Multi-component orbital interactions during oxyacyl radical addition reactions involving imines and electron-rich olefins

Ab initio and DFT calculations reveal that oxyacyl radicals add to imines and electron-rich olefins through simultaneous SOMO-pi*, SOMO-pi and pi*-HOMO interactions between the radical and the radicalophile. At the BHandHLYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level, energy barriers of 20.3 and 22.0 kJ mol(-1) are calculated for the attack of methoxycarbonyl radical at the carbon and nitrogen ends of methanimine, respectively. In comparison, barriers of 22.0 and 8.6 kJ mol(-1) are calculated at BHandHLYP/aug-cc-pVDZ for reaction of methoxycarbonyl radical at the 1- and 2-positions in aminoethylene, respectively. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis at the BHandHLYP/6-311G** level of theory reveals that SOMO-pi*, SOMO-pi and pi*-LP interactions are worth 111, 394 and 55 kJ mol(-1) respectively in the transition state (8) for reaction of oxyacyl radical at the nitrogen end of methanimine; similar interactions are observed for the chemistry involving aminoethylene. These multi-component interactions are responsible for the unusual motion vectors associated with the transition states involved in these reactions.     

An ab initio and DFT study of radical addition reactions of imidoyl and thioyl radicals to methanimine

Ab initio and DFT calculations reveal that both imidoyl and thioyl radicals add to the nitrogen end of methanimine through simultaneous SOMO-π*(imine), SOMO-π(imine), SOMO-LP(N) and π*(radical)-LP(N) interactions between the radical and the imine. At the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BHandHLYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory, barriers of 13.8 and 26.1 kJ mol(-1) are calculated for the attack of the methylimidoyl radical at the carbon- and nitrogen- end of methanimine, respectively, indicating that the imidoyl radial has a preference for addition to the nitrogen end of imine. On the other hand, barriers of 25.1 and 13.4 kJ mol(-1) are calculated at the same level of theory for the addition reaction of the methanethioyl radical at the carbon- and nitrogen- end of methanimine, respectively. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis at the BHandHLYP/6-311G** level of theory reveals that SOMO-π*(imine), SOMO-π(imine), SOMO-LP(N) and π*(radical)-LP(N) interactions are worth 111, 89, 115 and 17 kJ mol(-1), respectively, in the transition state (4) for the reaction of methylimidoyl radical at the nitrogen end of methanimine; similar interactions are observed for the chemistry involving all the radicals studied here. These multi-component interactions are responsible for the unusual motion vectors associated with the transition states involved in these reactions.     

A computational study of multicomponent orbital interactions during the cyclization of silyl, germyl, and stannyl radicals onto C-N and C-O multiple bonds

BHandHLYP/6-311G** and BHandHLYP/DZP computations of the potential surface of Si-, Ge-, and Sn-radical cyclizations onto the imine double bond reveal that these reactions proceed through simultaneous SOMO --> pi*, LP(N) --> SOMO, and LP(N) --> sigma* interactions. Such multicomponent orbital interactions are responsible for the regioselectivity in these radical cyclizations, where the nucleophilic radical unexpectedly attacks the more electron-rich end of the pi system. Less nucleophilic heteroatoms, for example, the nitrogen atom in nitriles or the oxygen atom in carbonyl compounds, show reduced LP interactions with the radical center in the respective transition states, so that these reactions predominantly occur in the "classical" fashion and with the expected regioselectivities of nucleophilic radicals through SOMO --> pi* interactions. This supports the hypothesis that Si-, Ge- and, to a lesser extent, Sn-radicals are ambiphilic in nature and that the unpaired electron is not necessarily the most reactive site in a radical but can act as an observer of a nucleophilic attack at the radical center.     

