Benzocyclobutene: The Impact of Fusing a Strained Ring onto Benzene

The gas-phase acidities of the two aromatic sites in benzocyclobutene were measured in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer using a kinetic technique (i.e., the DePuy method). Fusion of a cyclobutane ring onto benzene is found to have a slight acidifying effect at the alpha-position (3.2 +/- 1.7 kcal mol(-)(1)) and little, if any, influence on the beta-site (0.8 +/- 1.9 kcal mol(-)(1)). Energetic data (DeltaH degrees (acid) = 386.2 +/- 3.0 kcal mol(-)(1), EA = 0.84 +/- 0.11 eV, and C-H BDE = 92 +/- 4 kcal mol(-)(1)) for the benzylic position were obtained via the bracketing technique and application of a thermodynamic cycle. Differences in the reactivities of the three conjugate bases also were explored. Ab initio and density functional theory calculations were carried out to provide geometries, energies, and insights into the carbanions' electronic structures.     

Thermochemistry of the hypobromous and hypochlorous acids, HOBr and HOCl

The enthalpies of formation of HOBr and HOCl have been estimated by employing coupled cluster theory in conjunction with the correlation consistent basis sets and corrections for core-valence, relativistic, and anharmonic effects. We have employed three different reactions to estimate the DeltaH(o)(f,298)(HOBr), namely, the atomization reaction and two homodesmic reactions. Our best estimation is DeltaH(o)(f,298) (HOBr) = -15.3 +/- 0.6 kcal/mol and is very likely to lie toward the more negative values. The present value is 1.4 kcal/mol lower than the widely used experimental determination of Ruscic and Berkowitz (J. Chem. Phys. 1994, 101, 7795), DeltaH(o)(f,298)(HOBr) > -13.93 +/- 0.42 kcal/mol. However, it is closer to the more recent measurement of Lock et al. (J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 7972), DeltaH(o)(f,298)(HOBr) = -14.8 +/- 1 kcal/mol. In the case of HOCl we have determined DeltaH(o)(f,298)(HOCl) = -18.1 +/- 0.3 kcal/mol, just in the middle of the two experimental values proposed, -17.8 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol (JANAF), obtained from equilibrium constant measurements, and -18.36 +/- 0.03 kcal/mol (Joens, J. A. J. Phys. Chem. A 2001, 105, 11041), determined from the measurements of the Cl-OH bond energy. If our conclusions are correct, several enthalpies of formation that have been determined by experimental chemists, Orlando and Burholder (J. Phys. Chem. 1995, 99, 1143), and theoretical chemists, Lee (J. Phys. Chem. 1995, 99, 15074), need to be revised, since a larger value was used for DeltaH(o)(f,298)(HOBr). Employing the results obtained by Orlando and Burkholder for Br(2)O we propose DeltaH(o)(f,298)(Br(2)O) = 24.9 +/- 0.6 kcal/mol, and employing Lee's enthalpies of reaction we propose the following DeltaH(o)(f,298): for BrBrO, HBrO, ClOBr, ClBrO, BrClO, BrCN, BrNC, BrNO, BrON, FOBr, and FBrO, 39.5 +/- 1, 41.0 +/- 1, 22.7 +/- 1.5, 34.2 +/- 1.5, 40.9 +/- 1.5, 43.7 +/- 1.5, 80.1 +/- 1.5, 22.3 +/- 1, 46.2 +/- 1, 17.3 +/- 1.5, and 6.3 +/- 1.5 kcal/mol, respectively. We expect that this work will stimulate new experimental measurements of the thermodynamic properties of HOBr and HOCl.     

Benzocyclobutadienyl anion: formation and energetics of an antiaromatic molecule

Benzocyclobutadienyl diazirine (2) was synthesized and reacted with hydroxide ion in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer to afford the conjugate base of benzocyclobutadiene (1a). Authentication of the ion structure was carried out by a derivatization experiment (i.e., la was converted to benzocyclobutenone enolate, which has previously been studied), and its reactivity was explored. Thermochemical data for benzocyclobutadiene (1) were obtained (deltaH(o)acid (1) = 386 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1), EA(1r) = 1.8 +/- 0.1 eV, and C-H BDE (1) = 114 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1)), compared to MP2 and B3LYP calculations, and contrasted to a series of model compounds. Cyclobutadienyl radical appears to be quite different from benzocyclobutadienyl radical (1r) and worth further exploration.     

Why does cyclopropene have the acidity of an acetylene but the bond energy of methane?

