Pros and cons of σ -aromaticity

A discussion of σ-aromaticity requires a distinction between σ-conjugation, σ-electron delocalization, and σ-bond delocalization, all of which can be considered as prerequisites of σ-aromatic character. All molecules with three or more atoms encounter σ-conjugative interactions. Also, all σ-electrons are delocalized if the term delocalization is taken in its quantum theoretical meaning. However, σ-conjugation and σ-electron delocalization do not necessarily imply σ-bond delocalization. - One can distinguish between three different modes of σ-delocalization: ribbon delocalization in acyclic molecules and larger rings, surface delocalization in small rings, and volume delocalization in cage compounds. Surface delocalization of σ-electrons is found to lead to σ-bond delocalization. An example is cyclopropane. Bonding in cyclopropane can only be described in terms of nonclassical 2-electron 3-center and 4-electron 3-center bonds. Application of the criteria used to define π-aromaticity reveals that the properties of cyclopropane are in line with these criteria and that the term σ-aromaticity cannot be rejected on the grounds that aromaticity is restricted to π-electrons. The pros and cons of using the term σ-aromaticity in chemical discussions are presented.     

Theoretical studies on the topographical features and energetics of diacetylene-hydrogen fluoride complexes

Ab initio supermolecular SCF calculations have been carried out on diacetylene-HF complexes at the STO-4-31G level. The reverse σ (Rσ) complex has been found to have the lowest energy. Of the two π complexes. T and L, the symmetrical one T is found to be energetically less stable than the asymmetrical one L. Theoretical vibrational analysis tends to support this stability order. Electrostatic interaction energy calculations also lead to an almost identical sequence. Hydrogen bond energies corrected for basis set superposition error indicate that ΔE_H (Rσ) > ΔE_H (Tπ) ≈ ΔE_H (Lπ).     

On the electronic and molecular structures of some fluoro-substituted cyclopropane derivatives

Ab initio calculations of double zeta quality have been carried out on cyclopropyl fluoride and 1,1-difluorocyclopropane. A partial geometry optimization has been carried out, and results have been compared to cyclopropane. An attempt is made to explain the differences in structure between cyclopropane and the fluorine derivatives.     

Polylithiumorganische Verbindungen: XVII. Splatung von 1,1′-Bicyclopropyliden (butterfly olefin) mit Lithiumpulver zu 1,6-Dilithio-3-hexin über (1,3-Dilithiopropyliden)cyclopropan als isolierbare Zwischenstufe

While for the reductive cleavage of a cyclopropane σ-bond usually two lithium atoms are necessary, with the same amount of lithium two σ-bonds of the “butterfly olefin” 4 are cleaved. On the way to 1,6-dilithio-3-hexyne (7) (1,3-dilithiopropylidene)cyclopropane (8) can be isolated provided that diethyl ether is used as the solvent.     

A comparative ab initio study of methyl formate, methyl thiolformate and methyl thionoformate

Ab initio SCF-MO calculations have been carried out for HCOOCH₃, HC(=O)SCH₃ and HC(=S)OCH₃. Relative stabilities of s-trans/s-cis conformers are reported and discussed in terms of specific intramolecular interactions. The energy difference between the s-trans and the s-cis form increases in the order methyl thiolformate < methyl thionoformate < methyl formate. The major stabilizing factors of the s-cis forms are the bond dipolar interaction and the mesomeric delocalization through the five member ring involving both the X=C---Y---C (X, Y = O, S) skeleton and the out-of-plane hydrogen atoms. These effects are used to explain the trends mentioned. The non-planarity previously proposed for the thionoester is reinvestigated. Our calculations show that this molecule is planar. Molecular atomic charges, dipole moments and ionisation potentials are determined and compared with available experimental values.     

Electronically excited states of disulphur dinitride (S2N2) and its conversion to the metallic polymer (SN)x

Ab initio configuration interaction calculations with a double zeta basis augmented by polarisation functions have been carried out for all the lowest singlet and triplet states of S₂N₂ and (SN)₂) - a unit of the polymer (SN)_x. The results satisfactory account for the UV-absorption spectrum of S₂N₂ which is probably dominated by ¹B_2u. There are low-lying singlet and triplet states for (SN)₂, and one of these a σσ* triplet seems likely to be the polymerisation precursor.     

Theoretical determination of molecular structure and conformation : Part 12. Puckering of 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, 1H-azepine, oxepine and their norcaradienic valence tautomers

Restricted Hartree—Fock calculations have been carried out for 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, norcaradiene, 1H-azepine, benzenimine (azanorcardiene), oxepine and benzene oxide (oxanorcaradiene) employing the STO—3G, 4—31G and 6—31G^* basis sets. Theoretical geometries, conformations and barriers to ring inversion have been obtained and compared with the available experimental structural data. It has been found that the cyclotrienes possess a boat conformation with a constant admixture of 22% chair character leading to a flattening of the triene part and π-electron delocalization typical for a planar polyene. The structural data obtained in this work suggest that cyclic delocalization of either 6π (homoaromaticity) or 8π electrons (antiaromaticity) is not present in the three cyclotrienes. The former possibility, however, cannot be excluded in the case of the three norcaradienes.     

