaction of Methanol with OH Radical in the Atmosphere is Negligible

Faced with the contradictory results of two recent experimental studies [Jara‐Toro et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017 , 56, 2166 and Chao et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019 , 58, 5013] of the possible catalytic effect of water vapor on CH₃OH + OH reaction, we report calculations that corroborate the conclusion made by Chao et al. and extend the rate constant evaluation down to 200 K. The rate constants of the CH₃OH + OH reaction catalyzed by a water molecule are computed as functions of temperature and relative humidity using high‐level electronic structure and kinetics calculations. The Wuhan–Minnesota Scaling (WMS) method is used to provide accurate energetics to benchmark a density functional for direct dynamics. Both high‐frequency and low‐frequency anharmonicities are included. Variational and tunneling effects are treated by canonical variational transition state theory with multidimensional small‐curvature tunneling. And, most significantly, we include multistructural effects in the rate constant calculations. Our calculations show that the catalytic effect of water vapor is not observable at 200–400 K.     

A Free‐Radical Prompted Barrierless Gas‐Phase Synthesis of Pentacene

A representative, low‐temperature gas‐phase reaction mechanism synthesizing polyacenes via ring annulation exemplified by the formation of pentacene (C₂₂H₁₄) along with its benzo[a]tetracene isomer (C₂₂H₁₄) is unraveled by probing the elementary reaction of the 2‐tetracenyl radical (C₁₈H₁₁^.) with vinylacetylene (C₄H₄). The pathway to pentacene—a prototype polyacene and a fundamental molecular building block in graphenes, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes—is facilitated by a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase process thus disputing conventional hypotheses that synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) solely proceeds at elevated temperatures. This low‐temperature pathway can launch isomer‐selective routes to aromatic structures through submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and methodical ring annulation in deep space eventually changing our perception about the chemistry of carbon in our universe.     

ChemInform Abstract: A Density Functional Theory Study of the Gas‐Phase Hydrolysis of Dinitrogen Pentoxide

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

cPCET versus HAT: A Direct Theoretical Method for Distinguishing X–H Bond‐Activation Mechanisms

Proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) events play a key role in countless chemical transformations, but they come in many physical variants which are hard to distinguish experimentally. While present theoretical approaches to treat these events are mostly based on physical rate coefficient models of various complexity, it is now argued that it is both feasible and fruitful to directly analyze the electronic N‐electron wavefunctions of these processes along their intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC). In particular, for model systems of lipoxygenase and the high‐valent oxoiron(IV) intermediate TauD‐J it is shown that by invoking the intrinsic bond orbital (IBO) representation of the wavefunction, the common boundary cases of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and concerted PCET (cPCET) can be directly and unambiguously distinguished in a straightforward manner.     

Gas‐Phase Reaction of Monomethylhydrazine with Ozone: Kinetics and OH Radical Formation

The gas‐phase reaction of monomethylhydrazine (CH₃NH? NH₂; MMH) with ozone was investigated in a flow tube at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 295 ± 2 K using N₂/O₂ mixtures (3–30 vol% O₂) as the carrier gas. Proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS) and long‐path FT‐IR spectroscopy served as the main analytical techniques. The kinetics of the title reaction was investigated with a relative rate technique yielding k_MMH+O3 = (4.3 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Methyldiazene (CH₃N?NH; MeDia) has been identified as the main product in this reaction system as a result of PTR‐MS analysis. The reactivity of MeDia toward ozone was estimated relative to the reaction of MMH with ozone resulting in k_MeDia+O3 = (2.7 ± 1.6) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. OH radicals were followed indirectly by phenol formation from the reaction of OH radicals with benzene. Increasing OH radical yields with increasing MMH conversion have been observed pointing to the importance of secondary processes for OH radical generation. Generally, the detected OH radical yields were definitely smaller than thought so far. The results of this study do not support the mechanism of OH radical formation from the reaction of MMH with ozone as proposed in the literature.     

Solution and Gas‐Phase Acidities of all‐trans (all‐E) Retinoic Acid: An Experimental and Computational Study

Retinoic acid is of fundamental biological importance. Its acidity was determined in the gas phase and in acetonitrile solution by means of mass spectrometry and UV/Vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The intrinsic acidity is slightly higher than that of benzoic acid. In solution, the situation is opposite. The experimental systems were described theoretically applying quantum chemical methods (wave function theory and density functional theory). This allowed the determination of the molecular structure of the acid and its conjugate base, both in vacuo and in solution, and for computational estimates of its acidity in both phases.     

