Rotational isomers of small molecules in noble-gas solids: From monomers to hydrogen-bonded complexes

Molecular conformation, quantum tunneling, and hydrogen bonding play important roles in various photochemical processes. We have studied a number of small molecules possessing rotational isomerism (HONO, formic acid, acetic acid, etc.) isolated in noble-gas solid matrices. Selective vibrational excitation efficiently promotes the conformational change in the excited molecule, which allows preparation of higher-energy conformers. Stability of the higher-energy conformers is often limited by quantum tunneling of hydrogen as observed for some carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, etc.). The tunneling mechanism is supported by the strong H/D isotope effect and characteristic temperature dependence with a clear low-temperature limit. The reaction barrier height is an important factor in a tunneling process; however, other factors also play an essential role. The energy mismatch between the initial state of the higher-energy conformer and accepting state of the ground-state conformer is probably important. Hydrogen bonding can change tunneling decay rate of unstable conformers. The trans–cis formic acid dimer was prepared by vibrational excitation of the trans–trans form in neon and argon matrices. Tunneling decay of cis formic acid is substantially slower in the dimeric form compared to monomer, especially in solid neon. This stabilization effect is explained by a complexation-induced increase of reaction barrier, which is confirmed computationally. The complex between cis formic acid and water was prepared in an argon matrix and found to be stable at low-temperatures. These results show that intrinsically unstable conformational structures can be thermodynamically stabilized in asymmetrical hydrogen-bonded network. This effect occurs when the energy difference between conformers is smaller than the hydrogen bond interaction energy, which allows chemistry of unstable conformers to be studied.     

Conformational Studies of Methyl Vinyl Silane from Temperature-Dependent FT–IR Spectra of Xenon and Krypton Solutions

Variable-temperature (–55 to –155°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm^–1) of methyl vinyl silane, CH₂CHSiH₂CH₃, dissolved in liquid xenon and krypton have been recorded. Utilizing three sets of conformer doublets due to the cis and gauche rotamers, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 133 ± 11 cm^–1 (1.59 ± 0.13 kJ/mol) with the gauche conformer the more stable form in the krypton solution. In the xenon solution, the enthalpy difference could not be determined because the infrared bands become so broad and the overlap was so extensive that meaningful areas could not be determined. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with several different basis sets up to MP2/6-311+G(2d,2p) from which structural parameters and conformational stabilities have been determined. With the largest basis set, the cis conformer is predicted to be the more stable conformer, which is inconsistent with the experimental results. Utilizing previously reported microwave rotational constants for both conformers along with the ab initio predicted distances and angles, r ₀ parameters have been obtained for both the cis and gauche conformers. The spectroscopic and theoretical results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Conformational Studies of Cyclopropylmethyl Ketone from Temperature-Dependent FT–IR Spectra of Xenon Solutions

Variable temperature (–60 to –100°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm^–1) of cyclopropylmethyl ketone, c-C₃H₅C(CH₃)O, dissolved in liquid xenon have been recorded. Utilizing several doublets due to the cis and near-trans conformers, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 269 ± 26 cm^–1 (3.22 ± 0.31 kJ/mol) with the cis conformer (oxygen atom cis to the three-membered ring) the more stable rotamer. From these data it is estimated that 79 ± 3% of the cis form is present at ambient temperature. Ab initio calculations have been carried out with different basis sets up to 6-311+G(2df,2pd) at the restricted Hartree–Fock and/or with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order (MP2) from which structural parameters and conformation stabilities have been determined. These calculations support the experimental conformational conclusions that the cis form is the more stable conformer. A complete vibrational assignment is given for the cis conformer, which is supported from a normal coordinate calculation utilizing ab initio force constants. Several of the fundamentals of the near-trans conformer have been identified and assigned. Adjusted r ₀ structural parameters have been obtained from combined ab initio predicted values and previously reported rotational constants from the microwave investigation. The spectroscopic and theoretical results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Vibrational Spectra, Assignment, Conformational Stability and Ab Initio/DFT Calculations for 1-Nitropropane

