Deciphering Front-Side Complex Formation in SN2 Reactions via Dynamics Mapping

Reaction dynamics of the methoxy anion CH3O- with methyl iodide CH3I

Studying larger nucleophiles in bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reactions bridges the gap from simple model systems to those relevant to organic chemistry. Therefore, we investigated the reaction dynamics between the methoxy anion (CH3O-) and iodomethane (CH3I) in our crossed-beam setup combined with velocity map imaging at the four collision energies 0.4, 0.7, 1.2, and 1.6 eV. We find the two ionic products I- and CH2I-, which can be attributed to the SN2 and proton transfer channels, respectively. The proton transfer channel progresses in a previously observed fashion from indirect to direct scattering with increasing collision energy. Interestingly, the SN2 channel exhibits direct dynamics already at low collision energies. Both the direct stripping, leading to forward scattering, and the direct rebound mechanism, leading to backward scattering into high angles, are observed.

Benchmark ab initio characterization of the complex potential energy surfaces of the HOO- + CH3Y [Y = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions

The α-effect is a well-known phenomenon in organic chemistry, and is related to the enhanced reactivity of nucleophiles involving one or more lone-pair electrons adjacent to the nucleophilic center. The gas-phase bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reactions of α-nucleophile HOO- with methyl halides have been thoroughly investigated experimentally and theoretically; however, these investigations have mainly focused on identifying and characterizing the α-effect of HOO-. Here, we perform the first comprehensive high-level ab initio mapping for the HOO- + CH3Y [Y = F, Cl, Br and I] reactions utilizing the modern explicitly-correlated CCSD(T)-F12b method with the aug-cc-pVnZ [n = 2-4] basis sets. The present ab initio characterization considers five distinct product channels of SN2: (CH3OOH + Y-), proton abstraction (CH2Y- + H2O2), peroxide ion substitution (CH3OO- + HY), SN2-induced elimination (CH2O + HY + HO-) and SN2-induced rearrangement (CH2(OH)O- + HY). Moreover, besides the traditional back-side attack Walden inversion, the pathways of front-side attack, double inversion and halogen-bond complex formation have also been explored for SN2. With regard to the Walden inversion of HOO- + CH3Cl, the previously unaddressed discrepancies concerning the geometry of the corresponding transition state are clarified. For the HOO- + CH3F reaction, the recently identified SN2-induced elimination is found to be more exothermic than the SN2 channel, submerged by ∼36 kcal mol-1. The accuracy of our high-level ab initio calculations performed in the present study is validated by the fact that our new benchmark 0 K reaction enthalpies show excellent agreement with the experimental data in nearly all cases.

Mechanistic Insights into the Proton Transfer and Substitution Dynamics of N-Atom Center Reactions: A Study of CH3O- with NH2Cl

Bimolecular substitution reactions involving N as the central atom have continuously improved our understanding of substitution dynamics. This work used chemical dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics of NH2Cl with N as the central atom and the multiatomic nucleophile CH3O- and compared these results with the F- + NH2Cl reaction. The most noteworthy difference is in the competition between proton transfer (PT) and the SN2 pathways. Our results demonstrate that, for the CH3O- + NH2Cl system, the PT pathway is considerably more favorable than the SN2 pathway. In contrast, no PT pathway was observed for the F- + NH2Cl system at room temperature. This can be attributed to the exothermic reaction of the PT pathway for the CH3O- + NH2Cl reaction and is coupled with a more stable transition state compared to the substitution pathway. Furthermore, the bulky nature of the CH3O- group impedes its participation in SN2 reactions, which enhances both the thermodynamic and the dynamic advantages of the PT reaction. Interestingly, the atomic mechanism reveals that the PT pathway is primarily governed by indirect mechanisms, similar to the SN2 pathway, with trajectories commonly trapped in the entrance channel being a prominent feature. These trajectories are often accompanied by prolonged and frequent proton exchange or proton abstraction processes. This current work provides insights into the dynamics of N-centered PT reactions, which are useful in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics behavior of similar reactions.

Computational Insights into SN 2 and Proton Transfer Reactions of CH3 O- with NH2 Y and CH3 Y

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN 2) reactions have been extensively studied in both theory and experiment. While research on C-centered SN 2 reactions (SN 2@C) has been ongoing, SN 2 reactions at neutral nitrogen (SN 2@N) have received increased attention in recent years. To recommend methods for dynamics simulations, the comparison for the properties of the geometries, vibrational frequencies, and energies is done between MP2 and six DFT functional calculations and experimental data as well as the high-level CCSD(T) method for CH3 O- +NH2 Cl/CH3 Cl reactions. The relative energy diagrams at the M06 method for CH3 O- with CH3 Y/NH2 Y reactions (Y=F, Cl, Br, I) in the gas and solution phase are explored to investigate the effects of the leaving groups, different reaction centers, and solvents. We mainly focus on the computational of inv-SN 2 and proton transfer (PT) pathways. The PT channel in the gas phase is more competitive than the SN 2 channel for N-center reactions, while the opposite is observed for C-centered reactions. Solvation completely inhibits the PT channel, making SN 2 the dominant pathway. Our study provides new insight into the SN 2 reaction mechanisms and rich the novel reaction model in gas-phase organic chemistry.

