A new polyploid species of Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) from the Western Mediterranean basin

A new species of Plumbaginaceae, Limonium irtaensis, is described and illustrated from the Western Mediterranean basin (Iberian Peninsula). The new species is triploid (2n = 26) and shows a papillate stigma and pollen with a fine reticulate exine (B type). A detailed morphological description is given, and its main diagnostic characters are compared with the related species. Conservation status has been assessed according to the IUCN protocol.

Applications of the Conceptual Density Functional Theory Indices to Organic Chemistry Reactivity.

Indexación: Web of Science Theoretical reactivity indices based on the conceptual Density Functional Theory (DFT) have become a powerful tool for the semiquantitative study of organic reactivity. A large number of reactivity indices have been proposed in the literature. Herein, global quantities like the electronic chemical potential μ, the electrophilicity ω and the nucleophilicity N indices, and local condensed indices like the electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions, as the most relevant indices for the study of organic reactivity, are discussed. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/21/6/748

Dos nuevos híbridos en el género Thymus (Lamiaceae)

Two new hybrids for the genus Thymus L.(Lamiaceae) are described; Th. ×josephi-angeli nothosubsp. occultus, nothosubsp. nov., as a result of natural crossing between Th. piperella L. and Th. vulgaris subsp. mansanetianus P.P. Ferrer & al., and Th. ×royoi, nothosp. nov., coming from the natural crossing between Th. vulgaris L. and Th. willkommii Ronniger. In addition, a lectotype of the name Thymus willkommii is designated from a specimen preserved at BC herbarium

Reactivity of the carbon-carbon double bond towards nucleophilic additions. A dft analysis

Abstract The global and local electrophilicity indexes have been used to characterize the reactivity pattern of the CC double bond towards nucleophilic addition reactions. A wide family of molecules including ketones, esters, anhydrides, nitriles and nitrocompounds containing appropriate substitution on the CC double bond have been classified within an unique scale of reactivity. The predictive capability of the theoretical model is tested against a series of benzylidenemalononitriles and substituted α-nitrostilbenes.

Understanding the regioselectivity in hetero Diels–Alder reactions. An ELF analysis of the reaction between nitrosoethylene and 1-vinylpyrrolidine

[EN] The regioselectivity in the hetero Diels-Alder reaction between nitrosoethylene 1 and 1-vinylpyrrolidine 2 has been studied by a comparative ELF bonding analysis along the IRC of the endo/ortho and endo/meta regioisomeric channels at the B3LYP/6-31G*. level. Along the most favorable endo/ortho regioisomeric channel, the C-C sigma bond is first formed by coupling of two pseudoradical centers located at the most electrophilic carbon of 1 and the most nucleophilic center of 2. Formation of these relevant pseudoradical centers, which depend on the total charge transfer process along the polar reaction, and not on the approach mode of each reagent, is well characterized by analysis of the a…

Understanding the reactivity of captodative ethylenes in polar cycloaddition reactions. A theoretical study

The electrophilic/nucleophilic character of a series of captodative (CD) ethylenes involved in polar cycloaddition reactions has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The transition state structures for the electrophilic/nucleophilic interactions of two CD ethylenes toward a nucleophilically activated ethylene, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, and an electrophilically activated ethylene, 1,1-dicyanoethyelene, have been studied, and their electronic structures have been characterized using both NBO and ELF methods. Analysis of the reactivity indexes of the CD ethylenes explains the reactivity of these species. While the electrophilicity of the molecules accounts for…

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the polar [3+2] cycloaddition of electrophilically activated carbonyl ylides with aldehydes and imines

International audience; Numerous 2,5-diaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,4-dicarbonitriles and 2,4-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5,5- dicarbonitriles have been synthesized by [3+2] cycloaddition reactions between carbonyl ylides generated from epoxides, and aldehydes or imines. In contrast to the use of aldehydes (3,4,5- trimethoxybenzaldehyde, piperonal, 1-naphthaldehyde, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, furan-2- carboxaldehyde and thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde), the reactions performed with imines (N- (phenylmethylene)methanamine, N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)propylamine, N-(1,3-benzodioxol- 5-ylmethylene)butylamine and N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)benzylamine) proceed diastereoselectively. The effect of micr…

Towards an intrinsic nucleofugality scale: the leaving group (lg) ability in ch(3)lg model system

Abstract For an important class of organic reactions in which a fragment of the reactants, the leaving group (LG) or nucleofuge (Z), is detached of the substrate bearing the bonding electron pair, the global electrophilicity index of the CH3LG system is proposed as a reliable descriptor of the intrinsic nucleofugality of the LG. The model is illustrated by ranking within a unique relative scale, the LG ability of 28 functional groups commonly involved in substitution and elimination reactions in organic chemistry.

