Photodissociation pathways of 1,1-dichloroacetone

We present a comprehensive investigation of the dissociation dynamics following photoexcitation of 1,1-dichloroacetone (CH(3)COCHCl(2)) at 193 nm. Two major dissociation channels are observed: cleavage of a C-Cl bond to form CH(3)C(O)CHCl + Cl and elimination of HCl. The branching between these reaction channels is roughly 9:1. The recoil kinetic energy distributions for both C-Cl fission and HCl elimination are bimodal. The former suggests that some of the radicals are formed in an excited electronic state. A portion of the CH(3)C(O)CHCl photoproducts undergo secondary dissociation to give CH(3) + C(O)CHCl. Photoelimination of Cl(2) is not a significant product channel. A primary C-C bond fission channel to give CH(3)CO + CHCl(2) may be present, but this signal may also be due to a secondary dissociation. Data from photofragment translational spectroscopy with electron impact and photoionization detection, velocity map ion imaging, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy are presented, along with G3//B3LYP calculations of the bond dissociation energetics.     

Quantification of the trans influence in hypervalent iodine complexes

The trans influence of various X ligands in hypervalent iodine(III) complexes of the type CF(3)[I(X)Cl] has been quantified using the trans I-Cl bond length (d(X)), the electron density ρ(r) at the (3, -1) bond critical point of the trans I-Cl bond, and topological features of the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP). The MESP minimum at the Cl lone pair region (V(min)) is a sensitive measure of the trans influence. The trans influence of X ligands in hypervalent iodine(V) complexes is smaller than that in iodine(III) complexes, while the relative ordering of this influence is the same in both complexes. In CF(3)[I(X)Y] complexes, the mutual trans influence due to the trans disposition of the X and Y ligands is quantified using the energy E(XY) of the isodesmic reaction CF(3)[I(X)Cl] + CF(3)[I(Y)Cl] → CF(3)[I(Cl)Cl] + CF(3)[I(X)Y]. E(XY) is predicted with good accuracy using the trans-influence parameters of X and Y, measured in terms of d(X), ρ(r), or V(min). The bond dissociation energy (E(d)) of X or Y in CF(3)[I(X)Y] is significantly influenced by the trans influence as well as the mutual trans influence. This is confirmed by deriving an empirical equation to predict E(d) using one of the trans-influence parameters (d(X), ρ(r), or V(min)) and the mutual trans-influence parameter E(XY) for a large number of complexes. The quantified values of both the trans influence and the mutual trans-influence parameters may find use in assessing the stability of hypervalent iodine compounds as well as in the design of new stable hypervalent complexes. Knowledge about the I-X bond dissociation energies will be useful for explaining the reactivity of hypervalent iodine complexes and the mechanism of their reactions.     

Reaction dynamics following electron capture of chlorofluorocarbon adsorbed on water cluster: a direct density functional theory molecular dynamics study

The electron capture dynamics of halocarbon and its water complex have been investigated by means of the full dimensional direct density functional theory molecular dynamics method in order to shed light on the mechanism of electron capture of a halocarbon adsorbed on the ice surface. The CF(2)Cl(2) molecule and a cyclic water trimer (H(2)O)(3) were used as halocarbon and water cluster, respectively. The dynamics calculation of CF(2)Cl(2) showed that both C-Cl bonds are largely elongated after the electron capture, while one of the Cl atoms is dissociated from CF(2)Cl(2) (-) as a Cl(-) ion. Almost all total available energy was transferred into the internal modes of the parent CF(2)Cl radical on the product state, while the relative translational energy of Cl(-) was significantly low due to the elongation of two C-Cl bonds. In the case of a halocarbon-water cluster system, the geometry optimization of neutral complex CF(2)Cl(2)(H(2)O)(3) showed that one of the Cl atoms interacts with n orbital of water molecules of trimer and the other Cl atom existed as a dangling Cl atom. After the electron capture, only one C-Cl bond (dangling Cl atom) was rapidly elongated, whereas the other C-Cl bond is silent during the reaction. The dangling Cl atom was directly dissociated from CF(2)Cl(2) (-)(H(2)O)(3) as Cl(-). The fast Cl(-) ion was generated from CF(2)Cl(2) (-)(H(2)O)(3) on the water cluster. The mechanism of the electron capture of halocarbon on water ice was discussed on the basis of the theoretical results.     

