Theoretical calculations on the mechanisms of the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐chloro‐1‐phenylethane, 3‐chloro‐1‐phenylpropane, 4‐chloro‐1‐phenylbutane, 5‐chloro‐1‐phenylpentane,and their corresponding chloroalkanes: The effect of the phenyl ring

The kinetics and mechanisms of the dehydrochlorination of 2‐chloro‐1‐ phenylethane, 3‐chloro‐1‐phenylpropane, 4‐chloro‐1‐phenylbutane, 5‐chloro‐1‐phenylpentane, and their corresponding chloroalkanes were examined by means of electronic structure calculation using density functional theory methods B3LYP/6–31G(d,p), B3LYP/6–31++G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6–31G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6–31++G(d,p), PBEPBE/6–31G(d,p), and PBEPBE/6–31++G(d,p). The potential energy surface was investigated for the minimum energy path. Calculated enthalpies and energies of activation are in good agreement with experimental values using the MPW1PW91 and B3LYP methods. The transition state of these reactions is a four‐centered cyclic structure. The reported experimental results proposing neighboring group participation by the phenyl group was not supported by theoretical calculations. The rate‐determining process in these reactions is the breaking of Cl? C bond. The reactions are described as concerted moderately polar and nonsynchronous. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 292–302, 2011     

Theoretical study of the mechanism for the gas‐phase pyrolysis kinetics of 2‐methylbenzyl chloride

The study of the kinetics and mechanism of dehydrochlorination reaction of 2‐methyl benzyl chloride in the gas phase was carried out by means of electronic structure calculations using ab initio Móller‐Plesset MP2/6‐31G(d,p), and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods: B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31++G(d,p)], PBE/6‐31G(d,p), PBE/6‐31++G(d,p). Investigated reaction pathways comprise: Mechanism I, a concerted reaction through a six‐centered cyclic transition state (TS) geometry; Mechanism II, a 1,3‐chlorine shift followed by beta‐elimination and Mechanism III, a single‐step elimination with simultaneous HCl and benzocyclobutene formation through a bicyclic type of TS. Calculated parameters ruled out Mechanism III and suggest the elimination reaction may occur by either unimolecular Mechanism I or Mechanism II. However, the TS of the former is 20 kJ/mole more stable than the TS of the latter. Consequently, the Mechanism I seem to be more probable to occur. The rate‐determining process is the breaking of C‐Cl bond. The involvement of π‐electrons of the aromatic system was demonstrated by NBO charges and bond order calculations. The reaction is moderately polar in nature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 537–546, 2011     

The reaction mechanism of the gas‐phase thermal decomposition kinetics of neopentyl halides: A DFT study

The kinetics and mechanisms of the gas‐phase elimination reactions of neopentyl chloride and neopentyl bromide have been studied by means of electronic structure calculations using density functional methods: B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/ 6‐31++G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31G(d,p), MPW1PW91/6‐31++G(d,p), PBEPBE/6‐31G(d,p), PBEPBE /6‐31++G(d,p). The reaction channels that account in products formation have a common first step involving a Wagner‐Meerwein rearrangement. The migration of the halide from the terminal carbon to the more substituted carbon is followed by beta‐elimination of HCl or HBr to give two olefins: the Sayzeff and Hoffmann products. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that these eliminations proceed through concerted asynchronous process. The transition state (TS) located for the rate‐determining step shows the halide detached and bridging between the terminal carbon and the quaternary carbon, while the methyl group is also migrating in a concerted fashion. The TS is described as an intimate ion‐pair with a large negative charge at the halide atom. The concerted migration of methyl group provides stabilization of the TS by delocalizing the electron density between the terminal carbon and the quaternary carbon. The B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) allows to obtain reasonable energies and enthalpies of activation. The nature of these reactions is examined in terms of geometrical parameters, electron distribution, and bond order analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Theoretical studies of the gas‐phase pyrolysis kinetics of ω‐bromonitriles,ZCH2CH2Br [Z = NC,NCCH2, NCCH2CH2]

The gas‐phase elimination of several ω‐bromonitriles (ZCH₂CH₂Br, Z = NC, NCCH₂, NCCH₂CH₂) has been examined at the MP2/6‐31G(d,p), MP2/6‐31G(2d,2p), B3PW91/6‐31G(2d,2p), and MPW91PW91/6‐31(2p,2d) levels of theory. The bromonitriles yield the corresponding cyano‐olefin and HBr gas in a rate‐determining step. The MPW91PW91/6‐31G(2p,2d) results suggest a concerted mechanism, with a polar, four‐membered transition state. The calculated kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were found to be within reasonable agreement with the experimental determinations. Substituent effects are discussed in terms of electronic structure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 168–175, 2009     