Phosphorus-centered ion-molecule reactions: benchmark ab initio characterization of the potential energy surfaces of the X- + PH2Y [X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I] systems

In the present work we determine the benchmark relative energies and geometries of all the relevant stationary points of the X- + PH2Y [X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I] identity and non-identity reactions using state-of-the-art electronic-structure methods. These phosphorus-centered ion-molecule reactions follow two main reaction routes: bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2), leading to Y- + PH2X, and proton transfer, resulting in HX + PHY- products. The SN2 route can proceed through Walden-inversion, front-side-attack retention, and double-/multiple-inversion pathways. In addition, we also identify the following product channels: H--formation, PH2-- and PH2-formation, 1PH- and 3PH-formation, H2-formation and HY + PHX- formation. The benchmark classical relative energies are obtained by taking into account the core-correlation, scalar relativistic, and post-(T) corrections, which turn out to be necessary to reach subchemical (<1 kcal mol-1) accuracy of the results. Classical relative energies are augmented with zero-point-energy contributions to gain the benchmark adiabatic energies.

Imaging Frontside and Backside Attack in Radical Ion-Molecule Reactive Scattering

We report on the reactive scattering of methyl iodide, CH₃I, with atomic oxygen anions O^-. This radical ion-molecule reaction can produce different ionic products depending on the angle of attack of the nucleophile O^- on the target molecule. We present results on the backside and frontside attack of O^- on CH₃I, which can lead to I^- and IO^- products, respectively. We combine crossed-beam velocity map imaging with quantum chemical calculations to unravel the chemical reaction dynamics. Energy-dependent scattering experiments in the range of 0.3-2.0 eV relative collision energy revealed that three different reaction pathways can lead to I^- products, making it the predominant observed product. Backside attack occurs via a hydrogen-bonded complex with observed indirect, forward, and sideways scattered iodide products. Halide abstraction via frontside attack produces IO^-, which mainly shows isotropic and backward scattered products at low energies. IO^- is observed to dissociate further to I^- + O at a certain energy threshold and favors more direct dynamics at higher collision energies.

Exploring the versatile reactivity of the F- + SiH3Cl system on a full-dimensional coupled-cluster potential energy surface

We develop a full-dimensional analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the F- + SiH3Cl reaction using Robosurfer for automatically sampling the configuration space, the robust [CCSD-F12b + BCCD(T) - BCCD]/aug-cc-pVTZ composite level of theory for computing the energy points, and the permutationally invariant polynomial method for fitting. Evolution of the fitting error and the percentage of the unphysical trajectories are monitored as a function of the iteration steps/number of energy points and polynomial order. Quasi-classical trajectory simulations on the new PES reveal rich dynamics resulting in high-probability SN2 (SiH3F + Cl-) and proton-transfer (SiH2Cl- + HF) products as well as several lower-probability channels, such as SiH2F- + HCl, SiH2FCl + H-, SiH2 + FHCl-, SiHFCl- + H2, SiHF + H2 + Cl-, and SiH2 + HF + Cl-. The Walden-inversion and front-side-attack-retention SN2 pathways are found to be competitive, producing nearly racemic products at high collision energies. The detailed atomic-level mechanisms of the various reaction pathways and channels as well as the accuracy of the analytical PES are analyzed along representative trajectories.

Stabilizing Halogen-Bonded Complex between Metallic Anion and Iodide

Halogen bonds (XBs) between metal anions and halides have seldom been reported because metal anions are reactive for XB donors. The pyramidal-shaped Mn(CO)₅^- anion is a candidate metallic XB acceptor with a ligand-protected metal core that maintains the negative charge and an open site to accept XB donors. Herein, Mn(CO)₅^- is prepared by electrospray ionization, and its reaction with CH₃I in gas phase is studied using mass spectrometry and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The product observed experimentally at m/z = 337 is assigned as [IMn(CO)₄(OCCH₃)]^-, which is formed by successive nucleophilic substitution and reductive elimination, instead of the halogen-bonded complex (XC) CH₃-I···Mn(CO)₅^-, because the I···Mn interaction is weak within XC and it could be a transient species. Inspiringly, DFT calculations predict that replacing CH₃I with CF₃I can strengthen the halogen bonding within the XC due to the electro-withdrawing ability of F. More importantly, in so doing, the nucleophilic substitution barrier can be raised significantly, ~30 kcal/mol, thus leaving the system trapping within the XC region. In brief, the combination of a passivating metal core and the introduction of an electro-withdrawing group to the halide can enable strong halogen bonding between metallic anion and iodide.

