A theoretical study of the structure and aromaticity of nitrogen-containing thiocarbon

Density functional theory has been used to investigate the structure, stability, and aromaticity of a series of nitrogen-containing thiocarbons, which are related to C _n S _n ²⁻ (n = 3–5). We have identified a large number of minimum-energy species which might be synthesized and calculated their aromaticity using the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) method of Schleyer and magnetic susceptibility. Successive substitution of carbon by nitrogen reduces their stability, as reflected in the calculated bond orders. In general, there is no close correlation between the stability and π-aromaticity of the species studied.     

How π-electron delocalisation reflects replacement of H+ with Li+ in variously substituted malonaldehydes

Correlations were studied between the properties of Bader's ring and bond critical points calculated for variously substituted malonaldehyde (containing intramolecular H-bond) and its π-electron delocalisation expressed by aromaticity indices HOMA and NICSs. It was observed that π-electron delocalisation of the system strongly depends on the substituent and its position. Replacement of the H⁺ with Li⁺ in malonaldehyde allowed us to study the role of unoccupied 2p orbital in π-electron delocalisation. In the case of lithium system the aromaticity is increased as compared with the malonaldehyde itself and moreover with the malonaldehyde anion. This proves that the unoccupied 2p orbital of Li⁺ may play a significant role in delocalisation of π-electrons due to its low orbital energy. In the case of lithium system the substituent effect is negligible, which resembles the situation in benzene derivatives. Dedicated to Prof. Karl Jug on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary.     

Boron rings containing planar octacoordinate iron and cobalt

The boron rings containing planar octacoordinate transition metals, D _8h FeB₈ ²⁻, CoB₈ ⁻ and CoB₈ ³⁺, C _2v FeB₈, D _2h CoB₈ ⁺ and CoB₈, are optimized with all real vibrational frequencies at the B3LYP/6–311+G* level of the theory. The D _8h FeB₈ ²⁻ and CoB₈ ⁻ isomers are global minima, while D _8h CoB₈ ³⁺ is only local minimum. The electronic structure character of these systems is revealed by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, showing that the boron rings containing planar octacoordinate transition metals have stability and aromaticity with six π electrons. The aromaticity is confirmed by nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) calculations. Supported by the specialized research fund for the doctoral program of higher education (20060007030)     

Study on the antioxidant activity and quantification of thioamides based on nitrogen five-membered heterocycles by the kinetic technique

The antioxidant activity of heterocyclic thioamides based on imidazole, triazole, tetrazole, thiazole, thiazoline, and thiadiazole is estimated by spectrophotometry using the rate constant of reaction with the chromogenic radical 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The rate constant of direct transfer of a hydrogen atom to the radical in carbon tetrachloride is maximal for 1-methylimidazoline-2-thione. The protective antioxidant effect of the preparations in ethanol falls down abruptly from 4-phenylthiazoline-2-thione (k = 1.06 × 10⁴ M⁻¹min⁻¹) to the thioamides based on triazole and thiazoline (k ∼ 20 M⁻¹min⁻¹). In acetonitrile, thiazole derivatives show the most substantial antioxidant activity, k = n ×10⁴ M⁻¹min⁻¹, which goes down to zero if the aromaticity of the heterocycle is broken. As established, for the pseudo first order reaction between thioamides and the chromogenic radical, the reaction rate linearly depends on the concentration of thioamides. A spectrophotometry kinetic method for the quantification of heteroaromatic thioamides is elaborated.     

Theoretical observation of hexaatomic molecules containing pentacoordinate planar carbon

The smallest molecules up to date containing a D5h pentacoordinate planar carbon (PPC) atom, CBe5 and CBe54-, are presented by means of ab initio calculations. To gain a better understanding about which electronic factors contribute to their stabilization, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and the nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) were calculated. The data reported here suggest that D5h CBe5 is σ aromaticity in nature, while in D5h CBe54- π aromaticity is dominating. The classical octet rule is well satisfied in both molecules, and is one of the fundamental reasons to understand the stability of the pentagon structures. The Be5 ring serves as σ donor in D5h CBe5, and π-acceptor in D5h CBe54-. The D5h CBe54- possessing 18 valence electrons with a closed-shell electron configuration is the most plau-sible candidate for experimental detection.     

