Showing papers on "Transition state published in 2008"

Bifurcations on Potential Energy Surfaces of Organic Reactions

Abstract: A single transition state may lead to multiple intermediates or products if there is a post-transition-state reaction pathway bifurcation. These bifurcations arise when there are sequential transition states with no intervening energy minimum. For such systems, the shape of the potential energy surface and dynamic effects, rather than transition-state energetics, control selectivity. This Minireview covers recent investigations of organic reactions exhibiting reaction pathway bifurcations. Such phenomena are surprisingly general and affect experimental observables such as kinetic isotope effects and product distributions.

A link between reactivity and local structure in acid catalysis on zeolites.

Abstract: The extent to which spatial constraints influence rates and pathways in catalysis depends on the structure of intermediates, transition states, and active sites involved. We aim to answer, as we seek insights into catalytic mechanisms and site requirements, persistent questions about the potential for controlling rates and selectivities by rational design of spatial constraints around active sites within inorganic structures useful as catalysts. This Account addresses these matters for the specific case of reactions on zeolites that contain Bronsted acid sites encapsulated within subnanometer channels. We compare and contrast here the effects of local zeolite structure on the dynamics of the carbonylation of surface methyl groups and of the isotopic exchange of CD4 with surface OH groups on zeolites. Methyl and hydroxyl groups are the smallest monovalent cations relevant in catalysis by zeolites. Their small size, taken together with their inability to desorb except via reactions with other species, allowed us to discriminate between stabilization of cationic transition states and stabilization of adsorbed reactants and products by spatial constraints. We show that apparent effects of proton density and of zeolite channel structure on dimethyl ether carbonylation turnover rates reflect instead the remarkable specificity of eight-membered ring zeolite channels in accelerating kinetically relevant steps that form *COCH3 species via CO insertion into methyl groups. This specificity reflects the selective stabilization of cationic transition states via interactions with framework oxygen anions. These findings for carbonylation catalysts contrast sharply the weak effects of channel structure on the rate of exchange of CD4 with OH groups. This latter reaction involves concerted symmetric transition states with much lower charge than that required for CH3 carbonylation. Our Account extends the scope of shape selectivity concepts beyond those reflecting size exclusion and preferential adsorption. Our ability to discriminate among various effects of spatial constraints depends critically on dissecting chemical conversions into elementary steps of kinetic relevance and on eliminating secondary reactions and accounting for the concomitant effects of zeolite structure on the stability of adsorbed reactants and intermediates.

A Valence Bond Modeling of Trends in Hydrogen Abstraction Barriers and Transition States of Hydroxylation Reactions Catalyzed by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

Abstract: The paper outlines the fundamental factors that govern the mechanisms of alkane hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 and the corresponding barrier heights during the hydrogen abstraction and radical rebound steps of the process. This is done by a combination of density functional theory calculations for 11 alkanes and valence bond (VB) modeling of the results. The energy profiles and transition states for the various steps are reconstructed using VB diagrams (Shaik, S. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 3692–3701. Shaik, S.; Shurki, A. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1999, 38, 586–625.) and the DFT barriers are reproduced by the VB model from raw data based on C−H bond energies. The model explains a variety of other features of P450 hydroxylations: (a) the nature of the polar effect during hydrogen abstraction, (b) the difference between the activation mechanisms leading to the FeIV vs the FeIII electromers, (c) the difference between the gas phase and the enzymatic reaction, and (d) the dependence of the rebound barrier ...

Determining transition-state geometries in liquids using 2D-IR.

Abstract: Many properties of chemical reactions are determined by the transition state connecting reactant and product, yet it is difficult to directly obtain any information about these short-lived structures in liquids. We show that two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy can provide direct information about transition states by tracking the transformation of vibrational modes as a molecule crossed a transition state. We successfully monitored a simple chemical reaction, the fluxional rearrangement of Fe(CO)5, in which the exchange of axial and equatorial CO ligands causes an exchange of vibrational energy between the normal modes of the molecule. This energy transfer provides direct evidence regarding the time scale, transition state, and mechanism of the reaction.

Thermal decomposition of methyl butanoate: ab initio study of a biodiesel fuel surrogate.