Distinct electronic effects on reductive eliminations of symmetrical and unsymmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes

Symmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes (DPPF)Pt(C(6)H(4)-4-R)(2) (R = NMe(2), OMe, CH(3), H, Cl, CF(3)) and electronically unsymmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes (DPPF)Pt(C(6)H(4)-4-R)(C(6)H(4)-4-X) (R = CH(3), X = NMe(2), OMe, H, Cl, F, CF(3); R = OMe, X = NMe(2), H, Cl, F, CF(3); R = CF(3), X = H, Cl, NMe(2); and R = NMe(2), X = H, Cl) were prepared, and the rates of reductive elimination of these complexes in the presence of excess PPh(3) are reported. The platinum complexes reductively eliminated biaryl compounds in quantitative yields with first-order rate constants that were independent of the concentration of PPh(3). Plots of Log(k(obs)/k(obs(H))) vs Hammett substituent constants (sigma) of the para substituents R and X showed that the rates of reductive elimination reactions depended on two different electronic properties. The reductive elimination from symmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes occurred faster from complexes with more electron-donating para substituents R. However, reductive elimination from a series of electronically unsymmetrical bis-aryl complexes was not faster from complexes with the more electron-donating substituents. Instead, reductive elimination was faster from complexes with a larger difference in the electronic properties of the substituents on the two platinum-bound aryl groups. The two electronic effects can complement or cancel each other. Thus, this combination of electronic effects gives rise to complex, but now more interpretable, free energy relationships for reductive elimination.     

Insights into mechanistic photodissociation of acetyl chloride by ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

The potential energy surfaces of dissociation and elimination reactions for CH(3)COCl in the ground (S0) and first excited singlet (S1) states have been mapped with the different ab inito calculations. Mechanistic photodissociation of CH(3)COCl has been characterized through the intrinsic reaction coordinate and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations. The alpha-C-C bond cleavage along the S1 pathway leads to the fragments of COCl((2)A' ') and CH(3) ((2)A') in an excited electronic state and a high barrier exists on the pathway. This channel is inaccessible in energy upon photoexcitation of the CH(3)COCl molecules at 236 nm. The S1 alpha-C-Cl bond cleavage yields the Cl((2)P) and CH(3)CO(X(2)A') fragments in the ground state and there is very small or no barrier on the pathway. The S1 alpha-C-Cl bond cleavage proceeds in a time scale of picosecond in the gas phase, followed by CH(3)CO decomposition to CH(3) and CO. The barrier to the C-Cl bond cleavage on the S1 surface is significantly increased by effects of the argon matrix. The S1 alpha-C-Cl bond cleavage in the argon matrix becomes inaccessible in energy upon photoexcitation of CH(3)COCl at 266 nm. In this case, the excited CH(3)COCl(S1) molecules cannot undergo the C-Cl bond cleavage in a short period. The internal conversion from S1 to S0 becomes the dominant process for the CH(3)COCl(S1) molecules in the condensed phase. As a result, the direct HCl elimination in the ground state becomes the exclusive channel upon 266 nm photodissociation of CH(3)COCl in the argon matrix at 11 K.     

Mechanism of methylacetylene bisselenation catalyzed by palladium complex from density functional study

The reaction mechanism of Pd(0)-catalyzed methylacetylene bisselenation reaction is investigated by using the density functional method. The overall reaction mechanism involves the oxidative addition, insertion, and reductive elimination steps. The regioselectivity has been investigated for the methylacetylene insertion into Pd-Se bond of both cis and trans palladium complexes. It is found that the methylacetylene insertion into Pd-Se bond of the trans palladium complex using the substituted carbon atom attached to selenyl group is preferred among the four pathways of methylacetylene insertion processes. The electronic mechanisms on the methylacetylene insertion into Pd-Se bond are discussed in terms of the Frontier molecular orbital interactions. In addition, the influence of carbon monoxide on methylacetylene bisselenation was studied and found that the methylacetylene coordination and insertion into Pd-Se bond take place first generating the Pd-C bond, followed by CO insertion into the Pd-C bond.     

