Molecular conformations of methyl formate and methyl vinyl ether from ab initio molecular orbital calculations

Ab initio molecular orbital theory with minimal and extended basis sets and a flexible rotor geometric model has been used to investigate the rotational potential surfaces of methyl formate and methyl vinyl ether. For both molecules, the most stable structures (IA and IIA, respectively) are planar cis; additional potential minima are found which correspond to planar trans structures (IB and IIB). The latter lie respectively about 4—8 and 1—2 kcal mol^?1 above the corresponding cis rotational isomers. Methyl rotational barriers have been determined for cis and trans structures of each molecule. For trans methyl formate, there is a slight but unexpected preference for an eclipsed arrangement of the methyl group.     

Conformational analysis,barriers to internal rotation,vibrational assignment and ab initio calculations of chloroacetone

The infrared (3500-20 cm⁻¹) and Raman (3200-10 cm⁻¹) spectra have been recorded for gaseous and solid chloroacetone (1-chloro-2-propanone), CH₂ClC(O)CH₃. Additionally, the Raman spectrum of the liquid has been recorded and qualitative depolarization values have been obtained. These data have been interpreted on the basis that the molecule exists predominantly in a gauche conformation having a “near cis” structure of C₁ symmetry (dih ClCCO=142°C) in the vapor but for the liquid a second conformer having a trans structure (chlorine atom oriented trans to the methyl group) with C_s point group symmetry is present. From a study of the Raman spectrum of the liquid at variable temperatures, the trans conformation has been determined to be more stable than the gauche form by 1042±203 cm⁻¹ (2.98±0.6 kcal mol⁻¹ and is the only conformer present in the spectrum of the annealed solid. From ab initio calculations at the 3-21G* and 6-31G* basis set levels optimized geometries for both the gauche and trans conformers have been obtained and the potential surfaces governing internal rotation of the symmetric and asymmetric rotors have been obtained. The observed vibrational frequencies and assignments to the fundamental vibrations for both the gauche and trans conformers are compared to those calculated with the 3-21G* basis set. The results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.     

Conformational analysis,barriers to internal rotation,ab initio calculations and vibrational assignment of fluoroacetone

The infrared (3500-20 cm⁻¹) and Raman (3200-10 cm⁻¹) spectra have been recorded for gaseous and solid fluoroacetone (1-fluoro-2-propanone), CH₂FC(O)CH₃. Additionally, the Raman spectrum of the liquid has been recorded and qualitative depolarization values have been obtained. These data have been interpreted on the basis that the molecule exists predominantly in the cis (fluorine atom oriented cis to the methyl group) conformation in the vapor but for the liquid a second conformer having a trans orientation (fluorine atom oriented trans to the methyl group) is present. From a study of the Raman spectrum of the liquid at variable temperatures the trans conformation has been determined to be more stable than the cis form by 416 ± 54 cm⁻¹ (1.19 ± 0.15 kcal mol⁻¹) and is the only conformation present in the spectrum of the annealed solid. The asymmetric torsional fundamental for the more stable cis conformer has been observed in the far infrared spectrum of the gas at 69.6 cm⁻¹ with six accompanying hot band transitions proceeding to lower frequency. The corresponding mode for the high energy trans conformer is extensively overlapped but is distinguishable at ∼65 cm⁻¹. From these data the asymmetric torsional potential function governing internal rotation about the CC bond has been determined and the potential coefficients are: V₁ = 675 ± 2, V₂ = 991 ± 5, V₃ = 74 ± 1 and V₄ = 54 ± 2 cm⁻¹. The cis to trans and trans to cis barriers are 1332 ± 5 and 731 ± 5 cm⁻¹, respectively, with an enthalpy difference of 601 ± 8 cm⁻¹ (1.72 ± 0.02 kcal mol⁻¹). From ab initio calculations at the 3-21G and 6-31G* basis set levels optimized geometries for both the cis and trans conformers have been obtained and the potential surface governing internal rotation of the asymmetric top determined. The observed vibrational frequencies with their assignments for both the cis and trans conformers are compared to those from the ab initio calculations. All of these results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Infrared and Raman spectra,conformational stability,barriers to internal rotation,ab initio calculations and vibrational assignment of ethyl methyl selenide

