Polycyano Derivatives of some Organic Tri- and Hexacyclic Molecules Are Powerful Super- and Hyperacids in the Gas Phase and DMSO: Computational Study by DFT Approach

Rational Design of Cyclopentadiene-Based Super- and Hyperacids Based on Aromaticity

The design and synthesis of neutral organic superacids have been of interest recently due to their vast applications in chemistry and material sciences, for example, olefinic polymerization, isolation of highly reactive short-lived cations, etc. Cyclopentadiene behaves as a mild organic acid, producing a stable conjugate base by gaining aromaticity and conjugation after deprotonation. To stabilize conjugate bases of organic acids to show superacidities and hyperacidities, we considered aromatic phenyl substituents with cyclopentadiene (mono-, di-, and triphenyl-substituted cyclopentadiene and their cyano derivatives). The MP2, DFT (B3LYP, M06-2X), and CBS-QB3 methods were used to calculate the gas-phase proton affinities of the parent cyclopentadiene, and the DFT methods were chosen for the substituted cyclopentadiene as they yield an experimental proton affinity of cyclopentadiene of 253.66 kcal/mol (Expt. 253.6 ± 1.3 kcal/mol). The stable trisubstituted cyclopentadiene derivative shows gas-phase enthalpies of deprotonation (ΔHacid) of 245 and 239 kcal/mol with DFT B3LYP and M06-2X methods, respectively, with values in the range of hyperacidity. Some of the tautomers of cyclopentadiene derivatives show hyperacidity, with proton affinity values of 205-240 kcal/mol. Triphenyl-substituted cyclopentadiene behaves as a moderate acid but transforms into a superacid after replacing the phenyl group with nitrobenzene, which is a stronger acid than H2SO4 (ΔHacid = 298 kcal/mol). The nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) shows the extent of conjugation in the derivatives of cyclopentadienyl anions after deprotonation, which affects the stabilities of conjugate bases, i.e., the acidities of the protonated species. The calculated harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity and NICS indices reveal that the stability of conjugate bases as well as their acidities increase with increasing aromaticity of cyclopentadiene rings after deprotonation in all molecules.

Step-by-Step Replacement of Cyano Groups by Tricyanovinyls-The Influence on the Acidity

Acid-base properties are the simplest expression of compounds' coordinating ability. In the present work, we studied in silico how the gas-phase Brønsted acidity (GA) of several polycyano-substituted compounds change when cyano (CN) groups are replaced by 1,2,2-tricyanovinyl (TCNV) groups in (iso)cyanic acid, dicyanoamine, cyanoform, and hydrogen tetracyanoborate. Different tautomers and conformers/isomers are included in this study. Gas-phase acidity values are compared with the acidities of various acids, including percyanated protonated monocarba-closo-dodecaborate (carborane acid) and dodecaborate, as well as hydrogen cyanide and 1,2,2-tricyanoethene. An estimation of acetonitrile (MeCN), dimethylsufoxide (DMSO), and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) acidities is presented using the COSMO-RS method and correlation analysis. The strongest acid with four TCNV groups shows remarkable acidic properties.

Photophysical properties and immobilisation of fluorescent pH responsive aminated benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-6-carbonitriles

This work presents a systematic evaluation of 2-amino, 5-amino and 2,5-diamino substituted benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-6-carbonitriles as novel pH probes with a potential application in pH sensing materials or as H⁺ fluoroionophores in bulk optode membranes. The study was carried out by varying the length, type and position of amino substituents in ten fluorescent dyes with the same benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-6-carbonitrile core. The photophysical and acid-base properties of the dyes were investigated by the UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, and interpreted by the electronic structure DFT calculations. pH sensing mechanisms and structure-property relations affecting the fluorescence response were discussed through a detailed analysis of the piperidine substituted derivatives 1-4. Push-pull donor-acceptor interactions stimulate strong fluorescence in the visible spectral range (up to Φ = 0.65 for 7) and induce significant changes in the photophysical properties associated with the acid-base equilibria (up to a 50-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity). pK_a values in aqueous and mixed solutions (v/v H₂O:EtOH 99:1, 50:50), appear suitable for monitoring acidic pH in solution. The most promising candidates were immobilised in thin polymer matrices by the spin coating technique to form fluorescent sensing materials - optodes, and examined as novel pH-sensitive fluoroionophores. In the liquid membrane environment, dyes exhibited significant increase of the apparent pK_as by almost 4 units. Bright and blue emissive thin films showed pH response and dynamic range around pK_a = 5, making them suitable for a wide range of optical sensing applications.

