Hemicellulose pyrolysis: mechanism and kinetics of functionalized xylopyranose

This work analyzes the thermochemical kinetic influence of the most prominent functionalizations of the β-D-xylopyranose motif, specifically 4-methoxy, 5-carboxyl, and 2-O-acetyl, regarding the pyrolytic depolymerization mechanism. The gas-phase potential energy surface of the initial unimolecular decomposition reactions is computed with M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p), following which energies are refined using the G4 and CBS-QB3 composite methods. Rate constants are computed using the transition state theory. The energies are integrated within the atomization method to assess for the first time the standard enthalpy of formation of β-D-xylopyranose, 4-methoxy-5-carboxy-β-D-xylopyranose, and 2-O-acetyl-β-D-xylopyranose: -218.2, -263.1, and -300.0 kcal mol-1, respectively. For all isomers, the activation enthalpies of ring-opening are considerably lower, 43.8-47.5 kcal mol-1, than the ring-contraction and elimination processes, which show higher values ranging from 61.0-81.1 kcal mol-1. The functional groups exert a notable influence, lowering the barrier of discrete elementary reactions by 1.9-8.3 kcal mol-1, increasing thus the reaction rate constant by 0-4 orders of magnitude relative to unsubstituted species. Regardless of the functionalization, the ring-opening process appears to be the most kinetically favored, characterized by a rate constant on the order 101 s-1, exceeding significantly the values associated with ring-contraction and elimination, which fall in the range 10-4-10-10 s-1. This analysis shows the decomposition kinetics are contingent on the functionalization specificities and the relative orientation of reacting centers. A relatively simple chemical reactivity and bonding analysis partially support the elaborated thermokinetic approach. These insights hold significance as they imply that many alternative decomposition routes can be quickly, yet accurately, informed in forthcoming explorations of potential energy surfaces of diverse hemicellulose motifs under pyrolysis conditions.

Stable peri-Naphthoisatogens without C2 Protection: Synthesis via Aldrone Condensation, Optical Properties and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction

peri-Annulation of naphthalane, an important tool for realization of wide range of functional materials, is presently accomplished with limited few functional groups like imide, amide and diamine-derivative (perimidine). To increase the diversity, we have incorporated α-keto aldonitrone as a new functional group, and herein report about five peri-naphthoisatogens (PNTIs) dyes. The synthesis were accomplished using an unusual reaction of aromatic nitro group, which is nucleophilic attack of a C-nucleophile (enol) to the N-atom of nitro group. In five different 5-alkylamino-8-nitro-1-acetylnaphthalenes, intramolecular acid-catalyzed nucleophilic attack of enol moiety to the N-atom of nitro group produced α-keto aldonitrone via addition-elimination mechanism. The PNTIs showed characteristics of 1,3-dipole and reacted with ethyl acrylate to produce isoxazolidine ring, which subsequently converted into aza phenalenone derivative via ring cleavage. Both the PNTI and the corresponding derivative strongly absorb in the visible region, displaying absorption maximum at 551 and 561 nm (in CHCl3 ) respectively. Compared to the popular analogous dye naphthalene monoimides, PNTIs showed bathochromic shift of absorption maximum by more than 100 nm. The emission maximum for the PNTI and its derivative in chloroform were observed at 594 and 635 nm respectively.

Revisiting the bonding evolution theory: a fresh perspective on the ammonia pyramidal inversion and bond dissociations in ethane and borazane

This work offers a comprehensive and fresh perspective on the bonding evolution theory (BET) framework, originally proposed by Silvi and collaborators [X. Krokidis, S. Noury and B. Silvi, Characterization of elementary chemical processes by catastrophe theory, J. Phys. Chem. A, 1997, 101, 7277-7282]. By underscoring Thom's foundational work, we identify the parametric function characterizing bonding events along a reaction pathway through a three-step sequence to establish such association rigorously, namely: (a) computing the determinant of the Hessian matrix at all potentially degenerate critical points, (b) computing the relative distance between these points, and (c) assigning the unfolding based on these computations and considering the maximum number of critical points for each unfolding. In-depth examination of the ammonia inversion and the dissociation of ethane and ammonia borane molecules yields a striking discovery: no elliptic umbilic flag is detected along the reactive coordinate for any of the systems, contradicting previous reports. Our findings indicate that the core mechanisms of these chemical reactions can be understood using only two folds, the simplest polynomial of Thom's theory, leading to considerable simplification. In contrast to previous reports, no signatures of the elliptic umbilic unfolding were detected in any of the systems examined. This finding dramatically simplifies the topological rationalization of electron rearrangements within the BET framework, opening new approaches for investigating complex reactions.