A dft analysis of the participation of zwitterionic tacs in polar [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

A set of seven non-substituted tri-atom-components (TACs) participating in [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions has been studied using the reactivity indices defined within the conceptual DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. This series of TACs shows a zwitterionic structure and low reactivity towards ethylene. The general characteristic of these TACs is their high nucleophilic and a low electrophilic behaviour. Activation energies computed at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) level in dichloromethane point to that non-substituted TACs react quickly toward dicyanoethylene showing their ability to react towards electron-deficient ethylenes. However, when the TACs are electrophilically activated by …

A molecular electron density theory study of the enhanced reactivity of aza aromatic compounds participating in Diels–Alder reactions

The enhanced reactivity of a series of four aza aromatic compounds (AACs) participating in the Diels–Alder (DA) reactions with ethylene has been studied using Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). The analysis of the electronic structure of these AACs allows establishing that the substitution of the C–H unity by the isoelectronic N: unity linearly decreases the ring electron density (RED) of these compounds and concomitantly decreases their aromatic character and increases their electrophilic character. These behaviours not only decrease drastically the activation energies of these DA reactions, but also increase the reaction energies when they are compared with the very unfavourable DA…

Understanding the high reactivity of carbonyl compounds towards nucleophilic carbenoid intermediates generated from carbene isocyanides

The high reactivity of carbonyl compounds towards the carbenoid intermediate cis-IN, generated in situ by the addition of methyl isocyanide to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), has been investigated at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) computational level by using Molecular Electron-Density Theory (MEDT). This multicomponent (MC) reaction is a domino process that comprises two sequential reactions: (i) the formation of a nucleophilic carbenoid intermediate trans-IN; and (ii) the nucleophilic attack of cis-IN on the carbonyl compound, resulting in the formation of the final 2-iminofuran derivative. The present MEDT study establishes that the high nucleophilic character and the electronic structur…

A DFT Study of Inter- and Intramolecular Aryne Ene Reactions

The molecular mechanisms of inter- and intramolecular aryne-ene reactions have been theoretically studied by DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level. These reactions proceed through a one-step mechanism via nearly asynchronous transition states (TSs), in which the C–C single bond formation is slightly more advanced than the hydrogen transfer process. These ene reactions show very low activation enthalpies (<1 kcal/mol) and are strongly exothermic by more than 73 kcal/mol. An electron localisation function (ELF) topological analysis of the changes of electron density during these ene reactions indicates that the bonding changes are nonconcerted. ELF topological analysis of the electron d…

Chapter 9 The electrophilicity index in organic chemistry

Abstract We review in this chapter the applications of theoretical scales of global and local electrophilicity to rationalize the reactivity and selectivity for a significant number of reactions in organic chemistry. The model is based on the global electrophilicity index, formerly introduced by Maynard et al. and further formalized by Parr et al. The global electrophilicity index categorizes, within a unique absolute scale, the propensity of electron acceptors to acquire additional electronic charge from the environment. The local extension of this index provides useful information about the active sites of electrophiles, thereby allowing the characterization of the intramolecular selectiv…

A new model for C–C bond formation processes derived from the Molecular Electron Density Theory in the study of the mechanism of [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of carbenoid nitrile ylides with electron-deficient ethylenes

Abstract The [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of the nitrile ylide (NY) with ethylene and with dicyanoethylene (DCE) have been studied using the Molecular Electron Density Theory through DFT calculations at the MPWB1K/6-31G(d) level. The analysis of the electronic structure of NY indicates that it presents a carbenoid structure with an sp 2 lone pair at the carbon atom. While the 32CA reaction with ethylene presents a low activation energy, 6.1 kcal mol −1 , the transition state structure associated with the 32CA reaction of NY with DCE is located 7.5 kcal mol −1 below the reagents, the reaction being completely regioselective. The topological analysis of the Electron Localisation Funct…

A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study of the Role of the Copper Metalation of Azomethine Ylides in [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions.

The copper metalation of azomethine ylides (AYs) in [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions with electron-deficient ethylenes has been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level, in order to shed light on the electronic effect of the metalation in the course of the reaction. Analysis of the Conceptual Density Functional Theory reactivity indices indicates that the metalation of AYs markedly enhances the nucleophilicity of these species given the anionic character of the AY framework. These 32CA reactions take place through stepwise mechanisms characterized by the formation of a molecular complex. Both nonmetalated and metalated 32CA reactions …

Effect of electron-withdrawing substituents on the electrophilicity of carbonyl carbons

Indexación: Scopus The substituent effects on the carbonyl carbon atom for a series of twelve substituted phenyl acetates have been rationalized using a global electrophilicity index. This index is linearly correlated with the experimental reaction rate coefficients. We found that, in contrast to the proposed interpretation based on experimental 13C NMR chemical shifts and ground state destabilization calculations, the electrophilicity of carbonyl compounds increases due to the effect promoted by electron-withdrawing groups in these systems. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040402004018046?via%3Dihub

Complementarity of reaction force and electron localization function analyses of asynchronicity in bond formation in diels-alder reactions

We have computationally compared three Diels-Alder cycloadditions involving cyclopentadiene and substituted ethylenes; one of the reactions is synchronous, while the others are slightly or highly asynchronous. Synchronicity and weak asynchronicity are characterized by the reaction force constant κ(ξ) having just a single minimum in the transition region along the intrinsic reaction coordinate ξ, while for high asynchronicity κ(ξ) has a negative maximum with minima on both sides. The electron localization function (ELF) shows that the features of κ(ξ) can be directly related to the formation of the new C-C bonds between the diene and the dienophile. There is thus a striking complementarity b…

