Quantum-chemical DFT calculations of the energies of the O—H bond of phenols

The energies of homolytic cleavage of the O—H bonds in 36 phenols with various structures were calculated within the scope of density functional theory using a series of exchange-correlation functionals and basis sets. The best agreement between the calculated and experimental data is given by the M06-2X/6-311++G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) method.     

Dissociation energies of O–H bonds in alkylseleno- and alkyltelluro-substituted phenols

The O?H bond dissociation energy (D _O?H) has been determined for eight alkylseleno-substituted phenols, one alkyltelluro-substituted phenol, and one alkyltelluro-substituted pyridinol. D _O?H has been estimated by the intersecting-parabolas method from kinetic data using five reference compounds: α-tocopherol (D _O?H = 330.0 kJ/mol), 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (D _O?H = 347.6 kJ/mol), 4-methylphenol (D _O?H = 361.6 kJ/mol), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylthiophenol (D _O?H = 336.3 kJ/mol), and 2,6-di-ter-tbutyl-4-methylphenol (D _O?H = 338.0 kJ/mol). The following D _O?H values (kJ/mol) have been obtained: 335.9 for 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-phytyl-6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzoselenopyran, 342.6 for 2-methyl-5-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzoselenophene, 333.5 for 2,4,6,7-tetramethyl-5-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzoselenophene, 339.4 for 2-tert-butyl-4-methoxy-6-octylselenophenol, 357.9 for dodecyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propyl selenide, 348.5 for dodecyl 3-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl selenide, 350.9 for dodecyl 3-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl selenide, 338.0 for dodecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propyl selenide, 343.0 for 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(tellurobutyl-4′-phenoxy)phenol, and 338.8 for 6-octyltelluro-3-pyridinol. The stabilization energies of phenoxyl radicals containing R substituents (X = O, S, Se, Te) have been compared.     

Homolytic dissociation in hydrogen-bonding liquids: energetics of the phenol O–H bond in methanol and the water O–H bond in water

The energetics of the phenol O–H bond in methanol and the water O–H bond in liquid water were investigated by microsolvation modelling and statistical mechanics Monte Carlo simulations. The microsolvation approach was based on density functional theory calculations. Optimised structures for clusters of phenol and the phenoxy radical with one and two methanol molecules are reported. By analysing the differential solvation of phenol and the phenoxy radical in methanol, we predict that the phenol O–H homolytic bond dissociation enthalpy in solution is 24.3±11 kJ/mol above the gas-phase value. The analysis of the water O–H bond dissociation by microsolvation was based on optimised structures of OH–(H₂O)_1–6 and –(H₂O)_1–7 clusters. Microsolvation modelling and statistical mechanics simulations predict that the HO–H bond dissociation enthalpies in the gas phase and in liquid water are very similar. Our results stress the importance of estimating the differences between the solvation enthalpies of the radical species and the parent molecule and the limitations of local models based on microsolvation.Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry satellite meeting in honor of Jean-Louis Rivail     

Dissociation energies of O–H bonds in 3-pyridinols

The O?H bond dissociation energy (D _O?H) has been estimated for 20 substituted 3-pyridinols and a substituted 3-pyrimidinol from experimental kinetic data by the intersecting parabolas method using α-tocopherol and 4-methoxyphenol as reference compounds. The following D _O?H values (kJ/mol) have been obtained: 363.7 for 3-pyridinol, 365.3 for 2-alkyl-3-pyridinols (five compounds), 358.8 for 2-alkyl-6-methyl-3-pyridinols (six compounds), 378.1 for 5-benzyl-3-pyridinol, 353.2 for 2,4,6-trimethyl-3-pyridinol, 340.9 for 2-benzyl-6-methoxy-3-pyridinol, 345.8 for 2,6-dimethoxy-5-benzyl-3-pyridinol, 381.7 for 2-ethyl-4-nitro-6-methyl-3-pyridinol, 376.8 for 2-isopropyl-4-nitro-6-methyl-3-pyridinol, 318.3 for 2,4-dimethyl-6-dimethylamino-3-pyridinol, 357.3 for mexidol, and 322.2 for 2,4-dimethyl-6-dimethylamino-3-pyrimidinol. The substituent effect on the O?H bond dissociation energy in 3-pyridinols is considered. The stabilization energies of pyridinoxyl and phenoxyl radicals are compared. The activation energies and rate constants have been calculated for a series of reactions of various radicals with 3-pyridinols.     

