Structural and conformational properties and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of (methylenecyclopropyl)methanol, as studied by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The microwave spectra of (methylenecyclopropyl)methanol (H(2)C=C(3)H(3)CH(2)OH) and one deuterated species (H(2)C=C(3)H(3)CH(2)OD) have been investigated in the 20-80 GHz spectral range. Accurate spectral measurements have been performed in the 40-80 GHz spectral interval. The spectra of two rotameric forms, denoted conformer I and conformer IX, have been assigned. Both these rotamers are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed between the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group and the pseudo-pi electrons on the outside of the cyclopropyl ring, the so-called "banana bonds". The carbon-carbon bond lengths in the ring are rather different. The bonds adjacent to the methylene group (H(2)C=) are approximately 7 pm shorter that the carbon-carbon bond opposite to this group. It is found from relative intensity measurements of microwave transitions that conformer IX, in which the hydrogen bond is formed with the banana bonds of the long carbon-carbon bond, is 0.4(3) kJ/mol more stable than conformer I, where the hydrogen bond is formed with the pseudo-pi electrons belonging to the shortest carbon-carbon bond of the ring. The microwave study has been augmented by quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/6-311++G, G3 and B3LYP/6-311++G levels of theory.     

Structural and conformational properties of 4-Pentyn-1-ol as studied by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The microwave spectra of 4-pentyn-1-ol, HO(CH2)3C triple bond CH, and one deuterated species (DO(CH2)3C triple bond CH) have been investigated in a Stark spectrometer in the 17.5-80 GHz spectral region at about 0 degrees C, as well as in a pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform spectrometer in the 2.5-14 GHz range. A total of 14 spectroscopically different all-staggered rotameric forms are possible for this compound. It has previously been assumed that a conformer stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding predominates in the gas phase, but the microwave spectrum of this rotamer was not assigned and it is concluded that this form is not present in high concentrations. However, the microwave spectrum indicates that several forms are present, two of which denoted ag+g+ and ag+a were assigned in this work. In these two forms, the H-O-C-C chains of atoms have an antiperiplanar conformation and the O-C-C-C links are synclinal ("gauche"). The C-C-C-C triple bond CH link is synclinal in ag+g+ but antiperiplanar in ag+a. The ag+g+ form is determined to be 1.5(6) kJ/mol more stable than ag+a by relative intensity measurements. The microwave study was augmented by quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/6-311++G** and G3 levels of theory. Both these quantum chemical procedures indicate that there are small energy differences between several rotametric forms, in agreement with the microwave findings. Both methods predict that ag+g+ is the global minimum.     

Structural and conformational properties of 2-propenylgermane (allylgermane) studied by microwave and infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The structural and conformational properties of allylgermane have been investigated using Stark and Fourier transform microwave spectroscopies, infrared spectroscopy, and high-level quantum chemical calculations. The parent species H2C=CHCH2GeH3 was investigated by microwave spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, while three deuterated species, namely, H2C=CDCH2GeH3, H2C=CHCHDGeH3, and H2C=CHCH2GeD3, were studied only by infrared spectroscopy. The microwave spectra of the ground vibrational state as well as of the first excited state of the torsion vibration around the sp2-sp3 carbon-carbon bond were assigned for the 70Ge, 72Ge, and 74Ge isotopomers of one conformer. This rotamer has an anticlinal arrangement for the C=C-C-Ge chain of atoms. The infrared spectrum of the gas in the 500-4000 cm(-1) range has been assigned. No evidence of additional rotameric forms other than anticlinal was seen in the microwave and infrared spectra. Several different high-level ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been performed. These calculations indicate that a less stable form, having a synperiplanar conformation of the C=C-C-Ge link of atoms, may coexist with the anticlinal form. The energy differences between the synperiplanar and anticlinal forms were calculated to be 5.6-9.2 kJ/mol depending on the computational procedure. The best approximation of the equilibrium structure of the anticlinal rotamer was found in the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations. The barrier to internal rotation of the germyl group was found to be 6.561(17) kJ/mol, from measurements of the splitting of microwave transitions caused by tunneling of the germyl group through its threefold barrier.     