Importance of palladium-carbon bond energies in direct arylation of polyfluorinated benzenes

Fagnou et al. reported direct arylation reactions that use palladium catalysts to couple Ar(1)-X to Ar(2)-H with the aid of a coordinated base. These reactions are particularly favourable for polyfluorinated arenes Ar(2)-H (see S. I. Gorelsky, D. Lapointe and K. Fagnou, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 10848). In this paper, we show by means of a DFT analysis how the energetics and activation energies vary with fluorine substitution and examine the structures of intermediates and transition states. The reactant is modelled by Pd(OAc)(Ph)(PMe(3))(DMA) (DMA = dimethylacetamide). The sequence consists of (a) replacement of DMA by arene, (b) Concerted Deprotonation Metallation (CMD), (c) decoordination of AcOH, (d) reductive elimination of biaryl. Many of the variations are dominated by the number of fluorine substituents ortho to the C-H bond and fall into three groups labelled accordingly: Set0Fo, Set1Fo, and Set2Fo. In the first step a coordinated solvent is replaced by the arene. The arenes of Set0Fo and Set1Fo coordinate in a conventional η(2)-CH=CH mode, whereas the arenes of Set2Fo coordinate in an η(1)-CH mode assisted by an OH-C hydrogen bond from the coordinated acetate. Both the energy barriers to CMD and the product energies fall into the three typical sets with the highest barrier and highest product energy being for Set0Fo. They correlate more satisfactorily with the variations in Pd-C bond energies than with the C-H acidities. The barriers to reductive elimination from Pd(Ph)(Ar(F))(PMe(3))(AcOH) increase systematically from Set0Fo to Set2Fo as the Pd-C bond becomes stronger in a regular fashion from Set0Fo to Set2Fo. Again there is a strong correlation between the energy barriers to reductive elimination and the Pd-C bond energies. It is found overall that the key aspects of the reactions are: (a) the lowering of the energy of the CMD step by the ortho fluorine substituents, (b) the regioselective activation of C-H bonds ortho to fluorine which is also determined at the CMD step, (c) the decoordination of AcOH, which maintains the transition state for reductive elimination at low Gibbs free energy. The presence of fluorine increases the effectiveness of the reaction in the sense of points a and b via the increasing strength of the palladium-carbon bond.     

Bis-N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(IV) tetrachloride complexes: synthesis, reactivity, and mechanisms of direct chlorinations and oxidations of organic substrates

This Article describes the preparation and isolation of novel octahedral CH(2)-bridged bis-(N-heterocyclic carbene)palladium(IV) tetrachlorides of the general formula LPd(IV)Cl(4) [L = (NHC)CH(2)(NHC)] from LPd(II)Cl(2) and Cl(2). In intermolecular, nonchelation-controlled transformations LPd(IV)Cl(4) reacted with alkenes and alkynes to 1,2-dichlorination adducts. Aromatic, benzylic, and aliphatic C-H bonds were converted into C-Cl bonds. Detailed mechanistic investigations in the dichlorinations of alkenes were conducted on the 18VE Pd(IV) complex. Positive solvent effects as well as kinetic measurements probing the impact of cyclohexene and chloride concentrations on the rate of alkene chlorination support a Pd(IV)-Cl ionization in the first step. Product stereochemistry and product distributions from various alkenes also support Cl(+)-transfer from the pentacoordinated Pd(IV)-intermediate LPd(IV)Cl(3)(+) to olefins. 1-Hexene/3-hexene competition experiments rule out both the formation of π-complexes along the reaction coordinate as well as in situ generated Cl(2) from a reductive elimination process. Instead, a ligand-mediated direct Cl(+)-transfer from LPd(IV)Cl(3)(+) to the π-system is likely to occur. Similarly, C-H bond chlorinations proceed via an electrophilic process with in situ formed LPd(IV)Cl(3)(+). The presence of a large excess of added Cl(-) slows cyclohexene chlorination while the presence of stoichiometric amounts of chloride accelerates both Pd(IV)-Cl ionization and Cl(+)-transfer from LPd(IV)Cl(3)(+). (1)H NMR titrations, T1 relaxation time measurements, binding isotherms, and Job plot analysis point to the formation of a trifurcated Cl(-)···H-C bond in the NHC-ligand periphery as a supramolecular cause for the accelerated chemical events involving the metal center.     

