Calorimetric and computational study of 1,4-dithiacyclohexane 1,1-dioxide (1,4-dithiane sulfone)

This work reports the enthalpies of formation in the condensed and gas state of 1,4-dithiacyclohexane 1,1-dioxide (1,4-dithiane sulfone, 5), derived from the enthalpy of combustion in oxygen, measured by a rotating bomb calorimeter and the variation of vapor pressures with temperatures determined by the Knudsen effusion technique. The theoretically estimated enthalpy of formation was calculated from high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G2(MP2) level. The theoretical calculations appear to be in very good agreement with experiment. A comparison of the conversion of thiane sulfone 3 to 1,3-dithiane sulfone 4 and 1,4-dithiane sulfone 5 clearly shows the 1,3 isomer to be 6.7 kJ mol(-1) less stable, probably owing to diminished electrostatic repulsion between the sulfur heteroatoms in 1,4-sulfone 5.     

Calorimetric and computational study of 1,3-dithiacyclohexane 1,1-dioxide (1,3-dithiane sulfone)

The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation of 1,3-dithiacyclohexane 1,1-dioxide (1,3-dithiane sulfone) were measured by a rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter and the Knudsen effusion technique, and the gas-phase enthalpy of formation was determined, Delta(f)H(m)*(g) = -326.3 +/- 2.0 kJ mol(-1). Standard ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G2(MP2) level were performed, and a theoretical study on molecular and electronic structure of the compound has been carried out. Calculated Delta(f)H(m)*(g) values agree very well with the experimental one. These experimental and theoretical studies support the relevance of the repulsive electrostatic interaction between sulfur atoms in 1,3-dithiane sulfone, that apparently counterbalances any n(S) --> rho(C-SO2)* stabilizing hyperconjugative interaction.     

Computational study of the enthalpies of formation, DeltafH degrees, and mean bond enthalpies, mBEs, of H4-nEXn0/- and H3-nEXn+/0 (E=C, B; X=F-I)

To compensate for lacking experimental standard enthalpies of formation DeltafH degrees of haloboranes/-boranates as well as the isoelectronic halocarbenium ions and halomethanes, high-level quantum chemical calculations up to the ccsd(t)/(SDB-)aug-cc-pVQZ level have been performed to establish these values. Very reliable experimental data (e.g., DeltafH degrees of HCl, F, and CH4) or at the G3 level established values (e.g., DeltafH degrees of CF3+=410 kJ mol(-1)) were used as anchor points to obtain accurate absolute DeltafH degrees and mean bond enthalpy (mBE) values. To further minimize systematic errors of the protocol, all derived quantities were assessed in isodesmic reactions at the G3 and ccsd(t) level using the (SDB-)aug-cc-PVTZ basis set. The obtained DeltafH degrees values are in very good agreement to (scarcely available) accurate experimental and computational data. Almost all B-containing compounds have been assessed for the first time. We derived "best" DeltafH degrees values and used them to determine the mean E-X bond enthalpies in H4-nEXn-/0 and H3-nEXn0/+ (with n=1-3, E=B, C, and X=F-I). In each of the series, the DeltafH degrees values increase from fluorine to iodine, and except for the iodine-containing carbenium ions and the bromo- and iodomethanes, the DeltafH degrees values become lower with the more halogen atoms that are present in the particle. The boron containing species always have a lower DeltafH degrees than the isoelectronic carbenium ions and methanes, and the H4-nEXn-/0 are lower in energy than the parent H3-nEXn+/0. This reflects the greater average B-X bond strengths.     

