Gas-phase tautomeric equilibrium of 4-hydroxypyrimidine with its ketonic forms: a free jet millimeterwave spectroscopy study

4-Hydroxypyrimidine (4HP) has two conformational forms (the hydroxyl hydrogen cis or trans with respect to the adjacent nitrogen), which are in tautomeric equilibrium with two ketonic forms, 4-pyrimidinone (4PO) and 6-pyrimidinone (6PO). We have investigated the free jet absorption millimeterwave spectrum of this system, assigning the rotational spectra of 4HPcis and 4PO; the latter species is more stable by 2.0(9) kJ/mol. No lines corresponding to the trans isomer of 4-hydroxypyridine and to 6PO have been observed.     

Structure and torsional properties of oxalyl chloride fluoride in the gas phase: an electron-diffraction investigation

The structure and torsional properties of oxalyl chloride fluoride in the gas phase have been measured by electron diffraction at temperatures of 22, 81, 158, and 310 °C. The molecule may be regarded as a hybrid of oxalyl chloride and oxalyl fluoride. Since the former exists as a more stable periplanar anti form (? = 180°) in equilibrium with a less stable gauche form (? ? 60°) and the latter as an equilibrium between two periplanar forms, anti and syn, the second form of oxalyl chloride fluoride is an interesting question. It was found to be gauche. The system was modeled as two rotational conformers related by a potential of the form 2V = V(1)(1 + cos??) - V(2)(1 - cos?2?) + V(3)(1 + cos?3?). The anti/gauche bond distances and bond angles (r(g)/Angstroms, ∠(α)/degrees) with estimated 2σ uncertainties at 22 °C are = 1.183(2)/1.182(2), Δr(C═O) = 0.003(6)/0.002(6) (assumed from theory), r(C-F) = 1.329(3)/1.335(3), r(C-Cl) = 1.738(2)/1.753(2), ∠(C-C-Cl) = 112.0(3)/111.9(3), ∠(C-C═O3) = 123.0(4)/123.2(4), ∠(O═C-Cl) = 125.0(2)/1.249(2), ∠(O═C-F) = 123.0(3)/125.1(3), and ∠(Cl-C-C-F) = 180.0/59.8. The variation of composition with temperature afforded a determination of the standard enthalpy and entropy of the reaction anti → gauche. The results are ΔH° = 2.5(12) kcal/mol and ΔS° = -6.5(33) cal/(mol·K). The structures and equilibria are discussed.     

Tautomeric equilibrium, stability, and hydrogen bonding in 2'-deoxyguanosine monophosphate complexed with Mg2+

The tautomeric equilibrium and hydrogen bonding in nucleotide 2'-deoxyguanosine monophosphate that interacts with hydrated Mg2+ cation (4H2O.Mg[dGMP]) were studied at the MP2/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/cc-pVDZ and B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/cc-pVDZ levels of theory. The Mg2+ ion forms two inner-shell contacts with the nucleotide, similar to small phosphorylated molecules under physiological conditions. The presence of the phosphate group and the hydrated magnesium cation leads to a change in guanine tautomeric equilibrium of 4H2O.Mg[dGMP] in comparison to free guanine. The influence of the phosphate group and the magnesium cation on tautomeric equilibrium is larger in the anti conformation where the P=O-->Mg and Mg<--N7 coordinate bonds are formed. The canonical oxo form of guanine is more stable (by 6-8 kcal/mol) than the O6-hydroxo form in anti conformation. Thus, the interaction with Mg2+ ion is capable of further suppressing the likelihood of a spontaneous transient formation of the rare tautomer. In the syn conformation of 4H2O.Mg[dGMP], the interaction of the guanine nucleobase with the phosphate group and the magnesium cation is not as strong as in the anti conformation, and the relative stability of guanine tautomers is close to those in free guanine.     

Sulfur dioxide in water: structure and dynamics studied by an ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics simulation

An ab initio Quantum Mechanical Charge Field Molecular Dynamics Simulation (QMCF MD) was performed to investigate structure and dynamics behavior of hydrated sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) at the Hartree-Fock level of theory employing Dunning DZP basis sets for solute and solvent molecules. The intramolecular structural characteristics of SO(2), such as S═O bond lengths and O═S═O bond angle, are in good agreement with the data available from a number of different experiments. The structural features of the hydrated SO(2) were primarily evaluated in the form of S-O(wat) and O(SO(2))-H(wat) radial distribution functions (RDFs) which gave mean distances of 2.9 and 2.2 ?, respectively. The dynamical behavior characterizes the solute molecule to have structure making properties in aqueous solution or water aerosols, where the hydrated SO(2) can easily get oxidized to form a number of sulfur(VI) species, which are believed to play an important role in the atmospheric processes.     