Exploring the Mechanism of the Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction of (2E,4Z,6Z)-2(allyloxy)cycloocta-2,4,6-trien-1-one Using Bonding Evolution Theory

In the present work, the bond breaking/forming events along the intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction of (2E,4Z,6Z)-2(allyloxy)cycloocta-2,4,6-trien-1-one have been revealed within bonding evolution theory (BET) at the density functional theory level, using the M05-2X functional with the cc-pVTZ basis set. Prior to achieving this task, the energy profiles and stationary points at the potential energy surface (PES) have been characterized. The analysis of the results finds that this rearrangement can proceed along three alternative reaction pathways (a-c). Paths a and b involve two steps, while path c is a one-step process. The first step in path b is kinetically favored, and leads to the formation of an intermediate step, Int-b. Further evolution from Int-b leads mainly to 3-b1. However, 2 is the thermodynamically preferred product and is obtained at high temperatures, in agreement with the experimental observations. Regarding the BET analysis along path b, the breaking/forming process is described by four structural stability domains (SSDs) during the first step, which can be summarized as follows: (1) the breaking of the C-O bond with the transfer of its population to the lone pair (V(O)), (2) the reorganization of the electron density with the creation of two V(C) basins, and (3) the formation of a new C-C single bond via the merger of the two previous V(C) basins. Finally, the conversion of Int-b (via TS2-b1) occurs via the reorganization of the electron density during the first stage (the creation of different pseudoradical centers on the carbon atoms as a result of the depopulation of the C-C double bond involved in the formation of new single bonds), while the last stage corresponds to the non-concerted formation of the two new C-C bonds via the disappearance of the population of the four pseudoradical centers formed in the previous stage. On the other hand, along path a, the first step displays three SSDs, associated with the depopulation of the V(C2,C3) and V(C6,C7) basins, the appearance of the new monosynaptic basins V(C2) and V(C7), and finally the merging of these new monosynaptic basins through the creation of the C2-C7 single bond. The second step is described by a series of five SSDs, that account for the reorganization of the electron density within Int-a via the creation of four pseudoradical centers on the C12, C13, C3 and C6 carbon atoms. The last two SSDs deal with the formation of two C-C bonds via the merging of the monosynaptic basins formed in the previous domains.

On the Notation of Catastrophes in the Framework of Bonding Evolution Theory: the Case of Normal and Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder Reactions

This paper generalizes very recent and unexpected findings [ J. Phys. Chem. A , 2021 , 125 , 5152-5165] regarding the known "direct- and inverse-electron demand" Diels-Alder mechanisms. Application of bonding evolution theory evidence that the key electron rearrangement associated with significant chemical events (e.g., the breaking/forming processes of bonds) can be characterized via the simplest fold polynomial. To the CC bond formation, neither substituent position nor the type of electronic demand induces a measurable cusp-type signature. On the opposite to the case of [4+2] cycloaddition between 1,3-butadiene and ethylene where the two new CC single bonds occur beyond the transition state (TS), in the activated cases, the first CC bond formation occurs in the domain of structural stability featuring the TS, whereas the second one remains located in the deactivation path connecting the TS with the cycloadduct.

Decoding the reaction mechanism of the cyclocondensation of ethyl acetate2-oxo-2-(4-oxo-4H-pyrido [1.2-a] pyrimidin-3-yl) polyazaheterocycle and ethylenediamine using bond evolution theory

We investigated the flow of electron density along the cyclocondensation reaction between ethyl acetate 2-oxo-2-(4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1.2-a]pyrimidin-3-yl) polyazaheterocycle (1) and ethylenediamine (2) at the ωB97XD/6-311++G(d,p)computational method within of bond evolution theory (BET). The exploration of potential energy surface shows that this reaction has three channels (1-3) with the formation of product 3 via channel-2 (the most favorable one) as the main product and this is in good agreement with experimental observations. The BET analysis allows identifying unambiguously the main chemical events happening along channel-2. The mechanism along first step (TS2-a) is described by a series of four structural stability domains (SSDs), while five SSDs for the last two steps (TS2-b and TS2-c). The first and third steps can be summarized as follows, the formation of N1-C6 bond (SSD-II), then, the restoration of the nitrogen N1 lone pair (SSD-III), and finally, the formation of the last O1-H1 bond (SSD-IV). For the second step, the formation of hydroxide ion is noted, as a result of the disappearance of V(C6,O7) basin and the transformation of C6-N1 single bond into double one (SSD-IV). Finally, the appearance of V(O7,H2) basin lead to the elimination of water molecule within the last domain is observed.

Unveiling the [3+2] cycloaddition between difluoromethyl diazomethane and 3-ylideneoxindole from the perspective of molecular electron density theory

Evolution of some key ELF basins along the IRC of the most favorable ortho/endo reaction path.

