Scaled DFT selenium NMR chemical shieldings

Quantum chemical calculations of 77 Se and 125 Te nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters and their structural applications

An accurate quantum chemical (QC) modeling of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra is deeply involved in the NMR structural assignment for selenium and tellurium compounds that are of utmost importance both in organic and inorganic chemistry nowadays due to their huge application potential in many fields, like biology, medicine, and metallurgy. The main interest of this review is focused on the progress in QC computations of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te NMR chemical shifts and indirect spin-spin coupling constants involving these nuclei. Different computational methodologies that have been used to simulate the NMR spectra of selenium and tellurium compounds since the middle of the 1990s are discussed with a strong emphasis on their accuracy. A special accent is placed on the calculations resorting to the relativistic methodologies, because taking into account the relativistic effects appreciably influences the precision of NMR calculations of selenium and, especially, tellurium compounds. Stereochemical applications of quantum chemical calculations of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te NMR parameters are discussed so as to exemplify the importance of integrated approach of experimental and computational NMR techniques.

Mechanistic Insight into the Oxidation of Organic Phenylselenides by H2 O2

The oxidation of organic phenylselenides by H₂ O₂ is investigated in model compounds, namely, n-butyl phenyl selenide (PhSe(nBu)), bis(phenylselanyl)methane (PhSeMeSePh), diphenyl diselenide (PhSeSePh), and 1,2-bis(phenylselanyl)ethane (PhSeEtSePh). Through a combined experimental (¹ H and ⁷⁷ Se NMR) and computational approach, we characterize the direct oxidation of monoselenide to selenoxide, the stepwise double oxidation of PhSeMeSePh that leads to different diastereomeric diselenoxides, the complete oxidation of the diphenyldiselenide that leads to selenium-selenium bond cleavage, and the subsequent formation of the phenylseleninic product. The oxidation of PhSeEtSePh also results in the formation of phenylseleninic acid along with 1-(vinylseleninyl)benzene, which is derived from a side elimination reaction. The evidence of a direct mechanism, in addition to an autocatalytic mechanism that emerges from kinetic studies, is discussed. By considering our observations of diselenides with chalcogen atoms that are separated by alkyl spacers of different length, a rationale for the advantage of diselenide versus monoselenide catalysts is presented.

MODELING THE GROUND STATE GEOMETRY AND ESTIMATING THE CHARGE TRANSFER TRANSITION ENERGY OF THE TOLUENE–ICl MOLECULAR COMPLEX BY AB INITIO AND DFT METHODS

Out of several plausible isomeric structures of the toluene–ICl charge transfer (CT) complex, the most feasible one was determined by a detailed ab initio and DFT study at the HF, B3LYP, and mPW1PW91 levels using 6-31++G(d, p) basis set. Potential energy surface scans were performed with six possible structures ( I and Cl facing the o-, m-, and p-carbon atoms of toluene separately); the structures at the local minima of the surfaces were subjected to frequency calculation and the ones having no negative frequency were accepted as the real structure in the ground state. These structures were then subjected to full optimization. It was observed that the I – Cl bond, with its I atom oriented toward the aromatic ring, stands vertically above a C -atom at the ortho or para positions, being inclined at about 9° to the line perpendicular to the aromatic ring. Complexation increases the I – Cl bond length. After correction for basis set superposition error through a counterpoise calculation, we conclude from the binding energy that the preferred structure is the one with ICl above the ortho C atom. The calculated binding energy closely matches the experimental free energy of complexation. The electronic CT transition energy (hν CT ) with this structure in the ground state was calculated in vacuo by the restricted configuration interaction singlets method and in carbontetrachloride medium by the time dependent density functional theory method under the polarizable continuum model. The value of hν CT obtained from the ground-to-excited state transition electric dipole moments of the complex, is close to (somewhat underestimated) the reported experimental value.

Structure and Dynamics of L-Selenomethionine in the Solid State

L-selenomethionine 1 crystallizes in P2(1) space group with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is used for searching of structure and dynamics of 1 in the crystal lattice. The distinct molecular motion of side chains for A and B molecules of 1 is apparent from measurements of relaxation parameters (1H 1rho, 13C T1) and analysis of CSA data (2D-PASS experiment). The 13C delta(ii) and 77Se delta(ii) parameters are correlated with theoretical shielding parameters obtained by means DFT GIAO calculations. Attempt to explain the mechanism of phase transition of crystals of 1 at 313K is presented.

A Combined Experimental and Quantum Chemistry Study of Selenium Chemical Shift Tensors

A comprehensive investigation of selenium chemical shift tensors is presented. Experimentally determined chemical shift tensors were obtained from solid-state 77Se NMR spectra for several organic, organometallic, or inorganic selenium-containing compounds. The first reported indirect spin-spin coupling between selenium and chlorine is observed for Ph(2)SeCl(2) where 1J(77Se,35Cl)iso is 110 Hz. Selenium magnetic shielding tensors were calculated for all of the molecules investigated using zeroth-order regular approximation density functional theory, ZORA DFT. The computations provide the orientations of the chemical shift tensors, as well as a test of the theory for calculating the magnetic shielding interaction for heavier elements. The ZORA DFT calculations were performed with nonrelativistic, scalar relativistic, and scalar with spin-orbit relativistic levels of theory. Relativistic contributions to the magnetic shielding tensor were found to be significant for (NH4)2WSe4 and of less importance for organoselenium, organophosphine selenide, and inorganic selenium compounds containing lighter elements.