DFT computational studies on rotation barriers,tautomerism, intramolecular hydrogen bond,and solvent effects in 8‐hydroxyquinoline

Intramolecular hydrogen binding interactions in 8‐hydroxyquinoline, both in its zwitterionic tautomer and in the rotamer without the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB), have been computed using the B3LYP and MPW1K density functionals. The rotation of the O? H bond and intramolecular proton transfer reactions were studied theoretically. The following theory levels have been applied: B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p), MPW1K/6‐311++G(d,p), and MPW1K/6‐311++G(2d,3p)//MPW1K/6‐311++G(d,p). Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has also been carried out. The effect of medium (benzene, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2‐dichloroethane, acetone, water) was simulated using the self‐consistent reaction field (SCRF) method within the framework of the polarizable continuum model (PCM), at the MPW1K/6‐311++G(d,p) level. The evolution of geometry, relative energies, heights of rotation (around the O? H bond) and tautomerization barriers, IHB energies, and ΔG(solv) have been systematically investigated. The results obtained have shown the failure to neglect some changes of the above characteristics in polar media with respect to the gaseous phase. The series of stability of the forms under study in the gaseous phase remains the same in solution. Thus, in spite of the important role of the solvent electrostatic effects, the intrinsic stability of those species overcomes the solvent effects. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Comparison of aromatic NH···π, OH···π, and CH···π interactions of alanine using MP2, CCSD, and DFT methods

A comparison of the performance of various density functional methods including long‐range corrected and dispersion corrected methods [MPW1PW91, B3LYP, B3PW91, B97‐D, B1B95, MPWB1K, M06‐2X, SVWN5, ωB97XD, long‐range correction (LC)‐ωPBE, and CAM‐B3LYP using 6‐31+G(d,p) basis set] in the study of CH···π, OH···π, and NH···π interactions were done using weak complexes of neutral (A) and cationic (A⁺) forms of alanine with benzene by taking the Møller–Plesset (MP2)/6‐31+G(d,p) results as the reference. Further, the binding energies of the neutral alanine–benzene complexes were assessed at coupled cluster (CCSD)/6‐31G(d,p) method. Analysis of the molecular geometries and interaction energies at density functional theory (DFT), MP2, CCSD methods and CCSD(T) single point level reveal that MP2 is the best overall performer for noncovalent interactions giving accuracy close to CCSD method. MPWB1K fared better in interaction energy calculations than other DFT methods. In the case of M06‐2X, SVWN5, and the dispersion corrected B97‐D, the interaction energies are significantly overrated for neutral systems compared to other methods. However, for cationic systems, B97‐D yields structures and interaction energies similar to MP2 and MPWB1K methods. Among the long‐range corrected methods, LC‐ωPBE and CAM‐B3LYP methods show close agreement with MP2 values while ωB97XD energies are notably higher than MP2 values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010     

Mechanistic insights into triterpene synthesis from quantum mechanical calculations. Detection of systematic errors in B3LYP cyclization energies

Most quantum mechanical studies of triterpene synthesis have been done on small models. We calculated mPW1PW91/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G* energies for many C30H51O+ intermediates to establish the first comprehensive energy profiles for the cationic cyclization of oxidosqualene to lanosterol, lupeol, and hopen-3beta-ol. Differences among these 3 profiles were attributed to ring strain, steric effects, and proton affinity. Modest activation energy barriers and the ample exothermicity of most annulations indicated that the cationic intermediates rarely need enzymatic stabilization. The course of reaction is guided by hyperconjugation of the carbocationic 2p orbital with parallel C-C and C-H bonds. Hyperconjugation for cations with a horizontal 2p orbital (in the plane of the ABCD ring system) leads to annulation and ring expansion. If the 2p orbital becomes vertical, hyperconjugation fosters 1,2-methyl and hydride shifts. Transition states leading to rings D and E were bridged cyclopropane/carbonium ions, which allow ring expansion/annulation to bypass formation of undesirable anti-Markovnikov cations. Similar bridged species are also involved in many cation rearrangements. Our calculations revealed systematic errors in DFT cyclization energies. A spectacular example was the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G* prediction of endothermicity for the strongly exothermic cyclization of squalene to hopene. DFT cyclization energies for the 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set ranged from reasonable accuracy (mPW1PW91, TPSSh with 25% HF exchange) to underestimation (B3LYP, HCTH, TPSS, O3LYP) or overestimation (MP2, MPW1K, PBE1PBE). Despite minor inaccuracies, B3LYP/6-31G* geometries usually gave credible mPW1PW91 single-point energies. Nevertheless, DFT energies should be used cautiously until broadly reliable methods are established.     

