Definition of a nucleophilicity scale

This work deals with exploring some empirical scales of nucleophilicity. We have started evaluating the experimental indices of nucleophilicity proposed by Legon and Millen on the basis of the measure of the force constants derived from vibrational frequencies using a probe dipole H-X (X = F,CN). The correlation among some theoretical parameters with this experimental scale has been evaluated. The theoretical parameters have been chosen as the minimum of the electrostatic potential V(min), the binding energy (BE) between the nucleophile and the H-X dipole, and the electrostatic potential measured at the position of the hydrogen atom V(H) when the complex nucleophile and dipole H-X is in the equilibrium geometry. All of them present good correlations with the experimental nucleophilicity scale. In addition, the BEs of the nucleophiles with two other Lewis acids (one hard, BF(3), and the other soft, BH(3)) have been evaluated. The results suggest that the Legon and Millen nucleophilicity scale and the electrostatic potential derived scales can describe in good approximation the reactivity order of the nucleophiles only when the interactions with a probe electrophile is of the hard-hard type. For a covalent interaction that is orbital controlled, a new nucleophilicity index using information of the frontier orbitals of both, the nucleophile and the electrophile has been proposed.     

Theory of late-transition-metal alkyl and heteroatom bonding: analysis of Pt, Ru, Ir, and Rh complexes

Density functional and correlated ab initio methods were used to calculate, compare, and analyze bonding interactions in late-transition-metal alkyl and heteroatom complexes (M-X). The complexes studied include: (DMPE)Pt(CH(3))(X) (DMPE = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane), Cp*Ru(PMe(3))(2)(X) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), (DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(X), (Tp)(CO)Ru(Py)(X) (Tp = trispyrazolylborate), (PMe(3))(2)Rh(C(2)H(4))(X), and cis-(acac)(2)Ir(Py)(X) (acac = acetylacetonate). Seventeen X ligands were analyzed that include alkyl (CR(3)), amido (NR(2)), alkoxo (OR), and fluoride. Energy decomposition analysis of these M-X bonds revealed that orbital charge transfer stabilization provides a straightforward model for trends in bonding along the alkyl to heteroatom ligand series (X = CH(3), NH(2), OH, F). Pauli repulsion (exchange repulsion), which includes contributions from closed-shell d(π)-p(π) repulsion, generally decreases along the alkyl to heteroatom ligand series but depends on the exact M-X complexes. It was also revealed that stabilizing electrostatic interactions generally decrease along this ligand series. Correlation between M-X and H-X bond dissociation energies is good with R(2) values between 0.7 and 0.9. This correlation exists because for both M-X and H-X bonds the orbital stabilization energies are a function of the orbital electronegativity of the X group. The greater than 1 slope when correlating M-X and H-X bond dissociation energies was traced back to differences in Pauli repulsion and electrostatic stabilization.     

An ab-initio study of the C3H6-HX, C2H4-HX and C2H2-HX hydrogen-bonded complexes with X=F or Cl.

MP2/6-31G** ab-initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to obtain geometries, H-bond energies and vibrational properties of the C3H6-HX, C2H4-HX and C2H2-HX H-bonded complexes with X=F or Cl. The more pronounced effects on the structural parameters of the isolated molecules due to complexation are verified to the CC and HX bond lengths, which are directly involved in the H-bond formation. They are increased after complexation. The calculated H-bond lengths for the hydrogen complexes for X=F are shorter than those for x-Cl by about 0.55 A, whereas the corresponding experimental value is 0.58 A. The H-bond energies are essentially determined by the nature of the proton donor molecule. For X=F, the AE mean value is 20 kJ/mol, whereas it is approximately 14.5 kJ/mol for X-Cl. The H-bond energies including zero-point corrections show a good correlation with the H-bond lengths. The more pronounced effect on the normal modes of the isolated molecules after complexation occurs to the H-X stretching mode. The H-X stretching frequency is shifted downward, whereas its IR intensity is much enhanced upon H-bond formation. The new vibrational modes arising from complexation show several interesting features.     

Proton-bound homodimers: how are the binding energies related to proton affinities?