Superhalogen and Superacid

A superhalogen F@C₂₀ (CN)₂₀ and a corresponding Brønsted superacid were designed and investigated on DFT and DLPNO-CCSD(T) levels of theory. Calculated compounds have outstanding electron affinity and deprotonation energy, respectively. We consider superacid H[F@C₂₀ (CN)₂₀ ] to be able to protonate molecular nitrogen. The stability of these structures is discussed, while some of the previous predictions concerning neutral Brønsted superacids of record strength are doubted. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Organometallic acids with azaborine, oxaborine, azaborole and oxaborole scaffolds

Organoboron compounds were used in the design of organometallic acids exhibiting a wide acidity range from weak acids to superacids.

Benzimidazole acrylonitriles as multifunctional push-pull chromophores: Spectral characterisation, protonation equilibria and nanoaggregation in aqueous solutions

Heterocyclic donor-π-acceptor molecular systems based on an N,N-dimethylamino phenylacrylonitrile benzimidazole skeleton have been characterised and are proposed for potential use in sensing applications. The benzimidazole moiety introduces a broad spectrum of useful multifunctional properties to the system including electron accepting ability, pH sensitivity and compatibility with biomolecules. The photophysical characterisation of the prototropic forms of these chromophores has been carried out in both solution and on immobilisation in polymer films. The experimental results are further supported by computational determination of pK_a values. It is noticed that compound 3 forms nanoaggregates in aqueous solutions with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) at 600nm. All the systems demonstrate spectral pH sensitivity in acidic media which shifts towards near-neutral values upon immobilisation in polymer films or upon aggregation in an aqueous environment (compound 3). The structure-property relationships of these functional chromophores, involving their spectral characteristics, acid-base equilibria, pK_a values and aggregation effects have been determined. Potential applications of the molecules as pH and biomolecular sensors are proposed based on their pH sensitivity and AIE properties.

A DFT study to design super- and hyperacids with 1-(cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-yl)-4-nitrobenzene and 3-(cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-ylmethylene)-6-methylenecyclohexa-1,4-diene molecules

DFT calculations reveal that poly-cyano-substituted 1-(cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-yl)-4-nitrobenzene and 3-(cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-ylmethylene)-6-methylenecyclohexa-1,4-diene can function as super- to hyper-acids.

Fluorescent benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines: synthesis, spectroscopic and computational studies of protonation equilibria and metal ion sensitivity

Novel benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines with promising pH and chemosensing properties are experimentally and computationally characterized.

Superacidity of closo-dodecaborate-based Brønsted acids: a DFT study

The structures and intrinsic gas-phase acidities (GA) of some dodecaborane acids, the derivatives of YB12H11H (Y = PF3, NH3, NF3, NMe3), B12H12H2, and B12H12H(-) (HA, H2A, and HA(-), respectively) have been computationally explored with DFT B3LYP method at the 6-311+G** level of theory as new possible directions of creating superstrong Brønsted acids. Depending on the nature and number of the substituents different protonation geometries were investigated. In general, the GA values of the neutral systems varied according to the substituents in the following order: CF3 < F < Cl and in case of anionic acids: CF3 < Cl < F. The dodecatrifluoromethyl derivative of H2A, B12(CF3)12H1H2, emerges as the strongest among the considered acids and is expected to be in the gas phase at least as strong as the undecatrifluoromethyl carborane, CB11(CF3)11H1H. The GA values of the respective monoanionic forms of the considered acids all, but the (CF3)11 derivative, remained higher than the widely used threshold of superacidity. The HA derivatives' (Y = PF3, NF3) GA's were approximately in the same range as the H2A acids'. In the case Y = NH3 or NMe3 the GA values were significantly higher. Also, the pKa values of B12H12H2, CB11H12H, and their perfluorinated derivatives in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) were estimated with SMD and cluster-continuum model calculations. The obtained estimates of pKa values of the perfluorinated derivatives are by around 30 units lower than that of trifluoromethylsulfonylimide, making these acids the strongest ever predicted in solution. The derivatives of B12H12H2 are as a rule not significantly weaker acids than the respective derivatives of CB11H12H. This is important for expanding practical applicability of this type of acids and their anions, as they are synthetically much more accessible than the corresponding CB11H12(-) derivatives.