Cis-trans isomerization of dimethyl 2,3-dibromofumarate

The isomerization of dimethyl 2,3-dibromofumarate in chloroform solutions was investigated by the combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The bromination of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate leading to dimethyl 2,3-dibromofumarate produces the trans isomer initially, which however converts into the more stable cis isomer. The conversion from trans to cis is spontaneous and greatly accelerated by light.

The Cis-Effect Explained Using Next-Generation QTAIM

We used next-generation QTAIM (NG-QTAIM) to explain the cis-effect for two families of molecules: C₂X₂ (X = H, F, Cl) and N₂X₂ (X = H, F, Cl). We explained why the cis-effect is the exception rather than the rule. This was undertaken by tracking the motion of the bond critical point (BCP) of the stress tensor trajectories T_σ(s) used to sample the U_σ-space cis- and trans-characteristics. The T_σ(s) were constructed by subjecting the C1-C2 BCP and N1-N2 BCP to torsions ± θ and summing all possible T_σ(s) from the bonding environment. During this process, care was taken to fully account for multi-reference effects. We associated bond-bending and bond-twisting components of the T_σ(s) with cis- and trans-characteristics, respectively, based on the relative ease of motion of the electronic charge density ρ(r_b). Qualitative agreement is found with existing experimental data and predictions are made where experimental data is not available.

Steric effects vs. electron delocalization: a new look into the stability of diastereomers, conformers and constitutional isomers

A quantum chemical investigation of the stability of compounds with identical formulas was carried out on 23 classes of compounds made of C, N, P, O and S atoms as core structures and halogens H, F, Cl, Br and I as substituents. All possible structures were generated and investigated by quantum mechanical methods. The prevalence of a formula in which its Z configuration, gauche conformation or meta isomer is the most stable form is calculated and discussed. Quantitative and qualitative models to explain the stability of the 23 classes of halogenated compounds were also proposed.

Rate Constants for the Reactions of OH Radicals with the ( E)/( Z) Isomers of CFCl=CFCl and ( E)-CHF=CHF

The rate constants for the OH radical reactions with halogenated ethenes were investigated experimentally and computationally. The rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with ( E)-CFCl=CFCl ( k1), ( Z)-CFCl=CFCl ( k2), and ( E)-CHF=CHF ( k3) were measured using flash and laser photolysis methods. The temporal profile of the OH radical was monitored by a laser-induced fluorescence technique. Kinetic measurements were carried out over the temperature range of 250-430 K. Arrhenius rate constants were determined to be k1 = (1.67 ± 0.06) × 10-12·exp[(140 ± 10) K/ T], k2 = (1.75 ± 0.04) × 10-12·exp[(140 ± 10) K/ T], and k3 = (3.99 ± 0.15) × 10-12·exp[(260 ± 10) K/ T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The quoted uncertainties are 95% confidence levels and do not include systematic errors. Infrared absorption spectra were measured at room temperature. The atmospheric lifetimes and the global warming potentials of ( E)-CFCl=CFCl, ( Z)-CFCl=CFCl, and ( E)-CHF=CHF were estimated to be 4.3, 4.2, and 1.2 days and 0.035, 0.036, and 0.0056, respectively. The ozone depletion potentials of ( E)-CFCl=CFCl and ( Z)-CFCl=CFCl were determined to be 0.00011 and 0.00010, respectively. The photochemical ozone creation potentials of the halogenated ethenes were less than 1/4 that of ethene. In addition, the ( E)/( Z) differences in the energy and IR spectra of the CFCl=CFCl and CHF=CHF molecules were computationally examined. The reactivities of these halogenated ethenes toward OH radicals were investigated through the combination of DFT and ab initio computations. The rate constants calculated for the OH radical reactions of these halogenated ethenes showed reasonable agreement with the experimentally determined values. Our computational results for the CFCl=CFCl and CHF=CHF ( E)/( Z) isomeric pairs indicated that the rate constants toward OH radicals are larger for the higher-energy geometrical isomers than for the lower-energy counterparts.

New Insights into the Origin of the cis-Configuration Preferences in 1,2-Dihaloethenes: The Importance of the Bonding Orbital Deviations

The origin of the preferences for the cis-configurations in 1,2-difluoroethene (1), 1,2-dichloroethene (2), and 1,2-dibromoethene (3) were explored by means of the G3MP2, LC-ωPBE and CCSD(T) methods with the 6–311+G** basis set on all atoms, and natural bond orbital interpretation. On the basis of the results obtained, the cis-configurations preferences decrease in going from compound 1 to compound 3. Effectively, the deletions of the hyperconjugative interactions from the Fock matrices of the cis- and trans-configurations of compound 1 lead to the increase of the trans-conformation stability (by ~6.11 kcal mol−1) compared with its corresponding cis-conformation. However, the Pauli exchange-type repulsion difference between the cis- and trans-configurations of compound 1 is in favour of the trans-configuration (by ~6.25 kcal mol−1), revealing that the stabilization energies associated with the hyperconjugative interactions do not compensate the destabilizations associated with the exchange component and dipole-dipole interactions. Importantly, the C=C bond paths in the cis-configuration of compound 1 are bent in essentially the same direction (towards the C–F bonds), leading to an increased overlap and a stronger C–C bond, whereas the C–C bond paths in the trans-configuration are bent in opposite directions. Accordingly, the co-operative stabilizations associated with the bending of the C=C bond paths (towards the C–F bonds) and total hyperconjugative generalized anomeric effect overcome the destabilizations associated with the exchange component and dipole–dipole interactions, leading to the preference of the cis-configuration in compound 1. The deletions of all the donor–acceptor electronic interactions from the Fock matrices of the cis- and trans-configurations of compounds 2 and 3 lead to the increase of the trans-conformation stabilities compared with their corresponding cis-conformations, revealing the determining impacts of the hyperconjugative interactions on the configurational preferences in compounds 2 and 3.

