NO(2)(+) nitration mechanism of aromatic compounds: electrophilic vs charge-transfer process

The nitration of methylnaphthalenes with NO(2)BF(4) and NOBF(4) was examined in order to shed light on the controversial aromatic nitration mechanism, electrophilic vs charge-transfer process. The NO(2)(+) nitration of 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene showed a drastic regioselectivity change depending on the reaction temperature, where ortho-regioselectivity at -78 degrees C and para-regioselectivity at 0 degrees C were considered to reflect the electrophilic and the direct or alternative charge-transfer process, respectively, because the NO(+) nitration through the same reaction intermediates as in the NO(2)(+) nitration via a charge-transfer process resulted in para-regioselectivity regardless of the reaction temperature. The NO(2)(+) nitration of redox potential methylnaphthalenes higher than 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene gave a similar ortho-regioselectivity enhancement to 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene at lower temperature, thus reflecting the electrophilic process. On the other hand, the NO(2)(+) nitration of redox potential methylnaphthalenes lower than 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene showed para-regioselectivity similar to the NO(+) nitration, indicating the direct or alternative charge-transfer process. In the presence of strong acids where the direct charge-transfer process will be suppressed by protonation, the ortho-regioselectivity enhancement was observed in the NO(2)(+) nitration of 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene, suggesting that the direct charge-transfer process could be the main process to show para-regioselectivity. These experimental results imply that the NO(2)(+) nitration proceeds via not only electrophilic but also direct charge-transfer processes, which has been considered to be unlikely because of the high energy demanding process of a bond coordination change between NO(2)(+) and NO(2). Theoretical studies at the MP2/6-31G(d) level predicted ortho- and para-regioselectivity for the NO(2)(+) nitration via electrophilic and charge-transfer processes, respectively, and the preference of the direct charge-transfer process over the alternative one, which support the experimental conclusion     

Charge-transfer mechanism for electrophilic aromatic nitration and nitrosation via the convergence of (ab initio) molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush theories with experiments

The highly disparate rates of aromatic nitrosation and nitration, despite the very similar (electrophilic) properties of the active species: NO(+) and NO(2)(+) in Chart 1, are quantitatively reconciled. First, the thorough mappings of the potential-energy surfaces by high level (ab initio) molecular-orbital methodologies involving extensive coupled-cluster CCSD(T)/6-31G optimizations establish the intervention of two reactive intermediates in nitration (Figure 8) but only one in nitrosation (Figure 7). Second, the same distinctive topologies involving double and single potential-energy minima (Figures 6 and 5) also emerge from the semiquantitative application of the Marcus-Hush theory to the transient spectral data. Such a striking convergence from quite different theoretical approaches indicates that the molecular-orbital and Marcus-Hush (potential-energy) surfaces are conceptually interchangeable. In the resultant charge-transfer mechanism, the bimolecular interactions of arene donors with both NO(+) and NO(2)(+) spontaneously lead (barrierless) to pi-complexes in which electron transfer is concurrent with complexation. Such a pi-complex in nitration is rapidly converted to the sigma-complex, whereas this Wheland adduct in nitrosation merely represents a high energy (transition-state) structure. Marcus-Hush analysis thus demonstrates how the strongly differentiated (arene) reactivities toward NO(+) and NO(2)(+) can actually be exploited in the quantitative development of a single coherent (electron-transfer) mechanism for both aromatic nitrosation and nitration.     

Scope and mechanistic studies of electrophilic alkoxyetherification

A one-pot electrophilic alkoxyetherification using an olefin, a cyclic ether, a carboxylic acid, and N-bromosuccinimide has been developed. The oxygen nucleophiles, the olefinic substrates, and the cyclic ether partners can be varied to produce a wide range of alkoxyether derivatives.     