The Raman spectra (3200–10 cm⁻¹) of ethyl methyl selenide in the gas, liquid and solid phases and the infrared spectra (3200–30 cm⁻¹) of the gas and solid have been recorded. Qualitative depolarization ratios have been obtained for the lines in the Raman spectrum of the liquid. By a variable temperature Raman study of the liquid, it has been determined that the gauche conformer is more stable than the trans rotamer by 158±16 cm⁻¹ (452±46 cal mol⁻¹), and the gauche conformer is the rotamer present in the solid. A complete vibrational assignment for the gauche conformer is presented. All of these data are compared to the corresponding quantities obtained from ab initio Hartree—Fock gradient calculations employing the STO-3G* and 4–31G*/MIDI-4* basis sets. Complete equilibrium geometries have been calculated for both rotamers and the results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Vibrational spectra,conformational stability,barriers to internal rotation,r0 structural parameters and ab initio calculations of fluoromethyl methyl ether

The far-infrared spectrum of gaseous fluoromethyl methyl ether, FCH₂OCH₃, along with three of the deuterium isotopes, has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm^–1 in the 350 to 50 cm^–1 region. The fundamental asymmetric torsional and methyl torsional modes are extensively mixed and have been observed at 182 and 132 cm^–1, respectively, for the stablegauche conformer with the lower frequency band having several excited states falling to lower frequency. An estimate is given for the potential function governing the asymmetric rotation. On the basis of a one-dimensional model the barrier to internal rotation of the methyl moiety is determined to be 527±9 cm^–1 (1.51±0.03 kcal/mol). A complete assignment of the vibrational fundamentals for all four isotopic species observed from the infrared (3500 to 50 cm^–1) spectra of the gas and solid and from the Raman (3200 to 10 cm^–1) spectra of the gas, liquid, and solid is proposed. No evidence could be found in any of the spectra for the high-energytrans conformer. All of these data are compared to the corresponding quantities obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing the 3-21G and 6-31G* basis sets along with the 6-31G* basis set with electron correlation at the MP2 level. Additionally, completer ₀ geometries have been determined from the previously reported microwave data and carbon-hydrogen distances determined from infrared studies. The heavy-atom structural parameters (distances in Å, angles in degrees) arer(C₁-F) = 1.395 ± 0.005;r(C₁-O) = 1.368 ± 0.007;r(C₂-O) = 1.426 ±0.003; FC₁O = 111.33 ± 0.25; C₁OC₂ = 113.50 ± 0.18 and dih FC₁OC₂ = 69.12 ± 0.26. All of these results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.     

A comparative ab initio study of methyl formate, methyl thiolformate and methyl thionoformate

Ab initio SCF-MO calculations have been carried out for HCOOCH₃, HC(=O)SCH₃ and HC(=S)OCH₃. Relative stabilities of s-trans/s-cis conformers are reported and discussed in terms of specific intramolecular interactions. The energy difference between the s-trans and the s-cis form increases in the order methyl thiolformate < methyl thionoformate < methyl formate. The major stabilizing factors of the s-cis forms are the bond dipolar interaction and the mesomeric delocalization through the five member ring involving both the X=C---Y---C (X, Y = O, S) skeleton and the out-of-plane hydrogen atoms. These effects are used to explain the trends mentioned. The non-planarity previously proposed for the thionoester is reinvestigated. Our calculations show that this molecule is planar. Molecular atomic charges, dipole moments and ionisation potentials are determined and compared with available experimental values.     

CF3 rotation in 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthrene. X-ray diffraction and ab initio electronic structure calculations

The molecular and crystal structure of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthrene has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure of the isolated molecule has been calculated using electronic structure methods at the HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G, MP2/6-31G and B3LYP/6-31G levels. The potential energy surfaces for the rotation of the CF3 group in both the isolated molecule and cluster models for the crystal were computed using electronic structure methods. The barrier height for CF3 rotation in the isolated molecule was calculated to be 0.40 kcal mol(-1) at B3LYP/6-311+G//B3LYP/6-311+G. The B3LYP/6-31G calculated CF3 rotational barrier in a 13-molecule cluster based on the X-ray data was found to be 2.6 kcal mol(-1). The latter is in excellent agreement with experimental results from the NMR relaxation experiments reported in the companion paper (Beckmann, P. A.; Rosenberg, J.; Nordstrom, K.; Mallory, C. W.; Mallory, F. B. J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 3947). The computational results on the models for the solid state suggest that the intermolecular interaction between nearest neighbor pairs of CF3 groups in the crystal accounts for roughly 75% of the barrier to rotation in the solid state. This pair is found to undergo cooperative reorientation. We attribute the CF3 reorientational disorder in the crystal as observed by X-ray diffraction to the presence of a pair of minima on the potential energy surface and the effects of librational motion.     

