Structure and stability of closo-hexaboranes and their heteroanalogs

The molecular and electronic structures of closo-hexaboranes B₆H₆ ^2–, B₆H₇ ^–, and B₆H₈ and closo-heterohexaboranes XYB₄H₄ (X = Y = CH, N; X = BH, Y = CH^–, N^–, NH, O) were studed by the ab initio (MP2(full)/6-311+G**) and density functional (B3LYP/6-311+G**) methods. The bridging H atoms in closo-hexaboranes B₆H₇ ^– and B₆H₈ can undergo facile low-barrier migrations around the boron cage (the barrier heights are about 10—15 kcal mol^–1). All heteroboranes having octahedron-like structures with hypercoordinated N and O atoms are rather stable and can be the subject of synthetic research efforts.     

Pentacoordination of boron, carbon, aluminum, and silicon atoms in organic compounds: Anab initio study

Pentacoordination of boron, carbon, aluminum, and silicon atoms in bicyclic organic compounds of the pentalene type was studied using theab initio RHF/6-31G^** and MP2(full)/6-31G^** methods. It was shown that the ability of the atom to form pentacoordinate structures increases on going from B to Al and from C to Si atom,i.e. as the number of the element of Groups IIIA and IVA of the periodic system increases. At the same time, the reverse tendencies are observed in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the periodic system,viz., the ability of the atom to form pentacoordinate structures increases on going from C to B and from Al to Si atom. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1238–1245, July, 1999.     

Structure and isomerization of heterapentalene compounds containing hypervalent bonds with central nitrogen,phosphorus, or arsenic atom

The possibility for a specific type of isomerization (electromorphism) to occur in conjugated bicyclic organic compounds containing Group V elements was studied by the ab initio (RHF/6-31G**, MP2(full)/6-31G**), and DFT (B3LYP/6-31G**) methods. Compounds 2 (X = N, P, As) were found to exist in a monocyclic planar form with intramolecular donor-acceptor N...O coordination (X = N) and as aromatic heterapentalene structures with hypervalent O--X--O bonds (X = P, As). According to calculations, no isomerization of planar heteroaromatic structures into pyramidal ones occurs. The strength of the O--X--O hypervalent bond and the aromaticity of heterapentalene structures 2 with ten -electrons increase on going from X = N to X = P. Correct estimation of these effects requires the inclusion of electron correlation.     

Molecular structure,conformational mobility,vibrational spectra,and thermochemistry of peroxyacetic acid: an ab initio and density functional study

The structure of the peroxyacetic acid (PAA) molecule and its conformational mobility under rotation about the peroxide bond was studied by ab initio and density functional methods. The free rotation is hindered by the trans-barrier of height 22.3 kJ mol^–1. The equilibrium molecular structure of AcOOH (C _s symmetry) is a result of intramolecular hydrogen bond. The high energy of hydrogen bonding (46 kJ mol^–1 according to natural bonding orbital analysis) hampers formation of intermolecular associates of AcOOH in the gas and liquid phases. The standard enthalpies of formation for AcOOH (–353.2 kJ mol^–1) and products of radical decomposition of the peroxide — AcO^· (–190.2 kJ mol^–1) and AcOO^· (–153.4 kJ mol^–1) — were determined by the G2 and G2(MP2) composite methods. The O—H and O—O bonds in the PAA molecule (bond energies are 417.8 and 202.3 kJ mol^–1, respectively) are much stronger than in alkyl hydroperoxide molecules. This provides an explanation for substantial contribution of non-radical channels of the decomposition of peroxyacetic acid. The electron density distribution and gas-phase acidity of PAA were determined. The transition states of the ethylene and cyclohexene epoxidation reactions were located (E _a = 71.7 and 50.9 kJ mol^–1 respectively).     

Binary molecular complexes of silicon tetrafluoride with water,methanol, and dimethyl ether. Quantum-chemical study

The molecular structures, the energies of complex formation, and the vibrational spectra of the binary molecular complexes of SiF₄ with water, methanol, and dimethyl ether were calculated by the ab initio MP2 method with the basis sets up to 6-311++G(2d,2p). In the complexes, which have been detected previously by IR spectroscopy in low-temperature (12—15 K) inert matrices, the five-coordinate Si atom is in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment, which is formed through the donor-acceptor interaction of the O atom with the Si atom and is additionally stabilized by the H...F hydrogen bonds.     

Quantum-chemical study of supramolecular complexes (DPyEt)n(AgNO3)m

The electronic structures and energies of formation of supramolecular complexes of dipyridylethylene with AgNO₃ were calculated by the semiempirical AM1/d method, at the Hartree—Fock level, and by the density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G*).     