A unified mechanistic view on the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction: computational and experimental investigations

The thermodynamic properties and reaction mechanism of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction have been investigated through experimental and computational techniques. The impossibility to accelerate this synthetically valuable transformation by increasing the reaction temperature has been rationalized by variable-temperature experiments and MP2 theoretical calculations of the reaction thermodynamics. An increase in temperature results in a switching of the equilibrium to the reactants occurring at even moderate temperature levels. The complex reaction mechanism for the MBH reaction has been investigated through an in-depth analysis of the suggested alternative pathways, using the M06-2X computational method. The results provided by this theoretical approach are in agreement with all the experimental/kinetic evidence such as reaction order, acceleration by protic species (methanol, phenol), and autocatalysis. In particular, the existing controversy about the character of the key proton transfer in the MBH reaction (Aggarwal versus McQuade pathways) has been resolved. Depending on the specific reaction conditions both suggested pathways are competing mechanisms, and depending on the amount of protic species and the reaction progress (early or late stage) either of the two mechanisms will be favored.     

Alkanoylation of quinazoline by nucleophilic aromatic substitution: Combined experimental and computational study

A combined experimental and computational study on the key intermediates of NHC-catalyzed acylation reaction, Breslow intermediates (BIs), has been conducted in order to achieve a direct nucleophilic alkanoylation of N-heterocycles. Various BI precursors are alternatively prepared and used in the reaction with 4-chloroquinazoline. The present study reveals that the intermediates having benzimidazole moiety serve as acylating agents for the introduction of straight-chain alkanoyl groups. Natural bond orbital analysis indicates that the reactivity of intermediates partly correlates to the occupancy of the π_C-C bonds of the hydroxyl enamine moieties. The putative rate-determining step of the acylation reaction has been theoretically investigated. Several new 4-alkanoylquinazolines are synthesized using the BI precursors.     

Bimodal pore size distributions for carbons: experimental results and computational studies

It is well known that the bimodal shape of the pore size distribution (PSD) curves is typical for various carbonaceous materials (of different origin and/or treated thermally or chemically). A systematic investigation of this effect has been discussed using the Nguyen and Do method with proposed recently the ASA algorithm. A series of numerically generated adsorption isotherms (N(2), T=77 K) and experimental data were analyzed. We investigated various possible situations related to the shape of the PSD curves, i.e., the intensity of the both peaks, their mutual location and the vanishing of one of them. Moreover, the problem in the similarity of the local adsorption isotherms from the range of pore widths corresponding to the gap between peaks is discussed. The analysis of obtained results (as well as published by others) shows that the bimodal shape of the pore size distributions is a characteristic feature for many adsorbents possessing even a small amount of micropores. It is shown that this feature results from the similarity of the local adsorption isotherm in the range of the pore widths for which the gap between peaks (related to the primary and secondary micropore filling mechanism) exists.     

Electrophilic aromatic nitration: understanding its mechanism and substituent effects

Theoretical calculations and gas-phase mass spectrometric studies were performed for the reaction of the naked (NO2+) and monosolvated (CH3NO2.NO2+) nitronium ion with several monosubstituted aromatic compounds. From these studies, we propose a general model for regioselectivity based on the single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism and an alternative mechanistic scheme for electrophilic aromatic nitration. This scheme considers the SET and the polar (Ingold-Hughes) mechanisms as extremes in a continuum pathway, the occurrence and extents of both mechanisms being governed mainly by the ability, or lack of ability, of the aromatic compound to transfer an electron to NO2+.     

Oxidation of cyclohexane by a high-valent iron bispidine complex: a combined experimental and computational mechanistic study

Experimental data suggest that there are various competing pathways for the catalytic and stoichiometric oxygenation of cyclohexane, assisted by iron-bispidine complexes and using various oxidants (H(2)O(2), O(2), PhIO). Density functional theory calculations indicate that both Fe(IV)=O and Fe(V)=O species are accessible and efficiently transfer their oxygen atoms to cyclohexane. The reactivities of the two isomers each and the two possible spin states for the Fe(IV)=O and Fe(V)=O species are sufficiently different to allow an interpretation of the experimental data.     

