A theoretical approach to substituent effects. A comparison of the isoelectronic BH,CH3, and NH groups and their interaction with substituents in disubstituted benzenes

Ab initio molecular orbital theory with the STO -3G basis set is used to examine both charge and energy interactions in a series of meta- and para-substituted phenylborate anions and toluenes. Comparison of the results is made with data for substituted anilinium cations. It is concluded that whereas NH is a powerful σ acceptor, with essentially no π interaction, BH is primarily a π donor, and, to a slight extent only, a π donor. CH₃ is indicated to be both a weak σ and π donor. Energies of interaction of BH and NH with a series of substituents are an order of magnitude larger than corresponding values for CH₃. Interaction energies for BH are of opposite sign to those for NH. The results may be understood qualitatively using perturbation molecular orbital (PMO ) theory.     

Hydration of superoxide studied by molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics was used to study the hydration of superoxide (O). The Helmholtz free energy of hydration of O was estimated by the thermodynamic integration method. The diffusion of O and the water structure around O were also studied. Two water models were used in the calculations and the results were compared to experiments.     

MNDO study of catenated sulfur: The molecules and ions S3 to S8

Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations by the MNDO method are reported for sulfur rings and chains S₃ through S₈, for the corresponding dications, S through S, and for S. The MNDO method seems quite successful in predicting the geometries of neutral catenated sulfur molecules, even the unusual bond-length alternation and extent of coplanarity in cyclo-S₇. In contrast to hydrocarbon rings, for which its prediction of strain is erratic, MNDO is consistent in its calculated strain energies in small cyclosulfur rings; unfortunately all the strain energies are overestimated by 70%. As a consequence of this error, the method must be considered unreliable in its predictions of structures for the dications S, since many of these ions could potentially exist as strained bicyclic systems. In addition, MNDO appears to have difficulty handling long, partial SS σ bonds, as are found to occur in S. It may be for this reason that MNDO predicts, apparently incorrectly, that the open-chain isomers of S are more stable than are any of the cyclic forms, at least for S to S. With respect to neutral Sⁿ molecules, however, the MNDO predictions appear more reliable than ab initio molecular orbital (MO ) calculations using small basis sets without polarization functions and without configuration interaction (CI ). However, MNDO apparently underestimates by about a factor of two the strength of the three-electron π bonds present in the terminal links of sulfur diradical chains.     

Hartree Fock instabilities of sulfur-nitrogen ring systems: S2N2

The Hartree-Fock instablities of S₂N₂ are reported and compared with those of S₃N and S₄N. These unsaturated sulfur nitrogen planar rings are π electron rich and although the symmetry adapted HF solutions are singlet stable at the experimental bond lengths they become unstable with only a very modest increase in bond length. The broken symmetry solutions for S₂N₃, S₃N, and S₄N are of planar C_2v type with one of the nitrogens stripped of its π electrons, producing a π hole.     

Thermodynamic molecular mechanics force field: Modified QCFF program

The QCFF program originated by Warshel and Karplus^4a was modified to compute accurate thermodynamic properties S^o, C, (H – H)/T, and ΔH for various acyclic and cyclic alkenes and alkadienes. Modifications consisted of adjusted bond angle, dihedral angle, bond stretch, and bond energy parameters that improved calculated vibrational frequencies, zero point energies, and thermodynamic functions. Supplemental torsional potential energy functions that were added to existing torsional functions led to greatly improved relative conformer energies and ΔH values. It was shown that inclusion of hindered internal rotation leads to significantly better agreement of calculated thermodynamic functions with observed values for acyclic alkenes at high temperatures. The calculated thermodynamic properties of the alkenes and alkadienes were deemed sufficiently accurate for calculation of standard enthalpies and Gibbs free energies of gas phase chemical reactions at various temperatures. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hydration structures and energetics of phospholipid