Spectroscopic Study of the Br- +CH3 I→I- +CH3 Br SN 2 Reaction

Mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to study the gas-phase <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>S</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi></mml:msub> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow> <mml:annotation>${{{\rm S}}_{{\rm N}}2}$</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> reaction involving <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>B</mml:mi> <mml:mi>r</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mo>-</mml:mo></mml:msup> <mml:annotation>${{{\rm B}{\rm r}}^{-}}$</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> and <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>C</mml:mi> <mml:mi>H</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msub> <mml:mi>I</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:annotation>${{{\rm C}{\rm H}}_{3}{\rm I}}$</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> . The anion photoelectron spectra associated with the reaction intermediates of this <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>S</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi></mml:msub> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow> <mml:annotation>${{{\rm S}}_{{\rm N}}2}$</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> reaction are presented. High-level CCSD(T) calculations have been utilised to investigate the reaction intermediates that may form as a result of the <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>S</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi></mml:msub> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow> <mml:annotation>${{{\rm S}}_{{\rm N}}2}$</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> reaction along various different reaction pathways, including back-side attack and front-side attack. In addition, simulated vertical detachment energies of each reaction intermediate have been calculated to rationalise the photoelectron spectra.

Dynamical Effects of SN2 Reactivity Suppression by Microsolvation: Dynamics Simulations of the F-(H2O) + CH3I Reaction on a 21-Dimensional Potential Energy Surface

A comparison of atomistic dynamics between microsolvated and unsolvated reactions can expose the precise role of solvent molecules and thus provide deep insight into how solvation influences chemical reactions. Here we developed the first full-dimensional analytical potential energy surface of the F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction, which facilitates the efficient dynamics simulations on a quantitatively accurate level. The computed SN2 reactivity suppression ratio of the monosolvated F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction relative to the unsolvated F- + CH3I reaction as a function of collision energy first increases and then decreases steadily, forming an inverted-V shape, due to the combined dynamical effects of interaction time, steric hindrance, and collision-induced dehydration. Moreover, further analysis reveals that the steric effect of the F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction resulting from the single water molecule is manifested mainly in dragging the F- anion away from the central C atom, rather than shielding F- from C. Our study shows there is great potential in rigorously studying the role of the solvent in more complicated reactions.

SN2 Reactions with an Ambident Nucleophile: A Benchmark Ab Initio Study of the CN- + CH3Y [Y = F, Cl, Br, and I] Systems

We characterize the Walden-inversion, front-side attack, and double-inversion S_N2 pathways leading to Y^– + CH₃CN/CH₃NC and the product channels of proton abstraction (HCN/HNC + CH₂Y^–), hydride-ion substitution (H^– + YH₂CCN/YH₂CNC), halogen abstraction (YCN^–/YNC^– + CH₃ and YCN/YNC + CH₃^–), and YHCN^–/YHNC^– complex formation (YHCN^–/YHNC^– + ¹CH₂) of the CN^– + CH₃Y [Y = F, Cl, Br, and I] reactions. Benchmark structures and frequencies are computed at the CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, and a composite approach is employed to obtain relative energies with sub-chemical accuracy considering (a) basis-set effects up to aug-cc-pVQZ, (b) post-CCSD(T) correlation up to CCSDT(Q), (c) core correlation, (d) relativistic effects, and (e) zero-point energy corrections. C–C bond formation is both thermodynamically and kinetically more preferred than N–C bond formation, though the kinetic preference is less significant. Walden inversion proceeds via low or submerged barriers (12.1/17.9(F), 0.0/4.3(Cl), −3.9/0.1(Br), and −5.8/–1.8(I) kcal/mol for C–C/N–C bond formation), front-side attack and double inversion have high barriers (30–64 kcal/mol), the latter is the lower-energy retention pathway, and the non-S_N2 electronic ground-state product channels are endothermic (ΔH₀ = 31–92 kcal/mol).

High-Level Systematic Ab Initio Comparison of Carbon- and Silicon-Centered SN2 Reactions

We characterize the stationary points along the Walden inversion, front-side attack, and double-inversion pathways of the X^– + CH₃Y and X^– + SiH₃Y [X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I] S_N2 reactions using chemically accurate CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVnZ [n = D, T, Q] levels of theory. At the carbon center, Walden inversion dominates and proceeds via prereaction (X^–···H₃CY) and postreaction (XCH₃···Y^–) ion-dipole wells separated by a usually submerged transition state (X–H₃C–Y)⁻, front-side attack occurs over high barriers, double inversion is the lowest-energy retention pathway for X = F, and hydrogen- (F^–···HCH₂Y) and halogen-bonded (X^–···YCH₃) complexes exist in the entrance channel. At the silicon center, Walden inversion proceeds through a single minimum (X–SiH₃–Y)⁻, the front-side attack is competitive via a usually submerged transition state separating pre- and postreaction minima having X–Si–Y angles close to 90°, double inversion occurs over positive, often high barriers, and hydrogen- and halogen-bonded complexes are not found. In addition to the S_N2 channels (Y^– + CH₃X/SiH₃X), we report reaction enthalpies for proton abstraction (HX + CH₂Y^–/SiH₂Y^–), hydride substitution (H^– + CH₂XY/SiH₂XY), XH···Y^– complex formation (XH···Y^– + ¹CH₂/¹SiH₂), and halogen abstraction (XY + CH₃^–/SiH₃^– and XY^– + CH₃/SiH₃).