The infrared spectra (4000–400 cm^{– 1}) of solid and the Raman spectra (3500–30 cm^{– 1}) of liquid and solid 1-nitropropane, CH₃CH₂CH₂NO₂, have been registered. Both the trans and gauche conformers have been identified in the fluid phase, while the trans form remains in the stable solid. Temperature dependence (190–230K) of the liquid 1-nitropropane Raman spectra has been carried out. From these data, the enthalpy difference was determined to be 870 ± 105 J-mol^–1, with the gauche conformer being the more stable rotamer. Ab initio and DFT calculations at different levels of approximation (HF, MP2, B3LYP, B3PW91) gave optimized geometries, harmonic force fields, and vibrational frequencies for the trans and gauche conformers. All the calculations (except the B3PW91/6-31G* level) predicted gauche as the low-energy conformer. Theoretical force constants are analyzed for formulating constraints in the molecular force field model of 1-nitropropane.     

Synthesis and vibrational study of platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of glyoxilic acid oxime

New platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of glyoxilic acid oxime (gao) have been prepared and characterised by infrared (4000–150 cm⁻¹) and Raman (4000–200 cm⁻¹) spectra. The gao acts as bidentate ligand bonding through the oxime nitrogen and carboxyl oxygen atoms to form neutral bis-chelate square-planar complexes. The lowest energy conformer of the gao ligand (ectt) was selected among 16 theoretically possible conformers on the basis of ab initio calculations at HF/3-21G*, HF/6-31G* and HF/6-311** levels of the theory from which structural parameters and conformational stabilities have been obtained. A complete vibrational assignment of the gao was performed for the lowest energy ectt conformer on the basis of ab initio optimised parameters and normal coordinate analysis calculations (PED). NCA calculations of the complexes studied were also performed.     

Infrared and Raman Spectra,Conformational Stability,Ab Initio Calculations,and Vibrational Assignments for Cyclopropyldifluorosilane

The infrared (3200–30 cm^–1) spectra of gaseous and solid Cyclopropyldifluorosilane, c-C₃H₅SiF₂H, and the Raman spectra (3200–20 cm^–1) of the liquid with quantitative depolarization values and the solid have been recorded. Both the syn (cis) and skew (gauche) conformers have been identified in the fluid phases, but only the syn conformer remains in the solid. Variable temperature (–55 to –100°C) studies of the infrared spectra of the sample dissolved in liquid xenon have been carried out. From these data, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 73 ± 10 cm^–1 (209 ± 29 cal mol^–1), with the syn conformer being the more stable rotamer, which is at variance with the predictions from ab initio calculations. A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for both conformers based on infared band contours, relative intensities, depolarization values, and group frequencies. The vibrational assignments are supported by normal coordinate calculations utilizing the force constants from ab initio MP2/6-31G* calculations. Utilizing the frequencies of the silicon–hydrogen sketch, the rm Si—H bond distances of 1.474 and 1.472 Å have been obtained for the syn and skew conformers, respectively. Complete equilibrium geometries have been determined for both rotamers by ab initio calculations employing the 6-31G* and 6-311 +G** basis sets at levels of restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) and/or Moller–Plesset (MP) to second order. The potential energy terms for the conformer interconversion have been obtained from the MP2/6-31G* calculation. The results are discussed and compared to those obtained for some similar molecules.     

Conformational Stability from Variable-Temperature Infrared Spectra of Krypton Solutions, Ab Initio Calculations, and r o Structural Parameters of Chlorocyclopentane

