Validation of potential energy distribution by VEDA in vibrational assignment some of β-diketones; comparison of theoretical predictions and experimental vibration shifts upon deutration

The harmonic vibrational frequencies of the cis-enol forms of some of β-diketones with different substitution in beta position, vis. H, CH3, and Ph ring, as the symmetric and asymmetric molecules, were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The results of DFT calculations were used to obtain the potential energy distribution (PED) by VEDA software. The PED results compared with the Gauss View animation, as our reassignments, and the experimental IR shifts upon deuteration of hydrogen in the OH and CHα. According to our study, the PED contributions, Gauss View animation and observed shifts show similar results for most of the bands which are not coupled with the OH and/or CHα bending, such as asymmetric and symmetric CH₃ stretching and in-plane deformations, CH₃ rocking vibrations and 8a, 19b, 9a, 15, 18a, and 12 motions of the phenyl ring. The largest discrepancies were observed in the 1700-1000 cm^-1 region, likely due to the coupling with the OH and CHα in-plane bending vibrations, such as νaC = C-C = Ο, νsC = C-C = Ο and δOH. Furthermore, the calculated PED contributions by VEDA software do not well define the vibrational contributions to those groups in the molecule that are directly involved in the intramolecular hydrogen bond and the observed failure of the VEDA procedure is possibly due to inappropriateness of the default options.

Unravelling the Keto-Enol Tautomer Dependent Photochemistry and Degradation Pathways of the Protonated UVA Filter Avobenzone

Avobenzone (AB) is a widely used UVA filter known to undergo irreversible photodegradation. Here, we investigate the detailed pathways by which AB photodegrades by applying UV laser-interfaced mass spectrometry to protonated AB ions. Gas-phase infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectra obtained with the free electron laser for infrared experiments, FELIX, (600–1800 cm^–1) are also presented to confirm the geometric structures. The UV gas-phase absorption spectrum (2.5–5 eV) of protonated AB contains bands that correspond to selective excitation of either the enol or diketo forms, allowing us to probe the resulting, tautomer-dependent photochemistry. Numerous photofragments (i.e., photodegradants) are directly identified for the first time, with m/z 135 and 161 dominating, and m/z 146 and 177 also appearing prominently. Analysis of the production spectra of these photofragments reveals that that strong enol to keto photoisomerism is occurring, and that protonation significantly disrupts the stability of the enol (UVA active) tautomer. Close comparison of fragment ion yields with the TD-DFT-calculated absorption spectra give detailed information on the location and identity of the dissociative excited state surfaces, and thus provide new insight into the photodegradation pathways of avobenzone, and photoisomerization of the wider class of β-diketone containing molecules.

Elucidating Solvent Effects on Strong Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond: DFT-MD Study of Dibenzoylmethane in Methanol Solution

The dynamic aspect of solvation plays a crucial role in determining properties of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds since solvent fluctuations modify instantaneous hydrogen-bonded proton transfer barriers. Previous studies pointed out that solvent-solute interactions in the first solvation shell govern the position of the proton but the ability of the electric field due to other solvent molecules to localize the proton remains an important issue. In this work, we examine the structure of the O-H⋅⋅⋅O intramolecular hydrogen bond of dibenzoylmethane in methanol solution by employing density functional theory-based molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculations. Our computations showed that homogeneous electric fields with intensities corresponding to those found in polar solvents are able to considerably alter the proton transfer barrier height in the gas phase. In methanol solution, the proton position is correlated with the difference in electrostatic potentials on the oxygen atoms of dibenzoylmethane even when dibenzoylmethane-methanol hydrogen bonding is lacking. On a timescale of our simulation, the hydrogen bonding and solvent electrostatics tend to localize the proton on different oxygen atoms. These findings provide an insight into the importance of the solvent electric field on the structure of a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond.

The UVA response of enolic dibenzoylmethane: beyond the static approach

The nπ* and ππ* states of dibenzoylmethane are vibronically coupled and their crossing occurs during the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer.