Cubic and rhombohedral heterobimetallic networks constructed from uranium, transition metals, and phosphonoacetate: new methods for constructing porous materials

Four heterobimetallic U(vi)/M(ii) (M = Mn, Co, Cd) carboxyphosphonates have been synthesized. M(2)[(UO(2))(6)(PO(3)CH(2)CO(2))(3)O(3)(OH)(H(2)O)(2)]·16H(2)O (M = Mn(ii), Co(ii), and Cd(ii)) adopt cubic three-dimensional network structures with large cavities approximately 16 ? in diameter that are filled with co-crystallized water molecules. [Cd(3)(UO(2))(6)(PO(3)CH(2)CO(2))(6)(H(2)O)(13)]·6H(2)O forms a rhombohedral channel structure with hydrated Cd(ii) within the channels. The cubic compound (Co) displays differential gas absorption with a surface area for CO(2) uptake of 40 m(2) g(-1) at 273 K, and no uptake of N(2) at 77 K.     

Reactivity of phosphate monoester monoanions in aqueous solution. 1. Quantum mechanical calculations support the existence of "anionic zwitterion" MeO(+)(H)PO(3)(2-) as a key intermediate in the dissociative hydrolysis of the methyl phosphate anion

The dissociative hydrolysis reaction of the methyl phosphate monoanion has been studied for the reactant species CH(3)OPO(3)H(-) (1) and CH(3)OPO(3)H(-) x H(2)O (1a) in the gas and aqueous phases by density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations. Nonspecific solvation effects were taken into account with the polarizable continuum model PCM either by solvating the gas-phase reaction paths or by performing geometry searches directly in the presence of the solvation correction. In agreement with previous theoretical studies, our gas-phase calculations indicate that proton transfer to the methoxy group of 1 is concerted with P-O bond cleavage. In contrast, optimizations performed with the PCM solvation model establish the existence of the tautomeric form CH(3)O(+)(H)PO(3)(2-) (2) as an intermediate, indicating that proton transfer and P-O bond cleavage become uncoupled in aqueous solution. The dissociative pathway of 1a is energetically favored over the dissociative pathway of 1 only when the added water molecule plays an active catalytic role in the prototropic rearrangement 1 <--> 2. In that case, it is found that the collapse (via P-O bond cleavage) of the hydrated zwitterionic form CH(3)O(+)(H)PO(3)(2-) x H(2)O (2a) is rate-determining. This collapse may occur by a stepwise mechanism through a very short-lived metaphosphate intermediate (PO(3)(-)), or by a concerted S(N)2-like displacement through a loose metaphosphate-like transition state. The present calculations do not allow a distinction to be made between these two alternatives, which are both in excellent agreement with experiment. The present study also reveals that PO(3)(-) reacts selectively with CH(3)OH and H(2)O nucleophiles in aqueous solution. However, the observed selectivity of metaphosphate is governed by solvation effects, not nucleophilicity (water being much more effective than methanol in capturing PO(3)(-)). This arises from a better solvation of the addition product H(2)O(+)PO(3)(2-) as compared to CH(3)O(+)(H)PO(3)(2-).     

Linear alkyl diamine-uranium-phosphate systems: U(VI) to U(IV) reduction with ethylenediamine

Mild-hydrothermal reactions in acidic medium using 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,4-diaminobutane, and 1,5-diaminopentane as structure directing agents led to three-dimensional (3D) uranyl phosphates (CH?)?(NH?)?{[(UO?)(H?O)][(UO?)(PO?)]?} (C3U5P4), (CH?)?(NH?)?{[(UO?)(H?O)][(UO?)(PO?)]?} (C4U5P4) and (CH?)5(NH?)?{[(UO?)(H?O)][(UO?)(PO?)]?} (C5U5P4). The structures of (C4U5P4) and (C5U5P4) were solved in the space group Cmc2? using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compounds are isostructural to the corresponding uranyl vanadates and contain the same 3D inorganic framework built from uranyl-phosphate layers of uranophane-type anion topology pillared by [UO?(H?O)] pentagonal bipyramids. In neutral or basic medium the alkyl diamines decompose to give ammonium uranyl phosphate trihydrate. In the same conditions by using ethylenediamine, unexpected reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV) occurs leading to the formation of (CH?)?(NH?)?[U(PO?)?] (C2UP2) single crystals. C2UP2 undergoes a reversible phase transition from triclinic to monoclinic symmetry at about 230 °C. The structure of the two forms results from the stacking of inorganic layers (∞)1[U(PO?)?]2?, and organic layers containing ethylene diammonium ions, the two layers being linked by hydrogen bonds. Single crystals of (CH?)?(NH?)?[PO?OH] (C2HP) are formed by evaporation of the solution after filtering of C2UP2 single crystals. The structure of C2HP contains infinite (∞)1[PO?OH]2? chains connected by (CH?)?(NH?)?2? ions through hydrogen bonds.     