Thermophysical properties of sulfur heterocycles: Thiane and thiophene derivatives

The present study reports a DSC study of the sulfur heterocyclic compounds: 2,2’-bithiophene [492-97-7]; 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid [4282-31-9]; 3-acetylthiophene [1468-83-3]; 2-thiopheneacetic acid [1918-77-0]; 3-thiopheneacetic acid [6964-21-2]; 1,4-dithiane sulfone [139408-38-1]; 1,3-oxathiane-3,3-dioxide (1,3-oxathiane sulfone) [109577-03-9] and 1,4-oxathiane-4,4-dioxide (1,4-oxathiane sulfone) [107-61-9] in the temperature interval T = 268 K and the melting temperatures. Temperatures, enthalpies and entropies of fusion are reported. 1,4-Oxathiane sulfone presents solid-solid phase transitions near to fusion. No additional solid-solid phase transitions were observed for the other solid compounds. For the compounds that are solids over the temperature interval, the heat capacity of the condensed phase was measured. Heat capacities at T = 298.15 K for the liquids 2-acetylthiophene [88-15-3]; methyl, 2-thiopheneacetate [19432-68-9]; methyl, 3-thiopheneacetate [58414-52-1] and thiazole [288-47-1] were also measured. The C_p,m (298.15 K) values obtained in this work were compared with the available experimental data and with values estimated with group contribution schemes.     

Thermochemistry of 2- and 3-thiopheneacetic acids: calorimetric and computational study

The enthalpies of formation in the condensed and gas states, Delta f H m degrees (cd) and Delta f H m degrees (g), of 2- and 3-thiopheneacetic acids were derived from their respective enthalpies of combustion in oxygen, measured by a rotating bomb calorimeter, and the variation of vapor pressure with temperature determined by the Knudsen effusion technique. Theoretical calculations at the G3 level were performed, and a study on molecular and electronic structure of the compounds has been carried out. Calculated Delta f H m degrees (g) values using atomization and isodesmic reactions are compared with the experimental data. Experimental and theoretical results show that the 3-thiopheneacetic acid is thermodynamically more stable than the 2-isomer.     

Thermochemistry of 1,3-dithiacyclohexane 1-oxide (1,3-dithiane sulfoxide): calorimetric and computational study

The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation of 1,3-dithiacyclohexane 1-oxide (1,3-dithiane sulfoxide, 2) were measured by a rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter and the Knudsen effusion technique, and the gas-phase enthalpy of formation was determined, DeltafH degrees m(g) = -98.0 +/- 1.9 kJ mol(-1). This value is not as large (negative) as could have been expected from comparison with thermochemical data available for the thiane/thiane oxide reference system. High-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the MP2(FULL)/6-31G(3df,2p) level were performed, and the optimized molecular and electronic structures of 2 afforded valuable information on (1) the relative conformational energies of 2-axial and 2-equatorial--the latter being 7.1 kJ mol(-1) more stable than 2-axial, (2) the possible involvement of nS --> sigma*(C-S(O)) hyperconjugation in 2-equatorial, (3) the lack of computational evidence for sigma(S-C) --> sigma*(S-O) stereoelectronic interaction in 2-equatorial, and (4) the relevance of a repulsive electrostatic interaction between sulfur atoms in 1,3-dithiane sulfoxide, which apparently counterbalances any nS --> sigma*(C-S(O)) stabilizing hyperconjugative interaction and accounts for the lower than expected enthalpy of formation for sulfoxide 2.     

Experimental and computational studies on the molecular energetics of chlorobenzophenones

The standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, Delta(f)H(m)degrees, of crystalline 2-, 3- and 4-chlorobenzophenone and 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone were derived from the standard molar energies of combustion, Delta(c)U(m)degrees, in oxygen, to yield CO(2)(g), N(2)(g), and HCl x 600H(2)O(l), at T = 298.15 K, measured by rotating bomb combustion calorimetry. The Calvet high-temperature vacuum sublimation technique was used to measure the enthalpy of sublimation, Delta(cr)(g)H(m)degrees, of the compound 2-chlorobenzophenone. For the other three compounds, the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K were derived by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, from the temperature dependence of the vapor pressures of these compounds, measured by the Knudsen-effusion technique. From the values of Delta(f)H(m)degrees and Delta(cr)(g)H(m)degrees, the standard molar enthalpies of formation of all the compounds, in the gaseous phase, Delta(f)H(m)degrees (g), at T = 298.15 K, were derived. These values were also calculated by using the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational approach.     

