Thermal and photochemical rearrangement of bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-one to the ketonic tautomer of phenol. Computational evidence for the formation of a diradical rather than a zwitterionic intermediate

The ground state (S(0)) and lowest-energy triplet state (T(1)) potential energy surfaces (PESs) concerning the thermal and photochemical rearrangement of bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-one (8) to the ketonic tautomer of phenol (11) have been extensively explored using ab initio CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations with several basis sets. State T(1) is predicted to be a triplet pipi lying 66.5 kcal/mol above the energy of the S(0) state. On the S(0) PES, the rearrangement of 8 to 11 is predicted to occur via a two-step mechanism where the internal cyclopropane C-C bond is broken first through a high energy transition structure (TS1-S(0)()), leading to a singlet intermediate (10-S(0)()) lying 25.0 kcal/mol above the ground state of 8. Subsequently, this intermediate undergoes a 1,2-hydrogen shift to yield 11 by surmounting an energy barrier of only 2.7 kcal/mol at 0 K. The rate-determining step of the global rearrangement is the opening of the three-membered ring in 8, which involves an energy barrier of 41.2 kcal/mol at 0 K. This high energy barrier is consistent with the fact that the thermal rearrangement of umbellulone to thymol is carried out by heating at 280 degrees C. Regarding the photochemical rearangement, our results suggest that the most efficient route from the T(1) state of 8 to ground state 11 is the essentially barrierless cleavage of the internal cyclopropane C-C bond followed by radiationless decay to the S(0) state PES via intersystem crossing (ISC) at a crossing point (S(0)()/T(1)()-1) located at almost the same geometry as TS1-S(0)(), leading to the formation of 10-S(0)() and the subsequent low-barrier 1,2-hydrogen shift. The computed small spin-orbit coupling between the T(1) and S(0) PESs at S(0)()/T(1)()-1 (1.2 cm(-)(1)) suggests that the ISC between these PESs is the rate-determining step of the photochemical rearrangement 8 --> 11. Finally, computational evidence indicates that singlet intermediate 10-S(0)() should not be drawn as a zwitterion, but rather as a diradical having a polarized C=O bond.     

Characterization of the X2A1, A2B1, and X2Pi electronic states of the Ga2H molecule and the X2A' and A 2A" isomerization transition states connecting the three minima

A wide range of highly correlated ab initio methods has been used to predict the geometrical parameters of the linear (X (2)Pi) and H-bridged (X (2)A(1) and A (2)B(1)) Ga(2)H isomers and two isomerization transition states (X (2)A(') and A (2)A(")) connecting the three minima. Dipole moments and vibrational frequencies are also obtained. The global minimum X (2)A(1) ground state of the H-bridged GaHGa isomer is predicted to lie only 1.6 [1.9 with the zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrections] kcal mol(-1) below the A (2)B(1) state. The X (2)A(1) state lies 5.4 kcal mol(-1) below the X (2)Pi ground state of the linear GaGaH isomer at the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] level of theory with the augmented correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple-zeta (aug-cc-pVQZ) basis set. The full triples coupled-cluster method is found to alter these CCSD(T) predictions by as much as 0.3 kcal mol(-1). The forward isomerization barriers from the linear ground state to the X (2)A(') and A (2)A(") transition states are determined to be 3.3 and 5.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The reverse isomerization barrier between the X (2)A(1) GaHGa structure and the X (2)Pi GaGaH structure is predicted to be 8.6 (8.2 with the ZPVE corrections) kcal mol(-1) at the aug-cc-pVQZ CCSD(T) level of theory.     

