Aromaticity and ring currents in ferrocene and two isomeric sandwich complexes

Ring currents induced in the ferrocene molecule and its two hypothetical isomers (η⁴-C₄H₄)Fe(η⁶-C₆H₆) and (η³-C₃H₃)Fe(η⁷-C₇H₇) by an external magnetic field directed along the principal axis are plotted within the ipsocentric approach (at the B3LYP/6-31G∗∗//B3LYP/6-31G∗∗ level). The carbocyclic ligands in all three species are found to be aromatic, i.e. to support individual diatropic ring currents, with formal charges that are consistent with the 4n + 2 rule and the +2 oxidation state of iron.     

基于噻吩和亚苯基合成的新物质的结构和电子性质

Theoretical study on the geometries and electronic properties of new conjugated compounds based on thiophene and phenylene was carried out. The theoretical ground-state geometries and electronic structures of the studied molecules were obtained using the density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP level with 6-31G(d) basis set. The electronic properties were determined by ZINDO/s, CIS/3-21G(d), and TD//B3LYP/3-21G(d) calculations performed on the B3LYP/6-31(d) optimized geometries. The effects of the ring structure and the substituents on the geometries and electronic properties of these materials were discussed. The results of this study indicate how the electronic properties can be tuned by the backbone ring or side group and suggest these compounds as good candidates for opro-electronic applications.     

Structural and Electronic Properties of New Materials Based on Thiophene and Phenylene

Theoretical study on the geometries and electronic properties of new conjugated compounds based on thiophene and phenylene was carried out. The theoretical ground-state geometries and electronic structures of the studied molecules were obtained using the density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP level with 6-31G(d) basis set. The electronic properties were determined by ZINDO/s, CIS/3-21G(d), and TD//B3LYP/3-21G(d) calculations performed on the B3LYP/6-31(d) optimized geometries. The effects of the ring structure and the substituents on the geometries and electronic properties of these materials were discussed. The results of this study indicate how the electronic properties can be tuned by the backbone ring or side group and suggest these compounds as good candidates for opto-electronic applications.     

A DFT study of H-isomerisation in alkoxy-, alkylperoxy- and alkyl radicals: Some implications for radical chain reactions in polymer systems

Intramolecular 1-n H-shift (n = 2, 3… 7) reactions in alkoxy, alkyl and peroxy radicals were studied by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311+G∗∗ level and compared with respective intermolecular H-transfers. It was found that starting from 1 to 3 H-shift the barrier heights stepwise decrease with increasing n reaching minimum for 1-5 and 1-6 H-shifts. This dependence can be ascribed to the decrease of the strain with increasing transition state (TS) ring size, which is minimal in six- and seven-member rings. The barrier heights of H-shifts in alkyl radicals are systematically larger than those in alkoxy radicals: the respective activation energies (E_a) of 1-5 and 1-6 H-shifts are about 59-67 kJ/mol for alkyl radical and 21-34 kJ/mol for alkoxy radicals. Further increase of the TS ring size in 1-7 H-shifts leads to the increase of the barrier to 44 kJ/mol in the hexyloxy radical and 84 kJ/mol for n-heptyl radical. We have also found that intermolecular H-transfer reactions in all three types of free radicals have smaller barriers than respective intramolecular 1-5 or 1-6 H-shifts by 4-25 kJ/mol. The mentioned difference can be explained in terms of enhanced nonbonding repulsion interaction in the cyclic TS structures compared to respective intermolecular TS. B3LYP/6-311+G∗∗ geometric parameters and imaginary frequencies for 1-n H-shifts TS are consistent with respective calculated barrier heights. Reactivity of some other radicals compared to alkoxy, peroxy and alkyl radicals as well as other factors influencing their reactivity (π-conjugation, steric effect and ring strain in cyclic TS, etc.) are also briefly discussed in relation to free radical reactions in polymer systems.     

Novel chiral 1-phosphono-1,3-butadiene for asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder cycloadditions with nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles

Chiral 1-phosphonodienes bearing a bicyclic (R,R)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane or a (R,R)-1,3,2-diazaphospholidine auxiliary are potent dienes for asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reactions. Their reactivity towards model nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles has been studied by means of theoretical chemistry at the B3LYP/6-31G∗∗ level. This model, taking solvent effects into account, allowed us to identify parameters governing the stereoselectivity of this reaction. Our study emphasizes a synergy effect when increasing the steric hindrance of substituents of both partners. This led us to predict high levels of diastereoselectivity for one diene. Accordingly, we have hereby illustrated a convenient and original synthesis of this diene and its cycloadditions with commercially available nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles.     

Hydrazones from hydroxy naphthaldehydes and N-aminoheterocycles: structure and stereodynamics

Schiff bases derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, or 1-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde, and different saturated N-aminoheterocycles have been prepared. Their structures have been elucidated in both solution and the solid state, including unequivocal X-ray diffraction analyses. Experimental data evidence the presence of imine (or hydrazone) structures as the most stable tautomers, while all attempts to switch to enamine (or enhydrazine) structures based on electronic and steric considerations were unsuccessful. A complete conformational analysis assisted by DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31G^∗ and M06-2X/6-311++G^∗∗ levels has been performed on each series of representative structures.     