Intramolecular nucleophilicS N 2 substitution at the tetrahedral carbon atom: Anab initio study

Pentacoordination of carbon atom in bicyclic organic compounds of the pentalene type was studied by theab initio RHF/6-31G^** and MP2(full)/6-31G^** methods. It was shown that intramolecularS _N 2 reactions with energy barriers within the energy scale of NMR spectroscopy can occur in systems in which a linear orientation of the attacking and leaving groups is realized. The barrier to the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction in 2,3-dihydro-3-formylmethylenefuran is 36.9 (RHF) and 27.7 kcal mol⁻¹ (MP2) and decreases to 16.4 and 19.4 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, in the case of diprotonation at the O atoms in this system. For model pentalene type compounds containing electron-deficient B atoms in the ring, theab initio calculations predict a further decrease in the barrier height (down to less than 10 kcal mol⁻¹). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1246–1256, July, 1999.     

Structure and Internal Rotation of Molecules in Chlorodifluoroacetic Acid

The potential energy profile of an isolated CF₂ClCOOH molecule with a CF₂Cl group rotating around the C–C bond was determined by the Hartree–Fock method using the 6-31G(d) basis set. Barriers to internal rotation were estimated for this molecule; its geometrical parameters were found for the equilibrium and transition states that are due to the torsion potential with unequal wells. Crystal effect on CF₂Cl reorientations in solid chlorodifluoroacetic acid has been evaluated.     

Ab initio study of the ground state and conformational stability of peroxyacetyl nitrate in internal rotation about the peroxide bond

The molecular and electronic structure of the ground state of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) was calculated by the unrestricted Hartree-Fock-Roothaan method with the use of the standard 3–21G and 6–31G basis set. The potential curve of the internal rotation about the peroxide bond of PAN was calculated with the 6–31G basis set. The curve contains two maxima. The ground state of PAN is characterized by a structure in which groups of atoms adjacent to the peroxide bond lie in planes that are perpendicular to each other (the dihedral angle ϱ(COON) is 89.9°). The calculated barriers to rotation are 19.6 and 66.8 kJ mol⁻¹. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 600–604, April, 1998.     

Proton-donor properties of HCCl3, HSiCl3, and HGeCl3 molecules: a quantum-chemical study

Proton-donor properties of HCCl₃, HSiCl₃, and HGeCl₃ molecules were studied by quantum-chemical methods. According to calculations, the Mulliken charge of H is positive in trichloromethane and negative in the other two molecules. Trichlorogermane readily interacts with bases (B) to give the contact ion pairs HB⁺·GeCl₃ ^–. Reactions of trichlorosilane with strong bases also can lead to its reorganization and the formation of contact ion pairs. In all the ion pairs, the anions are oriented to the HB⁺ cations by the negatively charged Cl atoms. Owing to possible transfer of Cl^– to HB⁺, this type of ion pairs can be a source of dichlorogermylene GeCl₂ and, probably, dichlorosilylene SiCl₂.     

Comparative Study of the Structure of Rhodanine, Isorhodanine, Thiazolidine-2,4-dione, and Thiorhodanine

Ab initio (HF and MP2 level) and semiempirical (AM1, PM3, MNDO) calculations on the relative stabilities and structures of the potential tautomeric forms of rhodanine, isorhodanine, thiazolidine-2,4-dione, and thiorhodanine are reported. Ab initio calculations predict that the thiooxo, oxothio, dioxo, and dithio tautomers are the most stable. These results correspond to the known experimental data. Infrared spectra of the investigated compounds were recorded for the region 4000-150 cm^-1, and the characteristic bands were compared with ab initio calculated frequencies at the HF/3-21G^(*)* level.     

Matrix IR-spectroscopic and quantum-chemical study of difluorostannylene complexation with dinitrogen

Complexes of difluorostannylene with dinitrogen of composition 1∶1 and 1∶2 were stabilized in Ar matrix (12 K) and characterized by IR spectra. The bands at 588, 565, and 583, 557 cm⁻¹, respectively, were assigned to these complexes. Potential energy surfaces of the systems SnF₂+N₂ and SnF₂+2N₂ were studied by theab initio MP2/3-21G(d2)//HF/3-21G(d2) method using the basis set including polarization functions at Sn, F, and N atoms. Equilibrium structures of the complexes haveC _s andC _2v symmetry and correspond to coordination of lone electron pairs of nitrogen molecules with vacant p-AO of the carbenic center. The calculated complexation energies are equal to 4.6 and 8.9 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. Based on results of quantum-chemical calculations an interpretation of the IR spectra of the complexes was given and it was shown that cycloaddition of SnF₂ to a triple N≡N bond with formation ofcyclo-SnF₂N₂ is energetically unfavorable. The absorption band belonging to SiF₄·N₂ complex in Ar matrix was detected and assigned. Dedicated to the memory of Academician M. E. Vol'pin timed to his 75th birthday. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1087–1093, June, 1998.     

