Addition of ethyl radicals to carbon monoxide. Kinetic and thermochemical properties of the propionyl radical

Azoethane was irradiated in the presence of carbon monoxide in the temperature range of 238 to 378 K. Kinetic parameters for the addition of ethyl radicals to carbon monoxide and for the decomposition of propionyl radicals were determined. The rate constants were found to be log k(cm³ mol^?1 sec^?1) = 11.19 - 4.8/θ and log k(sec^?1) = 12.77 - 14.4/θ, respectively. Estimated thermochemical properties of the propionyl radical are ΔH_f⁰ = -10.6 ± 1.0 kcal mol^?1, S⁰ = 77.3 ± 1.0 cal K^?1 mol^?1, and D(C₂H₅CO? H) = 87.4 kcal mol^?1.     

Ab initio calculations on 1,2-hydrogen shifts in the benzene radical cation and on carbon scrambling via an isomerization to the fulvene structure

Multireference configuration interaction (MRCI//6-31G**) ab initio calculations show that the barrier for hydrogen scrambling in the benzene radical cation is about 50 kcal mol^?1. Once the internal energy is sufficient for a 1,2-hydrogen shift, the moving hydrogen can go to any position in the ring. The barrier for carbon scrambling via an isomerization to the fulvene structure is about 17 kcal mol^?1 higher than that for hydrogen scrambling. Both of these values are far below the dissociation limit.     

Hydrogen bonding in the hydroxysulfinyl radical‐formic acid‐water system: A theoretical study

Quantum chemical methods have been employed to evaluate the possible configurations of the 1:1 and 1:2 HOSO‐formic acid complexes and 1:1:1 HOSO‐formic acid‐water complexes. The first type of complex involves two H bonds, while the other two types comprise three H bonds in a ring. The complexes are relatively stable, with CBS‐QB3 computed binding energies of 14.3 kcal mol^?1, 23.4 kcal mol^?1, and 21.1 kcal mol^?1 for the lowest‐energy structures of the 1:1, 1:2, and 1:1:1 complexes, respectively. Complex formations induce a large spectral red‐shift and an enhancement of the IR intensity for the H‐bonded OH stretching modes relative to those in the parent monomers. TDDFT calculations of the low‐lying electronic excited states demonstrate that the complexes are photochemically quite stable in the troposphere. Small spectral shifts in comparison to the free HOSO radical suggest that the radical and the complexes would not be easily distinguishable using standard UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Kinetics and thermochemistry of the methyl radical: Study of the CH3 + HCl reaction

The kinetics of the reaction between CH₃ and HCl was studied in a tubular reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. Rate constants were measured as a function of temperature (296–495 K) and were fitted to an Arrhenius expression: k₁ = 5.0(±0.7) × 10^?13 exp{?1.4(±0.3) kcal mol^?1/RT} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. This information was combined with known kinetic parameters of the reverse reaction to obtain Second Law determinations of the methyl radical heat of formation {34.7(±0.6) kcal mol^?1} and entropy {46(±2) cal mol^?1 K^?1} at 298 K. Using the known entropy of CH₃, a more accurate Third Law determination of the CH₃ heat of formation at this temperature was also obtained {34.8(±0.3) kcal mol^?1}. The values of k₁ obtained in this study are between those reported in prior investigations. The results were also used to test the accuracy of the thermochemical information which can be obtained from kinetic studies of R + HX (X = Cl, Br, I) reactions of the type described here.     

The synthesis and conformational analysis of tetrahydro-1,2,4-oxadiazines

The synthesis and variable temperature ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of three tetrahydro-1,2,4-oxadiazines are reported. The N(4)-Me inversion barriers are 6.8–7.0 (ax→ts) and 7.4–7.9 kcal mol^?1 (eq→ts) with ΔG° 0.6–0.9 kcal mol^?1. The N(2)-Me inversion barriers are 10.4–11.4 (ax→ts) and 11.6–13.1 kcal mol^?1 (eq→ts) with ΔGδ 1.2–1.7 kcal mol^?1. The barrier to ring inversion is ca. 12.7 kcal mol^?1. “R value” analysis shows the ring to have a 56.5±2δ dihedral angle about the C(5)-(6) bond, indicative of the expected chair conformation.     