The gas-phase acidity of 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (1) has been measured by bracketing and equilibrium techniques. Consistent with simple hybridization arguments, our value (deltaH degrees (acid) = 382.7 +/- 1.3 kcal mol(-)(1)) is indistinguishable from that for methylacetylene (i.e., deltadeltaH degrees (acid)(1 - CH(3)Ctbd1;CH) = 1.6 +/- 2.5 kcal mol(-)(1)). The electron affinity of 3,3-dimethylcyclopropenyl radical (1r) was also determined (EA = 37.6 +/- 3.5 kcal mol(-)(1)), and these quantities were combined in a thermodynamic cycle to afford the homolytic C-H bond dissociation energy. To our surprise, the latter quantity (107 +/- 4 kcal mol(-)(1)) is the same as that for methane, which cannot be explained in terms of the s-character in the C-H bonds. An orbital explanation (delocalization) is proposed to account for the extra stability of 1r. All of the results are supplemented with G3 and B3LYP computations, and both approaches are in good accord with the experimental values. We also note that for simple hydrocarbons which give localized carbanions upon deprotonation there is an apparent linear correlation between any two of the following three quantities: deltaH degrees (acid), BDE, and EA. This observation could be of considerable value in many diverse areas of chemistry.     

Gas-phase thermochemical properties of pyrimidine nucleobases

The gas-phase acidity and proton affinity of thymine, cytosine, and 1-methyl cytosine have been examined using both theoretical (B3LYP/6-31+G*) and experimental (bracketing, Cooks kinetic) methods. This paper represents a comprehensive examination of multiple acidic sites of thymine and cytosine and of the acidity and proton affinity of thymine, cytosine, and 1-methyl cytosine. Thymine exists as the most stable "canonical" tautomer in the gas phase, with a DeltaH(acid) of 335 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1) (DeltaG(acid) = 328 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1)) for the more acidic N1-H. The acidity of the less acidic N3-H site has not, heretofore, been measured; we bracket a DeltaH(acid) value of 346 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (DeltaG(acid) = 339 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). The proton affinity (PA = DeltaH) of thymine is measured to be 211 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (GB = DeltaG = 203 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). Cytosine is known to have several stable tautomers in the gas phase in contrast to in solution, where the canonical tautomer predominates. Using bracketing methods in an FTMS, we measure a DeltaH(acid) for the more acidic site of 342 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (DeltaG(acid) = 335 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). The DeltaH(acid) of the less acidic site, previously unknown, is 352 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1) (345 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1)). The proton affinity is 228 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (GB = 220 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). Comparison of these values to calculations indicates that we most likely have a mixture of the canonical tautomer and two enol tautomers and possibly an imine tautomer under our conditions in the gas phase. We also measure the acidity and proton affinity of cytosine using the extended Cooks kinetic method. We form the proton-bound dimers via electrospray of an aqueous solution, which favors cytosine in the canonical form. The acidity of cytosine using this method is DeltaH(acid) = 343 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1), PA = 227 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1). We also examined 1-methyl cytosine, which has fewer accessible tautomers than cytosine. We measure a DeltaH(acid) of 349 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (DeltaG(acid) = 342 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)) and a PA of 230 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1) (GB = 223 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1)). Our ultimate goal is to understand the intrinsic reactivity of nucleobases; gas-phase acidic and basic properties are of interest for chemical reasons and also possibly for biological purposes because biological media can be quite nonpolar.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of H atom transfer from HMo(CO)3(eta(5)-C5H5) to Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 and (PhCN)Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3: direct insertion of benzonitrile into the Mo-H bond of HMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 forming (Ph(H)C=N)Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3