Exploring The Sequence of Electron Density Along The Chemical Reactions Between Carbonyl Oxides And Ammonia/Water Using Bond Evolution Theory

The molecular mechanism of the reactions between four carbonyl oxides and ammonia/water are investigated using the M06-2X functional together with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The analysis of activation and reaction enthalpy shows that the exothermicity of each process increased with the substitution of electron donating substituents (methyl and ethenyl). Along each reaction pathway, two new chemical bonds C-N/C-O and O-H are expected to form. A detailed analysis of the flow of the electron density during their formation have been characterized from the perspective of bonding evolution theory (BET). For all reaction pathways, BET revealed that the process of C-N and O-H bond formation takes place within four structural stability domains (SSD), which can be summarized as follows: the depopulation of V(N) basin with the formation of first C-N bond (appearance of V(C,N) basin), cleavage of N-H bond with the creation of V(N) and V(H) monosynaptic basin, and finally the V(H,O) disynaptic basin related to O-H bond. On the other hand, in the case of water, the cleavage of O-H bond with the formation of V(O) and V(H) basins is the first stage, followed by the formation of the O-H bond as a second stage, and finally the creation of C-O bond.

Are There Only Fold Catastrophes in the Diels-Alder Reaction Between Ethylene and 1,3-Butadiene?

This work revisits the topological characterization of the Diels-Alder reaction between 1,3-butadiene and ethylene. In contrast to the currently accepted rationalization, we here provide strong evidence in support of a representation in terms of seven structural stability domains separated by a sequence of 10 elementary catastrophes, but all are only of the fold type (F and F^†), that is, C₄H₆ + C₂H₄:1-7-[FF]F[F^†F^†][F^†F^†][FF]F^†-0: C₆H₁₀. Such an unexpected finding provides fundamental new insights opening simplifying perspectives concerning the rationalization of the CC bond formation in pericyclic reactions in terms of the simplest Thom's elementary catastrophe, namely, the one-(state) variable, one-(control) parameter function.

1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions by a Unified Perspective Based on Conceptual and Thermodynamics Models of Chemical Reactivity

The main aim in the present report is to gain a deeper understanding of typical 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions by means of three chemical reactivity models in a unified perspective: conceptual density functional theory, distortion/interaction, and reaction force analysis. The focus is to explore the information provided by each reactivity model and how they complement or reinforce each other. Our results showed that the Bell-Evans-Polanyi (BEP) relationship is fulfilled, which is consistent with the Hammond-Leffler postulate. The electronic chemical potential based analysis classifies the reactions as HOMO-, HOMO/LUMO-, and LUMO-controlled reactions as the activation energy increases. It seems likely that HOMO-controlled reaction shifts into LUMO-controlled one as the transition state (TS) position does from early into late. Therefore, the transition from HOMO- (and early TS) into LUMO-controlled (and late TS) is paid by shifting the overall energy change into an endothermic direction, thus supporting the fulfillment of the BEP principle. While thermodynamic models unveil that the distortion or structural rearrangements mainly drive the activation barriers rather than interaction or electronic rearrangements in accord with the distortion/interaction and reaction force analysis, respectively. It is also found that both models are consistent when energy associated with structural and electronic reordering from reaction force analysis is respectively confronted with destabilizing (distortion and Pauli repulsion) and stabilizing (electrostatic and orbital interactions) contributions from the distortion/interaction model, which, on the other hand, increases as low activation barrier and high exothermicity are converted into the high barrier and low exothermicity along with the BEP relation. Finally, the reaction force constant reveals that all 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions proceed by a synchronous single-step mechanism, unveiling that the degree of synchronicity is quite the same in all reactions, confirming the statement that BEP is fulfilled for similar reactions proceeding by a quite alike degree of synchronicity.

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrones with ynones

An efficient approach to access functionalized (2,3-dihydroisoxazol-4-yl) ketones has been developed by reacting nitrones 4 with ynones 7 or terminal ynones 10 in a one-pot fashion. The reaction went through a formal Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed [3 + 2]-cycloaddition process to generate a number of functionalized (2,3-dihydroisoxazol-4-yl) ketones 11aa-11aw, 11ba-11la and 12aa-12ae in moderate to good yields.

Topological investigation of the reaction mechanism of glycerol carbonate decomposition by bond evolution theory

The reaction mechanisms of the decomposition of glycerol carbonate have been investigated at the density functional theory level within the bond evolution theory. The four reaction pathways yield to 3-hydroxypropanal (TS1), glycidol (TS2a and TS2b), and 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (TS3). The study reveals non-concerted processes with the same number (four) of structural stability domains for each reaction pathway. For the two decarboxylation mechanisms, the two first steps are similar. They correspond to the cleavage of two single CO bonds to the detriment of the increased population of the lone pairs of two O atoms. These are followed, along TS1, by the transformation of a CO single bond into a double bond together with a proton transfer to create a CH bond. For TS2a and TS2b, the last step is a cyclization by CO bond formation. For the TS3 pathway, the first stage consists in the cleavage of a CH bond and the transfer of its electron population to both a proton and a C atom, the second step corresponds to the formation of an OH bond, and the last one describes the formation of a CC double bond. Moreover, the analysis of the energies, enthalpies, and free enthalpies of reaction and of activation leads to the conclusion that 3-hydroxypropanal is both the thermodynamic and kinetic product, independent of the method of calculation.

