Model equations for estimating sublimation enthalpies of organic compounds

Capturing the crystal: prediction of enthalpy of sublimation, crystal lattice energy, and melting points of organic compounds

Accurate computational prediction of melting points and aqueous solubilities of organic compounds would be very useful but is notoriously difficult. Predicting the lattice energies of compounds is key to understanding and predicting their melting behavior and ultimately their solubility behavior. We report robust, predictive, quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models for enthalpies of sublimation, crystal lattice energies, and melting points for a very large and structurally diverse set of small organic compounds. Sparse Bayesian feature selection and machine learning methods were employed to select the most relevant molecular descriptors for the model and to generate parsimonious quantitative models. The final enthalpy of sublimation model is a four-parameter multilinear equation that has an r(2) value of 0.96 and an average absolute error of 7.9 ± 0.3 kJ.mol(-1). The melting point model can predict this property with a standard error of 45° ± 1 K and r(2) value of 0.79. Given the size and diversity of the training data, these conceptually transparent and accurate models can be used to predict sublimation enthalpy, lattice energy, and melting points of organic compounds in general.

Inductive modeling of physico-chemical properties: flash point of alkanes

The problem of predicting flash points (T(*)) of alkanes from their molecular formula is revisited. Starting from an examination of the dependence of T(*) on the length of the carbon chain for n-alkanes, a new model is proposed. Despite its extreme simplicity, it performs better than published alternatives based on advanced regression techniques. This illustrates the interest of an inductive approach to quantitative structure-property relationships, whereby a model is first developed for restricted series of simple compounds before being generalized.

Parametrization of Semiempirical Models against ab Initio Crystal Data: Evaluation of Lattice Energies of Nitrate Salts

A method to estimate the lattice energies E(latt) of nitrate salts is put forward. First, E(latt) is approximated by its electrostatic component E(elec). Then, E(elec) is correlated with Mulliken atomic charges calculated on the species that make up the crystal, using a simple equation involving two empirical parameters. The latter are fitted against point charge estimates of E(elec) computed on available X-ray structures of nitrate crystals. The correlation thus obtained yields lattice energies within 0.5 kJ/g from point charge values. A further assessment of the method against experimental data suggests that the main source of error arises from the point charge approximation.

Derivatives of 1,5-Diamino-1H-tetrazole: A New Family of Energetic Heterocyclic-Based Salts

1,5-Diamino-1H-tetrazole (2, DAT) can easily be protonated by reaction with strong mineral acids, yielding the poorly investigated 1,5-diaminotetrazolium nitrate (2a) and perchlorate (2b). A new synthesis for 2 is introduced that avoids lead azide as a hazardous byproduct. The reaction of 1,5-diamino-1H-tetrazole with iodomethane (7a) followed by the metathesis of the iodide (7a) with silver nitrate (7b), silver dinitramide (7c), or silver azide (7d) leads to a new family of heterocyclic-based salts. In all cases, stable salts were obtained and fully characterized by vibrational (IR, Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray structure determination, and initial safety testing (impact and friction sensitivity). Most of the salts exhibit good thermal stabilities, and both the perchlorate (2b) and the dinitramide (7c) have melting points well below 100 degrees C, yet high decomposition onsets, defining them as new (7c), highly energetic ionic liquids. Preliminary sensitivity testing of the crystalline compounds indicates rather low impact sensitivities for all compounds, the highest being that of the perchlorate (2b) and the dinitramide (7c) with a value of 7 J. In contrast, the friction sensitivities of the perchlorate (2b, 60 N) and the dinitramide (7c, 24 N) are relatively high. The enthalpies of combustion (Delta(c)H degrees ) of 7b-d were determined experimentally using oxygen bomb calorimetry: Delta(c)H degrees (7b) = -2456 cal g(-)(1), Delta(c)H degrees (7c) = -2135 cal g(-)(1), and Delta(c)H degrees (7d) = -3594 cal g(-)(1). The standard enthalpies of formation (Delta(f)H degrees ) of 7b-d were obtained on the basis of quantum chemical computations using the G2 (G3) method: Delta(f)H degrees (7b) = 41.7 (41.2) kcal mol(-)(1), Delta(f)H degrees (7c) = 92.1 (91.1) kcal mol(-)(1), and Delta(f)H degrees (7d) = 161.6 (161.5) kcal mol(-)(1). The detonation velocities (D) and detonation pressures (P) of 2b and 7b-d were calculated using the empirical equations of Kamlet and Jacobs: D(2b) = 8383 m s(-)(1), P(2b) = 32.2 GPa; D(7b) = 7682 m s(-)(1), P(7b) = 23.4 GPa; D(7c) = 8827 m s(-)(1), P(7c) = 33.6 GPa; and D(7d) = 7405 m s(-)(1), P(7d) = 20.8 GPa. For all compounds, a structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction was performed. 2a and 2b crystallize in the monoclinic space groups C2/c and P2(1)/n, respectively. The salts of 7 crystallize in the orthorhombic space groups Pna2(1) (7a, 7d) and Fdd2 (7b). The hydrogen-bonded ring motifs are discussed in the formalism of graph-set analysis of hydrogen-bond patterns and compared in the case of 2a, 2b, and 7b.