The infrared spectra (3500–400 cm^–1) of krypton solutions of chlorocyclopentane, c-C₅H₉Cl, at variable temperatures (–101 to –150°C) have been recorded and the fundamental vibrations of the axial conformer and several of those for the equatorial form have been assigned. Utilizing two pairs of fundamentals for the two conformers in the krypton solution, an enthalpy difference of 145±15 cm^–1 (1.73±0.18 kJ-mol^–1) has been obtained with the axial conformer the more stable form. It is estimated that there is 67±2% of the axial conformer present at ambient temperature. Convincing spectroscopic evidence shows that a significant percentage of the chlorocyclopentane molecules are undergoing pseudorotation at ambient temperature. The conformational stabilities, harmonic force constants, fundamental frequencies, infrared intensities, and Raman activities have been obtained from MP2/6-31G(d) calculations with full electron correlation and these quantities have been compared to the experimental values when appropriate. The optimized geometries and conformational stabilities have also been obtained from ab initio MP2 calculations as well as by density functional theory (DFT) by the B3LYP method with several different basis sets. The adjusted r ₀ structural parameters have been obtained for both conformers by combining the ab initio data with the previously reported microwave rotational constants. These new values of the structural parameters for both conformers are compared to those previously reported from electron diffraction and microwave studies. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities of some similar molecules.     

Test study on the excitation spectra of the N<Subscript>2</Subscript>–He van der Waals molecule

We have performed ab initio fourth-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory calculations in the framework of the supermolecule approach on the vertical excitation spectra of the weakly bound van der Waals N₂–He dimer. They indicate a ``T-shaped' stablest ground N<sub>2</sub>(X<sup>1</sup><sub>g</sub><sup>+</sup>)–He(<sup>1</sup>S) electronic state with a well depth, D<sub>e</sub>, of 21.63 cm<sup>–1</sup> at a minimum distance, R<sub>e</sub>, of 3.44 Å and zero-point vibration correction, D<sub>o</sub>, of 7.07 cm<sup>–1</sup>. They also indicate a ``T-shaped' stablest excited conformer with R_e=3.25 Å, D_e=36.85 cm^–1 and D_o=17.06 cm^–1 for the N₂(B³_g)–He(¹S) triplet electronic level. In order to investigate the use of less-demanding correlation methods, test density functional theory calculations using the mPW1PW exchange–correlation functional are also presented for comparison.     

Conformational Stability of Propenoyl Bromide from Temperature-Dependent Infrared Spectra of Krypton Solutions,Ab Initio Calculations,and r 0 Structural Parameters of the Propenoyl Halides (F,Cl, Br)

Variable temperature (–100 to –150°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm^–1) of propenoyl bromide, CH₂=CHCBrO, dissolved in liquid krypton, have been carried out. Utilizing six different conformer pairs, an enthalpy difference of 204 ± 20 cm^–1 (2.44 ± 0.24 kJ/mol) was obtained, with the anti conformer (carbonyl bond trans to C=C bond) the more stable form. At ambient temperature, there is approximately 28 ± 2% of the syn conformer present. The anti conformer also remains in the infrared and Raman spectra of the polycrystalline solid. The optimal geometries, conformational stabilities, harmonic force fields, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization ratios, and vibrational frequencies, are reported for both conformers from MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. The potential function governing the conformational interchange has been obtained from the MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. The conformational stabilities were calculated from a variety of basis sets and at the highest level of calculations, MP2/6-311 + (2df,2pd), the anti conformer is predicted to be more stable by 178 cm^–1, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental results. The r ₀ adjusted structural parameters have been obtained for propenoyl fluoride and chloride from a combination of the previously reported microwave rotational constants and ab initio predicted parameters. Several of the parameters for the chloride are significantly different than those proposed from an electron diffraction investigation. The results of these spectroscopic, structural, and theoretical studies are discussed and compared to the corresponding results for some similar molecules.     

Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of the Intramolecular π-Type Hydrogen Bonding and Conformations of 2-Cyclopenten-1-ol

The conformations of 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (2CPOL) have been investigated by high-level theoretical computations and infrared spectroscopy. The six conformational minima correspond to specific values of the ring-puckering and OH internal rotation coordinates. The conformation with the lowest energy possesses intramolecular π-type hydrogen bonding. A second conformer with weaker hydrogen bonding has somewhat higher energy. Ab initio coupled-cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD) was used with the cc-pVTZ (triple-ζ) basis set to calculate the two-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) governing the conformational dynamics along the ring-puckering and internal rotation coordinates. The two conformers with the hydrogen bonding lie about 300 cm⁻¹ (0.8 kcal/mole) lower in energy than the other four conformers. The lowest energy conformation has a calculated distance of 2.68 Å from the hydrogen atom on the OH group to the middle of the C=C double bond. For the other conformers, this distance is at least 0.3 Å longer. The infrared spectrum in the O-H stretching region agrees well with the predicted frequency differences between the conformers and shows the conformers with the hydrogen bonding to have the lowest values. The infrared spectra in other regions arise mostly from the two hydrogen-bonded species.     