Synthetic studies are reported that show that the reaction of either H2SnR2 (R = Ph, n-Bu) or HMo(CO)3(Cp) (1-H, Cp = eta(5)-C5H5) with Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (2, Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2) produce HMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (2-H). The benzonitrile adduct (PhCN)Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (2-NCPh) reacts rapidly with H2SnR2 or 1-H to produce the ketimide complex (Ph(H)C=N)Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (2-NC(H)Ph). The X-ray crystal structures of both 2-H and 2-NC(H)Ph are reported. The enthalpy of reaction of 1-H and 2 in toluene solution has been measured by solution calorimetry (DeltaH = -13.1 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1)) and used to estimate the Mo-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) in 2-H as 62 kcal mol(-1). The enthalpy of reaction of 1-H and 2-NCPh in toluene solution was determined calorimetrically as DeltaH = -35.1 +/- 2.1 kcal mol(-1). This value combined with the enthalpy of hydrogenation of [Mo(CO)3(Cp)]2 (1(2)) gives an estimated value of 90 kcal mol(-1) for the BDE of the ketimide C-H of 2-NC(H)Ph. These data led to the prediction that formation of 2-NC(H)Ph via nitrile insertion into 2-H would be exothermic by approximately 36 kcal mol(-1), and this reaction was observed experimentally. Stopped flow kinetic studies of the rapid reaction of 1-H with 2-NCPh yielded DeltaH(double dagger) = 11.9 +/- 0.4 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS(double dagger) = -2.7 +/- 1.2 cal K(-1) mol(-1). Corresponding studies with DMo(CO)3(Cp) (1-D) showed a normal kinetic isotope effect with kH/kD approximately 1.6, DeltaH(double dagger) = 13.1 +/- 0.4 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 1.1 +/- 1.6 cal K(-1) mol(-1). Spectroscopic studies of the much slower reaction of 1-H and 2 yielding 2-H and 1/2 1(2) showed generation of variable amounts of a complex proposed to be (Ar[t-Bu]N)3Mo-Mo(CO)3(Cp) (1-2). Complex 1-2 can also be formed in small equilibrium amounts by direct reaction of excess 2 and 1(2). The presence of 1-2 complicates the kinetic picture; however, in the presence of excess 2, the second-order rate constant for H atom transfer from 1-H has been measured: 0.09 +/- 0.01 M(-1) s(-1) at 1.3 degrees C and 0.26 +/- 0.04 M(-1) s(-1) at 17 degrees C. Study of the rate of reaction of 1-D yielded kH/kD = 1.00 +/- 0.05 consistent with an early transition state in which formation of the adduct (Ar[t-Bu]N)3Mo...HMo(CO)3(Cp) is rate limiting.     

Is the 1,3,5-tridehydrobenzene triradical a cyclopropenyl radical analogue?

The gas-phase heat of formation (DeltaH(f,298)) of the 1,3,5-tridehydrobenzene triradical has been determined by using a negative ion thermochemical cycle. The first three measurements carried out were of the gas-phase acidity of 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid, the enthalpy for decarboxylation of 3,5-dichlorobenzoate, and the enthalpy for chloride loss from 3,5,-dichlorophenide and constitute the measurement of the heat of formation for 5-chloro-m-benzyne. The last two measurements, the electron affinity of 5-chloro-m-benzyne, and the threshold for chloride loss from 5-chloro-m-benzyne, when combined with DeltaH(f,298) of 5-chloro-m-benzyne, give the heat of formation of the triradical. The 5-chloro-m-benzyne heat of formation is 116.2 +/- 3.7 kcal/mol. The heat of formation of the 1,3,5-tridehydrobenzene triradical measured in this work is 179.1 +/- 4.6 kcal/mol. This heat of formation was used to derive the bond dissociation energy (BDE) at the 5-position of m-benzyne, a third BDE in benzene. The BDE, at 109.2 +/- 5.6 kcal/mol, is ca. 4 kcal/mol lower than the first BDE in benzene (112.9 kcal/mol) and significantly higher than the BDE of phenyl radical at the meta position. The agreement between the first and third BDEs implies that the triradical is best described as a phenyl radical that interacts little with a m-benzyne moiety. The experimentally measured BDE is in good agreement with multireference configuration interaction calculations, which predict a (2)A(1) ground state for the Jahn-Teller distorted triradical. The trends in the first, second, and third BDEs of benzene are similar to those found for cyclopropane, suggesting a cyclopropenyl-like electronic structure within the six-membered ring of the 1,3,5-benzene triradical.     

Conformation-dependent reaction thermochemistry: study of lactones and lactone enolates in the gas phase

Gas-phase acidities (Delta H degrees (acid)) of lactones with ring sizes from four to seven have been measured on a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Electron affinities (EAs) of the corresponding lactone enolate radicals were measured on a continuous-wave ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, and the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the alpha C-H bonds were derived. In order of increasing ring size, Delta H degrees (acid) = 368.7 +/- 2., 369.4 +/- 2.2, 367.3 +/- 2.2, and 368.3 +/- 2.2 kcal/mol and BDE = 99.4 +/- 2.3, 94.8 +/- 2.3, 89.2 +/- 2.3, and 92.8 +/- 2.4 kcal/mol for beta-propiolactone, gamma-butyrolactone, delta-valerolactone, and epsilon-caprolactone, respectively. For their corresponding enolate radicals, EA = 44.1 +/- 0.3, 38.8 +/- 0.3, 35.3 +/- 0.3, and 37.9 +/- 0.6 kcal/mol. All of these lactones are considerably more acidic than methyl acetate, consistent with a dipole repulsion model. Both BDEs and EAs show a strong dependence on ring size, whereas Delta H degrees (acid) does not. These findings are discussed, taking into account differential electronic effects and differential strain between the reactant and product species in each reaction.     