Theoretical analysis of vibrational spectra and scaling‐factor of 2‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives

In this study, the direct molecular structure implementations for calculating vibrational spectra and scaling factors, and infrared intensities at both the Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional (B3LYP) levels of theory with 6‐31G(d), 6‐311G(d), 6‐31++G(d,p), and 6‐311++G(d,p) basis sets are presented. Also, vibrational frequencies have been investigated as dependence on the choice of method and basis set. The parameters of molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies values of 2‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles 5a–g in the ground state have been calculated. Theoretical determination of vibrational frequencies is quite useful both in understanding the relationship between the molecular structures and scaling factor. The data of 2‐aryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles 5a–g display significant electronic properties provide the basis for future design of efficient materials having the oxadiazole core and theoretical IR studies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Evaluation of the enthalpy of formation, proton affinity, and gas-phase basicity of gamma-butyrolactone and 2-pyrrolidinone by isodesmic reactions

The knowledge of thermochemical parameters such as the enthalpy of formation, gas-phase basicity, and proton affinity may be the key to understanding molecular reactivity. The obtention of these thermochemical parameters by theoretical chemical models may be advantageous when experimental measurements are difficult to accomplish. The development of ab initio composite models represents a major advance in the obtention of these thermochemical parameters, but these methods do not always lead to accurate values. Aiming at achieving a comparison between the ab initio models and the hybrid models based on the density functional theory (DFT), we have studied gamma-butyrolactone and 2-pyrrolidinone with a goal of obtaining high-quality thermochemical parameters using the composite chemical models G2, G2MP2, MP2, G3, CBS-Q, CBS-4, and CBS-QB3; the DFT methods B3LYP, B3P86, PW91PW91, mPW1PW, and B98; and the basis sets 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d), 6-31G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-31++G(d,p), 6-311G(d), 6-311+G(d), 6-311G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), 6-311++G(d,p), aug-cc-pVDZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ. Values obtained for the enthalpies of formation, proton affinity, and gas-phase basicity of the two target molecules were compared to the experimental data reported in the literature. The best results were achieved with the use of DFT models, and the B3LYP method led to the most accurate data.     

Mechanism for the reaction of 2-naphthol with N-methyl-N-phenyl-hydrazine suggested by the density functional theory investigations

For the first time the computed mechanisms for the novel reaction of 2-naphthol with N-methyl-N-phenylhydrazine, leading to 1-amino-2-naphthol (Tang et al., J Am Chem Soc 2008, 130, 5840), have been investigated using the density functional theory. Four distinct possible pathways were evaluated: two amination mechanisms with the attack of NH(2) group respectively at the α-position C1 and β-position C3 atoms of 2-naphthol (pathways 1 and 2) as well as two rearrangement processes with displacement of the phenolic hydroxyl group followed by the benzidine-like rearrangement at the α-position C1 and β-position C3 atoms of 2-naphthol, respectively (pathways 3 and 4). Solvent effect has been tested based on the optimized geometries of the stationary points in solution at the B3LYP/PCM/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory with an averaged dielectric constant of binary solvent. Single-point energies of the optimized structures have been calculated using three hybrid density functionals, B3LYP, MPW3LYP, and B3PW91 with the 6-311++G(3df,2p) basis set. Our computed results clearly manifest that pathway 1 (α-amination) has the highest possibility to occur, with the Gibbs free energies being lower by 6 to 20 kcal/mol compared with the other three pathways, which leads to 1-amino-2-naphthol and N-methylaniline as products. It is in excellent agreement with the experimental observation.     

