Steric effects on alkyl cation affinities of maingroup-element hydrides

We have carried out an extensive exploration of gas‐phase alkyl cation affinities (ACA) of archetypal anionic and neutral bases across the periodic system using zeroth order regular approximation‐relativistic density functional theory at BP86/QZ4P//BP86/TZ2P. ACA values were computed for the methyl, ethyl, i‐propyl and t‐butyl cations and compared with the corresponding proton affinities (PA). One purpose of this work is to provide an intrinsically consistent set of values of the 298 K ACA of all anionic (XH) and neutral bases (XH_n) constituted by maingroup‐element hydrides of groups 14–17 and the noble gases (group 18) along the periods 1–6. Another purpose is to determine and rationalize the trend in affinity for a cation as the latter varies from proton to t‐butyl cation. This undertaking is supported by quantitative bond energy decomposition analyses. Correlations are established between PA and ACA values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

tert-Butyl cation affinities of maingroup-element hydrides: effect of methyl substituents at the protophilic center

We have conducted an extensive computational exploration of how the gas-phase tert-butyl cation affinities (t-BCA) of archetypal anionic and neutral bases across the periodic system are affected by stepwise replacement of all hydrogen atoms at the protophilic center with methyl substituents. This study was conducted using zeroth-order regular approximation relativistic density functional theory (DFT) at the BP86/QZ4P//BP86/TZ2P level. The trends are interpreted in terms of the steric effects of methyl substituents at the protophilic center of the anionic (Me(m)XH(n-1-m)(-)) and neutral bases (Me(m)XH(n-m)). Besides insight, this work also provides an intrinsically consistent set of values of the 298 K tert-butyl cation affinities of all (partially) methyl-substituted or unsubstituted bases constituted by maingroup-element hydrides of groups 14-16 in anionic cases (Me(m)XH(n-1-m)(-)) and groups 15-17 in neutral ones (Me(m)XH(n-m)) along periods 2-6. The effect of long-range dispersion (van der Waals) interactions was estimated through dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D3) at the BP86-D3/QZ4P//BP86/TZ2P level.     

Proton affinities of maingroup-element hydrides and noble gases: trends across the periodic table, structural effects, and DFT validation

We have carried out an extensive exploration of the gas-phase basicity of archetypal neutral bases across the periodic system using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of the density functional theory (DFT) at BP86/QZ4P//BP86/TZ2P. First, we validate DFT as a reliable tool for computing proton affinities and related thermochemical quantities: BP86/QZ4P//BP86/TZ2P is shown to yield a mean absolute deviation of 2.0 kcal/mol for the proton affinity at 298 K with respect to experiment, and 1.2 kcal/mol with high-level ab initio benchmark data. The main purpose of this work is to provide the proton affinities (and corresponding entropies) at 298 K of the neutral bases constituted by all maingroup-element hydrides of groups 15-17 and the noble gases, that is, group 18, and periods 1-6. We have also studied the effect of step-wise methylation of the protophilic center of the second- and third-period bases.     

Co‐adsorption of Cations as the Cause of the Apparent pH Dependence of Hydrogen Adsorption on a Stepped Platinum Single‐Crystal Electrode

The successful deployment of advanced energy‐conversion systems depends critically on our understanding of the fundamental interactions of the key adsorbed intermediates (hydrogen *H and hydroxyl *OH) at electrified metal–aqueous electrolyte interfaces. The effect of alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺) on the non‐Nernstian pH shift of the step‐related voltammetric peak of the Pt(553) electrode is investigated over a wide pH window (1 to 13) by means of experimental and computational methods. The co‐adsorbed alkali cations along the step weaken the OH adsorption at the step sites, causing a positive shift of the potential of the step‐related peak on Pt(553). Density functional calculations explain the observations on the identity and concentration of alkali cations on the non‐Nernstian pH shift, and demonstrate that cation–hydroxyl co‐adsorption causes the apparent pH dependence of “hydrogen” adsorption in the step sites of platinum electrodes.     