The enthalpies of formation of o-, m-, and p-benzoquinone: gas-phase ion energetics, combustion calorimetry, and quantum chemical computations combined

Radical anions of o-, m-, and p-benzoquinone were produced in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer by low energy electron attachment or collision-induced dissociation and were differentiated. Classical derivatization experiments also were carried out to authenticate the ortho and meta anions. Gas-phase techniques were used to measure the proton affinities of all three radical anions and the electron affinities of o- and m-benzoquinone. By combining these results in thermodynamic cycles, we derived heats of hydrogenation of o-, m-, and p-benzoquinone (Delta(hyd)H degrees (1o, 1m, and 1p) = 42.8 +/- 4.1, 74.8 +/- 4.1, and 38.5 +/- 3.0 kcal mol(-)(1), respectively) and their heats of formation (Delta(f)H degrees (1o, 1m, and 1p) = -23.1 +/- 4.1, 6.8 +/- 4.1, and -27.7 +/- 3.0 kcal mol(-)(1), respectively). Good accord with the literature value for the para derivative was obtained. Combustion calorimetry and heats of sublimation also were measured for benzil and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone. The former heat of formation agreed with previous determinations, while the latter result (Delta(f)H degrees (g) = -73.09 +/- 0.87 kcal mol(-)(1)) was transformed to Delta(f)H degrees (1o) = -18.9 +/- 2.2 kcal mol(-)(1) by removing the effect of the tert-butyl groups via isodesmic reactions. This led to a final value of Delta(f)H degrees (1o) = -21.0 +/- 3.1 kcal mol(-)(1). Additivity was found to work well for m-benzoquinone, but BDE1 and BDE2 for 1,2- and 1,4-dihydroxybenzene differed by a remarkably small 14.1 +/- 4.2 and 23.5 +/- 3.7 kcal mol(-)(1), respectively, indicating that o- and p-benzoquinone should be excellent radical traps.     

Molecular encapsulation via metal-to-ligand coordination in a Cu(I)-folded molecular basket

A molecular basket, composed of a semirigid C3v symmetric tris-norbornadiene framework and three pyridine flaps at the rim, has been shown to coordinate to a Cu(I) cation and thereby fold in a multivalent fashion. The assembly was effective (Ka = 1.73 +/- 0.08 x 10(5) M(-1)) and driven by enthalpy (DeltaH(o) = -7.2 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol, DeltaS(o) = -0.25 eu). Variable temperature (1)H NMR studies, assisted with 2D COSY and ROESY investigations, revealed the existence of Cu(I)-folded basket 10b with a molecule of acetonitrile occupying its interior and coordinated to the metal. Interestingly, 10b is in equilibrium with Cu(I)-folded 10a , whose inner space is solvated by acetone or chloroform. The incorporation of a molecule of acetonitrile inside 10a was found to be driven by enthalpy (DeltaH(o) = -3.3 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol), with an apparent loss in entropy (DeltaS(o) = -9.4 +/- 0.4 eu); this is congruent with a complete immobilization of acetonitrile and release of a "loosely" encapsulated solvent molecule during 10a/b interconversion. From an Eyring plot, the activation enthalpy for incorporating acetonitrile into 10a was found to be positive (DeltaH(double dagger) = 6.5 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol), while the activation entropy was negative (DeltaS(double dagger) = -20 +/- 2 eu). The results are in agreement with an exchange mechanism whereby acetonitrile "slips" into an "empty" basket through its side aperture. In fact, DFT (BP86) calculations are in favor of such a mechanistic scenario; the calculations suggest that opening of the basket's rim to exchange guests is energetically demanding and therefore less feasible.     

Oxidative reactivity difference among the metal oxo and metal hydroxo moieties: pH dependent hydrogen abstraction by a manganese(IV) complex having two hydroxide ligands