Thermodynamic properties of 9-fluorenone: Mutual validation of experimental and computational results

Measurements leading to the calculation of thermodynamic properties for 9-fluorenone (IUPAC name 9H-fluoren-9-one and Chemical Abstracts registry number [486-25-9]) in the ideal-gas state are reported. Experimental methods were adiabatic heat-capacity calorimetry, inclined-piston manometry, comparative ebulliometry, and combustion calorimetry. Critical properties were estimated. Molar entropies for the ideal-gas state were derived from the experimental studies at selected temperatures T between T = 298.15 K and T = 600 K, and independent statistical calculations were performed based on molecular geometry optimization and vibrational frequencies calculated at the B3LYP/6 − 31 + G(d,p) level of theory. Values derived with the independent methods are shown to be in excellent accord with a scaling factor of 0.975 applied to the calculated frequencies. This same scaling factor was successfully applied in the analysis of results for other polycyclic molecules, as described in recent articles by this research group. All experimental results are compared with property values reported in the literature. Thermodynamic consistency between properties is used to show that several studies in the literature are erroneous.     

The use of crystal data together with other experimental and computational results to discuss structure-reactivity and activity relationships

The understanding of chemical reactivity and biological activity requires knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of molecules and information about their conformational flexibility. Whereas crystallographic diffraction methods make ground-state structures easily available, the study of dynamic processes such as molecular transformations, intermediates, and transition states during chemical reactions; conformational interconversions; or drug-receptor interactions demand the combination of several complementary techniques. Because each of these methods has its inherent limitations, the results obtained from different sources must be checked. In the present study crystallographic data are used together with the results of spectroscopic, kinetic, and computational techniques (1) to discuss conformational flexibility and preferences of Ph-X-Ph [X=CH₂, C(CR _n )₂ (n=2, 3), C=0, NH, NR (R=C, N), O, S, SO₂], R₂N⁺ (n-Pr)₂ derivatives and caprylolactam, (2) to describe nucleophilic addition of N toward a carbonyl group during a ring-closure reaction in heterocylic systems, (3) to investigate S_N2 substitution at silicon, and (4) to visualize topochemical interconversion pathways in pentacoordinate complexes.     

Urea nitrate and nitrourea: powerful and regioselective aromatic nitration agents

Urea nitrate (UN) and nitrourea (NU), easily prepared from urea and nitric acid, convert deactivated aromatic compounds to the corresponding nitrated derivatives with a high yield and a high regioselectivity under very mild conditions. The performance of the two reagents is quite similar indicating that NU is an intermediate in the UN nitration process.     

The occurrence of electron transfer in aromatic nitration: dynamical aspects

Electron transfer (ET) from toluene to the nitronium ion in the region of van der Waals intermolecular distances has been investigated by a quantum dynamical analysis performed on potential-energy surfaces computed at the ab initio multireference configuration interaction level. The results show that ET is very fast, occurring on a timescale of a few picoseconds. This has important implications for the mechanism of aromatic nitration: the ET path can compete efficiently with the direct attack of the nitronium ion to the aromatic substrate to yield the Wheland intermediate and that could explain some unsettled points in the mechanism of aromatic nitration. Received: 16 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 12 May 2000     

Nickel-on-charcoal-catalyzed aromatic aminations and Kumada couplings: mechanistic and synthetic aspects

Protocols for aromatic aminations and Kumada couplings catalyzed by 'heterogeneous' nickel-on-charcoal (Ni/C) have been revised, making them simpler and more time efficient. For both types of reactions, reduction of the catalyst precursor Ni(II)/C using n-BuLi prior to addition of a substrate can be avoided. Instead, in amination reactions, the amine in combination with lithium tert-butoxide was found to convert Ni(II)/C to active Ni(0). For Kumada couplings, direct reduction of Ni(II)/C by the Grignard reagent is easily achieved. Reactions run in the presence of triarylphosphine ligands of varying substitution patterns and with differing electronic properties provided insight into the mechanism of these nickel-catalyzed transformations. Ligandless Kumada couplings were facile with aryl Grignards, which may be a consequence of pi-complexation of nickel by the aryl group in the reagent. Larger scale reactions of both types of couplings have been successfully performed, suggesting that Ni/C-based processes can be scaled-up as needed.     