Computational study of keto–enol equilibria of tropolone in gas and aqueous solution phase

Density functional theory calculations employing the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional, as well as Hartree–Fock computations, were performed on 2-hydroxy-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one (tropolone) and 3,5- and 3,6-cycloheptadiene-1,2-dione in gas and aqueous solution phases in order to determine the equilibrium constant for keto to enol interconversion of the isomers of C₇H₆O₂. Two standard basis sets were used throughout, namely 6-311++G^∗∗ and aug-cc-pVDZ. Solvent effects were modelled using two different self-consistent reaction field approaches – the Onsager dipole and the polarizable continuum models (PCM). In addition, the G3 method was used for calculations on species in the gas phase. Molecular geometries were fully optimized at each model chemistry, and it was found that the two keto isomers are always higher in energy than the enol form. From the results of B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗ calculations of the difference in Gibbs free energy in the gas phase and using PCM, the relative pK values for the 2-hydroxy-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one ? 3,5- and 3,6-cycloheptadiene-1,2-dione system are 13.75 (g), 15.78 (g) and 13.05 (aq) and 13.45 (aq), respectively. That equilibrium is tilted almost exclusively in the direction of tropolone is due to resonance stabilization of the enol as a result of aromaticity, and is most easily understood on the basis of elementary Hückel theory.     

The determination of sulfoxide configuration in six-membered rings using NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Cyclic six-membered ring sulfoxides and sulfones were prepared by a stepwise in situ oxidation of the corresponding sulfides with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid in an NMR tube. The oxidation was followed by NMR spectra and the ¹H and ¹³C NMR data were collected. The geometries of all of the compounds were optimized using the DFT B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ method and the ¹³C and ¹H NMR chemical shifts were calculated for geometry-optimized structures with the DFT B3LYP/6-31++G^∗∗ method. The calculated ¹³C NMR chemical shifts induced by oxidation (Δδ values) are in very good agreement with the experimental data and can be used to determine the oxidation state of the sulfur atom (-S-, -SO-, -SO₂-). The characteristic differences of the induced oxidation chemical shifts of carbon atoms at the α- and β-position to sulfur were successfully used for distinguishing between the diastereoisomeric sulfoxides.     

Bond length interrelations in benzenoid hydrocarbons and their heteroatom analogues

The geometries of some benzenoid hydrocarbons and their analogues with XY (XY = BB, BC, BN, CN, and NN) bonds have been determined at the B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗ level of theory. It is shown that the lengths of peripheral XY bonds are strictly correlated with the lengths of their CC counterparts in native hydrocarbons. No correlation of this type is observed for the XY bonds located inside the rings.     

Electrostatic origin towards the reversal of π-facial selectivity of 5,6-cis,exo-disubstituted bicyclic[2.2.2]oct-2-enes with m-chloroperbenzoic acid and diazomethane: a computational study

A computational (B3LYP/6-31G∗ and MP2/6-31G∗) study shows that electrostatic interaction is controlling the π-facial selectivity for the addition of peracid and diazomethane to 5,6-cis,exo-disubstituted bicyclic[2.2.2]oct-2-enes (1). The nitrogen centre of diazomethane which does not participate in bond formation governs the π-face selectivity in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with 1. The calculated results show that Cieplak model is less important in controlling the face selectivity in these cases.     

A DFT study on pyridine-derived N-heterocyclic carbenes

To appreciate the chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), eight carbenic tautomers of pyridine (azacyclohexadienylidenes) are studied at B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-31+G^∗ and B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗//B3LYP/6-31+G^∗ levels of theory. Various thermodynamic parameters are calculated for these minima, along with a kinetic focus on carbene-pyridine tautomerization. Appropriate isodesmic reactions show stabilization energies of 2-azacyclohexa-3,5-dienylidene (1) and 4-azacyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene (6) as 119.4 and 104.1 kcal/mol, rather close to that of the synthesized 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (129.2 kcal/mol). Three different mechanisms are suggested for the tautomerizations including: [1,2]-H shift, [1,4]-H shift, and three sequential [1,2]-H shifts. The calculated energy barrier for [1,2]-H shift of 1 is 44.6 kcal/mol, while the first [1,2]-H shift for the proposed sequential mechanism of 6 requires 65.1 kcal/mol. Three preliminary minimum templates are introduced, which may possess the potential of synthetic consideration: 2,6-di(X)-3,5-dichloro-4-azacyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene for X=Mes, t-Bu, and Ad.     

Theoretical Study on Hydrogen Interaction between 5-Fluorouracil and Glycine

The geometries,electronic structure,IR spectrum and other properties of hydrogen interaction between 5-fluorouracil and glycine were studied at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level.Single point energy calculations were executed at the B3LYP/6-311++G** and B3LYP/aug-cc-pvdz levels,and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was carried out at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level.Finally,the hydrogen bonds were discussed via AIM electronic density topology analysis.     

