A study of the atmospherically important reactions between dimethyl selenide (DMSe) and molecular halogens (X2 = Cl2, Br2, and I2) with ab initio calculations.

The atmospherically relevant reactions between dimethyl selenide (DMSe) and the molecular halogens (X(2) = Cl(2), Br(2), and I(2)) have been studied with ab initio calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Geometry optimization calculations showed that the reactions proceed from the reagents to the products (CH(3)SeCH(2)X + HX) via three minima, a van der Waals adduct (DMSe:X(2)), a covalently bound intermediate (DMSeX(2)), and a product-like complex (CH(3)SeCH(2)X:HX). The computed potential energy surfaces are used to predict what molecular species are likely to be observed in spectroscopic experiments such as gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared matrix isolation s…

[3+2] Cycloaddition reaction of 1H-phosphorinium-3-olate and 1-methylphosphorinium-3-olate with methyl acrylate: A DFT study

Abstract A density functional theory study was performed on the [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of 1H-phosphorinium-3-olate and 1-methylphosphorinium-3-olate with methyl acrylate. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were analysed by considering the regio- and stereoisomeric pathways in gas phase and solvents. The geometries indicate that the transition states are slightly more advanced and asynchronous in ethanol. Electron localisation function topological analysis of the bonding changes along the most favourable reaction pathway associated with the 32CA reaction of 1H-phosphorinium-3-olate with methyl acrylate indicates that the reaction takes place through a two-stage one-step me…

Understanding the formation of [3+2] and [2+4] cycloadducts in the Lewis acid catalysed reaction between methyl glyoxylate oxime and cyclopentadiene: a theoretical study

The formation of the formal [3+2] and [2+4] cycloadducts in the Lewis acid (LA) catalysed reaction of cyclopentadiene (Cp, 1) with methyl glyoxylate oxime (MGO, 2a) has been theoretically studied using DFT methods. Coordination of BF3 LA to the oxygen atom of MGO 2a not only increases the electrophilicity of the oxime, but also makes the corresponding tautomeric BF3:nitrone complex 8b the reactive species. The reaction is characterised by the nucleophilic attack of Cp 1 on the carbon atom of the corresponding BF3:nitrone complex 8b. The subsequent ring closure at the end of the reaction allows the formation of the [3+2] or [2+4] cycloadducts. ELF bonding analysis of selected points on the i…

Understanding the Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reactions of N-Substituted N-Allyl-Furfurylamines: An MEDT Study

A study of the atmospherically important reactions of dimethylsulfide (DMS) with I2 and ICl using infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations.

The reactions of dimethylsulfide (DMS) with molecular iodine (I(2)) and iodine monochloride (ICl) have been studied by infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy by co-condensation of the reagents in an inert gas matrix. Molecular adducts of DMS + I(2) and DMS + ICl have also been prepared using standard synthetic methods. The vapour above each of these adducts trapped in an inert gas matrix gave the same infrared spectrum as that recorded for the corresponding co-condensation reaction. In each case, the infrared spectrum has been interpreted in terms of a van der Waals adduct, DMS : I(2) and DMS : ICl, with the aid of infrared spectra computed for their minimum energy structures at the MP2 lev…

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1H-pyridinium-3-olate and 1-methylpyridinium-3-olate with methyl acrylate: a density functional theory study

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 1-substituted pyridinium 3-olates with methyl acrylate is studied using density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The molecular mechanisms of the possible stereo- and regio-chemical pathways are characterized and explored. Solvent effects are also evaluated by the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Analysis of the results shows that there are relevant differences in the reaction pathways between the gas phase and with solvent. Only results in solvent phase are in accord with literature experimental results where 6-substituted 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-ones are formed preferentially. These polar cycloaddition reactions t…

Diels-Alderase Catalyzing the Cyclization Step in the Biosynthesis of Spinosyn A

The conversion of putative macrocyclic lactone into the tricyclic compound, as a key step in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A , has been theoretically investigated using DFT methods. The relatively low activation free energy computed for the cyclization process of the actual macrocyclic lactone (21.0 kcal/mol) furnishes a rationalization for a spontaneous ( i.e. nonenzymatically catalyzed) cyclization process in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A . A geometric analysis of putative macrocyclic lactone indicates that a slight strain on the lactone at the active site of the SpnF gene could decrease the activation free energy to ca . 16 kcal/mol. This nonspecific participation of the enzyme, which ac…

A density functional theory study of the regio- and stereoselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-methyl substituted pyrazinium-3-olates with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate

Abstract A DFT [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] study was carried out on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (13DC) reactions of multi C-methyl substituted pyrazinium-3-olates with methyl acrylate (MA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the possible endo/exo stereoisomeric and 6-ester/7-ester regioisomeric pathways have been determined. The skeleton rearrangement of the 6-exo [3 + 2] cycloadducts into the [4 + 2] adducts is also considered. The electrophilic, P k + , and nucleophilic, P k - , Parr functions are used to have better understanding of the regioselectivity of these 13DC reactions. In all cases the exo pathways are more favourable compared to the endo alternatives. …

A DFT study of the [3 + 2] versus [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of 1,5,6-trimethylpyrazinium-3-olate with methyl methacrylate.

The reaction between 1,5,6-trimethylpyrazinium-3-olate and methyl methacrylate (MMA) yielding a lactone-lactam has been studied using the DFT method at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. It is concluded that formation of the lactone-lactam is a domino process involving three consecutive reactions: (i) a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (13DC) reaction between the pyrazinium-3-olate and MMA yielding a [3 + 2] cycloadduct (CA); (ii) a skeletal rearrangement, which converts the [3 + 2] CA into a formal [4 + 2] CA, possessing a diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane structure; and finally, (iii) an S(N)2 reaction, promoted by halide anion, with concomitant nucleophilic attack of the created carboxylate anion on an iminium …

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 1H-pyrazinium-3-olate and N1- and C-methyl substituted pyrazinium-3-olates with methyl acrylate: a density functional theory study

Abstract A DFT study of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of methyl acrylate to 1H-pyrazinium-3-olate and N1- and C-methyl substituted pyrazinium-3-olates, in the gas phase and in THF, has been carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Two stereoisomeric pathways, endo and exo, and two regioisomeric channels, 2-oxo-3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-ester and 7-ester products, have been considered. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters calculated at room temperature have been analyzed. The regioselectivity has been interpreted using reactivity indices. It is generally found that the exo pathway is preferred and the formation of the 6-esters is dominant. The theoretical data obtained for the cycloadd…

DFT exploration of [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1H-phosphorinium-3-olate and 1-methylphosphorinium-3-olate with methyl methacrylate

A Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) study of the regio- and stereoselectivity of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of 1H-phosphorinium-3-olate and 1-methylphosphorinium-3-olate with methyl methacrylate was carried out using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. In order to test the method dependence for the most favorable reaction path leading to the 1H-substituted 6-exo cycloadduct (CA) various functionals using higher basis sets were taken into consideration in the gas phase. An analysis of the energetic parameters indicates that the reaction path leading to 6-exo CA are kinetically as well as thermodynamically favored in the gas phase, THF and ethanol. The calculated energetic parame…

Theoretical studies on cycloaddition reactions

Cycloaddition reactions represent one of the most powerful processes in organic chemistry. The most common types of cycloaddition reactions are the Diels-Alder (DA) and the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions (1,3-DCs) which lead to five and six membered rings, respectively. In our ongoing efforts to contribute to the understanding of DA and 1,3-DCs; we studied the following using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory: 1. The 1,3-DCs of the pyridinium-3-olates and pyrazinium-3-olates with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate [1,2]. 2. The competitive hetero-DA and 1,3-DCs of methyl glyoxylate oxime and its tautomeric nitrone with cyclopentadiene in the absence and in the presence of BF3 as …

Copper(I)-catalysed regioselective synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazoles: A DFT mechanistic study

Abstract Formation of pyrazolo[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazoles by means of Cu(I)-catalysed [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with phenylacetylene, experimentally reported by Katritzky et al. (JOC 2012, 77, 5813), was studied using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Comparison with the uncatalysed 32CA reaction indicates that the Cu(I) catalyst provides new reaction pathways with lower electronic energy barriers in dichloromethane as solvent. The mechanism proposed by Katritzky for the Cu(I) catalysed reaction is compared with that proposed by Sharpless et al. (JACS 127, 2005, 210). The major difference between these two mechanisms lies in the coordination …

Unveiling the high reactivity of benzyne in the formal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions towards thioamides through the Molecular Electron Density Theory

Abstract The domino reaction of benzyne with thioamide has been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) level. This domino reaction takes place through i) a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction affording an ammonium ylide, and ii) an extrusion of ethylene from this species yielding a dihydrothiazole. Topological analysis of the electron density of benzyne shows its pseudodiradical structure, that is, without any energy cost, changes to a carbenoid one, allowing its participation as electrophile in polar reactions. As a consequence, the formal 32CA reaction does not have an activation enthalpy. Analysis of the changes of electron density al…

Theoretical Studies on the Mechanism of the Formation of Cyclopentadienes and Dihydropyridazines

A DFT Study of the [3+2] Cycloadditions of RCNO (R = H, Me and F) With Carbon Flatland Mimicking Graphene

Graphene is the latest allotrope of carbon to be under the spotlight ever since its discovery by Novoselov and coworkers in 2004. Owing to its fascinating structural, electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties, graphene can be regarded as as a rapidly rising star in various fields such as supercapacitors, biosensors and batteries. The organic chemistry of graphene has stimulated a great deal of research and is gaining considerable attention. Among the various experimental studies which have been carried out on graphene, it is found that [3+2] cycloadditions (32CA) can also be achieved on graphene sheets and the resulting functionalized graphenes are dispersible in polar organic …