Infrared Spectrum of the Adamantane+–Water Cation: Hydration‐Induced C−H Bond Activation and Free Internal Water Rotation

Diamondoid cations are reactive intermediates in their functionalization reactions in polar solution. Hydration is predicted to strongly activate their C?H bonds in initial proton abstraction reactions. To study the effects of microhydration on the properties of diamondoid cations, we characterize herein the prototypical monohydrated adamantane cation (C₁₀H₁₆⁺–H₂O, Ad⁺–W) in its ground electronic state by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the CH and OH stretch ranges and dispersion‐corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The water (W) ligand binds to the acidic CH group of Jahn–Teller distorted Ad⁺ via a strong CH???O ionic H‐bond supported by charge–dipole forces. Although W further enhances the acidity of this CH group along with a proton shift toward the solvent, the proton remains with Ad⁺ in the monohydrate. We infer essentially free internal W rotation from rotational fine structure of the ν₃ band of W, resulting from weak angular anisotropy of the Ad⁺–W potential.     

Polymer Supported Calix[4]arene Schiff Bases: A Novel Chelating Resin for Hg2+ and Dichromate Anions

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of two new calix[4]arene Schiff bases and their polymeric resins. The extraction properties of these “proton switchable extractants” with alkali, transition, post transition metal cations and for dichromate anions are reported. The two new calix[4]arene based Schiff bases (5 and 6) have been synthesized from 5,17‐diformyl‐25,27‐dipropoxy‐26,28‐dihydroxycalix[4]arene (4) by treatment with 3‐amino‐methylpyridine and 1,8‐diaminooctane in two separate reaction flasks following the same procedure. Compounds 5 and 6 have been appended to a polymeric resin by treatment with Merrifield resin through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The receptor compounds (3 and 5–8) do not extract alkali metal cations, but show some selectivity toward transition metal cations, and a particularly high selectivity to Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺. The protonated forms of all of the calixarene‐based receptors are good extractants for transferring Cr₂O₇ ^2?/HCr₂O₇ ^? anions from an aqueous into a dichloromethane layer.     

Cations in a Molecular Funnel: Vibrational Spectroscopy of Isolated Cyclodextrin Complexes with Alkali Metals

The benchmark inclusion complexes formed by α‐cyclodextrin (αCD) with alkali‐metal cations are investigated under isolated conditions in the gas phase. The relative αCD‐M⁺ (M=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺) binding affinities and the structure of the complexes are determined from a combination of mass spectrometry, infrared action spectroscopy and quantum chemical computations. Solvent‐free laser desorption measurements reveal a trend of decreasing stability of the isolated complexes with increasing size of the cation guest. The experimental infrared spectra are qualitatively similar for the complexes with the four cations investigated, and are consistent with the binding of the cation within the primary face of the cyclodextrin, as predicted by the quantum computations (B3LYP/6‐31+G*). The inclusion of the quantum‐chemical cation disrupts the C₆ symmetry of the free cyclodextrin to provide the optimum coordination of the cations with the ‐CH₂OH groups in C₁, C₂ or C₃ symmetry arrangements that are determined by the size of the cation.     

Study of solvation of alkali cations with poly(ethylene oxide)

The interaction of sodium, potassium and caesium salts with poly(ethylene oxide) in nitromethane is considered as a model for solvation of alkali counterions with a heterochain polymer during the anionic polymerization of heterocycles. The methods of ²³Na and ¹³³Cs n.m.r. and of conductometry sensitive towards the state of the cation have been used for studying the equilibria. It has been shown that poly(ethylene oxide) binds cations much more strongly than monomeric cyclic ethers, a solvation shell being formed involving several (6–12) oxygen atoms of the same macromolecule. The equilibrium constants of the formation of solvate complexes have been evaluated; they increase with increasing chain length and decreasing cation radius. The mechanism of interactions and their role in the processes of anionic polymerization are discussed.     