π-Electron ring currents and magnetic properties of porphyrin molecules in the MO LCAO SCF method

The coupled variant of double-parameter perturbation theory in the MO LCAO SCF method in the London approximation has been used for the calculation of π-electron current distributions in the molecules of porphin and its derivatives. The chemical shifts of¹H-NMR have been computed on the basis of calculations of ring currents and charge distributions. It is shown that π-electron ring currents are responsible for the dominant contribution to the shielding of protons. The theoretical and experimental values of proton chemical shifts are in a good agreement. Chemical shifts of the¹³C and¹⁵N nuclei have also been estimated. Two aromaticity scales are proposed for the compounds under study based on the calculations of the π-electron contribution to the diamagnetic susceptibility and of π-electron currents, respectively.     

Substitution effects on neutral and protonated pyridine derivatives along the periodic table

A theoretical study of the monosubstitution effects of all atoms of the second and third rows of the periodic table on the α, β and γ positions of neutral and protonated pyridine has been carried out by means of B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) DFT calculations. The geometric and electronic properties, calculated using the Atoms in Molecules methodology, and the electrostatic potential have been analysed. Concurrently, three separate aromaticity indexes (NICS(0), NICS(1) and HOMA) have been evaluated and compared to the above results. Furthermore, the effect of protonation on these parameters has been investigated. A comparison with analogous results for benzene derivatives has also been carried out.     

Aromaticity and diatropicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-polyphenyl-α,ω-quinododimethides

p-Polyphenyl-α,ω-quinododimethides were predicted to be moderately aromatic and diatropic, although they exist only in a single classical resonance structure with no aromatic conjugated circuits. Such a dichotomy was resolved using our graph theory of aromaticity and ring-current diamagnetism. Six-site non-conjugated circuits were found to contribute appreciably to aromaticity and ring-current diamagnetism. Within each quinododimethide molecule, local aromaticity increases on going from the outermost to inner phenylene rings.     

Structures and aromaticity of the planar Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>−</Superscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>=1–4) clusters

Clusters Al₂P₂ ⁿ⁻ (n = 1–4) were theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6-311+G* and B3PW91/6-311+G* levels of theory. The calculated results showed that the planar structure (D _2h symmetry) of Al₂P₂ ⁿ⁻ (n = 1–4) species was the global minimum. And the negative nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) value of Al₂P₂ ⁿ⁻ (n = 1–4) species indicated the existence of a ring current in the planar structure (D _2h symmetry). A detailed molecular orbital (MO) analysis revealed that the planar structures (D _2h symmetry) had π aromaticity, which further exhibited the strongly aromatic character for Al₂P₂ ⁿ⁻ (n = 1–4) species.     

Boron rings containing planar octa-and enneacoordinate cobalt,iron and nickel metal elements

For a series of boron rings with planar hyper-coordinate 8th group transition metal atoms, singlet 1FeB8-2, multiplet kFeB9n (n = -1, k = 1; n = 0, k = 2), singlet 1CoB8n(n = -1, 1, 3), multiplet kCoB9n (n = 1, k = 2; n = 0, k = 1) and singlet 1NiB9 , the geometry structures have been optimized to be local minima on corresponding potential hyper-surfaces. The electron structures are discussed by orbital analysis and the aromaticity is predicted by nucleus-independent chemical shifts calculation at both the B3LYP/6-311 G* and BP86/6-311 G* levels of theory, respectively. The results suggest that all these structures with high symmetry planar geometries are stable and have aromatic properties with six π valence electrons.     

A computational study on the stability–aromaticity correlation of triply N-confused porphyrins: CMMSE-09

The B3LYP density functional theory methodology in conjunction with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set has been used to characterize triply N-confused meso-tetraphenylporphyrins. According to our computations, there is no a direct correlation between stability and aromaticity as already found for non-substituted confused porphyrins. The inclusion of these substituents in the calculations provokes a decrease of the planarity and aromaticity of these macrocycles along with a notable rise of their relative stability with respect to the non-substituted case. Steric repulsions, both among phenyl rings and β atoms in the pyrrolic rings, and among H atoms in the core of the macrocycles, dominate over aromaticity in the establishment of the most stable conformation of each isomer.     

Theoretical study of aromaticity in inorganic tetramer clusters

Ground state geometry and electronic structure of M ₄ ^2- cluster (M = B, Al, Ga) have been investigated to evaluate their aromatic properties. The calculations are performed by employing the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method. It is found that all these three clusters adopt square planar configuration. Results reveal that square planar M ₄ ^2- dianion exhibits characteristics of multifold aromaticity with two delocalised π-electrons. In spite of the unstable nature of these dianionic clusters in the gas phase, their interaction with the sodium atoms forms very stable dipyramidal M₄Na₂ complexes while maintaining their square planar structure and aromaticity.     