Three-state trajectory surface hopping studies of the photodissociation dynamics of formaldehyde on ab initio potential energy surfaces

Full-dimensional, three-state, surface hopping calculations of the photodissociation dynamics of formaldehyde are reported on ab initio potential energy surfaces (PESs) for electronic states S(1), T(1), and S(0). This is the first such study initiated on S(1) with ab initio-calculated spin-orbit couplings among the three states. We employ previous PESs for S(0) and T(1), and a new PES for S(1), which we describe here, as well as new spin-orbit couplings. The time-dependent electronic state populations and the branching ratio of radical products produced from S(0) and T(1) states and that of total radical products and molecular products at three total energies are calculated. Details of the surface hopping dynamics are described, and a novel pathway for isomerization on T(1) via S(0) is reported. Final translational energy distributions of H + HCO products from S(0) and T(1) are also reported as well as the translational energy distribution and final rovibrational distributions of H(2) products from the molecular channel. The present results are compared to previous trajectory calculations initiated from the global minimum of S(0). The roaming pathway leading to low rotational distribution of CO and high vibrational population of H(2) is observed in the present calculations.     

On the Z-E photoisomerization of chiral 2-pentenoate esters: stationary irradiations, laser-flash photolysis studies, and theoretical calculations

Chiral pentenoates 1-3 in both Z and E isomeric forms underwent stationary irradiations in several solvents and in the presence of different photosensitizers. The photostationary-state ratio has been determined for each Z/E couple showing a predominance of the thermodynamically more stable isomer for 1 and 3. Moreover, transient species were generated by pulsed laser excitation and detected by their characteristic ultraviolet absorptions, being the first time that enoate-originated triplets are detected. Stern-Volmer quenching studies afforded a quantitative measure for the efficiency of the photosensitization processes induced by benzophenone or acetophenone and allowed the determination of the corresponding quenching rate constants. Density functional calculations permitted the determination of the geometries and the energies of the diastereomeric excited states. Two diastereomeric orthogonal and two diastereomeric planar structures result as a consequence of the presence of a chiral substituent. The orthogonal triplets are the energy minima in all cases, whereas the planar triplets are the transition states linking these orthogonal structures, the corresponding energy barriers being 8-10 kcal mol(-1) for enoates 1-3. The computed S(0) to T(1) excitation energies show a trend which is consistent with the quenching rate constants. On the other hand, the triplet lifetimes determined for 1 and 2 are unusually long (1-20 micros) if compared with the data already described for several enones, in the range of nanoseconds. This fact has been rationalized from calculations of spin-orbit coupling at several points of the T(1) potential energy surface. This coupling is maximum for structures with a torsional angle close to 45 degrees, which are 4-5 kcal mol(-1) above the minima of T(1). Calculations done on the hypothetical aldehyde 4 and methyl vinyl ketone show much lower energy barriers, thus accounting for the shorter lifetimes reported for enone triplets.     

An ab initio study of the low-lying electronic states of S3

Accurate calculations of the low-lying singlet and triplet electronic states of thiozone, S(3), have been carried out using large multireference configuration interaction wave functions. Cuts of the full potential energy surfaces along the stretching and bending coordinates have been presented, together with the vertical excitation spectra. The strong experimentally observed absorption around 395 nm is assigned to the 1 (1)B(2) state, which correlates to ground state products. Absorption at wavelengths shorter than 260 nm is predicted to lead to singlet excited state products, S(2) (a (1)Delta(g))+S((1)D). The spectroscopic properties of the X (3)Sigma(g) (-), a (1)Delta(g), and b (1)Sigma(g) (+) electronic states of the S(2) radical have also been accurately characterized in this work. The investigations of the low-lying electronic states were accompanied by accurate ground state coupled cluster calculations of the thermochemistry of both S(2) and S(3) using large correlation consistent basis sets with corrections for core-valence correlation, scalar relativity, and atomic spin-orbit effects. Resulting values for D(0)(S(2)+S) and SigmaD(0) for S(3) are predicted to be 61.3 and 162.7 kcal/mol, respectively, with conservative uncertainties of +/-1 kcal/mol. Analogous calculations predict the C(2v)-D(3h) (open-cyclic) isomerization energy of S(3) to be 4.4+/-0.5 kcal/mol.     