Detailed quasiclassical dynamics of the F- + CH3Br reaction on an ab initio analytical potential energy surface

Dynamics and mechanisms of the F^- + CH₃Br(v = 0) → Br^- + CH₃F (S_N2 via Walden inversion, front-side attack, and double inversion), F^- + inverted-CH₃Br (induced inversion), HF + CH₂Br^- (proton abstraction), and FH⋯Br^- + ¹CH₂ reactions are investigated using a high-level global ab initio potential energy surface, the quasiclassical trajectory method, as well as non-standard configuration- and mode-specific analysis techniques. A vector-projection method is used to identify inversion and retention trajectories; then, a transition-state-attack-angle-based approach unambiguously separates the front-side attack and the double-inversion retention pathways. The Walden-inversion S_N2 channel becomes direct rebound dominated with increasing collision energy as indicated by backward scattering, initial back-side attack preference, and the redshifting of product internal energy peaks in accord with CF stretching populations. In the minor retention and induced-inversion pathways, almost the entire available energy transfers into product rotation-vibration, and retention mainly proceeds with indirect, slow double inversion following induced inversion with about 50% probability. Proton abstraction is dominated by direct stripping (evidenced by forward scattering) with CH₃-side initial attack preference, providing mainly vibrationally ground state products with significant zero-point energy violation.

A benchmark ab initio study of the complex potential energy surfaces of the OH- + CH3CH2Y [Y = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions

We provide the first benchmark characterization of the OH^- + CH₃CH₂Y [Y = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions utilizing the high-level explicitly-correlated CCSD(T)-F12b method with the aug-cc-pVnZ [n = 2(D), 3(T), 4(Q)] basis sets. We explore and analyze the stationary points of the elimination (E2) and substitution (S_N2) reactions, including anti-E2, syn-E2, back-side attack, front-side attack, and double inversion. In all cases, S_N2 is thermodynamically more preferred than E2. In the entrance channel of S_N2 a significant front-side complex formation is revealed, and in the product channel the global minimum of the title reactions is obtained at the hydrogen-bonded CH₃CH₂OHY^- complex. Similar to the OH^- + CH₃Y reactions, double inversion can proceed via a notably lower-energy pathway than front-side attack, moreover, for Y = I double inversion becomes barrier-less. For the transition state of the anti-E2, a prominent ZPE effect emerges, giving an opportunity for a kinetically more favored pathway than back-side attack. In addition to S_N2 and E2, other possible product channels are considered, and in most cases, the benchmark reaction enthalpies are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.

Fifty years of nucleophilic substitution in the gas phase

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution ( S N 2 ) reactions have become a model system for the investigation of structure-reactivity relationships, stereochemistry, solvent influences, and detailed atomistic dynamics. In this review, the progress during five decades of experimental and theoretical research on gas phase S N 2 reactions is discussed. Many advancements of the employed methods have led to a tremendous increase in our understanding of the properties and the dynamics of these reactions. For reactions involving six atoms a quantitative agreement of the differential reactive scattering cross sections has already been achieved, in the future it is expected that even larger polyatomic reactions systems become tractable. Furthermore, studies with higher precision, improved reactant control, and a more accurate theoretical treatment of quantum effects are envisioned.

On the Role of Hydrogen Bonding in Gas-Phase SN2 Reactions at Silicon

The shape of the potential energy surface (PES) of gas-phase S_N2 reactions at silicon is determined by the type of nucleophile, the leaving group, and substituents which remain bonded to silicon. In this study, we present PES scans along the reaction coordinate of six symmetrical S_N2 reactions: X^- + SiR₃X → XSiR₃ + X^-, where X = Cl or F and R = H, Me, or OMe. While the fluorine systems and the ClSiH₃Cl system only give single-well PESs, ClSiMe₃Cl and ClSi(OMe)₃Cl give triple- and double-well PESs with stable pre- and post-reaction complexes. A complementary bonding analysis (energy decomposition analysis, quantum theory of atoms in molecules, and natural bond orbitals) reveals that the leaving group (X^-) is stabilized by hydrogen bonding in the XSiMe₃X and XSi(OMe)₃X systems. It is shown that this so far neglected stabilizing contribution, along with σ-hole bonding, is responsible for the shapes of the PESs of ClSiMe₃Cl and ClSi(OMe)₃Cl in the gas phase.

First-Principles Reaction Dynamics beyond Six-Atom Systems

Moving beyond the six-atomic benchmark systems, we discuss the new age and future of first-principles reaction dynamics, which investigates complex, multichannel chemical reactions. We describe the methodology starting from the benchmark ab initio characterization of the stationary points, followed by full-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) developments and reaction dynamics computations. We highlight our composite ab initio approach providing benchmark stationary-point properties with subchemical accuracy, the Robosurfer program system enabling automatic PES development, and applications for the Cl + C2H6, F + C2H6, and OH- + CH3I post-six-atom reactions focusing on ab initio issues and their solutions as well as showing the excellent agreement between theory and experiment.