Radicals masquerading as electrophiles: a computational study of the intramolecular addition reactions of acyl radicals to imines

Ab initio calculations using 6-311G**, cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVDZ, with (MP2, QCISD, CCSD(T)) and without (UHF) electron correlation, and density functional methods (BHandHLYP and B3LYP) predict that cyclization of the 5-aza-5-hexenoyl and (E)-6-aza-5-hexenoyl radicals proceed to afford the 5-exo products. At the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory, energy barriers (deltaE(double dagger)) of 36.1 and 47.0 kJ mol(-1) were calculated for the 5-exo and 6-endo pathways for the cyclization of the 5-aza-5-hexenoyl radical. On the other hand, at the same level of theory, deltaE(double dagger) of 38.9 and 45.4 kJ mol(-1) were obtained for the 5-exo and 6-endo cyclization modes of (E)-6-aza-5-hexenoyl radical, with exothermicities of about 27 and 110 kJ mol(-1) calculated for the exo and endo modes, respectively. Under suitable experimental conditions, the 6-endo cyclization product is likely to dominate. Analysis of the molecular orbitals involved in these ring-closure reactions indicate that both reactions at nitrogen are assisted by dual orbital interactions involving simultaneous SOMO-pi* and LP-pi* overlap in the transitions states. Interestingly, the (Z)-6-aza-5-hexenoyl radical, that cannot benefit from these dual orbital effects is predicted to ring-close exclusively in the 5-exo fashion.     

An ab initio and DFT study of some halogen atom transfer reactions from alkyl groups to acyl radical

Ab initio calculations using the 6-311G**, cc-pVDZ, and (valence) double-zeta pseudopotential (DZP) basis sets, with (MP2, QCISD, CCSD(T)) and without (HF) the inclusion of electron correlation, and density functional (BHandHLYP, B3LYP) calculations predict that the transition states for the reaction of acetyl radical with several alkyl halides adopt an almost collinear arrangement of attacking and leaving radicals at the halogen atom. Energy barriers (DeltaE(double dagger)) for these halogen transfer reactions of between 89.2 (chlorine transfer from methyl group) and 25.3 kJ mol(-1) (iodine transfer from tert-butyl group) are calculated at the BHandHLYP/DZP level of theory. While the difference in forward and reverse energy barriers for iodine transfer to acetyl radical is predicted to be 15.1 kJ mol(-1) for primary alkyl iodide, these values are calculated to be 6.7 and -4.2 kJ mol(-1) for secondary and tertiary alkyl iodide respectively. These data are in good agreement with available experimental data in that atom transfer radical carbonylation reactions are sluggish with primary alkyl iodides, but proceed smoothly with secondary and tertiary alkyl iodides. These calculations also predict that bromine transfer reactions involving acyl radical are also feasible at moderately high temperature.     

An ab-initio study of some homolytic substitution reactions of acyl radicals at silicon, germanium and tint

Ab initio calculations using the 6-311G**, cc-pVDZ, and (valence) double-zeta pseudopotential (DZP) basis sets, with (MP2, QCISD, CCSD(T)) and without (UHF) the inclusion of electron correlation, and density functional (BHandHLYP, B3LYP) calculations predict that homolytic substitution reactions of acetyl radicals at the silicon atoms in disilane can proceed via both backside and frontside attack mechanisms. At the highest level of theory (CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//MP2/cc-pVDZ), energy barriers (deltaE double dagger) of 77.2 and 81.9 kJ mol(-1) are calculated for the backside and frontside reactions respectively. Similar results are obtained for reactions involving germanium and tin with energy barriers (deltaE double dagger) of 53.7-84.2, and 55.0-89.7 kJ mol(-1) for the backside and frontside mechanisms, respectively. These data suggest that both homolytic substitution mechanisms are feasible for homolytic substitution reactions of acetyl radicals at silicon, germanium, and tin. BHandHLYP calculations provide geometries and energy barriers for backside and frontside transition states in good agreement with those obtained by traditional ab initio techniques.     

Theoretical study on the isomerization behavior between alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals

[reaction: see text] Ab initio calculations using 6-311G**, cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVDZ, and a (valence) double-zeta pseudopotential (DZP) basis set, with (QCISD, CCSD(T)) and without (UHF) the inclusion of electron correlation, and density functional methods (BHandHLYP, B3LYP) predict that alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals exist as isomers. At the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BHandHLY/cc-pVDZ level of theory, energy barriers of 15.1 and 17.7-21.7 kJ mol(-)(1) are calculated for the isomerization of s-trans-propenoyl and s-trans-crotonoyl radical to ketenylmethyl and 1-ketenylethyl radical, respectively. Similar results are obtained for the reactions of s-trans isomers involving silyl, germyl, and stannyl groups with energy barriers (DeltaE++) of 12.2-12.4, 13.1-13.9, and 12.9-18.2 kJ mol(-)(1) at the CCSD(T)/DZP//BHandHLYP/DZP calculation, respectively. These results suggest that alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl radicals and alpha-ketenyl radicals are not canonical forms but are isomeric species that can rapidly interconvert.     