Clarifying the difference in redox reactivity between the metal oxo and metal hydroxo moieties for the same redox active metal ion in identical structures and oxidation states, that is, M(n+)O and M(n+)-OH, contributes to the understanding of nature's choice between them (M(n+)O or M(n+)-OH) as key active intermediates in redox enzymes and electron transfer enzymes, and provides a basis for the design of synthetic oxidation catalysts. The newly synthesized manganese(IV) complex having two hydroxide ligands, [Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(OH)(2)](PF(6))(2), serves as the prototypic example to address this issue, by investigating the difference in the hydrogen abstracting abilities of the Mn(IV)O and Mn(IV)-OH functional groups. Independent thermodynamic evaluations of the O-H bond dissociation energies (BDE(OH)) for the corresponding reduction products, Mn(III)-OH and Mn(III)-OH(2), reveal very similar oxidizing power for Mn(IV)O and Mn(IV)-OH (83 vs 84.3 kcal/mol). Experimental tests showed that hydrogen abstraction proceeds at reasonable rates for substrates having BDE(CH) values less than 82 kcal/mol. That is, no detectable reaction occurred with diphenyl methane (BDE(CH) = 82 kcal/mol) for both manganese(IV) species. However, kinetic measurements for hydrogen abstraction showed that at pH 13.4, the dominant species Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(O)(2), having only Mn(IV)O groups, reacts more than 40 times faster than the Mn(IV)-OH unit in Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(OH)(2)(2+), the dominant reactant at pH 4.0. The activation parameters for hydrogen abstraction from 9,10-dihydroanthracene were determined for both manganese(IV) moieties: over the temperature range 288-318 K for Mn(IV)(OH)(2)(2+), DeltaH(double dagger) = 13.1 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol, and DeltaS(double dagger) = -35.0 +/- 2.2 cal K(-1) mol(-1); and the temperature range 288-308 K for for Mn(IV)(O)(2), DeltaH(double dagger) = 12.1 +/- 1.8 kcal/mol, and DeltaS(double dagger) = -30.3 +/- 5.9 cal K(-1) mol(-1).     

Effects of protonation of alkyldimethylamine oxides on the dissolution temperature in aqueous media

The effects of protonation (ionization) of hexadecyldimethylamine oxides on the dissolution temperature in aqueous media were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Only one endothermic peak was reproducibly observed at all the degrees of ionization alpha examined that were assigned to the transition from the solid (the gel phase) to the solution containing micelles. The dissolution temperature versus alpha curves showed a maximum at alpha=0.5, strongly suggesting the formation of a stable complex of 1-to-1 composition of the nonionic and cationic species through the proposed hydrogen bond. From the shape of the dissolution curve as well as the composition analysis of the solid phase, the solid solution was found to be formed over all alpha values. Effects of alkylchain length on the dissolution temperature for a homologous series of octadecyl- (C18DAO), hexadecyl- (C16DAO), and tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (C14DAO) were also examined for alpha=0.5 and alpha=1. Both the transition temperature and the associated thermodynamic quantities DeltaH and DeltaS increased systematically with the chain length, but for alpha=0.5 smaller increases in DeltaH and DeltaS values with the chain length were observed [DeltaH/CH2 (kJ mol(-1))=7.2+/-0.2 and 2.2+/-0.5 for alpha=1 and alpha=0.5, respectively, and DeltaS/CH2 (J mol(-1) K(-1))=21.9+/-1.8 for alpha=1 and 4.6+/-1.9 for alpha=0.5]. By annealing procedures, the metastable nature of the gel phase was demonstrated for the C16DAO (alpha=1) solid.     

A critical evaluation of the factors determining the effect of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy of catechol and of flavonoid antioxidants

New experimental results on the determination of the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) value of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol, a model compound for flavonoid antioxidants, by the EPR radical equilibration technique are reported. By measurement of the equilibrium constant for the reaction between 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and the 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxyl radical, in UV irradiated isooctane solutions at different temperatures, it has been shown that the thermodynamic parameters for this reaction are DeltaH degrees = -2.8+/-0.1 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS degrees = +1.3+/-0.2 cal mol(-1) K(-1). This demonstrates that the entropic variations in the hydrogen exchange reaction between phenols and the corresponding phenoxyl radicals are also negligible when one of the reacting species is a polyphenol and that the EPR radical equilibration technique also allows the determination of the Obond;H BDEs in intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded polyphenols. The BDE of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (78.2 kcal mol(-1)) was determined to be identical to that of alpha-tocopherol. Through use of the group additivity rule, this piece of data was also used to calculate the strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl proton and the oxygen radical centre in the corresponding semiquinone radical (5.6 kcal mol(-1)), which is responsible both for the excellent antioxidant properties of catechols and for the BDE of catechol (81.8 kcal mol(-1)). These values are in poor agreement with those predicted by DFT calculations reported in the literature (9.5 kcal mol(-1) and 77.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively). Extensive theoretical calculations indicate that the BDE of catechol is reproduced well (81.6 kcal mol(-1)) by use of diffuse functions on oxygen and the CCSD method.     

