Mechanistic investigations on Pinnick oxidation: a density functional theory study

A computational study on Pinnick oxidation of aldehydes into carboxylic acids using density functional theory (DFT) calculations has been evaluated with the (SMD)-M06-2X/aug-pVDZ level of theory, leading to an important understanding of the reaction mechanism that agrees with the experimental observations and explaining the substantial role of acid in driving the reaction. The DFT results elucidated that the first reaction step (FRS) proceeds in a manner where chlorous acid reacts with the aldehyde group through a distorted six-membered ring transition state to give a hydroxyallyl chlorite intermediate that undergoes a pericyclic fragmentation to release the carboxylic acid as a second reaction step (SRS). 1H NMR experiments and simulations showed that hydrogen bonding between carbonyl and t-butanol is unlikely to occur. Additionally, it was found that the FRS is a rate-determining and thermoneutral step, whereas SRS is highly exergonic with a low energetic barrier due to the Cl(III) → Cl(II) reduction. Frontier molecular orbital analysis, intrinsic reaction coordinate, molecular dynamics and distortion/interaction analysis further supported the proposed mechanism.