On the nature of bonding in the photochemical addition of two ethylenes: C-C bond formation in the excited state?

In this work, the 2s + 2s (face-to-face) prototypical example of a photochemical reaction has been re-examined to characterize the evolution of chemical bonding. The analysis of the electron localization function (as an indirect measure of the Pauli principle) along the minimum energy path provides strong evidence supporting that CC bond formation occurs not in the excited state but in the ground electronic state after crossing the rhombohedral S₁/S₀ conical intersection.

Combining Wave Function Methods with Density Functional Theory for Excited States

We review state-of-the-art electronic structure methods based both on wave function theory (WFT) and density functional theory (DFT). Strengths and limitations of both the wave function and density functional based approaches are discussed, and modern attempts to combine these two methods are presented. The challenges in modeling excited-state chemistry using both single-reference and multireference methods are described. Topics covered include background, combining density functional theory with single-configuration wave function theory, generalized Kohn-Sham (KS) theory, global hybrids, range-separated hybrids, local hybrids, using KS orbitals in many-body theory (including calculations of the self-energy and the GW approximation), Bethe-Salpeter equation, algorithms to accelerate GW calculations, combining DFT with multiconfigurational WFT, orbital-dependent correlation functionals based on multiconfigurational WFT, building multiconfigurational wave functions from KS configurations, adding correlation functionals to multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (MCSCF) energies, combining DFT with configuration-interaction singles by means of time-dependent DFT, using range separation to combine DFT with MCSCF, embedding multiconfigurational WFT in DFT, and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory.

Electron density shape analysis of a family of through-space and through-bond interactions

A family of styrene derivatives has been used to study the effects of through-space and through-bond interactions on the local and global shapes of electron densities of complete molecules and a set of substituents on their central rings. Shape analysis methods which have been used extensively in the past for the study of molecular property-molecular shape correlations have shown that in these molecules a complementary role is played by the through-space and through-bond interactions. For each specific example, the dominance of either one of the two interactions can be identified and interpreted in terms of local shapes and the typical reactivities of the various substituents. Three levels of quantum chemical computational methods have been applied for these structures, including the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of density functional methodology, and the essential conclusions are the same for all three levels. The general approach is suggested as a tool for the identification of specific interaction types which are able to modify molecular electron densities. By separately influencing the through-space and through-bond components using polar groups and groups capable of conjugation, some fine-tuning of the overall effects becomes possible. The method described may contribute to an improved understanding and control of molecular properties involving complex interactions with a possible role in the emerging field of molecular design.

Quantum chemical investigation of the thermal rearrangement of cis- and trans-pinane

The thermal rearrangement reactions of cis-pinane, 1, and trans-pinane, 2, into beta-citronellene, 3, and isocitronellene, 4, have been investigated using ab initio multiconfigurational CASSCF and CASSCF MP2 calculations. Concerted as well as stepwise retro-[2+2]-cycloaddition conversion mechanisms are discussed and the corresponding stationary points along the relevant reaction paths from the bicyclic starting compounds into their acyclic isomers have been optimized. Our calculations show that the stepwise retro-[2+2]-cycloaddition via biradicals is energetically favoured with respect to the concerted mechanism. In the biradical pathways to 3 and 4, it was found that a gauche ring opening of the cyclobutane ring in 1 and 2, respectively, shows significantly lower activation barriers than the competing anti ring opening. With the predicted reaction paths, the calculated activation energies are in very good agreement with experimental values. The reaction mechanisms can explain the differences in the reactivity of 1 and 2, as well as the selectivity differences with respect to the formation of 3 and 4, reported in previous kinetic studies.

Computational studies on the dimers and the thermal dimerization of norbornadiene

In this study, 14 norbornadiene (NBD) dimers and the thermal dimerization mechanism were studied using the hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP) and the second-order multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2). In the process of dimerization, the biradical stationary points were located using the unrestricted, broken-spin, symmetry approach. The pathways were divided into eight parts to aid the analysis of their mechanisms. Our results indicated that the process for the formation of the cage-like heptacyclo[6.6.0.0.260.3130.411059.01014] tetradecane (HCTD, D14) is highly exothermic (92.15 kcal/mol), indicating that D14 is the most stable NBD dimer. However, the formation of D14 is very difficult to achieve kinetically because of a higher barrier in the thermal dimerization. On the contrary, the formation of exo-cis-exo (D5) is kinetically favorable, but thermodynamically unfavorable at higher temperature. Therefore, the combination of both thermodynamic and kinetic factors indicated that the formation of exo-exo (D9), which resembles the product of the pseudo-Diels-Alder addition, is most likely in the NBD dimerization.