Conformational dependence of the intrinsic acidity of the aspartic acid residue sidechain in N-acetyl- -aspartic acid-N′-methylamide

The sidechain conformational potential energy hypersurfaces (PEHS) for the γ_L, β_L, α_L, and α_D backbone conformations of N-acetyl- -aspartate-N′-methylamide were generated. Of the 81 possible conformers initially expected for the aspartate residue, only seven were found after geometric optimizations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. No stable conformers could be located in the δ_L, _L, γ_D, δ_D, and _D backbone conformations. The ‘adiabatic’ deprotonation energies for the endo and exo forms of N-acetyl- -aspartic acid-N′-methylamide were calculated by comparing their optimized relative energies against those found for the seven stable conformers of N-acetyl- -aspartate-N′-methylamide. Sidechain conformational PEHSs were also generated for the estimation of ‘vertical’ deprotonation energies for both endo and exo forms of N-acetyl- -aspartic acid-N′-methylamide. All backbone–sidechain (N–H⁻O–C) and backbone–backbone (N–HO=C) hydrogen bond interactions were analyzed. A total of two backbone–backbone and four backbone–sidechain interactions were found for N-acetyl- -aspartate-N′-methylamide. The deprotonated sidechain of N-acetyl- -aspartate-N′-methylamide may allow the aspartyl residue to form strong hydrogen bond interactions (since it is negatively charged) which may be significant in such processes as protein–ligand recognition and ligand binding. As a primary example, the molecular geometry of the aspartyl residue may be important in peptide folding, such as that in the RGD tripeptide.     

Low temperature IR spectroscopy and photochemistry of matrix-isolated α-pyridil

α-Pyridil [(C₆H₄NO)₂] has been isolated in low temperature argon and xenon matrices and studied by FTIR spectroscopy, supported by DFT(B3LYP)/6–311++G(d,p) calculations. Calculations predicted the existence of three different conformers exhibiting skewed conformations around the intercarbonyl bond and the two C₅H₄NC(O) fragments nearly planar. The two higher energy forms, TCG and CCSk were estimated theoretically to be, respectively, 21.0 and 35.1 kJ mol⁻¹ higher in energy than the most stable form, TTG. In consonance with the relatively high energies predicted by the calculations for the two less stable conformers of α-pyridil, only the most stable conformer was found spectroscopically to be present in the studied matrices. Infrared spectra obtained for the neat low temperature amorphous and crystalline states reveals that the TTG conformer is also the sole conformer present in these phases. UV irradiation (λ > 235 nm) of matrix-isolated α-pyridil led to its isomerization into unusual molecular species bearing Hückel-type pyridine (aza-benzvalene) rings.     

Far-infrared spectrum,conformational stability,barriers to internal rotation,normal coordinate calculations,and vibrational assignment for chloroacetaldehyde