Structural and conformational properties of 1,2-propadienylphosphine (allenylphosphine) studied by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

1,2-Propadienylphosphine (allenylphosphine), H(2)C=C=CHPH(2), has been investigated by Stark and Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Two rotameric forms denoted syn and gauche have been assigned. The syn form has a symmetry plane (C(s)() symmetry) where the lone electron pair of phosphorus points toward the double bonds. The phosphino group is rotated roughly 120 degrees from this position in the gauche rotamer. The dipole moment of syn was determined to be mu(a) = 1.613(23), mu(b) = 2.347(24), mu(c) = 0 (for symmetry reasons), and mu(tot) = 2.848(28) x 10(-30) C m [0.854(8) D]. The energy difference between the two forms was found to be 2.1(4) kJ/mol from relative intensity measurements with syn as the more stable conformer. Extensive quantum chemical calculations have been carried out and accurate equilibrium structures have been determined for these two rotamers, as well as for the corresponding two conformers of vinylphosphine (H(2)C=CHPH(2)).     

Internal rotation and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in thiosalicylamide: gas phase electron diffraction study supported by quantum chemical calculations

Structural Chemistry - The molecular structure of thiosalicylamide (2-hydroxythiobenzamide) was investigated in the gas phase at 401 K by means of gas electron diffraction (GED) combined...     

Conformation,hydrogen bonding and large amplitude motion investigation on N-methylethylediamine by microwave spectroscopy

The microwave spectrum of N-methylethylenediamine and several deuterated species has been investigated in the frequency range 26.5–40 GHz. The rotational spectra of two different conformers with a NH ⋯ N internal hydrogen bond have been assigned. Both conformers have the methyl group trans to the CC bond. The N atom connected to the methyl group acts as proton donor for a conformer (T1), and as acceptor for the second one (T2g). The former is more stable in energy by 0.65(15) kcal mol⁻¹. Rotational lines of several vibrational satellites have been assigned in order to investigate their large amplitude motions and interactions.     

Conformational composition of cyclopentadienylphosphine investigated by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The properties of cyclopentadienylphosphine have been investigated by means of Stark-modulation microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ, B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), and G3 levels of theory. Spectra attributable to two rotamers denoted conformers I and II have been assigned. Conformer I has a symmetry plane (Cs symmetry) consisting of the bisectors of the cyclopentadiene ring and of the phosphino group with the lone electron pair of phosphorus pointing toward the carbon ring. In conformer II, the phosphino group is rotated approximately 120 degrees out of this plane. Relative intensity measurements have been made, and it was found that conformer II is more stable than I by 1.3(4) kJ/mol. The preferred conformer represents a borderline case of intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilization. The experimental and MP2/ aug-cc-pVTZ rotational constants differ by several percent, which indicates that the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set is not large enough to be able to predict an accurate structure for the two conformers that are close to the equilibrium geometries. 5-Substituted 1,3-cyclopentadienyl derivatives may undergo circumambulatory rearrangements. However, there is no manifestation of this effect in the microwave spectrum of cyclopentadienylphosphine.     

XeCu covalent bonding in XeCuF and XeCuCl, characterized by fourier transform microwave spectroscopy supported by quantum chemical calculations

XeCu covalent bonding has been found in the complexes XeCuF and XeCuCl. The molecules were characterized by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, supported by MP2 ab initio calculations. The complexes were prepared by laser ablation of Cu in the presence of Xe and SF(6) or Cl(2) and stabilized in supersonic jets of Ar. The rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants show the XeCu bonds to be short and rigid. The (131)Xe, Cu, and Cl nuclear quadrupole coupling constants indicate major redistributions of the electron densities of Xe and CuF or CuCl on complex formation which cannot be accounted for by simple electrostatic effects. The MP2 calculations corroborate the XeCu bond lengths and predict XeCu dissociation energies approximately 50-60 kJ mol(-)(1). The latter cannot be accounted for in terms of induction energies. The MP2 calculations also predict valence molecular orbitals with significant shared electron density between Xe and Cu and negative local energy densities at the XeCu bond critical points. All evidence is consistent with XeCu covalent bonding.     