13C NMR, infrared, solvation and theoretical investigation of the conformational isomerism in 1-haloacetones (X = Cl, Br and I)

The solvent dependence of the 13C NMR spectra of chloroacetone (CA), bromoacetone (BA) and iodoacetone (IA) are reported and the 3J(CH) couplings analysed using ab initio calculations and solvation theory. In CA the energy difference (E(cis) - E(gauche)) between the cis (Cl-C-C=O 0 degrees) and gauche (Cl-C-C=O 155 degrees) conformers is 1.7 kcal mol(-1) in the vapour, decreasing to 0.8 kcal mol(-1) in CCl4 solution and to -1.0 kcal mol(-1) in the pure liquid. The conformational equilibrium, in BA, is between the more polar cis (Br-C-C=O 0 degrees) and gauche (Br-C-C=O 132 degrees) conformations. The energy difference (E(cis) - E(gauche)) is 1.8 kcal mol(-1) in the vapour, decreasing to 0.9 kcal mol(-1) in CCl4 solution and to -0.4 kcal mol(-1) in the pure liquid. The energy difference (E(cis) - E(gauche)), in IA, between the cis (I-C-C=O 0 degrees) and gauche (I-C-C=O 104 degrees) conformers is 1.1 kcal mol(-1) in the vapour phase, decreasing to 0.5 kcal mol(-1) in CCl4 solution and to -0.5 kcal mol(-1) in the pure liquid. The vapour state energy difference for BA [1.4 kcal mol(-1) at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)] and for IA [1.6 kcal mol(-1) at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)/LANL2DZ)] are in very good agreement with the above values. For CA the agreement is also satisfactory [1.4 kcal mol(-1) at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)].     

Theoretical Study on the Dehydrogenation Reaction of H2S by VS+ (3∑-)

The dehydrogenation reaction of H2S by the 3∑- ground state of VS+: VS+ + H2S → VS2+ + H2 has been studied by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/DZVP level. It is found that the reaction proceeds along two possible pathways (A and B) yielding two isomer dehydrogenation products VS2+-1 (3B2) and VS2+-2 (3A1), respectively. For both pathways,the reaction has a two-step-reaction mechanism that involves the migration of two hydrogen atoms from S2 to V+, respectively. The migration of the second hydrogen via TS3 and that of the first via TS4 are the rate-determining steps for pathways A and B, respectively. The activation energy is 17.4 kcal/mol for pathway A and 22.8 kcal/mol for pathway B relative to the reactants. The calculated reaction heat of 9.9 kcal/mol indicates the endothermicity of pathway A and that of -11.9 kcal/mol suggests the exothermicity of pathway B.     

Is HO3 minimum cis or trans? An analytic full-dimensional ab initio isomerization path

The minimum energy path for isomerization of HO(3) has been explored in detail using accurate high-level ab initio methods and techniques for extrapolation to the complete basis set limit. In agreement with other reports, the best estimates from both valence-only and all-electron single-reference methods here utilized predict the minimum of the cis-HO(3) isomer to be deeper than the trans-HO(3) one. They also show that the energy varies by less than 1 kcal mol(-1) or so over the full isomerization path. A similar result is found from valence-only multireference configuration interaction calculations with the size-extensive Davidson correction and a correlation consistent triple-zeta basis, which predict the energy difference between the two isomers to be of only Δ = -0.1 kcal mol(-1). However, single-point multireference calculations carried out at the optimum triple-zeta geometry with basis sets of the correlation consistent family but cardinal numbers up to X = 6 lead upon a dual-level extrapolation to the complete basis set limit of Δ = (0.12 ± 0.05) kcal mol(-1). In turn, extrapolations with the all-electron single-reference coupled-cluster method including the perturbative triples correction yield values of Δ = -0.19 and -0.03 kcal mol(-1) when done from triple-quadruple and quadruple-quintuple zeta pairs with two basis sets of increasing quality, namely cc-cpVXZ and aug-cc-pVXZ. Yet, if added a value of 0.25 kcal mol(-1) that accounts for the effect of triple and perturbative quadruple excitations with the VTZ basis set, one obtains a coupled cluster estimate of Δ = (0.14 ± 0.08) kcal mol(-1). It is then shown for the first time from systematic ab initio calculations that the trans-HO(3) isomer is more stable than the cis one, in agreement with the available experimental evidence. Inclusion of the best reported zero-point energy difference (0.382 kcal mol(-1)) from multireference configuration interaction calculations enhances further the relative stability to ΔE(ZPE) = (0.51 ± 0.08) kcal mol(-1). A scheme is also suggested to model the full-dimensional isomerization potential-energy surface using a quadratic expansion that is parametrically represented by a Fourier analysis in the torsion angle. The method illustrated at the raw and complete basis-set limit coupled-cluster levels can provide a valuable tool for a future analysis of the available (incomplete thus far) experimental rovibrational data.     