Conformational studies of Phe-rich foldamers by VCD spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Employing VCD spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the structural behavior of the oligomers Boc-(L-Phe-L-Oxd)(n)-OBn is similar from n = 2 to n = 6; ab initio calculations for the n = 1 case provide physical insight into the conformational properties. Further information is gained by IR, (1)H NMR, and ECD spectroscopies. ECD spectra suggest the presence of different conformations between n = 1 on one side and longer chain foldamers on the other side. VCD and absorption IR spectra in methanol solutions can be interpreted as indicative of a PPII structure. In the case of Boc-L-Phe-L-Oxd-OBn, VCD spectra in CCl(4) and detailed DFT computational analysis allow one to demonstrate that the most populated conformers exhibit backbone dihedral angles similar to those of a PPII geometry. This is a remarkable outcome, as we had previously demonstrated that the Boc-(L-Ala-D-Oxd)(n)-OBn series folds in a β-band ribbon spiral that is a subtype of the 3(10) helix.     

Conformational stability,barriers to internal rotation,structural parameters,ab initio calculations,and vibrational assignment of cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde

The asymmetric torsional potential function, conformational energy difference, vibrational frequencies, and structural parameters of Cyclopropane-carboxaldehyde have been obtained from ab initio calculations at the 3–21G and/or 6-31G^* baiss set levels. These results have allowed for a reinterpretation or clarification of some of the corresponding results obtained from experiment. The conformations that have the oxygen atom oriented cis and trans to the three-membered ring are observed and calculated to be the most stable and high energy forms in the gaseous phase, respectively. From the ab initio calculations using the 6–31 G^* basis set, the energy difference between the two conformers is 114 cm^–1. For the liquid, the trans conformer is more stable and is the only rotamer present in the annealed solid. Based on a combination of results obtained from ab initio calculations, microwave spectroscopy, and the electron diffraction technique,r _o structural parameters have been obtained for both conformations.     

Solution conformation of longifolene and its precursor by NMR and ab initio calculations

We describe the conformation and stereospecific 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments of longifolene 1 and its penultimate precursor 2 through the combined use of ab initio calculations and experimental NMR techniques. The predicted stable conformation for both compounds was similar and adopts a twisted chair conformation at the seven-membered ring where C4 lies on top of the exocyclic double bond. The calculated chemical shifts for the stable conformation agree well with the experimental values.     

Lithium cluster anions: photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Structural and energetic properties of small, deceptively simple anionic clusters of lithium, Li(n)(-), n = 3-7, were determined using a combination of anion photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The most stable isomers of each of these anions, the ones most likely to contribute to the photoelectron spectra, were found using the gradient embedded genetic algorithm program. Subsequently, state-of-the-art ab initio techniques, including time-dependent density functional theory, coupled cluster, and multireference configurational interactions methods, were employed to interpret the experimental spectra.     

AB initio calculations on the equilibruim geometry and rotation barriers in biphenyl

The geometry of the biphenyl molecule has been studied with the MO LCAO method using a gausian basis set of “double zeta” quality. For various values of the twist angle between the phenyl ring planes the positions of the hydrogen atoms in the 2-position and the distance between the two rings have been simultaneously optimized. The lowest energy has been obtained for a non-planar conformation having a twist angle of 32°. The rotation barriers are 1.2 and 4.5 kcal/mol for the planar perpendicular cases, respectively.     

Conformational studies of n-propylamine by combined ab initio MO calculations and Raman spectroscopy