Facilitated inversion complicates the stereodynamics of an SN2 reaction at nitrogen center

Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) reactions at carbon center are well known to proceed with the stereospecific Walden-inversion mechanism. Reaction dynamics simulations on a newly developed high-level ab initio analytical potential energy surface for the F⁻ + NH₂Cl nitrogen-centered S_N2 and proton-transfer reactions reveal a hydrogen-bond-formation-induced multiple-inversion mechanism undermining the stereospecificity of the N-centered S_N2 channel. Unlike the analogous F⁻ + CH₃Cl S_N2 reaction, F⁻ + NH₂Cl → Cl⁻ + NH₂F is indirect, producing a significant amount of NH₂F with retention, as well as inverted NH₂Cl during the timescale within the unperturbed NH₂Cl molecule gets inverted with only low probability, showing the important role of facilitated inversions via an FH…NHCl⁻-like transition state. Proton transfer leading to HF + NHCl⁻ is more direct and becomes the dominant product channel at higher collision energies.

Multiple-inversion, the analogue of the double-inversion pathway recently revealed for S_N2@C, is the key mechanism in S_N2 at N center undermining stereospecificity.

Investigating the role of halogen-bonded complexes in microsolvated Y−(H2O)n + CH3I SN2 reactions

A halogen-bonded complex pathway is computed for Y⁻(H₂O)_n + CH₃I (Y = HO, F, Cl, Br, and I) ion–molecule nucleophilic substitution reactions and is compared with back-side and front-side attack pathways.

Rotational Mode Specificity in the F- + CH3I(v = 0, JK) SN2 and Proton-Transfer Reactions

Quasiclassical trajectory computations are performed for the F^– + CH₃I(v = 0, JK) → I^– + CH₃F (S_N2) and HF + CH₂I^– (proton-transfer) reactions considering initial rotational states characterized by J = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16} and K = {0 and J} in the 1–30 kcal/mol collision energy (E_coll) range. Tumbling rotation (K = 0) counteracts orientation effects, thereby hindering the S_N2 reactivity by about 15% for J = 16 in the 1–15 kcal/mol E_coll range and has a negligible effect on proton transfer. Spinning about the C–I bond (K = J), which is 21 times faster than tumbling, makes the reactions more direct, inhibiting the S_N2 reactivity by 25% in some cases, whereas significantly enhancing the proton-transfer channel by a factor of 2 at E_coll = 15 kcal/mol due to the fact that the spinning-induced centrifugal force hinders complex formation by breaking H-bonds and activates C–H bond cleavage, thereby promoting proton abstraction on the expense of substitution. At higher E_coll, as the reactions become more direct, the rotational effects are diminishing.

Imaging Reaction Dynamics of F-(H2O) and Cl-(H2O) with CH3I

The dynamics of microhydrated nucleophilic substitution reactions have been studied using crossed beam velocity map imaging experiments and quasiclassical trajectory simulations at different collision energies between 0.3 and 2.6 eV. For F^–(H₂O) reacting with CH₃I, a small fraction of hydrated product ions I^–(H₂O) is observed at low collision energies. This product, as well as the dominant I^–, is formed predominantly through indirect reaction mechanisms. In contrast, a much smaller indirect fraction is determined for the unsolvated reaction. At the largest studied collision energies, the solvated reaction is found to also occur via a direct rebound mechanism. The measured product angular distributions exhibit an overall good agreement with the simulated angular distributions. Besides nucleophilic substitution, also ligand exchange reactions forming F^–(CH₃I) and, at high collision energies, proton transfer reactions are detected. The differential scattering images reveal that the Cl^–(H₂O) + CH₃I reaction also proceeds predominantly via indirect reaction mechanisms.

On the development of a gold-standard potential energy surface for the OH− + CH3I reaction

We develop the first accurate full-dimensional ab initio PES for the OH⁻ + CH₃I S_N2 and proton-transfer reactions treating the failure of CCSD(T) at certain geometries.

Benchmark ab initio and dynamical characterization of the stationary points of reactive atom + alkane and SN2 potential energy surfaces

We review composite ab initio and dynamical methods and their applications to characterize stationary points of atom/ion + molecule reactions.

Multilevel Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics Study of the Double-Inversion Mechanism at Nitrogen: F- + NH2Cl in Aqueous Solution

We employ a multilevel quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics method to investigate the double-inversion mechanism of the nucleophilic substitution reaction at the N center: the F^- + NH₂Cl reaction in aqueous solution. We find that the structures of the stationary points along the reaction path are quite different from the ones in the gas phase owing to the hydrogen-bond interactions between the solute and the surrounding water molecules. The atomic-level evolutions of the structures and charge transfer along the reaction path show that this double-inversion mechanism consists of an upside-down proton inversion process and a Walden-inversion process. The computed potential of mean force at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples (CCSD(T))/molecular mechanics (MM) level of theory has the two-inversion barrier heights, and reaction free energy at 11.7, 29.6, and 12.6 kcal/mol, agreeing well with the predicted ones at 12.6, 32.5, and 12.2 kcal/mol obtained on the basis of the gas-phase reaction path and the solvation free energies of the stationary points.