Characterization of singlet ground and low-lying electronic excited states of phosphaethyne and isophosphaethyne

The singlet ground ((approximate)X(1)Sigma1+) and excited (1Sigma-,1Delta) states of HCP and HPC have been systematically investigated using ab initio molecular electronic structure theory. For the ground state, geometries of the two linear stationary points have been optimized and physical properties have been predicted utilizing restricted self-consistent field theory, coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triple corrections [CCSD(T)], and CCSD with partial iterative triple excitations (CCSDT-3 and CC3). Physical properties computed for the global minimum ((approximate)X(1)Sigma+HCP) include harmonic vibrational frequencies with the cc-pV5Z CCSD(T) method of omega1=3344 cm(-1), omega2=689 cm(-1), and omega3=1298 cm(-1). Linear HPC, a stationary point of Hessian index 2, is predicted to lie 75.2 kcal mol(-1) above the global minimum HCP. The dissociation energy D0[HCP((approximate)X(1)Sigma+)-->H(2S)+CP(X2Sigma+)] of HCP is predicted to be 119.0 kcal mol(-1), which is very close to the experimental lower limit of 119.1 kcal mol(-1). Eight singlet excited states were examined and their physical properties were determined employing three equation-of-motion coupled cluster methods (EOM-CCSD, EOM-CCSDT-3, and EOM-CC3). Four stationary points were located on the lowest-lying excited state potential energy surface, 1Sigma- -->1A", with excitation energies Te of 101.4 kcal mol(-1) (1A"HCP), 104.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HCP), 122.3 kcal mol(-1)(1A" HPC), and 171.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HPC) at the cc-pVQZ EOM-CCSDT-3 level of theory. The physical properties of the 1A" state with a predicted bond angle of 129.5 degrees compare well with the experimentally reported first singlet state ((approximate)A1A"). The excitation energy predicted for this excitation is T0=99.4 kcal mol(-1) (34 800 cm(-1),4.31 eV), in essentially perfect agreement with the experimental value of T0=99.3 kcal mol(-1)(34 746 cm(-1),4.308 eV). For the second lowest-lying excited singlet surface, 1Delta-->1A', four stationary points were found with Te values of 111.2 kcal mol(-1) (2(1)A' HCP), 112.4 kcal mol(-1) (1Delta HPC), 125.6 kcal mol(-1)(2(1)A' HCP), and 177.8 kcal mol(-1)(1Delta HPC). The predicted CP bond length and frequencies of the 2(1)A' state with a bond angle of 89.8 degrees (1.707 A, 666 and 979 cm(-1)) compare reasonably well with those for the experimentally reported (approximate)C(1)A' state (1.69 A, 615 and 969 cm(-1)). However, the excitation energy and bond angle do not agree well: theoretical values of 108.7 kcal mol(-1) and 89.8 degrees versus experimental values of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees. of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees.     