Experimental determination of the dissociation energies D0 and De of H2O…HF

The zero-point and equilibrium dissociation energies of the hydrogen-bonded dimer H₂O…HF have been determined as D₀ = 34.3(3) kJmol⁻¹ and D_e = 42.9 (8) kJmol⁻¹ from absolute intensities of rotational transitions in an equilibrium mixture of H₂O, HF and H₂O…HF.     

The C–H bond dissociation enthalpies in fused N-heterocyclic compounds

The C–H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of the 26 N, O, S-containing mono-heterocyclic compounds were evaluated using the composite high-level ab initio methods G3 and G4. The C–H BDEs for 32 heterocyclic compounds were calculated using 8 types of density functional theory (DFT) methods. Comparing with the experimental values, the BMK method gave the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of 7.2 kJ/mol. Therefore, the C–H BDEs of N-fused-heterocyclic compounds at different positions were investigated by the BMK method. By NBO analysis two linear relationships between the C–H BDEs of quinoline and isoquinoline with natural charges qC/e in molecules and with natural charges qC/e in radicals were found. The substituent effects on C_(α)–H BDEs in N-fused-heterocyclic compounds were also discussed. It was found that there are two linear relationships between the C_(α)–H BDEs of quinoline and isoquinoline derivatives with natural charges qC_(α)/e for the EDGs and CEGs substituents.     

Designing new free-radical reducing reagents: Theoretical study on Si–H bond dissociation energies of organic silanes

Bond dissociation energies of a series of substituted silanes were studied with the density functional theory methods. The performances of six different density functional methods including B3LYP, B3P86, BH&HLYP, B1LYP, PBE1KCIS, and TPSSLYP1W were examined for the prediction of Si–H bond dissociation energies. The results showed that B3P86 was the most accurate theoretical procedure among these six DFT methods. Using the B3P86 method, we then carried out a systematic study about the substituent effects on Si–H bond dissociation energies, with a focus to identify the possible approaches to weaken the Si–H bond strength. On the basis of the knowledge learned from the systematic study on model systems, we proposed some new silicon-based radical reducing reagents which may be used to replace toxic tin hydride reagents.     

PCM study of the solvent and substituent effects on bond dissociation energies of the C?NO bond

Quantum chemical calculations are used to estimate the equilibrium C? NO bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for eight X? NO molecule (X = CCl₃, C₆F₅, CH₃, CH₃CH₂, iC₃H₇, tC₄H₉, CH₂CHCH₂, and C₆H₅CH₂). These compounds are studied by employing the hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP, B3PW91, B3P86) methods together with 6‐31G** and 6‐311G** basis sets and the complete basis set (CBS‐QB3) method. The obtained results are compared with the available experimental results. It is demonstrated that B3P86/6‐31G** and CBS‐QB3 methods are accurate for computing the reliable BDEs for the X? NO molecule. Considering the inevitably computational cost of CBS‐QB3 method and the reliability of the B3P86 calculations, B3P86 method with 6‐31G** basis set may be more suitable to calculate the BDEs of the C? NO bond. The solvent effects on the BDEs of the C? NO bond are analyzed and it is shown that the C? NO BDEs in a vacuum computed by using B3PW91/6‐311G** method are the closest to the computed values in acetontrile and the average solvent effect is 1.48 kcal/mol. Subsequently, the substituent effects of the BDEs of the C? NO bond are further analyzed and it is found that electron denoting group stabilizes the radical and as a result BDE decreases; whereas electron withdrawing group stabilizes the group state of the molecule and thus increases the BDE from the parent molecule. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

High level of ab initio and density functional theory evaluation of the C?O bond dissociation energies in the dimethyl ether anion