The annular tautomerism of imidazoles and pyrazoles: The possible existence of nonaromatic forms

DFT (B3LYP/6-31G^*) and G3//B3LYP (usually referred as G3B3 in the literature) calculations have been carried out on annular tautomers of C- and/or N-functionalized imidazoles (both the aromatic 1H- and nonaromatic 2H-) and pyrazoles (the aromatic 1H- and 2H-, and nonaromatic 3H- and 4H-). The aromaticity of 1H-imidazole and 1H- and 2H-pyrazole results in these species being more stable than their nonaromatic tautomers. However, this stability is reversed when the hydrogen on the azole nitrogen or methylene carbon is substituted by OH or by F, e.g., in increasing order of stability we find 1-fluoro-1H-imidazole <2-fluoro-2H-imidazole (<2-fluoro-1H-imidazole). These results are related to a recent report of a highly substituted imidazole that exists in the “nonaromatic” 2H-tautomeric form, and discussed subsequently in a purely thermochemical context.     

Aromaticity of Rees-type hydrocarbons—a DFT computational study

The structure and aromatic properties of Rees hydrocarbons 7bH-cyclopent[cd]indene and its benzo-annelated derivative 1a and 2a, respectively, are examined by the B3LYP/6−31+G(d) calculations employing HOMA criterion of Krygowski and coworkers. It is shown that 1a possesses strong π-electron delocalization over the perimeter of the CC bonds, thus forming a quasi-[10]annulene pattern. Its aromatic character is determined to be 83%. In contrast, 2a is less convenient model system for [14]annulene. The reason behind is that the perimeter network of the potentially aromatic 14π-electrons is supplemented by two additional more local aromatic patterns involving 10π and 6π electrons. Consequently, the π-electron delocalization over the molecular rim is incomplete being thus diminished. The aromatic character of the peripheral bonds in both 1a ⁻ and 2a ⁻ anions formed upon deprotonation of the central C–H bond is decreased, since the role of the smaller rings in forming aromatic subsystems is increasing. Finally, polycyano substitution of 1a and 2a decreases aromaticity due to the price paid for the resonance effect taking place between the carbocyclic π-network and the double bonds of the CN groups. The resonance effect is particularly strong in anions derived by heterolytic cleavage of the C–H bond emanating from the central sp ³ carbon atom. Dedicated to Professor T. M. Krygowski for his outstanding scientific achievements on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Cyclobutadiene dianion derivatives – Planar 4c,6e or three-dimensional 6c,6e aromaticity?

The spatial magnetic properties (Through Space NMR Shieldings – TSNMRS) of two cyclobutadiene derivatives (2 and 5) and of a number of cyclobutadiene dianion derivatives (3, 4 and 6–8) have been calculated by the GIAO perturbation method employing the Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) concept of P. v. Ragué Schleyer, and visualized as Iso-Chemical-Shielding Surfaces (ICSS) of various size and direction. TSNMRS values can be successfully employed to quantify and visualize the (anti)aromaticity of the compounds studied and to discuss the influence of Li⁺ complexation to cyclobutadiene dianion (4a, 7 and 8) on planar 4c,6e or three-dimensional 6c,6e aromaticity.     

DFT studies and AIM analysis of AlN-polycycles

The structure and properties of AlN-polycycles were studied by DFT (density functional theory) method. The results of calculations were obtained at B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level on model species. Topological parameters such as electron density, its Laplacian, kinetic electron energy density, potential electron energy density, and total electron energy density at the ring critical points (RCP) from Bader’s ‘Atoms in molecules’ (AIM) theory were analyzed in detail. These results indicate a good correlation between ρ(3, +1), G(r), H(r), and V(r) averaged values and hardness of AlN-polycycles. The aromaticity of all molecules has been studied by nucleus-independent chemical shift. There is a linear correlation between ΣNICS(0.0)_molecule values and polarizability.     

Theoretical predictions of the structure, gas-phase acidity and aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid

Results of ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the gas-phase structure, acidity (free energy of deprotonation, ΔG^o), and aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid (3,4-dithiohydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-diselenone, H₂C₄Se₂S₂) are reported. The global minimum found on the potential energy surface of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid presents a planar conformation. The ZZ isomer was found to have the lowest energy among the three planar conformers and the ZZ and ZE isomers are very close in energy. The optimized geometric parameters exhibit a bond length equalization relative to reference compounds, cyclobutanediselenone, and cyclobutenedithiol. The computed aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) by homodesmotic reaction (Eq 1) is −20.1 kcal/mol (MP2(fu)/6-311+G** //RHF/6-311+G**) and −14.9 kcal/mol (B3LYP//6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**). The aromaticity of 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid is indicated by the calculated diamagnetic susceptibility exaltation (Λ) −17.91 (CSGT(IGAIM)-RHF/6-311+G**//RHF/6-311+G**) and −31.01 (CSGT(IGAIM)-B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**). Thus, 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid fulfils the geometric, energetic and magnetic criteria of aromaticity. The calculated theoretical gas-phase acidity is ΔG^o _1(298K)=302.7 kcal/mol and ΔG^o _2(298K)=388.4 kcal/mol. Hence, 1,2-diseleno-3,4-dithiosquaric acid is a stronger acid than squaric acid(3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, H₂C₄O₄). Received: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 7 July 2000 / Published online: 27 September 2000     