Infrared Spectrum of the Adamantane+–Water Cation: Hydration-Induced C−H Bond Activation and Free Internal Water Rotation

Diamondoid cations are reactive intermediates in their functionalization reactions in polar solution. Hydration is predicted to strongly activate their C−H bonds in initial proton abstraction reactions. To study the effects of microhydration on the properties of diamondoid cations, we characterize herein the prototypical monohydrated adamantane cation (C₁₀H₁₆⁺–H₂O, Ad⁺–W) in its ground electronic state by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the CH and OH stretch ranges and dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The water (W) ligand binds to the acidic CH group of Jahn–Teller distorted Ad⁺ via a strong CH⋅⋅⋅O ionic H-bond supported by charge–dipole forces. Although W further enhances the acidity of this CH group along with a proton shift toward the solvent, the proton remains with Ad⁺ in the monohydrate. We infer essentially free internal W rotation from rotational fine structure of the ν₃ band of W, resulting from weak angular anisotropy of the Ad⁺–W potential.     

Layered hydrous manganese dioxide saturated with alkaline-earth cations: Synthesis and sorption properties

Layered compounds based on hydrous manganese dioxides (hereafter, Mn-phases) saturated with alkaline-earth cations were synthesized at 3–6°C. These phases are analogues of manganese minerals from oceanic iron-manganese sediments (vernadite, birnessite, buserite-I, an asbolan-like phase, and a hybrid phase). All the Mn-phases, as a rule, had poorly ordered structures. The sorption properties of these phases were studied with respect to alkali-metal cations (Na⁺, K⁺), an s-metal cation (Ba²⁺), a p-metal cation (Pb²⁺), and d-metal cations (Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺). The exchange capacities of the Mn-phases were 0.45–1.06 mg-equiv/g for the alkali cations and 0.94–5.78 mg-equiv/g for the other cations. The phase composition of the Mn-phase did not affect the alkali cation sorption but affected the divalent cation sorption. The divalent cation exchange capacity increased from well-ordered birnessite to poorly ordered vernadite.     

Intra-annular cyclophane diamines as proton sponges: a computational study

Gas-phase proton affinities of cyclophanes containing intra-annular amino groups were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31+G^∗∗//B3LYP/6-31G^∗ level. They are higher in magnitude as those for proton sponges such as 1,8-bisaminonaphthalene, however, they are slightly weaker bases than 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene. The high basicity of the cyclophane diamines is attributed mainly to their structural flexibility, which allows them to maximize the hydrogen bond strength in the cations by achieving N-H?N linearity, while strain relief upon protonation is less important. Another contributing factor is the stabilizing interaction of the added proton with adjacent phenyl π systems of the cyclophanes. Barriers for proton transfer between the nitrogen atoms of the diamine cations are also reported.     

Bonding and singlet–triplet gap of silicon trimer: Effects of protonation and attachment of alkali metal cations

We revisit the singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE_ST) of silicon trimer and evaluate the gaps of its derivatives by attachment of a cation (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) using the wavefunction‐based methods including the composite G4, coupled‐cluster theory CCSD(T)/CBS, CCSDT and CCSDTQ, and CASSCF/CASPT2 (for Si₃) computations. Both ¹A₁ and ³ states of Si₃ are determined to be degenerate. An intersystem crossing between both states appears to be possible at a point having an apex bond angle of around α = 68 ± 2° which is 16 ± 4 kJ/mol above the ground state. The proton, Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations tend to favor the low‐spin state, whereas the K⁺ cation favors the high‐spin state. However, they do not modify significantly the ΔE_ST. The proton affinity of silicon trimer is determined as PA(Si₃) = 830 ± 4 kJ/mol at 298 K. The metal cation affinities are also predicted to be LiCA(Si₃) = 108 ± 8 kJ/mol, NaCA(Si₃) = 79 ± 8 kJ/mol and KCA(Si₃) = 44 ± 8 kJ/mol. The chemical bonding is probed using the electron localization function, and ring current analyses show that the singlet three‐membered ring Si₃ is, at most, nonaromatic. Attachment of the proton and Li⁺ cation renders it anti‐aromatic. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Nanoswitches based on DNA base pairs: why adenine-thymine is less suitable than guanine-cytosine.