A DFT conformational analysis and VCD study on methyl tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylate

DFT calculations were performed on (S)-methyl tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylate to facilitate the interpretation of IR and VCD spectra. The potential energy surface could not be described unambiguously using the 6-31G* basis set in combination with different density functionals including B1LYP, B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91, B98, BHandH, BHandHLYP, MPW1PW91 and PBE1PBE. In contrast, a uniform conformational picture could be found using the cc-pVTZ basis set. Using this large basis set and the collection of nine functionals from above, the dipole and rotational strengths were calculated, and compared to experimental values which were extracted from the experimental IR and VCD spectra for (+)-(S)-methyl tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylate. A detailed analysis on the agreement between experiment and simulated spectra was performed by assigning the experimental bands based on the harmonic fundamentals obtained for all functionals except BHandH, which performs badly over the whole line. Assessing the dipole strengths, all tested functionals perform equally well. For the rotational strengths, differences can be observed: B3LYP, B1LYP and B98 give the highest correlation with experiment, while PBE1PBE gives the lowest correlation. Comparable conclusions are obtained using a neighborhood similarity measure.     

Performance of density functionals for calculation of reductive ring-opening reaction energies of Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>-EC and Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>-VC

Reaction energies were determined for reductive ring-opening reactions of Li⁺-coordinated ethylene carbonate (EC) and vinylene carbonate (VC) by using various density functional theory (DFT) and ab-initio methods applying the basis sets up to Dunnings aug-cc-pVQZ. The methods examined include the local density functional (SVWN), the pure gradient-corrected density functionals (BLYP and BPW91), and the hybrid density functionals (B3LYP, B1LYP, B3PW91, and mPW1PW91). Comparison of the DFT results with ab-initio results indicates that the mPW1PW91 approach introduced by Adamo and Barone, is superior to all the other DFT methods (including B3LYP). The performance of more cost-effective Pople-type basis sets ranging from 6-31G(d,p) to 6-311++G(3df,3pd) was assessed at DFT levels of theory by calibrating them with the aug-cc-pVQZ results     

Theoretical studies on the intramolecular hydrogen bond and tautomerism of 8-mercaptoquinoline in the gaseous phase and in solution using modern DFT methods

A theoretical quantum chemical study of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in 8-mercaptoquinoline has been carried out. Special attention has been paid to the rotation of S-H bond and intramolecular proton-transfer reactions. Therewith, the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p), MPW1K/6-311++G(d,p), MPW1K/6-31+G(2d,2p), BH&HLYP/6-311++G(d,p), and G96LYP/6-311++G(d,p) methods have been used. By means of the Onsager and PCM reaction field methods, the effects of solvent on hydrogen-bond energies, conformational equilibria, rotational barriers, and tautomerism in aqueous solution have been studied. These simulations were done at the MPW1K/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels. Natural-bond orbital analysis has been performed to study the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) in the gaseous phase and in aqueous medium. The stability of forms under consideration in solution does not coincide with that in the gaseous phase, underlining a great importance of the electrostatic influence of solvent. Double-proton transfer in the prototropic tautomerization of 8-mercaptoquinoline, one water molecule complex in the gaseous phase and in solution, has been systematically studied. The double-proton transfer occurs concertedly and synchronously. The water-assisted tautomerization is kinetically less, but thermodynamically more favorable, compared to that of the single-proton transfer. As in the case with single-proton transfer, for water-assisted reaction, the tautomerization energies and barrier heights decrease with the increase in dielectric constant, which implies faster and more complete tautomerization of 8-mercaptoquinoline in a polar solvent.     

The confirmation of accurate combination of functional and basis set for transition‐metal dimers: Fe2, Co2, Ni2, Ru2, Rh2, Pd2, Os2, Ir2, and Pt2

Eight kinds of density functionals named B3LYP, PBE1PBE, B1B95, BLYP, BP86, G96PW91, mPWPW91, and SVWN along with two different valence basis sets (LANL2DZ and CEP‐121g) are employed to study the transition‐metal dimers for the elements of group VIII. By comparing the equilibrium bond distances, vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies of the ground state of these dimers with the available experimental values and theoretical data, we show that the “pure” DFT methods (G96PW91, BLYP, and BP86) with great‐gradient approximation always give better results relative to the hybrid HF/DFT schemes (B3LYP, PBE1PBE, and B1B95). The striking case found by us is that the G96PW91 functional, which is not tested in previous systemic studies, always predicts the dissociation energy to be well. The Ru₂ and Os₂ dimers are sensitive to not only the functionals employed but also the valence basis sets adopted. The natural bond orbital population is analyzed, and the molecular orbitals of the unpaired electrons are determined. Furthermore, our results indicate that the s and d orbitals of these dimers always hybridize with each other except for Rh₂ and Pt₂ molecules. And by analyzing the electron configuration of the bonding atom, the dissociation limit of the ground state is obtained. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the unimolecular elimination of 2,2-diethoxypropane and 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane in the gas phase: experimental and theoretical study

