A new H2O2/acid anhydride system for the iodoarene-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions of phenols

We have succeeded in the first versatile iodoarene-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions by development of a new reoxidation system at low temperatures using stoichiometric bis(trifluoroacetyl) peroxide A in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The catalytic system supplies a wide range of substrates and functional availabilities sufficient to be used in the key synthetic process of producing biologically important Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.     

Comprehensive theoretical studies on the CF3H dissociation mechanism and the reactions of CF3H with OH and H free radicals

The potential energy surfaces for the CF3H unimolecular dissociation reaction and reactions of CF3H with free radical OH and H were investigated at the B3LYP6-311++G(**) and QCISD(T)6-311++G(**) levels and by the G3B3 theory. All the possible stationary and first-order saddle points along the reaction paths were verified by the vibrational analysis. The calculations account for all the product channels. The reaction enthalpies obtained at the G3B3 level are in good agreement with the available experiments. Canonical transition-state theory with Wigner tunneling correction was used to predict the rate constants for the temperature range of 298-2500 K without any artificial adjustment, and tshe computed rate constants for elementary channels can be accurately fitted with three-parameter Arrhenius expressions. The theoretical rate constants of the CF3H+H reaction agree with the available experimental data very well. The theoretical and experimental rate constants for the CF3H+OH reaction are in reasonable agreement. The H abstraction of CF3H by OH is found to be the main reaction channel for the CF3H fire extinguishing reactions while the CF3H unimolecular dissociation reaction plays a negligible role.     

Kinetics and products of chlorine atom initiated oxidation of HCF2OCF2OCF2CF2OCF2H and HCF2O(CF2O)n‐(CF2CF2O)mCF2H

Smog chamber/FTIR techniques were used to measure k(Cl + HCF₂OCF₂OCF₂‐CF₂OCF₂H) = k(Cl + HCF₂O(CF₂O)_n(CF₂CF₂O)_mCF₂H) = (5.0 ± 1.4) × 10^?17 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in 700 Torr of N₂/O₂ diluent at 296 ± 1 K. The Cl‐initiated atmospheric oxidation of HCF₂OCF₂OCF₂CF₂OCF₂H and the sample of HCF₂O(CF₂O)_n(CF₂CF₂O)_mCF₂H used in this work gave COF₂ in molar yields of (476 ± 36)% and (859 ± 63)%, respectively, with no other observable carbon containing products (i.e., essentially complete conversion of both hydrofluoropolyethers into COF₂). The results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry and environmental impact of hydrofluoropolyethers of the general formula HCF₂O(CF₂O)_n(CF₂CF₂O)_mCF₂H. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 819–825, 2008     

Product spin-orbit state resolved dynamics of the H+H2O and H+D2O abstraction reactions

The product state-resolved dynamics of the reactions H+H(2)O/D(2)O-->OH/OD((2)Pi(Omega);v',N',f )+H(2)/HD have been explored at center-of-mass collision energies around 1.2, 1.4, and 2.5 eV. The experiments employ pulsed laser photolysis coupled with polarized Doppler-resolved laser induced fluorescence detection of the OH/OD radical products. The populations in the OH spin-orbit states at a collision energy of 1.2 eV have been determined for the H+H(2)O reaction, and for low rotational levels they are shown to deviate from the statistical limit. For the H+D(2)O reaction at the highest collision energy studied the OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular distributions show scattering over a wide range of angles with a preference towards the forward direction. The kinetic energy release distributions obtained at 2.5 eV also indicate that the HD coproducts are born with significantly more internal excitation than at 1.4 eV. The OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular and kinetic energy release distributions are almost identical to those of their spin-orbit excited OD((2)Pi(1/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') counterpart. The data are compared with previous experimental measurements at similar collision energies, and with the results of previously published quasiclassical trajectory and quantum mechanical calculations employing the most recently developed potential energy surface. Product OH/OD spin-orbit effects in the reaction are discussed with reference to simple models.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of the products of laser-ablated thorium atom reactions with H2O in excess argon