Substituted Watson–Crick guanine–cytosine (GC) base pairs were recently shown to yield robust three‐state nanoswitches. Here, we address the question: Can such supramolecular switches also be based on Watson–Crick adenine‐thymine (AT) base pairs? We have theoretically analyzed AT pairs in which purine‐C8 and/or pyrimidine‐C6 positions carry a substituent X=NH^?, NH₂, NH₃⁺ (N series), O^?, OH or OH₂⁺ (O series), using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of density functional theory at the BP86/TZ2P level. Thus, we explore the trend in geometrical shape and hydrogen bond strengths in AT pairs along a series of stepwise protonations of the substituents. Introducing a charge on the substituents leads to substantial and characteristic changes in the individual hydrogen bond lengths when compared to the neutral AT pair. However, the trends along the series of negative, neutral, and positive substituents are less systematic and less pronounced than for GC. In certain instances, internal proton transfer from thymine to adenine occurs. Our results suggest that AT is a less suitable candidate than GC in the quest for chemically controlled nanoswitches.     

Computational NMR Spectroscopy of Transition‐Metal/Nitroimidazole Complexes: Theoretical Investigation of Potential Radiosensitizers

The computed chemical shifts of transition‐metal complexes with dimetridazole (= 1,2‐dimethyl‐5‐nitro‐1H‐imidazole; 1 ), a prototypical nitro‐imidazole‐based radiosensitizer, are reported at the GIAO‐BP86 and ‐B3LYP levels for BP86/ECP1‐optimized geometries. These complexes comprise [MCl₂( 1 )₂] (M = Zn, Pd, Pt), [RuCl₂(DMSO)₂( 1 )₂], and [Rh₂(O₂CMe)₄( 1 )₂]. Available δ(¹H) and δ(¹⁵N) values, and Δδ(¹H) and Δδ(¹⁵N) coordination shifts are well‐reproduced theoretically, provided solvation and relativistic effects are taken into account by means of a polarizable continuum model and suitable methods including spin–orbit (SO) coupling, respectively. These effects are particularly important for the metal‐coordinated N‐atom, where the contributions from solvation and relativity can affect δ(¹⁵N) and Δδ(¹⁵N) values up to 10–20 ppm. The ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shifts of cis‐ and trans‐[PtCl₂( 1 )₂] are well‐reproduced using the zero‐order regular approximation including SO coupling (ZORA‐SO). Predictions are reported for ⁹⁹Ru and ¹⁰³Rh chemical shifts, which suggest that these metal centers could be used as additional, sensitive NMR probes in their complexes with nitro‐imidazoles.     

Photoelectron imaging and theoretical studies of silver monohalides AgX- (X = Cl, Br, I) and AuCl-

Photodetachment of AgX(-) (X = Cl, Br, I) and AuCl(-) is studied by a photoelectron velocity map imaging technique and theoretical calculations. Photoelectron spectra (PES) and photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) were obtained. The vibrationally resolved spectra provided approximately equal electron affinities (EAs) for AgX: 1.593(22) eV for AgCl, 1.623(21) eV for AgBr, and 1.603(22) eV for AgI, respectively. Franck-Condon simulations of these spectra gave the equilibrium bond lengths and vibrational frequencies of the title anions. Relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations using BLYP, PW91, PBE, and BP86 functionals have been performed to predict the EAs of the AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) molecules. The computed EAs at the BP86 level of theory are in good agreement with the experimental values. Energy partitioning analyses (EPA) at the BP86(ZORA)/QZ4P level of theory of both anions and their neutrals were reported.     

The Family of Ferrocene‐Stabilized Silylium Ions: Synthesis, 29Si NMR Characterization,Lewis Acidity,Substituent Scrambling,and Quantum‐Chemical Analyses

The purpose of this systematic experimental and theoretical study is to deeply understand the unique bonding situation in ferrocene‐stabilized silylium ions as a function of the substituents at the silicon atom and to learn about the structure parameters that determine the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shift and electrophilicity of these strong Lewis acids. For this, ten new members of the family of ferrocene‐stabilized silicon cations were prepared by a hydride abstraction reaction from silanes with the trityl cation and characterized by multinuclear ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. A closer look at the NMR spectra revealed that additional minor sets of signals were not impurities but silylium ions with substitution patterns different from that of the initially formed cation. Careful assignment of these signals furnished experimental proof that sterically less hindered silylium ions are capable of exchanging substituents with unreacted silane precursors. Density functional theory calculations provided mechanistic insight into that substituent transfer in which the migrating group is exchanged between two silicon fragments in a concerted process involving a ferrocene‐bridged intermediate. Moreover, the quantum‐chemical analysis of the ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts revealed a linear relationship between δ(²⁹Si) values and the Fe???Si distance for subsets of silicon cations. An electron localization function and electron localizability indicator analysis shows a three‐center two‐electron bonding attractor between the iron, silicon, and C′_ipso atoms, clearly distinguishing the silicon cations from the corresponding carbenium ions and boranes. Correlations between ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts and Lewis acidity, evaluated in terms of fluoride ion affinities, are seen only for subsets of silylium ions, sometimes with non‐intuitive trends, indicating a complicated interplay of steric and electronic effects on the degree of the Fe???Si interaction.     