Unveiling the Chemistry of Higher-Order Cycloaddition Reactions within the Molecular Electron Density Theory

The higher-order cycloaddition (HOCA) reaction of tropone with cyclopentadiene (Cp) has been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory. The Electron Localization Function (ELF) analysis of the electronic structure of tropone and Cp characterizes the structural behaviors of the two conjugated unsaturated systems, while the conceptual DFT reactivity indices classify tropone as a strong electrophile and Cp as a strong nucleophile participating in polar cycloaddition reactions of reverse electron density flux. Eight competitive reaction paths have been characterized for this cycloaddition reaction. The most favorable one allowing the formation of the formal out [6 + 4] cycloadduct ha…

A theoretical study on the regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions using dft-based reactivity indexes

The regioselectivity for a series of four 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions has been studied using global and local reactivity indexes. The results of the theoretical analysis suggest that for asynchronous cycloadditions associated to polar processes, the regioselectivity is consistently explained by the most favorable two-center interactions between the highest nucleophilic and electrophilic sites of the reagents.

Unveiling the high reactivity of cyclohexynes in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions through the molecular electron density theory

[3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of cyclohexyne, a cyclic strained acetylene, with methyl azide and methoxycarbonyl diazomethane have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) computational level. These 32CA reactions, which take place through a one-step mechanism involving highly asynchronous transition state structures, proceed with relatively low activation enthalpies of 6.0 and 4.3 kcal mol-1, respectively, both reactions being strongly exothermic. The reactions are initiated by the creation of a pseudoradical center at one of the two acetylenic carbons of cyclohexyne with a very low energy cost, 1.0 kcal mol-1, which promotes the eas…

A mechanistic study of the participation of azomethine ylides and carbonyl ylides in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

The participation of azomethine ylides (AYs) and carbonyl ylides (CYs) in [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions has been analysed at the DFT B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The asymmetric substitution breaks the pseudodiradical character of the simplest three-atom-components (TACs), modifying their electrophilic and nucleophilic behaviours. These TACs react quickly towards electrophilic nitroethylene. However, while the reaction with AY takes place via a zw-type mechanism, the reaction with CY appears to take place via a pr-type mechanism. A different behaviour is found in the reactivity towards the nucleophilic methyl vinyl ether. While AY presents a high activation energy, CY presents a high reactiv…

Global and local reactivity indices for electrophilic/nucleophilic free radicals

A set of five DFT reactivity indices, namely, the global electrophilicity ω° and nucleophilicity N° indices, the radical Parr function P°k, and the local electrophilicity ω°k and nucleophilicity N°k indices, for the study of free radicals (FRs) are proposed. Global indices have been tested for a series of 32 FRs having electrophilic and/or nucleophilic activations. As expected, no correlation between the proposed global electrophilicity ω° and global nucleophilicity N° has been found. Analysis of the local electrophilicity ω°k and nucleophilicity N°k indices for FRs, together with analysis of the local electrophilicity ωk and nucleophilicity Nk indices for alkenes, allows for an explanation…

Understanding the local reactivity in polar organic reactions through electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions

[EN] Building upon our recent studies devoted to the bonding changes in polar reactions [RSC Advances, 2012, 2, 1334 and Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 3841], we propose herein two new electrophilic, P-k(+), and nucleophilic, P-k(-), Parr functions based on the spin density distribution at the radical anion and at the radical cation of a neutral molecule. These local functions allow for the characterisation of the most electrophilic and nucleophilic centres of molecules, and for the establishment of the regio- and chemoselectivity in polar reactions. The proposed Parr functions are compared with both, the Parr-Yang Fukui functions [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 4049] based on frontier molecul…

On the nature of parr functions to predict the most reactive sites along organic polar reactions

Abstract Very recently, local electrophilic and nucleophilic “Parr functions” were empirically introduced (L.R. Domingo, P. Perez, J.A. Saez RSC Adv. 3 (2013) 1486) in order to properly characterize the most reactive sites along polar chemical reactions. This Letter reports a theoretical advance to the new methodology by identifying these quantities with key Fukui descriptors of the spin-polarized density functional theory . Given such framework properly incorporates the treatment of both charge-transfer and spin-polarization, this finding provides a significant insight and substantial step forward within the field of a chemical reactivity theory based on the conceptual framework of density…

A bonding evolution theory study of the mechanism of [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with electron-deficient ethylenes

The mechanism of zw-type [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of nitrones with electron-deficient (ED) ethylenes has been studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the MPWB1K/6-31G(d) level of theory. An exploration of the potential energy surfaces associated with the four competitive reactive channels of the 32CA reaction between C-phenyl-N-methyl nitrone and acrolein indicates that the cycloaddition reaction takes place through a one-step mechanism. This cycloaddition reaction presents a moderate meta regioselectivity and a complete endo stereoselectivity, which is diminished in dichloromethane. Analysis of the DFT reactivity indices of the reagents allows an explanation of…