A triplet mechanism for the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in UV-irradiated DNA

The reaction pathways for the photochemical formation of cyclobutane thymine dimers in DNA are explored using hybrid density functional theory techniques. It is concluded that the thymine-thymine [2 + 2] cycloaddition displays favorable energy barriers and reaction energies in both the triplet and the singlet excited states. The stepwise cycloaddition in the triplet excited state involves the initial formation of a diradical followed by ring closure via singlet-triplet interaction. The triplet mechanism is thus completely different from the concerted singlet state cycloaddition processes. The key geometric features and electron spin densities are also discussed. Bulk solvation has a major effect by reducing the barriers and increasing the diradical stabilities. The present results provide a rationale for the faster cycloreaction observed in the singlet excited states than in the triplet excited states.

Broken inter-C60 bonds as the cause of magnetism in polymeric C60: a density functional study using C60 dimers

Bond breaking in C60-C60 dimeric units is believed to play an important role in the onset of magnetism in 2D polymeric C60. On the basis of density-functional theory, the calculations we present here provide further insight into this mechanism through a quantitative characterization of the bond-breaking processes in the isolated dumbbell-shaped C60 dimer. In particular, the analysis of the calculated potential energy surfaces for the low-lying singlet and triplet states identifies and locates the S0-T2 crossing point, which is crucial for the transition to a magnetic state to take place under thermal conditions. These results also suggest a possible new approach to the production of magnetic polymeric C60.

Unusual Intramolecular [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Allyl and Vinylidene CC Bonds under Mild Conditions: A Theoretical Analysis

A theoretical analysis allows for the rationalization of the recently reported unusual formation under mild conditions of a cyclobutylidene ring from a diastereoselective [2 + 2] intramolecular cycloaddition of two C=C systems. The reaction takes place by heating in dichloromethane the vinylidene complexes [Ru((eta(5),eta(3)-C(9)H(7))[=C=C(R)H][kappa(1)-(P)-PPh(2)(C(3)H(5))](PPh(3))][BF(4)] (R = Ph, p-Me-C(6)H(4)) (1) yielding the bicyclic alkylidene complexes [Ru((eta(5),eta(3)-C(9)H(7))[kappa(2)-(P,C)-(=CC(R)HCH(2)CHCH(2)-PPh(2)](PPh(3))][BF(4)] (2). The proposed mechanism represents an alternative to the classical Woodward-Hoffmann's supra-antara approach.

On the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in UV-irradiated DNA: why are thymines more reactive?

The reaction pathways for thermal and photochemical formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in DNA are explored using density functional theory techniques. Although it is found that the thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions of thymine + thymine (T + T --> T x T), cytosine + cytosine (C + C --> C x C) and cytosine + thymine (C + T --> C x T) all are similarly unfavorable in terms of energy barriers and reaction energies, the excited-state energy curves associated with the corresponding photochemical cycloadditions display differences that--in line with experimental findings--unanimously point to the predominance of T x T in UV-irradiated DNA. It is shown that the photocycloaddition of thymines is facilitated by the fact that the S1 state of the corresponding reactant complex lies comparatively high in energy. Moreover, at a nuclear configuration coinciding with the ground-state transition structure, the excited-state energy curve displays an absolute minimum only for the T + T system. Finally, the T + T system is also associated with the most favorable excited-state energy barriers and has the smallest S2-S0 energy gap at the ground-state transition structure.

