The Triplet Surface of the Zimmerman Di-π-Methane Rearrangement of Dibenzobarrelene

Quantum Tunneling in Reactions Modulated by External Electric Fields: Reactivity and Selectivity

Quantum tunneling and external electric fields (EEFs) can promote some reactions. However, the synergetic effect of an EEF on a tunneling-involving reaction and its temperature-dependence is not very clear. In this study, we extensively investigated how EEFs affect three reactions that involve hydrogen- or (ground- and excited-state) carbon-tunneling using reliable DFT, DLPNO-CCSD(T1), and variational transition-state theory methods. Our study revealed that oriented EEFs can significantly reduce the barrier and corresponding barrier width (and vice versa) through more electrostatic stabilization in transition states. These EEF effects enhance the nontunneling and tunneling-involving rates. Such EEF effects also decrease the crossover temperatures and quantum tunneling contribution, albeit with lower and thinner barriers. Moreover, EEFs can modulate and switch on/off the tunneling-driven 1,2-H migration of hydroxycarbenes under cryogenic conditions. Furthermore, our study predicts for the first time that EEF/tunneling synergy can control the chemo- or site-selectivity of one molecule bearing two similar/same reactive sites.

New Insights and Predictions into Complex Homogeneous Reactions Enabled by Computational Chemistry in Synergy with Experiments: Isotopes and Mechanisms

Homogeneous catalysis and biocatalysis have been widely applied in synthetic, medicinal, and energy chemistry as well as synthetic biology. Driven by developments of new computational chemistry methods and better computer hardware, computational chemistry has become an essentially indispensable mechanistic "instrument" to help understand structures and decipher reaction mechanisms in catalysis. In addition, synergy between computational and experimental chemistry deepens our mechanistic understanding, which further promotes the rational design of new catalysts. In this Account, we summarize new or deeper mechanistic insights (including isotope, dispersion, and dynamical effects) into several complex homogeneous reactions from our systematic computational studies along with subsequent experimental studies by different groups. Apart from uncovering new mechanisms in some reactions, a few computational predictions (such as excited-state heavy-atom tunneling, steric-controlled enantioswitching, and a new geminal addition mechanism) based on our mechanistic insights were further verified by ensuing experiments.The Zimmerman group developed a photoinduced triplet di-π-methane rearrangement to form cyclopropane derivatives. Recently, our computational study predicted the first excited-state heavy-atom (carbon) quantum tunneling in one triplet di-π-methane rearrangement, in which the reaction rates and ¹²C/¹³C kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) can be enhanced by quantum tunneling at low temperatures. This unprecedented excited-state heavy-atom tunneling in a photoinduced reaction has recently been verified by an experimental ¹²C/¹³C KIE study by the Singleton group. Such combined computational and experimental studies should open up opportunities to discover more rare excited-state heavy-atom tunneling in other photoinduced reactions. In addition, we found unexpectedly large secondary KIE values in the five-coordinate Fe(III)-catalyzed hetero-Diels-Alder pathway, even with substantial C-C bond formation, due to the non-negligible equilibrium isotope effect (EIE) derived from altered metal coordination. Therefore, these KIE values cannot reliably reflect transition-state structures for the five-coordinate metal pathway. Furthermore, our density functional theory (DFT) quasi-classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that the coordination mode and/or spin state of the iron metal as well as an electric field can affect the dynamics of this reaction (e.g., the dynamically stepwise process, the entrance/exit reaction channels).Moreover, we unveiled a new reaction mechanism to account for the uncommon Ru(II)-catalyzed geminal-addition semihydrogenation and hydroboration of silyl alkynes. Our proposed key gem-Ru(II)-carbene intermediates derived from double migrations on the same alkyne carbon were verified by crossover experiments. Additionally, our DFT MD simulations suggested that the first hydrogen migration transition-state structures may directly and quickly form the key gem-Ru-carbene structures, thereby "bypassing" the second migration step. Furthermore, our extensive study revealed the origin of the enantioselectivity of the Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with β-substituted alkenyl bicyclic heteroarenes enabled by dual coordination of both substrates. Such mechanistic insights promoted our computational predictions of the enantioselectivity reversal for the corresponding monocyclic heteroarene substrates and the regiospecific addition to the less reactive internal C═C bond of one diene substrate. These predictions were proven by our experimental collaborators. Finally, our mechanistic insights into a few other reactions are also presented. Overall, we hope that these interactive computational and experimental studies enrich our mechanistic understanding and aid in reaction development.

