An Ab Initio Molecular Orbital Study of Valence Bond Isomers of Silabenzene and Phosphabenzene

Ab initio molecular orbital calculation at HF/6-31G*, HF/6-31G**, HF/6-311G**, HF/6-311++G**, RMP2-FC/6-31G*, and B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory for geometry optimization and MP4(SDQ)/6-31G* for a single point total energy calculation are reported for silabenzene ( 7 ), phosphabenzene ( 8 ) and 16 valence bond isomers of silabenzene and phosphabenzene ( 9-24 ). The calculated energy difference (19.78 kcal mol m 1 ) between silabenzene and the most stable valence bond isomer of silabenzene (1-silabenzvalene, 9 ) is much smaller than the difference (73.60 kcal mol m 1 ) between benzene and benzvalene ( 2 ). The energy difference between phosphabenzene and the most stable valence bond isomer of phosphabenzene (1-phosphabenzvalene, 17 ) is calculated to be 43.29 kcal mol m 1 .     

An Ab Initio Molecular Orbital Study of Isophosphinines

Ab initio molecular orbital calculation at HF/6-31G*, HF/6-31G**, HF/6-311G**, HF/6-311++G**, RMP2-FC/6-31G*, and B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory for geometry optimization and MP4(SDQ)/6-31G* for a single-point total energy calculation are reported for phosphinine and 13 isophosphinines 7-19 . Isomers 7-11 with an allenic system are calculated to be 8-18 kcal mol m 1 more stable than structures 12-17 with an acetylenic moiety. The calculated energy difference (66.19 kcal mol m 1 ) between phosphinine and the most stable isophosphinine (1-phospha-1,2,4-cyclohexatriene, 10 ) is smaller than the difference (78.96 kcal mol m 1 ) between benzene and the most stable isobenzene (cyclohexa-1,2,4-triene, 2 ). The isophosphinines 18 and 19 , with a butatriene moiety, are calculated to be the least stable isomers.     

A theoretical study on the origin of pi-facial stereoselectivity in the alkylation of enolates derived from 4-substituted gamma-butyrolactones

The alkylation of 4-methoxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone enolate with methyl chloride was studied at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level. Conformer search of the free enolate gave 15 unique conformers within 5.39 kcal/mol. The transition structures for both anti- and syn-attacks of methyl chloride on these 15 conformers were located. In all cases, the anti-transition structures are more stable than the corresponding syn-ones. The alkylation of gamma-valerolactone was studied at the MP2, B3LYP, and HF levels of theory with the 6-31+G* basis set in the presence of Li+ and dimethyl ether molecules. Basis set effects were also examined by the comparison of the MP2 results with the 6-31+G*, 6-31+G**, and 6-311+G** basis sets in one case. This study shows that the main source of the anti-selectivity of 4-substituted gamma-butyrolactones is eclipsing strain in the syn-transition structures.     

Conformational study of the structure of 12-crown-4-alkali metal cation complexes

A conformational search was performed for the 12-crown-4 (12c4)-alkali metal cation complexes using two different methods, one of them is the CONFLEX method, whereby eight conformations were predicted. Computations were performed for the eight predicted conformations at the HF/6-31+G*, MP2/6-31+G*//HF/6-31+G*, B3LYP/6-31+G*, MP2/6-31+G*//B3LYP/6-31+G*, and MP2/6-31+G* levels. The calculated energies predict a C4 conformation for the 12c4-Na+, -K+, -Rb+, and -Cs+ complexes and a C(s) conformation for the 12c4-Li+ complex to be the lowest energy conformations. For most of the conformations considered, the relative energies, with respect to the C4 conformation, at the MP2/6-31+G*//B3LYP/6-31+G* are overestimated, compared to those at the MP2/6-31+G* level, the highest level of theory considerd in this report, by 0.2 kcal/mol. Larger relative energy differences are attributed to larger differences between the B3LYP and MP2 optimized geomtries. Binding enthalpies (BEs) were calculated at the above-mentioned levels for the eight conformations. The agreement between the calculated and experimental BEs is discussed.     