High-level quantum chemical calculations [G3(MP2)-RAD//MP2/6-31+G(d,p)] have been employed to investigate the relationship between the binding energy (BE) of a substrate (X) and its protonated form [H-X]+ with the proton affinity (PA) of the substrate (X) in several series of protonated homodimers ([X...H-X]+). We find that for each series of closely related substrates, the binding energy (BE) is correlated with the proton affinity (PA) in an approximately quadratic manner. Thus, for a given series, the BE initially increases in magnitude with increasing PA, reaches a point of maximum binding, and then becomes smaller as the PA increases further. This behavior can be attributed to the competing effects of the exothermic partial protonation of the substrate and the endothermic partial deprotonation of the protonated substrate. As the PA increases, protonation of X contributes to increased binding but the penalty for partial deprotonation of [H-X]+ also increases. Once the PA becomes sufficiently high, the penalty for the partial deprotonation of [H-X]+ dominates, leading to maximum binding occurring at intermediate PA.     

Effect of molecular structure on the phase behaviour of some liquid crystalline compounds and their binary mixtures VI[1]. The effect of molecular length

The apparent solution dipole moments of compounds based on 4,4-di-substituted phenyl benzoate (ROC6H4COOC6H4X), I, where X is a cyano group and R a terminal linear alkyl chain ranging from C12 to C20, were determined in cyclohexane at 30 C. The compounds were also thermally characterized by polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Phase diagrams were constructed for various binary mixtures prepared from any two homologues of series I as well as for every one of them with the nitro analogue II, where X is a nitro group and R C16H33. The study was undertaken in order to investigate the effect of the alkyl chain length on the mesophase behaviour. In order to assess the influence of structural variation in the central mesogenic group on the mesophase stability of pure and mixed compounds, the investigation was extended to cover binary mixtures of any two of the three compounds: analogue II (X=OC16H33), and the symmetric dialkoxy substituted phenyl esters (C16H33OC6H4COO)2 A, where A is the 1,4-phenylene group (IV) or 4,4-biphenylene (V).     

Principal component analysis of carbon-13 substituent-induced chemical shifts of some unsaturated compounds

Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to 32 disubstituted unsaturated compounds (Y–CH₂–X): cyanides, oximes and propenes; bearing 12 -substituents: F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, SMe, SEt, NMe₂, NEt₂, Me, and Et. The experimental ¹³C chemical shifts for the -carbon and functional carbon atoms are correlated with theoretically derived molecular properties, i.e. partial charges, electronegativity, hardness, dipole moments and the nuclear repulsion energies. In the first PCA, the clustering of these three classes of organic compounds occurred mostly because of the chemical shifts and partial charges, and also of the dipole moments, hardness and electronegativity parameters as confirmed by loading graph. A strong grouping is observed in the second PCA, showing the chemical shift dependence on the type of heteroatom substituents. Therefore, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen and neutral groups exhibit four types of C-13 SCS influences, indicating that the heteroatom (Y) properties play a significant role on the effects on chemical shifts. The -halogenated compounds represent a very heterogeneous group due to possible orbital interactions between the functional group and the substituent. The third PCA shows the grouping of F, Cl, Br and I derivatives, confirming the second PCA results that same halogen presents the same or very similar effects on the chemical shifts.     

An MP2 study on pre-reactive complexes (CH_2)_2O … XY (X,Y = H,F,Cl,Br,I)

The structures, energies, atomic chaiges and IR spectra of complexes (CH2)2O…XY (X, Y = H, F, Cl, Br, and I) have been examined by means of ab initio molecular orbital theory at the second-order level of Moller-Plesset perturbation correction. It is found that the hydrogen bond O…H-X is non-linear. The attraction between X and the H atoms in oxirane ring causes O…H-X bond bending. The hydrogen bond slighdy weakens the bond strength of C-O, and leads the bending and stretching mode of IR to shift to the red. The calculation results show that there is no evidence of a significant extent of proton transfer to give (CH2)2OH …X- in the isolated complexes.     

吡啶与HCl和CHCl3形成分子间红移氢键和蓝移氢键的理论研究

采用量子化学从头算的MP2方法, 分别在6-31G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p)和AUG-cc-pVDZ基组下, 研究了复合物C5H5N…HCl(1), C5H5N…HCCl3(2)和C5H5N…HCCl3(3)的分子间氢键. 计算结果表明, 在复合物1中, HCl中Cl—H键伸长, 形成Cl—H…N红移氢键; 在复合物2中, HCCl3中C—H键伸长, 形成C—H…N 红移氢键; 在复合物3中, HCCl3中C—H键收缩, 形成C—H…π蓝移氢键. 自然键轨道(NBO)分析表明, 影响氢键红移和氢键蓝移主要有3个因素: n(Y)→σ*(X—H)超共轭作用、X—H键轨道再杂化和质子供体电子密度重排. 其中, 超共轭作用属于键伸长效应, 电子密度重排和轨道再杂化属于键收缩效应. 在复合物1和2中, 由于键伸长效应处于优势地位导致形成红移氢键; 在复合物3中, 由于键收缩效应处于优势地位导致形成蓝移氢键.     