1-Germavinylidene (Ge═CH2), germyne (HGeCH), and 2-germavinylidene (H2Ge═C) molecules and isomerization reactions among them: anharmonic rovibrational analyses

Theoretical investigations of three equilibrium structures and two associated isomerization reactions of the GeCH(2) - HGeCH - H(2)GeC system have been systematically carried out. This research employed ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF), coupled cluster (CC) with single and double excitations (CCSD), and CCSD with perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] wave functions and a wide variety of correlation-consistent polarized valence cc-pVXZ and cc-pVXZ-DK (where X = D, T, Q) basis sets. For each structure, the total energy, geometry, dipole moment, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities are predicted. Complete active space SCF (CASSCF) wave functions are used to analyze the effects of correlation on physical properties and energetics. For each of the equilibrium structures, vibrational second-order perturbation theory (VPT2) has been utilized to obtain the zero-point vibration corrected rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and fundamental vibrational frequencies. The predicted rotational constants and anharmonic vibrational frequencies for 1-germavinylidene are in good agreement with available experimental observations. Extensive focal point analyses, including CCSDT and CCSDT(Q) energies and basis sets up to quintuple zeta, are used to obtain complete basis set (CBS) limit energies. At all levels of theory employed in this study, the global minimum of the GeCH(2) potential energy surface (PES) is confirmed to be 1-germavinylidene (GeCH(2), 1). The second isomer, germyne (HGeCH, 2) is predicted to lie 40.4(41.1) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1) above the global minimum, while the third isomer, 2-germavinylidene (H(2)GeC, 3) is located 92.3(92.7) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1) above the global minimum; the values in parentheses indicate core-valence and zero-point vibration energy (ZPVE) corrected energy differences. The barriers for the forward (1→2) and reverse (2→1) isomerization reactions between isomers 1 and 2 are 48.3(47.7) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1) and 7.9(6.6) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively. On the other hand, the barriers of the forward (2→3) and reverse (3→2) isomerization reactions between isomers 2 and 3 are predicted to be 55.2(53.2) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1) and 3.3(1.6) ± 0.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively.     

Computational study on the mechanisms and energetics of trimethylindium reactions with H2O and H2S

The reactions of trimethylindium (TMIn) with H2O and H2S are relevant to the chemical vapor deposition of indium oxide and indium sulfide thin films. The mechanisms and energetics of these reactions in the gas phase have been investigated by density functional theory and ab initio calculations using the CCSD(T)/[6-31G(d,p)+Lanl2dz]//B3LYP/[6-31G(d,p)+Lanl2dz] and CCSD(T)/[6-31G(d,p)+Lanl2dz] //MP2/[6-31G(d,p)+Lanl2dz] methods. The results of both methods are in good agreement for the optimized geometries and relative energies. When TMIn reacts with H2O and H2S, initial molecular complexes [(CH3)3In:OH2 (R1)] and [(CH3)3In:SH2 (R2)] are formed with 12.6 and 3.9 kcal/mol binding energies. Elimination of a CH4 molecule from each complex occurs with a similar energy barrier at TS1 (19.9 kcal/mol) and at TS3 (22.1 kcal/mol), respectively, giving stable intermediates (CH3)2InOH and (CH3)2InSH. The elimination of the second CH4 molecule from these intermediate products, however, has to overcome very high and much different barriers of 66.1 and 53.2 kcal/mol, respectively. In the case of DMIn with H2O and H2S reactions, formation of both InO and InS is exothermic by 3.1 and 30.8 kcal/mol respectively. On the basis of the predicted heats of formation of R1 and R2 at 0 K and -20.1 and 43.6 kcal/mol, the heats of formation of (CH3)2InOH, (CH3)2InSH, CH3InO, CH3InS, InO, and InS are estimated to be -20.6, 31.8, and 29.0 and 48.4, 35.5, and 58.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The values for InO and InS are in good agreement with available experimental data. A similar study on the reactions of (CH3)2In with H2O and H2S has been carried out; in these reactions CH3InOH and CH3InSH were found to be the key intermediate products.     