A CASPT2 and CASSCF approach to the cycloaddition of ketene and imine: a new mechanistic scheme of the Staudinger reaction

We report a new theoretical study of the mechanism of the parent Staudinger reaction between ketene and formaldimine. This mechanism, in contrast with previously reported computational studies, involves the formation of two different intermediates, gauche and trans, which can be interconnected on the potential energy surface depending upon reaction conditions. This novel CASPT2/CASSCF mechanistic scheme may be considered a new starting point to rationalize stereochemical outcome and solvent effects in these reactions.

Effect of geminal substitution at silicon on 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes' strain energies, their 2+2 cycloreversion enthalpies, and Si=C pi-bond energies in silenes

To evaluate the effect of geminal substitution at silicon on 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes' strain energies, their 2+2 cycloreversion enthalpies, and Si=C pi-bond energies in silenes, an ab initio MO study of silenes, R2Si=CH2 (1), 1-silacyclobutanes, cyclo-R2Si(CH2)3 (2), and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes, cyclo-(R2SiCH2)2 (3), was performed using the level of theory denoted MP4/TZ(d)//MP2/6-31G(d) (TZ means the 6-311G(d) basis set for elements of the second period and hydrogen, and the McLean-Chandler (12s,9p)/[6s,5p](d) basis set for the third period elements). In the series R = H, CH3, SiH3, CH3O, NH2, Cl, F, the growth of the reaction enthalpies and strain energies is proportional to the substituents' electronegativities. 2+2 cycloreversion of 2 is endothermic by 40.6-63.1 kcal/mol, whereas that of 3 is endothermic by 72.7-114.2 kcal/mol. On going from a silicon to a fluorine substituent at the sp2-hybridized silicon atom, the pi-bond energy in 1 weakens by 11.3 kcal/mol, and the Si=C bond length shortens by 0.053 A. The effect of substituents' electronegativities at the double-bonded silicon atom in silenes is formulated as follows: the higher electronegativity, the shorter and the weaker the Si=C pi-bond. The latter is rationalized in terms of more strained geometry resulting from the energetic cost for planarizing the R2SiC moiety. The enthalpies of the ring-opening reaction are 68.0-80.1 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the Si-C bond in 3), 65.0-76.4 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the Si-C bond in 2), and 58.0-64.9 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the C-C bond in 2). The pronounced difference in the enthalpies of 2+2 cycloreversion of 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes is mainly due to the difference in the enthalpies of diradicals' decomposition. The decomposition of diradicals resulting from a cleavage of C-C and Si-C bonds in 2 is exothermic by 24.3-3.3 kcal/mol (apart from the difluoro derivative which is endothermic by 5.1 kcal/mol) and 27.0-13.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The decomposition of a 1,4-diradical resulting from ring opening of 3, apart from the disilyl derivative, is the endothermic process for which the enthalpy varies from 10.6 to 40.4 kcal/mol.

Substituent effects on the reactivity of the silicon-carbon double bond

Laser flash photolysis of various organosilicon compounds such as aryl-, vinyl-, and alkynyldisilanes, silacyclobutanes and silacyclobutenes, and alpha-silylketenes and -diazomethanes leads to the formation of reactive silenes which can be detected directly in solution, allowing detailed studies of the kinetics and mechanisms of their reactions with nucleophiles. Over 30 transient silenes have now been studied by these methods, providing the opportunity to systematically assess the effects of substituents at silicon and carbon on the reactivity of the Si=C bond.

Computational explorations of vinylcyclopropane-cyclopentene rearrangements and competing diradical stereoisomerizations

The rearrangements and stereoisomerizations of four systems, vinylcyclopropane, 4-tert-butylvinylcyclopropane, 5-methylvinylcyclopropane, and 2,5-dimethylvinylcyclopropane, as well as a variety of deuterated derivatives and 1- and 2-methyl-, methoxy-, difluoro-, and amino-substituted species, were studied by density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G basis set. Energies were evaluated with CASSCF(4, 4)/6-31G single point calculations. The major product is obtained by the si pathway. Structures on this path are essentially pure diradical in character. Higher energy diradical species and intermediates are responsible for the scrambling of the stereochemistry. The stereoselectivity of the reaction is increased by substituents which increase the relative energy of the species involved in competing stereoselectivities. The computed secondary kinetic isotope effects reproduce the experimental values reported in the literature.