Spectra and structure of small ring compounds—LX. Raman and infrared spectra,conformational stability,normal coordinate analysis,and ab initio calculations of cyclobutyl acetylene

The Raman spectra (3400 to 10 cm⁻¹ of gaseous, liquid (with qualitative depolarization values) and solid cyclobutyl acetylene, c-C₄H₇CCH, have been recorded. Additionally, the infrared spectra (3500 to 90 cm⁻¹ of the gas and solid have been obtained. The spectra of the fluid phases are consistent with two stable conformers existing at ambient temperature. These data have been interpreted on the basis that the equatorial conformer is more stable than the high energy axial form in both the gas- and liquid-phases, and is the only conformer present in the solid. Two Q-branches are observed in the low frequency vibrational spectra of the gas at 133 and 118 cm⁻¹ and are assigned to the fundamental ring puckering vibration and an associated upper state transition of the low energy equatorial conformer. These data have been used to approximate the form of the potential function governing ring inversion. Experimental values for the enthalpy difference between the two conformers have been determined for both the gas, 282 ± 49 cm⁻¹, and the liquid, 181 ± 15 cm⁻¹, from relative intensities of a pair of Raman lines over 71 and 100°C temperature ranges, respectively. The structure, conformational stability, inversion barrier and vibrational frequencies have been determined by ab initio calculations using the 3-21G and/or 6-31G* basis sets. These calculated results are discussed in comparison to those determined from experiment and to corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Origin of the axial-alkyl preference of (R)-α-phellandrene and related compounds investigated by high-level ab initio MO calculations. Importance of the CH/π hydrogen bond

Ab initio MO calculations were carried out, at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) level, to investigate the Gibbs energy of conformational isomers of (R)-α-phellandrene and related 5-alkyl-1,3-cyclohexadienes. It has been found that the conformer bearing the 5-alkyl group in axial orientation is more stable than the equatorial congener. The result is consistent with experimental evidence that the axial-isopropyl conformer prevails in the conformational equilibrium of α-phellandrene. The reason for the stability of the folded conformer has been sought in the context of the CH/π hydrogen bond. A number of short non-bond distances have been disclosed in the axial conformers, between CHs in the 5-alkyl group and sp²-carbons of the cyclohexadiene ring. We suggest that the stability of the folded conformation often observed in conjugated diene compounds of natural origin, such as α-phellandrene and levopimaric acid, is attributed to an attractive molecular force, the CH/π hydrogen bond.     

With regard to the hydrogen bonding in complexes of pyridylureas, less is more. a role for shape complementarity and CH...O interactions?

A pyridylurea.tetraazaanthracenedione complex with three hydrogen bonds is more stable than an analogous complex with four hydrogen bonds. An X-ray analysis and modeling suggests a steric mismatch destabilizing the latter and a CH...O contact enhancing the stability of the former.     

Determination of vibrational parameters of methanol from matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Part 1 – Spectral analysis in the domain 11 000–200 cm

Infrared spectra of three isotopic species of methanol (¹²CH₃¹⁶OH, ¹³CH₃¹⁶OH, ¹²CH₃¹⁸OH) trapped in neon and nitrogen matrices have been recorded between 11 000 and 200 cm⁻¹. Their analysis is based on the isotopic effects which slightly modify the frequencies without significantly changing the nature of vibrations nor the band intensities. From the assignment of most of the two quanta transitions 45 out of the 78 anharmonicity coefficients have been deduced. The value of some of them has been confirmed by the identification of three quanta transitions mainly involving the OH stretching mode. The problem of vibrational resonances between methyl bending and stretching modes has been tackled by performing complementary experiments: use of other isotopic species (CH₃OD, CH₂DOH) and acquisition of Raman spectra in the gas phase.     

Ab initio and kinetic study of the reaction of ketones with OH for T = 500-2000 K. Part I: hydrogen-abstraction from H3CC(O)CH(3-x)(CH3)x, x = 0 ↦ 2

A theoretical study is presented of the mechanism and kinetics of the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with three ketones: dimethyl (DMK), ethylmethyl (EMK) and iso-propylmethyl (iPMK) ketones. CCSD(T) values extrapolated to the basis set limit are used to benchmark the computationally less expensive methods G3 and G3MP2BH&H, for the DMK + OH reaction system. These latter methods are then used in computations involving the reactions of the larger ketones. All possible abstraction channels have been modeled. A stepwise mechanism involving the formation of a reactant complex in the entrance channel and a product complex in the exit channel has been recognized in part of the abstracting processes. High-pressure limit rate constants of the title reactions have been calculated in the temperature range of 500-2000 K using the Variflex code including Eckart tunneling corrections. Variable reaction coordinate transition state theory (VRC-TST) has been used for the rate constants of the barrier-less entrance channel. Calculated total rate constants (cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) are reported as follows: k(DMK) = 1.32 × 10(2)×T(3.30)exp(503/T), k(EMK) = 3.84 × 10(1)×T(3.51)exp(1515/T), k(iPMK) = 2.08 × 10(1)×T(3.58)exp(2161/T). Group rate constants (on a per H atom basis) for different carbon sites in title reactions have also been provided.     

New borate LaB5O8(OH)2 · 1.5H2O with a {4[3T + Δ]∞∞ + Δ}∞∞∞ complex framework. Its place in the structural system based on symmetry and topology analysis in terms of the OD theory

Crystals of a new hydrous rare-earth borate LaB₅O₈(OH)₂ · 1.5H₂O(1), space group P2₁/n, are prepared hydrothermally. The crystal structure is solved using the heavy-atom method without a priori knowledge of the chemical formula. The complex anionic radical is built of pleated layers, which are structurally and topologically related to layered pentaborates but do not have the fifth boron polyhedron in the building block; these layers are linked into the {4[3T + Δ]_∞∞ + [Δ]}_∞∞∞ framework through BO₃ triangles. Lanthanum atoms reside in valleys of the layers; framework voids are occupied by water molecules. The framework of the new borate in its topology and symmetry is an analogue of the centrosymmetric variety of lead borate (hilgardite): in both, the layers are apolar and are type I in terms of the OD theory.