Theoretical study of light-metal tetrahydroaluminates

Ab initio calculations of the structural, energetic, vibrational, and magnetic characteristics of the lowest-lying structures for isolated molecules and ions of light-metal tetrahydroaluminates (Li, Na, Be, Mg, and Al) have been performed by the perturbation theory (MP2), quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD(T)), coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods using the 6-31G*, 6-31G**, 6-311+G**, and 6-311++G** basis sets. The trends in the behavior of the molecular characteristics have been analyzed in various related series of these compounds. The results are compared with the data on analogous light-metal tetrahydroborates calculated at the same levels of theory. The differences in structure and stability between analogous hydroborate and alanate complexes are examined. The economical approximation B3LYP/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** has been shown to adequately reproduce the results obtained at the higher level of theory CCSD(T)/6-311++G**//MP2/6-31G* even though it requires considerably shorter CPU times and smaller amounts of memory.     

Conformational analysis of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors using ab initio molecular orbital methods. 1. Rotational isomerism in methane sulfonamide anion, CH3-SO2-NH−

Ab initio calculations have been performed on methane sulfonamide anion. Geometries have been optimized using Hartree-Fock basis sets up to 6-31+G*, and single-point calculations employing those Hartree-Fock geometries have been performed at levels up to MP2/6-311++G**. In addition, geometry optimizations for the 0°, 90°, 150°, and 180° conformers have been carried out at the MP2/6-31G*, MP2/6-31+G*, and MP2/6-311++G** levels. Vibrational frequencies have been calculated using the HF/4-31G*, MP2/6-31G*, and MP2/6-31+G* geometries. All calculations at or above the 4-31G* level agree that H—N—S—C ˜90° is the global minimum. The H—N—S—C = 180° conformer is clearly higher in energy although the relative energy of this conformer varies from 0.36 to 1.03 kcal/mol for the post-HF calculations depending on basis set. The H—N—S—C = 180° conformer appears to be a very shallow local minimum. However, the potential energy surface is quite flat in this region, and the highest-level calculations, including MP2 optimizations and vibrational frequency analysis, are ambiguous on this point. The conformer with an H—N—S—C torsion of 0° is a transition state with a relative energy ˜8 kcal/mol. Received: 3 December 1996 / Accepted: 2 January 1997     

A comparative study on the nature and strength of O–O, S–S, and Se–Se bond

A computational study on dichalcogenide molecules (R₂X₂; X = O, S, Se; R = H, CH₃, NH₂) has been carried out employing B3LYP and MP2 levels using 6-31+G*, 6-311+G*, 6-311++G**, and PVDZ basis sets. The relative energies have been evaluated at G2MP2 also. The rotational barriers and bond dissociation energies indicate that S–S bond is stronger than Se–Se and O–O bond. NBO analysis at MP2/6-31+G* suggest the presence of partial π character between X–X bond that decreases in the order S–S > Se–Se > O–O. Fuki functions for nucleophilic and electrophilic attack fail to distinguish the reactivity of S and Se. The proton affinities of the O₂H₂, S₂H₂, Se₂H₂ decrease in the order Se > S > O.     

Theoretical study of light-metal tetrahydroborates

Ab initio calculations of the structural, energetic, vibrational, and magnetic characteristics of the lowest-lying structures for isolated molecules and ions of light-metal tetrahydroborates (Li, Na, Be, Mg, and Al) have been performed by the perturbation theory (MP2), quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD(T)), coupled cluster (CCSD(T)), and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods using the 6-31G*, 6-31G**, 6-311+G**, and 6-311++G** basis sets. The trends in the behavior of the structural parameters, the energies of different decomposition pathways, barriers to internal rotation of BH₄ groups, normal mode frequencies, magnetic shielding constants, and spin density distribution (in radicals) have been analyzed in various related series of these compounds. The results obtained by ab initio methods and at the DFT level are compared. The economical approximation B3LYP/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** adequately reproduces the results obtained at the higher level of theory CCSD(T)/6-311++G*s*//MP2/6-31G* even though it requires considerably shorter CPU times and smaller amounts of memory.     

