Far-infrared spectra and barriers to internal rotation of ethyl nitrate

The far-infrared spectra of gaseous and solid ethyl nitrate, CH₃CH₂ONO₂, have been recorded from 500 to 50 cm⁻¹. The fundamental asymmetric torsion of the trans conformer which has a heavy atom plane has been observed at 112.50 cm⁻¹ with two excited states failing to lower frequencies, and the corresponding fundamental torsion of the gauche conformer was observed at 109.62 cm⁻¹ with two excited states also falling to lower frequencies. The results of a variable temperature Raman study indicate that the trans conformer is more stable than the gauche conformer by 328 ± 96 cm⁻¹ (938 ± 275 cal mol⁻¹). An asymmetric potential function governing the internal rotation about the CH₂O bond is reported which gives a trans to gauche barrier of 894 ± 15 cm⁻¹ (2.56 ± 0.04 kcal mol⁻¹) and a gauche to gauche barrier of 3063 ± 68 cm⁻¹ (8.76 ± 0.20 kcal mol⁻¹) with the trans conformer more stable by 220 ± 148 cm⁻¹ (0.63 ± 0.42 kcal mol⁻¹). Transitions arising from the symmetric CH₃ and NO₂ torsions are observed for both conformers, from which the threefold and twofold periodic barriers to internal rotation have been calculated. For the trans conformer the values are 1002 cm⁻¹ (2.87 kcal mol⁻¹) and 2355 ± 145 cm⁻¹ (6.73 ± 0.42 kcal mol⁻¹) and for the gauche conformer they are 981 cm⁻¹ (2.81 kcal mol⁻¹) and 2736 ± 632 cm⁻¹ (7.82 ± 1.81 kcal mol⁻¹) for the CH₃ and NO₂ rotors, respectively. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

A structural and theoretical study of the intermolecular interactions in 8‐hydroxyquinolinium‐7‐carboxylate monohydrate

In the title compound, C₁₀H₇NO₃·H₂O, the zwitterionic organic molecules and the water molecules are connected by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds to form ribbons, and π–π stacking interactions expand these ribbons into a three‐dimensional net. The energies of these hydrogen bonds adopt values typical for mildly weak interactions (3.33–7.75 kcal mol⁻¹; 1 kcal mol⁻¹ = 4.184 kJ mol⁻¹). The total π–π stacking interactions between aromatic molecules can be classified as mildly strong (energies of 15.3 and 33.9 kcal mol⁻¹), and they are made up of multiple constituent π–π interactions between six‐membered rings. The short intermolecular C—H...O contact between two zwitterionic molecules is nonbonding in character.     

The HOX⋯SO2 (X=F,Cl, Br,I) Binary Complexes: Implications for Atmospheric Chemistry

Sulfur dioxide and hypohalous acids (HOX, X=F, Cl, Br, I) are ubiquitous molecules in the atmosphere that are central to important processes like seasonal ozone depletion, acid rain, and cloud nucleation. We present the first theoretical examination of the HOX⋯SO₂ binary complexes and the associated trends due to halogen substitution. Reliable geometries were optimized at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z level of theory for HOF and HOCl complexes. The HOBr and HOI complexes were optimized at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(D+d)Z level of theory with the exception of the Br and I atoms which were modeled with an aug-cc-pwCVDZ-PP pseudopotential. 27 HOX⋯SO₂ complexes were characterized and the focal point method was employed to produce CCSDT(Q)/CBS interaction energies. Natural Bond Orbital analysis and Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory were used to classify the nature of each principle interaction. The interaction energies of all HOX⋯SO₂ complexes in this study ranged from 1.35 to 3.81 kcal mol⁻¹. The single-interaction hydrogen bonded complexes spanned a range of 2.62 to 3.07 kcal mol⁻¹, while the single-interaction halogen bonded complexes were far more sensitive to halogen substitution ranging from 1.35 to 3.06 kcal mol⁻¹, indicating that the two types of interactions are extremely competitive for heavier halogens. Our results provide insight into the interactions between HOX and SO₂ which may guide further research of related systems.     

