A theoretical study on the regioselectivity of Diels–Alder reactions using electrophilicity index

Chalcone-Monoterpene Derivatives from the Buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus and Their Potential as Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitors

Four new compounds, racemic chalcone-monoterpene hybrids (1-3) and a chalcone (9), along with nine known compounds (4-8, 10-13), have been isolated from the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified through NMR data analysis and confirmed by computational methods, including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and further synthetic approaches. Compounds 1-5 were synthesized via a Diels-Alder reaction, a process informed by biomimetic condensation studies that combined chalcones and monoterpenes. These synthetic approaches also yielded various unnatural chalcone-monoterpene derivatives (14-23). The inhibitory effects on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) of both naturally isolated and synthetically obtained compounds were evaluated. Compounds 4, 9, 13, and 16b exhibited potent PTP1B inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.9 ± 0.2 to 3.9 ± 0.7 μM. The enantiomers (+)-4 and (-)-16b showed enhanced activity compared to their respective enantiomers. Kinetic studies indicate that all active compounds inhibit PTP1B through mixed mechanisms, and molecular docking simulations agree with the experimental assays on PTP1B. Our results suggest that chalcone-meroterpene adducts from the buds of C. operculatus exhibit potential as antidiabetic agents, partly due to their PTP1B enzyme inhibition.

Electrophilicity index revisited

This review aims to be a comprehensive, authoritative, critical, and accessible review of general interest to the chemistry community; because the electrophilicity index is a very useful global reactivity descriptor defined within a conceptual density functional theory framework. Our group has also introduced electrophilicity based new global and local reactivity descriptors and also new associated electronic structure principles, which are important indicators of structure, stability, bonding, reactivity, interactions, and dynamics in a wide variety of physico-chemical systems and processes. This index along with its local counterpart augmented by the associated electronic structure principles could properly explain molecular vibrations, internal rotations and various types of chemical reactions. The concept of the electrophilicity index has been extended to dynamical processes, excited states, confined environment, spin-dependent and temperature-dependent situations, biological activity, site selectivity, aromaticity, charge removal and acceptance, presence of external perturbation through solvents, external electric and magnetic fields, and so forth. Although electrophilicity and its local variant can adequately interpret the behavior of a wide variety of systems and different physico-chemical processes involving them, their predictive potential remains to be explored. An exhaustive review on all these aspects will set the tone of the future research in that direction.

SERS of Dopamine: Computational and experimental studies

Computational and experimental studies have been carried out on Dopamine. The calculated Raman spectra of Dopamine with and without Silver clusters (Ag_n (n = 1-4)) are compared with each other and it is shown that the intensity of the Raman activity increases with increasing number of silver atoms. The SERS effect shown by this system is further supported by calculating the Global electrophilicity index ω, the static mean polarizability α₀, and the anisotropy of the polarizabilities Δα. Stabilities of the complexes are analysed using the charge transfer, stabilization energies, and interaction energies. The reactive parameters for these complexes were further supported by looking at the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) surfaces. SERS substrates were fabricated by sintering silver nanoparticle paste onto a fused silica substrate, using a femtosecond laser. Detection of Dopamine up to 1 μM is reported using the SERS substrates.

Adsorption of 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane on pristine, Al, Ga-doped boron nitride nanotubes: a study involving PBC-DFT, NBO analysis, and QTAIM

In the present investigation, the feasibility of detecting the 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane gas molecule on the outer surface of pristine single-walled boron nitride nanotube, as well as its aluminium- and gallium-doped structures, was carefully evaluated. For achieving this goal, a periodic boundary condition density functional theory level of study using both HSE06 and B3LYP-D3 functionals together with a 6-311G(d) basis set has been used. Subsequently, the CAM-B3LYP, ωB97XD, and M06-2X functionals with a 6-311G(d) basis set were also employed to consider the single point energies. Natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules were implemented by using the HSE06/6-311G(d) method and the results were compatible with the electronic properties. In this regard, the total density of state, the Wiberg bond index, natural charge, natural electron configuration, donor–acceptor natural bond orbital interactions, and the second-order perturbation energies are performed to explore the nature of the intermolecular interactions. All of the energy calculations and population analyses show that by adsorbing of the gas molecule onto the surface of the considered nanostructures, the intermolecular interactions are of the type of strong chemical adsorption. Between the doped nanotubes, aluminium-doped nanotube has very high adsorption energy compared with gallium. Generally, it was revealed that the sensitivity of the adsorption will be increased when the gas molecule interacts with decorated nanotubes and decrease the HOMO–LUMO band gap; therefore, the change of electronic properties can be used to design suitable nanosensors.