Improved Description of a Coordinate Bond in the ReaxFF Reactive Force Field

To improve the description of a coordinate bond of the reactive force field (ReaxFF), we have developed ReaxFF_coord by explicitly incorporating the coordinate bond contribution, E_coord, into the original ReaxFF ( Chenoweth et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 2008 , 112 , 1040 - 1053 ), in which the auxiliary functions are newly suggested to describe the plug-in behavior of lone-pair electrons from a donor atom to a vacant orbital of an acceptor atom. To validate the developed ReaxFF_coord, we tested it in various systems, including a representative coordinate bond-containing molecule, namely, carbon monoxide or ammonia borane. Although the fitting abilities of the ReaxFF_coord and original ReaxFF are similar, their molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are significantly different, where MD simulations employing ReaxFF_coord provide more realistic dynamic behaviors of atoms. It is expected that the ReaxFF_coord will significantly help ReaxFF to successfully extend its applicability to the material and biological systems, including coordinate bonds in organometallic systems.

Pronounced changes in atomistic mechanisms for the Cl- + CH3I SN2 reaction with increasing collision energy

In a previous direct dynamics simulation of the Cl- + CH3I → ClCH3 + I- SN2 reaction, predominantly indirect and direct reaction was found at collision energies Erel of 0.20 and 0.39 eV, respectively. For the work presented here, these simulations were extended by studying the reaction dynamics from Erel of 0.15 to 0.40 eV in 0.05 eV intervals. A transition from a predominantly indirect to direct reaction is found for Erel of 0.27-0.28 eV, a finding consistent with experiment. The simulation results corroborate the understanding that in experiments indirect reaction is characterized by small product translational energies and isotropic scattering, while direct reaction has higher translational energies and anisotropic scattering. The traditional statistical theoretical model for the Cl- + CH3I SN2 reaction assumes the Cl--CH3I pre-reaction complex (A) is formed, followed by barrier crossing, and then formation of the ClCH3-I- post-reaction complex (B). This mechanism is seen in the dynamics, but the complete atomistic dynamics are much more complex. Atomistic SN2 mechanisms contain A and B, but other dynamical events consisting of barrier recrossing (br) and the roundabout (Ra), in which the CH3-moiety rotates around the heavy I-atom, are also observed. The two most important mechanisms are only formation of A and Ra + A. The simulation results are compared with simulations and experiments for Cl- + CH3Cl, Cl- + CH3Br, F- + CH3I, and OH- + CH3I.

Uncovering the role of the stationary points in the dynamics of the F- + CH3I reaction

We describe an analysis method which assigns geometries to stationary points along (quasi)classical trajectories. The method is applied to the F^- + CH₃I reaction, thereby uncovering the role of the minima and transition states in the dynamics of the S_N2 inversion, S_N2 retention via front-side attack and double inversion, induced inversion, and proton-transfer channels. Stationary-point probability distributions, stationary-point-specific trajectory orthogonal projections, root-mean-square distance distributions, transition probability matrices, and time evolutions of the stationary points reveal long-lived front-side (F^-ICH₃) and hydrogen-bonded (F^-HCH₂I) complexes in the entrance channel and significant post-reaction ion-dipole complex (FCH₃I^-) formation in the S_N2 exit channel. Most of the proton-transfer stationary points (FHCH₂I^-) participate in all the reaction channels with larger distance deviations than the double-inversion transition state. Significant forward-backward transitions are observed between the minima and transition states indicating complex, indirect dynamics. The utility of distance and energy constraints is also investigated, thereby restricting the assignment into uniform configuration or energy ranges around the stationary points.

Rethinking the X− + CH3Y [X = OH, SH, CN, NH2, PH2; Y = F, Cl, Br, I] SN2 reactions

Explicitly-correlated ab initio computations reveal novel inversion and retention pathways for several S_N2 reactions with different nucleophiles and leaving groups.

Mode-Specific Quasiclassical Dynamics of the F- + CH3I SN2 and Proton-Transfer Reactions

Mode-specific quasiclassical trajectory computations are performed for the F^- + CH₃I( v _k = 0, 1) S_N2 and proton-transfer reactions at nine different collision energies in the range of 1.0-35.3 kcal/mol using a full-dimensional high-level ab initio analytical potential energy surface with ground-state and excited CI stretching ( v₃), CH₃ rocking ( v₆), CH₃ umbrella ( v₂), CH₃ deformation ( v₅), CH symmetric stretching ( v₁), and CH asymmetric stretching ( v₄) initial vibrational modes. Millions of trajectories provide statistically definitive mode-specific cross sections, opacity functions, scattering angle distributions, and product internal energy distributions. The excitation functions reveal slight vibrational S_N2 inversion inhibition/enhancement at low/high collision energies ( E_coll), whereas large decaying-with- E_coll vibrational enhancement effects for the S_N2 retention (double inversion) and proton-transfer channels. The most efficient vibrational enhancement is found by exciting the CI stretching (high E_coll) for S_N2 inversion and the CH stretching modes (low E_coll) for double inversion and proton transfer. Mode-specific effects do not show up in the scattering angle distributions and do blue-shift the hot/cold S_N2/proton-transfer product internal energies.

Reactions of Fluoroalkanes with Mg-Mg Bonds: Scope, sp3 C-F/sp2 C-F Coupling and Mechanism

sp³C−F Bonds of fluoroalkanes (7 examples; 1°, 2° and 3°) undergo addition to a low‐valent Mg−Mg species generating reactive organomagnesium reagents. Further reactions with a series of electrophiles results in a net C−F to C−B, C−Si, C−Sn or C−C bond transformation (11 examples, diversity). The new reactivity has been exploited in an unprecedented one‐pot magnesium‐mediated coupling of sp³C−F and sp²C−F bonds. Calculations suggest that the sp³C−F bond activation step occurs by frontside nucleophilic attack of the Mg−Mg reagent on the fluoroalkane.