Proton shuttle efficiency of bicarbonate: A theoretical study on tautomerization and CO2 hydration

The efficiency of bicarbonate molecule (HCO₃⁻) as a proton shuttle in the tautomerization and (non)enzymatic CO₂ hydration reactions has been investigated with the aid of computational chemistry methods (DFT and ab initio). The results revealed that bicarbonate can decrease the barrier height of tautomerization (keto-enol, azo-hydrazo and imine-amine) more than 70%. This value is around 45% for water molecules. Also, HCO₃⁻ can catalyze the CO₂ hydration both inside (enzymatic) and outside (nonenzymatic) the active site of human carbonic anhydrases II (HCA II). In the absence of enzyme, bicarbonate molecule can lower the CO₂ hydration from ∼50 kcal mol⁻¹ in the gas phase to ∼14 kcal mol⁻¹ in the aqueous media. This reaction maintains its barrier (∼15 kcal mol⁻¹) for bicarbonate-Zn complex in the active site of enzyme; it has been observed that amino acid residues, mainly Thr199 and Glu106, are actively involved in the proton transfer network and facilitate CO₂ hydration ability of bicarbonate.     

Hydrogen bonding in the mixed HF/HCl dimer: Is it better to give or receive?

The ClH⋯FH and FH⋯ClH configurations of the mixed HF/HCl dimer (where the donor⋯acceptor notation indicates the directionality of the hydrogen bond) as well as the transition state connecting the two configurations have been optimized using MP2 and CCSD(T) with correlation consistent basis sets as large as aug‐cc‐pV(5 + d)Z. Harmonic vibrational frequencies confirmed that both configurations correspond to minima and that the transition state has exactly one imaginary frequency. In addition, anharmonic vibrational frequencies computed with second‐order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) are within 6 cm⁻¹ of the available experimental values and deviate by no more than 4 cm⁻¹ for the complexation induced HF frequency shifts. The CCSD(T) electronic energies obtained with the largest basis set indicate that the barrier height is 0.40 kcal mol⁻¹ and the FH⋯ClH configuration lies 0.19 kcal mol⁻¹ below the ClH⋯FH configuration. While only modestly attenuating the barrier height, the inclusion of either the harmonic or anharmonic zero‐point vibrational energy effectively makes both minima isoenergetic, with the ClH⋯FH configuration being lower by only 0.03 kcal mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cooperative effects in water tetramers. Comparison between the empirical many-body model TCPE and ab initio calculations

Ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-311+G(2d,2p) and the empirical water many-body model TCPE have been applied to the study of four water tetramers corresponding to various molecular arrangements. For the cyclic tetramer (where each molecule is simultaneously donor and acceptor of hydrogen bonds, HBs), cooperative effects have been shown from ab initio computations to be stabilizing and to represent a contribution in the binding energy of 9 kcal mol⁻¹, while for the tetramer where only two molecules are simultaneously donor and acceptor of HB, such effects are stabilizing by only 1.5 kcal mol⁻¹. At last, for the tetramer where no molecule is simultaneously donor and acceptor of HBs, cooperative effects are smoothly destabilizing. TCPE predictions have been shown to be in good agreement with these ab initio estimates, both in terms of binding energy and cooperative effect contribution, which exhibits the accuracy of this potential.     

An ab initio CI investigation of structure and bonding in LiC2H2 complexes

The structures and energies of various LiC₂H₂ complexes have been investigated by means of ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Analytic SCF gradients were employed with a double-ζ basis set to locate and characterize stationary points on the energy surface. Single-point CI calculations using a double-ζ + diffuse and polarization basis set have been carried out at the DZ + P SCF stationary points. With the highest-level theory, the Li—vinylidene complex and the cis bridged adduct are found to be the most favorable arrangements, the former complex being slightly more stable by about 2 kcal mol⁻¹. These molecules are bound respectively by about 5 and 3 kcal mole⁻¹ relative to infinitely separated lithium plus acetylene. Harmonic vibrational frequencies are also reported and confirm the existence of the cis LiC₂H₂ species recently observed in a solid argon matrix.     

Energetic Ordering of Hydrogen Bond Strengths in Methanol-Water Clusters: Insights via Molecular Tailoring Approach

