DFT investigation of sites of protonation of antitumor of 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzazoles in the gas phase and in solution

The proton affinity on each of the possible sites in the antitumor 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzazoles has been calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of theory in the gas phase and in solution. The N₃‐site of protonation is found to be strongly favored over the NH₂‐site for the studied compounds both in gas phase and in solution. The stability of N₃‐protonated species is explained by the resonance interaction of the NH₂‐group with the heterocyclic ring. The potential energy surface (PES) for the protonation process was studied at the density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. Solvent effects on the PES were also examined using two models: Onsager self‐consistent field and polarizable continuum model (PCM). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

DFT study on the role of methanol solvent in Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction

B3LYP/6‐311++G** calculations have been carried out to study the role of methanol solvent in the trimethylamine‐catalyzed Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction between acraldehyde and formaldehyde with CPCM solvent method and supramolecular model with one explicit CH₃OH solvent molecule, respectively. The optimized geometries and energies of the reactant complexes, intermediates, transition states, and products of the two reaction channels (corresponding to the scenarios of syn‐ and anti‐acraldehyde, respectively) were obtained, and the relative energy profiles were completed. The results reveal that CH₃OH solvent molecules can stabilize the zwitterionic intermediates and largely reduce the barrier of H transfer process by taking part in the formation of the transition state in this process. C? C bond formation step is the rate‐determining step of the whole reaction cycle. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Benchmark calculations of 29Si–1H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond

Benchmark calculations of geminal and vicinal ²⁹Si–¹H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond in three reference alkenylsilanes have been carried out at both DFT and SOPPA levels in comparison with experiment. At the former, four density functionals, B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE0 and KT3, were tested in combination with five representative basis sets. At the latter, three main SOPPA‐based methods, SOPPA, SOPPA(CC2) and SOPPA(CCSD), were examined in combination with the same series of basis sets. On the whole, the wavefunction methods showed much better results as compared to DFT, with the most efficient combination of SOPPA/cc‐pVTZ‐su2 characterized by a mean absolute error of only 0.4 Hz calculated for a set of nine coupling constants in three compounds with a sample span of around 40 Hz. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One‐bond 29Si‐1H spin‐spin coupling constants in the series of halosilanes: benchmark SOPPA and DFT calculations,relativistic effects,and vibrational corrections

A number of most representative second order polarization propagator approach (SOPPA) based wavefunction methods, SOPPA, SOPPA(CC2) and SOPPA(CCSD), and density functional theory (DFT) based methods, B3LYP, PBE0, KT2, and KT3, have been benchmarked in the calculation of the one‐bond ²⁹Si‐¹H spin‐spin coupling constants in the series of halosilanes SiH_nX_4?n (X = F, Cl, Br, I), both at the non‐relativistic and full four‐parameter Dirac's relativistic levels taking into account vibrational corrections. At the non‐relativistic level, the wavefunction methods showed much better results as compared with those of DFT. At the DFT level, out of four tested functionals, the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof's PBE0 showed best performance. Taking into account, relativistic effects and vibrational corrections noticeably improves wavefunction methods results, but generally worsens DFT results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DFT conformational studies of alpha-maltotriose

Recent DFT optimization studies on alpha-maltose improved our understanding of the preferred conformations of alpha-maltose. The present study extends these studies to alpha-maltotriose with three alpha-D-glucopyranose residues linked by two alpha-[1-->4] bridges, denoted herein as DP-3's. Combinations of gg, gt, and tg hydroxymethyl groups are included for both "c" and "r" hydroxyl rotamers. When the hydroxymethyl groups are for example, gg-gg-gg, and the hydroxyl groups are rotated from all clockwise, "c", to all counterclockwise, "r", the minimum energy positions of the bridging dihedral angles (phi(H) and psi(H)) move from the region of conformational space of (-, -), relative to (0 degrees , 0 degrees), to a new position defined by (+, +). Further, it was found previously that the relative energies of alpha-maltose gg-gg-c and "r" conformations were very close to one another; however, the DP-3's relative energies between hydroxyl "c" or "r" rotamers differ by more than one kcal/mol, in favor of the "c" form, even though the lowest energy DP-3 conformations have glycosidic dihedral angles similar to those found in the alpha-maltose study. Preliminary solvation studies using COSMO, a dielectric solvation method, point to important solvent contributions that reverse the energy profiles, showing an energy preference for the "r" forms. Only structures in which the rings are in the chair conformation are presented here.     