The computational study of four possible first steps for the Wittig rearrangement of the dimethyl ether anion was investigated with a highly accurate complete basis set ab initio and density functional theory method. The initial step in all of these pathways is the C O bond breaking. The energies for these paths were computed and compared with the discussion of the mechanism of the Wittig [1, 2]‐rearrangement. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 73: 299–306, 1999     

Experimental and theoretical study of the dissociation enthalpy of the N–O bond on 2-hydroxypyridine N-oxide: theoretical analysis of the energetics of the N–O bond for hydroxypyrydine N-oxide isomers

The standard (p^∘=0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation of crystalline 2-hydroxypyridine N-oxide was measured, at T=298.15 K, by static bomb calorimetry and the standard molar enthalpy of sublimation, at T=298.15 K, was obtained using Calvet microcalorimetry. These values were used to derive the standard molar enthalpy of formation of 2-hydroxypyridine N-oxide in gaseous phase, and to evaluate the dissociation enthalpy of the N–O bond. Additionally, high-level density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP hybrid exchange-correlation energy functional have been performed for the three isomers of hydroxypyridine N-oxide in order to confirm the experimental trend for the dissociation enthalpy of the (N–O) bond.     

Paradigms and paradoxes: Hess’ law and the thermodynamic validity of Jolly’s method for estimating bond dissociation energies

This study evaluates Jolly’s method to estimate the difference in homolytic bond dissociation energy between two isoelectronic molecules by the use of atomic and ionic electronegativities. The use of intermediate species as an energetic “stepping stone” between the two diatomic species in question is discussed, particularly within the context of Hess’ law. We also show a sample calculation for a pair of diatomic species that is fully consistent with data from atomic physics.     

Features of strong O–H⋯O and N–H⋯O hydrogen bond manifestation in vibrational spectra

The work deals with the establishment of the dependence of the vibrational frequencies of strong O–H?O and N–H?O hydrogen bonds for the diagnosing the bonds themselves. To this end, the Raman spectra of a large number of different normal and deutero-substituted crystals characterized by the presence of strong O–H?O and N–H?O bonds are measured and the quantum chemical calculation is performed for one of these compounds. The dependence of the O–H stretching frequency on the O?O distance is constructed differing from that previously known for short O?O contacts. The mechanisms of significant broadening of the O–H vibration band in strong O–H?O hydrogen bonds are considered. Different dependences of the N–H vibrational frequencies in N–H?O bonds are reported and the causes of this diversity are discussed.     

Calculations for the vibration frequencies of the OH⋯O bond in KH2PO4 by a semiempirical method

The frequencies of the stretching vibration and the bending vibration of the OH⋯O bond in potassium dihydrogen phosphate have been calculated by means of two semiempirical formulae with three parameters. The calculated results can give satisfactory explanation for the experimental spectra of the potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal. The parameters used in the calculations may be related to the chemical bonding and the charge distribution about the two oxygen atoms of the OH⋯O bond system.     

O–H···C hydrogen bond in the methane–water complex

Quantum chemical calculations were performed at different levels of theory (SCF, DFT, MP2, and CCSD(T)) to determine the geometry and electronic structure of the HOH···CH₄ complex formed by water and methane molecules, in which water is a proton donor and methane carbon (sp³) is an acceptor. The charge distribution on the atoms of the complex was analyzed by the CHelpG method and Hirshfeld population analysis; both methods revealed the transfer of electron charge from methane to water. According to the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis data, the charge transfer upon complexation is caused by the interaction between the σ orbital of the axial С–H bond of methane directed along the line of the O–H···C hydrogen bridge and the antibonding σ* orbital of the О–H bond of the water molecule. Topological analysis of electron density in the HOH···CH₄ complex by the AIM method showed that the parameters of the critical point of the bond between hydrogen and acceptor (carbon atom) for the O–H···C interaction are typical for Н-bonded systems (the magnitude of electron density at the critical point of the bond, the sign and value of the Laplacian). It was concluded that the intermolecular interaction in the complex can be defined as an Н bond of O–H···σ(С–H) type, whose energy was found to be 0.9 kcal/mol in MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ calculations including the basis set superposition error (BSSE).     