Heats of formation of triplet ethylene, ethylidene, and acetylene

Heats of formation of the lowest triplet state of ethylene and the ground triplet state of ethylidene have been predicted by high level electronic structure calculations. Total atomization energies obtained from coupled-cluster CCSD(T) energies extrapolated to the complete basis set limit using correlation consistent basis sets (CBS), plus additional corrections predict the following heats of formation in kcal/mol: DeltaH0r(C2H4,3A1) = 80.1 at 0 K and 78.5 at 298 K, and DeltaH0t(CH3CH,3A' ') = 86.8 at 0 K and 85.1 at 298 K, with an error of less than +/-1.0 kcal/mol. The vertical and adiabatic singlet-triplet separation energies of ethylene were calculated as DeltaES-T,vert = 104.1 and DeltaES-T,adia = 65.8 kcal/mol. These results are in excellent agreement with recent quantum Monte Carlo (DMC) values of 103.5 +/- 0.3 and 66.4 +/- 0.3 kcal/mol. Both sets of computational values differ from the experimental estimate of 58 +/- 3 kcal/mol for the adiabatic splitting. The computed singlet-triplet gap at 0 K for acetylene is DeltaES-T,adia(C2H2) = 90.5 kcal/mol, which is in notable disagreement with the experimental value of 82.6 kcal/mol. The heat of formation of the triplet is DeltaH0tC2H2,3B2) = 145.3 kcal/mol. There is a systematic underestimation of the singlet-triplet gaps in recent photodecomposition experiments by approximately 7 to 8 kcal/mol. For vinylidene, we predict DeltaH0t(H2CC,1A1) = 98.8 kcal/mol at 298 K (exptl. 100.3 +/- 4.0), DeltaH0t(H2CC,3B2) = 146.2 at 298 K, and an energy gap DeltaES-T-adia(H2CC) = 47.7 kcal/mol.     

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy, gas-phase acidity, and thermochemistry of the peroxyl radicals CH(3)OO and CH(3)CH(2)OO

Methyl, methyl-d(3), and ethyl hydroperoxide anions (CH(3)OO(-), CD(3)OO(-), and CH(3)CH(2)OO(-)) have been prepared by deprotonation of their respective hydroperoxides in a stream of helium buffer gas. Photodetachment with 364 nm (3.408 eV) radiation was used to measure the adiabatic electron affinities: EA[CH(3)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.161 +/- 0.005 eV, EA[CD(3)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.154 +/- 0.004 eV, and EA[CH(3)CH(2)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.186 +/- 0.004 eV. The photoelectron spectra yield values for the term energies: Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CH(3)OO] = 0.914 +/- 0.005 eV, Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CD(3)OO] = 0.913 +/- 0.004 eV, and Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CH(3)CH(2)OO] = 0.938 +/- 0.004 eV. A localized RO-O stretching mode was observed near 1100 cm(-1) for the ground state of all three radicals, and low-frequency R-O-O bending modes are also reported. Proton-transfer kinetics of the hydroperoxides have been measured in a tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube (FA-SIFT) to determine the gas-phase acidity of the parent hydroperoxides: Delta(acid)G(298)(CH(3)OOH) = 367.6 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1), Delta(acid)G(298)(CD(3)OOH) = 367.9 +/- 0.9 kcal mol(-1), and Delta(acid)G(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OOH) = 363.9 +/- 2.0 kcal mol(-1). From these acidities we have derived the enthalpies of deprotonation: Delta(acid)H(298)(CH(3)OOH) = 374.6 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1), Delta(acid)H(298)(CD(3)OOH) = 374.9 +/- 1.1 kcal mol(-1), and Delta(acid)H(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OOH) = 371.0 +/- 2.2 kcal mol(-1). Use of the negative-ion acidity/EA cycle provides the ROO-H bond enthalpies: DH(298)(CH(3)OO-H) = 87.8 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1), DH(298)(CD(3)OO-H) = 87.9 +/- 1.1 kcal mol(-1), and DH(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OO-H) = 84.8 +/- 2.2 kcal mol(-1). We review the thermochemistry of the peroxyl radicals, CH(3)OO and CH(3)CH(2)OO. Using experimental bond enthalpies, DH(298)(ROO-H), and CBS/APNO ab initio electronic structure calculations for the energies of the corresponding hydroperoxides, we derive the heats of formation of the peroxyl radicals. The "electron affinity/acidity/CBS" cycle yields Delta(f)H(298)[CH(3)OO] = 4.8 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(f)H(298)[CH(3)CH(2)OO] = -6.8 +/- 2.3 kcal mol(-1).     

Kinetic and thermodynamic stability of naphthalene oxide and related compounds. A comparative microcalorimetric and computational (DFT) study

The kinetics of the acid-catalyzed ring opening of naphthalene 1,2-oxide (5) in highly aqueous media to give naphthols has been measured by heat-flow microcalorimetry. The reaction enthalpy of this aromatization reaction was measured as DeltaH = -51.3 +/- 1.7 kcal mol(-)(1). The unexpectedly low reactivity of naphthalene oxide is suggested to be due to an unusually large thermodynamic stability. A crude estimate of the stabilization effect, approximately 1 kcal mol(-)(1)(not a significant stabilization), is obtained by using the measured reaction enthalpies of structurally related substrates as references. A larger value (2.7 kcal mol(-)(1)) was obtained by calculation using the B3LYP hybrid functional corrected with solvation energies derived from semiempirical AM1/SM2 calculations. The origin of this effect is discussed in terms of homoconjugative stabilization and homoaromaticity. There is a good linear correlation (with slope = 0.63) between the experimentally measured free energy of activation and the calculated enthalpy of carbocation formation in water.     