The effect of substitution on the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 3‐hydroxy‐propenethial

The intramolecular hydrogen bond strength of 3‐hydroxy‐propenethial (HPT) as well as the fluoro, chloro, bromo, and methyl derivatives were investigated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G^** level of theory. Solvent‐based calculations (in water) for HPT and derivatives were also carried out. The nature of the intramolecular hydrogen bond existing within the molecular under investigation has been studied by means of the Bader theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) that is based upon the use topological properties in terms of the electron density. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Intramolecular hydrogen bond in 3‐imino‐propenylamine isomers: AIM and NBO studies

The molecular structure and intramolecular hydrogen bond energy of 18 conformers of 3‐imino‐propenyl‐amine were investigated at MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory using the standard 6‐311++G** basis set. The atom in molecules or AIM theory of Bader, which is based on the topological properties of the electron density (ρ), was used additionally and the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was also carried out. Furthermore calculations for all possible conformations of 3‐imino‐propenyl‐amin in water solution were also carried out at B3LYP/6‐311++G** and MP2/6‐311++G** levels of theory. The calculated geometrical parameters and conformational analyses in gas phase and water solution show that the imine–amine conformers of this compound are more stable than the other conformers. B3LYP method predicts the IMA‐1 as global minimum. This stability is mainly due to the formation of a strong N? H···N intramolecular hydrogen bond, which is assisted by π‐electrons resonance, and this π‐electrons are established by NH2 functional group. Hydrogen bond energies for all conformers of 3‐imino‐propenyl‐amine were obtained from the related rotamers methods. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Source of Selectivity in Oxidative Cross‐Coupling of Aryls by Solvent Effect of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol

Solvents such as 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) with a high capacity for donating hydrogen bonds generate solvates that enter into selective cross‐coupling reactions of aryls upon oxidation. When electric current is employed for oxidation, reagent effects can be excluded and a decoupling of nucleophilicity from oxidation potential can be achieved. The addition of water or methanol to the electrolyte allows a shift of oxidation potentials in a specific range, creating suitable systems for selective anodic cross‐coupling reactions. The shift in the redox potentials depends on the substitution pattern of the substrate employed. The concept has been expanded from arene–phenol to phenol–phenol as well as phenol–aniline cross‐coupling. This driving force for selectivity in oxidative coupling might also explain previous findings using HFIP and hypervalent iodine reagents.     

Full four‐component relativistic calculations of the one‐bond 77Se–13C spin‐spin coupling constants in the series of selenium heterocycles and their parent open‐chain selenides

Four‐component relativistic calculations of ⁷⁷Se–¹³C spin–spin coupling constants have been performed in the series of selenium heterocycles and their parent open‐chain selenides. It has been found that relativistic effects play an essential role in the selenium–carbon coupling mechanism and could result in a contribution of as much as 15–25% of the total values of the one‐bond selenium–carbon spin‐spin coupling constants. In the overall contribution of the relativistic effects to the total values of ¹J(Se,C), the scalar relativistic corrections (negative in sign) by far dominate over the spin‐orbit ones (positive in sign), the latter being of less than 5%, as compared to the former (ca 20%). A combination of nonrelativistic second‐order polarization propagator approach (CC2) with the four‐component relativistic density functional theory scheme is recommended as a versatile tool for the calculation of ¹J(Se,C). Solvent effects in the values of ¹J(Se,C) calculated within the polarizable continuum model for the solvents with different dielectric constants (ε 2.2–78.4) are next to negligible decreasing negative ¹J(Se,C) in absolute value by only about 1 Hz. The use of the locally dense basis set approach applied herewith for the calculation of ⁷⁷Se–¹³C spin‐spin coupling constants is fully justified resulting in a dramatic decrease in computational cost with only 0.1–0.2‐Hz loss of accuracy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study of salicylaldehyde conformal isomers and their intramolecular oxygen and hydrogen relations