Composition and thermochemistry of silver bromide vapor

The mole fractions of AgBr and Ag3Br3 in the saturated vapor at 840 K have been evaluated from the vapor mass spectrum, by comparison with the corresponding spectrum of AgCl vapor, where the monomer/trimer ratio is known accurately from vapor molecular weight measurements. Combination of these results with new measurements of the vapor pressure of molten AgBr by the torsion-effusion method in the range 805-936 K yielded the third law enthalpies of vaporization and the standard enthalpies of formation DeltafH degrees 298(AgBr, g) = 27.8 +/- 0.3 kcal mol(-1) and DeltafH degrees 298(Ag3Br3, g) = -19.0 +/- 1 kcal mol(-1). The dissociation energy, D degrees 0(AgBr), is found to be 66.4 +/- 0.3 kcal mol(-1), or 2.88 +/- 0.01 eV, some 3.5-5 kcal mol(-1) lower than previous literature values. Approximate thermochemical stabilities of the dimer species Ag2Cl2 and Ag2Br2 have also been evaluated.     

Calorimetric and computational study of the thermochemistry of phenoxyphenols

Thermodynamic properties of 3- and 4-phenoxyphenol have been determined by using a combination of calorimetric and effusion techniques as well as by high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed and gas states, Δ(f)H(m)°(cr or l) and Δ(f)H(m)°(g), at T = 298.15 K, of 3- and 4-phenoxyphenol were derived from their energies of combustion in oxygen, measured by a static bomb calorimeter, and from the enthalpies of vaporization or sublimation derived respectively by Calvet microcalorimetry for the 3-phenoxyphenol and by Knudsen effusion technique for the 4-phenoxyphenol. The theoretically estimated gas-phase enthalpies of formation were calculated from high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level of theory. Furthermore, this composite approach was also used to obtain information about the gas-phase acidities, gas-phase basicities, proton and electron affinities, adiabatic ionization enthalpies, and, finally, O?H bond dissociation enthalpies. The good agreement between the G3MP2B3-derived values and the experimental gas-phase enthalpies of formation for the 3- and 4-phenoxyphenol gives confidence to the estimate concerning the 2-phenoxyphenol isomer, which was not experimentally studied, and to the estimates concerning the radical and the anion. Additionally, the experimental values of gas-phase enthalpies of formation were also compared with estimates based on the empirical scheme developed by Cox.     

Calorimetric and computational study of 3-buten-1-ol and 3-butyn-1-ol. Estimation of the enthalpies of formation of 1-alkenols and 1-alkynols

The enthalpies of combustion and vaporization of 3-buten-1-ol and 3-butyn-1-ol have been measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry and correlation gas chromatography techniques, respectively, and the gas-phase enthalpies of formation, Delta(f)H degrees (m)(g), have been determined, the values being -147.3 +/- 1.8 and 16.7 +/- 1.6 kJ mol(-1), for 3-buten-1-ol and 3-butyn-1-ol, respectively. High level calculations at the G2 and G3 levels have also been carried out. Relationships between the enthalpies of formation of 1-alkanols, 1-alkenols and 1-alkynols and with the corresponding hydrocarbons have been discussed. From the calculated contributions to Delta(f)H degrees (m)(g) for the substitutions of CH(3) by CH(2)OH, CH(3)CH(2) by CH(2)=CH and CH(3)CH(2) by CH triple bond C, we have estimated the Delta(f)H degrees (m)(g) values for 3-buten-1-ol and 3-butyn-1-ol, in excellent agreement with the experimental ones. Delta(f)H degrees (m)(g) values for 1-alkenols and 1-alkynols up to 10 carbon atoms have also been estimated.     

Reaction of 2-Alkoxypropenals with 2-Mercaptoethanol

The reaction between 2-alkoxypropenals and 2-mercaptoethanol was studied at 20 and 60°C by means of ^1HNMR and GC-MS methods. Under kinetically controlled conditions (20°C, 7-30 days) with no catalyst the addition of 2-mercaptoethanol to 2-alkoxypropenals occurs along Markownikoff rule. The arising 2'-hydroxyethylthio-2-alkoxypropanal undergoes isomerization into the 2-hydroxy-3-alkoxy-3-methyl-1,4-oxathiane that at heating in the presence of catalytic amounts of acids is converted into 2-methyl-2-formyl-1,3-oxathiolane. The reaction of 2-alkoxypropenals with 2-mercaptoethanol at heating (60°C, 3 h) in the presence of acids affords 2-methyl-2,2'-bi(1,3-oxathiolane) even at 2-mercaptoethanol deficit. At the double excess of the latter the 2-methyl-2,2'-bi(1,3-oxathiolane) was obtained in quantitative yield. The presumable schemes of conversion of 2-hydroxy-3-alkoxy-3-methyl-1,4-oxathiane into 2-methyl-2-formyl-1,3-oxathiolane and 2-acetyl-1,3-oxathiolane are discussed.     