Using previously reported ab initio potentials of the intermolecular interaction energies of phospholipid (PL), Lysophosphatidyl Ethanolamine, with one Na⁺ ion and one water molecule, we performed Monte Carlo simulations for PL-water and PL-Na⁺-water systems. Water-water and PL-water interaction energetics of PL hydration sites are analyzed to understand, in a qualitative way, why the PL head part shows hydrophilicity and the tail part shows hydrophobicity. The interaction of Na⁺ with PL, as well as the interaction of water with PL, is visualized from the analysis of the hydration structures near PL, and the radial distribution functions are analyzed for selected hydration sites. The PL molecule shows much stronger interaction with Na⁺ than with water. The Na⁺ ion is likely to be strongly bound to PO, even to the extent of being trapped, whereas, for water, there exist two strong binding regions near NH and PO. Three water molecules near NH are much more strongly bound than four water molecules near the double-bonded oxygens of PO. The hydrogens of CH₂ adjacent to NH show somewhat strong hydrophilicity, while the hydrogens of CH₂ adjacent to PO does not show such characteristics. The CH₂ groups at the PL tail part give repulsive interactions with water molecules, showing hydrophobicity. Water molecules near the PL tail are stabilized only by water-water interactions.     

Extended basis CNDO calculations of linear and nonlinear electric susceptibilities of some molecular dianions and carbonions using coupled Hartree–Fock perturbation theory

The results of calculating the average polarizabilities, first and second hyperpolarizabilities and molar Kerr constants of C₅H, C₆H, 2-C₁₀H, 2-C₁₄H, C₈H and C₈H are reported. The main elements of our computational scheme are McWeeny's coupled Hartree–Fock perturbation theory and an extended basis CNDO wave function. It is shown that the studied anions have nonlinearities within the same order of magnitude as their respective uncharged parent molecules. The Kerr constants of these anions are analyzed and the contribution of the various terms is appraised.     

Explicitly correlated Gaussian functions with r factors for calculations of the ground state of the helium atom

Explicitly correlated Gaussian functions with r exp( ? β r ) factors have been used in variational calculations of the ground state of the helium atom. Additional correlation factors in the form of even powers of r _ij were introduced to the Gaussian functions with exponential correlation components by differentiating these functions with respect to the correlation exponent β. The algorithm of this method and its computational implementation is described. A number of calculations were performed for the ground state of helium atom to test the performance of the basis sets comparising different numbers of the Gaussians with the exp( ? β r ) and r exp( ? β r ) correlation factors. The numerical results indicate that including functions with r factors does not lead to improved results, contrary to what was anticipated initially. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electron transfer reactivity of O2+O system in low-spin coupling: Ab Initio study at electron correlation level

The electron transfer reactivity of the O₂+O system in low-spin coupling is studied at the second-order unrestricted Møller–Plesset (full)/6-311+G* basis set level by using different transition state structures. The properties and stabilities of the encounter complexes are compared for the five selected coupling structures: two T type, collinear, parallel, and crossing. The activation barriers and the coupling matrix elements are also calculated. The results indicate that the structures of the encounter complexes directly affect the electron transfer mechanism and rate. These encounter complexes are structurally unstable, the contact distances between the acceptor O₂ and the donor O are generally large, the interaction is weak, and the structures are floppy. The electronic transmission factor for the reacting system, O₂+O, is less than unity; thus, the electron transfer reaction is nonadiabatic in nature. Analysis of the dependence of relevant kinetic parameters on various influencing factors has shown that the effect of the solvent medium on the coupling matrix element is small but that on the electron transfer rate is very large. Among the five selected transition state structures, the electron transfer is more likely to take place via T₁-type and P-type structures. In the low-spin coupling the favorable electronic states for two reacting species are ¹∑(O₂) and X²Π_g(O) instead of X³∑(O₂) and X²π_g(O), which are favorable for the high-spin (quartet state) coupling mechanism. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 989–998, 1999     