Newly proposed proton-abstraction roundabout with backside attack mechanism for the SN2 reaction at the nitrogen center in F- + NH2Cl

Recent studies have improved our understanding of the mechanism and dynamics of the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) reaction at the carbon center. Nonetheless, the S_N2 reaction at the nitrogen center has received scarce attention and is less understood. Herein, we propose a new reaction mechanism for the S_N2 reaction at the nitrogen center in the F^- + NH₂Cl reaction using ab initio molecular dynamics calculations. The newly proposed mechanism involves the rotation of NHCl with one proton of NH₂Cl abstracted by the nucleophile, followed by the classical backside-attack process. The double-inversion mechanism revealed recently for the S_N2 reaction at the carbon center is also observed for the title reaction at the nitrogen center. In contrast to the F^- + CH₃Cl reaction with a proton abstraction-induced first inversion transition state, the F^- + NH₂Cl reaction is a hydrogen bond-induced inversion. This newly proposed reaction mechanism opens a reaction channel to avoid the proton abstraction mechanism at low collision energy. The double-inversion mechanism of the title reaction with a negative first-inversion transition relative to the energy of the reactants is expected to have larger contribution to the reaction rate than the F^- + CH₃Cl reaction with a positive first-inversion transition state.

Effects of the Level of Electronic Structure Theory on the Dynamics of the F- + CH3I Reaction

Accuracy of the different levels of electronic structure theory is frequently studied for stationary-point properties; however, little is known about the effects of the electronic structure methods and basis sets on the dynamics of chemical reactions. Here we report such an investigation for the F^- + CH₃I S_N2 and proton-transfer reactions by developing 20 different analytical potential energy surfaces (PESs) obtained at the HF/DZ, HF/TZ, HF-D3(BJ)/DZ, HF-D3(BJ)/TZ, MP2/DZ, MP2/TZ, MP2-F12/DZ, MP2-F12/TZ, CCSD/DZ, CCSD-F12b/DZ, CCSD(T)/DZ, CCSD(T)-F12b/DZ, OQVCCD(T)/DZ, B97-1/TZ, PBE0/TZ, PBE0-D3(BJ)/TZ, M06-2X/TZ, M06-2X-D3(0)/TZ, B2PLYP/TZ, and B2PLYP-D3(BJ)/TZ levels of theory, where DZ and TZ denote the aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets with a relativistic effective core potential and the corresponding bases for iodine. Millions of quasiclassical trajectories on these PESs reveal that (a) in the case of standard methods, increasing the basis from DZ to TZ decreases the S_N2 cross sections by 20-30%; (b) the explicitly correlated F12 reactivity is converged with a DZ basis;

Benchmark ab Initio Characterization of the Complex Potential Energy Surfaces of the X- + NH2Y [X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I] Reactions

We report a comprehensive high-level explicitly correlated ab initio study on the X^- + NH₂Y [X,Y = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions characterizing the stationary points of the S_N2 (Y^- + NH₂X) and proton-transfer (HX + NHY^-) pathways as well as the reaction enthalpies of various endothermic additional product channels such as H^- + NHXY, XY^- + NH₂, XY + NH₂^-, and XHY^- + NH. Benchmark structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies are obtained at the CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ(-PP) level of theory, followed by CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVnZ(-PP) [n = Q and 5] and core correlation energy computations. In the entrance and exit channels we find two equivalent hydrogen-bonded C₁ minima, X^-···HH'NY and X^-···H'HNY connected by a C_s first-order saddle point, X^-···H₂NY, as well as a halogen-bonded front-side complex, X^-···YNH₂. S_N2 reactions can proceed via back-side attack Walden inversion and front-side attack retention pathways characterized by first-order saddle points, submerged [X-NH₂-Y]^- and high-energy [H₂NXY]^-, respectively. Product-like stationary points below the HX + NHY^- asymptotes are involved in the proton-transfer processes.

Indirect dynamics in SN2@N: insight into the influence of central atoms

Central atoms have a significant influence on the reaction kinetics and dynamics of nucleophilic substitution (S_N2). Herein, atomistic dynamics of a prototype S_N2@N reaction F^- + NH₂Cl is uncovered employing direct dynamics simulations that show strikingly distinct features from those determined for a S_N2@C congener F^- + CH₃Cl. Indirect scattering is found to prevail, which proceeds predominantly through a hydrogen-bonded F^--HNHCl complex in the reactant entrance channel. This unexpected finding of a pronounced contribution of indirect reaction dynamics, even at a high collision energy, is in strong contrast to a general evolution from indirect to direct dynamics with enhanced energy that characterizes S_N2@C. This result suggests that the relative importance of different atomic-level mechanisms may depend essentially on the interaction potential of reactive encounters and the coupling between inter- and intramolecular modes of the pre-reaction complex. For F^- + NH₂Cl the proton transfer pathway is less competitive than S_N2. A remarkable finding is that the more favorable energetics for NH₂Cl proton transfer, as compared to that for CH₃Cl, does not manifest itself in the reaction dynamics. The present work sheds light on the underlying reaction dynamics of S_N2@N, which remain largely unclear compared to well-studied S_N2@C.

