A comparative ab initio study of the geometry and force field of thionformic acid with formic and thiolformic acids

The energy and force field for the planar cis and trans conformers of thionformic acid have been calculated using the 4–31 G basis set, augmented by a complete set of d-functions on the sulfur atom, with full geometry optimization. Extensive comparisons are made between the changes in geometry and selected force constants in going from cis- (chain) to the trans- (ring) structures of thionformic, thiolformic and formic acid. These changes are discussed in terms of a hydrogen bonding type of interaction in the O---HS, S---HO and O---HO structural units respectively. Of the thioacid conformers, the trans-thiol is found to be the most stable; the trans-thion and cis-thiol both about 10 kJ mol⁻¹ less stable; and the cis-thion the least stable by about 38 kJ mol⁻¹.     

The effects of fluorine and chlorine substitution on bond lengths in ethanes and disilanes: comparisons of ab initio and experimental information

Ab initio and some density functional theory calculations of bond lengths in fluoro- and chloro-ethanes and disilanes are reported with a precision of ±0.0001 Å under strictly comparable conditions. The resulting changes in MH and MX (M=C, Si; X=F, Cl) bond length are analysed for the effects of halogens substituted in geminal (), or vicinal (gauche or trans) positions. The shortening effect of halogen on an MH bond is markedly reduced or even reversed by the introduction of electron correlation at the MP2 or B3LYP level. MX bonds are little affected. gauche halogen consistently shortens both MH and MX bonds, while trans halogen has no effect on an MH bond but a small and variable effect on the MX bond.

The reality of these calculated changes in bond length is tested in two ways. MH bond lengths are plotted against experimental values of the isolated stretching frequencies ν^isMH, which themselves correlate well with experimental r₀ bond lengths. Agreement on the resulting substituent effects is generally good for the gauche and trans effects of halogen but variable for effects. Unobserved ν^isMH values are predicted from computed bond lengths in fluoroethanes, chloroethanes and chlorodisilanes.

Calculated MX and MM bond lengths are compared with experimental values, notably those from electron diffraction studies amongst the ethanes. Most calculations underestimate the changes found experimentally in CF and CCl bond lengths. CC bond length changes are underestimated in fluoroethanes and overestimated in the chloro-compounds.

The ‘offset’ value (r_e(calc)−r_e(true)) for a CH or SiH bond calculated with a given basis set and level of theory in most cases varies markedly throughout the series of compounds. The same is true for CF, CCl, CC and SiSi bonds if the corresponding offset values for the r_a lengths are constant.

The need is stressed for extended experimental work on many of the compounds, especially the disilanes. It is recommended that structures should be refined with ab initio derived constraints on the bond lengths involved and differences between spectroscopic and diffraction-based geometries reconciled through the calculation of r_z structures.     

Dipolar coupling study of the conformations and ordering of 4-chloroethoxybenzene in a nematic solvent

The observed dipolar couplings of 4-chloroethoxybenzene in a nematic solvent are used to study the internal rotations about the O-C(H₂) bond. Accurate theoretical reproductions of these couplings are obtained using the standard three state (trans, gauche^±) rotational isomer model with gauche rotation angle φ^g = 96° and the trans—gauche energy difference E_tg, = 5·52kJ mol^-1. The probabilities and ordering matrix components of the trans and gauche forms are calculated.     

Vibrational spectra and potential energy distributions for 3-cyclopropenecarboxaldehyde by density functional and normal coordinate calculations

The structural stability and internal rotation in 3-cylopropenecarboxaldehyde were investigated by ab initio calculations with 6-311++G^** basis set. The calculations were carried out at the restricted Hartree–Fock (HF) and the Density Functional B3LYP levels. The vibrational frequencies were computed at HF and DFT-B3LYP levels. Normal coordinate calculations were carried out and potential energy distributions were calculated for the cis and the trans conformers of the molecule.     

Internal Rotation in Simple Ethenols

Internal rotation in the compounds XCH=CHOH, X= CN, H and F, with the group X located trans to the oxygen atom has been studied using ab initio computational techniques with complete geometry optimisation. The relaxation of the molecular framework accompanying the torsional vibration is described and the significant changes in the internal rotation function around the C---O bond which arise upon changing the group X discussed.

The structure of the syn rotamer of ethenol itself, calculated with a variety of basis sets, is compared with the experimental geometry.     

