DFT study and NBO analysis of the mutual interconversion of cumulene compounds

Synthesis and properties of long [n]cumulenes (n ≥ 5)

This review highlights the synthesis and reactivity of longer [n]cumulenes (n ≥ 5) and summarizes their electronic and structural properties.

Stereoelectronic interaction effects on the conformational properties of 5-methyl-5-aza-1,3-dithiacyclohexane and its analogous containing N, P, O, and Se atoms — A hybrid density functional theory (DFT), ab initio study, and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis

Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, hybrid density functional theory (hybrid DFT: B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**), and ab initio molecular orbital (MO: MP2/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G**) based methods were used to study the electronic delocalization energy (DE), dipole–dipole interactions, and steric repulsions on the conformational properties of 5-methyl-5-aza-1,3-dioxacyclohexane (1) (-phospha- (2), -arsena- (3)), 5-methyl-5-aza-1,3-dithiacyclohexane (4) (-phospha- (5), -arsena- (6)), and 5-methyl-5-aza-1,3-diselenacyclohexane (7) (-phospha- (8), -arsena- (9)). The MP2/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** and B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-311+G** results revealed that the axial stereoisomers of compounds 1–9 are more stable than their equatorial stereoisomers. In this regard, the obtained results showed an egregious axial preference for compounds 1, 4, and 7. Importantly, the results showed that the energy differences between the axial and equatorial stereoisomers decrease from compounds 1 → 3, 4 → 6, and also, 7 → 9. The NBO analysis of donor–acceptor interactions revealed that the calculated DE for compounds 1–3 are –21.50, –7.84, and –4.38 kcal mol–1, respectively. The decrease of the calculated DE values from compound 1 to compound 3 could reasonably explain the decrease of the energy differences between the axial and equatorial stereoisomers from compound 1 to compound 3. The correlation between the DE, dipole–dipole interactions, structural parameters, and conformational behaviors of compounds 1–9 has been investigated.

Chemistry of energetically activated cumulenes - from allene (H2CCCH2) to hexapentaene (H2CCCCCCH2)

During the last decade, experimental and theoretical studies on the unimolecular decomposition of cumulenes (H(2)C(n)H(2)) from propadiene (H(2)CCCH(2)) to hexapentaene (H(2)CCCCCCH(2)) have received considerable attention due to the importance of these carbon-bearing molecules in combustion flames, chemical vapor deposition processes, atmospheric chemistry, and the chemistry of the interstellar medium. Cumulenes and their substituted counterparts also have significant technical potential as elements for molecular machines (nanomechanics), molecular wires (nano-electronics), nonlinear optics, and molecular sensors. In this review, we present a systematic overview of the stability, formation, and unimolecular decomposition of chemically, photo-chemically, and thermally activated small to medium-sized cumulenes in extreme environments. By concentrating on reactions under gas phase thermal conditions (pyrolysis) and on molecular beam experiments conducted under single-collision conditions (crossed beam and photodissociation studies), a comprehensive picture on the unimolecular decomposition dynamics of cumulenes transpires.