A quantum mechanical approach to the kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction reaction H2O2 + •OH → HO2 + H2O

The kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction from H₂O₂ by ^?OH has been modeled with MP2/6‐31G*//MP2/6‐31G*, MP2‐SAC//MP2/6‐31G*, MP2/6‐31+G**//MP2/6‐31+G**, MP2‐SAC// MP2/6‐31+G**, MP4(SDTQ)/6‐311G**//MP2/6‐31G*, CCSD(T)/6‐31G*//CCSD(T)/6‐31G*, CCSD(T)/6‐31G**//CCSD(T)/6‐31G**, CCSD(T)/6‐311++G**//MP2/6‐31G* in the gas phase. MD simulations have been used to generate initial geometries for the stationary points along the potential energy surface for hydrogen abstraction from H₂O₂. The effective fragment potential (EFP) has been used to optimize the relevant structures in solution. Furthermore, the IEFPCM model has been used for the supermolecules generated via MD calculations. IEFPCM/MP2/6‐31G* and IEFPCM/CCSD(T)/6‐31G* calculations have also been performed for structures without explicit water molecules. Experimentally, the rate constant for hydrogen abstraction by ^?OH drops from 1.75 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in the gas phase to 4.48 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in solution. The same trend has been reproduced best with MP4 (SDTQ)/6‐311G**//MP2/6‐31G* in the gas phase (0.415 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) and with EFP (UHF/6‐31G*) in solution (3.23 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 502–514, 2005     

Tautomerism and the maximum hardness principle

Through the application of the atom–bond electronegativity equalization method (ABEEM) to the calculation of the hardnesses of more than 300 tautomers, it can be seen that the maximum hardness principle is nearly useless to account for their relative stabilities. Moreover, by calculating the energies of these tautomers with the HF, B3LYP, B3PW91, and MP2 methods at the 6‐31G, 6‐31G*, 6‐31G**, 6‐31+G**, 6‐311G**, or 6‐311++G** level, it is found that all these methods may not be always reliable in predicting their relative stabilities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Proton affinities of molecules containing nitrogen and oxygen: comparing ab initio and semiempirical results to experiments

We report a comparison of theoretical and experimental proton affinities at nitrogen and oxygen sites within a series of small molecules. The calculated proton affinities are determined using the semiempirical methods AM 1, MNDO , and PM 3; the ab initio Hartree–Fock method at the following basis levels: 3-21G //3-21G , 3-21+G //3-21G , 6-31G *//6-31G *, and 6-31+G (d, p)//6-31G *; and Møller–Plesset perturbation calculations: MP 2/6-31G *//6-31G *, MP 3/6-31G *//6-31G *, MP 2/6-31G +(d, p)//6-31G *, MP 3/6-31G +(d, p)//6-31G *, and MP 4(SDTQ )/6-31G +G (d, p)//6-31G *. The semiempirical methods have more nonsystematic scatter from the experimental values, compared to even the minimal 3-21G level ab initio calculations. The thermodynamically corrected 6-31G *//6-31G * proton affinities provide acceptable results compared to experiment, and we see no significant improvement over 6-31G *//6-31G * in the proton affinities with any of the higher-level calculations. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hydrogen peroxide clusters: the role of open book motif in cage and helical structures

Hartree-Fock (HF) calculations using 6-31G*, 6-311++G(d,p), aug-cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets show that hydrogen peroxide molecular clusters tend to form hydrogen-bonded cyclic and cage structures along the lines expected of a molecule which can act as a proton donor as well as an acceptor. These results are reiterated by density functional theoretic (DFT) calculations with B3LYP parametrization and also by second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) theory using 6-31G* and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. Trends in stabilization energies and geometrical parameters obtained at the HF level using 6-311++G(d,p), aug-cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets are similar to those obtained from HF/6-31G* calculation. In addition, the HF calculations suggest the formation of stable helical structures for larger clusters, provided the neighbors form an open book structure.     

Comparative theoretical study of transition structures,barrier heights,and reaction energies for the intramolecular tautomerization in acetaldehyde/vinyl alcohol and acetaldimine/vinylamine systems