Calorimetric and computational study of indanones

Condensed phase standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation for 1-indanone, 2-indanone, and 1,3-indandione were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation for 1-indanone and 2-indanone, at T = 298.15 K, were measured both by correlation-gas chromatography and by Calvet microcalorimetry leading to a mean value for each compound. For 1,3-indandione, the standard molar enthalpy of sublimation was derived from the vapor pressure dependence on temperature. The following enthalpies of formation in gas phase, at T = 298.15 K, were then derived: 1-indanone, -64.0 +/- 3.8 kJ mol(-1); 2-indanone, -56.6 +/- 4.8 kJ mol(-1); 1,3-indandione, -165.0 +/- 2.6 kJ mol(-1). The vaporization and fusion enthalpies of the indanones studied are also reported. In addition, theoretical calculations using the density functional theory with the B3LYP and MPW1B95 energy functionals and the 6-311G** and cc-pVTZ basis sets have been performed for these molecules and the corresponding one-ring species to obtain the most stable geometries and to access their energetic stabilities.     

Entropy effects in the fragmentation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine ions

The 1,1-dimethylhydrazine ion ((CH3)2NNH2+*) has two low-energy dissociation channels, the loss of a hydrogen atom to form the fragment ion m/z 59, (CH3)(CH2)NNH2+, and the loss of a methyl radical to form the fragment ion m/z 45, the methylhydrazyl cation, CH3NNH2+. The dissociation of the 1,1-dimethylhydrazine ion has been investigated using threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy, in the photon energy range 8.25-31 eV, and tandem mass spectrometry. Theoretical breakdown curves have been obtained from a variational transition state theory (VTST) modeling of the two reaction channels and compared to those obtained from experiment. Seven transition states have been found at the B3-LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory for the methyl radical loss channel in the internal energy range of 2.32-3.56 eV. The methyl loss channel transition states are found at R(N-C) = 4.265, 4.065, 3.965, 3.165, 2.765, 2.665, and 2.565 A over this internal energy range. Three transition states have been found for the hydrogen atom loss channel: R(H-C) = 2.298, 2.198, and 2.098 A. The DeltaS++(45) value, at an internal energy of 2.32 eV and a bond distance of R(N-C) = 4.265 A, is 65 J K-1 mol-1. As the internal energy increases to 3.56 eV the variational transition state moves to lower R value so that at R(N-C) = 2.565 A, the DeltaS++ decreases to 29 J K-1 mol-1. For the hydrogen atom loss channel the variation in DeltaS++ is less than that for the methyl loss channel. To obtain agreement with the experimental breakdown curves, DeltaS++(59) = 26-16 J K-1 mol-1 over the studied internal energy range. The 0 K enthalpies of formation (DeltafH0) for the two fragment ions m/z 45 and m/z 59 have been calculated from the 0 K activation energies (E0) obtained from the fitting procedure: DeltafH0[CH3NNH2+] = 906 +/- 6 kJ mol-1 and DeltafH0[(CH3)(CH2)NNH2+] = 822 +/- 7 kJ mol-1. The calculated G3 values are DeltafH0[CH3NNH2+] = 911 kJ mol-1 and DeltafH0[(CH3)(CH2)NNH2+] = 825 kJ mol-1. In addition to the two low-energy dissociation products, 21 other fragment ions have been observed in the dissociation of the 1,1-dimethylhydrazine ion as the photon energy was increased. Their appearance energies are reported.     