Reactions of laser-ablated Th atoms with H2O during condensation in excess argon have formed a variety of intriguing new Th, H, O species. Infrared absorptions at 1406.0 and 842.6 cm-1 are assigned to the H-Th and Th=O stretching vibrations of HThO. Absorptions at 1397.2, 1352.4, and 822.8 cm-1 are assigned to symmetric H-Th-H, antisymmetric H-Th-H, and Th=O stretching vibrations of the major primary reaction product H2ThO. Thorium monoxide (ThO) produced in the reaction inserts into H2O to form HThO(OH), which absorbs at 1341.0, 804.0, and 542.6 cm-1. Both HThO(OH) and ThO2 add another H2O molecule to give HTh(OH)3 and OTh(OH)2, respectively. Weaker thorium hydride (ThH1(-4)) absorptions were also observed. Relativistic DFT and ab initio calculations were performed on all proposed molecules and other possible isomers. The good agreement between experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts provides support for these first identifications of Th, H, O molecular species.     

Bromodifluoroacetyl fluoride,CF2BrC(O)F: Experimental and theoretical studies

Bromodifluoroacetyl fluoride, CF₂BrC(O)F, was prepared through the gas-phase reaction of bromotrifluoroethene, CF₂CFBr, with molecular oxygen initiated either by NO₂ or CF₃OF. The compound was experimentally studied by FTIR spectroscopy of the gas phase and also isolated in Ar and N₂ matrices at low temperature. The energy differences between the possible conformers were theoretically studied, as well as the vibrational spectra of the conformers.     

Reaction of CF3 radicals with H2O and D2O

The reaction of CF₃ radicals with H₂O (D₂O) has been studied over the range of 533–723 K using the photolysis and the pyrolysis of CF₃I as the free radical source. Arrhenius parameters for the reactions where X = H or D, relative to CF₃ radical recombination are given by where k/k is in cm^3/2/mol^1/2·s^1/2 and θ = 2.303RT/cal/mol. The activation energy and the primary kinetic isotope effect have been compared with those derived from the BEBO method.     

Solvation dynamics in Ni+ (H2O)n clusters probed with infrared spectroscopy

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy is reported for mass-selected Ni+ (H2O)n complexes in the O-H stretching region up to cluster sizes of n = 25. These clusters fragment by the loss of one or more intact water molecules, and their excitation spectra show distinct bands in the region of the symmetric and asymmetric stretches of water. The first evidence for hydrogen bonding, indicated by a broad band strongly red-shifted from the free OH region, appears at the cluster size of n = 4. At larger cluster sizes, additional red-shifted structure evolves over a broader wavelength range in the hydrogen-bonding region. In the free OH region, the symmetric stretch gradually diminishes in intensity, while the asymmetric stretch develops into a closely spaced doublet near 3700 cm(-1). The data indicate that essentially all of the water molecules are in a hydrogen-bonded network by the size of n = 10. However, there is no evidence for the formation of clathrate structures seen recently via IR spectroscopy of protonated water clusters.     

Temperature-dependent kinetics studies of the reactions of C2H5O2 and n-C3H7O2 radicals with NO

The rate coefficients for the gas-phase reactions of C₂H₅O₂ and n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals with NO have been measured over the temperature range of (201–403) K using chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection of the peroxy radical. The alkyl peroxy radicals were generated by reacting alkyl radicals with O₂, where the alkyl radicals were produced through the pyrolysis of a larger alkyl nitrite. In some cases C₂H₅ radicals were generated through the dissociation of iodoethane in a low-power radio frequency discharge. The discharge source was also tested for the i-C₃H₇O₂ + NO reaction, yielding k_{298 K} = (9.1 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in excellent agreement with our previous determination. The temperature dependent rate coefficients were found to be k(T) = (2.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp{(380 ± 70)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k(T) = (2.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² exp{(350 ± 60)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the reactions of C₂H₅O₂ and n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals with NO, respectively. The rate coefficients at 298 K derived from these Arrhenius expressions are k = (9.3 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for C₂H₅O₂ radicals and k = (9.4 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Full-dimensional quantum dynamics study of the H + H2O and H + HOD exchange reactions