A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study of the Competitiveness of Polar Diels–Alder and Polar Alder-ene Reactions

Indexación: Scopus. Funding: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) of the Spanish Government, project CTQ2016-78669-P (AEI/FEDER, UE) and Fondecyt (Chile) grant 1180348. Acknowledgments: This research was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) of the Spanish Government, project CTQ2016-78669-P (AEI/FEDER, UE) and Fondecyt (Chile) grant 1180348. L.R.D. thanks Fondecyt for continuous support through Cooperación Internacional. M.R.-G. also thanks MINECO for a post-doctoral contract cofinanced by the European Social Fund (BES-2014-068258). The competitiveness of the BF3 Lewis acid (LA) catalyzed polar Diels–Alder (P-DA) and polar Alder-ene (P-AE) reactions …

Understanding the mechanism of non-polar diels-alder reactions. A comparative elf analysis of concerted and stepwise diradical mechanisms

The electron-reorganization along the concerted and stepwise pathways associated with the non-polar Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene (Cp, 1) and ethylene (2) has been studied using the topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. ELF results for the concerted mechanism stresses that the electron-reorganization demanded on the diene and ethylene reagents to reach two pseudo-diradical structures is responsible for the high activation energy. A comparative ELF analysis of some relevant points of the non-polar Diels-Alder reaction between Cp and styrene (10) suggests that these concerted mechanisms do not have a pericyclic e…

A molecular electron density theory study of the insertion of CO into frustrated Lewis pair boron-amidines: a [4 + 1] cycloaddition reaction

The insertion of CO into hydrogenated boron-amidine 1 yielding five-membered diazaborolone (5DAB) 3 has been studied within the molecular electron density theory (MEDT) at the DFT ωB97X-D/6-311G(d,p) level. This is a domino process comprised of two consecutive reactions: (i) the dehydrogenation of 1 yielding the frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) boron-amidine 4, which quickly equilibrates with four-membered diazaborolone (4DAB) 2; and (ii) the addition of CO into FLP 4, yielding the final 5DAB 3. Analysis of the Gibbs free energies indicates that the extrusion of H2 demands a high ΔG≠ of 28.6 kcal·mol-1, being endergonic by 6.7 kcal·mol-1. The subsequent addition of CO into FLP 4 presents a low Δ…

Understanding the [2n+2n] reaction mechanism between a carbenoid intermediate and CO2

ABSTRACTThe mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with a nucleophilic carbenoid intermediate has been theoretically studied by using the bonding evolution theory (BET) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. BET combines topological analysis of the electron localisation function and catastrophe theory along a reaction path. This cycloaddition reaction is characterised by 16 structural stability domains, associated to the following sequence of catastrophes: C8H9NO4 + CO2: 16-CF†CF†F†CFF†C†C†[FF†]F†FCC†-0: C9H9NO6. Formation of the two new C-C and C-O single bonds evolves after the transition state structure is reached. The high nucleophilic character and the electronic structure of c…

An Understanding of the Electrophilic/Nucleophilic Behavior of Electro-Deficient 2,3-Disubstituted 1,3-Butadienes in Polar Diels−Alder Reactions. A Density Functional Theory Study

The electrophilic/nucleophilic behavior of dimethyl 2,3-dimethylenesuccinate 1, an electron-deficient 2,3-disubstituted 1,3-butadiene, in polar Diels-Alder reactions has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The electronic nature of bonding of the transition structures involved in the cycloaddition reactions of the diene 1 toward the nucleophilically activated dienophile 6 and the strong electrophilically activated dienophile 7 has been carefully examined within the natural bond orbital (NBO) and the topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) frameworks. Additionally, a study of the global electrophilicity pattern of the reagents at the …

A molecular electron density theory study of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of nitrones with strained allenes

Indexación: Scopus. The [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone with 1,2-cyclohexadiene (CHDE), a strained allene, has been studied within Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the DFT B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) computational level. This non-polar 32CA reaction, which takes place through a non-concerted two-stage one-step mechanism, proceeds with a moderate Gibbs free activation energy of 22.7 kcal mol-1, and presents low stereo- and regioselectivities. The reaction begins by the creation of a pseudoradical center at the central carbon of the strained allene with a relatively low energy cost, which immediately promotes the formation the first C-C single bond. This…

A DFT Analysis of the Strain-Induced Regioselective[2+2]Cycloaddition of Benzyne Possessing Fused Four-Membered Ring

Quantitative characterization of the global electrophilicity power of common diene/dienophile pairs in Diels–Alder reactions

Abstract The global electrophilicity power, ω, of a series of dienes and dienophiles commonly used in Diels–Alder reactions may be conveniently classified within a unique relative scale. Useful information about the polarity of transition state structures expected for a given reaction may be obtained from the difference in the global electrophilicity power, Δω, of the diene/dienophile interacting pair. Thus the polarity of the process can be related with non-polar (Δω small, pericyclic processes) and polar (Δω big, ionic processes) mechanisms.