An oxyluminescence investigation of the auto-oxidation of nylon 66

The kinetics of the thermal oxidation of stabilised and unstabilised nylon 66 fibres and films have been studied by photon counting oxyluminescence methods from 50°C to 150°C. The activation energies for initiation (E₁), propagation (E₃) and termination (E₅) over this temperature range are: E₁ = 16 kcal mol^?1, E₃ = 17·5 kcal mol^?1 and E₅ ≈ 12 kcal mol^?1. The extent of orientation of the polymer does not change the nature of the oxyluminescence curve or E₃ and E₅ above 110°C.Significant losses of critical mechanical properties of the fibres occur in the induction period at 100°C and non-stationary kinetics are described to enable this region to be studied by oxyluminescence. The oxidation rate in the induction period and the limiting rate region in air is one-third the rate in oxygen at atmospheric pressure. Non-stationary methods show that alkyl radical reactions are competitive with alkyl peroxy radical formation in air over the temperature range 100°C to 140°C. This affects the course of the oxidation reaction and the stabiliser efficiency and explains the observation of unsaturated oxidation products by phosphorescence spectroscopy.     

Gas phase decomposition and isomerization reactions of 2-pentoxy radicals

The rate of decomposition of 2-pentoxy radical to acetaldehyde and n-propyl radical has been studied in the presence of NO in competition with nitrite formation at and above 200 kPa pressure over the temperature range of 363-413 K. The rate coefficient for the decomposition is given as log(k_la/s^?1) = (14.2 ± 0.4) - (13.8 ± 0.8) kcal mol^?1/RT ln 10. Isomerization of 2-pentoxy radical by 1,5-hydrogen shift has been investigated in the range 279–385 K in competition with the decomposition in a static system, with methyl radicals present in high concentration to ensure trapping of the isomerized free radicals. The rate coefficient for isomerization is given as log(k₃/s^?1) = (11.1 ± 0.7) - (9.5 ± 1.1) kcal mol^?1/RT ln 10. The implications of the results for atmospheric chemistry are discussed.     

Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over a VO2‐Exchanged MCM‐22 Zeolite: A DFT Study

The adsorption and the mechanism of the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane over VO₂‐exchanged MCM‐22 are investigated by DFT calculations using the M06‐L functional, which takes into account dispersion contributions to the energy. The adsorption energies of propane are in good agreement with those from computationally much more demanding MP2 calculations and with experimental results. In contrast, B3LYP binding energies are too small. The reaction begins with the movement of a methylene hydrogen atom to the oxygen atom of the VO₂ group, which leads to an isopropyl radical bound to a HO? V? O intermediate. This step is rate determining with the apparent activation energy of 30.9 kcal mol^?1, a value within the range of experimental results for ODH over other silica supports. In the propene formation step, the hydroxyl group is the more reactive group requiring an apparent activation energy of 27.7 kcal mol^?1 compared to that of the oxy group of 40.8 kcal mol^?1. To take the effect of the extended framework into account, single‐point calculations on 120T structures at the same level of theory are performed. The apparent activation energy is reduced to 28.5 kcal mol^?1 by a stabilizing effect caused by the framework. Reoxidation of the catalyst is found to be important for the product release at the end of the reaction.     

An ab initio molecular orbital study of the potential energy surface of the N2H → N2 + H system

The N₂H potential energy surface has been examined by ab initio molecular orbital theory using the 6-31G^** basis set with correlation energy evaluated by Møller—Plesset perturbation theory to fourth order. The ΔE for N₂H → N₂ + H is ?14.4 kcal mol^?1 and the barrier to dissociation is 10.5 kcal mol^?1. Inclusion of zero-point vibrational energies reduces the barrier to 5.8 kcal mol^?1.     