Study of minimum energy conformers of N-substituted derivatives of piperidine and pyrrolidine. Evidence of weak H-bonding by theoretical correlation with experimental NMR data

Four N-substituted piperidines and four N-substituted pyrrolidines were synthesized and characterized by common spectroscopic techniques. In order to investigate the dynamic behavior of these important heterocyclic building blocks, a conformational study was carried out, using suitable tools of computational chemistry. The comparison of computed and experimental NMR chemical shifts is now accepted as a valuable aid in the elucidation of structures and that was the strategy followed in the present study. After a conformational search by statistical methods, the lowest three minimum-energy conformers of each piperidine/pyrrolidine derivative were analyzed (24 conformers in total). The relative proportion of each conformer was estimated by thermodynamic calculations, involving the Boltzmann weighting factor; P_i. Using DFT methods, the geometry of each conformer was fully optimized and their chemical shifts (¹H, ¹³C) were calculated. A very good coincidence between calculated and experimental data of both, ¹H and ¹³C shifts was found, indicating that the theoretical geometries obtained were reliable enough for the study of structure-properties relationships. For all the conformers, specific weak unusual hydrogen bonding involving H-C instead of H-X (where X=electronegative atom) was observed. The nitrogen atom and the carbonyl oxygen participate in these interactions and could play an important role in the activity of these compounds and, therefore, they should be considered in the modeling of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the good quality of theoretical/experimental data validates the theoretical methods used. The solvent effect (CDCl₃ in this case) was found of small significance on the observed H-bonding.     

Charge calculations in molecular mechanics. V. Silicon compounds and π bonding

A previously published scheme for the calculation of partial atomic charges has been extended to include silicon, and has been parameterized for a range of Si? X bonds (X?C,H,O,F,Cl,Br). For the silicon–halogen and silicon–oxygen bonds, a comparison is made between charges calculated with and without the inclusion of π-bonding. An extensive data set consisting of experimental geometries and dipole moments for the silicon compounds considered is presented and this leads to the selection of standard Si? X bond lengths. The calculated dipole moments for the above compounds are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally only when the π charges are included. A comparison has also been made between the partial charges from this scheme and those obtained from computational methods using the Mulliken population analysis. There is considerable disagreement between the methods. Finally, the implications of the charges and structural data are considered in terms of application to zeolite systems.     

Charge transfer associated with the physical process of hardness equalization and the chemical event of the molecule formation and the dipole moments

In this article, we have basically launched a search whether the dipole charge and dipole moment of heteronuclear diatomics can be justifiably evaluated in terms of charge transfer kernel using the hardness equalization principle as basis. We have derived a formula for computing dipole charge (q) on the basis of hardness equalization principle as q = aδ + b, where “a” and “b” are the constants and “δ” is the kernel of charge transfer from less hard atom to more hard atom during the rearrangement of charge on molecule formation. We have computed the dipole charges and dipole moments of as many as six different sets of compounds of widely diverse physicochemical behavior in terms of the algorithm derived in the present work. The computed dipole charge nicely reveals the known chemicophysical behavior of such compounds as are brought under the study. A comparative study of the nature of variation of theoretically evaluated and experimentally determined dipole moments reveals that there is an excellent agreement between the two sets of dipole data. Thus, the new algorithm derived for the calculation of the dipole charge using the hardness equalization principle as a basis is efficacious in computing the distribution and rearrangement of charge associated with the chemical event of molecule formation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Competition between nonclassical hydrogen-bonded acceptor sites in complexes of neutral AH2 Radicals (A = B, Al, and Ga): A theoretical investigation