Thermochemistry of 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid

The enthalpies of combustion and sublimation of 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid [CASRN 4282-31-9] were measured by rotary-bomb combustion calorimetry and the method of transference in a saturated stream of nitrogen, and the gas-phase enthalpy of formation was determined, Delta(f)H(o)(m)(g) = -(632.6 +/- 2.2) kJ x mol(-1). Standard ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G2(MP2) and G3(MP2) levels were performed, and a theoretical study on the molecular and electronic structure of the compound has been carried out. The three most stable conformers have been explicitly taken into account. The calculated enthalpy of formation averaged using three different isodesmic reactions, -631.1 kJ x mol(-1), is in very good agreement with the experimental value. A comparison of the substituent effect of the carboxylic groups in benzene and thiophene ring has been made. The relative stability obtained for the substitution of two H atoms by COOH in position 2,5- for thiophene and 1,4- for benzene involve the same energetic effects, DeltaDelta(f)H(o)(m)= -747.6 +/- 2.4 and -748.2 +/- 2.7 kJ x mol(-1), respectively.     

Thermochemistry of 2- and 3-acetylthiophenes: calorimetric and computational study

The relative stabilities of 2- and 3-acetylthiophenes have been evaluated by experimental thermochemistry and the results compared to high-level ab initio calculations. The enthalpies of combustion, vaporization, and sublimation were measured by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry, Calvet microcalorimetry, correlation gas chromatography, and Knudsen effusion techniques and the gas-phase enthalpies of formation, at T = 298.15 K, were determined. Standard ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the G2 and G3 levels were performed, and a theoretical study on the molecular and electronic structures of the compounds studied has been conducted. Calculated enthalpies of formation using atomization and isodesmic reactions are compared with the experimental data. Experimental and theoretical results show that 2-acetylthiophene is thermodynamically more stable than the 3-isomer. A comparison of the substituent effect of the acetyl group in benzene and thiophene rings has been carried out.     

Are calculated enthalpies of formation sometimes more reliable than experimental? A test on alkyl substituted benzoic acids

Energies of 20 alkyl-substituted benzoic acids were calculated at the levels B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//MP2/6-311+G(d,p); the pertinent enthalpies at 298 K were calculated at the same levels. Comparison with experimental enthalpies of formation Delta(f)H degrees (g)(298) was carried out in terms of isodesmic reactions, that is, in the relative values. Of the four calculated quantities, the DFT enthalpies yielded best correlation with the standard deviation of 2.1 kJ mol(-1), near to the experimental uncertainty; the DFT energies are only slightly worse and the MP2 enthalpies or energies much worse. However, the DFT method overestimated systematically the substituent effects and had to be calibrated. Comparison with the experimental gas-phase acidities was less telling and the fit was worse because both methods overestimated the substituent effects. Extending the base in selected examples did not give better results. Although the systematic deviations are evidently due to the imperfections of the theoretical models, individual big deviations should be attributed to experimental errors or to the abnormal behavior of certain compounds at the experimental conditions. From this point of view, three examples of the so-called long-range effect claimed in the case of different benzoic acid derivatives, always for substituents in the meta position, must be refused as unproven because the experimental energies were not confirmed by calculations.     

The heat of formation of gaseous PuO(2)2+ from relativistic density functional calculations

Using a set of model reactions, we estimated the heat of formation of gaseous PuO2(2+) from quantum-chemical reaction enthalpies and experimental heats of formation of reference species. To this end, we carried out relativistic density functional calculations on the molecules PuO(2)2+, PuO2, PuF6, and PuF4. We used a revised variant (PBEN) of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functional, and we accounted for spin-orbit interaction in a self-consistent fashion. As open-shell Pu species with two or more unpaired 5f electrons are involved, spin-orbit interaction significantly affects the energies of the model reactions. Our theoretical estimate for the heat of formation DeltafH degree 0(PuO2(2+),g), 418+/-15 kcal mol-1, evaluated using plutonium fluorides as references, is in good agreement with a recent experimental result, 413+/-16 kcal mol-1. The theoretical value connected to the experimental heat of formation of PuO2(g) has a notably higher uncertainty and therefore was not included in the final result.     