Vibrational spectra and rotational isomerism of ethyl trichloroacetate

The IR and Raman spectra of ethyl trichloroacetate (E-TCA) and its deuterate (E-TCA-d₅) have been measured in the liquid, glassy and crystalline states. Vibrational assignment was made by referring to isotopic wavenumber-shift, characteristic group frequencies of related esters and with the aid of a normal coordinate calculation on E-TCA and E-TCA-d₅. It is suggested that in the liquid and glassy states there exist two molecular forms (trans—trans—trans and trans—trans—gauche) with regard to the internal rotations about the ClC---C---O---CH₂CH₃ axis, and that the former persists in the crystalline state. The band pairs of E-TCA and the other ethyl esters are discussed in relation to the nature and number of rotational axes, effect of the heavy trichloromethyl group, and enhancement of band intensity by vibrational coupling.     

Theoretical study of the N---H tautomerism in free base porphyrin

The N---H tautomerism of free base porphyrin is investigated at the semiempirical spin-unrestricted AM1 (UAM1) and ab initio RHF/3-21G levels. The UAM1 method provides delocalized geometries for all stationary structures without imposing any symmetry constraint. RHF/3-21G geometry optimizations have to be performed under symmetry restrictions to ensure that realistic delocalized structures are obtained. Both the semiempirical and the ab initio calculations predict that the interconversion between trans tautomers proceeds in an asynchronous two-step process via intermediate cis tautomers. The cis tautomers are characterized as minima in the potential energy surface and are 8–10 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy. The activation energy for the trans → cis interconversion is calculated to be approximately 23 kcal mol⁻¹ at the 3-21G level. The activation energy for the synchronous trans → trans interconversion is higher and has a value of 30.5 kcal mol⁻¹. The activation energies obtained at the semiempirical UAM1 level are twice as large as the ab initio values.     

On the vibrational spectra and conformational stability of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of krypton solutions and ab initio calculations

Variable temperature (−105 to −150 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, (CH₃)₂NNH₂, in liquid krypton have been carried out. No convincing spectral evidence could be found for the trans conformer which is expected to be at least 600 cm⁻¹ less stable than the gauche form. The structural parameters, dipole moments, conformational stability, vibrational frequencies, and infrared and Raman intensities have been predicted from MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. The predicted infrared and Raman spectra are compared to the experimental ones. The adjusted r₀ parameters from MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations are compared to those reported from an electron diffraction study. The energy differences between the gauche and trans conformers have been obtained from MP2 ab initio calculations as well as from density functional theory by the B3LYP method calculations from a variety of basis sets. All of these calculations indicate an energy difference of 650–900 cm⁻¹ with the B3LYP calculations predicted the larger values. The potential function governing the conformational interchange has been predicting from both types of calculations and comparisons have been made. The barrier to internal rotation by the independent rotor model of the inner methyl group is predicted to have a value of 1812 cm⁻¹ and that of the outer one of 1662 cm⁻¹ from ab initio MP2/6-31G(d) calculations. These values agree well with the experimentally determined values of 1852±16 and 1558±12 cm⁻¹, respectively, from a fit of the torsional transitions with the coupled rotor model. For the coupled rotor model the predicted V′₃₃ (sin 3τ₀ sin 3τ₁ term) value which ranged from 190 to 232 cm⁻¹ is in reasonable agreement with the experimental value of 268±3 cm⁻¹ but the predicted V₃₃ (cos 3τ₀ cos 3τ₁ term) value of −73 to −139 cm⁻¹ is 25% smaller and of the opposite sign of the experimental value of 333±22 cm⁻¹. These theoretical and spectroscopy results are compared to similar quantities of some corresponding molecules.     

Raman and infrared spectra, conformational stability, ab initio calculations and vibrational assignments for 2-chloroethyl silane

The infrared (3500–30 cm⁻¹) spectra of gaseous and solid and the Raman (3500–10 cm⁻¹) spectra of liquid with quantitative depolarization ratios and solid 2-chloroethyl silane, ClCH₂CH₂SiH₃, have been recorded. Similar data have been recorded for the Si–d₃ isotopomer. These data indicate that two conformers, trans and gauche, are present in the fluid states but only one conformer, trans, is present in the solid. The mid-infrared spectra of the sample dissolved in liquified xenon as a function of temperature (−55 to −100°C) has been recorded. The enthalpy difference between the conformers has been determined to be 181±12 cm⁻¹ (2.17±0.14 kJ/mol) with the trans rotamer the more stable form. From the isolated Si–H frequencies from the Si–d₂ isotopomer the r_o Si–H distances of 1.484 and 1.483 Å for the trans and 1.481 for the gauche conformers have been obtained. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with several different basis sets up to MP2/6-311+G** from which structural parameters and conformational stabilities have been determined. With all the basis sets the trans form is predicted to be the more stable conformer which is consistent with the experimental results. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities for the carbon analogue.     