Rotational spectroscopy of the atmospheric photo-oxidation product o-toluic acid and its monohydrate

o-Toluic acid, a photo-oxidation product in the atmosphere, and its monohydrate were characterized in the gas phase by pure rotational spectroscopy. High-resolution spectra were measured in the range of 5-14 Hz using a cavity-based molecular beam Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Possible conformers were identified computationally, at the MP2/6-311++G(2df,2pd) level of theory. For both species, one conformer was identified experimentally, and no methyl internal rotation splittings were observed, indicative of relatively high barriers to rotation. In the monomer, rocking of the carboxylic acid group is a large amplitude motion, characterized by a symmetrical double-well potential. This and other low-lying out-of-plane vibrations contribute to a significant (methyl top-corrected) inertial defect (-1.09 amu Å(2)). In the monohydrate, wagging of the free hydrogen atom of water is a second large amplitude motion, so the average structure is planar. As a result, no c-type transitions were observed. Water tunneling splittings were not observed, because the water rotation coordinate is characterized by an asymmetrical double-well potential. Since the minima are not degenerate, tunneling is precluded. Furthermore, a concerted tunneling path involving simultaneous rotation of the water moiety and rocking of the carboxylic acid group is precluded, because the hilltop along this coordinate is a virtual, rather than a real, saddle-point. Inter- and intramolecular non-covalent bonding is discussed in terms of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The percentage of o-toluic acid hydrated in the atmosphere is estimated to be about 0.1% using statistical thermodynamics.

A new insight into the photochemistry of avobenzone in gas phase and acetonitrile from ab initio calculations

Coupled cluster based calculations on the ground and excited states of avobenzone provide mechanistic understanding of formation of transient tautomers upon photoexcitation of the chelated enol form.

Rotational spectroscopy of methyl benzoylformate and methyl mandelate: structure and internal dynamics of a model reactant and product of enantioselective reduction

Pure rotational spectra of a prototypical prochiral ester, methyl benzoylformate (MBF), and the product of its enantioselective reduction, (R)-(-)-methyl mandelate (MM), were measured in the range of 5-16 GHz, using a cavity-based molecular beam Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. Potential conformers were located using density functional theory calculations, and one conformer of each species was identified experimentally. The minimum energy conformer of MBF, in which the ester group is in a Z orientation, was observed for the first time. Based on an atoms-in-molecules analysis, MBF contains a weak CH···O=C hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen atom of the ester group and the nearest hydrogen atom of the aromatic ring. In the minimum energy conformer of MM, the ester group is oriented to accommodate a hydrogen bond between the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group and the carbonyl oxygen atom (OH···O=C), rather than the sp(3) oxygen atom (OH···O-C). For both species, splittings of the rotational transitions were observed, which are attributed to methyl internal rotation, and the orientations and barrier heights of the methyl tops were determined precisely. The barrier heights for MBF and MM are 4.60(2) and 4.54(3) kJ mol(-1), respectively, which are consistent with values predicted by high-level wavefunction-based calculations. On the basis of an atoms-in-molecules analysis, we propose that destabilization of the sp(3) oxygen atom of the ester group most directly dictates the barrier height.

Unusual H-Bond Topology and Bifurcated H-bonds in the 2-Fluoroethanol Trimer

By using a combination of rotational spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, an unusual H-bond topology was revealed for the 2-fluoroethanol trimer. The trimer exhibits a strong heterochiral preference and adopts an open OH⋅⋅⋅OH H-bond topology while utilizing two types of bifurcated H-bonds involving organic fluorine. This is in stark contrast to the cyclic OH⋅⋅⋅OH H-bond topology adopted by trimers of water and other simple alcohols. The strengths of different H-bonds in the trimer were analyzed by using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. The study showcases a remarkable example of a chirality-induced switch in H-bond topology in a simple transient chiral fluoroalcohol. It provides important insight into the H-bond topologies of small fluoroalcohol aggregates, which are proposed to play a key role in protein folding and in enantioselective reactions and separations where fluoroalcohols serve as a (co)solvent.