HSCCS自由基势能面的理论研究

在CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,f)//MP2/6-311G(d,f) ZPE水平下,计算得到含有8个异构体和11个过渡态的HSCCS自由基体系势能面,讨论了异构体的结构与稳定性及异构体之间的异构化过程.结果表明异构体m1的能量最低,除m1以外,异构体m2和m3的能量也比较低,在MP2水平上,过渡态TS1的能量比异构体m2仅高3.9kJ/mol,而在CCSD(T)水平上,TS1的能量比m2低14.6 kJ/mol,这说明异构体m2可以迅速转化为能量更低的m1.异构体m3的能量比异构体m1高49.99 kJ/mol,可以推断,在合适的实验条件下可以观测到异构体m1.     

Theoretical study of the spectroscopically relevant parameters for the detection of HNP(q) and HPN(q) (q = 0, +1, -1) in the gas phase

High level ab initio electronic structure calculations at different levels of theory have been performed on HNP and HPN neutrals, anions, and cations. This includes standard coupled cluster CCSD(T) level with augmented correlation-consistent basis sets, internally contacted multi-reference configuration interaction, and the newly developed CCSD(T)-F12 methods in connection with the explicitly correlated basis sets. Core-valence correction and scalar relativistic effects were examined. We present optimized equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, rotational constants, adiabatic ionization energies, electron affinities, vertical detachment energies, and relative energies. In addition, the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces of HNP(-1,0,+1) and of HPN(-1,0,+1) were generated at the (R)CCSD(T)-F12b∕cc-pVTZ-F12 level. The anharmonic terms and fundamentals were derived using second order perturbation theory. For HNP, our best estimate for the adiabatic ionization energy is 7.31 eV, for the adiabatic electron affinity is 0.47 eV. The higher energy isomer, HPN, is 23.23 kcal∕mol above HNP. HPN possesses a rather large adiabatic electron affinity of 1.62 eV. The intramolecular isomerization pathways were computed. Our calculations show that HNP(-) to HPN(-) reaction is subject to electron detachment.     

Concerted and stepwise reaction mechanisms for the addition of ozone to acetylene: a computational study

The mechanism of the reaction between acetylene and ozone to form a primary ozonide (POZ) in the gas phase has been studied theoretically. The concerted pathway, HCCH + O3 --> POZ, proceeds via a biradicaloid transition state TS0. The stepwise pathway is a three-step reaction, HCCH + O3 --> M1 --> M2 --> POZ, involving two biradical TSs and two biradical intermediates M1 and M2. The segment of the global potential energy surface (PES) for the concerted pathway is characterized as a R-PES, which is obtained from the restricted (R) density functional theory and Hartree-Fock-based methods. The RDFT and RHF solutions of TS0 and O3 are unstable toward spin-symmetry breaking. The wave function instability for TS0 and O3 results in a discontinuity between the R-PES and the region of the global PES encompassing the biradical TSs and the intermediates of the stepwise pathway, which are characterized with unrestricted (U) methods. The global PES is characterized separately as an U(R)-PES using a combination of the R and U methods. Several different values of barriers for the concerted pathway and the energy of concert (Ec) can be estimated due to complications arising from the discontinuity between the R- and the U(R)-PES and the existence of two different RDFT and UDFT O3 equilibrium geometries. RCCSD(T)//RDFT predicts a barrier of 8.2 kcal/mol. U(R)CCSD(T)/U(R)DFT predicts a barrier of 13.8 kcal/mol for the concerted and 15.3 kcal/mol for the stepwise pathway. Comparison between the R-PES barrier to the concerted pathway and the U(R)-PES barrier to the stepwise pathway suggests the former to be the only significant mechanism. Consideration of the energy difference between TS1, the TS for the first step of the stepwise mechanism, and TS0 within the global PES leads to a significantly smaller Ec. Geometry optimization with CASSCF and energy point calculations with MRMP2 are employed to characterize TS0 and TS1. MRMP2//CASSCF predicts the energy level of TS1 to be higher than that of TS0 by 2 kcal/mol. Analysis of experimental and computational data based on the low estimate of Ec shows that the possibility of the stepwise pathway being a secondary channel at elevated temperatures cannot be ruled out.     