Regioselective bond cleavage in the dissociative electron transfer to benzyl thiocyanates: the role of radical/ion pair formation

Important aspects of the electrochemical reduction of a series of substituted benzyl thiocyanates were investigated. A striking change in the reductive cleavage mechanism as a function of the substituent on the aryl ring of the benzyl thiocyanate was observed, and more importantly, a regioselective bond cleavage was encountered. A reductive alpha-cleavage (CH(2)-S bond) was seen for cyano and nitro-substituted benzyl thiocyanates leading to the formation of the corresponding nitro-substituted dibenzyls. With other substituents (CH(3)O, CH(3), H, Cl, and F), both the alpha (CH(2)-S) and the beta (S-CN) bonds could be cleaved as a result of an electrochemical reduction leading to the formation of the corresponding substituted monosulfides, disulfides, and toluenes. These final products are generated through either a protonation or a nucleophilic reaction of the two-electron reduction-produced anion on the parent molecule. The dissociative electron transfer theory and its extension to the formation/dissociation of radical anions, as well as its extension to the case of strong in-cage interactions between the produced fragments ("sticky" dissociative electron transfer (ET)), along with the theoretical calculation results helped rationalize (i) the observed change in the ET mechanism, (ii) the dissociation of the radical anion intermediates formed during the electrochemical reduction of the nitro-substituted benzyl thiocyanates, and more importantly (iii) the regioselective reductive bond cleavage.     

Dissociative photoionization of methyl chloride studied with threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence velocity imaging

Utilizing threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) velocity imaging, dissociation of state-selected CH(3)Cl(+) ions was investigated in the excitation energy range of 11.0-18.5 eV. TPEPICO time-of-flight mass spectra and three-dimensional time-sliced velocity images of CH(3)(+) dissociated from CH(3)Cl(+)(A(2)A(1) and B(2)E) ions were recorded. CH(3)(+) was kept as the most dominant fragment ion in the present energy range, while the branching ratio of CH(2)Cl(+) fragment was very low. For dissociation of CH(3)Cl(+)(A(2)A(1)) ions, a series of homocentric rings was clearly observed in the CH(3)(+) image, which was assigned as the excitation of umbrella vibration of CH(3)(+) ions. Moreover, a dependence of anisotropic parameters on the vibrational states of CH(3)(+)(1(1)A') provided a direct experimental evidence of a shallow potential well along the C-Cl bond rupture. For CH(3)Cl(+)(B(2)E) ions, total kinetic energy released distribution for CH(3)(+) fragmentation showed a near Maxwell-Boltzmann profile, indicating that the Cl-loss pathway from the B(2)E state was statistical predissociation. With the aid of calculated Cl-loss potential energy curves of CH(3)Cl(+), CH(3)(+) formation from CH(3)Cl(+)(A(2)A(1)) ions was a rapid direct fragmentation, while CH(3)Cl(+)(B(2)E) ions statistically dissociated to CH(3)(+) + Cl via internal conversion to the high vibrational states of X(2)E.     

Theoretical study of structure, stability and infrared spectra of CH3X-SO3 (X = F, Cl, Br) complexes

Ab initio computational study of the electronic structure and infrared spectra of donor-acceptor complexes formed between SO3 and CH3X (X = F, Cl, Br) molecules was carried out at the MP2(full)/6-31G(d) level of theory. The calculated complexation energy at G2MP2 level shows that stability of complexes decrease, as CH3Cl-SO3 > CH3Br-SO3 > CH3F-SO3. The NBO partitioning scheme show that the lengthening of the C-F, C-Cl, and C-Br bond lengths, upon complexation, is due to an decreasing "s" character in these bonds.     

Analyzing velocity map images to distinguish the primary methyl photofragments from those produced upon C-Cl bond photofission in chloroacetone at 193 nm

We use a combination of crossed laser-molecular beam scattering experiments and velocity map imaging experiments to investigate the three primary photodissociation channels of chloroacetone at 193 nm: C-Cl bond photofission yielding CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals, C-C bond photofission yielding CH(3)CO and CH(2)Cl products, and C-CH(3) bond photofission resulting in CH(3) and C(O)CH(2)Cl products. Improved analysis of data previously reported by our group quantitatively identifies the contribution of this latter photodissociation channel. We introduce a forward convolution procedure to identify the portion of the signal, derived from the methyl image, which results from a two-step process in which C-Cl bond photofission is followed by the dissociation of the vibrationally excited CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals to CH(3) + COCH(2). Subtracting this from the total methyl signal identifies the methyl photofragments that result from the CH(3) + C(O)CH(2)Cl photofission channel. We find that about 89% of the chloroacetone molecules undergo C-Cl bond photofission to yield CH(3)C(O)CH(2) and Cl products; approximately 8% result in C-C bond photofission to yield CH(3)CO and CH(2)Cl products, and the remaining 2.6% undergo C-CH(3) bond photofission to yield CH(3) and C(O)CH(2)Cl products.     