New experimental data and mechanistic studies on the bromate-dual substrate-dual catalyst batch oscillator

The bromate-hypophosphite-acetone-Mn(II)-Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) batch oscillator was recently suggested for studying two-dimensional pattern formation. The system meets all major requirements that are needed for generation of good quality traveling waves in a thin solution layer. The serious drawback of using the system for studying temporal and spatial dynamical phenomena is its unknown chemical mechanism. In order to develop a mechanism that explains the observed long-lasting batch oscillations the bromate-hypophosphite-acetone-Mn(II)-Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) oscillator was revisited. We studied the dynamics both in the total system and in some composite reactions, and kinetic measurements were carried out in three subsystems. From the new experimental results we concluded that the two oscillatory sequences observed in the full system are originated from two oscillatory subsystems, the Mn(II)-catalyzed bromate-hypophosphite-acetone and the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-catalyzed bromate-bromoacetone reactions. Here we propose a mechanism which is capable of simulating the dynamical features that appeared in the complex system.     

Rearrangements of cyclopropenes into five-membered aromatic heterocycles: mechanistic aspect

This review covers rearrangements of cyclopropenes into aromatic five-membered heterocyclic compounds, namely furans and pyrroles; accompanied by small ring cleavage proceeding in the presence of catalytic amounts of transition metals, Lewis acids, or under UV irradiation.     

Complexation of uranium(VI) with aromatic acids in aqueous solution: a combined computational and experimental study

The complexes of uranium(VI) with salicylhydroxamate, benzohydroxamate, and benzoate have been investigated in a combined computational and experimental study using density functional theory methods and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, respectively. The calculated molecular structures, relative stabilities, as well as excitation spectra from time-dependent density functional theory calculations are in good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, these calculations allow the identification of the coordinating atoms in the uranium(VI)-salicylhydroxamate complex, i.e. salicylhydroxamate binds to the uranyl ion via the hydroxamic acid oxygen atoms and not via the phenolic oxygen and the nitrogen atom. Carefully addressing solvation effects has been found to be necessary to bring in line computational and experimental structures, as well as excitation spectra.     

Validation of experimental results for graphene oxide-epoxy polymer nanocomposite through computational analysis

The change in interfacial interaction behavior of epoxy resin nanocomposites with the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) was explored experimentally and computationally. GO with different weight (wt) loading was incorporated in epoxy resin by a three-way dispersion method. GO formed mechanical interlocking with epoxy resin, thereby resulting in a remarkable enhancement in mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of GO-epoxy nanocomposite. In 0.3 wt% GO-epoxy nanocomposites, improvement of 26.7% in flexural strength and 39.2% in flexural modulus was reported. Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), glass transition temperature (T_g) of 182.7°C and maximum thermal stability was reported for 0.3% GO-epoxy nanocomposite. The effect of GO on cross-linking in GO-epoxy nanocomposite was analyzed by DSC and Raman spectroscopy. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study was utilized to determine the interfacial interaction, and further was verified by density functional theory (DFT). By experimental and computational study, H-bonding was observed to improve interfacial interaction in GO-epoxy nanocomposite.     