The initial state-selected time-dependent wave packet approach is employed to study the H' + H(2)O → H'OH + H and H' + HOD → H'OD + H, HOH' + D exchange reactions with both OH bonds in the H(2)O reactant and OH(D) bond in the HOD reactant treated as reactive bonds. The total reaction probabilities for different partial waves, as well as the integral cross sections, which are the exact CC (coupled-channel) results, are first obtained in this study for the H(2)O(HOD) reactant initially in the ground rovibrational state. Because of the shallow C(3v) minimum along the reaction path, the reaction probabilities for the three reactions present several resonance peaks, with one dominant resonance peak just above the threshold. The cross sections for the H' + HOD → HOH' + D reaction are substantially smaller than those for the H' + H(2)O → H'OH + H and H' + HOD → H'OD + H reactions, indicating that the H'/H exchange reactions are much more favored. In the CC calculations, the resonance peaks in the reaction probabilities diminish quickly with the increase in total angular momenta J, resulting in the existence of a clear step-like feature just above the threshold in the cross sections for the title reactions, which manifests the signature of shape resonances in these reactions. In the CS calculations, the resonance peaks on reaction probabilities persist in many partial waves, and thus the resonance structures can no longer survive the partial-wave summation and are washed out completely in the CS cross sections for the title reactions.     

Optical emission spectroscopy of CF4+O2 plasmas using a new technique

Optical emission intensities in the sheath region are not the same as those in the plasma region. This is because not only the electron density, but also the electron temperature, is different between the two regions. In this study a Cu rod is inserted into the plasma, and the rod potential is altered from the ground potential to a negative potential with a frequency of 20 Hz. The optical emission ray comes from the sheath region when the negative potential is applied, but comes form the plasma region at the ground potential. We can immediately detect the difference of the emission intensities between the plasma and the sheath regions by a lock-in amplifier. The pre-amplifier is placed prior to the lock-in amplifier. By using this pre-amplifier the output signal of the lock-in amplifier can be adjusted to zero for any emission line. the emission spectra from a CF₄+O₂ plasma are measured. A small amount of Ar gas and/or N₂ gas is added and the output signal of the lock-in amplifier is adjusted to zero for either the Ar emission line or the N₂ emission line. In a fluorine-contained plasma the F emission intensity normalized by the Ar one has been widely used in order to obtain the F density. This validity is confirmed by the present experiment. It is also confirmed that the CO emission intensity normalized by that of N₂ is proportional to the CO density. The metastable states play an important role in the optical emission intensities of CO and N₂ molecules.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of CF3CHFOCH3, CF3CHFOC(O)H, and FC(O)OCH3 reactions with OH radicals