Release of Formic Acid from Copper Formate: Hydride,Proton-Coupled Electron and Hydrogen Atom Transfer All Play their Role

Although the mechanism for the transformation of carbon dioxide to formate with copper hydride is well understood, it is not clear how formic acid is ultimately released. Herein, we show how formic acid is formed in the decomposition of the copper formate clusters Cu(II)(HCOO)₃⁻ and Cu(II)₂(HCOO)₅⁻. Infrared irradiation resonant with the antisymmetric C−O stretching mode activates the cluster, resulting in the release of formic acid and carbon dioxide. For the binary cluster, electronic structure calculations indicate that CO₂ is eliminated first, through hydride transfer from formate to copper. Formic acid is released via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) to a second formate ligand, evidenced by close to zero partial charge and spin density at the hydrogen atom in the transition state. Concomitantly, the two copper centers are reduced from Cu(II) to Cu(I). Depending on the detailed situation, either PCET or hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) takes place.     

Water Formation under Silica Thin Films: Real‐Time Observation of a Chemical Reaction in a Physically Confined Space

Using low‐energy electron microscopy and local photoelectron spectroscopy, water formation from adsorbed O and H₂ on a Ru(0001) surface covered with a vitreous SiO₂ bilayer (BL) was investigated and compared to the same reaction on bare Ru(0001). In both cases the reaction is characterized by moving reaction fronts. The reason for this might be related to the requirement of site release by O adatoms for further H₂‐dissociative adsorption. Apparent activation energies ( ) are found for the front motion of 0.59 eV without cover and 0.27 eV under cover. We suggest that the smaller activation energy but higher reaction temperature for the reaction on the SiO₂ BL covered Ru(0001) surface is due to a change of the rate‐determining step. Other possible effects of the cover are discussed. Our results give the first values for in confined space.     

Structural Isomerization of the Gas‐Phase 2‐Norbornyl Cation Revealed with Infrared Spectroscopy and Computational Chemistry

In an attempt to produce the 2‐norbornyl cation (2NB⁺) in the gas phase, protonation of norbornene was accomplished in a pulsed discharge ion source coupled with a supersonic molecular beam. The C₇H₁₁⁺ cation was size‐selected in a time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer and investigated with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy using the method of “tagging” with argon. The resulting vibrational spectrum, containing sharp bands in the C? H stretching and fingerprint regions, was compared to that predicted by computational chemistry. However, the measured spectrum did not match that of 2NB⁺, prompting a detailed computational study of other possible isomers of C₇H₁₁⁺. This study finds five isomers more stable than 2NB⁺. The spectrum obtained corresponds to the 1,3‐dimethylcyclopentenyl cation, the global minimum‐energy structure for C₇H₁₁⁺, which is produced through an unanticipated ring‐opening rearrangement path.     

Intramolecular Gas‐Phase Reactions of Synthetic Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Ions: Proximity and Spin‐State Reactivity Rules

The intramolecular gas‐phase reactivity of four oxoiron(IV) complexes supported by tetradentate N₄ ligands ( L ) has been studied by means of tandem mass spectrometry measurements in which the gas‐phase ions [Fe^IV(O)( L )(OTf)]⁺ (OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate) and [Fe^IV(O)( L )]²⁺ were isolated and then allowed to fragment by collision‐induced decay (CID). CID fragmentation of cations derived from oxoiron(IV) complexes of 1,4,8,11‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane (tmc) and N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐1,5‐diazacyclooctane ( L ⁸Py₂) afforded the same predominant products irrespective of whether they were hexacoordinate or pentacoordinate. These products resulted from the loss of water by dehydrogenation of ethylene or propylene linkers on the tetradentate ligand. In contrast, CID fragmentation of ions derived from oxoiron(IV) complexes of linear tetradentate ligands N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐1,2‐diaminoethane (bpmen) and N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐1,3‐diaminopropane (bpmpn) showed predominant oxidative N‐dealkylation for the hexacoordinate [Fe^IV(O)( L )(OTf)]⁺ cations and predominant dehydrogenation of the diaminoethane/propane backbone for the pentacoordinate [Fe^IV(O)( L )]²⁺ cations. DFT calculations on [Fe^IV(O)(bpmen)] ions showed that the experimentally observed preference for oxidative N‐dealkylation versus dehydrogenation of the diaminoethane linker for the hexa‐ and pentacoordinate ions, respectively, is dictated by the proximity of the target C? H bond to the oxoiron(IV) moiety and the reactive spin state. Therefore, there must be a difference in ligand topology between the two ions. More importantly, despite the constraints on the geometries of the TS that prohibit the usual upright σ trajectory and prevent optimal σ_CH–σ* overlap, all the reactions still proceed preferentially on the quintet (S=2) state surface, which increases the number of exchange interactions in the d block of iron and leads thereby to exchange enhanced reactivity (EER). As such, EER is responsible for the dominance of the S=2 reactions for both hexa‐ and pentacoordinate complexes.     