DFT calculation of the chromyl nitrate, CrO2(NO3)2 The molecular force field

We have carried out a structural and vibrational theoretical study for chromyl nitrate. The density functional theory has been used to study its structure and vibrational properties. The geometries were fully optimised at the B3LYP/Lanl2DZ, B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311++G levels of theory and the harmonic vibrational frequencies were evaluated at the same levels. The calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies for chromyl nitrate are consistent with the experimental IR and Raman spectra in the solid and liquid phases. These calculations gave us a precise knowledge of the normal modes of vibration taking into account the type of coordination adopted by nitrate groups of this compound as monodentate and bidentate. We have also made the assignment of all the observed bands in the vibrational spectra for chromyl nitrate. The nature of the Cr-O and Cr<--O bonds in the compound were quantitatively investigated by means of Natural Bond Order (NBO) analysis. The topological properties of electronic charge density are analysed employing Bader's Atoms in Molecules theory (AIM).     

Aromaticity of caffeine,xanthine and the dimethyl xanthines

Xanthine, caffeine and three isomeric dimethyl xanthines (theobromine, theophylline and paraxanthine) are often described as aromatic on various criteria. Here we complete the picture by assessing these molecules for aromaticity on the ring-current criterion. Magnetic response calculations are performed at the B3LYP and CHF/6-31G^∗∗ ipsocentric levels of theory on structures optimised at the B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ level. All five systems display consistent π-electron ring-currents delocalised around the imidazole moiety in all cases; these are accompanied by localised features on the six-membered rings attributed to nitrogen and oxygen ‘lone-pair’ π-electron circulations. All are therefore aromatic on the magnetic criterion, with a ‘locally delocalised’ ring current in the imidazole moiety, similar to those in the isolated imidazole and methylimidazole molecules.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Theoretical Studies on a Thiocarbamide Derivative Containing Schiff Base Group

A thiocarbamide derivative containing Schiff base groups,1,5-bis[4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene]thiocarbonohydrazide,has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis,IR,1H NMR,UV and X-ray single-crystal diffraction.Density function theory(DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* and PBE0/6-31G* levels for optimized geometries and electronic transition spectra have been performed.Comparative studies show that both B3LYP/6-31G* and PBE0/6-31G* methods can well reproduce the molecular structure,and the latter is more reliable than the former to simulate electronic spectra.NPA calculational results at the B3LYP/6-31G* level indicate the title compound to be a potential multidentate ligand to the metallic ions.Based on the vibrational analysis,thermodynamic properties at different temperatures have been obtained.     

具有D~6~h对称性的C~3~6及其衍生物电子结构的密度泛函研究

运用密度泛函方法,比较不同水平的基组(HF/6-311+G^*;B3LYP/6-31G^*;B3LYP/6-311+G^*)对具有D~6~h对称性的C~3~6分子进行构型优化的结果,并分析其几何结构、电子结构、稳定性等性质;采用基组B3LYP/6-31G^*对H@C~3~6,Li@C~3~6,Na@C~3~6,K@C~3~6分子进行构型全优化,分析了不同内嵌原子对其几何结构、电子结构、稳定性等性质的影响;首次在B3LYP/6-311+G^*水平上,对C~3~6H~6,C~3~6H~1~2,X@C~3~6(X=H,Li,Na,K)几何构型及电子结构进行研究并得到其稳定性规律。     

DFT study of bis(picolinato-N,O)-copper(II) complex

The geometry of bis(pyridine-2-carboxylato-N,O)-copper(II) complex is optimized at B3LYP/6-311G^∗ level of theory and compared with experimental data. Comparing the electronic structure of this complex with that of its anionic ligand does not indicate any mechanical strain in the five-membered Cu–O–C–C–N metallocycle. The copper d-electron population of 9.2 corresponds to Cu(II) oxidation state. Using 6-31G^∗ basis sets produces an incorrect non-planar structure of the complex.     

A theoretical study of the mechanism and stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between difluoro-2-methylencyclopropane and furan

A theoretical study of the molecular mechanism and stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction between difluoro-2-methylencyclopropane and furan has been carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G+^∗∗ level of theory. The calculation of activation and reaction energies indicates that the 3-endo cycloadduct is favored both kinetically and thermodynamically, which is in agreement with the experimental data. Analysis of the bond order and charge transfer in the transition states shows that this reaction takes place via a synchronous-concerted mechanism.     

Theoretical binding affinities and spectra of complexes formed by a cyclic β-peptoid with amino acids

Binding affinities of a cyclic β-peptoid to amino acids were studied using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level after the basis set superior error (BSSE). The host molecule possesses binding ability to amino acids since the binding energies of the complexes formed are negative. The complexes were stabilized via hydrogen bonds between the host and the guest molecules. Based on the B3LYP/6-31G(d) optimized geometries, electronic spectra of the complexes were calculated using the INDO/CIS method. ¹³C NMR spectra and nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) values of the complexes were computed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Carbon atoms in the carboxyl groups of the complexes are shifted downfield relative to those of the host. Some complexes exhibit aromaticity although the host shows anti-aromaticity. Formation of hydrogen bonds leads to cyclic current formation in these complexes.