In this work, we examine the strength of various types of individual hydrogen bond (HB) in mixed methanol-water M_nW_m, (n+m=2 to 7) clusters, with an aim to understand the relative order of their strength, using our recently proposed molecular tailoring-based approach (MTA). Among all the types of HB, it is observed that the O_M−H…O_W HBs are the strongest (6.9 to 12.4 kcal mol⁻¹). The next ones are O_M−H…O_M HBs (6.5 to 11.6 kcal mol⁻¹). The O_W−H…O_W (0.2 to 10.9 kcal mol⁻¹) and O_W−H…O_M HBs (0.3 to 10.3 kcal mol⁻¹) are the weakest ones. This energetic ordering of HBs is seen to be different from the respective HB energies in the dimer i. e., O_M−H…O_M (5.0 to 6.0 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_M (1.5 to 6.0 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_M−H…O_W (3.8 to 5.6 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_W (1.2 to 5.0 kcal mol⁻¹). The plausible reason for the difference in the HB energy ordering may be attributed to the increase or decrease in HB strengths due to the formation of cooperative or anti-cooperative HB networks. For instance, the cooperativity contribution towards the different types of HB follows: O_M−H…O_W (2.4 to 8.6 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_M−H…O_M (1.3 to 6.3 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_W (−1.0 to 6.5 kcal mol⁻¹)>O_W−H…O_M (−1.2 to 5.3 kcal mol⁻¹). This ordering of cooperativity contribution is similar to the HB energy ordering obtained by the MTA-based method. It is emphasized here that, the interplay between the cooperative and anti-cooperative contributions are indispensable for the correct energetic ordering of these HBs.     

Analysis of torsional spectra of molecules with two internal C3ν, rotors—XXVI. A far infrared study of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine

The infrared spectra of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, (CH₃)₂NNH₂, and two isotopomers, (CD₃)₂NNH₂ and (CH₃)₂NND₂, have been recorded in the region between 600 and 100 cm⁻¹. Very rich and complex spectra were obtained and analysis of the data has been carried out. The interpretation of the spectra arising from the two methyl torsional modes of the −d₀ compound was carried out using a semi-rigid model, and the resulting potential function obtained is V₃₀ = 1685 ± 12 cm⁻¹ (4.82 ± 0.04 kcal mol⁻¹); V₀₃ = 1827 ± 16 cm⁻¹ (5.22 ± 0.05 kcal mol⁻¹); V₆₀ = −92±5cm⁻¹ (−0.26 ± 0.02 kcal mol⁻¹); V₀₆ = −41 ± 6cm⁻¹ (−0.12 ± 0.02 kcal mol⁻¹) and V^′₃₃ = −51 ± 5 cm⁻¹ (−0.15 ± 0.01 kcal mol⁻¹). Ab initio gradient calculations were carried out employing the 3–21G and 6–31G* basis sets, as well as the 6–31G* basis set with electron correlation at the MP2 level. The structural parameters, conformational stability, and three-fold barriers to internal rotation have been determined and the gauche conformer is calculated to be more stable than the trans form by 783 cm⁻¹ (2.24 kcal mol⁻¹) with the MP2/6–31G* basis set. These calculations were also used to re-evaluate the previously reported assignment of the fundamental modes, and to obtain a potential function for the asymmetric torsion. All of these results are discussed and compared with corresponding quantities for some similar compounds.     

Far-IR spectrum,conformation stability,barriers to internal rotation,vibrational assignment,and ab initio calculations of 3-chloro-2-methylpropene

The far-IR spectrum from 375 to 30 cm⁻¹ of gaseous 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, CH₂=C(CH₃)CH₂Cl, has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm⁻¹. The fundamental asymmetric torsional mode for the gauche conformer is observed at 84.3 cm⁻¹ with three excited states falling to lower frequency. For the higher energy s-cis conformer, where the chlorine atom eclipses the double bond, the asymmetric torsion is observed at 81.3 cm⁻¹ with two excited states falling to lower frequency. Utilizing the s-cis and gauche torsional frequencies, the gauche dihedral angle and the enthalpy difference between conformers, the potential function governing the interconversion of the rotamers has been calculated. The determined potential function coefficients are (in reciprocal centimeters): V₁=189±12, V₂=−358±11, V₃=886±2 and V₄=−12±2 with an enthalpy difference between the more stable gauche and s-cis conformers of 150 ±25 cm⁻¹ (430 ± 71 cal mol⁻¹). This function gives values of 661 cm⁻¹ (1.89 kcal mol⁻¹), 1226 cm⁻¹ (3.51 kcal mol⁻¹) and 812 cm⁻¹ (2.32 kcal mol⁻¹), for the s-cis to gauche, gauche to gauche, and gauche to s-cis barriers, respectively. From the methyl torsional frequency of 170 cm⁻¹ for the gauche conformer, the threefold barrier of 678 cm⁻¹ (1.94 kcal mol⁻¹) has been calculated. The asymmetric potential function, conformational energy difference and optimized geometries of both conformers have also been obtained from ab initio calculations with both the 3–21G^* and 6–31G^* basis sets. A normal-coordinate analysis has also been performed with a force field determined from the 3–21G^* basis set. These data are compared with the corresponding data for some similar molecules.     

