Conformation and reactivity of α-oxo-ketenes: Ab initio and semiempirical (AM1, PM3) calculations

Ab initio MP2/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* and semiempirical AM1 and PM3 calculations on a series of differently substituted α-oxo-ketenes are used to investigate E/Z-isomerism and rotational barriers in these molecules. Sterically crowded derivatives are found to exist solely as s-E conformers. The unusual stability of these derivatives thus can be attributed to their inability to adopt the s-Z conformation required for the normal α-oxo-ketene reactions. With respect to structures and energies, the PM3 method (especially in the case of highly crowded molecules) is found to be less reliable than AM1. Ab initio HF/3-21G and PM3 vibrational frequencies appear to be of sufficient accuracy for a distinction between s-Z and s-E conformers. In this respect, the AM1 method appears less reliable. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.