Tautomeric equilibria of 5-fluorouracil anionic species in water

It has long been postulated that rare tautomeric or ionized forms of nucleic acid bases may play a role in mispair formation. Therefore, ab initio quantum chemical investigations on the tautomeric equilibrium in 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and its anions (deprotonated from N1, AN1, and from N3, AN3) and their tautomeric forms in water were performed. The effect of the water as solvent was introduced using solute-solvent clusters (four water molecules). The influence of the water molecules on the tautomeric reactions between different forms was considered by multiple proton transfer mechanisms. We show that when a water dimer is located in the reaction site between the two pairs of N-H and C═O groups, the assistive effect of the water molecules is strengthened. All calculations of the solute-water complexes were carried out at an MP2 level of theory and supplemented with correction for higher order correlation terms at CCSD(T) level, using the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The ab initio calculated frequencies and Raman intensities of 5FU and its anions AN1, AN3, and dianion are in good agreement with the experimental Raman frequencies in aqueous solution at different pH. In order to establish the pH-induced structural transformation in the molecule of 5FU, further (1)H, (19)F, and (13)C NMR spectra in water solution for pH = 6.9-13.8 were acquired and the chemical shift alterations were determined as a function of pH. On the basis of NMR spectroscopic data obtained for 5FU in aqueous solution at alkaline pH, we suggest the existence of a mixture of the anionic tautomeric forms predicted by our theoretical calculations.     

Ortho-hydroxyphenylhydrazo-β-diketones: tautomery, coordination ability, and catalytic activity of their copper(II) complexes toward oxidation of cyclohexane and benzylic alcohols

New hydrazone o-HO-phenylhydrazo-β-diketones (OHADB), R(1)NHN═CR(2)R(3) [R(1) = HO-2-C(6)H(4), R(2) = R(3) = COMe (H(2)L(1), 1), R(2)R(3) = COCH(2)C(Me)(2)CH(2)CO (H(2)L(2), 2), R(2) = COMe, R(3) = COOEt (H(2)L(4), 4); R(1) = HO-2-O(2)N-4-C(6)H(3), R(2)R(3) = COCH(2)C(Me)(2)CH(2)CO (H(2)L(3), 3), R(2) = COMe, R(3) = COOEt (H(2)L(5), 5), R(2)R(3) = COMe (H(2)L(6), 6A)], and their Cu(II) complexes [Cu(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)(μ-L(1))(2)] 7, [Cu(2)(H(2)O)(2)(μ-L(2))(2)] 8, [Cu(H(2)O)(L(3))] 9, [Cu(2)(μ-L(4))(2)](n) 10, [Cu(H(2)O)(L(5))] 11, [Cu(2)(H(2)O)(2)(μ-L(6))(2)] 12A and [Cu(H(2)O)(2)(L(6))] 12B were synthesized and fully characterized, namely, by X-ray analysis (4, 5, 7-12B). Reaction of 6A, Cu(NO(3))(2) and ethylenediamine (en) leads, via Schiff-base condensation, to [Cu{H(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N═C(Me)C(COMe)═NNC(6)H(3)-2-O-4-NO(2)}] (13), and reactions of 12A and 12B with en give the Schiff-base polymer [Cu{H(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N═C(Me)C(COMe)═NNC(6)H(3)-2-O-4-NO(2)}](n) 14. The dependence of the OHADB tautomeric equilibria on temperature, electronic properties of functional groups, and solvent polarity was studied. The OHADB from unsymmetrical β-diketones exist in solution as a mixture of enol-azo and hydrazo tautomeric forms, while in the solid state all the free and coordinated OHADB crystallize in the hydrazo form. The relative stabilities of various tautomers were studied by density functional theory (DFT). 7-14 show catalytic activities for peroxidative oxidation (in MeCN/H(2)O) of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, for selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes in aq. solution, mediated by TEMPO radical, under mild conditions and for the MW-assisted solvent-free synthesis of ketones from secondary alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide as oxidant.     