Catalytic carbopalladation of ω-methylenebicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes

ω-Methylenebicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes undergo carbopalladation via cleavage of the C(1)---C(2) cyclopropane bond. The resultant σ-butenyl complexes decompose via β-hydride elimination to afford the 1-cycloalkenylstyrene products.     

A study of molecular motion in solid cyclopropane and cyclopropane clathrate deuterate by nuclear magnetic resonance absorption and relaxation methods

Proton magnetic resonance absorption and spin-lattice relaxation measurements have been carried out for cyclopropane clathrate deuterate from 77 to 290 K together with spin—lattice relaxation measurements on solid cyclopropane from 90 to 146 K. The absorption measurement for the type I structure deuterate indicates the presence of an isotropic rotation of the cyclopropane molecule from about 230 K, while in the type II structure deuterate isotropic rotation of the enclathrated cyclopropane is present over all of the range of stability of the clathrate (~250 to 278 K). The spin-lattice relaxation measurements give an activation energy of 0.83 ± 0.03 kcal mole^?1 for the barrier to reorientation (not assigned) of the cyclopropane molecules inside the clathrate deuterate cavities. In solid cyclopropane the barrier associated with the threefold axis rotation is found to be 4.8 ± 0.2 kcal mole^?1.     

A quantum chemical study of an isogermacrone-type molecule

A quantum chemical study of the electronic factors affecting the photochemical behaviour of 13-nor-E,E-isogermacrone, a sesquiterpene-type ketone, has been carried out. The results indicate that the parallel endo double bond intramolecular cyclization to cyclobutanes proceeding through n, π* excited states is strongly favoured, the interaction between the crossed endo double bonds also being possible.     

Evaluation of the interactions between lipids and γ-globulin protein at the air–liquid interface

The interactions between lipids (cholesterol, distearoylphosphatidylcholine, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin) and the γ-globulin protein have been analyzed using the monolayer technique at the air–liquid interface. The analysis has been carried out using both state equations and an adequate thermodynamic formulation for the surface pressure (π)–molecular area (a) isotherms. Different parameters as the virial coefficients, have been estimated. For the uncharged lipid monolayers, the interactions between the molecules are of an attractive nature, at medium and long distance, and of a steric repulsive nature at short distance. At low surface pressures the lipid molecules form small domains. The net force between γ-Globulin molecules in the monolayers has been found to be attractive. Finally, it can be concluded that when the lipid monolayers are uncharged, there is practically no interaction between the protein and lipid molecules at the mentioned interface.     

Ternary complexes of 5′-cytidine monophosphate and cytosine with some biologically important secondary ligands

Potentiometric equilibrium measurements have been made at 35°C for the interaction of 5′-cytidine monophosphate and Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II) and Ca(II) with biologically important secondary ligands (glycine, oxalic cid, histidine and histamine) in a 1:1:1 ratio. Similar studies with cytosine were carried out for comparison. For the above systems, the ternary complexes are found to be more stable than the corresponding binary complexes. The Δ log K values for 1 : 1 : 1 complexes of metal-5′-cytidine monophosphate (or cytosine) with aromatic ligands are more positive compared to the corresponding complexes with aliphatic ligands. This is explained in terms of “stacking phenomenon” that occur between the two aromatic moieties of the primary and secondary ligands in solution.     

Through-bond and through-space interactions : The electronic spectrum of barrelene

The first theoretical calculations that reproduce the observed UV spectrum of bairelene are reported. Absorptions above 200 nm are assigned as π →σ^* while the first excitation that is essentially π → π^* is predicted at ca 180 nm. These results are interpreted in terms of through-space π - π interaction, which splits the π-levels, and through-bond interaction, which mixes σ into the π, and fills in the gap between the antibonding π-orbitals. The latter interaction is such that the σ-framework, in each of the three bridges, couples the ethylenic moieties that are based on the other two.     

Formation of π-coupled organic wire on the Si(0 0 1)[2 × 1] surface

The stability and electronic properties of highly packed 1-hexyl-naphthalene (HNap) molecular wire on Si(0 0 1) have been studied with first principles DFT method. HNap assembles into a 1D arrangement on the Si(0 0 1)[2 × 1] surface on which molcules adopt a commensurate structure along a dimer row with an intermolecular distance of 3.8 Å. HNap is attached to the surface through the hexyl chain, and stands normal to the surface. This highly packed structure leads to the formation of delocalized π-orbitals over the entire wire but essentially localized on the naphthalene counterpart, and well separated from the Si surface states. Cohesion energy within the wire arises from a significant attraction between hexyl chains, and to a weaker stabilizing π–π interaction between naphthalenes.     