Mechanistic insights into NO3* induced self-terminating radical oxygenations, part 1: a computational study on NO3* and its addition to alkynes

The geometry of the nitrate radical, NO3*, for which unrestricted Hartree-Fock (HF) breaks spatial symmetry of the wave function, was optimized using hybrid density functionals that include varying fractions of Hartree-Fock exchange. Although symmetry breaking was not observed even when the functional with the highest HF exchange (BHandHLYP) was used, only B3LYP correctly describes the D(3h) symmetry of NO3* as ground-state structure with the lowest energy. Further, geometries and energies of the stationary points in the addition of NO3* to ethyne, propyne, and 2-butyne were calculated using ab initio and density functional methods. The reactions proceed through Z-configurated transition states leading to Z-configurated vinyl radicals with the activation barrier decreasing with increasing methyl substitution at the C[triple bond]C by ca. 11 kJ mol(-1) per methyl group. It was found that the results obtained at the BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory are in good agreement with the data from single-point QCISD and CCSD(T) calculations.     

Acyl radical addition to pyridine: multiorbital interactions

The addition of the acetyl radical at the various positions in both pyridine and the pyridinium ion has been investigated using DFT calculations. Additions at the 2-, 3- and 4-positions in these systems are associated with simultaneous SOMO→π* and π→SOMO interactions, with the former interaction dominating in the case of pyridine, and that latter in the case of pyridinium. Simultaneous SOMO→π*, LP_N→SOMO and LP_N→π*_co interactions are predicted for the addition at the nitrogen atom in pyridine. The energy barrier for attack at the nitrogen atom in pyridine is calculated to be 54 kJ mol⁻¹ at the BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory, some 6 kJ mol⁻¹ lower than for the analogous attack at any other atom in pyridine, or at any position in the pyridinium ion. Multiorbital interactions are responsible this preference, resulting in an unusual motion vector in the transition state for attack at the nitrogen atom in pyridine.     

Acyl radical addition to benzene and related systems—a computational study

The addition of the acetyl radical to benzene, aniline, trifluoromethylbenzene and naphthalene has been investigated using DFT calculations. Addition to benzene is calculated to have an energy barrier of 63.6 kJ mol⁻¹ at the BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE level of theory. This reaction is associated with simultaneous SOMO→π^∗ and π→SOMO interactions with the latter interaction dominating, suggesting that acetyl reacts predominantly as an electrophilic radical in its interaction with benzene. Addition to the ortho and para positions of aniline is calculated to be slightly less favourable, while attack at the meta position is predicted to be unaffected in relation to the chemistry involving benzene. Inclusion of the electron-withdrawing substituent, trifluoromethyl, is predicted to accelerate reactions slightly at the ortho and para positions, while attack at the C1 position of naphthalene is calculated to involve a barrier of 50.3 kJ mol⁻¹ (BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE).     

A comparison of orbital interactions in the additions of phosphonyl and acyl radicals to double bonds

Calculation of the barriers for addition of the H2P(=O) and HC(=O) radicals to alkenes, at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//BHandHLYP/6-311G** level, indicates that both radicals display ambiphilic behaviour. For the HC(=O) radical this behaviour occurs because a secondary orbital interaction of the type pi*(C=O)<--HOMO acts in conjunction with the primary SOMO<--HOMO interaction to balance the SOMO-->LUMO interaction. For the H2P(=O) radical, on the other hand, the much higher-lying LUMO (the sigma*P-O orbital) allows for only minimal secondary interaction, and this radical's ambiphilic behaviour is therefore reflective of a balance between SOMO-->LUMO and SOMO<--HOMO interactions.     