To verify the semiempirical‐type localized hydrogen bonding analysis methods introduced by us several years ago, the intramolecular oxygen and hydrogen relations within salicylaldehyde are selected as the major topic in this theoretical study. The B3LYP/6‐31G** density functional method is chosen for both the full‐optimization and frequency‐type calculations. Four ortho‐type planar conformal isomers are proven to be local minima, and four internal rotation transition states are found by QST3‐type calculation. The special interpretations of  CHO and  OH characteristic frequencies, energy barriers, and thermal chemical results are discussed. In the semiempirical scheme, both local hydrogen bonding population analysis and localized hydrogen bond energy breaking procedures are applied to five pairs of related oxygen and hydrogen atoms in each isomer. The explanations for the strong or weak hydrogen bonds and intra‐CHO repulsion relationships are discussed. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 74: 395–404, 1999     

Periodicity in proton conduction along a H‐bonded chain. Application to biomolecules

Molecular complexes are constructed to simulate proton transfer channels of the influenza A virus and of the active site of carbonic anhydrase. These complexes consist of proton donor and acceptor groups connected by a chain of water molecules. Quantum chemical calculations on the methylimidazole(H⁺)? H₂O? CH₃COO^? model of the M2 virus channel indicate free translational motion of the water molecule between donor and acceptor, as well as concerted transfer of both H‐bond protons. The proton transfer barrier does not depend on the position of the bridged water molecule and varies linearly with the difference of electrostatic potentials between the donor and acceptor. When the water chain is elongated, and with various donor and acceptor models, periodicity appears in the H‐bond lengths and the progression of proton transfer in each link. This “wave” is shown to propagate along the chain, as it is driven by the displacement of a single proton. One can thereby estimate the velocity of the proton wave and proton conduction time. Computations are performed to examine the influence of immersing the system within a polarizable medium. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Comparative analysis of a full-electron basis set and pseudopotential for the iodine atom in DFT quantum-chemical calculations of iodine-containing compounds

A systematic study was performed to examine the possibilities of the B3LYP DFT method in a dgdzvp full-electron basis and of the method including a pseudopotential for iodine compounds. The full-electron basis generally gives better agreement for X-I bond lengths and reaction enthalpies of iodination of organic compounds and equally good agreement in calculations of the IR vibrations of the X-I bond length compared with the studies using the pseudopotential. The full-electron basis also allows adequate calculations of the quadrupole coupling constants of iodine atoms and is generally characterized by smaller computing times.     

Experimental and theoretical electronic absorption spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and its derivatives: Solvatochromic effect and time dependent density functional theory approach

Electronic spectra of 2,4‐diphenyl‐1,5‐benzothiazepine and some of its derivatives in 1,2‐dichloromethane and ethanol are investigated experimentally and theoretically using the time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of the theory. The origin of the spectrum of the parent compound is found to be an additive one. The observed ultra violet (UV) spectra in both solvents show two bands S1 in the range between 312–334 nm and S2 in the range between 248–272 nm. The solvent effect is investigated experimentally and theoretically and a blue shift is observed, which is explained in terms of a hydrogen bond model between the solvent and the most negative site of the solute (N atom). This theoretical model is robust in reproducing the experimental blue shift and calculating the hydrogen bond energy and hydrogen bond length. The extent of delocalization and charge transfer processes of the studied compounds is estimated and discussed in terms of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and second order perturbation interactions (E²) between donors and acceptors. The effect of substituents of the studied compounds in both solvents shows a noticeable red shift attributed to hyperconjugation effects of the π electron systems of the different moieties.     