Computational insight into a gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene mediated alkyne hydroamination reaction

A gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex mediated hydroamination of an alkyne has been modeled using density functional theory (DFT) study. In this regard, alkyne and amine coordination pathways have been investigated for the hydroamination reaction between two representative substrates, namely, MeC≡CH and PhNH(2), catalyzed by a gold(I) NHC based (NHC)AuCl-type precatalyst, namely, [1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene]gold chloride. The amine coordination pathway displayed a lower activation barrier than the alkyne coordination pathway. The catalytic cycle is proposed to proceed via a crucial proton-transfer step occurring between the intermediates [(NHC)AuCH═CMeNH(2)Ph](+) (D) and [(NHC)Au(PhNHMeC═CH(2))](+) (E), the activation barrier of which was found to be significantly reduced by a proton relay mechanism process assisted by the presence of any adventitious H(2)O molecule or even by any of the reacting PhNH(2) substrates. The final hydroaminated enamine product, PhNHMeC═CH(2), was further seen to be stabilized in its tautomeric imine form PhN═CMe(2).     

Effect of humidity on the interaction of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) vapor with SiO2 and Al2O3 surfaces, studied using infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy

Infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy has been used to study the interaction of DMMP vapor with SiO(2), Al(2)O(3), and AlO(OH) vs relative humidity (RH) and DMMP partial pressure (P/P(0)). For SiO(2) the growth with increasing RH of ice-like and liquid-like layers is seen in agreement with previous work. H?D exchange during exposure to H(2)O and D(2)O indicates that the ice-like layer is more resistant to exchange, consistent with stronger H-bonding than in the liquid-like layer. Exposure of nominally dry SiO(2) to D(2)O indicates the existence of adsorbed H(2)O that does not exhibit an ice-like spectrum. The ice-like layer appears only at a finite RH. Exposure of SiO(2) to DMMP in the absence of intentionally added H(2)O shows the formation of a strongly bound molecular species followed by a liquid-like layer. The strong interaction involves SiO-H···O═P bonds to surface silanols and/or HO-H···O═P bonds to preadsorbed molecular H(2)O. At a finite RH the ice-like layer forms on SiO(2) even in the presence of DMMP up to P/P(0) = 0.30. DMMP does not appear to penetrate the ice-like layer under these conditions, and the tendency to form a such a layer drives the displacement of DMMP. Amorphous Al(2)O(3) and AlO(OH) do not exhibit an ice-like H(2)O layer. Both have a higher surface OH content than does SiO(2), which leads to higher coverages of H(2)O or DMMP at equivalent RH or P/P(0). At low P/P(0), for which adsorption is dominated by Al-OH···O═P bonding, a-Al(2)O(3) interacts with DMMP more strongly than does AlO(OH) as a result of the higher acidity of OH sites on the former. Up to RH = 0.30 and P/P(0) = 0.30, DMMP appears to remain bonded to the surface rather than being displaced by H(2)O. H(2)O appears to have little or no effect on the total amount of DMMP adsorbed on any of these surfaces, up to an RH of 0.30 and a P/P(0) of 0.30. The results have implications for the transport of DMMP and related molecules on oxide surfaces in the environment.     

Monitoring dehydration and condensation processes of Na2HPO4*12H2O using thermo-Raman spectroscopy

Thermal dehydration and condensation processes of disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate (Na2HPO4*12H2O) were monitored by thermo-Raman spectroscopy (TRS). Various hydrated forms Na2HPO4*12H2O, Na2HPO4*8H2O, Na2HPO4*7H2O, Na2HPO4*2H2O, Na2HPO4*H2O and Na2HPO4 were observed, followed by condensation of Na2HPO4 to sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7) in a dynamic thermal process. Representative Raman spectra of all the hydrated forms Na2HPO4*12H2O, Na2HPO4*8H2O, Na2HPO4*7H2O, Na2HPO4*2H2O, Na2HPO4*H2O and Na2HPO4 were detected in both H2O and PO4(3- )regions are reported. The thermo-Raman intensity (TRI) thermogram also showed systematic loss of water in five steps of dehydration, with the differential TRI thermogram in agreement shows five dips corresponding to the five steps of dehydration, respectively. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG) are in harmony with the results of TRS, though, the two could not resolve the steps involved.     

Intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonding in formohydroxamic acid

The presence of hydrogen bonding interactions in several tautomeric forms of formohydroxamic acid (FHA) and 1:1 association among the tautomeric forms and water‐coordinated tautomeric forms of FHA is explored theoretically. Out of the seven equilibrium structures, four tautomeric forms have been selected for aggregation with single water molecule and dimer formation. Fifteen aggregates of FHA with H₂O have been optimized at MP2/AUG‐cc‐PVDZ level and analyzed for intramolecular and intermolecular H‐bond interactions. Twenty‐seven dimers of the four tautomeric forms have been obtained at MP2/6‐31+G* level. The stabilization energies associated with dimerization and adduct formation with water are the result of H‐bond interactions and range from very weak to medium. The atomic charges and NBO analysis indicate that the electrostatic and the charge transfer are the important components favoring H‐bond formation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Synthesis, spectral studies of salicylidine-pyridines: crystal and molecular structure of 2-[(1E)-2-aza-2-(5-methyl(2-pyridyl)ethenyl)]-4-bromobenzen-1-ol

Schiff bases derived from different meta-substituted salicylaldehyde and 5-methylaminopyridine have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and UV-vis techniques. NMR assignments were made using (1)H, (13)C NMR and aided by 2D HETCOR and HMBC heteronuclear correlation techniques. The UV-vis spectra of the compounds were found useful in understanding the existence of tautomeric equilibria [phenol-imine (O-H...N) and keto-amine (O...H-N) forms] in polar and non-polar solvents. In order to rationalize the stabilization of tautomer in solid state, X-ray structure of 2-[(1E)-2-aza-2-(5-methyl(2-pyridyl)ethenyl)]-4-bromobenzen-1-ol (6) was determined. According to our crystallographic result, it has enol-imine tautomeric form.     

One-electron reduction of 8-bromo-2-aminoadenosine in the aqueous phase: radiation chemical and DFT studies of the mechanism

Two tautomeric forms of one-electron oxidized 2-aminoadenosine (2AA) have been produced by reactions of hydrated electrons (e aq-) with 8-bromo-2-aminoadenosine (8-Br-2AA) at natural pH, whereas only one tautomer is formed by oxidation of 2AA. Tailored experiments by pulse radiolysis and time-dependent DFT (TD-B3LYP/6-311G**//B1B95/6-31+G**) calculations allowed the definition of the reaction mechanism in some detail. The electron adducts of 8-Br-2AA protonated at C8 eject Br- and produce the two short-lived tautomers (8 and 9). The first observable species decays by first-order kinetics to produce the second intermediate, which is also obtained by oxidation of 2AA by SO4*-. The rate of tautomerization (k taut = 4.5 x 104 s-1) is strongly accelerated by phosphate and is retarded in D2O (kinetic isotope effect 7). B1B95/6-31+G** calculations showed that the tautomerization is a water-assisted process. In acidic or basic solutions, the "instantaneous" formation of one-electron oxidized 2AA or its deprotonated forms has been produced by reactions of e aq- with 8-Br-2AA. gamma-Radiolysis of 8-Br-2AA in aqueous solutions followed by product studies led to the formation of 2AA as a single product.     

1H and 13C NMR study of the enol–enolic tautomerism of some cyclic β-ketoaldehydes

Aldehyde (δCH) and enolic (δOH) proton chemical shifts, the corresponding spin–spin coupling constants (JCH,OH) and the ¹³C chemical shifts (δC) have been measured for three cyclic β-ketoaldehydes as a function of temperature. A tautomeric equilibrium has been shown to exist between the aldo–enol ( A ) and hydroxymethylene ketone ( B ) forms. The chemical shifts δCH δOH and δC for the two pure tautomeric forms A and B have been calculated. The enthalpy changes ΔH in the tautomeric process A ? B and the percentages of the tautomeric forms have been determined.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CF═CH2 and (Z)-CF3CF═CHF: Cl and NO3 rate coefficients, Cl reaction product yields, and thermochemical calculations