A calorimetric study of the acid dissociation of the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine

Thermodynamic parameters for acid dissociation of the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine have been determined in the presence of sodium chloride and sodium nitrate. Even though the plots of ΔG ⁰ against the degree of dissociation, α, are highly dependent on the added salt concentration levels, the concentration effect has never been observed for the corresponding ΔH ⁰ versus α plots. The effect on the ΔG ⁰ versus α plots has been attributed to the entropy change of the counterions between a polyelectrolyte phase and a bulk solution phase. The α dependency of ΔH ⁰ is affected remarkably by the kinds of cationic polymers and counter-anions. Each ΔH ⁰ value at completely neutralized conditions is quite close to the corresponding ΔH ⁰ value of the monomer analog. The difference in the ΔH ⁰ values at fully charged conditions has been explained by the heats due to The ion-pair formation of chloride anion to the conjugate acids of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polyallylamine has been supported by ³⁵Cl NMR measurement. It has also been suggested that chloride anions bind the basic polymer molecules even at fully neutralized conditions. Received: 2 June 1999/Accepted in revised form: 19 July 1999     

Dependence of the energy of surface-active substances/metal interaction on their ionization potentials. Evaluation of hydrophilicity of metal

The function Δ(ΔG _A ⁰), which is the difference of Gibbs energies characterizing surface-active substance (surfactant, SAS) adsorption at metal/solution and air/solution surfaces, has been introduced. The equation connecting the function Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) with SAS ionization potential has been obtained using the elementary theory of donor-acceptor interactions. Published experimental data on SAS adsorption at mercury, bismuth and gold have been used for Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) calculation. The dependence of Δ(ΔG _A ⁰) on ionization potentials can be described by an equation derived in this work. It has been demonstrated that the value of the hydrophilicity of gold is much higher than the values for mercury and bismuth. The lifetime of SAS molecules at a metal surface has been estimated. The question of the possibility of theoretica l estimation of standard energies ΔG _A ⁰ characterizing SAS adsorption at a metal/solution surface has been discussed. Received: 9 December 1996 / Accepted: 13 January 1997     

Density functional theory analysis of some triple-decker sandwich complexes of iron containing cyclo-P5 and cyclo-As5 ligands

Structure and bonding in triple-decker cationic complexes [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(μ,η:η⁵-E₅) Fe(η⁵-Cp)]⁺ (1: E = CH, 2: E = P, 3: E = As) and [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(μ,η:η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁵-E₅)]⁺ (E = P, As) are examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level. These species exhibit the lowest energy when all the three ligands are eclipsed. In the complexes with bifacially coordinated cyclo-E₅, the perfectly eclipsed D_5h sandwich structure a is found to be a potential minimum. The energy difference between the fully eclipsed and the staggered conformations b and c are within 1.0, 2.1, and 6.3 kcal/mol, respectively, for E = CH, P, and As. The isomeric species with monofacially coordinated cyclo-E₅ (E =P, As), [(η⁵ -Cp)Fe(μ,η :η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁵-E₅)]⁺ are predicted to be about 30 and 60 kcal/mol higher in energy , respectively, for E = P and As. The calculations predict that the bifacially coordinated cyclo-E₅ (E =P, As) undergoes significant ring expansion leading to ``loosening of bonds' as observed experimentally. The consequent loss of aromaticity in the central cyclo-E₅ indicates that significant π-electron density from the ring can be directed towards bonding with the iron centers on both sides. The diffuse nature of the π-orbitals of cyclo-P₅ and cyclo-As₅ can lead to better overlap with the iron d-orbitals and result in stronger bonding. This is reflected in the bond order values of 0.377 and 0.372 for the Fe-P and Fe-As bonds in 2a and 3a, respectively. The natural population analysis reveals that the Fe atom that is coordinated to a cyclo-E₅ (E = P, As) possesses a negative charge of −0.23 to −0.38 units due to transfer of electron density from the inorganic ring to the metal center.