A microwave and quantum chemical study of the conformational properties and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of 1-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid

The structural and conformational properties of 1-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid have been explored by microwave spectroscopy and a series of ab initio (MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level), density functional theory (B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level), and G3 quantum chemical calculations. Four "stable" conformers, denoted conformers I-IV, were found in the quantum chemical calculations, three of which (conformers I -III) were predicted to be low-energy forms. Conformer I was in all the quantum chemical calculations predicted to have the lowest energy, conformer III to have the second lowest energy, and conformer II to have the third lowest energy. Conformers II and III were calculated to have relatively large dipole moments, while conformer I was predicted to have a small dipole moment. The microwave spectrum was investigated in the 18-62 GHz spectral range. The microwave spectra of conformers II and III were assigned. Conformer I was not assigned presumably because its dipole moment is comparatively small. Conformer II is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond formed between the fluorine atom and the hydrogen atom of the carboxylic acid group. Conformer III has a synperiplanar orientation for the F-C-C=O and H-O-C=O chains of atoms. Its dipole moment is: mua = 3.4(10), mub = 10.1(13), and muc = 0.0 (assumed) and mu(tot) = 10.6(14) x 10(-30) C m [3.2(4) D]. Several vibrationally excited states of the lowest torsional mode of each of II and III were also assigned. The hydrogen-bonded conformer II was found to be 2.7(2) kJ/mol less stable than III by relative intensity measurements. Absolute intensity measurements were used to show that the unassigned conformer I is the most abundant form present at a concentration of roughly 65% at room temperature. Conformer I was estimated to be ca. 5.0 kJ/mol more stable than the hydrogen-bonded rotamer (conformer II) and ca. 2.3 kJ/mol more stable than conformer III. The best agreement with the theoretical calculations is found in the MP2 calculations, which predict conformer I to be 5.1 kJ/mol more stable than III and 1.7 kJ/mol more stable than II.     

Structural studies on ethyl isovalerate by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

We observed the microwave spectrum of ethyl isovalerate by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants of the most abundant conformer were determined. Its structure was investigated by comparison of the experimental rotational constants with those obtained by ab initio methods. In a first step, the rotational constants of various conformers were calculated at the MP2/6-311++G** level of theory. Surprisingly, no agreement with the experimental results was found. Therefore, we concluded that in the case of ethyl isovalerate more advanced quantum chemical methods are required to obtain a reliable molecular geometry. Ab initio calculations carried out at MP3/6-311++G**, MP4/6-311++G**, and CCSD/6-311++G** levels and also density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP/6-311++G** method gave similar results for the rotational constants, but they were clearly distinct from those obtained at the MP2/6-311++G** level. With use of these more advanced methods, the rotational constants of the lowest energy conformer were in good agreement with those obtained from the microwave spectrum.     

Conformational relaxation of S-(+)-carvone and R-(+)-limonene studied by microwave Fourier transform spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

S-(+)-carvone (C₁₀H₁₄O, 5-isopropenyl-2-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one) and R-(+)-limonene (C₁₀H₁₆, 4-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene) have been characterized in the gas phase using a Fourier transform microwave spectrometer coupled to a supersonic molecular beam. Two conformers—with the isopropenyl group in the equatorial position—have been detected for each compound and described by a set of molecular parameters including the principal rotational constants and the quartic centrifugal distortion parameters. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that a third conformer might not be observed due to relaxation processes in the jet. The gas phase results are compared with the liquid phase IR-Raman-VCD spectra.     

The hydrogen bonding and conformations of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene as studied by IR spectroscopy and by DFT calculations

IR and far IR spectra of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene were recorded at various temperatures between 16 and 180 degrees C and spectra of solutions and crystalline solids were obtained. Ab initio density functional calculations gave vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for four conformers: cone, partial cone, 1,2- and 1,3-alternate. Complete assignments were made for experimental IR spectra of the cone conformer. The bands characteristic for each conformation were defined. It was revealed that O--H stretching low-frequency shift Deltanu in the cone conformation exceeds Deltanu shifts for other conformers. The effect was stipulated by a cooperative interaction of cyclic hydrogen bonds. The obtained spectra-structure correlation can be used for characteristic of calixarenes conformation.     

Structural and conformational properties of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanol investigated by microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The microwave spectrum of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanol, CF(3)CH(OH)CH(3), and one deuterated species, CF(3)CH(OD)CH(3), have been investigated in the 20.0-62.0 GHz spectral region at about -50 degrees C. The rotational spectrum of one of the three possible rotameric forms was assigned. This conformer is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond formed between the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group and the nearest fluorine atoms. The hydrogen bond is weak and assumed to be mainly a result of attraction between the O-H and the C-F bond dipoles, which are nearly antiparallel. The identified rotamer is at least 3 kJ/mol more stable than any other rotameric form. Two vibrationally excited states belonging to two different normal modes were assigned for this conformer, and their frequencies were determined by relative intensity measurements. The microwave work has been assisted by quantum chemical computations at the MP2/cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/6-311++G** levels of theory, as well as by the infrared spectrum of the O-H stretching vibration.     