The gas-phase thermal elimination of 2,2-diethoxypropane was found to give ethanol, acetone, and ethylene, while 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane yielded 1-ethoxycyclohexene and ethanol. The kinetics determinations were carried out, with the reaction vessels deactivated with allyl bromide, and the presence of the free radical suppressor cyclohexene and toluene. Temperature and pressure ranges were 240.1-358.3 °C and 38-102 Torr. The elimination reactions are homogeneous, unimolecular, and follow a first-order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2,2-diethoxypropane, log k(1) (s(-1)) = (13.04 ± 0.07) - (186.6 ± 0.8) kJ mol(-1) (2.303RT)(-1); for the intermediate 2-ethoxypropene, log k(1) (s(-1)) = (13.36 ± 0.33) - (188.8 ± 3.4) kJ mol(-1) (2.303RT)(-1); and for 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane, log k = (14.02 ± 0.11) - (176.6 ± 1.1) kJ mol(-1) (2.303RT)(-1). Theoretical calculations of these reactions using DFT methods B3LYP, MPW1PW91, and PBEPBE, with 6-31G(d,p) and 6-31++G(d,p) basis set, demonstrated that the elimination of 2,2-diethoxypropane and 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane proceeds through a concerted nonsynchronous four-membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. The rate-determining factor in these reactions is the elongation of the C-O bond. The intermediate product of 2,2-diethoxypropane elimination, that is, 2-ethoxypropene, further decomposes through a concerted cyclic six-membered cyclic transition state mechanism.     

FT-IR and FT-Raman, UV spectroscopic investigation of 1-bromo-3-fluorobenzene using DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW91PW91) calculations

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 1-bromo-3-fluorobenzene (C₆H₄FBr) molecule have been recorded using Bruker IFS 66 V spectrometer in the range of 4000–100 cm⁻¹. The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies in the ground state are calculated using the DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW91PW91) methods with 6-31++G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets. The computed values of frequencies are scaled using a suitable scale factor to yield good coherence with the observed values. The isotropic DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW1PW91) analysis showed good agreement with the experimental observations. Comparison of the fundamental vibrational frequencies with calculated results by B3LYP methods. The complete data of this molecule provide the information for future development of substituted benzene. The influence of bromine and fluorine atom on the geometry of benzene and its normal modes of vibrations has also been discussed. A study on the electronic properties, such as absorption wavelengths, excitation energy, dipole moment and frontier molecular orbital energies, was performed by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. The electronic structure and the assignment of the absorption bands in the electronic spectra of steady compounds were discussed. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. On the basis of the thermodynamic properties of the title compound at different temperatures have been calculated in gas phase, revealing the correlations between standard heat capacities (C) standard entropies (S), standard enthalpy changes (H) and temperatures.     

Molecular structure and vibrational investigation of benzenesulfonic acid methyl ester using DFT (LSDA, B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW1PW91) theory calculations

The FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra for benzenesulfonic acid methyl ester (BSAME) have been recorded in the region 4000-100 cm(-1) and compared with the harmonic vibrational frequencies calculated using DFT (LSDA, B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW1PW91) method by employing 6-311G (d, p) basis set with appropriate scale factors. IR intensities and Raman activities are also calculated by DFT (LSDA, B3LYP, B3PW91 and MPW1PW91) methods. Optimized geometries of the molecule have been interpreted and compared with the reported experimental values for sulfonic acid and some substituted sulfonic acids. The experimental geometrical parameters show satisfactory agreement with the theoretical prediction from DFT. The scaled vibrational frequencies at LSDA/B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) seem to coincide with the experimentally observed values with acceptable deviations. The theoretical spectrograms (IR and Raman) have been constructed and compared with the experimental FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra. Some of the vibrational frequencies of the sulfonic acid are effected upon profusely with the methyl substitution in comparison to benzene sulfonamide and these differences are interpreted.     

The molecular structure of fluoromalononitrile as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and ab initio calculations

The molecular structure of fluoromalononitrile was studied by means of gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum mechanical methods using HF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-311++G(2df,2pd) and DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3PW91/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2pd) and B3PW91/6-311++G(2df,2pd). The r(g) and angle(alpha) structural parameters we obtained from the present analysis are: CC=1.487(5) A, CN=1.157(3) A, CF=1.386(5) A, CH=1.096 A (ass.), angleCCC=106.7(1.0) degrees , angleCCF=108.0(0.7) degrees , angleCCN=177.6(2.0) degrees . Uncertainties in parenthesis are 3sigma.