The far infrared spectrum [350 to 25 cm^–1] of gaseous chloroacetaldehyde, ClCH₂CHO, has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm^–1. The first excited-state transition of the asymmetric torsion of the more stable near s-cis [chlorine atom s-cis to the aldehyde hydrogen atom] conformer has been observed at 26.9 cm^–1, with seven additional upper state transitions falling to higher frequency. Additionally, the fundamental torsional transition of the s-trans conformer has been observed at 58.9 cm^–1 with two excited states also falling to higher frequency. From these data, the asymmetric torsional potential coefficients have been determined to be:V ₁=414±11;V ₂ = 191±3;V ₃=–203±5;V ₄=44±1 andV ₆=–26±1 cm^–1. The s-cis to s-trans barrier is 500±5 cm^–1 (1.43±0.01 kcal mol^–1) with the s-cis conformer being more stable by 267±19 cm^–1 (0.76±0.05 kcal mol^–1) than the s-trans form. The Raman [4000 to 100 cm^–1] and infrared (4000 to 400 cm^–1] spectra of the gas have been recorded. Additionally, the Raman spectrum of the liquid has been recorded and qualitative depolarization values obtained. Complete vibrational assignments are proposed for both conformers based on band contours, depolarization values, and group frequencies. The assignments are supported by ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing the 3–21G^* basis set to obtain the frequencies and the potential energy distributions for the normal vibrations for both rotamers. Additional ab initio calculations at the MP4/6-31G^* level have been carried out to determine the structural parameters for both conformers. The results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.This contribution taken in part from the thesis of C. L. Tolley which will be submitted to the Department of Chemistry in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree.     

Spectra and structure of small ring compounds. LIX

The Raman (3200 to 10 cm^–1) and far infrared (380 to 60 cm^–1) spectra of gaseous fluorocyclobutane,c-C₄H₇F, have been recorded. A series of Q-branches observed in both of these spectra beginning at 166 cm^–1 with successive transitions falling to lower frequencies have been assigned to the ring puckering vibrations of both the low energy equatorial and high energy axial conformers. These data have been fit to an asymmetric potential function of the form:V (cm^–1)=(1.76±0.05)10³X+(4.88±0.28)10⁴X²+(2.12 ±0.16)10³ exp(–5.66±0.41)10X² with a reduced mass function ofg ₄₄= 0.00386–0.00295X+0.03485X²+0.1228X³ +0.3459X⁴, whereX is the ring puckering coordinate. Utilizing this potential, the difference between the puckering angles for the two conformers was calculated to be 4° with the equatorial conformer having the larger value of 28°. This potential function is consistent with an energy difference between the equatorial and axial forms of 447 cm^–1 (1.28 kcal/mol) and a barrier to ring inversion from the equatorial to the axial conformation of 713 cm^–1 (2.04 kcal/mol). Experimental values for the enthalpy difference between the two conformers have been determined for both the liquid (400±30 c^–1) and gas (413±43 cm^–1) from investigations of the Raman spectra at variable temperatures. The conformational stability, enthalpy difference, structural parameters, and fundamental vibrational frequencies, which have been determined experimentally, are compared to those obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations employing the 3-21G, 6-31 G^*, and 6-31 G^** basis sets.For part LVIII, seeStruct. Chem. 1991,2, 195.Taken in part from the thesis of M. J. Lee, which has been submitted to the Department of Chemistry in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree, May 1991.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the intramolecular C–H···N and C–H···S hydrogen bonding effects in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the 2‐(alkylsulfanyl)‐5‐amino‐1‐vinylpyrroles: a particular state of amine nitrogen

In the ¹H NMR spectra of the 1‐vinylpyrroles with amino‐ and alkylsulfanyl groups in 5 and 2 positions, an extraordinarily large difference between resonance positions of the H_A and H_B terminal methylene protons of the vinyl group is discovered. Also, the one‐bond ¹J(C_β,H_B) coupling constant is surprisingly greater than the ¹J(C_β,H_A) coupling constant in pyrroles under investigation, while in all known cases, there was a reverse relationship between these coupling constants. These spectral anomalies are substantiated by quantum chemical calculations. The calculations show that the amine nitrogen lone pair is removed from the conjugation with the π‐system of the pyrrole ring so that it is directed toward the H_B hydrogen. These factors are favorable to the emergence of the intramolecular C–H_B???N hydrogen bonding in the s‐cis(N) conformation. On the other hand, the spatial proximity of the sulfur to the H_B hydrogen provides an opportunity of the intramolecular C–H_B???S hydrogen bonding in the s‐cis(S) conformation. Presence of the hydrogen bond critical points as well as ring critical point for corresponding chelate ring revealed by a quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approach confirms the existence of the weak intramolecular C–H???N and C–H???S hydrogen bonding. Therefore, an unusual high‐frequency shift of the H_B signal and the increase in the ¹J(C_β,H_B) coupling constant can be explained by the effects of hydrogen bonding. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New results in the ammonolysis of hexafluoro-cyclo-triphosphazene: Crystal structure of P3N3F5–NH–P3N3F4NH2