Al(III) complexation by alizarin studied by electronic spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The complexation reaction of Al(III) by alizarin (Az), in methanol solution, has been followed by electronic absorption spectroscopy. Chemometric methods applied to the spectra set have shown the formation of two complexes of stoichiometry 1:1 and 2:1, with stability constants of 6.44 and 11.61, respectively. In the alizarin ligand, the fixation of Al(III) can occur either with the hydroxy-keto site or the catechol site. The comparison between the experimental spectrum of the 1:1 complex and those calculated with time dependent density functional theory, from different hypothetical complex structures, has shown that the first site involved in the Al(III) fixation is the catecholate function. Quantum chemical calculations have also allowed a complete assignment of Az and its 1:1 complex electronic spectra. For both, the observed transitions have essentially a π → π^∗ character. For the complexed form, only intra-ligand charge transfers are observed. The chelation of Al(III) engendered some conformational modifications of the ligand, notably at the complexation site level but also at the level of the intermediate ring of Az.     

Conformational properties and electronic structure of tetrahydrotetrazines studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The photoelectron (PE) spectra of tetrahydro-1,2,3,4-tetrazines 1 and 2 and tetrahydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazines 3–5 have been recorded and their conformations have been investigated by ab initio SCF calculations. While v-tetrazine2 is planar, tetrazines 1 and 3–5 each possess two low-energy conformations, according to ab initio HF and Becke3LYP methods. Attempts to assign ionization potentials to molecular orbitals obtained by semiempirical PM3 calculations indicate that this method is not suited for the compounds studied. Best results were obtained when the ab initio hybrid method Becke3LYP of the density functional theory was employed. Two conformers of 1 and 3–5 are present in the gas phase and their PE spectra are superimposed one upon the other. For v-tetrazine1, ionizations arising from half-chair and unsymmetrical boat conformers have similar energies and cannot be separated in the PE spectrum. For s-tetrazine3, on the other hand, the spectrum clearly shows different ionizations of both half-chairs, 3ee and 3ae.     

Spectroscopic and quantum chemical study of cyclopropylmethylphosphine, a candidate for intramolecular hydrogen bonding

The properties of the novel compound cyclopropylmethylphosphine (C3H5CH2PH2) have been investigated by means of Stark-modulation microwave spectroscopy and high-level quantum chemical calculations. Spectra attributable to the three conformers of the molecule with a synclinal arrangement of the H-C-C-P atoms were recorded and assigned. The experimental rotational constants obtained for these conformers were found to be in good agreement with those generated by ab initio geometry optimizations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. An estimate of the relative energies of the three conformers with observable spectra, by means of relative intensity measurements, compared favorably with the results of G3 energy calculations performed for the molecule. In addition to the observation of ground-state rotational spectra for three conformers, spectra belonging to a number of vibrationally excited states were also assigned with the aid of radio frequency microwave double-resonance experiments. A tentative assignment of these excited-state spectra was proposed by appealing to the results of density functional theory vibrational frequency calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-311++(3df,2pd) level. The energetically preferred conformer of the molecule allowed a close approach between a hydrogen atom belonging to the phosphino group and the edge of the cyclopropyl ring. The possibility of the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond to electron density associated with so-called banana bonds is discussed.     

Molecular structure of carphedon as studied by gas electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