Abstract: In this paper, we report a detailed analysis of the breakdown kinetic mechanism for methyl butanoate (MB) using theoretical approaches. Electronic structures and structure-related molecular properties of reactants, intermediates, products, and transition states were explored at the BH&HLYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Rate constants for the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions in the temperature range of 300−2500 K were calculated using Rice−Ramsperger−Kassel−Marcus and transition state theories, respectively. Thirteen pathways were identified leading to the formation of small compounds such as CH3, C2H3, CO, CO2, and H2CO. For the initial formation of MB radicals, H, CH3, and OH were considered as reactive radicals participating in hydrogen abstraction reactions. Kinetic simulation results for a high temperature pyrolysis environment show that MB radicals are mainly produced through hydrogen abstraction reactions by H atoms. In addition, the C(O)OCH3 = CO + CH3O reaction is found to be the main source of C...

A three-state model for the photophysics of guanine.

Abstract: The nonadiabatic photochemistry of the guanine molecule (2-amino-6-oxopurine) and some of its tautomers has been studied by means of the high-level theoretical ab initio quantum chemistry methods CASSCF and CASPT2. Accurate computations, based by the first time on minimum energy reaction paths, states minima, transition states, reaction barriers, and conical intersections on the potential energy hypersurfaces of the molecules lead to interpret the photochemistry of guanine and derivatives within a three-state model. As in the other purine DNA nucleobase, adenine, the ultrafast subpicosecond fluorescence decay measured in guanine is attributed to the barrierless character of the path leading from the initially populated 1(pi pi* L(a)) spectroscopic state of the molecule toward the low-lying methanamine-like conical intersection (gs/pi pi* L(a))CI. On the contrary, other tautomers are shown to have a reaction energy barrier along the main relaxation profile. A second, slower decay is attributed to a path involving switches toward two other states, 1(pi pi* L(b)) and, in particular, 1(n(O) pi*), ultimately leading to conical intersections with the ground state. A common framework for the ultrafast relaxation of the natural nucleobases is obtained in which the predominant role of a pi pi*-type state is confirmed.

Mechanistic Consequences of Composition in Acid Catalysis by Polyoxometalate Keggin Clusters

Abstract: The kinetics and mechanism of ether and alkanol cleavage reactions on Bronsted acid catalysts based on polyoxometalate (POM) clusters are described in terms of the identity and dynamics of elementary steps and the stability of the transition states involved. Measured rates and theoretical calculations show that the energies of cationic transition states and intermediates depend on the properties of reactants (proton affinity), POM clusters (deprotonation enthalpy), and ion-pairs in transition states or intermediates (stabilization energy). Rate equations and elementary steps were similar for dehydration of alkanols (2-propanol, 1- and 2-butanol, tert-butanol) and cleavage of sec-butyl-methyl ether on POM clusters with different central atoms (P, Si, Co, Al). Dehydration rates depend on the rate constant for elimination from adsorbed alkanols or ethers and on the equilibrium constant for the formation of unreactive reactant dimers. Elimination involves E1 pathways and late carbenium-ion transition states. This is consistent with small kinetic isotope effects for all deuterated alkanols, with strong effects of substituents on elimination rates, and with the similar alkene stereoselectivities measured for alkanol dehydration, ether cleavage, and alkene double-bond isomerization. n-Donor reactants (alkanols, ethers) and products (water) inhibit dehydration rates by forming stable dimers that do not undergo elimination; their stability is consistent with theoretical estimates, with the dynamics of homogeneous analogues, and with the structure and proton affinity of the n-donors. Elimination rate constants increased with increasing valence of the central POM atom, because of a concurrent decrease in deprotonation enthalpies (DPE), which leads to more stable anionic clusters and ion-pairs at transition states. The DPE of POM clusters influences catalytic rates less than the proton affinity of the alkene-like organic moiety at the late carbenium-ion-type transition states involved. These different sensitivities reflect the fact that weaker acids typically form anionic clusters with a higher charge density at the transition state; these clusters stabilize cationic fragments more effectively than those of stronger acids, which form more stable conjugate bases with lower charge densities. These compensation effects are ubiquitous in acid chemistry and also evident for mineral acids. The stabilization energy and the concomitant charge density and distribution in the anion, but not the acid strength (DPE), determine the kinetic tolerance of n-donors and the selectivity of reactions catalyzed by Bronsted acids.