Predicting Dinitrogen Activation via Transition-Metal-Involved [4+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

As the strongest triple bond in nature, the N≡N triple bond activation has always been a challenging project in chemistry. On the other hand, since the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1950, the Diels-Alder reaction has served as a powerful and widely applied tool in the synthesis of natural products and new materials. However, the application of the Diels-Alder reaction to dinitrogen activation remains less developed. Here we first demonstrate that a transition-metal-involved [4+2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction could be used to activate dinitrogen without an additional reductant by density functional theory calculations. Further study reveals that such a dinitrogen activation by 1-metalla-1,3-dienes screened out from a series of transition metal complexes (38 species) according to the effects of metal center, ligand, and substituents can become favorable both thermodynamically (with an exergonicity of 28.2 kcal mol⁻¹) and kinetically (with an activation energy as low as 13.8 kcal mol⁻¹). Our findings highlight an important application of the Diels-Alder reaction in dinitrogen activation, inviting experimental chemists’ verification.     

Theoretical Investigations on the Agostic Interactions of the Molybdenum and Manganese Complexes

The essential participation of agostic interactions in C−H bond activation, cyclometallation and other catalytic processes has been widely observed. To quantitatively evaluate the Mo−H−C agostic interaction in the Mo β/γ- agostomers [CpMo(CO)₂(PiPr₃)]⁺ ( Mo , 1 and Mo , 2 ) and the Mn−H−C agostic interaction in the Mn α/ϵ-agostomers [(C₆H₉]Mo(CO)₃] ( Mn , 1 and Mn , 2 ), the comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) theoretical investigations were performed. Results indicated that the Mo β-agostomer 1 is only favorable by 0.5 kcal mol⁻¹ than Mo γ-agostomer 2 , and the Gibbs barrier for their interconversion was 9.1 kcal mol⁻¹. A slightly higher Gibbs barrier of 12.7 kcal mol⁻¹ for the isomerization between the Mn α/ϵ-agostomers was also obtained. The relatively strong agostic interactions in Mo β-agostomer 1 and Mn α-agostomer 1 were further verified by the AIM (Atoms-In-Molecules) analyses and the NAdOs (natural adaptive orbitals) analyses. The findings on the agostic interaction presented in this study are believed to benefit the understandings of the agostic interaction involved catalytic processes and to promote the development of new organometallic complexes.     

Computational and dynamic NMR investigation of 2,2-dimesityl-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyltrisilane

The structure and rotational barrier for the mesityl-silicon bond of 2,2-dimesityl-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyltrisilane have been investigated by ¹H- and ¹³C-variable temperature nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as by density functional theory structural calculations. The calculations show that the lowest energy structure has C₂ symmetry with nonequivalent ortho methyl groups, consistent with the crystal structure and solution NMR. The nonequivalent ortho methyl groups exchange through a C_s transition state with a calculated relative free energy of 11.0 kcal mol⁻¹. The barrier for this rotation found by dynamic NMR is 13.4 ± 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at 298 K.     

Mutual isomerization of cyclopentyl and 1-Penten-5-y1 radicals

Unimolecular reactions of mutual isomerization of cyclopentyl and 1-penten-5-yl radicals have been investigated by chemical activation. The radicals were generated by adding energized hydrogen atoms (E_H about 23 kcal mol⁻¹) to the double bond of either cyclopentane or 1,4-pentadiene. Based on the extensive steady-state RRKM calculations employing the experimental data from this work as well as from the literature, the threshold energies for the cyclopentyl ring opening and closure are 32 ± 0.3 and 16.2 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The entropy of activation for the ring opening is close to zero.     

Preparing Gold(I) for Interactions with Proton Donors: The Elusive [Au]⋅⋅⋅HO Hydrogen Bond

MP2 and DFT calculations with correlation consistent basis sets indicate that isolated linear anionic dialkylgold(I) complexes form moderately strong (ca. 10 kcal mol^?1) Au???H hydrogen bonds with single H₂O molecules as donors in the absence of sterically demanding substituents. Relativistic effects are critically important in the attraction. Such bonds are significantly weaker in neutral, strong σ‐donor N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (ca. 5 kcal mol^?1). The overall association (>11 kcal mol^?1), however, is strengthened by co‐operative, synergistic classical hydrogen bonding when the NHC ligands bear NH units. Further manipulation of the interaction by ligands positioned trans to the carbene, is possible.     