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of CF3CHFOCH3 was studied using an 11.5-dm3 environmental reaction chamber. OH radicals were produced by UV photolysis of an O3-H2O-He mixture at an initial pressure of 200 Torr in the chamber. The rate constant of the reaction of CF3CHFOCH3 with OH radicals (k1) was determined to be (1.77 +/- 0.69) x 10(-12) exp[(-720 +/- 110)/T] cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1) by means of a relative rate method at 253-328 K. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy at 298 K. CF3CHFOC(O)H, FC(O)OCH3, and COF2 were determined to be the major products. The branching ratio (k1a/k1b) for the reactions CF3CHFOCH3 + OH --> CF3CHFOCH2* + H2O (k1a) and CF3CHFOCH3 + OH --> CF3CF*OCH3 + H2O (k1b) was estimated to be 4.2:1 at 298 K from the yields of CF3CHFOC(O)H, FC(O)OCH3, and COF2. The rate constants of the reactions of CF3CHFOC(O)H (k2) and FC(O)OCH3 (k3) with OH radicals were determined to be (9.14 +/- 2.78) x 10(-13) exp[(-1190 +/- 90)/T] and (2.10 +/- 0.65) x 10(-13) exp[(-630 +/- 90)/T] cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1), respectively, by means of a relative rate method at 253-328 K. The rate constants at 298 K were as follows: k1 = (1.56 +/- 0.06) x 10-13, k2 = (1.67 +/- 0.05) x 10-14, and k3 = (2.53 +/- 0.07) x 10-14 cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1). The tropospheric lifetimes of CF3CHFOCH3, CF3CHFOC(O)H, and FC(O)OCH3 with respect to reaction with OH radicals were estimated to be 0.29, 3.2, and 1.8 years, respectively.     

An experimental and theoretical study of double photoionization of CF4 using time-of-flight photoelectron-photoelectron (photoion-photoion) coincidence spectroscopy

Single photon double ionization of CF4 has been studied by means of a time-of-flight photoelectron-photoelectron coincidence technique, which has very recently been extended towards ion detection, with energy analysis for the electrons and mass analysis for the ions. The complete single photon double ionization electron spectrum of CF4 up to a binding energy of approximately 51 eV is presented and discussed, also with the aid of accurate ab initio Green's function calculations. From ion detection in coincidence with the ejected electrons, we derive fragmentation pathway-selected double ionization electron spectra of CF4. From the same data we extract the yield of each doubly charged ion or ion pair as a function of the double ionization energy.     

Long path-FTIR studies of some atmospheric reactions involving CF3OO and CF3O radicals

In attempts to obtain kinetic and mechanistic data required for an assessment of atmospheric fate of alternative halocarbons containing a CF₃ group, reactions of the key free radical intermediates CF₃OO and CF₃O with several atmospheric compounds (i.e., NO, NO₂, alkanes and alkenes) have been studied at 297 ± 2 K in 700 torr of air. Experiments employed the long path-FTIR spectroscopic method for product analysis and the visible (400 nm) photolysis of CF₃NO → CF₃ + NO as a source for the precursor radical CF₃. Numerous labile and stable F-containing molecular products have been characterized based on kinetic and spectroscopic data obtained at sufficiently short photolysis time (≤1 min) to minimize heterogeneous decay on the reactor walls. Major new findings have been made for the reactions involving CF₃O radicals. The behavior of CF₃O radicals has been shown to be markedly different from that of CH₃O radicals, i.e., (1) O₂-reaction: no evidence for the F-atom transfer reaction CF₃O + O₂ → CF₂ O + FOO; (2) NO-reaction: addition reaction CH₃O + NO (+M) → CH₃ONO (+M), but F-transfer reaction CF₃O + NO → CF₂O + FNO; (3) NO₂-reaction: addition reaction for both radicals, but F-transfer reaction CF₃ + NO₂ → CF₂O + FNO₂ to a minor extent; (4) alkane-reaction: much faster H-abstraction by CF₃O, comparable to HO; (5) alkene-reaction: much faster addition reaction of CF₃O, comparable to HO. These results are summarized in this paper.     