ELFs of glycerol carbonate and of its kinetic and thermodynamic decomposition product, 3-hydroxypropanal (+CO₂).

Topological unraveling of the [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction between N-methylphenylnitrone and styrene catalyzed by the chromium tricarbonyl complex using electron localization function and catastrophe theory

We have investigated the reaction mechanisms of [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) between N-methylphenylnitrone and styrene catalyzed by the chromium tricarbonyl complex at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level of approximation.

Deciphering the Curly Arrow Representation and Electron Flow for the 1,3-Dipolar Rearrangement between Acetonitrile Oxide and (1S,2R,4S)-2-Cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl Acetate Derivatives

This study is focused on describing the molecular mechanism beyond the molecular picture provided by the evolution of molecular orbitals, valence bond structures along the reaction progress, or conceptual density functional theory. Using bonding evolution theory (BET) analysis, we have deciphered the mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar rearrangement between acetonitrile oxide and (1S,2R,4S)-2-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl acetate derivatives. The BET study revealed that the formation of the C-C bond takes place via a usual sharing model before the O-C one that is also formed in the halogenated species through a not very usual sharing model. The mechanism includes depopulation of the electron density at the N-C triple bond and creation of the V(N) and V(C) monosynaptic basins, depopulation of the former C-C double bond with the creation of V(C,C) basins, and final formation of the V(O,C) basin associated with the O-C bond. The topological changes along the reaction pathway take place in a highly synchronous way. BET provides a convenient quantitative method for deriving curly arrows and electron flow representation to unravel molecular mechanisms.

A new way of studying chemical reactions: a hand-in-hand URVA and QTAIM approach

Bond formation and bond cleavage processes are central to a chemical reaction. They can be investigated by monitoring changes in the potential energy surface (PES) or changes in the electron density (ED) distribution ρ(r) taking place during the reaction. However, it is not yet clear how the corresponding changes in the PES and ED are related, although the connection between energy and density has been postulated in the famous Hohenberg-Kohn theorem. Our unified reaction valley approach (URVA) identifies the locations of bond formation/cleavage events along the reaction path via the reaction path curvature peaks and their decomposition into the internal coordinate components associated with the bond to be formed or cleaved. One can also investigate bond formation/cleavage events using the quantum theory of atoms-in-molecule (QTAIM) analysis by monitoring changes in the topological properties of ρ(r) and the associated Laplacian ∇2ρ(r). By a systematic comparison of these two approaches for a series of ten representative chemical reactions ranging from hydrogen migration to cycloaddition reactions and gold(i) catalysis, we could for the first time unravel the PES-ED relationship. In the case of a bond formation, all changes in the ED occur shortly before or at the corresponding curvature peak, and in a bond cleavage, the ED changes occur at or shortly after the curvature peak. In any case, the ED changes always occurred in the vicinity of the curvature peak in accordance with the Hohenberg-Kohn theorem. Our findings provide a comprehensive view on bond formation/cleavage processes seen through the eyes of both the PES and ED and offer valuable guidelines on where to search for significant ED changes associated with bond formation or cleavage events.

A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study of the Reactivity and Selectivities in [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of C,N-Dialkyl Nitrones with Ethylene Derivatives

The zw-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of C,N-dialkyl nitrones with a series of ethylenes of increased electrophilic character have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) computational level. Both, reactivity and selectivities are rationalized depending on the polar character of the reaction. Due to the strong nucleophilic character of C,N-dialkyl nitrones, the corresponding zw-type 32CA reactions are accelerated with the increased electrophilic character of the ethylene, which also plays a crucial role in the reaction mechanism, thus determining the regio- and stereoselectivities experimentally observed. While, in the 32CA reactions with nucleophilic ethylenes, the reaction begins with the formation of the C-C single bond, determining the ortho regioselectivity, in the 32CA reactions with strong electrophilic ethylenes, the reaction begins with the formation of the C-O single bond involving the β-conjugated carbon of the ethylene, determining the meta regioselectivity. The present MEDT study also provides an explanation for the unexpected ortho regioselectivity experimentally found in the 32CA reactions involving weak electrophilic ethylenes such as ethyl acrylate and acrylonitrile.