Protonated carbonyl sulfide: prospects for the spectroscopic observation of the elusive HSCO+ isomer

Spurred by the apparent conflict between ab initio predictions and infrared spectroscopic evidence regarding the relative stability of isomers of protonated carbonyl sulfide, key stationary points on the isomerization surface of HOCS(+) have been examined via systematic extrapolations of ab initio energies. Electron correlation has been accounted for using second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and coupled cluster theory through triple excitations [CCSD, CCSD(T), and CCSDT] in conjunction with the correlation consistent hierarchy of basis sets, cc-pVXZ (X=D,T,Q,5,6). HSCO(+) is predicted to lie lower in energy than HOCS(+) by 4.86 kcal mol(-1), computed using the focal point extrapolation scheme of Allen and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 99, 4638 (1993)] with corrections for anharmonic zero-point vibrational energy, core correlation, non-Born-Oppenheimer, and scalar relativistic effects. A transition state has been located, constituting the barrier to isomerization of HSCO(+) to HOCS(+), lying 68.9 kcal mol(-1) higher in energy than HSCO(+). This is well above predicted exothermicity [DeltaH(r) (o)(0 K)=48.1 kcal mol(-1), cc-pVQZ CCSD(T)] for the reaction considered in the experiments (HSCO(+)+H(2)-->OCS+H(3) (+)). Though proton tunneling will lead to a lower effective barrier, this prediction is consistent with the lack of HSCO(+) in electrical discharges in H(2)OCS, since the relative populations of HOCS(+) and HSCO(+) will depend on the experimental details of the protonation route rather than the relative thermodynamic stability of the isomers. Anharmonic vibrational frequencies and vibrationally corrected rotational constants from cc-pVTZ CCSD(T) cubic and quartic force constants are provided, to aid in the spectroscopic observation of the energetically favorable but apparently elusive HSCO(+) isomer.     

The cysteine radical cation: structures and fragmentation pathways

A theoretical study on the structures, relative energies, isomerization reactions and fragmentation pathways of the cysteine radical cation, [NH(2)CH(CH(2)SH)COOH].+, is reported. Hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP) has been used in conjunction with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The isomer at the global minimum, Captodative-1, has the structure NH(2)C.(CH(2)SH)C(OH)(2)+; the stability of this ion is attributed to the captodative effect in which the NH(2) functions as a powerful pi-electron donor and C(OH)(2)+ as a powerful pi-electron acceptor. Ion Distonic-S-1, H(3)N(+)CH(CH(2)S.)COOH, in which the radical is formally situated on the S atom, is higher in enthalpy (DeltaH degrees (0)) than Captodative-1 by 6.1 kcal mol(-1), but is lower in enthalpy than another isomer Distonic-C-1, H(3)N(+)C.(CH(2)SH)COOH, by 8.2 kcal mol(-1). Isomerization of the canonical radical cation of cysteine, [H(2)NCH(CH(2)SH)COOH].+, (Canonical-1), to Captodative-1 has an enthalpy of activation of 25.8 kcal mol(-1), while the barrier against isomerization of Canonical-1 to Distonic-S-1 is only 9.6 kcal mol(-1). Two additional transient tautomers, one with the radical located at C(alpha) and the charge on SH(2), and the other a carboxy radical with the charge on NH(3), are reported. Plausible fragmentation pathways (losses of small molecules, CO(2), CH(2)S, H(2)S and NH(3), and neutral radicals COOH. , HSCH(2). and NH(2).) from Canonical-1 are examined.     