Unimolecular reactions in the CF3CH2Cl ↔ CF2ClCH2F system: isomerization by interchange of Cl and F atoms

The recombination of CF(2)Cl and CH(2)F radicals was used to prepare CF(2)ClCH(2)F* molecules with 93 ± 2 kcal mol(-1) of vibrational energy in a room temperature bath gas. The observed unimolecular reactions in order of relative importance were: (1) 1,2-ClH elimination to give CF(2)═CHF, (2) isomerization to CF(3)CH(2)Cl by the interchange of F and Cl atoms and (3) 1,2-FH elimination to give E- and Z-CFCl═CHF. Since the isomerization reaction is 12 kcal mol(-1) exothermic, the CF(3)CH(2)Cl* molecules have 105 kcal mol(-1) of internal energy and they can eliminate HF to give CF(2)═CHCl, decompose by rupture of the C-Cl bond, or isomerize back to CF(2)ClCH(2)F. These data, which provide experimental rate constants, are combined with previously published results for chemically activated CF(3)CH(2)Cl* formed by the recombination of CF(3) and CH(2)Cl radicals to provide a comprehensive view of the CF(3)CH(2)Cl* ? CF(2)ClCH(2)F* unimolecular reaction system. The experimental rate constants are matched to calculated statistical rate constants to assign threshold energies for the observed reactions. The models for the molecules and transition states needed for the rate constant calculations were obtained from electronic structures calculated from density functional theory. The previously proposed explanation for the formation of CF(2)═CHF in thermal and infrared multiphoton excitation studies of CF(3)CH(2)Cl, which was 2,2-HCl elimination from CF(3)CH(2)Cl followed by migration of the F atom in CF(3)CH, should be replaced by the Cl/F interchange reaction followed by a conventional 1,2-ClH elimination from CF(2)ClCH(2)F. The unimolecular reactions are augmented by free-radical chemistry initiated by reactions of Cl and F atoms in the thermal decomposition of CF(3)CH(2)Cl and CF(2)ClCH(2)F.     

Photodissociation of propargyl chloride at 193 nm

The photodissociation of propargyl chloride (C3H3Cl) has been studied at 193 nm. Ion imaging experiments with state-selective detection of the Cl atoms and single-photon ionization of the C3H3 radicals were performed, along with measurements of the Cl + C3H3 and HCl + C3H2 recoil kinetic energy distributions, using a scattering apparatus with electron bombardment ionization detection to resolve the competing Cl and HCl elimination channels. The experiments allow the determination of the Cl (2P3/2) and Cl (2P1/2) (hereafter Cl) branching fractions associated with the C-Cl bond fission, which are determined to be 0.5 +/- 0.1 for both channels. Although prior translational spectroscopy studies by others had concluded that the low velocity signal at the Cl+ mass was due to daughter fragments of the HCl elimination products, the present work shows that Cl atoms are produced with a bimodal recoil kinetic energy distribution. The major C-Cl bond fission channel, with a narrow recoil kinetic energy distribution peaking near 40 kcal/mol, produces both Cl and Cl, whereas the minor (5%) channel, partitioning much less energy to relative kinetic energy, produces only ground spin-orbit state Cl atoms. The maximum internal energy of the radicals produced in the low-recoil-kinetic-energy channel is consistent with this channel producing electronically excited propargyl radicals. Finally, in contrast to previous studies, the present work determines the HCl recoil kinetic energy distribution and identifies the possible contribution to this spectrum from propargyl radicals cracking to C3+ ions in the mass spectrometer.     