Nonlocal (Pair Site) Reactivity from Second-Order Static Density Response Function:  Gas- and Solution-Phase Reactivity of the Acetaldehyde Enolate as a Test Case

A nonlocal (pair site) reactivity scheme is developed and tested. The theory is cast in terms of the first-order Fukui response function f(r,r‘), previously proposed by Fuentealba and Parr [J. Chem. Phys. 1991, 94, 5559]. A change of variables is introduced by using the softness s(r) and t(r) = [∂s(r)/∂N]υ(r) (the variation of softness with respect to the changes in the total number of electrons N at constant external potential υ(r)) that leads to a simple expression for the variation of the Fukui function at site k, namely = − for an electrophilic attack. The first term describes a local contribution, proportional to the variation of the electrostatic potential that can be induced, for exa…

Origin of the synchronicity in bond formation in polar Diels-Alder reactions: an ELF analysis of the reaction between cyclopentadiene and tetracyanoethylene

[EN] The origin of the synchronicity in C-C bond formation in polar Diels-Alder (P-DA) reactions involving symmetrically substituted electrophilic ethylenes has been studied by an ELF analysis of the electron reorganization along the P-DA reaction of cyclopentadiene (Cp) 4 with tetracyanoethylene (TCE) 10 at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The present study makes it possible to establish that the synchronicity in C-C bond formation in P-DA reactions is controlled by the symmetric distribution of the electron-density excess reached in the electrophile through the charge transfer process, which can be anticipated by an analysis of the spin electron-density at the corresponding radical anion. The ELF …

Quantitative Characterization of the Local Electrophilicity of Organic Molecules. Understanding the Regioselectivity on Diels−Alder Reactions

Regional electrophilicity at the active sites of the reagents involved in polar Diels−Alder processes may be described on a quantitative basis using an extension of the global electrophilicity inde...

Aromaticity in Pericyclic Transition State Structures? A Critical Rationalisation Based on the Topological Analysis of Electron Density

The nature of the electron delocalisation pattern within a cyclic structure, i. e. the aromatic character, is examined for six-membered pseudocyclic transition state structures (TSs) involved in five representative examples of so-called pericyclic reactions. Results of the electron localisation function (ELF) and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses of the electron density evidence that in four of the cases, at least one pair of atoms are not bound at the TS configuration, thus precluding a possible cyclic conjugation. These findings make it possible to rule out the aromatic character of these TSs. High values of the synchronicity Sy index at the TSs contrast with the b…

Understanding the origin of the asynchronicity in bond-formation in polar cycloaddition reactions. A DFT study of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of carbonyl ylides with 1,2-benzoquinones

The origin of the asynchronicity in bond-formation in polar cycloadditions has been studied by an ELF analysis of the electron reorganisation along the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of Padwa's carbonyl ylide 4 with the 1,2-benzoquinone 8. This reaction presents an unexpected asynchronous bond-formation, which is initialised through the nucleophilic attack of Padwa's carbonyl ylide on the carbonyl oxygen atom of the strongly electrophilically activated 1,2-benzoquinone. The present study allows for the establishment that along an asynchronous bond-formation, the more favourable two-center interaction begins at the most electrophilic center, which is the center with the highest spin density achie…

Quantitative characterization of the global electrophilicity pattern of some reagents involved in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

Abstract The global electrophilicity power, ω, of a series of dipoles and dipolarophiles commonly used in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions may be conveniently classified within a unique relative scale. The effects of chemical substitution on the electrophilicity of molecules have been evaluated using a representative set of electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing groups for a series of dipoles including nitrone, nitrile oxide and azide derivatives. The absolute scale of electrophilicity is used to rationalize the chemical reactivity of these species as compared to the static reactivity pattern of the reagents involved in the Diels–Alder reactions.

A molecular electron density theory study of the participation of tetrazines in aza-Diels–Alder reactions

The reactions of eight tetrazines of increased electrophilic character with nucleophilic tetramethyl ethylene (TME) and with electrophilic tetracyanoethylene (TCE) have been studied using Molecular Electron Density Theory. These reactions are domino processes comprising an aza-Diels&ndash;Alder (ADA) reaction followed by an extrusion of molecular nitrogen, yielding a dihydropyridazine. Analysis of the conceptual DFT (CDFT) indices showed an increase of the electrophilicity and a decrease of the nucleophilicity of tetrazines with an increase of the electron-withdrawing character of the substituent. A very good correlation between the global electron density transfer at the transition structu…

Understanding C C bond formation in polar reactions. An ELF analysis of the Friedel Crafts reaction between indoles and nitroolefins

[EN] The Friedel-Crafts (FC) reaction of N-methyl indole 1 with nitroethylene 2 has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31+G** level in order to characterize the bonding changes along the C-C bond-formation process in polar reactions. For this FC reaction a two-step mechanism has been found. The first step is associated with the C-C bond formation between the most electrophilic centre of nitroethylene and the most nucleophilic centre of N-methyl indole, to yield a zwitterionic intermediate IN. The second step corresponds to an intramolecular proton transfer process at IN, regenerating the aromatic system present at the indole. Despite the high electrophilic character shown by nitr…