Proton transfer in a polar solvent from ring polymer reaction rate theory.

Abstract: We have used the ring polymer molecular dynamics method to study the Azzouz–Borgis model for proton transfer between phenol (AH) and trimethylamine (B) in liquid methyl chloride. When the A–H distance is used as the reaction coordinate, the ring polymer trajectories are found to exhibit multiple recrossings of the transition state dividing surface and to give a rate coefficient that is smaller than the quantum transition state theory value by an order of magnitude. This is to be expected on kinematic grounds for a heavy-light-heavy reaction when the light atom transfer coordinate is used as the reaction coordinate, and it clearly precludes the use of transition state theory with this reaction coordinate. As has been shown previously for this problem, a solvent polarization coordinate defined in terms of the expectation value of the proton transfer distance in the ground adiabatic quantum state provides a better reaction coordinate with less recrossing. These results are discussed in light of the wide body of earlier theoretical work on the Azzouz–Borgis model and the considerable range of previously reported values for its proton and deuteron transfer rate coefficients.

Mechanism of the hydration of carbon dioxide: direct participation of H2O versus microsolvation.

Abstract: Thermochemical parameters of carbonic acid and the stationary points on the neutral hydration pathways of carbon dioxide, CO 2 + nH 2O --> H 2CO 3 + ( n - 1)H 2O, with n = 1, 2, 3, and 4, were calculated using geometries optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Coupled-cluster theory (CCSD(T)) energies were extrapolated to the complete basis set limit in most cases and then used to evaluate heats of formation. A high energy barrier of approximately 50 kcal/mol was predicted for the addition of one water molecule to CO 2 ( n = 1). This barrier is lowered in cyclic H-bonded systems of CO 2 with water dimer and water trimer in which preassociation complexes are formed with binding energies of approximately 7 and 15 kcal/mol, respectively. For n = 2, a trimeric six-member cyclic transition state has an energy barrier of approximately 33 (gas phase) and a free energy barrier of approximately 31 (in a continuum solvent model of water at 298 K) kcal/mol, relative to the precomplex. For n = 3, two reactive pathways are possible with the first having all three water molecules involved in hydrogen transfer via an eight-member cycle, and in the second, the third water molecule is not directly involved in the hydrogen transfer but solvates the n = 2 transition state. In the gas phase, the two transition states have comparable energies of approximately 15 kcal/mol relative to separated reactants. The first path is favored over in aqueous solution by approximately 5 kcal/mol in free energy due to the formation of a structure resembling a (HCO 3 (-)/H 3OH 2O (+)) ion pair. Bulk solvation reduces the free energy barrier of the first path by approximately 10 kcal/mol for a free energy barrier of approximately 22 kcal/mol for the (CO 2 + 3H 2O) aq reaction. For n = 4, the transition state, in which a three-water chain takes part in the hydrogen transfer while the fourth water microsolvates the cluster, is energetically more favored than transition states incorporating two or four active water molecules. An energy barrier of approximately 20 (gas phase) and a free energy barrier of approximately 19 (in water) kcal/mol were derived for the CO 2 + 4H 2O reaction, and again formation of an ion pair is important. The calculated results confirm the crucial role of direct participation of three water molecules ( n = 3) in the eight-member cyclic TS for the CO 2 hydration reaction. Carbonic acid and its water complexes are consistently higher in energy (by approximately 6-7 kcal/mol) than the corresponding CO 2 complexes and can undergo more facile water-assisted dehydration processes.

Are carbenium and carbonium ions reaction intermediates in zeolite-catalyzed reactions?

Abstract: The mechanism of acid-catalyzed hydrocarbon reactions such as skeletal isomerization, hydride transfer, alkylation, dehydrogenation and cracking in superacid media and over solid zeolites is analyzed and compared. In particular, the stability, rearrangements and nature (reaction intermediates or transition states) of trivalent carbenium ions and non-classical pentacoordinated carbonium ions in homogeneous and heterogeneous phase are discussed. It is concluded that both carbenium and carbonium ions may exist as true reaction intermediates in zeolite-catalyzed processes only when the positive charge is not easily accessible to framework oxygen atoms.