The results of ab initio SCF-MO calculations performed with a 3-21G(N*) basis set, for fully optimized geometries of five conformations of n-propylamine, are presented. The calculated relative order of total energies for these conformers is TT≈GG′>TG>GT>GG. At 300 K, the Boltzmann distribution of populations is 18, 37, 20, 19 and 7%, respectively.Raman spectra of n-propylamine and n-propylamine-N-d₂ in the liquid phase exhibit a number of bands whose temperature-dependent intensities clearly suggest the occurrence of different conformers in simultaneous equilibria. Deuteration of the amine group originates pairs of Raman bands at 428 and 440 cm⁻¹ and at 863 and 885 cm⁻¹. The bands at 428 and 885 cm⁻¹ are favoured by reduction of temperature. Normal coordinate calculations permit the assignment of the Raman and i.r. spectra in good agreement with experimental evidence. Among the five possible conformers of n-propylamine, it is possible to detect the presence of at least three conformations in the liquid phase, corresponding to the skeletal trans (TT and GT) and at least one of the skeletal gauche (TG, GG or GG′) forms. In the solid phase, only the bands ascribed to the TT form were observed.The ab initio results for the isolated molecule show that the all-trans conformation, TT, and the conformation GG′ have the smallest energies. On the other hand, the vibrational results for the liquid and solid phases indicate that the all-trans conformation, TT, is the more populated form. In addition, this conformer presents the highest calculated dipole moment, in good agreement with the liquid phase Raman spectroscopic results which point out that this conformation is favoured by polar solvents. Intermolecular interactions operating in the liquid n-propylamine, possibly of the hydrogen bonding type, are responsible for altering the relative order of conformational stability as predicted by the ab initio SCF-MO results for the isolated molecule.     

Infrared and raman spectra,conformational stability,barriers to internal rotation,ab initio calculations and vibrational assignment of difluoroacetyl chloride

The Raman (3100–10 cm⁻¹) and infrared (3100–30 cm⁻¹) spectra of difluoroacetyl chloride, CHF₂CClO, in the gas and solid phases have been recorded. Additionally, the Raman spectrum of the liquid with qualitative depolarization ratios has been obtained. From these data, a trans/gauche equilibrium is proposed in the gas and liquid phases, with the trans conformer (hydrogen atom eclipsing the oxygen atom and trans to the chlorine atom) the more stable form in the gas, but the gauche rotamer is more stable in the liquid and is the only form present in the annealed solid. From the study of the Raman spectrum of the gas at different temperatures, a value of 272 ± 115 cm⁻¹ (778 ± 329 cal mol⁻¹) was determined for ΔH, with the trans conformer the more stable form. Similar studies were carried out on the liquid and a value of 109 ± 9 cm⁻¹ (312 ± 26 cal mol⁻¹) was obtained for ΔH, but now the gauche conformer is the more stable form. A potential function for the conformational interchange has been determined with the following potential constants: V₁ = 397 ± 23, V₂ = −101 ± 5, V₃ = 474 ± 3, V₄ = −50 ± 3, and V₆ = 10 ± 2 cm⁻¹. This potential has the trans rotamer more stable by 179 ± 31 cm⁻¹ (512 ± 89 cal mol⁻¹) than the gauche conformer. A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for both conformers based on infrared band contours, Raman depolarization data, group frequencies and normal coordinate calculations. The experimental conformational stability, barriers to internal rotation, and fundamental vibrational frequencies are compared with those obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing both the RHF/3-21G^* and RHF/6-31G^* basis sets, and to the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.     

Pulsed-field ionization electron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations of copper-diazine complexes

Copper complexes of pyrazine (1,4-C4H4N2), pyrimidine (1,3-C4H4N2), and pyridazine (1,2-C4H4N2) are produced in laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beams and studied by pulsed-field ionization zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy and second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory. Both sigma and pi complexes are considered by these ab initio calculations; only sigma structures are identified in these experiments. Adiabatic ionization energies and metal-ligand vibrational frequencies of the sigma complexes are measured from the ZEKE spectra. Metal-ligand bond dissociation energies of these complexes are obtained from a thermochemical cycle. The ionization energies follow the trend of Cu pyridazine (43,054 cm(-1)) < Cu pyrimidine (45,332 cm(-1)) < Cu pyrazine (46,038 cm(-1)); the bond energies are in the order of Cu pyridazine (56.2 kJ mol(-1)) > Cu pyrazine (48.5 kJ mol(-1)) approximately Cu pyrimidine (46.4 kJ mol(-1)). The stronger binding of pyridazine is due to its larger electric dipole moment and possibly bidentate binding.     

Simple alkyldisilanes: MM2 and ab initio studies of their structures and barriers to rotation

For a series of simple alkyldisilanes, 3-21G (*) full gradient geometry optimizations have been performed to yield both structural and conformational energy data which was suitable for calibrating the MM2 force field for disilanes. We have examined several model structures which yielded sufficient information about the rotational potential around the Si–Si bond to enable us to revise and augment those reported by Frierson. These parameters were questioned by us in the course of MM2 studies of 1,2-disilacyclobutanes. We report new Si–Si torsion parameters as well as pertinent structural data from 3-21G(*) geometry optimizations and relative conformational energies derived from Møller-Plesset (MP2/MP3) calculations at the 6-31(*)/3-21G(*) level. The new parameters were applied to the 1,2-dimethyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane system and those results are also reported.     