Unveiling the Lewis Acid Catalyzed Diels–Alder Reactions Through the Molecular Electron Density Theory

The effects of metal-based Lewis acid (LA) catalysts on the reaction rate and regioselectivity in polar Diels&ndash

Planes de recuperación de flora amenazada de la comunidad valenciana. Resultados tras tres años de la aprobación de la normativa legal

The Valencian Community (Spain) holds three plant species (Cistus heterophyllus Desf., Limonium perplexum L. Sáez & Rosselló and Silene hifacensis Rouy ex Willk.) listed into the category In danger of extinction, for which there is a joint Recovery Plan passed by the Valencian Government through the Order 1/2015, January 8, of the Department of Infrastructures, Land and Environment. Among the aims of this Recovery Plan, to improve the conservation status of these species in the Valencian territory, provisions of its Article 3 are highlighted. This article specifies that they population values that justify their passage of the category In danger of extinction to Vulnerable must be reached. T…

A Comparative Analysis of the Electrophilicity of Organic Molecules between the Computed IPs and EAs and the HOMO and LUMO energies

[EN] The electrophilicity index, omega, of a series of substituted ethylenes used in some relevant organic reactions has been evaluated from the ionization potential JP) and the electron affinity (EA) computed by vertical ionization at the B3LYP/aug-cc-PVTZ level. The corresponding electrophilicity values are well correlated with those obtained from the HOMO and LUMO energies of the neutral molecules. The good linear correlation found between omega(I,A) and omega(H,L)(LBS), and between omega(H,L)(LBS) and omega(H,L)(SBS) allows to confirm the use of the easily available B3LYP/6-31G(*) HOMO and LUMO energies to obtain reasonable values of the global electrophilicity index of organic molecule…

ChemInform Abstract: Applications of the Conceptual Density Functional Theory Indices to Organic Chemistry Reactivity

Theoretical reactivity indices based on the conceptual Density Functional Theory (DFT) have become a powerful tool for the semiquantitative study of organic reactivity. A large number of reactivity indices have been proposed in the literature. Herein, global quantities like the electronic chemical potential μ, the electrophilicity ω and the nucleophilicity N indices, and local condensed indices like the electrophilic P k + and nucleophilic P k − Parr functions, as the most relevant indices for the study of organic reactivity, are discussed.

A condensed-to-atom nucleophilicity index. An application to the director effects on the electrophilic aromatic substitutions

Abstract The local nucleophilicity of simple substituted aromatic systems is shown to be described on a quantitative basis by using a condensed-to-atoms nucleophilicity index. This quantity constitutes an extension of the global nucleophilicity descriptor, N introduced for reagents in cycloaddition reactions and other organic molecules [Journal of Organic Chemistry 73 (2008) 4615–4624; Journal of Molecular Structure (THEOCHEM) 865 (2008) 68–72]. The local projection N k is performed on the basis of the normalization condition of the Fukui functions. It is shown that such a simple index provides useful clues about the director effects of the substituents on the electrophilic aromatic substit…

An MEDT study of the carbenoid-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrile ylides with electron-deficient chiral oxazolidinones.

The molecular mechanism of the carbenoid-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of a nitrile ylide (NY) with a non-chiral and a chiral oxazolidinone has been studied within Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-31G(d) computational level. Topological analysis of the Electron Localisation Function (ELF) of the NY shows that it presents a carbenoid structure. The high nucleophilic character of the NY together with the electrophilic character of the non-chiral oxazolidinone favour a polar 32CA reaction with a very low activation energy, the reaction being completely meta/endo selective. A Bonding Evolution Theory (BET) study of the molecular mechanism makes it possible …

Understanding the Bond Formation in Hetero Diels-Alder Reactions. An ELF Analysis of the Reaction of Nitroethylene with Dimethylvinylamine

[EN] The bonding evolution in hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions has been studied by an ELF analysis of the electron reorganization along the HDA reaction between nitroethylene 6 and dimethylvinylamine (DMVA) 9 at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. This cycloaddition takes place along a two-stages one-step mechanism. In the first stage of the reaction, the C1-C6 bond is formed by coupling of two pseudoradical centers positioned at the most electrophilic carbon of nitroethylene 6 and the most nucleophilic center of DMVA 9. In the second stage, the formation of the second O4-C7 bond takes place between a pseudoradical center positioned at the C7 carbon of DMVA and some electron-density provided by the l…

Are one-step aromatic nucleophilic substitutions of non-activated benzenes concerted processes?