Ab initio study of the reaction of CHO+ with H2O and NH3

An MP4(full,SDTQ)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p) ab initio study was performed of the reactions of formyl and isoformyl cations with H₂O and NH₃, which play an important role in flame and interstellar chemistries. Two different confluent channels were located leading to CO+H₃O⁺/NH. The first one corresponds to the approach of the neutral molecule to the carbon atom of the cations. The second one leads to the direct proton transfer from the cations to the neutrals. At 900 K the separate products CO+H₃O⁺/NH are the most stable species along the Gibbs energy profiles for the processes. For the reaction with H₂O the reaction channel leading to HC(OH) (protonated formic acid) is disfavored with respect to the two CO+H₃O⁺ channels in agreement with the experimental evidence that H₃O⁺ is the major ion observed in hydrocarbon flames. According to our calculations, NH+H₂O are considerably more stable in Gibbs energy than NH₃+H₃O⁺;NH will predominate in the reaction zone when ammonia is added to CH₄+Ar diffusion flame, as experimentally observed. At 100 K the most stable structures are the intermediate complexes CO…HOH/HNH. Particularly the CO…HOH complex has a lifetime large enough to be detected and, therefore, could play a certain role in interstellar chemistry. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1432–1443, 1999     

Simulation studies of branched polymer molecules

Monte Carlo simulation results are presented for lattice models of uniform stars (one branch point of functionality f = 3), combs (two branch points, ? = 3,3) and brushes (two branch points ? = 3,4 and ? = 3,5). We estimate the critical exponent γ(?), the ratio g(?) = 〈S(?)〉/〈S(1)〉 (where 〈S(?)〉 is the mean-square radius of gyration of a structure having ? branches and N monomers), and the meansquare end-to-end branch lengths, as a function of the number and arrangement of branches. Comparisons with theoretical predictions and experimental data are made where possible, leading to a test of some predictions, and a suggestion concerning future experiments.     

Li+?F− in aqueous solution

The energy hypersurface for the system Li(H₂O)–F(H₂O) is investigated using the polarization model. A possible mechanism for the production of HF in this solution droplet is observed.     

Carbodications. I. The structures and energies of C4H isomers

At high levels of ab initio theory (6-31G*//4-31G), the most stable C₄H isomer is indicated to be the nonplanar cyclobutadiene dication ( 1a ); the planar form, 1b , is indicated to be 7.5 kcal/mol less stable. The second most stable C₄H isomer, the methylenecyclopropene dication, is indicated to prefer the perpendicular ( 2a ) over the planar ( 2b ) arrangement by 7 kcal/mol. The “anti van't Hoff” cyclo-(HB)₂C?CH₂ system ( 4 ), isoelectronic with 2 , also prefers the perpendicular conformation ( 4a ), and retains the C?C double bond. The linear butatriene dication ( 3 ) is the least stable C₄H species investigated. The perpendicular (D_2d) arrangement ( 3a ), permitting double allyl cationlike conjugation, is preferred over the planar D_2h form ( 3b ) by 26 kcal/mol. The heat of formation of the most stable form of C₄H, 1a , is estimated to be 623–640 kcal/mol. This species should be thermodynamically stable toward dissociation into smaller charged fragments.     

The α and α parameters for spin polarized Hartree–Fock–Slater calculations

α and α are derived for use in spin polarized Hartree–Fock–Slater programs. They are assumed to depend only on the number of up and down spin electrons in the atom. The calculated eigenvalues show a slight improvement only for carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.     

MNDO parameters for helium: Optimization,tests, and application to endohedral fullerene—helium complexes

MNDO parameters for helium are derived from an optimization that employs only atomic and diatomic reference data. Comparisons with published high-level ab initio results indicate that MNDO correctly predicts the existence of covalently bonded helium compounds and normally reproduces the geometries of these small charged molecules reasonably well. Endohedral fullerene–helium complexes and the transition states for their formation are studied for C₆₀, C₆₀, and C. The calculated barriers are discussed and compared with those for the passage of helium through C₆H₆, C₆H, and C₆H. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio characterization of several states of nitroxylium (NO). Comparison of fragmentation energies of nitroxylium,nitroxyl (NO3), and nitrate