The Thermodynamic and Kinetic Properties of 2-Hydroxypyridine/2-Pyridone Tautomerization: A Theoretical and Computational Revisit

The gas-phase thermal tautomerization reaction between 2-hydroxypyridine (2-HPY) and 2-pyridone (2-PY) was investigated by applying 6-311++G** and aug-cc-pvdz basis sets incorporated into some density functional theory (DFT) and coupled cluster with singles and doubles (CCSD) methods. The geometrical structures, dipole moments, HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, total hyperpolarizability, kinetics and thermodynamics functions were monitored against the effects of the corrections imposed on these functionals. The small experimental energy difference between the two tautomers of 3.23 kJ/mol; was a real test of the accuracy of the applied levels of theory. M062X and CCSD methods predicted the preference of 2-HPY over 2-PY by 5-9 kJ/mol; while B3LYP functional favoured 2-PY by 1-3 kJ/mol. The CAM-B3LYP and ωB97XD functionals yielded mixed results depending on the basis set used. The source of preference of 2-HPY is the minimal steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion that subdued the huge hyperconjugation in 2-PY. A 1,3-proton shift intramolecular gas-phase tautomerization yielded a high average activation of 137.152 kJ/mol; while the intermolecular mixed dimer interconversion gave an average barrier height of 30.844 kJ/mol. These findings are boosted by a natural bond orbital (NBO) technique. The low total hyperpolarizabilities of both tautomers mark out their poor nonlinear optical (NLO) behaviour. The enhancement of the total hyperpolarizability of 2-HPY over that of 2-PY is interpreted by the bond length alternation.

Gas-Phase Thermal Tautomerization of Imidazole-Acetic Acid: Theoretical and Computational Investigations

The gas-phase thermal tautomerization reaction between imidazole-4-acetic (I) and imidazole-5-acetic (II) acids was monitored using the traditional hybrid functional (B3LYP) and the long-range corrected functionals (CAM-B3LYP and ωB97XD) with 6-311++G** and aug-cc-pvdz basis sets. The roles of the long-range and dispersion corrections on their geometrical parameters, thermodynamic functions, kinetics, dipole moments, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital-Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy gaps and total hyperpolarizability were investigated. All tested levels of theory predicted the preference of I over II by 0.750-0.877 kcal/mol. The origin of predilection of I is assigned to the H-bonding interaction (nN8→σ*O14-H15). This interaction stabilized I by 15.07 kcal/mol. The gas-phase interconversion between the two tautomers assumed a 1,2-proton shift mechanism, with two transition states (TS), TS1 and TS2, having energy barriers of 47.67-49.92 and 49.55-52.69 kcal/mol, respectively, and an sp³-type intermediate. A water-assisted 1,3-proton shift route brought the barrier height down to less than 20 kcal/mol in gas-phase and less than 12 kcal/mol in solution. The relatively high values of total hyperpolarizability of I compared to II were interpreted and discussed.

Eclipsed acetaldehyde as a precursor for producing vinyl alcohol

The MP2 and DFT/B3LYP methods at 6-311++G(d,p) and aug-cc-pdz basis sets have been used to probe the origin of relative stability preference for eclipsed acetaldehyde over its bisected counterpart. A relative energy stability range of 1.02 to 1.20 kcal/mol, in favor of the eclipsed conformer, was found and discussed. An NBO study at these chemistry levels complemented these findings and assigned the eclipsed acetaldehyde preference mainly to the vicinal antiperiplanar hyperconjugative interactions. The tautomeric interconversion between the more stable eclipsed acetaldehyde and vinyl alcohol has been achieved through a four-membered ring transition state (TS). The obtained barrier heights and relative stabilities of eclipsed acetaldehyde and the two conformers of vinyl alchol at these model chemistries have been estimated and discussed.

Partially fluorinated butatrienes: a coupled cluster study

The geometries of 19 different partially fluorinated butatrienes and their related butenyne isomers have been calculated at the Møller-Plesset second order perturbation theory level with Dunning's valence triple-zeta basis set. Final energies were determined at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ level of theory. Increasing fluorine substitution has only a limited effect on the bond lengths but a substantial effect on the angles. The CCC bond angles of 4 of the 5 partially fluorinated butatrienes show a deviation of more than 2 degrees from collinearity, therefore representing angle-strained butatrienes. Increasing degree of fluorination has a substantial effect on the isomerization energies. The energy difference between the least stable enyne nonfluorinated at the acetylenic center and the most stable enyne fluorinated at the acetylenic center decreases from 66.8 kJ/mol, in case of the monofluorinated system, to 29.7 kJ/mol in the triple fluorinated system. The acetylenic F substitution is crucial in raising the energies of fluorinated but-1-en-3-yne relative to their butatriene isomers. Within the triple fluorinated system and unprecedented for all discussed molecules, 1,1,4-trifluoro-but-1-en-3-yne represents the only molecule fluorinated at the acetylenic center that is more stable than its triene isomer.