Theoretical analysis of hydrogen atom abstraction reactions by radicals within the framework of generalized Polanyi-Semenov relationship taking into account the formation of pre- and post-reactive complexes

Density functional theory was used to calculate the intrinsic reaction coordinate of hydrogen atom abstraction from a number of organic molecules of different classes by C₇F₁₅ radical. These reactions involve the formation of stable pre- and post-reactive complexes with binding energies comparable to the activation barriers and reaction energies. An analysis of the results obtained using the dimensionless reaction coordinate showed that the generalized Polanyi-Semenov relationship E _a = A + 0.5??H + ??H ²/(2W) is fulfilled. For primary and secondary C-H bonds of esters and ketones, it reproduces the calculated activation energies with an error of at most 1 kcal mol^?1 provided A = 8.5 kcal mol^?1 and W = 43 kcal mol^?1. The accuracy of the generalized Polanyi-Semenov relationship decreases when the enthalpy difference between the pre- and post-reactive complexes is used as the ??H value because, as a rule, the structures of these complexes are not directly related to the structure of the transition state.     

Determination of some kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of alkali persulfates from DTA curves

Using the DTA curves the thermal decomposition of alkali persulfates for the corresponding pyrosulfates is shown to be a second order reaction with activation energies of 72.7–75.6 kcal mol^?1 for sodium persulfate and 67.7–69.1 kcal mol^?1 for potassium persulfate.     

Isomerization of n-hexyl and s-octyl radicals by 1,5 and 1,4 intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer reactions

n-Hexyl and s-octyl radical isomerizations by intramolecular hydrogen atom shift have been studied in the presence of high methyl radical concentration where isomerized alkyl radicals reacted predominantly by combination and disproportionation reactions with methyl radicals. By assuming the rate coefficient of 1-hexyl radical recombination to be equal to that of ethyl self-combination, the rate coefficient of log(k₁/s^?1) = (9.5 ± 0.3) – (11.6 ± 0.3) kcal mol^?1/RT ln 10 has been derived for the 6sp isomerization of n-hexyl radicals, 1-hexyl → 2-hexyl (1). Investigation of s-octyl radical isomerization was complicated by fast interconversion between 3-octyl, 2-octyl, and 4-octyl radicals. Use of the methyl trapping technique and systematic variation of methyl radical concentration made possible the determination of log(k₂/s^?1) = (9.4 ± 0.7) ? (11.2 ± 1.0) kcal mol^?1/RT ln 10 for the 6ss isomerization of 3-octyl and the estimation of log(k₃/s^?1) = 10.5–17 kcal mol^?1/RT ln 10 for the 5ss isomerization of 2-octyl radicals, where 3-octyl → 2-octyl (2), and 2-octyl → 4-octyl (3).     

First Principles (DFT) Characterization of RhI/dppp‐Catalyzed CH Activation by Tandem 1,2‐Addition/1,4‐Rh Shift Reactions of Norbornene to Phenylboronic Acid

The C?H activation in the tandem, “merry‐go‐round”, [(dppp)Rh]‐catalyzed (dppp=1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), four‐fold addition of norborene to PhB(OH)₂ has been postulated to occur by a C(alkyl)?H oxidative addition to square‐pyramidal Rh^III?H species, which in turn undergoes a C(aryl)?H reductive elimination. Our DFT calculations confirm the Rh^I/Rh^III mechanism. At the IEFPCM(toluene, 373.15 K)/PBE0/DGDZVP level of theory, the oxidative addition barrier was calculated to be 12.9 kcal mol^?1, and that of reductive elimination was 5.0 kcal mol^?1. The observed selectivity of the reaction correlates well with the relative energy barriers of the cycle steps. The higher barrier (20.9 kcal mol^?1) for norbornyl–Rh protonation ensures that the reaction is steered towards the 1,4‐shift (total barrier of 16.3 kcal mol^?1), acting as an equilibration shuttle. The carborhodation (13.2 kcal mol^?1) proceeds through a lower barrier than the protonation (16.7 kcal mol^?1) of the rearranged aryl–Rh species in the absence of o‐ or m‐substituents, ensuring multiple carborhodations take place. However, for 2,5‐dimethylphenyl, which was used as a model substrate, the barrier for carborhodation is increased to 19.4 kcal mol^?1, explaining the observed termination of the reaction at 1,2,3,4‐tetra(exo‐norborn‐2‐yl)benzene. Finally, calculations with (Z)‐2‐butene gave a carborhodation barrier of 20.2 kcal mol^?1, suggesting that carborhodation of non‐strained, open‐chain substrates would be disfavored relative to protonation.     