Chloroacetone photodissociation at 193 nm and the subsequent dynamics of the CH3C(O)CH2 radical--an intermediate formed in the OH + allene reaction en route to CH3 + ketene

We use a combination of crossed laser-molecular beam experiments and velocity map imaging experiments to investigate the primary photofission channels of chloroacetone at 193 nm; we also probe the dissociation dynamics of the nascent CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals formed from C-Cl bond fission. In addition to the C-Cl bond fission primary photodissociation channel, the data evidence another photodissociation channel of the precursor, C-C bond fission to produce CH(3)CO and CH(2)Cl. The CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radical formed from C-Cl bond fission is one of the intermediates in the OH + allene reaction en route to CH(3) + ketene. The 193 nm photodissociation laser allows us to produce these CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals with enough internal energy to span the dissociation barrier leading to the CH(3) + ketene asymptote. Therefore, some of the vibrationally excited CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals undergo subsequent dissociation to CH(3) + ketene products; we are able to measure the velocities of these products using both the imaging and scattering apparatuses. The results rule out the presence of a significant contribution from a C-C bond photofission channel that produces CH(3) and COCH(2)Cl fragments. The CH(3)C(O)CH(2) radicals are formed with a considerable amount of energy partitioned into rotation; we use an impulsive model to explicitly characterize the internal energy distribution. The data are better fit by using the C-Cl bond fission transition state on the S(1) surface of chloroacetone as the geometry at which the impulsive force acts, not the Franck-Condon geometry. Our data suggest that, even under atmospheric conditions, the reaction of OH with allene could produce a small branching to CH(3) + ketene products, rather than solely producing inelastically stabilized adducts. This additional channel offers a different pathway for the OH-initiated oxidation of such unsaturated volatile organic compounds, those containing a C=C=C moiety, than is currently included in atmospheric models.     

Characterization of the methoxy carbonyl radical formed via photolysis of methyl chloroformate at 193.3 nm

This study investigates two features of interest in recent work on the photolytic production of the methoxy carbonyl radical and its subsequent unimolecular dissociation channels. Earlier studies used methyl chloroformate as a photolytic precursor for the CH3OCO, methoxy carbonyl (or methoxy formyl) radical, which is an intermediate in many reactions that are relevant to combustion and atmospheric chemistry. That work evidenced two competing C-Cl bond fission channels, tentatively assigning them as producing ground- and excited-state methoxy carbonyl radicals. In this study, we measure the photofragment angular distributions for each C-Cl bond fission channel and the spin-orbit state of the Cl atoms produced. The data shows bond fission leading to the production of ground-state methoxy carbonyl radicals with a high kinetic energy release and an angular distribution characterized by an anisotropy parameter, beta, of between 0.37 and 0.64. The bond fission that leads to the production of excited-state radicals, with a low kinetic energy release, has an angular distribution best described by a negative anisotropy parameter. The very different angular distributions suggest that two different excited states of methyl chloroformate lead to the formation of ground- and excited-state methoxy carbonyl products. Moreover, with these measurements we were able to refine the product branching fractions to 82% of the C-Cl bond fission resulting in ground-state radicals and 18% resulting in excited-state radicals. The maximum kinetic energy release of 12 kcal/mol measured for the channel producing excited-state radicals suggests that the adiabatic excitation energy of the radical is less than or equal to 55 kcal/mol, which is lower than the 67.8 kcal/mol calculated by UCCSD(T) methods in this study. The low-lying excited states of methylchloroformate are also considered here to understand the observed angular distributions. Finally, the mechanism for the unimolecular dissociation of the methoxy carbonyl radical to CH3 + CO2, which can occur through a transition state with either cis or, with a much higher barrier, trans geometry, was investigated with natural bond orbital computations. The results suggest donation of electron density from the nonbonding C radical orbital to the sigma* orbital of the breaking C-O bond accounts for the additional stability of the cis transition state.     