The transition structures associated with the possible intramolecular tautomerization for acetaldehyde/vinyl alcohol and acetaldimine/vinylamine systems as models of keto/enol and imine/enamine interconversion processes, respectively, were characterized. The relative stabilities of the tautomers and the associated barrier heights were calculated. Ab initio analytical gradients and second derivatives at the HF level of theory and 3-21G, 6-31G, 6-31G**, 6-31++G**, and 6-311++G** basis-set, DFT (BP86/6-311++G** and BLYP/6-311++G**), and semiempirical (AM1 and PM3) procedures were used to identify the stationary points. Correlation effects were estimated using the perturbational approach at MP2/6-31G**, MP2/6-311++G**, and MP2/6-311++G (3df,2p) levels. The geometry, electronic structure, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and transition vector associated with the transition structures as well as the relative stabilities of different isomers and barrier heights were analyzed. The dependence of these properties upon theoretical methods is analyzed and discussed. The transition structures are four-membered rings and the corresponding transition vectors are associated to collective fluctuations. The 1,3 intramolecular hydrogen migration is much more advanced than are the hybridization changes on donor and acceptor centers at the transition structure. The corresponding barrier heights can be related to the change of bond orders and acid/base properties of these centers. A comparison of the results obtained with different methods renders that the nature of the transition structure seems to be a rather robust entity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 66 : 9–24, 1998     

Computational study of conformational preferences of thioamide-containing azaglycine peptides

The effect of thioamide substitution on the conformational stability of an azaglycine-containing peptide, For-AzaGly-NH2 (1), was investigated for the sake of finding possible applications by using ab initio and DFT methods. As model compounds, For-[psiCSNH]-AzaGly-NH2 (2), For-AzaGly-[psiCSNH]-NH2 (3), and For-[psiCSNH]-AzaGly-[psiCSNH]-NH2 (4) were used. Two-dimensional phi-psi potential energy surfaces (PESs) for 2-4 were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level in gas (epsilon = 1.0) and in water (epsilon = 78.4) by applying the isodensity polarizable continuum model (IPCM) method. On the basis of these PESs, the minimum energy conformations for 2-4 were characterized at the B3LYP level with 6-31G*, 6-311G**, and 6-31+G** basis sets. The remarkable structural effect of thioamide substitution for 2-4 is that beta-strand structure is observed as a global or local minimum. The minima of 2-4 are also compared with those for glycine and thioamide-containing glycine peptides. Our theoretical results demonstrate that compounds 2-4 would be used to design controllable secondary structures.     

Comparison of levels of electronic structure theory in direct dynamics simulations of C2H5F --> HF + C2H4 product energy partitioning

Direct dynamics simulations at the MP2/6-311++G** level of theory were performed to study C(2)H(5)F --> HF + C(2)H(4) product energy partitioning. The simulation results are compared with experiment and a previous MP2/6-31G* simulation. The current simulation with the larger basis set releases more energy to HF vibration and less to HF + C(2)H(4) relative translation as compared to the previous simulation with the 6-31G* basis set. The HF rotation and vibration energy distributions determined from the current simulation are in overall very good agreement with previous experimental studies of C(2)H(5)F dissociation by chemical activation and IRMPA. A comparison of the simulations with experiments suggests there may be important mass effects for energy partitioning in HX elimination from haloalkanes. The transition state (TS) structures and energies calculated with MP2 and the 6-31G* and 6-311++G** basis sets are compared with those calculated using CCD, CCSD, CCSD(T), and the 6-311++G** basis set.     

Calculated structures and relative stabilities of furoxan,some 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes and other isomers

The structures and relative stabilities of furoxan and some of its isomers, e.g., the 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes, have been determined by means of ab initio Hartee–Fock and Møller–Plesset calculations. Geometries were optimized at the HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G* and MP2/6-31G* levels, and subsequently used for computing MP2/6-31G*, MP3/6-31G*, and MP4/6-31G* energies. The results are markedly affected by the inclusion of electronic correlation, which renders three of the isomers unstable. It also emphasizes the importance of a zwitterionic contribution to the structure of furoxan, which promotes ring-opening through a cis 1,2-dinitrosoethylene intermediate/transition state that has an MP4/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* energy that is 31.6 kcal/mol above furoxan.     

Structure and conformational stability of CH2CHCH2X (X=F, Cl and Br) molecules—post Hartree–Fock and density functional theory methods