Rate coefficients, k, for the gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms and NO(3) radicals with 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, CF(3)CF═CH(2) (HFO-1234yf), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF (HFO-1225ye), are reported. Cl-atom rate coefficients were measured in the fall-off region as a function of temperature (220-380 K) and pressure (50-630 Torr; N(2), O(2), and synthetic air) using a relative rate method. The measured rate coefficients are well represented by the fall-off parameters k(0)(T) = 6.5 × 10(-28) (T/300)(-6.9) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(∞)(T) = 7.7 × 10(-11) (T/300)(-0.65) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for CF(3)CF═CH(2) and k(0)(T) = 3 × 10(-27) (T/300)(-6.5) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(∞)(T) = 4.15 × 10(-11) (T/300)(-0.5) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for (Z)-CF(3)C═CHF with F(c) = 0.6. Reaction product yields were measured in the presence of O(2) to be (98 ± 7)% for CF(3)C(O)F and (61 ± 4)% for HC(O)Cl in the CF(3)CF═CH(2) reaction and (108 ± 8)% for CF(3)C(O)F and (112 ± 8)% for HC(O)F in the (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF reaction, where the quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors. NO(3) reaction rate coefficients were determined using absolute and relative rate methods. Absolute measurements yielded upper limits for both reactions between 233 and 353 K, while the relative rate measurements yielded k(3)(295 K) = (2.6 ± 0.25) × 10(-17) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(4)(295 K) = (4.2 ± 0.5) × 10(-18) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF, respectively. The Cl-atom reaction with CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF leads to decreases in their atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potentials and formation of a chlorine-containing product, HC(O)Cl, for CF(3)CF═CH(2). The NO(3) reaction has been shown to have a negligible impact on the atmospheric lifetimes of CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF. The energetics for the reaction of Cl, NO(3), and OH with CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF in the presence of O(2) were investigated using density functional theory (DFT).     

Formation of phosphino-substituted isocyanate by reaction of CO2 with group 2 complexes based on the (Me3Si)(i-Pr2P)NH ligand

The group 2 complexes [(Me(3)Si)(i-Pr(2)P)N](2)M(THF)(x) (M = Mg, x = 1; M = Ca/Sr, x = 2) as well as an unusual dimagnesium complex {[(Me(3)Si)(i-Pr(2)P)N](3)Mg}Mg(n-C(4)H(9)) have been prepared and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each complex was shown to react with CO(2) under extremely mild conditions (15 min, 1 atm, room temperature) to give the isocyanate (i-Pr)(2)P-N═C═O. The independent syntheses of (i-Pr)(2)P-N═C═O and the carbodiimide dimer [(i-Pr)(2)PNCNP(i-Pr)(2)](2) are also reported.     

Free energies for degradation reactions of 1,2,3-trichloropropane from ab initio electronic structure theory

Electronic structure methods were used to calculate the gas and aqueous phase reaction energies for reductive dechlorination (i.e., hydrogenolysis), reductive β-elimination, dehydrochlorination, and nucleophilic substitution by OH? of 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The thermochemical properties ΔH(f)°(298.15 K), S°(298.15 K, 1 bar), and ΔG(S)(298.15 K, 1 bar) were calculated by using ab initio electronic structure calculations, isodesmic reactions schemes, gas-phase entropy estimates, and continuum solvation models for 1,2,3-trichloropropane and several likely degradation products: CH3?CHCl?CH2Cl, CH2Cl?CH2?CH2Cl, C?H2?CHCl?CH2Cl, CH2Cl?C?H?CH2Cl, CH2═CCl?CH2Cl, cis-CHCl═CH?CH2Cl, trans-CHCl═CH?CH2Cl, CH2═CH?CH2Cl, CH2Cl?CHCl?CH2OH, CH2Cl?CHOH?CH2Cl, CH2═CCl?CH2OH, CH2═COH?CH2Cl, cis-CHOH═CH?CH2Cl, trans-CHOH═CH?CH2Cl, CH(═O)?CH2?CH2Cl, and CH3?C(═O)?CH2Cl. On the basis of these thermochemical estimates, together with a Fe(II)/Fe(III) chemical equilibrium model for natural reducing environments, all of the reactions studied were predicted to be very favorable in the standard state and under a wide range of pH conditions. The most favorable reaction was reductive β-elimination (ΔG(rxn)° ≈ ?32 kcal/mol), followed closely by reductive dechlorination (ΔG(rxn)° ≈ ?27 kcal/mol), dehydrochlorination (ΔG(rxn)° ≈ ?27 kcal/mol), and nucleophilic substitution by OH? (ΔG(rxn)° ≈ ?25 kcal/mol). For both reduction reactions studied, it was found that the first electron-transfer step, yielding the intermediate C?H2?CHCl?CH2Cl and the CH2Cl?C?H?CH2Cl species, was not favorable in the standard state (ΔG(rxn)° ≈ +15 kcal/mol) and was predicted to occur only at relatively high pH values. This result suggests that reduction by natural attenuation is unlikely.