Do Open-Shell and Closed-Shell Anions React Differently?

Gas-phase reaction of ClO−with CHnCl4-n(n= 0, 1, 2, 3) and CX3H (X = F, Cl and Br): Substituent effect from a comparative study

Substituent effects on reactivity are studied using the hybrid B3LYP and BHandHLYP methods of density functional theory with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. The chosen testing models includes two very representative reactions in chemical research, the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction and the deprotonation reaction, in which the former is represented by ClO−+ CHnCl4-n(n = 0, 1, 2, 3), and the latter is based on reactions of ClO−with CX3H (X = F, Cl, and Br). Our theoretical findings suggest that a heavier substituent X in substrate results in a higher activation energy, a slower SN2 reaction, but a faster deprotonation reaction. Those are well confirmed by some presented results from bond orders, second-order perturbative energy E(2), and activation strain model analysis. Moreover, we have further explored the reactivity difference derived from substituent effects in term of the relationships of reactive barrier with the charges transferred and the leaving-bond distance in TSs, respectively, especially the TSs in SN2 reactions. Again, the rate constants at 298–1000 K are also evaluated for the SN2 reactions presented through the transition state theory.

Density functional study of S(N) 2 substitution reactions for CH(3) Cl + CX(1) X(2•-) (X(1) X(2) = HH, HF, HCl, HBr, HI, FF, ClCl, BrBr, and II)

A systematic investigation on the S(N) 2 displacement reactions of nine carbene radical anions toward the substrate CH(3) Cl has been theoretically carried out using the popular density functional theory functional BHandHLYP level with different basis sets 6-31+G (d, p)/relativistic effective core potential (RECP), 6-311++G (d, p)/RECP, and aug-cc-pVTZ/RECP. The studied models are CX(1) X(2•-) + CH(3) Cl → X(2) X(1) CH(3) C(•) + Cl(-) , with CX(1) X(2•-) = CH(2) (•-) , CHF(•-) , CHCl(•-) , CHBr(•-) , CHI(•-) , CF(2) (•-) , CCl(2) (•-) , CBr(2) (•-) , and CI(2) (•-) . The main results are proposed as follows: (a) Based on natural bond orbital (NBO), proton affinity (PA), and ionization energy (IE) analysis, reactant CH(2) (•-) should be a strongest base among the anion-containing species (CX(1) X(2•-) ) and so more favorable nucleophile. (b) Regardless of frontside attacking pathway or backside one, the S(N) 2 reaction starts at an identical precomplex whose formation with no barrier. (c) The back-S(N) 2 pathway is much more preferred than the front-S(N) 2 one in terms of the energy gaps [ΔE cent≠(front)-ΔE cent≠(back)], steric demand, NBO population analysis. Thus, the back-S(N) 2 reaction was discussed in detail. On the one hand, based on the energy barriers (ΔE cent≠ and ΔE ovr≠) analysis, we have strongly affirmed that the stabilization of back attacking transition states (b-TSs) presents increase in the order: b-TS-CI(2) < b-TS-CBr(2) < b-TS-CCl(2) < b-TS-CHI < b-TS-CHBr < b-TS-CHCl < b-TS-CF(2) < b-TS-CHF < b-TS-CH(2) . On the other hand, depended on discussions of the correlations of ΔE ovr≠ with influence factors (PA, IE, bond order, and ΔE def≠), we have explored how and to what extent they affect the reactions. Moreover, we have predicted that the less size of substitution (α-atom) required for the gas-phase reaction with α-nucleophile is related to the α-effect and estimated that the reaction with the stronger PA nucleophile, holding the lighter substituted atom, corresponds to the greater exothermicity given out from reactants to products.

Gas Phase SN2 Reactions of Halide Ions with Trifluoromethyl Halides: Front- and Back-Side Attack vs. Complex Formation

Density functional theory computations and pulsed-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry experiments have been used to explore the potential energy surfaces for gas-phase S(N)2 reactions between halide ions and trifluoromethyl halides, X(-) + CF(3)Y --> Y(-) + CF(3)X. Structures of neutrals, ion-molecule complexes, and transition states show the possibility of two mechanisms: back- and front-side attack. From pulsed-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry, enthalpy and entropy changes for the equilibrium clustering reactions for the formation of Cl(-)(BrCF(3)) (-16.5 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) and -24.5 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1)), Cl(-)(ICF(3)) (-23.6 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1)), and Br(-)(BrCF(3)) (-13.9 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) and -22.2 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1)) have been determined. These are in good to excellent agreement with computations at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level of theory. It is shown that complex formation takes place by a front-side attack complex, while the lowest energy S(N)2 reaction proceeds through a back-side attack transition state. This latter mechanism involves a potential energy profile which closely resembles a condensed phase S(N)2 reaction energy profile. It is also shown that the Cl(-) + CF(3)Br --> Br(-) + CF(3)Cl S(N)2 reaction can be interpreted using Marcus theory, in which case the reaction is described as being initiated by electron transfer. A potential energy surface at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level of theory confirms that the F(-) + CF(3)Br --> Br(-) + CF(4) S(N)2 reaction proceeds through a Walden inversion transition state.