The trans effect in square-planar platinum(II) complexes--a density functional study

The mechanism of substitution water exchange reactions in square planar trans-Pt[(NH(3))(2)T(H(2)O)](n+) complexes is studied (T = H(2)O, NH(3), OH(-), F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), H(2)S, CH(3)S(-), SCN(-), CN(-), PH(3), CO, CH(3)(-), H(-), C(2)H(4)). The trans effect is explained in terms of sigma-donation and pi-back-donation whose relative strengths are quantified by the changes of electron occupations of 5d platinum atomic orbitals. The sigma-donation strength is linearly correlated with the Pt-H(2)O (leaving ligand) bond length (trans influence). The kinetic trans effect strength correlates proportionally with the sigma-donation ability of the trans-ligand except the ligands with strong pi-back-donation ability that stabilizes transition state structure. The sigma-donation ability of the ligand is dependent on the sigma-donation strength of the ligand in the trans position. Therefore the trans effect caused by sigma-donation can be understood as a competition between the trans-ligands for the opportunity to donate electron density to the central Pt(II) atom. The influence of the trans effect on the reaction mechanism is also shown. For ligands with a very strong sigma-donation (e.g. CH(3)(-) and H(-)), the substitution proceeds by a dissociative interchange (I(d)) mechanism. Ligands with strong pi-back donation ability (e.g. C(2)H(4)) stabilize the pentacoordinated intermediate and the substitution proceeds by a two step associative mechanism. For ligands with weak sigma-donation and pi-back-donation abilities, the highest activation barriers have to be overcome and substitutions can be described by an associative interchange (I(a)) mechanism. The results are supported by the energy decomposition and the natural orbital analysis.     

The possible covalent nature of N-H...O hydrogen bonds in formamide dimer and related systems: an ab initio study

The N-H...O hydrogen bonds are analyzed for formamide dimer and its simple fluorine derivatives representing a wide spectrum of more or less covalent interactions. The calculations were performed at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of approximation. To explain the nature of such interactions, the Bader theory was also applied, and the characteristics of the bond critical points (BCPs) were analyzed: the electron density at BCP and its Laplacian, the electron energy density at BCP and its components, the potential electron energy density, and the kinetic electron energy density. These parameters are used to justify the statement that some of the interactions analyzed are partly covalent in nature. An analysis of the interaction energy components for the systems considered indicates that the covalent character of the hydrogen bond is manifested by a markedly increased contribution of the delocalization term relative to the electrostatic interaction energy. Moreover, the ratio of stabilizing the delocalization/electrostatic contributions grows linearly with the decreasing lengths of the hydrogen bond.     

Heterolytic bond dissociation in water: why is it so easy for C4H9Cl but not for C3H9SiCl?

The recently developed (Song, L.; Wu, W.; Zhang, Q.; Shaik, S. J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 6017-6024) valence bond method coupled to a polarized continuum model (VBPCM) is used to address the long standing conundrum of the heterolytic dissociation of the C-Cl and Si-Cl bonds, respectively, in tertiary-butyl chloride and trimethylsilyl chloride in condensed phases. The method is used here to compare the bond dissociation in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. In addition to the ground state reaction profile, VB theory also provides the energies of the purely covalent and purely ionic VB structures as a function of the reaction coordinate. Accordingly, the C-Cl and Si-Cl bonds are shown to be of different natures. In the gas phase, the resonance energy arising from covalent-ionic mixing at equilibrium geometry amounts to 42 kcal/mol for tertiary-butyl chloride, whereas the same quantity for trimethylsilyl chloride is significantly higher at 62 kcal/mol. With such a high value, the root cause of the Si-Cl bonding is the covalent-ionic resonance energy, and this bond belongs to the category of charge-shift bonds (Shaik, S.; Danovich, D.; Silvi, B.; Lauvergnat, D.; Hiberty, P. C. Chem.- Eur. J. 2005, 11, 6358). This difference between the C-Cl and Si-Cl bonds carries over to the solvated phase and impacts the heterolytic cleavages of the two bonds. For both molecules, solvation lowers the ionic curve below the covalent one, and hence the bond dissociation in the solvent generates the two ions, Me3E+ Cl- (E = C, Si). In both cases, the root cause of the barrier is the loss of the covalent-ionic resonance energy. In the heterolysis reaction of Si-Cl, the covalent-ionic resonance energy remains large and fully contributes to the dissociation energy, thereby leading to a high barrier for heterolytic cleavage, and thus prohibiting the generation of ions. By contrast, the covalent-ionic resonance energy is smaller for the C-Cl bond and only partially contributes to the barrier for heterolysis, which is consequently small, leading readily to ions that are commonly observed in the classical SN1 mechanism. Thus, the reluctance of R3Si-X molecules to undergo heterolysis in condensed phases and more generally the rarity of free silicenium ions under these conditions are experimental manifestations of the charge-shift character of the Si-Cl bond.