Erratum: Solution conformation of longifolene and its precursor by NMR and ab initio calculations

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, in Volume 44 issue 12.     

Conformational stability, r 0 structural parameters, barriers to internal rotation, ab initio calculations, and vibrational assignment for 2,2-difluoroethanol

The infrared spectra (4,000–30 cm^?1) of the gas and solid and the Raman spectrum of liquid 2,2-difluoroethanol as well as variable temperature infrared spectra of krypton/xenon solutions have been recorded. From all these data, two (Gg and Tg) out of the five possible stable conformers have been confidently identified. The order of the stabilities has been predicted to be Gg > Tg > Gt > Gg′ > Tt by utilizing ab initio MP2 (full) and DFT (B3LYP method) calculations, where the first indicator (capital letter) is in reference to rotation around the C–C bond (G = gauche or T = trans) and the second one (small letter) refers to the orientation of the hydroxyl group. The percentage of the minor conformer Tg, at ambient temperature, is estimated to be (16 ± 3%). The optimized geometries, fundamental frequencies, infrared intensities, Raman activities, and depolarization values as well as centrifugal distortion constants have been obtained from ab initio and density functional theory calculations by utilizing a variety of basis sets as well as those with diffuse functions. By utilizing the previously reported microwave rotational constants for two isotopomers of the Gg conformer combined with ab initio MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) predicted structural values, adjusted r ₀ parameters have been obtained. The determined heavy atom distances (Å) for the Gg conformer are: C₁–C₂ = 1.510(3), C₂–F₄ = 1.371(3), C₂–F₅ = 1.362(3), C₁–O₃ = 1.412(3) Å and angles ∠O₃C₁C₂ = 111.0(5), ∠F₄C₂C₁ = 108.8(5), ∠F₅C₂C₁ = 109.8(5), τF₄C₂C₁O₃ = 63.5(5), τF₅C₂C₁O₃ = 179.1(5)°. Barriers of internal rotation have been obtained and vibrational assignments for the Gg and Tg conformers are given. The five predicted centrifugal distortion constants compared to the experimental values are in reasonable agreement except for ?_K, which appears to be in error. The results are discussed and the structural parameters compared to the corresponding ones for 2-fluoroethanol and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol where those for the latter molecule have been redetermined. The currently determined heavy atom parameters are quite different from the earlier assumed values, which led to poor values of the six adjusted parameters.     

Far-IR spectrum,conformation stability,barriers to internal rotation,vibrational assignment,and ab initio calculations of 3-chloro-2-methylpropene

The far-IR spectrum from 375 to 30 cm⁻¹ of gaseous 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, CH₂=C(CH₃)CH₂Cl, has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm⁻¹. The fundamental asymmetric torsional mode for the gauche conformer is observed at 84.3 cm⁻¹ with three excited states falling to lower frequency. For the higher energy s-cis conformer, where the chlorine atom eclipses the double bond, the asymmetric torsion is observed at 81.3 cm⁻¹ with two excited states falling to lower frequency. Utilizing the s-cis and gauche torsional frequencies, the gauche dihedral angle and the enthalpy difference between conformers, the potential function governing the interconversion of the rotamers has been calculated. The determined potential function coefficients are (in reciprocal centimeters): V₁=189±12, V₂=−358±11, V₃=886±2 and V₄=−12±2 with an enthalpy difference between the more stable gauche and s-cis conformers of 150 ±25 cm⁻¹ (430 ± 71 cal mol⁻¹). This function gives values of 661 cm⁻¹ (1.89 kcal mol⁻¹), 1226 cm⁻¹ (3.51 kcal mol⁻¹) and 812 cm⁻¹ (2.32 kcal mol⁻¹), for the s-cis to gauche, gauche to gauche, and gauche to s-cis barriers, respectively. From the methyl torsional frequency of 170 cm⁻¹ for the gauche conformer, the threefold barrier of 678 cm⁻¹ (1.94 kcal mol⁻¹) has been calculated. The asymmetric potential function, conformational energy difference and optimized geometries of both conformers have also been obtained from ab initio calculations with both the 3–21G^* and 6–31G^* basis sets. A normal-coordinate analysis has also been performed with a force field determined from the 3–21G^* basis set. These data are compared with the corresponding data for some similar molecules.