The gas-phase structure and conformational properties of carphedon (C₁₂H₁₄N₂O₂, phenylpiracetam, 2-oxo-4-phenyl-1-pyrrolidineacetamide) have been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 with 6-31G and cc-pVDZ basis sets). Since quantum chemical calculations demonstrate that the orientation of the acetamide group is fixed by a strong intramolecular N–H(amide)···O(pyrrolidone) hydrogen bond, the number of possible conformers is reduced considerably. Depending on the conformation of the pyrrolidine ring, envelope with out-of-plane C4 atom and acetamide group on the same side of the plane (“+”) or envelope with C4 and acetamide group on opposite sides (“?”), and on the orientation of the phenyl ring, axial (Ax), or equatorial (Eq), four relevant conformations, Ax?, Ax+, Eq?, and Eq+, exist. According to both quantum chemical methods (B3LYP and MP2 with cc-pVDZ basis sets) these four conformers differ by less than 2 kcal/mol in free energies. However, the two methods predict different relative free energies. The GED data were analyzed with different models. With a single-conformer model the best fit of the experimental GED intensities (agreement factor R _f = 4 %) is obtained with the Ax+ conformer. Using a two-conformer model the fit improves considerable for a 50(11):50(11) mixture of Ax? and Eq+ conformers (R _f = 2.7 %). No further improvement is obtained with a three-conformer model and large uncertainties for relative contributions occur. The geometric parameters of gaseous carphedon are compared with those in the crystal phase, where two molecules are connected by two intermolecular N–H···O hydrogen bonds, and with gas-phase values of piracetam.     

Photoisomerization of disperse red 1 studied with transient absorption spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

The photoisomerization of the push-pull substituted azo dye Disperse Red 1 is studied using femtosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and other spectroscopic and computational techniques. In comparison with azobenzene, the pipi* state is more stabilized by the effects of push-pull substitution than the npi* state, but the latter is probably still the lowest in energy. This conclusion is based on the kinetics, anisotropy of the excited state absorption spectrum, the spectra of the ground states, and quantum chemical calculations. The S(1)(npi*) state is formed from the initially excited pipi* state in <0.2 ps, and decays to the ground state with time constants of 0.9 ps in toluene, 0.5 ps in acetonitrile, and 1.4 ps in ethylene glycol. Thermal isomerization transforms the Z isomer produced to the more stable E isomer with time constants of 29 s (toluene), 28 ms (acetonitrile), and 2.7 ms (ethylene glycol). The pathway of photoisomerization is likely to be rotation about the N=N bond. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that along the inversion pathway ground and excited state energy surfaces remain well separated, whereas rotation leads to a region where conical intersections can occur. For the ground-state Z to E isomerization, conclusive evidence is lacking, but inversion is more probably the favored pathway in the push-pull substituted systems than in the parent azobenzene.     

Tautomerism in monothio-β-diketones studied by PMR and quantum chemical calculations

It is shown by proton NMR and quantum chemical PCILO calculations that monothio-β-ketones

in solution exist as different isomers depending on substituents, solvent and temperature. In solvents with low dielectric constants the hydrogen-bridged cis enol form predominates, and is in fast equilibrium (in the NMR scale) with nonchelated trans enol forms down to ?100°C at least. Transition enthalpies are of the order of 7–15 kJ mol^?1. In compounds with R₂ = Me the rotation of the Me -CS group around the neighbouring C-C- bond can be detected and the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters estimated. The reason for the slowing down of this rotation, inferred from the line broadening in NMR, is probably the stabilization of a trans isomer by interaction between the protons of the methyl group and the lone pairs of the oxygen atom. There are no indications for the presence of chelated and non-chelated enethiol isomers from the PMR studies and quantum chemical calculations performed.     

Conformational equilibrium and hydrogen bonding in liquid 2-phenylethylamine explored by Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

2-Phenylethylamine (PEA) is the simplest aromatic amine neurotransmitter, as well as one of the most important. In this work, the conformational equilibrium and hydrogen bonding in liquid PEA were studied by means of Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations (DFT/MP2). By changing the orientation of the ethyl and the NH(2) group, nine possible conformers of PEA were found, including four degenerate conformers. Comparison of the experimental Raman spectra of liquid PEA and the calculated Raman spectra of the five typical conformers in selected regions (550-800 and 1250-1500 cm(-1)) revealed that the five conformers can coexist in conformational equilibrium in the liquid. The NH(2) stretching mode of the liquid is red-shifted by ca. 30 cm(-1) relative to that of an isolated PEA molecule (measured previously), implying that intermolecular N-H···N hydrogen bonds play an important role in liquid PEA. The relative intensity of the Raman band at 762 cm(-1) was found to increase with increasing temperature, indicating that the anti conformer might be favorable in liquid PEA at room temperature. The blue shift of the band for the bonded N-H stretch with increasing temperature also provides evidence of the existence of intermolecular N-H···N hydrogen bonds.