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reactions of non-electrophilically activated benzenes have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) computational level. These reactions, taking place through a one-step mechanism, present a high activation Gibbs free energy, ΔG≠ = 31.0 kcal mol-1, which decreases to 22.1 kcal mol-1 in the intramolecular process. A topological analysis of the electron localisation function along the reaction paths permits establishing the non-concerted nature of these SNAr reactions. A series of unstable structures, with similar electronic structures to those of Meisenheimer intermediates, are characterised. The presen…

A further exploration of a nucleophilicity index based on the gas-phase ionization potentials

An empirical nucleophilicity index based on the gas-phase ionization potentials has been recently shown to be useful categorizing and settling the nucleophilicity power of a series of captodative ethylenes reacting in cycloaddition reactions (L.R. Domingo, E. Chamorro, P. Perez, Journal of Organic Chemistry 73 (2008) 4615–4624). In the present work, the applicability of such model is tested within a broader series of substituted alkenes, substituted aromatic compounds and simple nucleophilic molecules. This index obtained within a Koopman’s theorem framework has been evaluated here in both gas and solution phases for several well-known nucleophiles. These results are found to be linearly co…

How does the global electron density transfer diminish activation energies in polar cycloaddition reactions? A Molecular Electron Density Theory study

Abstract The key role of the Global Electron Density Transfer (GEDT) in polar cycloaddition reactions is analysed within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) computational level. A comparative MEDT study of the non-polar Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene (Cp) and ethylene and the polar Diels-Alder reaction between Cp and tetracyanoethylene makes it possible to establish that the GEDT taking place in the direction of the transition state structures favours the bonding changes required for the formation of the new C C single bonds along polar cycloaddition reactions. Analysis of the reactivity indice…

Lithium Cation-Catalyzed Benzene Diels-Alder Reaction: Insights on the Molecular Mechanism Within the Molecular Electron Density Theory.

The lithium cation Li+-catalyzed Diels-Alder (DA) reactions of benzene toward a series of acetylenes of improved nucleophilicity can be described within the context of the molecular electron density theory (MEDT) at the ωB97XD/6-311G(d,p) level. Conceptual density functional theory indices characterize the crown ether solvated complex benzene-lithium Bz-Li-Cro as a superelectrophile. Coordination of a lithium cation to benzene does not change substantially the electron localization function electronic structure of benzene. The DA reaction of Bz-Li-Cro with acetylene shows a reduction of the energy of activation of 6.9 kcal·mol-1, which is not sufficient for the reaction to take place, thus …

Understanding the polar mechanism of the ene reaction. A dft study

The molecular mechanism of ene reactions has been characterised by DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Most reactions take place along a two-stage one-step mechanism in which the C-C bond formation takes place before the hydrogen transfer process. A very good correlation between the polar character of the reaction measured by the global electron density transfer at the transition state and the activation energy has been found. This behaviour allows establishing a useful classification of ene reactions in N-ene having a very high activation energy, P-ene reactions having activation energies between 35 and 20 kcal mol(-1), and H-ene reactions having activation energies belo…

Why Do Five-Membered Heterocyclic Compounds Sometimes Not Participate in Polar Diels–Alder Reactions?

The reactions of bicyclic enone (BCE, 1) with cyclopentadiene (Cp, 2) and the five-membered heterocyclic compounds (FHCs) furan 3 and N-methyl pyrrole 4 for the construction of polycyclic heterocyclic compounds have been studied at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. No reaction takes place in the absence of Lewis acid (LA) catalysts as a consequence of the high activation energy associated with these reactions. Electrophilic activation of BCE 1 by formation of a complex with the BF3 LA, 1-BF3, and solvent effects favor the reactions. However, a different reactivity is manifested by Cp 2 and FHCs 3 and 4. Thus, while the reaction of 1-BF3 with Cp 2 yields the expected exo [4 + 2] cycloadduct, the react…

A quantum chemical topological analysis of the c-c bond formation in organic reactions involving cationic species

ELF topological analysis of the ionic Diels-Alder (I-DA) reaction between the N,N-dimethyliminium cation and cyclopentadiene (Cp) has been performed in order to characterise the C-C single bond formation. The C-C bond formation begins in the short range of 2.00-1.96 Åvia a C-to-C pseudoradical coupling between the most electrophilic center of the iminium cation and one of the two most nucleophilic centers of Cp. The electron density of the pseudoradical center generated at the most electrophilic carbon of the iminium cation comes mainly from the global charge transfer which takes place along the reaction. Analysis of the global reactivity indices indicates that the very high electrophilic c…

[pi]-strain-induced electrophilicity in small cycloalkynes: a dft analysis of the polar cycloaddition of cyclopentyne towards enol ethers

Small cycloalkynes possess a π-strain-induced electrophilicity related to the bending of the C–Csp–Csp bond angle. For cyclopentyne and benzyne, the electrophilicity index defined in the context of density functional theory gives a coherent rationale for the reactivity of these cycloalkynes, which may act as electrophiles in polar cycloaddition reactions toward enol ethers. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

The nucleophilicity n index in organic chemistry

The nucleophilicity N index (J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 4615), the inverse of the electrophilicity, 1/ω, and the recently proposed inverse of the electrodonating power, 1/ω⁻, (J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 4957) have been checked toward (i) a series of single 5-substituted indoles for which rate constants are available, (ii) a series of para-substituted phenols, and for (iii) a series of 2,5-disubstituted bicyclic[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes which display concurrently electrophilic and nucleophilic behaviors. While all considered indices account well for the nucleophilic behavior of organic molecules having a single substitution, the nucleophilicity N index works better for more complex molecules. Unlike…