On the vibrational spectra and conformational stability of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of krypton solutions and ab initio calculations

Variable temperature (−105 to −150 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, (CH₃)₂NNH₂, in liquid krypton have been carried out. No convincing spectral evidence could be found for the trans conformer which is expected to be at least 600 cm⁻¹ less stable than the gauche form. The structural parameters, dipole moments, conformational stability, vibrational frequencies, and infrared and Raman intensities have been predicted from MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. The predicted infrared and Raman spectra are compared to the experimental ones. The adjusted r₀ parameters from MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations are compared to those reported from an electron diffraction study. The energy differences between the gauche and trans conformers have been obtained from MP2 ab initio calculations as well as from density functional theory by the B3LYP method calculations from a variety of basis sets. All of these calculations indicate an energy difference of 650–900 cm⁻¹ with the B3LYP calculations predicted the larger values. The potential function governing the conformational interchange has been predicting from both types of calculations and comparisons have been made. The barrier to internal rotation by the independent rotor model of the inner methyl group is predicted to have a value of 1812 cm⁻¹ and that of the outer one of 1662 cm⁻¹ from ab initio MP2/6-31G(d) calculations. These values agree well with the experimentally determined values of 1852±16 and 1558±12 cm⁻¹, respectively, from a fit of the torsional transitions with the coupled rotor model. For the coupled rotor model the predicted V′₃₃ (sin 3τ₀ sin 3τ₁ term) value which ranged from 190 to 232 cm⁻¹ is in reasonable agreement with the experimental value of 268±3 cm⁻¹ but the predicted V₃₃ (cos 3τ₀ cos 3τ₁ term) value of −73 to −139 cm⁻¹ is 25% smaller and of the opposite sign of the experimental value of 333±22 cm⁻¹. These theoretical and spectroscopy results are compared to similar quantities of some corresponding molecules.     

Singlet exciton migration in a random organic two-component system containing physical and chemical traps

Steady-state as well as time-dependent fluorescence studies have been carried out near 80 K on glassy mixed layers of anthracene and phenanthrene doped with tetracene and containing incipient anthracene dimers as physical traps. The efficiency of energy transfer from initially excited anthracene (“donor”) sites to tetracene (“supertrap”) has been measured as a function of donor concentration c_D. The results are interpreted in terms of a superposition of two transfer pathways: (i) Random walk of excitons across the donor ensemble to either tetracene or anthracene dimers and (ii) single step Förster transfer from the excited dimers (excimers) to tetracene. The efficiency of process (i) is in quantitative accord with the predictions of the 3D version of the Loring, Anderson and Fayer theory assuming dipole-dipole coupling.     

Theoretical study of peptide model dimers. Homo versus heterochiral complexes

The study of possible chiral recognition of a series of peptide models (For-Gly-NH₂, For-Ala-NH₂ and four of their fluoro substituted derivatives) has been carried out by means of DFT calculations. Homo (L,L) and heterochiral (L,D) dimers formed by hydrogen bond (HB) complexation have been considered. Initially, the conformational preferences of the monomers have been calculated and used to generate all the possible homo and heterochiral dimers. The energetic results show that in most cases, the β monomers are the most stable while in the dimers, the γ–γ complexes show the strongest interaction energies. In three of the four chiral cases studied, a heterochiral dimer is the most stable one. In addition, the electron density and nuclear shielding of the complexes have been studied.     

On the electronic and molecular structures of methyl chloride,cyclopropyl chloride and 1,1-dichlorocyclopropane

Ab initio SCF—MO calculations have been carried out on cyclopropyl chloride and 1,1-dichlorocyclopropane, to illuminate the effect of the substituent upon the cyclopropane ring. For cyclopropyl chloride, reasonable agreement is found with experimental findings. For 1,1-dichlorocyclopropane, excellent agreement is found with the results from a recent NMR study. As a means of studying the effect of a change in basis set, calculations are also carried out on methyl chloride.     

Theoretical investigation of adenine–BX3 (X=F,Cl) complex

Geometries and binding energies are predicted at B3LYP/6-311+G* level for the adenine–BX₃ (X=F,Cl) systems and four conformers with no imaginary frequencies have been obtained for both adenine–BF₃ and adenine–BCl₃, respectively, and single energy calculations using much larger basis sets (6-311+G(2df,p)) and aug-cc-pVDZ were carried out as well. The most stable conformer is BF₃ or BCl₃ connected to N₃ of adenine and with the stabilization energy of 22.55 or 20.59 kcal/mol at B3LYP/6-311+G* level (BSSE corrected). The analyses for the combining interaction between BX₃ and adenine with natural bond orbital method (NBO) and the atom-in-molecules theory (AIM) have been performed. The results indicate that all the conformers were formed with σ–p type interactions between adenine and BX₃, in which pyridine-type nitrogen or nitrogen atom of amino group offers its lone pair electron to the empty p orbital of boron atom and the concomitances of charge transference from adenine to BX₃ were occurred. Frequency analysis suggested that the stretching vibration of BX₃ underwent a red shift in complexes. Adenine–BF₃ complex was more stable than adenine–BCl₃ although the distance of B–N is shorter in the later.