An ab initio computational study of the properties of the neutral AH2 radicals (A = B, Al, Ga) as hydrogen-bond (HB) acceptors, with H-X (X = F, Cl, Br, CN, and CCH) as HB donors, is carried out at the UMP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. Two different minima have been found for each of the 15 possible dimers. One structure corresponds to a single-electron hydrogen-bonded complex (SEHB), with the A atom acting as an HB acceptor. The second corresponds to a dihydrogen bond complex between one of the hydrogen atoms of AH2 and the H-X molecule. Thus, all the atoms of the neutral AH2 molecule can act as HB acceptors and none as donors. The stability of the SEHB complexes decreases as BH2 > AlH2 > GaH2, while for the dihydrogen-bonded complexes the order is AlH2 > GaH2 > BH2. For the BH2 radical the SEHB complexes are stronger than the dihydrogen bonded ones, while the opposite is found for the AlH2 and GaH2 systems. Regarding the HB donors, the order found for the binding energy in the two types of complexes is H2A...HF > H2A...HCl > H2A...HBr > H2A...HCN > H2A...HCCH.     

A dipole moment study of the conformational properties of diaryl diselenides and related compounds

The electric dipole moments of the diaryl diselenides (RC₆H₄)₂Se₂ (R  H, 4-F, 4-Br, 4-CH₃, 3-F) were measured in benzene solution at 25 and 45°C. The conformations of these compounds were deduced by matching experimental moments with values calculated for a variety of possible conformations. In the dissolved state the diselenides exist at 25°C in fixed “skew” conformations characterized by dihedral angles of 75–106° between the CSeSe planes, corresponding to the conformational energy minima. At 45°C oscillations about the SeSe bonds are excited in the diphenyl and bis(4-methylphenyl) diselenides, whereas the 4-bromophenyl derivative exhibits free rotation. The fluoro compounds have temperature-independent dipole moments, suggesting “rigid conformations” with dihedral angles of 106° (4-F) and 74.4° (3-F). An analysis of the dipole moments at 25 and 45°C obtained for the compounds (RC₆H₄)₂X₂ (R  H, 3-F, 4-F, 4-Br, 4-CH₃; X  S, Se, Te) showed that the conformational properties of these derivatives change on passing from X  S to X  Te. The observed variations are explicable in terms of a decreasing repulsion between the lone electron pairs of the chalcogen atoms on going from the disulfides to the ditellurides and a concomitant reduction of the energy barrier to rotations about the XX bonds.     

QTAIM analysis of the HF, HCl, HBr, and HOH elimination reactions of halohydrocarbons and halohydroalcohols

The 1,2-HX elimination reaction (where X = F, Cl, Br, OH) has been established as an important reaction in the degradation of compounds introduced into the upper atmosphere, including common CFC replacement compounds. By analyzing the electron densities of the transition state geometries of these reactions using QTAIM, we see that we can divide these reactions into two types. For HF and HOH elimination, the transition state is a complete ring of bonds, and neither the C-H nor the C-X bonds have been broken at the maximum of energy. There is very little accumulation of electron density on the X atom, with the majority of charge being lost by the hydrogen atom undergoing elimination, being transferred on to the two carbon atoms. In HCl and HBr elimination, a similar loss of electron density of the hydrogen atom is accompanied by significant accumulation of electron density on the X atom and a smaller change in electron density on the carbon atoms. The C-X bond is broken in the transition state geometry, with no ring critical point being present. This may explain the relative stabilities of halohydrocarbons and haloalcohols with respect to loss of H-X.     

Mechanism of the reaction of the [W3S4H3(dmpe)3]+ cluster with acids: evidence for the acid-promoted substitution of coordinated hydrides and the effect of the attacking species on the kinetics of protonation of the metal-hydride bonds

The cluster [W(3)S(4)H(3)(dmpe)(3)](+) (1) (dmpe=1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) reacts with HX (X=Cl, Br) to form the corresponding [W(3)S(4)X(3)(dmpe)(3)](+) (2) complexes, but no reaction is observed when 1 is treated with an excess of halide salts. Kinetic studies indicate that the hydride 1 reacts with HX in MeCN and MeCN-H(2)O mixtures to form 2 in three kinetically distinguishable steps. In the initial step, the W-H bonds are attacked by the acid to form an unstable dihydrogen species that releases H(2) and yields a coordinatively unsaturated intermediate. This intermediate adds a solvent molecule (second step) and then replaces the coordinated solvent with X(-) (third step). The kinetic results show that the first step is faster with HCl than with solvated H(+). This indicates that the rate of protonation of this metal hydride is determined not only by reorganization of the electron density at the M-H bonds but also by breakage of the H-X or H(+)-solvent bonds. It also indicates that the latter process can be more important in determining the rate of protonation.     