Geometry of intramolecular silicon complexes: an ab initio estimation of the sensitivity to the effect of medium. (Aroyloxymethyl)trifluorosilanes

The effect of medium on the geometry of the (benzoyloxymethyl)trifluorosilane (1) molecule was studied by the HF and MP2 methods with the 6-31G(d), 6-311G(d), and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets, as well as using the Onsager SCRF model, the PCM approach, and the data of X-ray diffraction study. Molecule 1 has a low complexation energy (5.4 kcal mol^–1 according to MP2(Full)/6-31G(d)+ZPE calculations and 6.8 kcal mol^–1 according to IR spectroscopy data), while its geometric parameters are the least sensitive to the effects of medium among all hypervalent silicon compounds studied to date. Nevertheless, the results obtained revealed a pronounced deformation of the SiO coordination bond in 1 on going from the gas phase to the polar solution and crystal. This serves as a theoretical substantiation of the hypothesis that substantial changes in the IR and NMR spectral characteristics of the (O—Si)-chelate (aroyloxymethyl)trifluorosilanes upon variation of external factors are due to geometric reasons. Analysis of the electron density distribution according to Bader indicates that the SiO bond in molecule 1 can be treated as a covalent bond of high polarity.     

AM1 study of photoelectronic spectra

Ionization energies of four model compounds with known conformations,i.e., benzo-1,3-dioxole, 2-methoxyphenol, benzo-1,3-dioxole-5-carbaldehyde (piperonal), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, have been calculated by theab initio AM1 method, using the formalized scheme of configuration interactions. It has been demonstrated that this method is adequate for the study of photoelectronic spectra of methoxy(hydroxy)-substituted benzenes. The ionization energies of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde have been calculated for various orientations of theo-methoxy(hydroxy) groups. It has been revealed that three first ionization potentials corresponding to the states with vacancies on the -MO depend on the torsion angle. It has been established by comparison of calculated and experimental ionization potentials that in gas the compounds with adjacent methoxy groups have one O-Me bond parallel with the plane of the benzene ring, while another group is nearly perpendicular to this plane. Conformations of the heavy-atom framework are planar for gaseous molecules with adjacent methoxy and hydroxy groups.For Part 7, see Ref. 1.Translated fromIzyestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2365–2368, December, 1995.     

Effect of substituents (NH2, OH, F) on structures and stability of lithofluorosilylenoids

Isomeric structures and energies of three kinds of lithofluorosilylenoids, R₂SiLiF (R = NH₂, OH, F) were studied using theab initio molecular orbital theory. The calculations show that thermal stability of the three-membered ring structures of these three kinds of silylenoids decreases in the order of substituents NH₂ > OH > F because of the conjugation between NH₂, OH or F and Si atom. The interaction of substituents R with Li atom makes R₂SiLiF have a structure with two Li-A-Si-F (A = N, O, F) four-membered rings, which is the most stable of the isomers of each of three kinds of silylenoids and whose stability decreases in the order of substituents F > OH > NH₂. Inductive effect of substituents influences the thermal stability of the linear structure of silylenoids.     

Gas electron diffraction study of the geometric structure of triallylborane molecule

The main structural parameters of the triallylborane molecule having the C ₃ symmetry were determined by gas electron diffraction and quantum-chemical calculations at the MP2/6-31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels. The parameters calculated by the MP2/6-31G(d,p) method are in better agreement with the experimental data than those calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 98–101, January, 2005.     

Comparison of the capacity of nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and selenium atoms to exist in onium states. quantum-chemical investigation of isomeric model systems with two heteroatoms

HF, B3LYP, and MP2 calculations with the 6-31+G(d) basis set with correction to the energy of zero-point vibrations were carried out to determine the energy characteristics of model molecules containing two heteroatoms in the sp ³- and sp ²-hybrid states; different combinations of N, O, S, and Se atoms were studied. The stability of the onium states of the nitrogen atom was found to be greater than for its chalcogen analogs and the relative stability of onium states of the chalcogen analogs was found to depend on the hybridization of these atoms. Analysis of these results permitted us to construct a stability series of onium derivatives and to interpret the positional selectivity in electrophilic substitution reactions of five-membered heterocyclic compounds with one heteroatom. To J. Stradins, an outstanding and tireless scientist, with our deep respect and sincere affection. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1801–1808, December, 2008.     

Hydration and protonation ofO-vinylacetoxime in the gas phase: anab initio study

Ab initio HF/6–31G^* calculations ofO-vinylacetoxime monohydrates and cations were performed. Each conformer forms two stable H-complexes with participation of N and O atoms. The former have planar heavy-atom skeletons, whereas the water molecule in the latter is located above the plane of the proton-acceptor complex. The complexes stabilized by N...HO and O...HO bonds have different dipole moments and frequencies of the OH stretching vibrations. The most energetically favorable cation is formed by adding a proton to the C_β atom of the vinyl group ofO-vinylacetoxime. Theap,ap-conformer (ap is antiperiplanar) of this cation is 6.5 and 34.9 kcal mol⁻¹ more stable than the onium cations with the NH⁺ and OH⁺ fragments, respectively, and is characterized by polarization and appreciable lengthening of the N−O and C=C bonds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 597–600, April, 2000.     

Quantum-chemical analysis of the nucleophilic substitution of the bromine atom by the cyano group at the sp-hybridized carbon atom in the methylbromoacetylene molecule

This paper reports on our quantum-chemical analysis of the nucleophilic substitution of the bromine atom by the cyano group in the reaction of methylbromoacetylene with copper cyanide. According to calculations, the reaction can form a four-membered ring containing a copper atom.