Structural Reorganization and Preorganization in Enzyme Active Sites: Comparisons of Experimental and Theoretically Ideal Active Site Geometries in the Multistep Serine Esterase Reaction Cycle

Abstract: Many enzymes catalyze reactions with multiple chemical steps, requiring the stabilization of multiple transition states during catalysis. Such enzymes must strike a balance between the conformational reorganization required to stabilize multiple transition states of a reaction and the confines of a preorganized active site in the polypeptide tertiary structure. Here we investigate the compromise between structural reorganization during the catalytic process and preorganization of the active site for a multistep enzyme-catalyzed reaction, the hydrolysis of esters by the Ser-His-Asp/Glu catalytic triad. Quantum mechanical transition states were used to generate ensembles of geometries that can catalyze each individual step in the mechanism. These geometries are compared to each other by superpositions of catalytic atoms to find "consensus" geometries that can catalyze all steps with minimal rearrangement. These consensus geometries are found to be excellent matches for the natural active site. Preorganization is therefore found to be the major defining characteristic of the active site, and reorganizational motions often proposed to promote catalysis have been minimized. The variability of enzyme active sites observed by X-ray crystallography was also investigated empirically. A catalog of geometrical parameters relating active site residues to each other and to bound inhibitors was collected from a set of crystal structures. The crystal-structure-derived values were then compared to the ranges found in quantum mechanically optimized structures along the entire reaction coordinate. The empirical ranges are found to encompass the theoretical ranges when thermal fluctuations are taken into account. Therefore, the active sites are preorganized to a geometry that can be objectively and quantitatively defined as minimizing conformational reorganization while maintaining optimal transition state stabilization for every step during catalysis. The results provide a useful guiding principle for de novo design of enzymes with multistep mechanisms.

Testing Geometrical Discrimination within an Enzyme Active Site: Constrained Hydrogen Bonding in the Ketosteroid Isomerase Oxyanion Hole

Abstract: Enzymes are classically proposed to accelerate reactions by binding substrates within active-site environments that are structurally preorganized to optimize binding interactions with reaction transition states rather than ground states. This is a remarkably formidable task considering the limited 0.1−1 A scale of most substrate rearrangements. The flexibility of active-site functional groups along the coordinate of substrate rearrangement, the distance scale on which enzymes can distinguish structural rearrangement, and the energetic significance of discrimination on that scale remain open questions that are fundamental to a basic physical understanding of enzyme active sites and catalysis. We bring together 1.2−1.5 A resolution X-ray crystallography, 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy, quantum mechanical calculations, and transition-state analogue binding measurements to test the distance scale on which noncovalent forces can constrain the structural relaxation or translation of side chains and ligands along a...

A Novel Addition Mechanism for the Reaction of Frustrated Lewis Pairs with Olefins

Abstract: Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the addition mechanism for the reactions of “frustrated Lewis pairs” with olefins. Several reactions are studied in this work, which include a three-component reaction between a sterically demanding phosphane [P(tBu)3], borane [B(C6F5)3], and ethylene, and a two-component reaction between an olefin derivative of phosphane [CH2=CH–(CH2)3P(tBu)2] and B(C6F5)3. For the two-component reaction, we find a concerted addition mechanism, in which the formation of the B–C and P–C bonds takes place simultaneously. For the three-component reaction, our calculations show that the reaction may be initiated by the weak association of B(C6F5)3 with ethylene (to form a transient species) and then proceeds in a concerted transition state similar to that in the two-component reaction under study. The natural population analyses for the corresponding transition states indicate that the CH2=CH group (in the two-component reaction) and C2H4 (in the three-component reaction) seem to act as a bridge for electron transfer from the Lewis base center P to the Lewis acid center B. We also investigate the reaction between P(tBu)3, propylene, and B(C6F5)3. The results account well for the experimentally observed regioselectivity. In addition, our calculations also indicate that the presence of fluorine atoms in the borane is essential for stabilizing the addition product.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

Associative Versus Dissociative Mechanisms of Phosphate Monoester Hydrolysis: On the Interpretation of Activation Entropies