Generalized van Vleck perturbation theory (GVVPT2) study of the excited states of benzene and the azabenzenes

Generalized van Vleck perturbation theory (GVVPT2) for molecular electronic structures is applied to examine the azabenzene series: benzene, pyridine, pyrazine, symmetric triazine and symmetric tetrazine. The spectra of azabenzenes are complex with large numbers of excited states at low energies comprising n --> pi* and pi --> pi* excited states and also doubly excited states of the n,n --> pi*,pi* type. The calculations are complicated due to strong correlation effects in the nitrogen lone-pair orbitals and the pi electrons. This study is the first to use GVVPT2 on conjugated systems. Comparison is made with experimental data and complete active space second-order perturbation theory, equation of motion coupled cluster and similarity transformed equation of motion coupled cluster theory data. Using polarized valence double split basis sets for benzene and pyrazine (cc-pVDZ) and pyridine (ANO-S) and polarized triple split basis sets (ANO-L) for triazine and tetrazine, the n --> pi* and pi --> pi* states are computed with an average error of 0.28 eV in comparison with available experimental data.     

Ab initio study of 1,4-pentadienyl electrocyclic reactions

The thermochemistry and transition states of the electrocyclic ring closures of the resonance-stabilized 1,4-pentadienyl radical to cyclopenten-3-yl, cyclobut-2-enylmethyl, and 2-vinylcyclopropyl are investigated at Hartree-Fock and coupled-cluster levels of theory. The CCSD(T)//QCISD/cc-pVDZ calculations predict activation barriers of 130, 169, and 236 kJ/mol, respectively, and DeltaH values of -60, 115, and 155 kJ/mol. Experimental evidence for the appearance of vinylcyclopropyl following photolytic generation of pentadienyl is more likely the result of a distinct electrocyclic reaction than quenching of a two-step mechanism for formation of cyclopentenyl. Higher energy pathways for formation of polycyclic structures are also briefly examined.     

Characterization of the diradical *NSNSC-CNSSN* and [NSNSC-CNSSN][MF6]n (n=1, 2). The first observation of an excited triplet state in dimers of 7pi -CNSSN* radicals

Preparation and full characterization of the main-group diradical *NSNSC-CNSSN*, 8, the MF6- salt (As, Sb) of radical cation +NSNSC-CNSSN*, 8*+, and the AsF6- salt of the dication +NSNSC-CNSSN+, 82+, are presented. 8, a=6.717 (4), b=11.701(2), c=8.269(3) A, alpha=gamma=90, beta=106.69(3) degrees, monoclinic, space group P21/n, Z=4, T=203 K; 8SbF6, a=6.523(2), b=7.780(2), c=12.012(4) A, alpha=91.994(4), beta=96.716(4), gamma=09.177(4) degrees, triclinic, space group P, Z=2, T=198 K; 8[AsF6]2, a=12.7919(14), b=9.5760(11), c=18.532(2) A, alpha=gamma=90, beta=104.034(2) degrees, monoclinic, space group Pn, Z=6, T=198 K. Preparation of 8MF6 was carried out via a reduction of [CNSNS]2[MF6]2 (M=As, Sb) with either ferrocene or a SbPh3-NBu4Cl mixture. In the solid state, diamagnetic 8SbF6 contains centrosymmetric dimers [8*+]2 linked via two-electron four-centered pi*-pi* interactions with a thermally excited triplet state as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). This is the first observation of a triplet excited state for a 7pi 1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl radical dimer. The singlet-triplet gap of the [-CNSSN*]2 radical pair was -1800+/-100 cm(-1) (-22+/-1 kJ/mol) with the ZFS components |D|=0.0267(6) cm(-1) and |E|=0.0012(1) cm(-1), corresponding to an in situ dimerization energy of ca. -11 kJ/mol. Cyclic voltammetry measurements of 8[AsF6]2 showed two reversible waves associated with a stepwise reduction of the two isomeric rings [E1/2 (+2/+1)=1.03 V; E1/2 (+1/0)=0.47 V, respectively]. 8MF6 (M=As, Sb) was further reduced to afford the mixed main-group diradical 8, containing two isomeric radical rings. In solution, 8 is thermodynamically unstable with respect to *NSSNC-CNSSN*, but is isolable in the solid state because of its low solubility in SO2. Likewise, 8SbF6, 8 is dimeric, with pi*-pi* interactions between different isomeric rings, and consequently diamagnetic; however, a slight increase in paramagnetism was observed upon grinding [from C=6.5(3)x10(-4) emu.K/mol and temperature-independent paramagnetism (TIP)=1.3(1)x10(-4) emu/mol to C=3.2(1)x10(-3) emu.K/mol and TIP=9.0(1)x10(-4) emu/mol], accompanied by an increase in the lattice-defect S=1/2 sites [from 0.087(1) to 0.43(1)%]. Computational analysis using the multiconfigurational approach [CASSCF(6,6)/6-31G*] indicated that the two-electron multicentered pi*-pi* bonds in [8*+]2 and [8]2 have substantial diradical characters, implying that their ground states are diradicaloid in nature. Our results suggest that the electronic structure of organic-radical ion pairs, for example, [TTF*+]2, [TCNE*-]2, [TCNQ*-]2, [DDQ*-]2, and related pi dimers, can be described in a similar way.     

5-azahexenoyl radicals cyclize via nucleophilic addition to the acyl carbon rather than 5-exo homolytic addition at the imine

Molecular orbital calculations predict that the 5-azahexenoyl radical ring closes via nucleophilic addition to the acyl carbon to afford the 5-exo product; CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ/ /BHLYP/cc-pVDZ calculations predict energy barriers of 36.1 and 46.9 kJ mol-1 for the exo and endo cyclization modes of the 5-azahexenoyl radical, respectively.     

Distinguishing the early and late transition states and exploring the validity of sigma --> sigma*#, sigma# --> sigma*, and sigma --> pi*(C=O) concepts in diastereoselection from NBO analysis

Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of several early TSs does not support the sigma --> sigma*# hypothesis. The sigma --> pi*(C=O) interaction controls the carbonyl pyramidalization that, in turn, controls the pi-selectivity of a nucleophilic addition. In contrast, late TSs are devoid of sigma --> pi*(C=O) interactions, and they benefit from sigma --> sigma*# interactions that control pi-selectivity. The evidence in favor of Anh-Felkin's sigma# --> sigma* hypothesis is weak. The electron-withdrawing sigma(C-F) in the 2-fluoropropanal-LiCN TS did not align anti to the incipient bond even though there was complete conformational freedom. The initial guess for the TS in which sigma(C-F) was held anti to sigma# optimized to what had lost the said geometrical relationship. Furthermore, in the TS for axial addition of LiCN to 2-ax-F-cyclohexanone, the net sigma --> sigma*# interaction was considerably larger than the net sigma# --> sigma* interaction. The relative TS energies require that the equatorial addition of LiCN to 2-ax-F-cyclohexanone be favored over the axial addition in good compliance with the available experimental results.     

Effects of OH radical addition on proton transfer in the guanine-cytosine base pair

Double proton transfer (PT) reactions in guanine-cytosine OH radical adducts are studied by the hybrid density functional B3LYP approach. Concerted and stepwise proton-transfer processes are explored between N1(H) on guanine (G) and N3 on cytosine (C), and between N4(H) on C and O6 on G. All systems except GC6OH display a concerted mechanism. 8OHGC has the highest dissociation energy and is 1.2 kcal/mol more stable than the nonradical GC base pair. The origin of the interactions are investigated through the estimation of intrinsic acid-basic properties of the *OH-X monomer (X = G or C). Solvent effects play a significant role in reducing the dissociation energy. The reactions including *OH-C adducts have significantly lower PT barriers than both the nonradical GC pair and the *OH-G adducts. All reactions are endothermic, with the GC6OH --> GC6OHPT reaction has the lowest reaction energy (4.6 kcal/mol). In accordance with earlier results, the estimated NBO charges show that the G moiety carries a slight negative charge (and C a corresponding positive one) in each adduct. The formation of a partial ion pair may be a potential factor leading to the PT reactions being thermodynamically unfavored.     

