Are stone-wales defect sites always more reactive than perfect sites in the sidewalls of single-wall carbon nanotubes?

Density functional computations show, in contrast to general assumptions, that the reactions at the 7-7 ring fusions of Stone-Wales defects in the sidewalls of armchair (5,5) single-wall carbon nanotubes are much less exothermic than reactions at perfect sites. In addition, the peripheral 5-6 and 6-7 ring fusions of the defect are much more reactive.     

Substituent effect on N?H bond dissociation enthalpies of amines and amides: A theoretical study

N? H bond dissociation enthalpies for the substituted ammonia, amine, amides, and their thio‐ and seleno‐analogs have been studied employing ab initio and density functional methods. The orbital interactions involving lone pair of electrons on nitrogen and substituent, electrostatic interactions, spin delocalization, and hydrogen bonding are the important factors affecting the stability of the molecule and the radical. The molecule stabilization effect and radical stabilization effect have been calculated using isodesmic reactions in order to analyze the effect of substituent on the stabilization of the molecule and the radical. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Why are the kinked polyacenes more stable than the straight ones? A topological study and introduction of a new topological index of aromaticity

A topological model for estimating the stability of benzenoid hydrocarbons (BHs) is presented showing an acceptable linear dependence on Hess-Schaad resonance energy per pi-electron values. The topological measure of stability is accessible by use of pencil calculation and is based on counting cis-type fragments of double bonds in all canonical structures of a given BH. Evidence is given that infinite chains of straight linear polyacenes are always less stable than the kinked ones.     

Can an α-anomer of the trinitro form of D-glucopyranose be more easily hydrolyzed in alkaline environment than the β-anomer? A detailed theoretical analysis

Comprehensive computational investigations of detailed alkaline hydrolysis reaction pathways of the α-anomeric form of nitrocellulose monomer (2,3,6-trinitro-α-D-glucopyranose) in the (4)C(1) chair conformation within the S(N)2 framework in the gas phase and in bulk water solution are reported. Geometries of reactant complexes, transition states, intermediates, and completely denitrated product were optimized at the density functional theory (DFT) level using the B3LYP functional and the 6-311G(d,p) basis set both in the gas phase and in the bulk water solution. The effect of bulk water was modeled using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) approach. The nature of the potential energy surface of the local minima and transition states was ascertained through vibrational frequency analysis. Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations were also performed to validate the computed transition state structures. Effect of electron correlation on computed energies was considered through a single point energy calculation at the MP2 level using the cc-pVTZ basis set. It was revealed that the presence of hydrogen bonds between the attacking OH(-) ion and various hydrogen bond donating sites (including CH sites) of monomer was necessary for stabilization of the transition state. It was revealed that the α-anomer will be more reactive than the β-anomer with regard to the denitration reaction. The role of entropy and the denitration ability of various sites are also discussed.     

A molecular balance to measure the strength of N-H?π hydrogen bonds based on the tautomeric equilibria of C-benzylphenyl substituted NH-pyrazoles

A theoretical (B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗) study of 30 pyrazoles, most of them existing in two tautomeric forms, has been carried out. 3(5)-(2-Benzylphenyl)-5(3)-methyl-1H-pyrazole (11) and 3(5)-(2-benzylbenzylphenyl)-5(3)-phenyl-1H-pyrazole (20) were synthesized from 2-benzoylacetophenone, and their annular tautomeric equilibrium determined. The substituent effects were statistically analyzed and discussed with the help of Hammett substituent constants. In the case of the 5-(2-benzylphenyl) groups, the strength of the N-H?π hydrogen bond depends on the electronic effect of the substituent at position 3.     

Influence of basis set and electron correlation on calculated barriers to 1,2-hydrogen shifts. The oxoniomethylene cation: A new CH3O+ isomer?

Ab initio molecular orbital theory has been used to study the intramolecular rearrangement of ethylidene to ethylene and of the oxoniomethylene cation to the hydroxymethyl cation. Optimized geometries of stable isomers and transition structures have been determined using gradient procedures and the 4-31G basis set. Improved energy comparisons have been obtained with the double-zeta plus polarization 6-3IG⁺⁺ basis set with electron correlation incorporated at the levels of second- (MP2) and third- (MP3) order Møller—Plesset perturbation theory.     