An Ultimate Investigation on the Adsorption of Amantadine on Pristine and Decorated Fullerenes C59X (X=Si, Ge, B, Al, Ga, N, P, and As): A DFT, NBO, and QTAIM Study

In this investigation, the feasibility of detecting the amantadine (AMD) molecule onto the outer surface of pristine fullerene (C[Formula: see text]), as well as C[Formula: see text]X ([Formula: see text], Ge, B, Al, Ga, N, P, and As) decorated structures, was carefully evaluated. For achieving this goal, a density functional theory level of study using the HSEH1PBE functional together with a 6-311G(d) basis set has been used. Subsequently, the B3LYP-D3, wB97XD and M062X functionals with a 6-311G(d) basis set were also employed to consider the single point energies. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) were implemented using the B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d) method and the results were compatible with the electronic properties. In this regard, the total density of states (TDOSs), the Wiberg bond index (WBI), natural charge, natural electron configuration, donor–acceptor NBO interactions, and the second-order perturbation energies are performed to explore the nature of the intermolecular interactions. All of the energy calculations and population analyses denote that by adsorbing of the AMD molecule onto the surface of the considered nanostructures, the intermolecular interactions are of the type of strong physical adsorption. Among the doped fullerenes, Ge-doped structure has very high adsorption energy compared to other elements. Generally, it was revealed that the sensitivity of the adsorption will be increased when the AMD molecule interacts with the decorated fullerenes and decrease the HOMO–LUMO band gap; therefore, the change of electronic properties can be used to design suitable nanocarrier.

The adsorption of chlorofluoromethane on pristine, and Al- and Ga-doped boron nitride nanosheets: a DFT, NBO, and QTAIM study

In the present investigation, the feasibility of detecting the chlorofluoromethane (CFM) gas molecule onto the outer surface of pristine single layer boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS), as well as its aluminum (Al)- and gallium (Ga)-doped structures, was carefully evaluated. For achieving this goal, a density functional theory level of study using the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof exchange-correlation (PBEPBE) functional together with a 6-311G(d) basis set has been used. Subsequently, the B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, wB97XD, and M062X functionals with a 6-311G(d) basis set were also employed to consider the single-point energies. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) were implemented by using the B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d) method, and the results were compatible with the electronic properties. In this regard, the total density of states (TDOSs), the Wiberg bond index (WBI), natural charge, natural electron configuration, donor-acceptor natural bond orbital interactions, and the second-order perturbation energies are performed to explore the nature of the intermolecular interactions. All of the energy calculations and population analyses denote that by adsorbing of the gas molecule onto the surface of the considered nanostructures, the intermolecular interactions are of the type of strong chemical adsorption. Among the doped nanosheets, Ga-doped nanosheet has very high adsorption energy compared with other elements (i.e., Ga-doped > Al-doped > pristine). Generally, it was revealed that the sensitivity of the adsorption will be increased when the gas molecule interacts with decorated nanosheets and decrease the HOMO-LUMO band gap; therefore, the change of electronic properties can be used to design suitable nanosensors to detect CFM gas. Graphical abstract.

Diels–Alder Reactions of α-Cyano α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with 2-Methyl-1,3-Butadiene: DFT Study of Mechanism, Reactivity and Regioselectivity

The mechanism, reactivity and regioselectivity of Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene with four dienophiles, ( E)-2-benzylidene-3-oxobutanenitrile, ( E)-2-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-3-oxopentanenitrile, ( E)-2-benzylidene-4,4-dimethyl-3-oxopentanenitrile, and (E)-2-benzoyl-3-(furan-2-yl) acrylonitrile, have been studied by means of several theoretical approaches. The regioselectivity of these reactions has been confirmed by their activation energies, the Gazquez–Mendez rule, Houk's rule and global descriptors of the products. All the studied reactions have normal electron demand character and a polar nature. All calculations were done at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory.

Impact of Lewis base on chemical reactivity and separation efficiency for hydrated fourth-row transition metal (II) complexes: an ONIOM DFT/MM study