The molecular structure and conformational stability of CH₂CHCH₂X (X=F, Cl and Br) molecules were studied using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The molecular geometries of 3-fluoropropene were optimized employing BLYP and B3LYP levels of theory of DFT method implementing 6-311+G(d,p) basis set. The MP2/6-31G^*, BLYP and B3LYP levels of theory of ab initio and DFT methods were used to optimize the 3-chloropropene and 3-bromopropene molecules. The structural and physical parameters of the molecules are discussed with the available experimental values. The rotational potential energy surface of the above molecules were obtained at MP2/6-31G^* and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels of theory. The Fourier decomposition of the rotational potentials were analyzed. The HF/6-31G^* and MP2/6-31G^* levels of theory have predicted the cis conformer as the minimum energy structure for 3-fluoropropene, which is in agreement with the experimental values, whereas the BLYP/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels of theory reverses the order of conformation. The ΔE values calculated for 3-chloropropene at MP2/6-31G^*, BLYP/6-311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels of theory show that the gauche form is more stable than the cis form, which is in agreement with the experimental value. The same levels of theory have also predicted that the gauche form is stable than cis for 3-bromopropene molecule. The maximum hardness principle has been able to predict the stable conformer of 3-fluoropropene at HF/6-31G^* level of theory, but the same level of theory reverses the conformational stability of 3-chloropropene and 3-bromopropene molecules and MP2/6-31G^* level of theory predicted the stable conformer correctly.     

Ab initio and DFT energetics of silylenic X–CNSi (X=H, F, Cl, and Br)

Singlet–triplet energy splitting for 24 silylenic reactive intermediates, X–CNSi (where X=H, F, Cl and Br), are compared and contrasted at 11 levels of theory: B1LYP/6-31++G**, B3LYP/6-31++G**, B1LYP/6-311++G**, B3LYP/6-311++G**, MP3/6-31G*, MP3/6-311++G**, MP2/6-31+G**, MP2/6-311++G**, MP4 (SDTQ)/6-311++G**, QCISD(T)/6-311++G** and CCSD(T)/6-311++G**. Each X-substituted silylenic species may either be singlet (s) or triplet (t), with one of the following three structures: 3-X-2-aza-1-silacyclopropenylidene (1_s-X, 1_t-X); [(X-imino)methylene]silylene (2_s-X, 2_t-X); and X-cyanosilylene (3_s-X, 3_t-X). For all X–CNSi species studied, orders of singlet–triplet energy separations (ΔE_s-t,X), appear as a function of electro-negativity (F>Cl>Br>H). For the six H–CNSi isomers (X=H), stability order is: 3_s-H>1_s-H>2_t-H>3_t-H>2_s-H>1_t-H. Likewise, stability order for the six isomers with X=F, is: 3_s-F>3_t-F>1_s-F>1_t-F>2_s-F>2_t-F. For X=Cl, the order of stability is: 3_s-Cl>1_s-Cl>3_t-Cl>2_t-Cl>1_t-Cl>2_t-Cl. Finally, the order of stability for six isomers of Br–CNSi is: 3_s-Br>3_t-Br>1_s-Br>2_s-Br>2_t-Br>1_t-Br. The lowest energy minimum, among all 24 species scrutinized, appears to be the singlet acyclic 3_s-X. Triplet silylene 2_t-H is suggested to be more stable than its corresponding 2_s-H at MP3, MP2 and DFT levels of theory. Comparisons between relative stabilities; multiplicities and geometrical parameters of 1–3 are discussed.     

Theoretical studies on the conformations of selenamides

Ab initio HF/6-31+G*, MP2/6-31+G*, B3LYP/6-31+G* level calculations have been performed on HSe-NH₂ to estimate the Se-N rotational barriers and N-inversion barriers. Two conformers have been found withsyn andanti arrangement of the NH₂ hydrogens with respect to Se-H bond. The N inversion barriers in selenamide are 1.65, 2.47, 1.93 kcal/mol and the Se-N rotational barriers are 6.58, 6.56 and 6.12 kcal/mol respectively at HF/6-31+G*, MP2/6-31+G* and B3LYP/6-31+G* levels respectively. The n_N →Σ *_Se-H negative hyperconjugation is found to be responsible for the higher rotational barriers.     

Theoretical studies on the S-N interactions in sulfoximine

The potential energy surface of sulfoximines has been searched using ab initio MO and Density Functional Calculations. The electronic structures of the isomers of sulfoximine have been studied using HF/6-31+G*, MP2(full)/6-31+G* and B3LYP/6-31+G* levels. Final energies of these molecules have been calculated at the high accuracy G2 and CBS-Q levels. Though a formal SN double bond is generally considered between sulfur and nitrogen in these systems, theoretical studies do not show any π interaction between them. S-N rotational barriers, bond dissociation energies, atomic charge analysis, and NBO analysis all indicate only a single bond across S-N with a very strong ionic interaction.