Group 15 and 16 Nitrene-Like Pnictinidenes

Pnictinidenes are an increasingly relevant species in main group chemistry and generally exhibit proclivity for the triplet electronic ground state. However, the elusive singlet electronic states are often desired for chemical applications. We predict the singlet-triplet energy differences (ΔE_ST=E_Singlet−E_Triplet) of simple group 15 and 16 substituted pnictinidenes (Pn−R; Pn=P, As, Sb, or Bi) with highly reliable focal-point analyses targeting the CCSDTQ/CBS level of theory. The only cases we predict to have favorable singlet states are P−PH₂ (−3.2 kcal mol⁻¹) and P−NH₂ (−0.2 kcal mol⁻¹). ΔE_ST trends are discussed in light of the geometric predictions as well as qualitative natural bond order analysis to elucidate some of the important electronic structure features. Our work provides a rigorous benchmark for the ΔE_ST of fundamental Pn−R moieties and provides a firm foundation for the continued study of heavier pnictinidenes.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of the diketene system: Product branching decomposition rate constants and energetics of isomers

The kinetics and mechanism for the thermal decomposition of diketene have been studied in the temperature range 510–603 K using highly diluted mixtures with Ar as a diluent. The concentrations of diketene, ketene, and CO₂ were measured by FTIR spectrometry using calibrated standard mixtures. Two reaction channels were identified. The rate constants for the formation of ketene (k₁) and CO₂ (k₂) have been determined and compared with the values predicted by the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory for the branching reaction. The first-order rate constants, k₁ (s⁻¹) = 10^{15.74 ± 0.72} exp(−49.29 (kcal mol⁻¹) (±1.84)/RT) and k₂ (s⁻¹) = 10^{14.65 ± 0.87} exp(−49.01 (kcal mol⁻¹) (±2.22)/RT); the bulk of experimental data agree well with predicted results. The heats of formation of ketene, diketene, cyclobuta-1,3-dione, and cyclobuta-1,2-dione at 298 K computed from the G2M scheme are −11.1, −45.3, −43.6, and −40.3 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 580–590, 2007     

A structural and theoretical study of intermolecular interactions in nicotinohydrazide dihydrochloride

In the title compound [systematic name: 3‐(azaniumylcarbamoyl)pyridinium dichloride], C₆H₉N₃O²⁺·2Cl⁻, the ions are connected by N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds to form layers and C—H...Cl interactions expand the layers into a three‐dimensional net. The energies of the N—H...Cl interactions range from typical for very weak interactions (0.17 kcal mol⁻¹) to those observed for relatively strong interactions (29.1 kcal mol⁻¹). C—H...Cl interactions can be classified as weak and mildly strong (energies ranging from 2.2 to 8.2 kcal mol⁻¹). Despite the short contacts existing between the parallel aromatic rings of the cations, π–π interactions do not occur.     

Two Three‐Dimensional Metal‐Organic Frameworks Constructed from Alkaline Earth Metal Cations (Sr and Ba) and 5‐Nitroisophthalicacid – Synthesis,Charaterization, and Thermochemistry

Two MOFs of [Sr^II(5‐NO₂‐BDC)(H₂O)₆] ( 1 ) and [Ba^II(5‐NO₂‐BDC)(H₂O)₆] ( 2 ) have been synthesized in water using alkaline earth metal salts and the rigid organic ligand 5‐NO₂‐H₂BDC. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectrum, thermal analysis, and X‐ray crystallography. Crystal structure analyses have shown that the two complexes are isostructural as evidenced by IR spectra and TG‐DTA. Both compounds present three‐dimensional frameworks built up from infinite chains of edge‐sharing twelve‐membered rings through O–H···O hydrogen bonds. The specific heat capacities of the title complexes have been determined by an improved RD496‐III microcalorimeter with the values of (109.29 ± 0.693) J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and (81.162 ± 0.858) J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 298.15 K, and the molar enthalpy changes of the formation reactions of complexes at 298.15 K were calculated as (4.897 ± 0.008) kJ mol⁻¹ and (2.617 ± 0.009) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.