Catalytic Electron‐Transfer Oxygenation of Substrates with Water as an Oxygen Source Using Manganese Porphyrins

Manganese(V)–oxo–porphyrins are produced by the electron‐transfer oxidation of manganese–porphyrins with tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(III) ([Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺; 2 equiv) in acetonitrile (CH₃CN) containing water. The rate constants of the electron‐transfer oxidation of manganese–porphyrins have been determined and evaluated in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. Addition of [Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺ to a solution of olefins (styrene and cyclohexene) in CH₃CN containing water in the presence of a catalytic amount of manganese–porphyrins afforded epoxides, diols, and aldehydes efficiently. Epoxides were converted to the corresponding diols by hydrolysis, and were further oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes. The turnover numbers vary significantly depending on the type of manganese–porphyrin used owing to the difference in their oxidation potentials and the steric bulkiness of the ligand. Ethylbenzene was also oxidized to 1‐phenylethanol using manganese–porphyrins as electron‐transfer catalysts. The oxygen source in the substrate oxygenation was confirmed to be water by using ¹⁸O‐labeled water. The rate constant of the reaction of the manganese(V)–oxo species with cyclohexene was determined directly under single‐turnover conditions by monitoring the increase in absorbance attributable to the manganese(III) species produced in the reaction with cyclohexene. It has been shown that the rate‐determining step in the catalytic electron‐transfer oxygenation of cyclohexene is electron transfer from [Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺ to the manganese–porphyrins.     

CFD Analysis of Gas–Particle Heat Transfer in Gas‐Phase Olefin Polymerizations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to study the gas–particle heat transfer in gas‐phase olefin polymerizations. Particularly, the effects of particle rotation on the gas–particle heat transfer coefficient and internal particle temperatures are evaluated, showing that particle rotation can exert a significant impact on observed temperature profiles, so that this effect should not be neglected during detailed CFD process simulations. As a consequence, particle rotation can lead to particle cooling and development of spherical gradient symmetry, validating the use of simpler modeling schemes that are based on reaction–diffusion in symmetrical spherical geometry.

     

Red‐Light‐Induced Decomposition of an Organic Peroxy Radical: A New Source of the HO2 Radical

The gas‐phase decomposition of the α‐hydroxy methylperoxy radical has been theoretically examined, and the results provide insight into a new source of the hydroperoxy radical (HO₂) in the troposphere. Bimolecular peroxy decomposition is promoted by the red‐light or near‐IR radiation excitation. The calculations suggest for the first time, an important chemical role for the H₂O?HO₂ radical complex that exist in significant abundance in the troposphere. In particular, the reaction of organic peroxy radicals with the HO₂ radical and the H₂O?HO₂ radical complex represent an autocatalytic source of atmospheric HO₂. This reaction is a new example of red‐light‐initiated atmospheric chemistry that may help in understanding the discrepancy between the observed and measured levels of the HO_x at sunrise.     

Asymmetric Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Intramolecular N‐Alkylation of Indoles and Pyrroles: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

Asymmetric phase‐transfer catalysis (PTC) has risen to prominence over the last decade as a straightforward synthetic methodology for the preparation of pharmacologically active compounds in enantiomerically pure form. However, the complex interplay of weak nonbonded interactions (between catalyst and substrate) that could account for the stereoselection in these processes is still unclear, with tentative pictorial mechanistic representations usually proposed. Here we present a full account dealing with the enantioselective phase‐transfer‐catalyzed intramolecular aza‐Michael reaction (IMAMR) of indolyl esters, as a valuable synthetic tool to obtain added‐value compounds, such as dihydro‐pyrazinoindolinones. A combined computational and experimental investigation has been carried out to elucidate the key mechanistic aspects of this process.