Absolute rate constants for the self reactions of HO2, CF3CFHO2, and CF3O2 radicals and the cross reactions of HO2 with FO2, HO2 with CF3CFHO2, and HO2 with CF3O2 at 295 K

The kinetics of the self-reactions of HO₂, CF₃CFHO₂, and CF₃O₂ radicals and the cross reactions of HO₂ with FO₂, HO₂ with CF₃CFHO₂, and HO₂ with CF₃O₂ radicals, were studied by pulse radiolysis combined with time resolved UV absorption spectroscopy at 295 K. The rate constants for these reactions were obtained by computer simulation of absorption transients monitored at 220, 230, and 240 nm. The following rate constants were obtained at 295 K and 1000 mbar total pressure of SF₆ (unit: 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k(HO₂+HO₂)=3.5±1.0, k(CF₃CFHO₂+CF₃CFHO₂)=3.5±0.8, k(CF₃O₂+CF₃O₂)=2.25±0.30, k(HO₂+FO₂)=9±4, k(CF₃CFHO₂+HO₂)=5.0±1.5, and k(CF₃O₂+HO₂)=4.0±2.0. In addition, the decomposition rate of CF₃CFHO radicals was estimated to be (0.2–2)×10³ s⁻¹ in 1000 mbar of SF₆. Results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of hydrofluorocarbons. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bond-forming reactions of dications with molecules: a computational and experimental study of the mechanisms for the formation of HCF2+ from CF3(2+) and H2

The QCISD and QCISD(T) quantum chemical methods have been used to characterize the energetics of various possible mechanisms for the formation of HCF2+ from the bond-forming reaction of CF3(2+) with H2. The stationary points on four different pathways leading to the product combinations HCF2+ + H+ + F and HCF2+ + HF+ have been calculated. All four pathways begin with the formation of a collision complex [H2-CF3]2+, followed by an internal hydrogen atom migration to give HC(FH)F2(2+). In two of the mechanisms, immediate charge separation of HC(FH)F2(2+) via loss of either HF+ or a proton, followed by loss of an F atom, yields the experimentally observed bond-forming product HCF2+. For the other two mechanisms, internal hydrogen rearrangement of HC(FH)F2(2+) to give C(FH)2F(2+), followed by charge separation, yields the product CF2H+. This product can then overcome a 2.04 eV barrier to rearrange to the HCF2+ isomer, which is 1.80 eV more stable. All four calculated mechanisms are in agreement with the isotope effects and collision energy dependencies of the product ion cross sections that have been previously observed experimentally following collisions between CF3(2+) and H2/D2. We find that in this open-shell system, CCSD(T) and QCISD(T) T1-diagnostic values of up to 0.04 are acceptable. A series of angularly resolved crossed-beam scattering experiments on collisions of CF3(2+) with D2 have also been performed. These experiments show two distinct channels leading to the formation of DCF2+. One channel appears to correspond to the pathway leading to the ground state 1DCF2+ + D+ + F product asymptote and the other to the 3DCF2+ + D+ + F product asymptote, which is 5.76 eV higher in energy. The experimental kinetic energy releases for these channels, 7.55 and 1.55 eV respectively, have been determined from the velocities of the DCF2+ product ion and are in agreement with the reaction mechanisms calculated quantum chemically. We suggest that both of these observed experimental channels are governed by the reaction mechanism we calculate in which charge separation occurs first by loss of a proton, without further hydrogen atom rearrangement, followed by loss of an F atom to give the final products 1DCF2+ + D+ + F or 3DCF2+ + D+ + F.     

Theoretical studies on dynamics and thermochemistry of the reactions CF(3)CHCl(2)+Cl-->CF(3)CCl(2)+HCl and CF(3)CHFCl+Cl-->CF(3)CFCl+HCl

A dual-level direct dynamics study has been carried out for the two hydrogen abstraction reactions CF(3)CHCl(2)+Cl and CF(3)CHFCl+Cl. The geometries and frequencies of the stationary points are optimized at the BHLYP/6-311G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311G(d,p), and MP2/6-31G(d) levels, respectively, with single-point calculations for energy at the BHLYP/6-311++G(3df,2p), G3(MP2), and QCISD(T)/6-311G(d,p) levels. The enthalpies of formation for the species CF(3)CHCl(2), CF(3)CHFCl, CF(3)CCl(2), and CF(3)CFCl are evaluated at higher levels. With the information of the potential energy surface at BHLYP/6-311++G(3df,2p)//6-311G(d,p) level, we employ canonical variational transition-state theory with small-curvature tunneling correction to calculate the rate constants. The agreement between theoretical and experimental rate constants is good in the measured temperature range 276-382 K. The effect of fluorine substitution on reactivity of the C-H bond is discussed.     

