σ and π Relaxation of Strain in Three-Membered Ring Molecules (CH2)2X, (NH)2X, and (SiH2)2X (X = SiH2, PH, S)

Silicon Hydride Clusters Si5Hn (n = 3−12) and Their Anions: Structures, Thermochemistry, and Electron Affinities

The molecular structures, electron affinities, and dissociation energies of the Si(5)H(n)/Si(5)H(n)(-) (n = 3-12) species have been calculated by means of three density functional theory (DFT) methods. The basis set used in this work is of double-zeta plus polarization quality with additional diffuse s- and p-type functions, denoted DZP++. The geometries are fully optimized with each DFT method independently. Three different types of the neutral-anion energy separations presented in this work are the adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)), the vertical electron affinity (EA(vert)), and the vertical detachment energy (VDE). The first Si-H dissociation energies for neutral Si(5)H(n) and its anion have also been reported.

Silicon Monohydride Clusters SinH (n = 4−10) and Their Anions: Structures, Thermochemistry, and Electron Affinities

The molecular structures, electron affinities, and dissociation energies of the Si(n)H/Si(n)H- (n = 4-10) species have been examined via five hybrid and pure density functional theory (DFT) methods. The basis set used in this work is of double-zeta plus polarization quality with additional diffuse s- and p-type functions, denoted DZP++. The geometries are fully optimized with each DFT method independently. The three different types of neutral-anion energy separations presented in this work are the adiabatic electron affinity (EA(ad)), the vertical electron affinity (EA(vert)), and the vertical detachment energy (VDE). The first Si-H dissociation energies, D(e)(Si(n)H --> Si(n) + H) for neutral Si(n)H and D(e)(Si(n)H- --> Si(n)- + H) for anionic Si(n)H- species, have also been reported. The structures of the ground states of these clusters are traditional H-Si single-bond forms. The ground-state geometries of Si5H, Si6H, Si8H, and Si9H predicted by the DFT methods are different from previous calculations, such as those obtained by Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics and nonorthogonal tight-binding molecular dynamics schemes. The most reliable EA(ad) values obtained at the B3LYP level of theory are 2.59 (Si4H), 2.84 (Si5H), 2.86 (Si6H), 3.19 (Si7H), 3.14 (Si8H), 3.36 (Si9H), and 3.56 (Si10H) eV. The first dissociation energies (Si(n)H --> Si(n) + H) predicted by all of these methods are 2.20-2.29 (Si4H), 2.30-2.83 (Si5H), 2.12-2.41 (Si6H), 1.75-2.03 (Si7H), 2.41-2.72 (Si8H), 1.86-2.11 (Si9H), and 1.92-2.27 (Si10H) eV. For the negatively charged ion clusters (Si(n)H- --> Si(n)- + H), the dissociation energies predicted are 2.56-2.69 (Si4H-), 2.80-3.01 (Si5H-), 2.86-3.06 (Si6H-), 2.80-3.03 (Si7H-), 2.69-2.92 (Si8H-), 2.92-3.18 (Si9H-), and 2.89-3.25 (Si10H-) eV.

An Orbital Phase Theory for the Torquoselectivity of the Ring-Opening Reactions of 3-Substituted Cyclobutenes: Geminal Bond Participation

We apply an orbital phase theory to the torquoselectivity of the electrocyclic reactions of 3-substituted (X) cyclobutenes. The torquoselectivity is shown to be controlled by the orbital-phase relation of the reacting pi(CC) and sigma(CC) bonds with the sigma(CX) bond geminal to the sigma(CC) bond to be cleaved. The inward rotation of electron-donating sigma(CX) bonds and outward rotation of electron-withdrawing sigma(CX) bonds have been deduced from the orbital-phase theory. Enhancement of the inward rotation by the electron-donating capability of the sigma(CX) bonds is confirmed by the correlation between the torquoselectivity and sigma(CX) orbital energy. The orbital overlaps between the geminal sigma(CX) (sigma(CH)) and sigma(CC) bonds are found to be important as well. Unsaturated substituents with low-lying unoccupied pi orbitals also promote the inward rotation.

Theoretical Calculations of the Effects of 2-Heavier Group 14 Element and Substituents on the Singlet−Triplet Energy Gap in Cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and Computational Prediction of the Reactivity of Singlet 2-Silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls

UDFT and CASSCF calculations with the 6-31G(d) basis set were performed to investigate the heavier group 14 element (M) effect on the ground-state spin multiplicity of cyclopentane-1,3-diyls and their reactivity. The calculations find that 2-metallacyclopentane-1,3-diyls (M = Si, Ge) that possess a variety of substituents (X = H, Me, F, OR, SiH(3)) at M(2) are singlet ground-state molecules. The energies of the 1,3-diphenyl-substituted singlet 2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are calculated to be ca. 5 kcal/mol lower than those of the intramolecular ring-closure products, i.e., 1,4-diphenyl-5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentanes, at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The energy barrier for the disrotatory ring closure of singlet 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyl (lambda(calcd) = 757 nm, f = 1.01 at RCIS/6-31G(d)) to the corresponding 5-silabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane is computed to be 11.6 kcal/mol, which is 13.1 kcal/mol lower in energy than that for the conrotatory ring-opening to a 3-silapenta-1,4-diene. The computational work predicts that singlet 1,3-diaryl-2-silacyclopentane-1,3-diyls are persistent molecules under conditions without trapping agents.

Metal-Catalyzed Di-tert-butylsilylene Transfer: Synthesis and Reactivity of Silacyclopropanes

Metal-catalyzed di-tert-butylsilylene transfer was developed as a mild, operationally simple, functional-group-tolerant method for silacyclopropane formation. Di-tert-butylsilylene was transferred from cyclohexene silacyclopropane 1 to an alkene through the use of a metal salt. Silacyclopropanation occurred at temperatures as low as -27 degrees C when AgOTf or AgOC(O)CF(3) were used as catalysts. Complex silacyclopropanes were formed stereospecifically and diastereoselectively from functionalized alkenes. Silacyclopropanes reacted with various carbonyl compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, formate esters, and formamides, in an overall process that efficiently converts alkenes into oxasilacyclopentanes with defined stereochemistry.