Chemistry of trifluorostyrenes and their dimmers: 3. Solvent effect on the kinetic parameters of the thermal cyclodimerization of α, β, β-trifluorostyrene1

Rate constants for the thermal cyclodimerization of α, β, β-trifluorostyrene (TFS) were determined in six solvents at 393°K. The products of this reaction were mixtures of roughly equal amounts of cis-trans isomers. The rate constants in 3 solvents, were calculated according to Arrhenius equation. In n-hexane, log A = 6.02±0.18, E_a= 19.5±0.3 kcal.mol^?1; in glyme, logA = 5.31 ± 0.19, E_a= 18.0±0.3 kcal.mol^?1; in methanol, IogA=4.93±0.13, E_a=17.1±0.3 kcal mol^?1. All data are consistent with a stepwise radical mechanism, and our reaction in this solvent series obeys an isokinetic relationship, with β = 478°K.     

Mechanisms of the hydrogen atom and the phenyl group migration in the molecule of heptaphenylcycloheptatriene

In terms of the density functional theory using the B3LYP functional, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7-heptaphenylcycloheptatriene was shown to be the most stable in the boat conformation of the cycloheptatriene ring with the H atom in the equatorial position. 1,5-Sigmatropic shifts of the H atom along the seven-membered ring perimeter take place when it is in the axial position through the asymmetric transition state with the barrier ΔE ^≠ _ZPE = 28.7 kcal mol^?1. The H atom can attain the axial position upon inversion of the seven-membered ring, which is accompanied by the orthogonal turn of the phenyl group at the sp³-hybridized C atom (ΔE ^≠ _ZPE = 22.6 kcal mol^?1). The energy barrier to the circular rearrangement of the H atom (ΔE ^≠ _ZPE = 32.2 kcal mol^?1) explains formation of isomers during the high-temperature synthesis of di(p-tolyl)pentaphenylcycloheptatriene. The barrier to the 1,5-sigmatropic shifts of the phenyl group is 19.7 kcal mol^?1 higher than that for the competing shifts of the H atom.     

Thermal properties of some cyclic disulfides: naphthalene disulfide and diphenylene disulfide

The specific heat, the melting heat and entropy, the vaporization heat of naphtalene disulfide (C₁₀H₆S₂) and of diphenylene disulfide (C₁₂H₈S₂) have been determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Over the temperature range examined the specific heat may be represented as follows:

where T is the temperature in degrees Kelvin, while melting heat, vaporization heat, melting entropy are for naphtalene disulfide: 3.10 kcal mol^?1, 6.42 kcal mol^?1, 7.87 cal deg^? mol^?1 and for diphenylene disulfide: 4.62 kcal mol^?1, 6.90 kcal mol^?1 and 11.87 cal deg^?1 mol^?1.     

Different catalysis role of in‐loop and out‐of‐loop waters in assisting HNS/HSN proton transfer isomerizations: Bridging vs. surrounding effect