DFT calculations of amine‐imine tautomerism in some pyrimidine derivatives and their 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with water

Amine‐Imine tautomerization in 2‐amino‐pyrimidine (I), 2‐amino‐4,6‐dichloropyrimidine (II), 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethylpyrimidine (III), and 2‐amino‐4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidine (IV) and their 1:1 and 1:2 H‐bonded complexes with water have been studied using the B3LYP/6‐31++G** method. Optimum molecular geometries, electronic properties, and energetics of these systems have been discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Relativistic effects in the one‐bond spin–spin coupling constants involving selenium

One‐bond spin–spin coupling constants involving selenium of seven different types, ¹ J(Se,X), X = ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵ N, ¹⁹ F, ²⁹Si, ³¹P, and ⁷⁷Se, were calculated in the series of 14 representative compounds at the SOPPA(CCSD) level taking into account relativistic corrections evaluated both at the RPA and DFT levels of theory in comparison with experiment. Relativistic corrections were found to play a major role in the calculation of ¹ J(Se,X) reaching as much as almost 170% of the total value of ¹ J(Se,Se) and up to 60–70% for the rest of ¹ J(Se,X). Scalar relativistic effects (Darwin and mass‐velocity corrections) by far dominate over spin–orbit coupling in the total relativistic effects for all ¹ J(Se,X). Taking into account relativistic corrections at both random phase approximation and density functional theory levels essentially improves the agreement of theoretical results with experiment. The most ‘relativistic’ ¹ J(Se,Se) demonstrates a marked Karplus‐type dihedral angle dependence with respect to the mutual orientation of the selenium lone pairs providing a powerful tool for stereochemical analysis of selenoorganic compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photo‐physical Properties of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine and Its Derivatives: A DFT and TD‐DFT Investigation

A series of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine (NMFP) derivatives were designed by selecting different π‐conjugated linkers and electron‐donating groups as D‐π‐A and D‐A systems. The optimised structures and photo‐physical properties of NMFP and its derivatives have been determined using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6‐31G basis set. According to the computation analysis, both the π‐conjugated linkers and the electron‐donating groups can influence the electronic and photo‐physical properties of the NMFP derivatives. Our calculated results demonstrated that the electron‐donating groups, with significant electron‐donating ability, had the tendency to increase the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. The π‐conjugated linkers with lower resonance energy decreased the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and caused a significant decrease in the energy gap (E_g) between the E_HOMO and E_LUMO. A Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis examines the effect of the electron‐donating group, π conjugated linker, and electron‐withdrawing group for these NMFP derivatives. For the NMFP derivatives, a projected density of state (PDOS) analysis demonstrated that the electron density of HOMO and LUMO are concentrated on the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker, respectively. A TD‐DFT/B3LYP calculation was performed to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of these NMFP derivatives. Both the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker contribute to the major absorption peaks, which are assigned as HOMO to LUMO transitions and are red‐shifted relative to those of non‐substituted NMFP.     

Stereochemical behavior of 77Se‐1H spin‐spin coupling constants in pyrazolyl‐1,3‐diselenanes and 1,2‐diselenolane

Conformational study of five derivatives of 2‐(pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐1,3‐diselenane together with related 1,2‐diselenolane in respect to the stereochemical trends of geminal and vicinal ⁷⁷Se‐¹H spin‐spin coupling constants has been carried out by means of high‐level theoretical calculations in combination with experiment. The marked dihedral angle dependences for both types of couplings accounted for the lone pair effect in the case of geminal coupling constants and the Karplus‐type relationship for vicinal couplings have been established, which is of major importance for the stereochemical analysis of saturated selenium containing heterocycles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.