Ab initio calculations have been performed at the self-consistent field (HF) level, and its perturbative extensions up to fourth-order (MPn), for several electronic states of nitroxylium (NO) as well as for a large number of reference species. Geometries are optimized at the HF/DZ and HF/DZP levels (double zeta and double zeta plus polarization bases). The ground state is found to be the D_3h ¹A₁′ state, with the C_2v ¹A₁ (closed Y) state higher by 0.94 eV. The relationship between adding electrons or oxygen atoms to NO⁺ and NO is explored, especially in relation to fragmentation energies of NO (q = 0 or 1). A comparison is drawn between NO and two isoelectronic species, CO₃ and C(CH₂)₃, where no surprises are found.     

Ab initioMO calculations for the oxides,oxyacids, and oxyanions of S(IV) and S(VI)

Ab initio molecular orbital (MO ) calculations for two series of sulfur–oxygen compounds are reported: the S(IV ) system of SO₂, H₂SO₃, HSO, and SO, and the S(VI ) system of SO₃, H₂SO₄, HSO, and SO. Geometries about the sulfur atoms were optimized using the STO -3G* basis set; energies at these geometries were computed by the STO ?3G and 44-31G basis sets both with and without five Gaussian d orbitals on S. The sulfur–oxygen bond lengths and the angles about the central atoms agree fairly well with experiment. The stabilization energy associated with the addition of the d orbitals was found to be a constant amount per bond (ca. 54 and 28 kcal mole^?1 in the minimal and extended bases, respectively) in hypervalent compounds. The isomer HSO was predicted to be more stable than SO₂(OH)^?, but the reverse was true for HSO₂(OH) compared to SO(OH)₂. The deprotonation energies for the acids and the hydration energies for the oxides also were computed and discussed with reference to experimental data.     

Ab initio molecular orbital studies of nonidentity allyl transfer reactions

Ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations are carried out on the nonidentity allyl transfer processes, X^? + CH₂CHCH₂Y ? CH₂CHCH₂ X + Y^?, with X^? = H, F, and Cl and Y = H, NH₂, OH, F, PH₂, SH, and Cl. The Marcus equation applies well to the allyl transfer reactions. The transition state (TS) position along the reaction coordinate and the TS structure are strongly influenced by the thermodynamic driving force, whereas the TS looseness is originated from the intrinsic barrier. The intrinsic barrier, ΔE, looseness, %L?, and absolute asymmetry, %AS?, are well correlated with the percentage bond elongation, %CY? = [(d ? d)/d] × 100 and/or %CX?. The %CY? and the bond orders indicate that a stronger nucleophile and/or a stronger nucleofuge (or a better leaving group) leads to an earlier TS on the reaction coordinate with a lesser degree of bond making as well as bond breaking. These are consistent with the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle and the Leffler-Hammond postulate. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An SCF study of 10-vertex and 12-vertex boranes and heteroboranes

For symmetry-constrained boranes B₁₀H, B₁₂H, and their valence isoelectronic analogues containing a single hetero atom, completely optimized geometries were obtained using Hartree–Fock SCF calculations with the 3-21G and 6-31G* basis sets. For the anionic and dianionic species, the geometry optimization was also carried out using the 6-31 + G* basis set. Harmonic vibrational frequencies were obtained at HF/3-21G level. The results compare well with experiment where available.     

Three-electron bonds. III. Phosphorus and chlorine σ* radical cations

The radical cations H₃PPH, H₃PSH, H₃PClH^+·, and HClClH^+· have been studied by ab initio molecular-orbital theory. An increasing tendency to adopt trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) gemoetries is observed for the phosphorus radicals with sulfur and chlorine ligands. The three-electron bond dissociation energies are calculated to be between 7 and 31 kcal mol^?1. The dependence of these bond energies on the ionization potentials for the neutral hydrides is illustrated, and the deformation of phosphorus σ* radicals towards TBP structures is discussed.