In this work, a density function theory (DFT) study is presented for the HNS/HSN isomerization assisted by 1–4 water molecules on the singlet state potential energy surface (PES). Two modes are considered to model the catalytic effect of these water molecules: (i) water molecule(s) participate directly in forming a proton transfer loop with HNS/HSN species, and (ii) water molecules are out of loop (referred to as out‐of‐loop waters) to assist the proton transfer. In the first mode, for the monohydration mechanism, the heat of reaction is 21.55 kcal · mol^?1 at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level. The corresponding forward/backward barrier lowerings are obtained as 24.41/24.32 kcal · mol^?1 compared with the no‐water‐assisting isomerization barrier T (65.52/43.87 kcal · mol^?1). But when adding one water molecule on the HNS, there is another special proton‐transfer isomerization pathway with a transition state 10T′ in which the water is out of the proton transfer loop. The corresponding forward/backward barriers are 65.89/65.89 kcal · mol^?1. Clearly, this process is more difficult to follow than the R–T–P process. For the two‐water‐assisting mechanism, the heat of reaction is 19.61 kcal · mol^?1, and the forward/backward barriers are 32.27/12.66 kcal · mol^?1, decreased by 33.25/31.21 kcal · mol^?1 compared with T. For trihydration and tetrahydration, the forward/backward barriers decrease as 32.00/12.60 (30T) and 37.38/17.26 (40T) kcal · mol^?1, and the heat of reaction decreases by 19.39 and 19.23 kcal · mol^?1, compared with T, respectively. But, when four water molecules are involved in the reactant loop, the corresponding energy aspects increase compared with those of the trihydration. The forward/backward barriers are increased by 5.38 and 4.66 kcal · mol^?1 than the trihydration situation. In the second mode, the outer‐sphere water effect from the other water molecules directly H‐bonded to the loop is considered. When one to three water molecules attach to the looped water in one‐water in‐loop‐assisting proton transfer isomerization, their effects on the three energies are small, and the deviations are not more than 3 kcal · mol^?1 compared with the original monohydration‐assisting case. When adding one or two water molecules on the dihydration‐assisting mechanism, and increasing one water molecule on the trihydration, the corresponding energies also are not obviously changed. The results indicate that the forward/backward barriers for the three in‐loop water‐assisting case are the lowest, and the surrounding water molecules (out‐of‐loop) yield only a small effect. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Ab initio scf and ci study of the electronic structure of BH3CO

Results of ab initio SCF and CI calculations employing a Gaussian basis set of double-zeta quality are reported for BH₃CO. The heat of formation for the gas-phase reaction, BH₃ + CO → BH₃CO, is calculated as ?10.98 kcal mol^?1 within the SCF approximation, and as ?14.56 kcal mol^?1 if the CI treatment is included. This is in good agreement with the estimated experimental value of ?16.6 kcal mol^?1. The energy of rearrangement of the BH₃ fragment from D_3h to C_3v symmetry in BH₃CO is calculated as 15.97 kcal mol^?1. Molecular properties have been studied in terms of the calculated electron populations, the dipole moment and the electric Field gradient of ¹¹B in BH₃CO.     

Data on the thermochemistry of azoalkanes

The rate constant of the primary decomposition step was determined for four symmetrical and four unsymmetrical azoalkanes. From the experimental activation energies and some literature enthalpy data, the following enthalpies of formation of radicals and group contributions were calculated: ΔH_? (CH₃N₂) = 51.5 ± 1.8 kcal mol^?1, ΔH_? (C₂H₅N₂) = 44.8 ± 2.5 kcal mol^?1, ΔH_? (2?C₃H₇N₂) = 37.9 ± 2.2 kcal mol^?1, [N_A-(C)] = 27.6 ± 3.7 kcal mol^?1, [N_A-(?_A) (C)] = 61.2 ± 3.1 kcal mol^?1.     

1H and 13C NMR studies of some aromatic dilactones (precursors of paracyclophanes)

Carbon-13 and proton NMR data of macrocyclic diaromatic dilactones are presented. The observed behaviour of the spectra as a function of temperature shows that the energy barrier for the re-orientation of the side chains is lower than 49 kJ mol^?1 (12 kcal mol^?1) and that the energy barrier for the rotation of the aromatic rings is larger than 99 kJ mol^?1 (24 kcal mol^?1). Hence, chiral substituted dilactones of this type will be resolvable, and the enantiomers can be easily handled at room temperature.