A theoretical study of the rotational isomers of nitrosomethanol by semiempirical (AM1) and ab initio methods

The conformational potential energy surface as a function of the two internal torsion angles in C-nitrosomethanol has been obtained using the semiempirical AM1 method. Optimized geometries are reported for the local minima on this surface and also for the corresponding points on the HF/6-31G, 6-31G*, and 6-31G** surfaces. All methods predict cis and trans minima which occur in degenerate pairs, each pair being connected by a transition state of C_s symmetry. The AM1 structures are found to compare well with the corresponding ab initio structures. Ab initio HF/6-31G and HF/6-31G* harmonic vibrational frequencies are reported for the cis and trans forms of nitrosomethanol. When scaled appropriately the calculated frequencies are found to compare well with experimental frequencies. The ab initio calculations predict the energy barrier for cis → trans isomerization to be between 5.8 and 6.5 kcal/mol with the trans → cis isomerization barrier lying between 2.3 and 6.5 kcal/mol. The corresponding AM1 energy barriers are around 1 kcal/mol lower in energy. The ab initio calculations predict the barrier to conversion between the two cis rotamers to be very small with the AM1 value being around 1 kcal/mol. Both AM1 and ab initio calculations predict interconversion between trans rotamers to require between 1.2 and 1.4 kcal/mol.     

DFT Study on the Structure and Racemization Mechanism of 1,1'-Binaphthalene-8,8'-diol

Density functional theory (DFT) was applied to study the ground state geometries and isomerization processes of 1,1'-binaphthalene-8,8'-diol. Three isomers, denoted as ISO1, ISO2, and ISO3, were found, distinguished by different orientations of the OH groups, and each OH-orientational isomer has R- and S- enantiomer. The conformational stabilities of these isomers were investigated by tracking the energy change with respect to the ring-to-ring torsion. The inter-conversions between the three OH-orientational S-isomers were found to have quite low barriers owing to the nearly free rotation of OH groups around the O-C single bonds. The S-R enantiomerization of ISO1 and ISO2 can take place through the ring-ring torsion around the C1-C10 single bond, either in the anti-rotation manner or in the syn-rotation manner. The barriers of the anti routes are lower than those of the corresponding syn routes by 87.95 and 75.04 kJ/mol. For the S-R enantiomerization of ISO3, only the anti route was found. The barriers for the anti route enantiomerizations of ISO1, ISO2, and ISO3 are 119.61, 120.43, and 121.59 kJ/mol, respectively. A parallel reaction mechanism via three anti enantiomerization routes was proposed for the racemization of 1,1'-binaphthalene-8,8'-diol.     

Photophysical studies of the trans to cis isomerization of the push-pull molecule: 1-(pyridin-4-yl)-2-(N-methylpyrrol-2-yl)ethene (mepepy)

Organic molecules possessing intramolecular charge-transfer properties (D-pi-A type molecules) are of key interest particularly in the development of new optoelectronic materials as well as photoinduced magnetism. One such class of D-pi-A molecules that is of particular interest contains photoswitchable intramolecular charge-transfer states via a photoisomerizable pi-system linking the donor and acceptor groups. Here we report the photophysical and electronic properties of the trans to cis isomerization of 1-(pyridin-4-yl)-2-(N-methylpyrrol-2-yl)ethene ligand (mepepy) in aqueous solution using photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC) and theoretical methods. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate a global energy difference between cis and trans isomers of mepepy to be 8 kcal mol(-1), while a slightly lower energy is observed between the local minima for the trans and cis isomers (7 kcal mol(-1)). Interestingly, the trans isomer appears to exhibit two ground-state minima separated by an energy barrier of approximately 9 kcal mol(-1). Results from the PAC studies indicate that the trans to cis isomerization results in a negligible volume change (0.9 +/- 0.4 mL mol(-1)) and an enthalpy change of 18 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1). The fact that the acoustic waves associated with the trans to cis transition of mepepy overlap in frequency with those of a calorimetric reference implies that the conformational transition occurs faster than the approximately 50 ns response time of the acoustic detector. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical studies provide evidence for a mechanism in which the trans to cis isomerization of mepepy results in the loss of a hydrogen bond between a water molecule and the pyridine ring of mepepy.