Meisenheimer complexes as hidden intermediates in the aza-SNAr mechanism

In this work we report a computational study about the aza-SNAr mechanism in fluorine- and chlorine-containing azines with the aim to unravel the physical factors that determine the reactivity patterns in these heterocycles towards propylamine. The nature of the reaction intermediate was analyzed in terms of its electronic structure based on a topological analysis framework in some non-stationary points along the reaction coordinate. The mechanistic dichotomy of a concerted or a stepwise pathway is interpreted in terms of the qualitative Diabatic Model of Intermediate Stabilization (DMIS) approach, providing a general mechanistic picture for the SNAr process involving both activated benzenes and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. With the information collected, a unified vision of the Meisenheimer complexes as transition state, hidden intermediate or real intermediate was proposed.

Nonconjugated Hydrocarbons as Rigid-Linear Motifs: Isosteres for Material Sciences and Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

Nonconjugated hydrocarbons, like bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, triptycene, and cubane are a unique class of rigid linkers. Due to their similarity in size and shape they are useful mimics of classic benzene moieties in drugs, so-called bioisosteres. Moreover, they also fulfill an important role in material sciences as linear linkers, in order to arrange various functionalities in a defined spatial manner. In this Review article, recent developments and usages of these special, rectilinear systems are discussed. Furthermore, we focus on covalently linked, nonconjugated linear arrangements and discuss the physical and chemical properties and differences of individual linkers, as well as their application in material and medicinal sciences.

Theoretical insights into the E1cB/E2 mechanistic dichotomy of elimination reactions

Modeling the E1cB, E2, and E1cB/E2 borderline mechanisms in terms of carbanion stabilization.

Reaction Electronic Flux Perspective on the Mechanism of the Zimmerman Di-π-methane Rearrangement

The reaction electronic flux (REF) offers a powerful tool in the analysis of reaction mechanisms. Noteworthy, the relationship between aromaticity and REF can eventually reveal subtle electronic events associated with reactivity in aromatic systems. In this work, this relationship was studied for the triplet Zimmerman di-π-methane rearrangement. The aromaticity loss and gain taking place during the reaction is well acquainted by the REF, thus shedding light on the electronic nature of reactions involving dibenzobarrelenes.

Computational Prediction of Excited-State Carbon Tunneling in the Two Steps of Triplet Zimmerman Di-π-Methane Rearrangement

The photoinduced Zimmerman di-π-methane (DPM) rearrangement of polycyclic molecules to form synthetically useful cyclopropane derivatives was found experimentally to proceed in a triplet excited state. We have applied state-of-the-art quantum mechanical methods, including M06-2X, DLPNO-CCSD(T) and variational transition-state theory with multidimensional tunneling corrections, to an investigation of the reaction rates of the two steps in the triplet DPM rearrangement of dibenzobarrelene, benzobarrelene and barrelene. This study predicts a high probability of carbon tunneling in regions around the two consecutive transition states at 200-300 K, and an enhancement in the rates by 104-276/35-67% with carbon tunneling at 200/300 K. The Arrhenius plots of the rate constants were found to be curved at low temperatures. Moreover, the computed ¹²C/¹³C kinetic isotope effects were affected significantly by carbon tunneling and temperature. Our predictions of electronically excited-state carbon tunneling and two consecutive carbon tunneling are unprecedented. Heavy-atom tunneling in some photoinduced reactions with reactive intermediates and narrow barriers can be potentially observed at relatively low temperature in experiments.

Divergent Photocyclization/1,4-Sigmatropic Rearrangements for the Synthesis of Sesquiterpenoid Derivatives

Combined experimental and computational efforts have demonstrated the utility of divergent photocyclization/1,4-sigmatropic rearrangement reactions for developing a general strategy toward the synthesis of cubebane-, spiroaxane-, and guaiane-type sesquiterpenes and related analogues. The configuration of the bridgehead substituent, the choice of solvent, and the wavelength of irradiation all impact diastereoselectivity in this tandem reaction process.

Theory of substituent effects on the regioselectivity of di-π-methane rearrangements of dibenzobarrelenes

The regioselectivities of the di-π-methane rearrangements of unsymmetrically substituted dibenzobarrelenes have been explored with DFT (UM06-2X). Regioselectivity depends on the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and originates from specific stabilization of the triplet biradical intermediates.