Theoretical prediction of the heats of formation of C2H5O* radicals derived from ethanol and of the kinetics of beta-C-C scission in the ethoxy radical

Thermochemical parameters of three C(2)H(5)O* radicals derived from ethanol were reevaluated using coupled-cluster theory CCSD(T) calculations, with the aug-cc-pVnZ (n = D, T, Q) basis sets, that allow the CC energies to be extrapolated at the CBS limit. Theoretical results obtained for methanol and two CH(3)O* radicals were found to agree within +/-0.5 kcal/mol with the experiment values. A set of consistent values was determined for ethanol and its radicals: (a) heats of formation (298 K) DeltaHf(C(2)H(5)OH) = -56.4 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol (exptl: -56.21 +/- 0.12 kcal/mol), DeltaHf(CH(3)C*HOH) = -13.1 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, DeltaHf(C*H(2)CH(2)OH) = -6.2 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, and DeltaHf(CH(3)CH(2)O*) = -2.7 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol; (b) bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of ethanol (0 K) BDE(CH(3)CHOH-H) = 93.9 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, BDE(CH(2)CH(2)OH-H) = 100.6 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, and BDE(CH(3)CH(2)O-H) = 104.5 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol. The present results support the experimental ionization energies and electron affinities of the radicals, and appearance energy of (CH(3)CHOH+) cation. Beta-C-C bond scission in the ethoxy radical, CH(3)CH2O*, leading to the formation of C*H3 and CH(2)=O, is characterized by a C-C bond energy of 9.6 kcal/mol at 0 K, a zero-point-corrected energy barrier of E0++ = 17.2 kcal/mol, an activation energy of Ea = 18.0 kcal/mol and a high-pressure thermal rate coefficient of k(infinity)(298 K) = 3.9 s(-1), including a tunneling correction. The latter value is in excellent agreement with the value of 5.2 s(-1) from the most recent experimental kinetic data. Using RRKM theory, we obtain a general rate expression of k(T,p) = 1.26 x 10(9)p(0.793) exp(-15.5/RT) s(-1) in the temperature range (T) from 198 to 1998 K and pressure range (p) from 0.1 to 8360.1 Torr with N2 as the collision partners, where k(298 K, 760 Torr) = 2.7 s(-1), without tunneling and k = 3.2 s(-1) with the tunneling correction. Evidence is provided that heavy atom tunneling can play a role in the rate constant for beta-C-C bond scission in alkoxy radicals.     

Equilibria between alpha- and beta-agostic stabilized rotamers of secondary alkyl niobium complexes.