Equilibrium vs ground-state planarity of the CONH linkage

Planarity of the XC(=)NHY linkage has been investigated in unprecedented detail in a number of relatively simple compounds, including formamide (X = Y = H), acetamide (X = CH3, Y = H), urea (X = NH2, Y = H), carbamic acid (X = OH, Y = H), and methyl carbamate (X = OCH3, Y = H). Reliable estimates of the equilibrium structures of formamide, cyanamide, acetamide, urea, carbamic acid, methylamine, dimethyl ether, and methyl carbamate are derived, mostly for the first time. It is shown that formamide, considered prototypical for the amide linkage, is not typical as it has a planar equilibrium amide linkage corresponding to a single-minimum inversion potential around N. In contrast, several molecules containing the CONH linkage seem to have a pyramidalized nitrogen at equilibrium and a double-minimum inversion potential with a very small inversion barrier allowing for an effectively planar ground-state structure. Observables of rotational spectroscopy, including ground-state inertial defects, quadrupole coupling and centrifugal distortion constants, and dipole moment components, as well as equilibrium C=O and C-N bond lengths are reviewed in their ability to indicate the planarity of the effective and possibly the equilibrium structures.     

Reaction pathways of proton transfer in hydrogen-bonded phenol-carboxylate complexes explored by combined UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy

Combined low-temperature NMR/UV-vis spectroscopy (UVNMR), where optical and NMR spectra are measured in the NMR spectrometer under the same conditions, has been set up and applied to the study of H-bonded anions A··H··X(-) (AH = 1-(13)C-2-chloro-4-nitrophenol, X(-) = 15 carboxylic acid anions, 5 phenolates, Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), and BF(4)(-)). In this series, H is shifted from A to X, modeling the proton-transfer pathway. The (1)H and (13)C chemical shifts and the H/D isotope effects on the latter provide information about averaged H-bond geometries. At the same time, red shifts of the π-π* UV-vis absorption bands are observed which correlate with the averaged H-bond geometries. However, on the UV-vis time scale, different tautomeric states and solvent configurations are in slow exchange. The combined data sets indicate that the proton transfer starts with a H-bond compression and a displacement of the proton toward the H-bond center, involving single-well configurations A-H···X(-). In the strong H-bond regime, coexisting tautomers A··H···X(-) and A(-)···H··X are observed by UV. Their geometries and statistical weights change continuously when the basicity of X(-) is increased. Finally, again a series of single-well structures of the type A(-)···H-X is observed. Interestingly, the UV-vis absorption bands are broadened inhomogeneously because of a distribution of H-bond geometries arising from different solvent configurations.     

Methyl and phenyl substitution effects on the proton affinities of hydrides of first and second row elements and substituent effects on the proton affinities of ring carbons in benzene: a DFT study

Theoretical calculations using B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set have been performed to determine proton affinities (PAs) of a series of H-X compounds and the corresponding methyl- (H(3)C-X) and phenyl- (Ph-X) substituted derivatives with a variety of proton acceptor atoms, such as C, O, N, F, Si, P, S, Cl, etc. Our results illustrate an interesting substituent effect on PAs. The PAs of ring carbon atoms for a series of monosubstituted benzene molecules (Y-C(6)H(5); Y = F, Cl, CH(3), OCH(3), NH(2), PH(2), OH, SH, SiH(3), CN, CF(3), and NO(2)) have also been estimated. Correlations between proton affinities of H-X, H(3)C-X, and Ph-X and substituent effects on the PAs of the ring carbon atoms for a series of monosubstituted benzene molecules have been studied. It has been observed that substituent effects on the PAs of the ring carbon atoms follow a good Hammett-type correlation.     

Two-dimensional spectroscopy with parallel acquisition of 1H-X and 19F-X correlations

Two-dimensional NMR spectra correlating both (1)H and (19)F nuclei with either (13)C or (15)N, are recorded at the same time, using a 600-MHz broadband radio frequency probe feeding independent (1)H and (19)F receiver channels. This technique, known as parallel acquisition NMR spectroscopy (PANSY), speeds up multidimensional NMR and is compatible with other fast-acquisition schemes. The method is illustrated with single-bond (HSQC) and multiple-bond (HMBC) experiments on 2-bromophenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-5-methylpyrazole, giving simultaneous (1)H-X and (19)F-X correlation spectra (X = (13) C or (15)N).