Calorimetric and computational study of thiacyclohexane 1-oxide and thiacyclohexane 1,1-dioxide (thiane sulfoxide and thiane sulfone). Enthalpies of formation and the energy of the S=O bond

A rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter specifically designed for the study of sulfur-containing compounds [J. Chem. Thermodyn. 1999, 31, 635] has been used for the determination of the enthalpy of formation of thiane sulfone, 4, Delta(f)H(o) m(g) = -394.8 +/- 1.5 kJ x mol(-1). This value stands in stark contrast with the enthalpy of formation reported for thiane itself, Delta(f)H(o) m(g) = -63.5 +/- 1.0 kJ x mol(-1), and gives evidence of the increased electronegativity of the sulfur atom in the sulfonyl group, which leads to significantly stronger C-SO2 bonds. Given the known enthalpy of formation of atomic oxygen in the gas phase, Delta(f)H(o) m(O,g) = +249.18 kJ x mol(-1), and the reported bond dissociation energy for the S=O bond in alkyl sulfones, BDE(S=O) = +470.0 kJ x mol(-1), it was possible to estimate the enthalpy of formation of thiane sulfoxide, 5, a hygroscopic compound not easy to use in experimental calorimetric measurements, Delta(f)H(o) m(5) = -174.0 kJ x mol(-1). The experimental enthalpy of formation of both 4 and 5 were closely reproduced by theoretical calculations at the G2(MP2)+ level, Delta(f)H(o) m(4) = -395.0 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)H(o) m(5) = -178.0 kJ x mol(-1). Finally, calculated G2(MP2)+ values for the bond dissociation energy of the S=O bond in cyclic sulfoxide 5 and sulfone 4 are +363.7 and +466.2 kJ x mol(-1), respectively.     

Combined experimental and computational study of the thermochemistry of the fluoroaniline isomers

The standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase of all the fluoroanilines, with the exception of the 2,3,5-trifluoroaniline compound, were derived from the standard molar energies of combustion in oxygen at T = 298.15 K, measured by rotating bomb combustion calorimetry. Calvet high-temperature vacuum sublimation experiments were performed to measure their enthalpies of vaporization or sublimation. These experiments allowed the determination of the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase and at T = 298.15 K. These values are also compared with estimates based on G3MP2B3 and BP86/6-31+G(d) computations, which have been extended also to the fluoroaniline that was not studied experimentally. The results are in close agreement with a mean deviation of approximately 3 kJ.mol-1. The largest difference between experimental and G3MP2B3 values is found for the pentafluoroaniline (-7.0 kJ.mol-1). For the three monofluoroanilines, the composite approach has been used also to compute gas-phase acidities, electron and proton affinities, ionization enthalpies and N-H bond dissociation enthalpies. The computed values compare well with available experimental results supporting the new computed data.     

Thermodynamic study of sesamol, piperonyl alcohol, piperonylic acid and homopiperonylic acid: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation

The standard (p(o)= 0.1 MPa) molar energies of combustion in oxygen, at T= 298.15 K, of four 1,3-benzodioxole derivatives (sesamol, piperonyl alcohol, piperonylic acid and homopiperonylic acid) were measured by static bomb calorimetry. The values of the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T= 298.15 K, were derived from vapour pressure-temperature measurements using the Knudsen effusion technique. Combining these results the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds, in the gas phase, at T= 298.15 K, have been calculated: sesamol (-325.7 +/- 1.9) kJ mol(-1); piperonyl alcohol (-329.0 +/- 2.0) kJ mol(-1); piperonylic acid (-528.9 +/- 2.6) kJ mol(-1) and homopiperonylic acid (-544.5 +/- 2.9) kJ mol(-1). The most stable geometries of all the compounds were obtained using the density functional theory with the B3LYP functional and two basis sets: 6-31G** and 6-311G**. The nonplanarity of the molecules was analyzed in terms of the anomeric effect, which is believed to arise from the interaction between a nonbonded oxygen p orbital and the empty orbital sigma*(CO) involving the other oxygen atom. Calculations were performed to obtain estimates of the enthalpies of formation of all the benzodioxoles using appropriate isodesmic reactions. There is a perfect agreement between theoretical and experimental results.