The mechanism of ionic diels-alder reactions. A dft study of the oxa-povarov reaction

The mechanism of the oxa-Povarov reaction of a cationic aryl oxonium with cyclopentene and styrene has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G* level as a reaction model of ionic Diels–Alder (I-DA) reactions. Oxa-Povarov reactions are initialized by an I-DA reaction between the cationic aryl oxonium and alkenes to yield the corresponding formal [4+ + 2] cycloadducts. The last step is a rapid loss of a proton giving chromans. While the I-DA reaction with cyclopentene takes place through a two-stage one-step mechanism, the presence of a phenyl substituent on styrene makes the mechanism of the I-DA reaction stepwise. An electron localization function (ELF) bonding analysis of selecte…

A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study of the Reactivity and Selectivities in [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of C,N-Dialkyl Nitrones with Ethylene Derivatives

The zw-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of C,N-dialkyl nitrones with a series of ethylenes of increased electrophilic character have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) computational level. Both, reactivity and selectivities are rationalized depending on the polar character of the reaction. Due to the strong nucleophilic character of C,N-dialkyl nitrones, the corresponding zw-type 32CA reactions are accelerated with the increased electrophilic character of the ethylene, which also plays a crucial role in the reaction mechanism, thus determining the regio- and stereoselectivities experimentally observed. While, in the 32CA rea…

The Mysticism of Pericyclic Reactions: A Contemporary Rationalisation of Organic Reactivity Based on Electron Density Analysis

A DFT study of the ionic [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of keteniminium cations with terminal acetylenes

Abstract The molecular mechanism of the ionic [2+2] cycloaddition (I-22CA) reactions of a keteniminium cation (KC) with acetylene and propyne has been investigated using DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level. These I-22CA reactions take place via a two-step mechanism. The first step is the nucleophilic attack of these alkynes on the central carbon of KC, yielding cyclopropene intermediates, while the second step corresponds to the conversion of these intermediates into more stable cyclobuteniminium cations (CCs). The first step is the rate-determining step, while the second step is responsible for the formation of the two regioisomeric CCs experimentally observed in the reaction with …

A computational and conceptual DFT study on the mechanism of hydrogen activation by novel frustrated Lewis pairs.

A computational and conceptual density functional theory (DFT) study on the mechanism of molecular hydrogen activation by a set of three frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) was performed at the ωB97X-D/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. A reduced model and other two prototypes derived from experimental data, based on the donor nitrogen and acceptor boron atoms, were used. Analysis based on the energy results, geometries and the global electron density transfer at the TSs made it possible to obtain some interesting conclusions: (i) despite the well-known very low reactivity of molecular hydrogen, the catalytic effectiveness of the three FLPs produces reactions with almost unappreciable activation energi…

An analysis of the regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of benzonitrile n-oxides based on global and local electrophilicity and nucleophilicity indices

The regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (13DC) reactions of benzonitrile N-oxides (BNOs) with electrophilic and nucleophilic alkenes has been analyzed by using global and local nucleophilicity and electrophilicity reactivity indices defined within the conceptual DFT. The BNOs react with electron-deficient and electron-rich ethylenes, but the regioselectivities of these polar reactions are different. Whereas the reactions with electron-rich ethylenes are completely regioselective, yielding 5-isoxazolines, a change in the regioselectivity is observed in the reactions with electron-deficient ethylenes, which yield a mixture of 4- and 5-isoxazolines. Analysis of the energies, geom…

The catalytic effects of a thiazolium salt in the oxa-Diels–Alder reaction between benzaldehyde and Danishefsky's diene: a molecular electron density theory study

The oxa-Diels–Alder (ODA) reaction of benzaldehyde with Danishefsky's diene in the presence of a [thiazolium][Cl] salt, as a model of an ionic liquid, has been studied within Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the M06-2X/6-311G(d,p) computational level. The formation of two hydrogen bonds (HBs) between the thiazolium cation and the carbonyl oxygen of benzaldehyde modifies neither the electrophilic character of benzaldehyde nor its electronic structure substantially but accelerates the reaction considerably. This ODA reaction presents an activation energy of 4.5 kcal mol−1; the formation of the only observed dihydropyranone is strongly exothermic by −28.8 kcal mol−1. The presence of…

Understanding the [2n+2n] reaction mechanism between a carbenoid intermediate and CO2

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with a nucleophilic carbenoid intermediate has been theoretically studied by using the bonding evolution theory (BET) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. BET combines topological analysis of the electron localisation function and catastrophe theory along a reaction path. This cycloaddition reaction is characterised by 16 structural stability domains, associated to the following sequence of catastrophes: C8H9NO4 + CO2: 16-CF†CF†F†CFF†C†C†[FF†]F†FCC†-0: C9H9NO6. Formation of the two new C-C and C-O single bonds evolves after the transition state structure is reached. The high nucleophilic character and the electronic structure of carbenoid…