A microcalorimetric titration study on the micelle formation of alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethylalkylammonium bromide) surfactants at a 283.15–343.15?K temperature range

The aim of this study was to investigate the self-assembly process for m-8-m gemini surfactants, for m?=?8 and 12, in water, using the microcalorimetric titration method within the temperature range of 283.15?C343.15?K. The enthalpy of micellization (?H _mic) and critical micelle concentration (c.m.c.) have been calculated by using modified sigmoidal Boltzmann equation. Other thermodynamic parameters ?G _mic, ?S _mic, and ?C _p,mic, associated with micellization process were determined on the basis of the calorimetric results by applying the pseudo-phase separation model. The c.m.c. and ?H _mic values strongly depend on the temperature and the alkyl chain length. The enthalpy of micellization decreases and then changes its sign and becomes negative when temperature increases. The temperature dependence of the c.m.c. for the surfactants investigated exhibits typical U-shape. The results obtained are compared with literature data for other gemini cationic surfactants with a different alkyl chain length. The differences are analyzed in terms of differences in the hydrophobic interactions between the hydrocarbon chains.     

Are the reduction and oxidation properties of nitrocompounds dissolved in water different from those produced when adsorbed on a silica surface? A DFT M05‐2X computational study

The reduction and oxidation properties of four nitrocompounds (trinitrotoluene [TNT], 2,4‐dinitrotoluene, 2,4‐dinitroanisole, and 5‐nitro‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐one [NTO]) dissolved in water as compared with the same properties for compounds adsorbed on a silica surface were studied. To consider the influence of adsorption, cluster models were developed at the M05/tzvp level. A hydroxylated silica (001) surface was chosen to represent a key component of soil. The PCM(Pauling) and SMD solvation models were used to model water bulk influence. The following properties were analyzed: electron affinity, ionization potential, reduction Gibbs free energy, oxidation Gibbs free energy, and reduction and oxidation potentials. It was found that adsorption and solvation decrease gas phase electron affinity, ionization potential, and Gibbs free energy of reduction and oxidation, and thus, promote redox transformation of nitrocompounds. However, in case of solvation, the changes are more significant than for adsorption. This means that nitrocompounds dissolved in water are easier to transform by reduction or oxidation than adsorbed ones. Among the considered compounds, TNT was found to be the most reactive in an electron attachment process and the least reactive for an electron detachment transformation. During ionization, a deprotonation of adsorbed NTO was found to occur. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Are N-heterocyclic carbenes "better" ligands than phosphines in main group chemistry? A theoretical case study of ligand-stabilized E2 molecules, L-E-E-L (L = NHC, phosphine; E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, N, P, As, Sb, Bi)

A theoretical examination of the L-E-E-L class of molecules has been carried out (E = group 14, group 15 element; L = N-heterocyclic carbene, phosphine), for which Si, Ge, P, and As-NHC complexes have recently been synthesized. The focus of this study is to predict whether it is possible to stabilize the elusive E(2) molecule via formation of L-E-E-L beyond the few known examples, and if the ligand set for this class of compounds can be extended from the NHC to the phosphine class of ligands. It is predicted that thermodynamically stable L-E-E-L complexes are possible for all group 14 and 15 elements, with the exception of nitrogen. The unknown ligand-stabilized Sn(2) and Pb(2) complexes may be considered attractive synthetic targets. In all cases the NHC complexes are more stable than the phosphines, however several of the phosphine derivatives may be isolable. The root of the extra stability conferred by the NHC ligands over the phosphines is determined to be a combination of the NHCs greater donating ability, and for the group 15 complexes, superior π acceptor capability from the E-E core. This later factor is the opposite as to what is normally observed in transition metal chemistry when comparing NHC and phosphine ligands, and may be an important consideration in the ongoing "renaissance" of low-valent main group compounds supported by ligands.