Thermal decomposition of CF3 and the reaction of CF2 + OH --> CF2O + H

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection (at a total path length of approximately 1.75 m) of OH-radicals at 308 nm has been used to study the dissociation of CF3-radicals [CF3 + Kr --> CF2 + F + Kr (a)] between 1,803 and 2,204 K at three pressures between approximately 230 and 680 Torr. The OH-radical concentration buildup resulted from the fast reaction F + H2O --> OH + HF (b). Hence, OH is a marker for F-atoms. To extract rate constants for reaction (a), the [OH] profiles were modeled with a chemical mechanism. The initial rise in [OH] was mostly sensitive to reactions (a) and (b), but the long time values were additionally affected by CF2 + OH --> CF2O + H (c). Over the experimental temperature range, rate constants for (a) and (c) were determined from the mechanistic fits to be kCF3+Kr = 4.61 x 10-9 exp(-30,020 K/T) and kCF2+OH = (1.6 +/- 0.6) x 10-10, both in units of cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Reaction (a), its reverse recombination reaction reaction (-a), and reaction (c) are also studied theoretically. Reactions (c) and (-a) are studied with direct CASPT2 variable reaction coordinate transition state theory. A master equation analysis for reaction (a) incorporating the ab initio determined reactive flux for reaction (-a) suggests that this reaction is close to but not quite in the low-pressure limit for the pressures studied experimentally. In contrast, reaction (c) is predicted to be in the high-pressure limit due to the high exothermicity of the products. A comparison with past and present experimental results demonstrates good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the present data for both (a) and (c).     

Mechanisms of the reactions of W AND W+ with H2O: computational studies

The mechanism of the reactions of W and W(+) with the water molecule have been studied for several lower-lying electronic states of tungsten centers at the CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)+SDD and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)+SDD levels of theory. It is shown that these reactions are essentially multistate processes, during which lower-lying electronic states of the systems cross several times. They start with the formation of initial prereaction M(H(2)O) complexes with M-H(2)O bonding energies of 9.6 and 48.2 kcal/mol for M = W and W(+), followed by insertion of the metal center into an O-H bond with 20.0 and 53.3 kcal/mol barriers for neutral and cationic systems, respectively. The overall process of M + H(2)O --> t-HM(OH) is calculated to be highly exothermic, 48.4 and 48.8 kcal/mol for M = W and W(+). From the HM(OH) intermediate the reaction may proceed via several different channels, among which the stepwise HM(OH) --> HMO + H --> (H)(2)MO and concerted HM(OH) --> (H)(2)MO pathways are more favorable and can compete (energetically) with each other. For the neutral system (M = W), the concerted process is the most favorable, whereas for the charged system (M = W(+)), the stepwise pathway is slightly more favorable. From the energetically most favorable intermediate (H)(2)MO the reactions proceed via H(2)-molecule formation with a 53.1 kcal/mol activation barrier for the neutral system. For the cationic system, H-H formation and dissociation is an almost barrierless process. The overall reaction of W and W(+) with the water molecule leading to H(2) + MO formation is found to be exothermic by 48.2 and 39.8 kcal/mol, respectively. In the gas phase with the collision-less conditions the reactions W((7)S) + H(2)O --> H(2) + WO((3)Sigma(+)), and W(+)((6)D) + H(2)O --> H(2) + WO(+)((4)Sigma(+)) are expected to proceed via a 10.4 and 5.1 kcal/mol overall energy barrier corresponding to the first O-H dissociation at the TS1. On the basis of these PESs, we predict kinetic rate constants for the reactions of W and W(+) with H(2)O.