The supramolecular architecture of tris(naphthalene‐1,5‐diaminium) bis(5‐aminonaphthalen‐1‐aminium) octakis[hydrogen (5‐carboxypyridin‐3‐yl)phosphonate]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 3C₁₀H₁₂N₂²⁺·2C₁₀H₁₁N₂⁺·8C₆H₅NO₅P⁻, contains one and a half naphthalene‐1,5‐diaminium cations, in which the half‐molecule has inversion symmetry, one 5‐aminonaphthalen‐1‐aminium cation and four hydrogen (5‐carboxypyridin‐3‐yl)phosphonate anions. The crystal structure is layered and consists of hydrogen‐bonded anionic monolayers between which the cations are arranged. The acid monoanions are organized into one‐dimensional chains along the [101] direction via hydrogen bonds established between the phosphonate sites. (C)O—H...N_py hydrogen bonds (py is pyridine) crosslink the chains to form an undulating (010) monolayer. The cations serve both to balance the charge of the anionic network and to connect neighbouring layers via multiple hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture.     

Selective Complexation of S‐block Cations with Nanotubular Silk Type Cyclopeptides: A DFT Study

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the interaction of alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) with cyclic peptides constructed from silk type macrocycles ( Silk1, Silk2, Silk3, Silk4, Silk5 and Silk6 ). The calculated binding energies were used as a base for investigating the selectivity of the cyclic peptides in biniding to considered metals ions. The highest cation selectivity for Li⁺ compared to the other alkali metal ions was observed. The orbital nature of different interactions between the metal cations and the cyclic peptides was analyzed using NBO analysis. The main types of driving force for host‐guest interactions was investigated and it was found that the electron‐donating O offers lone pair electrons to the contacting LP* of alkali metal cations     

The infrared spectra of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing a five-membered ring: symmetry breaking and the B3LYP functional

The infrared spectra of six molecules, each of which contains a five-membered ring, and their cations are determined using density functional theory; both the B3LYP and BP86 functionals are used. The computed results are compared with the experimental spectra. For the neutral molecules, both methods are in good agreement with experiment. Even the Hartree–Fock (HF) approach is qualitatively correct for the neutral species. For the cations, the HF approach fails, as found for other organic ring systems. The B3LYP and BP86 approaches are in good mutual agreement for five of the six cation spectra, and are in good agreement with experiment for four of the five cations where the experimental spectra are available. It is only for the fluoranthene cation where the BP86 and B3LYP functionals yield different results; the BP86 approach yields the expected C _{2 v} symmetry, while the B3LYP approach breaks symmetry. The experimental spectra support the BP86 spectra over the B3LYP spectra, but the quality of the experimental spectra does not allow a critical evaluation of the accuracy of the BP86 approach for this difficult system. Received: 9 February 1999 / Accepted: 31 March 1999 / Published online: 14 July 1999     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Physical Property of Sterically Unprotected Thiophene/Phenylene Co‐Oligomer Radical Cations: A Conductive π–π Bonded Supermolecular meso‐Helix

Sterically unprotected thiophene/phenylene co‐oligomer radical cation salts BPnT^.+[Al(OR_F)₄]^? (OR_F=OC(CF₃)₃, n=1–3) have been successfully synthesized. These newly synthesized salts have been characterized by UV/Vis‐NIR absorption and EPR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Their conductivity increases with chain length. The formed meso‐helical stacking by cross‐overlapping radical cations of BP2T^.+ is distinct from previously reported face‐to‐face overlaps of sterically protected (co‐)oligomer radical cations.