The reaction of hexafluoro-cyclo-triphosphazene P₃N₃F₆ with ammonia in acetonitrile has been studied. New compounds, (2-imino-2,4,4,6,6-pentafluoro-2λ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ⁵-cyclo-triphosphaza-1,3,5-trienyl)-2-amino-4,4,6,6-tetrafluoro-2λ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ⁵-cyclo-triphosphaza-1,3,5-triene, P₃N₃F₅–NH–P₃N₃F₄NH₂ (2) and cis and trans isomers of non-gem-2,4-diamino-2,4,6,6-tetrafluoro-2λ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ⁵-cyclo-triphosphaza-1,3,5-triene, P₃N₃F₄(NH₂)₂ (4, 5)_, were detected by GC/MS, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy in reaction mixtures. X-ray diffraction analysis of P₃N₃F₅–NH–P₃N₃F₄NH₂ (2) revealed two conformational polymorphs, 2A and 2B, the latter being built up of two different conformers that were further denoted as 2B_a (the same as the single conformer in 2A) and 2B_b. The compound 2 was characterized by spectroscopic methods and its 2D potential energy surface (PES) was described by density functional theory computations depending on two dihedral angles. The calculated PES spans over 30 kJ/mol in energy including 8 local minima and all first and second order saddle points. The occurrence of the two experimentally observed conformers 2B_a and 2B_b seems to be governed by crystal packing effects.     

Infrared spectra,vibrational assignment and ab initio calculations for 2,2,2-trifluoroethanimidamide

The infrared spectra of gaseous and solid 2,2,2-trifluoroethanimidamide, CF₃(NH₂)C=NH, have been recorded from 4000 to 80 cm^–1. A vibrational assignment for the normal modes is proposed based on group frequencies and normal coordinate calculations utilizing C₁ symmetry. The structures for both the cis [hydrogen atom of the =NH group is cis to the NH₂ group] and trans geometric isomers have been determined from ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing the GAUSSIAN-82 program with the 3–21G basis set. The most stable conformer at this level of calculation is found to be a C₁, structure with a partially rotated CF₃ group and the hydrogen atom of the imine group trans to the NH₂ group. The calculated structural parameters have only very small differences between the conformers. Barriers to internal rotation for the NH₂ and CF₃ groups and vibrational frequencies have been calculated for the C₁ form. The results of this investigation are compared with similar data on some corresponding molecules.Taken in part from the thesis of T. G. Sheehan which was submitted to the Department of Chemistry in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree, May 1990.     

Theoretical investigations on structure, electrostatics potentials and vibrational frequencies of Li+ - CH3- O- (CH2- CH2- O)n- CH3 (n=3-7) conformers

Electronic structure, charge distributions and vibrational characteristics of CH₃ O(CH₂ CH₂ O) _n CH₃ (n=3-7) have been derived using the ab initio Hartree Fock and density functional calculations. For tri- to hexaglymes the lowest energy conformers have trans- conformation around the C-C and C-O bonds of the backbone. For heptaglyme (n=7 in the series), however, gauche-conformation around the C-C bonds renders more stability to the conformer and turns out to be 10.1 kJ mol ⁻¹ lower in energy relative to the conformer having trans-orientation around the C-C and C-O bonds. The molecular electrostatic potential topographical investigations reveal deeper minima for the ether oxygen in conformers having the gauche conformation around the C-C bonds over those for the trans- conformers. A change from trans- to gauche-conformation around the C-C bonds of the lowest energy conformer of heptaglyme engenders a triplet of intense bands ∼1,150 cm ⁻¹ in the vibrational spectra. Theoretical calculations predict that Li ⁺ binds strongly to the heptaglyme conformer in the above series. The frequency shifts in the vibrational spectra of CH₃O(CH₂CH₂O) _n CH₃- Li⁺ (n=3-7) conformers have been discussed     