Conformational behaviour, hydrogen bond competition and intramolecular dynamics in vanillin derivatives: acetovanillone and 6-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone

The conformational landscape of the structural isomers acetovanillone (apocynin, AV) and 6-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone (HMAP) has been investigated in a supersonic jet using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Two conformers have been detected in the jet-cooled expansion for each molecule (s-cis and s-trans in AV; s-trans and a-trans for HMAP), differing in the relative orientation of the acetyl and methoxy groups. Both molecules are stabilized by O-H···O or O-H···O=C hydroxyl intramolecular hydrogen bonds, either constraining the local conformations of the methoxy group in AV, or that of the acetyl group in HMAP. Internal rotation splittings have been observed in both conformers of each molecule, originated by the acetyl group, that yield information on the influence of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds on the methyl torsion. The similar internal rotation barriers in both molecules (6.6 and 7.4 kJ mol(-1) in AV; 7.3 and 7.0 kJ mol(-1) in HMAP) suggest that the acetyl torsion is only slightly affected by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The absence of torsional tunnellings due to the methoxy group indicates torsional barriers above 10.2 and 8.9 kJ mol(-1) for AV conformers, 10.1 and 10.4 kJ mol(-1) for HMAP. Conformational ratios and relative free energies have been estimated from relative intensity measurements of the spectral lines. Ab initio (MP2) and density functional calculations using the recent M05-2X empirical functional have been used to aid the experimental work in describing the structures, internal rotation barriers and isomerization potentials.     

Pressure dependence for the CO quantum yield in the photolysis of acetone at 248 nm: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The quantum yield of CO in the laser pulse photolysis of acetone at 248 nm and at 298 K in the pressure range 20-900 mbar (N2) has been measured directly using quantitative infrared diode laser absorption of CO. It is found that the quantum yield of CO shows a significant dependence on total pressure with Phi(CO) decreasing with pressure from around 0.45 at 20 mbar to approximately 0.25 at 900 mbar. From a combination of ab initio quantum chemical calculations on the molecular properties of the acetyl (CH3CO) radical and its unimolecular fragmentation as well as the application of statistical (RRKM) and dynamical calculations we show that CO production results from prompt secondary fragmentation (via(2a)) of the internally excited primary CH3CO* photolysis product with an excess energy of approximately 62.8 kJ mol(-1). Hence, our findings are consistent with a consecutive photochemically induced decomposition model, viz. step (1): CH3COCH3+hv--> CH3CO*+ CH3, step (2a): CH3CO*--> CH3+ CO or step (2b) CH3CO*-(+M)--> CH3CO. Formation of CO via a direct and/or concerted channel CH3COCH3+hv--> 2CH(3)+ CO (1') is considered to be unimportant.     

Thermochemistry of acetonyl and related radicals

Density functional and ab initio calculations at CBS-QB3 levels of theory were employed with a series of isodesmic reactions to determine the thermochemistry of the 2-oxopropyl or acetonyl radical (CH(3)COC*H2). In turn, this was used to determine formation enthalpies of 2-oxoethyl or formylmethyl (C*H(2)CHO), 2-oxobutyl (C*H(2)COC(2)H(5)), 1-methyl-2-oxopropyl or methylacetonyl (C*H(CH(3))COCH(3)), 1-methyl-2-oxobutyl (C*H(CH(3))COC(2)H(5)), and 3-oxopentyl (C*H(2)CH2COC(2)H(5)). Our computed standard enthalpy of formation of -34.9 +/- 1.9 kJ mol-1 and a resonance stabilization energy of approximately 22 kJ mol(-1) for acetonyl are in good agreement with recent re-determinations, which have indicated a substantial lowering in the long-established value for DeltaH(f)o (298.15 K). A bond dissociation energy of 401 kJ mol(-1) is suggested for the C-H bond in acetone with consistent values for the others. The calculations support the enthalpy of formation of acetaldehyde obtained from combustion experiments of -166.1 kJ mol(-1) rather than the figure of -170.7 kJ mol(-1) extracted from enthalpies of reduction and, in addition, serve to reduce the uncertainty in DeltaH(f)o the 2-oxoethyl radical to +13 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1).