Synthetic, mechanistic, and computational investigations of nitrile-alkyne cross-metathesis

The terminal nitride complexes NW(OC(CF 3) 2Me) 3(DME) ( 1-DME), [Li(DME) 2][NW(OC(CF 3) 2Me) 4] ( 2), and [NW(OCMe 2CF 3) 3] 3 ( 3) were prepared in good yield by salt elimination from [NWCl 3] 4. X-ray structures revealed that 1-DME and 2 are monomeric in the solid state. All three complexes catalyze the cross-metathesis of 3-hexyne with assorted nitriles to form propionitrile and the corresponding alkyne. Propylidyne and substituted benzylidyne complexes RCW(OC(CF 3) 2Me) 3 were isolated in good yield upon reaction of 1-DME with 3-hexyne or 1-aryl-1-butyne. The corresponding reactions failed for 3. Instead, EtCW(OC(CF 3)Me 2) 3 ( 6) was prepared via the reaction of W 2(OC(CF 3)Me 2) 6 with 3-hexyne at 95 degrees C. Benzylidyne complexes of the form ArCW(OC(CF 3)Me 2) 3 (Ar = aryl) then were prepared by treatment of 6 with the appropriate symmetrical alkyne ArCCAr. Three coupled cycles for the interconversion of 1-DME with the corresponding propylidyne and benzylidyne complexes via [2 + 2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion were examined for reversibility. Stoichiometric reactions revealed that both nitrile-alkyne cross-metathesis (NACM) cycles as well as the alkyne cross-metathesis (ACM) cycle operated reversibly in this system. With catalyst 3, depending on the aryl group used, at least one step in one of the NACM cycles was irreversible. In general, catalyst 1-DME afforded more rapid reaction than did 3 under comparable conditions. However, 3 displayed a slightly improved tolerance of polar functional groups than did 1-DME. For both 1-DME and 3, ACM is more rapid than NACM under typical conditions. Alkyne polymerization (AP) is a competing reaction with both 1-DME and 3. It can be suppressed but not entirely eliminated via manipulation of the catalyst concentration. As AP selectively removes 3-hexyne from the system, tandem NACM-ACM-AP can be used to prepare symmetrically substituted alkynes with good selectivity, including an arylene-ethynylene macrocycle. Alternatively, unsymmetrical alkynes of the form EtCCR (R variable) can be prepared with good selectivity via the reaction of RCN with excess 3-hexyne under conditions that suppress AP. DFT calculations support a [2 + 2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion mechanism analogous to that of alkyne metathesis. The barrier to azametalacyclobutadiene ring formation/breakup is greater than that for the corresponding metalacyclobutadiene. Two distinct high-energy azametalacyclobutadiene intermediates were found. These adopted a distorted square pyramidal geometry with significant bond localization.     

The electrophilic addition of thiols to olefins: A theoretical and experimental study

Density functional theory with the B3LYP hybrid functional and 6–31G* basis set was used to study the geometric and electronic structure of H₂C = CHR (R = H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, and C₅H₁₁) olefins, their carbocations formed in the addition of the proton to the olefins, R′-S-H aliphatic thiols (R′ = H, CH₃, C₂H₅, and C₃H₇), the products of the addition of thiols to carbocations, and the final products of the addition of thiols to olefins. The proton affinity of the olefins and the products of the addition of thiols to olefins was calculated. The conclusion was drawn that the limiting stage in the nonradical addition of thiols to olefins catalyzed by acids was proton transfer from the protonated reaction product to the olefin. The theoretical results were compared with the experimental data on the electrophilic addition of polymercaptan to heptene-1.     

Valence-bond determination of bond lengths of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: comparisons with recent experimental and ab initio results

Pauling's valence-bond (VB) method for determining bond lengths is compared to ten recent literature experimental and theoretical results and is shown to give comparable results. His method only requires computation of the number of Kekulé (K) and Dewar structures (DS) of conjugated hydrocarbons. Both K and DS are obtained from the last two coefficients of the matching polynomial which is also used to obtain topological resonance energy (TRE). A molecular fragmentation method is given for determining DS of essentially disconnected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both Kekuléan alternant and nonalternant PAHs, including essentially disconnected and non-Kekuléan systems, have bond lengths that are easily determined by this method.