Potential energy surface stationary points and dynamics of the F- + CH3I double inversion mechanism

Direct dynamics simulations were performed to study the S_N2 double inversion mechanism S_N2-DI, with retention of configuration, for the F^- + CH₃I reaction. Previous simulations identified a transition state (TS) structure, i.e. TS0, for the S_N2-DI mechanism, including a reaction path. However, intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations from TS0 show it is a proton transfer (PT) TS connected to the F^-HCH₂I S_N2 pre-reaction complex and the FHCH₂I^- proton transfer post-reaction complex. Inclusion of TS0 in the S_N2-DI mechanism would thus involve non-IRC atomistic dynamics. Indeed, trajectories initiated at TS0, with random ensembles of energies as assumed by RRKM theory, preferentially form the S_N2-DI products and ∼70% follow the proposed S_N2-DI pathway from TS0 to the products. In addition, the Sudden Vector Projection (SVP) method was used to identify which CH₃I vibrational mode excitations promote access to TS0 and the S_N2-DI mechanism. Results of F^- + CH₃I simulations, with SVP specified mode excitations, are disappointing. With the CH₃ deformations of CH₃I excited, the S_N2 single inversion mechanism is the dominant pathway. If the CH stretch modes are also excited, proton transfer dominates the reaction. S_N2-DI occurs, but with a very small probability of ∼1%. The reasons behind these results are discussed.

SE2 reaction in noncarbon system: Metal-halide catalysis for dehydrogenation of ammonia borane

An electrophilic substitution (SE) reaction of BN isosteres has been investigated for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB) by metal chlorides (MCl2) using various ab initio calculations. In contrast to the typical SE reaction occurring at the carbon atom, the nitrogen atom in AB serves as the reaction center for the SE reaction with the boron moiety as the leaving group when the MCl2 approaches the AB. The SE2 backside reaction is favored as a trigger step for the dehydrogenation of AB by the MCl2 The SE2 reaction is found for 3d-transition-metal chlorides (e.g., FeCl2, CoCl2, NiCl2, CuCl2, and ZnCl2), while PdCl2 leads to the dehydrogenation of AB by a direct B-H σ-bond activation, similar to most organometallic catalysts. Interestingly, the polymerization of AB promoted by MCl2 can be explained with the similar SE2 mechanism, and the dehydrogenation of the BN derivative 3-methyl-1,2-BN-cyclopentane (CBN) bearing a carbon backbone ring also follows the SE2 reaction. In particular, the experimental observation that the use of metal-chloride catalysis decreases the by-products obtained during the hydrogenation of AB can be explained by our mechanism involving the SE2 reaction. This work is helpful for the development of novel metal-halide catalysts for practical hydrogen storage materials, including the BN moiety.

Conservation of direct dynamics in sterically hindered SN2/E2 reactions

Nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) and base-induced elimination (E2), two indispensable reactions in organic synthesis, are commonly assumed to proceed under stereospecific conditions. Understanding the way in which the reactants pre-orient in these reactions, that is its stereodynamics, is essential in order to achieve a detailed atomistic picture and control over such processes. Using crossed beam velocity map imaging, we study the effect of steric hindrance in reactions of Cl^- and CN^- with increasingly methylated alkyl iodides by monitoring the product ion energy and scattering angle. For both attacking anions the rebound mechanism, indicative of a direct S_N2 pathway, is found to contribute to the reaction at high relative collision energies despite being increasingly hindered. An additional forward scattering mechanism, ascribed to a direct E2 reaction, also contributes at these energies. Inspection of the product energy distributions confirms the direct and fast character of both mechanisms as opposed to an indirect reaction mechanism which leads to statistical energy redistribution in the reaction complex. This work demonstrates that nonstatistical dynamics and energetics govern S_N2 and E2 pathways even in sterically hindered exchange reaction systems.

Dynamics and Novel Mechanisms of SN2 Reactions on ab Initio Analytical Potential Energy Surfaces

We describe a novel theoretical approach to the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_N2) reactions that is based on analytical potential energy surfaces (PESs) obtained by fitting a few tens of thousands high-level ab initio energy points. These PESs allow computing millions of quasi-classical trajectories thereby providing unprecedented statistical accuracy for S_N2 reactions, as well as performing high-dimensional quantum dynamics computations. We developed full-dimensional ab initio PESs for the F^- + CH₃Y [Y = F, Cl, I] systems, which describe the direct and indirect, complex-forming Walden-inversion, the frontside attack, and the new double-inversion pathways as well as the proton-transfer channels. Reaction dynamics simulations on the new PESs revealed (a) a novel double-inversion S_N2 mechanism, (b) frontside complex formation,

Imaging the dynamics of ion–molecule reactions

A range of ion–molecule reactions have been studied in the last years using the crossed-beam ion imaging technique, from charge transfer and proton transfer to nucleophilic substitution and elimination.