Palladium(II) coordination and cyclometallated complexes derived from 3- and 5-aryl-substituted pyrazoles

Palladium(II) coordination complexes of nine 3- or 5-arylpyrazoles (phenyl, 2-bromophenyl, or 3-methoxyphenyl), as well as of 3,5-diphenylpyrazole, are reported. A cis-trans mixture of [PdL₂Cl₂] isomers is found in the case of 3-aryl-1-methylpyrazoles, the cis-isomers being transformed into trans by heating. Only trans isomers are isolated with the other ligands. Cyclopalladation of 3-ary]-1-methylpyrazoles can be performed with palladium(II) acetate, and the resultant μ-acetate bridged dimers can be transformed into μ-chloro bridged dimers or acetylacetonate monomers. The structures of the complexes have been characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.     

An ab initio potential energy surface for the υ4 vibrational mode of hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, the levels and the torsional microstates of hydrogen peroxide are determined from fully optimized ab initio calculations using a nuclear model in one dimension. Calculations have been performed at the MP2 level with the 6-311 G(2df,2pd), 6-31 1+G(2df,2pd), cc-pVTZ and AUG-cc-pVTZ basis sets including polarization orbitals and diffuse functions. The most stable conformation, calculated with the MP2/AUG-cc-pVTZ approach, is a trans–gauche conformer lying at 67.5° from the trans structure. By using the same level of calculations, the heights of the trans and cis barriers have been determined to be 386.5 and 2643.8 cm⁻¹ in a good agreement with the experimental data. The variational torsional levels split into four components by the tunnelling effect of the barriers. The splitting of the fundamental level caused by the trans barrier has been found to be 11.8683 cm⁻¹, whereas the splitting caused by the cis barrier is insignificant under n=2. Current ab initio energies confirm the experimental assignments and verify the separability of the torsion from the rest of the vibrations. However, the experimental relation of dependence on the torsion of the rotational constants cannot be reproduced in one-dimension and depends on several additional vibrational effects.     

The vibrational spectra, molecular structure and conformation of organic azides : Part IV. An ab initio study of hydrazoic acid, azidomethane, azidoethane, azidoethene and azidomethanal

Fully optimized geometries have been calculated for the title compounds at the Hartree—Fock SCF level and compared with existing experimental data. A basis set of double zeta quality has been employed. For hydrazoic acid, a calculation with a larger basis set, expected to give results near the Hartree—Fock limit, has also been performed. All of the calculations show the azide group to be slightly bent with a trans configuration around the central NN bond. Azidoethane is predicted to exist in two conformations, gauche (71°) and anti, with a negligible energy difference of 0.26 kJ mol⁻¹ between them. Azidoethene and azidomethanal both prefer the syn orientation of the azide group with respect to the C---C or C---O bonds, the computed energy difference between the anti and syn conformations being 3.31 and 30.3 kJ mol⁻¹ respectively.

The barrier to rotation around the C---N bond has been calculated to be 3.75 kJ mol⁻¹ in azidomethane while in azidoethane it was 3.30 and 9.40 kJ mol⁻¹ in the eclipsed anti-clinal (120°) and syn positions, respectively.

Complete harmonic force fields and dipole moment derivatives have been calculated for hydrazoic acid, azidomethane and for the two stable conformations of azidoethane. For azidoethane and azidomethanal only the azide part of the harmonic force field has been calculated. The theoretical harmonic force fields have been modified through scaling by a least squares refinement to the observed wavenumbers of hydrazoic acid, azidomethane and azidoethane (anti and gauche). Infrared vapour phase intensities have been calculated and theoretical spectra are presented for azidomethane and azidoethane.     

Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability, ab initio calculations of structure, and vibrational assignment of 2-hexyne

The infrared spectra (3500–50 cm⁻¹) of the gas and solid and the Raman spectra (3500–50 cm⁻¹) of the liquid and solid have been recorded for 2-hexyne, CH₃–CC–CH₂CH₂CH₃. Variable temperature studies of the infrared spectrum (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 2-hexyne dissolved in liquid krypton have also been recorded. Utilizing four anti/gauche conformer pairs, the anti(trans) conformer is found to be the lower energy form with an enthalpy difference of 74±8 cm⁻¹ (0.88±0.10 kJ/mol) determined from krypton solutions over the temperature range −105 to −150 °C. At room temperature it is estimated that there is 42% of the anti conformer present. Equilibrium geometries and energies of the two conformers have been determined by ab initio (HF and MP2) and hybrid DFT (B3LYP) methods using a number of basis sets. Only the HF and DFT methods predict the anti conformer as the more stable form as found experimentally. A vibrational assignment is proposed based on the force constants, relative intensities, depolarization ratios from the ab initio and DFT calculations and on rotational band contours obtained using the calculated equilibrium geometries. From calculated energies it is shown that the CH₃ group exhibits almost completely free rotation which is in agreement with the observation of sub-band structure for the degenerate methyl vibrations from which values of the Coriolis coupling constants, ζ, have been determined. The results are compared to similar properties of some corresponding molecules.     

Potential constants and Coriolis coupling constants of perhalogenated ethylenes: Part 3. trans-ClFC=CFCl, trans-ClBrC=CBrCl and trans-FBrC=CBrF

Based on vibrational frequencies a calculation of a general quadratic force field has been carried out for trans-ClFC=CFCl, trans-ClBrC=CBrCl and trans-FBrC=CBrF via an iterative method. The resulting transformation L matrices were used to evaluate the Coriolis coupling constants and these were used to calculate inertial defects. The calculated values of the inertial defects are lower than those of the respective cis-ethylene-type molecules.     

Conformational analysis of 1,2-difluoroethane, an ab-initio investigation

Contrary to expectation, the gauche conformer of 1,2-difluoroethane is more stable than the trans conformer in the gas phase. In order to understand the underlying causes of the “gauche effect”, a complete geometry relaxation was performed for the gauche and trans conformers of 1,2-difluoroethane with the 4-21G, 4-31G and 4-31G** basis sets. The 4-31G** optimized geometry of the gauche conformer compares well with the experimental values obtained from a number of electron-diffraction studies. A correction for the correlation energy, calculated by means of second-order Møller—Plesset perturbation theory with the 6-31G** basis set, proves to be essential to obtain a correct estimate of the energy difference between the gauche and trans conformers 1,2-difluoroethane.     

Multidimensional anharmonic calculation of the vibrational frequencies and intensities for the trans and cis isomers of HONO with the use of normal coordinates

The equilibrium geometry and the potential energy and dipole moment surfaces have been determined for the cis and trans isomers of the HONO molecule by an ab initio Moller–Plesset (MP2) calculation with a wide set of atomic orbitals. The multidimensional anharmonic vibrational Schrodinger equations are solved using the variational method with the Hamiltonian and wave functions written in the normal coordinates of cis and trans isomers. All one- and two-dimensional and a number of three-dimensional vibrational problems are solved to obtain the energy levels and vibrational eigenfunctions. The frequencies and intensities for the fundamental, overtone and some combination bands are determined in good agreement with the available experimental results. The calculation shows the strength of coupling between different vibrational modes and reveals the presence of strong resonances between the (v₁, v₃, v₆) and (v₁, v₃−1, v₆+2) states of cis-HONO. This fact may be important for understanding the energy redistribution between the intermolecular degrees of freedom. The magnitude and direction of vibrationally averaged ground-state dipole moment of both isomers, as well as the direction of transition dipole moments, are in good agreement with the experimental findings. The changes in the values of dipole moment and some geometrical parameters of cis- and trans-HONO on vibrational excitation are also computed.     

Ab initio study of rotational isomerism and electronic structure of isomeric bipyrroles

Ab initio calculations using STO-3G and 4-31G basis sets have been performed on the internal rotation barriers and conformational stabilities for 2,3′- and 3,3′-bipyrrole. The twofold rotation potential predicted for both isomers at minimal basis level becomes a more involved fourfold potential when the split-valence basis set is employed, because it takes into account more properly the nonbonded interannular interactions. A transoid-gauche minimum is predicted to have the minimal absolute conformational energy in both isomers. The electronic structure of the highest occupied MOs of 2,2′-, 2,3′- and 3,3′-bipyrrole are analyzed in terms of the single pyrrole MO pattern and a similar difficulty in removing electrons from the HOMOs in going from one isomer to another is predicted, even if a deviation from planarity occurs.     