In this paper, two-layer ONIOM combinations of high-level quantum mechanics (QM) and inexpensive molecular mechanics (MM) are successfully used to investigate the structural characters of metal (M, all the transition metals in the fourth period)-H2O-Lewis base (A(-)) complexes. Global and local descriptors of chemical reactivity and selectivity from conceptual density functional theory are employed to show the properties of the active complexes of M(H2O)2A2 and to study the effect of the Lewis base for the separation of transition metal ions. It is shown that chemical potential, hardness, electrophilicity, as well as the dual and multiphilic descriptors are adequate for characterizing the global and local reactivity trends of the M(H2O)2A2 complex. It is found that the reactivity is well localized at the metallic center in M(H2O)2A2 and the dual descriptor (ΔfM(r)) can also be used to characterize the directional attack of the electrophile and nucleophile except for the selectivity of the reaction. On the basis of the values of ωM and Δsk, and the sign of ΔfM(r), the selectivity of the nucleophilic reagent (R(-)) for M(II) in M(H2O)2A2 (from high to low) follows this order: Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Fe(II) ≫ Mn(II) > Zn(II) > Cr(II). The Lewis base (A(-)) improves chemical reactivity and selectivity because of changing the reaction path and forming an intermediate, which possesses the higher antibonding character and the larger HOMO/LUMO gap. NBO or AIMALL analysis and Frontier orbital theory results presented here provided more theoretical support for the above reactivity and selectivity studies.

Density functional theory study of electric field effects on the isomerization of a photochromic molecular switch based on 1,2-dithienylethene

Structural and electronic properties of 1,2-bis(5-methyl-[2,2′-bithiophen]-4-yl)cyclopent-1-ene in closed form and open form under various external electric field with strengths, 0, 10 × 10−4, 20 × 10−4, 30 × 10−4, 40 × 10−4, and 50 × 10−4a.u., were studied using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G* method. As a positive index, structural parameters, length of the photoisomers, and the electronic spatial extents are almost stable at different external electric fields. The UV-Vis electronic spectrum based on time-dependent density functional theory indicated that the HOMO → LUMO transition in the closed form under different electric field strengths is strongly allowed, whereas is very weak in the open form. Electronic response parameters such as the HOMO−LUMO gap, electric dipole moment, and polarizability showed that electric conductivity of the closed form at different field strengths is greater than in the open form. Results of electronic density of states show that at high external electric field, the conductivity of the open form and closed form will be probably equal and switching behavior cannot be observed. Isomerization of the closed form to the open form at different external electric fields can be considered as exothermic and spontaneous.

REGIOSELECTIVITY OF HETERO DIELS–ALDER REACTIONS BETWEEN 1-AZA-1,3-BUTADIENE DERIVATIVES AND DIMETHYLVINYLAMINE: A THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION

The regioselectivity of hetero Diels–Alder reactions between 1-aza-1,3-butadiene derivatives and dimethylvinylamine is elucidated by means of several theoretical approaches, namely, the Gazquez–Mendez rule based on the calculation of local softnesses, barrier activation calculations, maximum hardness principle, and the Houk rule based on the FMO theory. The calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory, and the obtained results are in agreement with available experimental results. Moreover, the present analysis shows that these inverse electron demand polar cycloadditions present a linear relationship between the activation barriers of the favored ortho regio-isomers and the inverse of electrophilicity differences of the reagents.

Synergistic activation of the Diels-Alder reaction by an organic catalyst and substituents: a computational study

Density functional theory (DFT), using the hybrid functionals B3LYP and B2PLYP, has been employed to investigate the activation of the acrolein-butadiene Diels-Alder reaction, mediated by a thiourea catalyst. Effects due to electron-donating groups (EDGs) on the diene, as well as electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) on the dienophile, have also been studied. Organic catalysts such as thioureas are known to lower the activation energy through hydrogen-bonding to the carbonyl oxygen, in a way that mimics the oxyanion holes of hydrolytic enzymes. EDGs and EWGs were found to further activate the reaction, and the catalyst showed a synergistic behavior towards the EDGs. Polar solvents were found to reduce the overall activation energy, but also the relative catalytic effect of the thiourea, in accordance with experimental studies. The substituent-mediated reactions displayed more asynchronous transition structures with lower activation energy, which led us to investigate the possibility of an alternative two-step, Michael-type route, similar to what has been found in macrophomate synthase. Although the concerted Diels-Alder route was found to be favored over the Michael route, the calculated activation energy difference is less than 1 kcal mol(-1), which suggests that the two mechanisms compete, and could be responsible for the particular stereochemical outcome of an experiment.

Imaginary Vibrational Modes in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Challenging Test for the Hardness Profiles

In a very recent article (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 9342-9343) Moran et al. found that electron-correlated methodologies using popular Pople basis sets lead to spurious nonplanar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) equilibrium structures. Furthermore, some of the present authors have shown that the hardness profiles along a reaction path can be a useful tool to find spurious stationary points in the potential energy surface. Herein, we test the performance of the hardness profiles to detect shortcomings in energy profiles for the challenging case of nonplanar PAHs. The results obtained show that in 41 of the 42 imaginary vibrational modes studied, the hardness profiles indicate the wrong number and type of the potential energy surface stationary points.