Quantum chemical study of the coordination of glycolic acid conformers and their conjugate bases to [Ca(OH2)n] (n=0–4) ions

A detailed exploration of the configurational and conformational space of glycolic acid and their conjugate bases has been carried out with the aid of first principles quantum chemical techniques at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory. The most stable configuration among the eight possible glycolic acid conformers corresponds to the E-s-cis, s-trans configuration, while the highest energy E-s-trans, s-cis conformer was found at 10.88 and 12.17 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. Upon dissociation of glycolic acid the s-cis(syn), and s-trans(anti) configurations of the glycolate anion can be formed. The anti conformer was found to be less stable than the syn one by 14.20 and 16.87 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p)) levels of theory, respectively. The computed B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) proton affinity of the syn conformer for the protonation process affording the more stable E-s-cis, s-trans conformer, in vacuum was found to be 325.35 kcal mol⁻¹ (ΔG⁰ value). From a methodological point of view, our results confirm the reliability of the integrated computational tool formed by the B3LYP density functional model. This model has subsequently been used to investigate the interaction of Ca²⁺ ions with the glycolic acid conformers and their conjugate bases in vacuum and in the presence of extra water ligands. For the complexes of glycolic acid conformers the η²–O,O–(COOH) coordination, that is the structure that arises from the coordination of the Ca²⁺ to the carboxylic group, is the global minimum of the PES, while the η²–O(OH),O–(COOH) coordination is a local minimum found at only 1.0 and 1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. Moreover, the two isomers exhibit nearly the same binding affinities, which are predicted to be 89 and 85 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. The same holds also true for the complexes of the glycolate anion. The η²–O,O–(COO⁻) coordination involving the syn conformer of the glycolato ligand, is the global minimum, while the η²–O(OH),O–(COO⁻) one lies at 1.5 and 5.6 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, respectively. The other conformer with an η²–O,O–(COO⁻) coordination involving the anti conformer of the glycolato ligand, is less stable by only 0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at both levels of theory. Noteworthy is the trend seen for the incremental binding energy due to the successive addition of water molecules to [HOCH₂C(O)O]Ca²⁺ species; the computed values are 30.4, 26.8, 22.9 and 16.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory for the mono-, di-, tri- and tetraaqua complexes, respectively. This trend arising from the repulsion of the dipoles between the water ligands and from unfavorable many body interactions is in accordance with those anticipated from electrostatic considerations. The Ca(II)-water interaction weakens with increasing coordination of the metal. Obviously, it is the electrostatic nature of the Ca(II)-water interactions that accounts well for the computed coordination geometries of the cationic (aqua)(glycolato)calcium complexes. Calculated structures, relative stability and bonding properties of the conformers and their complexes with [Ca(OH₂)_n]²⁺ (n=0–4) ions are discussed with respect to computed electronic and spectroscopic properties, such as charge density distribution, harmonic vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts.     

IR and NMR spectra,intramolecular hydrogen bonding and conformations of para-tert-butyl-aminothiacalix[4]arene in solid state and chloroform solution

It is demonstrated that dissolution of aminothiacalix[4]arene in chloroform results in transformation of 1,3-alternate conformation, adopted in single-crystal and bulk polycrystalline solids, to the pinched-cone form. This conformer is stabilised by the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of two distal amino-groups acting as H-donors with another two amino moieties that appear as H-acceptors. The H-bonds cause quite small (ca. 10–20 cm^?1) red shift of the IR bands of the NH₂ stretching vibrations, which suggests rather weak NH?N hydrogen bonding. This latter is sufficient to stabilize the pinched-cone conformation in the chloroform solution, but the energy gap between the pinched-cone and other conformations is small, and solid-state intermolecular forces easily overcome it, leading to realisation of the 1,3-alternate conformer. The comparison of the DFT computed and experimental vibrational and NMR spectra demonstrates good quality of present quantum-chemical computations, allows complete interpretation of the spectra and reveals simple IR and NMR spectroscopic markers of the conformers of aminothiacalix[4]arenes.