C–H bond activation in the total syntheses of natural products

The transition metal-mediated C–H bond activation has emerged as a powerful and ideal method for the total syntheses of natural products and pharmaceuticals, and has had a significant impact on synthetic planning and strategy in complex natural products.In this review, we describe selected recent examples of the transition metal-mediated C–H bond activation strategies for the rapid syntheses of natural products.     

N[bond]C(alpha) bond dissociation energies and kinetics in amide and peptide radicals. Is the dissociation a non-ergodic process?

Dissociations of aminoketyl radicals and cation radicals derived from beta-alanine N-methylamide, N-acetyl-1,2-diaminoethane, N(alpha)-acetyl lysine amide, and N(alpha)-glycyl glycine amide are investigated by combined density functional theory and M?ller-Plesset perturbational calculations with the goal of elucidating the mechanism of electron capture dissociation (ECD) of larger peptide and protein ions. The activation energies for dissociations of N[bond]C bonds in aminoketyl radicals decrease in the series N[bond]CH(3) > N-CH(2)CH(2)NH(2) > N[bond]CH(2)CONH(2) approximately N[bond]CH(CONH(2))(CH(2))(4)NH(2). Transition state theory rate constants for dissociations of N[bond]C(alpha) bonds in aminoketyl radicals and cation-radicals indicate an extremely facile reaction that occurs with unimolecular rate constants >10(5) s(-1) in species thermalized at 298 K in the gas phase. In neutral aminoketyl radicals the N[bond]C(alpha) bond cleavage results in fast dissociation. In contrast, N[bond]C(alpha) bond cleavage in aminoketyl cation-radicals results in isomerization to ion-molecule complexes that are held together by strong hydrogen bonds. The facile N[bond]C(alpha) bond dissociation in thermalized ions indicates that it is unnecessary to invoke the hypothesis of non-ergodic behavior for ECD intermediates.     

The nature of the O—O bond in hydroperoxides

Quantum-chemical calculations of the H₂O₂ and F₂ molecules using different computational schemes, basis sets, and procedures for the inclusion of electron correlation were performed. High-resolution X-ray diffraction study of the electron density distribution in the crystals of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhexane and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroperoxyhex-3-yne was carried out. Joint analysis of the results obtained showed that the formally covalent O—O and F—F bonds correspond to a specific type of interatomic interaction. This type is intermediate between the shared and closed-shell interactions (the latter are typical of the ionic systems and van der Waals molecules).     

Oxidation potentials of α-aminoalkyl radicals: bond dissociation energies for related radical cations

α-aminoalkyl radicals were generated using modulated photolysis and were detected electrochemically; their oxidation potentials were used to estimate bond dissociation energies of radical cations in solution.     

Vibrational phase relaxation of O–H stretch in bulk water: Role of large amplitude angular jumps and negative cross-correlations among the forces on the O–H bond

The ultrafast vibrational phase relaxation of O–H stretch in bulk water is investigated in molecular dynamics simulations. The dephasing time (T₂) of the O–H stretch in bulk water calculated from the frequency fluctuation time correlation function (C_ω(t)) is in the range of 70–80 femtosecond (fs), which is comparable to the characteristic timescale obtained from the vibrational echo peak shift measurements using infrared photon echo [W.P. de Boeij, M.S. Pshenichnikov, D.A. Wiersma, Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem. 49 (1998) 99]. The ultrafast decay of C_ω(t) is found to be responsible for the ultrashort T₂ in bulk water. Careful analysis reveals the following two interesting reasons for the ultrafast decay of C_ω(t). (A) The large amplitude angular jumps of water molecules (within 30–40 fs time duration) provide a large scale contribution to the mean square vibrational frequency fluctuation and gives rise to the rapid spectral diffusion on 100 fs time scale. (B) The projected force, due to all the atoms of the solvent molecules on the oxygen (F_O(t)) and hydrogen (F_H(t)) atom of the O–H bond exhibit a large negative cross-correlation (NCC). We further find that this NCC is partly responsible for a weak, non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the dephasing rate.