The isopropyl chloro complex Tp(Me2)NbCl(i-Pr)(PhC&tbd1;CMe) (2) [Tp(Me2) = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate] exhibits a beta-agostic structure in the crystal. The conformation of the alkyl group is such that the agostic methyl group lies in the Calpha-Nb-Cl plane and the nonagostic one, in a wedge formed by two pyrazole rings. As observed by solution NMR spectroscopy, restricted rotation about the Nb-C bond allows the observation of an equilibrium between this species, 2beta, and a minor alpha-agostic rotamer 2alpha. A putative third rotamer which would have the secondary hydrogen in the wedge is not observed. Similar behavior is observed for related Tp'NbCl(i-Pr)(R(2)C=CMe) [Tp' = Tp(Me2), R(2) = Me (3); Tp' = Tp(Me2,4Cl), R(2) = Ph (4)]. The two diastereomers of the sec-butyl complex Tp(Me2)NbCl(sec-Bu)(MeC=CMe) (5) have been separated. In the crystal, 5CR-AS has a beta-agostic methyl group with the ethyl group located in the wedge formed by two pyrazole rings. The same single beta-agostic species is observed in solution. The other diastereomer, 5AR-CS has a beta-agostic methylene group in the solid state, and the methyl group sits in the wedge. In solution, an equilibrium between this beta-agostic methylene complex 5AR-CSbeta and a minor alpha-agostic species 5AR-CSalpha, where the ethyl substituent of the sec-Bu group is located in the wedge between two pyrazole rings, is observed. NMR techniques have provided thermodynamic parameters for these equilibria (K = 2beta/2alpha = 4.0 +/- 0.1 at 193 K, DeltaG(o)(193) = -2.2 +/- 0.1, DeltaH(o) = -7.4 +/- 0.1 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS(o) = -27 +/- 1 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)), as well as kinetic parameters for the rotation about the Nb-C bond (at 193 K, DeltaG(2)= 47.5 +/- 2.5, DeltaH= 58.8 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS = 59.0 +/- 10 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)). Upon selective deuteration of the beta-methyl protons in Tp(Me2)NbCl[CH(CD(3))(2)](PhC=CMe) (2-d(6)), an expected isotope effect that displaces the equilibrium toward the alpha-agostic rotamer is observed (K = 2-d(6)beta/2-d(6)alpha = 3.1 +/- 0.1 at 193 K, DeltaG(o)(193) = -1.8 +/- 0.1, DeltaH(o) = -8.3 +/- 0.4 kJ mol(-)(1) and DeltaS(o)= -34 +/- 2 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)). The anomalous values for DeltaH(o) and DeltaS(o) are discussed. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations (IMOMM (B3LYP:MM3)) on the realistic model Tp(Me2)NbCl(i-Pr)(HC=CMe) have reproduced the energy differences between the alpha- and beta-agostic species with remarkable accuracy. Similar calculations show that Tp(Me2)NbCl(CH(2)Me)(HC=CMe) is alpha-agostic only and that Tp(5)(-)(Me)NbCl(CH(2)Me)(HC=CMe), which has no methyl groups at the 3-positions of the pyrazole rings, is beta-agostic only. Analysis and discussion of the computational and experimental data indicate that the unique behavior observed for the secondary alkyl complexes stems from competition between electronic effects favoring a beta-agostic structure and steric effects directing a bulky substituent in the wedge between two pyrazole rings of Tp(Me2). All of the secondary alkyl complexes thermally rearrange to the corresponding linear alkyl complexes via a first-order reaction.     

Active Thermochemical Tables: accurate enthalpy of formation of hydroperoxyl radical, HO2

Through the use of the Active Thermochemical Tables approach, the best currently available enthalpy of formation of HO2 has been obtained as delta(f)H(o)298 (HO2) = 2.94 +/- 0.06 kcal mol(-1) (3.64 +/- 0.06 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K). The related enthalpy of formation of the positive ion, HO2+, within the stationary electron convention is delta(f)H(o)298 (HO2+) = 264.71 +/- 0.14 kcal mol(-1) (265.41 +/- 0.14 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K), while that for the negative ion, HO2- (within the same convention), is delta(f)H(o)298 (HO2-) = -21.86 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-1) (-21.22 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K). The related proton affinity of molecular oxygen is PA298(O2) = 100.98 +/- 0.14 kcal mol(-1) (99.81 +/- 0.14 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K), while the gas-phase acidity of H2O2 is delta(acid)G(o)298 (H2O2) = 369.08 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-1), with the corresponding enthalpy of deprotonation of H2O2 of delta(acid)H(o)298 (H2O2) = 376.27 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-1) (375.02 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K). In addition, a further improved enthalpy of formation of OH is briefly outlined, delta(f)H(o)298 (OH) = 8.93 +/- 0.03 kcal mol(-1) (8.87 +/- 0.03 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K), together with new and more accurate enthalpies of formation of NO, delta(f)H(o)298 (NO) = 21.76 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1) (21.64 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K) and NO2, delta(f)H(o)298 (NO2) = 8.12 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1) (8.79 +/- 0.02 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K), as well as H(2)O(2) in the gas phase, delta(f)H(o)298 (H2O2) = -32.45 +/- 0.04 kcal mol(-1) (-31.01 +/- 0.04 kcal mol(-1) at 0 K). The new thermochemistry of HO2, together with other arguments given in the present work, suggests that the previous equilibrium constant for NO + HO2 --> OH + NO2 was underestimated by a factor of approximately 2, implicating that the OH + NO2 rate was overestimated by the same factor. This point is experimentally explored in the companion paper of Srinivasan et al. (next paper in this issue).     

Breathing orbital valence bond method in diffusion Monte Carlo: C-H bond dissociation of acetylene

This study explores the use of breathing orbital valence bond (BOVB) trial wave functions for diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC). The approach is applied to the computation of the carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond dissociation energy (BDE) of acetylene. DMC with BOVB trial wave functions yields a C-H BDE of 132.4 +/- 0.9 kcal/mol, which is in excellent accord with the recommended experimental value of 132.8 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol. These values are to be compared with DMC results obtained with single determinant trial wave functions, using Hartree-Fock orbitals (137.5 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol) and local spin density (LDA) Kohn-Sham orbitals (135.6 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol).