Tautomerism in pyridazin-3(2H)-one: a theoretical study using implicit/explicit solvation models.

Abstract The tautomeric conversion of pyridazin-3(2H)-one 1 into pyridazin-3-ol 2 has been theoretically studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. Two mechanisms have been considered for this process: (i) one in which the hydrogen is directly transferred through TS12; and (ii) another one in which a double hydrogen transfer takes place via TS1122 upon formation of the corresponding dimer. The former requires a very high activation energy of 42.64 kcal/mol as a consequence of the strain associated with the formation of the four-membered TS12, while the latter requires a much lower activation energy, 14.66 kcal/mol. Implicit, explicit, and a combinat…

A molecular electron density theory study of the chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between trifluoroacetonitrile N-oxide and thioketones

Abstract The [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction between trifluoroacetonitrile N-oxide (NO 7) and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thioxocyclobutan-1-one (THK 12) as well as the self-dimerization of NO 7 as a competitive pathway were studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) using several DFT functionals together with def2-TZVP basis set. Taking CCSD(T)/TZVP activation energies as reference, among the employed functionals, just the B2PLYP-D3(BJ) one is able to portray complete predominance of 32CA reaction over self-dimerization process in excellent agreement with the experimental outcomes. Analysis of the global reactivity indices permits to characterize NO 7 and THK 12 as a stron…

Understanding the domino reaction between 1-diazopropan-2-one and 1,1-dinitroethylene. A molecular electron density theory study of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of diazoalkanes with electron-deficient ethylenes

The reaction between 1-diazopropan-2-one and 1,1-dinitroethylene has been studied using the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) computational level. This reaction comprises two domino processes initialised by a common [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction yielding a 1-pyrazoline, which participates in two competitive reaction channels. Along channel I, 1-pyrazoline firstly tautomerises to a 2-pyrazoline, which by a proton abstraction and spontaneous loss of nitrite anion yields the final pyrazole, while along channel II, the thermal extrusion of the nitrogen molecule in 1-pyrazoline gives a very reactive diradical intermediate which quickly yields the final gem-…

Aziridination of Aromatic Aldimines Through Stabilized Ammonium Ylides: A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study

A Study of the Effects of the Lewis Acid Catalysts on Oxa‐Diels‐Alder Reactions through Molecular Electron Density Theory

Understanding the domino reactions of alkyne-tethered N-tosylhydrazones yielding fused polycyclic pyrazoles. An MEDT study

Abstract The domino reactions of alkyne-tethered N-mesylhydrazones yielding fused polycyclic pyrazoles have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). Analysis of the Gibbs free energies indicates that the more favourable reactive path is the one in which the elimination of mesylate anion takes place before the intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition (IM32CA) reaction, which corresponds with the rate-determining step of these domino processes. ELF topological analysis of the bond formation along the IM32CA reaction indicates that in spite of the high activation energy associated to this intramolecular reaction, it shows a pmr-type mechanism characterised by the presence …

Understanding the molecular mechanism of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of benzonitrile oxide toward electron-richN-vinylpyrrole: a DFT study

The [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of benzonitrile oxide, BNO 2, with an electron-rich N-vinylpyrrole derivative, NVP 3a, in the presence of dichloromethane, has been theoretically studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. This 32CA reaction presents a relatively high activation Gibbs free energy as a result of the low polar character of this zwitterionic-type (zw-type) reaction. Analyses of the calculated relative Gibbs free energies and transition state geometries indicate that the studied 32CA reaction, in excellent agreement with experimental outcomes, takes place in a complete regioselective manner as a consequence of the steric repulsion…

Understanding the stereoselectivity in Brønsted acid catalysed Povarov reactions generating cis/trans CF3-substituted tetrahydroquinolines: a DFT study

The Bronsted acid (BA) catalysed Povarov reactions of (E)-1-phenyl-N-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) methanimine with 1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one (VPO) and with allyltrimethylsilane (ATMS), affording CF3-substituted cis/trans tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) derivatives, have theoretically been studied using the M06-2X functional together with the standard 6-31G(d) basis set. These BA catalysed Povarov reactions are multistep processes initialised by the nucleophilic attack of the non-substituted carbon atom of the nucleophilic ethylene on the imine carbon atom of the super-electrophilic protonated imine, yielding the corresponding cationic intermediate along the endo/exo stereoisomeric approach mode. Upo…