Structures of the gauche conformers of some substituted dimethyl ethers. Effect of adjacent atom lone pairs on methyl group asymmetry

The complete equilibrium structures of CH₃OCH₃ and of the gauche conformers of CH₃OCH₂F, HOCH₂F, CH₃OCH₂Cl and H₃OCH₂CN have been determined by ab initio gradient computation at the Hartree—Fock, double zeta-plus-polarization level. The very large asymmetries in C---H bond distances previously reported from microwave substitution structures are shown to be non-existent in the equilibrium structures and are presumably artifacts. Small differences, different in direction from those reported from the experiments and nearly an order of magnitude smaller in size, do exist. They reflect three factors: (1) a lengthening of a C---H bond which is trans to a lone pair on an adjacent atom, (2) a general shortening of C---H bonds originating at a carbon atom bearing a highly electronegative substituent, and (3) a specific interaction in which a C---X substituent shortens the nearly parallel C---H bond on the other methyl group. The last interaction, not previously reported, is mediated by withdrawal of electron density from the oxygen lone pair which is trans to both groups. Other structural features derived from the microwave studies are supported by the new results. p ]Inclusion of polarization functions in the basis set for oxygen is essential for correct determination of the COC angle and the dihedral angles. The dihedral angles of CH₃OCH₂F and HOCH₂F are not correctly determined by the computation even at this level, although the computed values are improved when d functions are used for oxygen and still more by use of two sets of oxygen d functions. Polarization functions on carbon or on fluorine have no effect on the computed torsional angles. There is no problem in computing the correct dihedral angles with the ---Cl or ---CN derivatives.     

X-ray study of the hetero ring flexibility in trans-5,6- trimethylene- and tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro 2-phenyl-[4H]-1,3-thiazines

The structures to two 1,3-thiazine derivatives differing only in the number of CH₂ groups in their trans fused hydrocarbon ring (_n = 3 for I and n = 4 for II) have been established by X-ray crystallography from diffractometer data. Crystals of I (trans-5,6- trimethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl-[4H] - 1,3-thiazine) are triclinic, space group P with a = 7.661(1), b = 8.282(1), c = 9.566(2) Å, = 91.75(1), β = 100.72(1), γ = 105.45(1)° Z = 2, D_c = 1.260 g cm^-3. Crystals of II (trans-5,6-tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl [4H]-1,3-thiazine) are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a = 7.914(2), b = 19.362(13), c = 8.440(1) Å, β = 109.16(2)°C Z = 4, D_c = 1.258 g cm^-3. The structures determined by Patterson (I) and direct (II) methods were refined to R = 0.050 for 1330 reflections of I and R = 0.082 for 1012 reflections of II. The proper treatment of the positional disorder of the carbon atoms (C(5) and C(6)) forming the trans ring junction in I discovered two discrete conformations with a ratio of 1:2. The opposite chirality of atoms C(51) and C(52), and C(61) and C(62), indicates a simultaneous configurational disorder with a pattern of total disorder: A A . The puckering parameters of the hetero rings in the same enantiomers of molecules IA, IB and II indicate a connection between the conformers: ⁵E(II)→⁵H₆(IB)→E₆IA) via pseudorotation. Their relationship is discussed and compared with the conformational freedom of the analogous 1,3-oxazine derivatives.     

Fragment chemistry of the hydrogen thioperoxide molecule; energy, chemical potential and hardness

In this paper we present a complete theoretical study of the hydrogen thioperoxide molecule (HSOH). We characterize the internal rotation by studying the evolution of the energy, chemical potential and hardness along the torsional angle. We have found that hydrogen thioperoxide in its electronic singlet state is a gauche molecule. Barrier heights, activation chemical potential and activation hardness have been obtained, and it has been found that the trans barrier is lower than the cis one. Good agreement of rotation barriers is obtained on the basis of comparisons with the available literature experimental data for the HOOH and HSSH parent molecules. Another important result is that the maximum hardness principle is verified for the torsional motion. On the other hand, we characterize the thermochemistry of chemical reactions leading to formation of HSOH from the electronic properties associated with the free constituent fragments. The procedure, which involves the use of Sanderson's rule to estimate chemical potentials and hardnesses, is shown to be promising and opens the possibility of rationalizing the behavior of other series of reactions.