Abstract: Phosphate monoester and anhydride hydrolysis is ubiquitous in biology, being involved in, amongst other things, signal transduction, energy production, and the regulation of protein function. Therefore, this reaction has understandably been the focus of intensive research. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which phosphate monoester hydrolysis proceeds remains controversial. Traditionally, it has been assumed and frequently implied that a near-zero activation entropy is indicative of a dissociative pathway. Herein, we examine free-energy surfaces for the hydrolysis of the methyl phosphate dianion and the methyl pyrophosphate trianion in aqueous solution. In both cases, the reaction can proceed through either compact or expansive concerted (A(N)D(N)) transition states, with fairly similar barriers. We have evaluated the activation entropies for each transition state and demonstrate that both associative and dissociative transition states have near-zero entropies of activation that are in good agreement with experimental values. Therefore, we believe that the activation entropy alone is not a useful diagnostic tool, as it depends not only on bond orders at the transition state, but also on other issues that include (but are not limited to) steric factors determining the configurational volumes available to reactants during the reaction, solvation and desolvation effects that may be associated with charge redistribution upon approaching the transition state and entropy changes associated with intramolecular degrees of freedom as the transition state is approached.

On the Origin of the Stereoselectivity in Organocatalysed Reactions with Trimethylsilyl‐Protected Diarylprolinol

Abstract: The origin of the enantioselectivity in the TMS-protected (TMS=trimethylsilyl) prolinol-catalysed alpha-heteroatom functionalisation of aldehydes has been investigated by using density functional theory calculations. Eight different reaction paths have been considered which are based on four different conformers of the TMS-protected prolinol-enamine intermediate. Optimisation of the enamine structures gave two intermediates with nearly the same energy. These intermediates both have an E configuration at the C==C bond and the double bond is positioned anti or syn, relative to the 2-substituent in the pyrrolidine ring. For the four intermediates, the chiral TMS-protected-diaryl substituent effectively shields one of the faces of the reacting C==C bond in the enamine intermediate. A number of transition states have been calculated for the enantioselective fluorination by N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) and based on the transition-state energies it has been found that the enantioselectivity depends on the orientation of the C==C bond, being anti or syn, relative to the 2-substituent on the pyrrolidine ring, rather than the approach of the electrophilic fluorine to the face of the reacting carbon atom in the enamine which is less shielded relative to the face with the highest shielding. The calculated enantiomeric excess of 96 % ee (ee=enantiomeric excess) for the fluorination reaction corresponds well with the experimentally found enantiomeric excess-97 % ee. The transition state for the alpha-amination reaction with the same type of intermediate has also been calculated by using diethyl azodicarboxylate as the amination reagent. The implication of the intermediate structures on the stereoselection of alpha-functionalisation of aldehydes is discussed.

The chemical mechanism of nitrogenase: calculated details of the intramolecular mechanism for hydrogenation of η2-N2 on FeMo-co to NH3

Abstract: Using density functional calculations, a complete chemical mechanism has been developed for the reaction N2 + 6e− + 6H+→ 2NH3 catalyzed by the Fe7MoS9Nc(homocitrate) cofactor (FeMo-co) of the enzyme nitrogenase. The mechanism is based on previous descriptions of the generation of H atoms on FeMo-co by proton relay through a protein path terminating in water molecule 679, and preserves the model (which explains much biochemical data) for vectorial migration of H atoms to two S atoms and two Fe atoms of FeMo-co. After calculation of the energy profiles for the many possible sequences of steps in which these H atoms are transferred to N2 and its hydrogenated intermediates, a favourable pathway to 2NH3 was developed. Transition states and activation potential energies for the 21 step mechanism are presented, together with results for some alternative branches. The mechanism develops logically from the η2-coordination of N2 at the endo position of one Fe atom of prehydrogenated FeMo-co, consistent with the previous kinetic–mechanistic scheme of Thorneley and Lowe, and passes through bound N2H2 and N2H4 intermediates. This mechanism is different from others in the literature because it uses a single replenishable path for serial supply of protons which become H atoms on FeMo-co, migrating to become S–H and Fe–H donors to N2 and to the intermediates that follow. The new paradigm for the chemical catalysis is that hydrogenation of N2 and intermediates is intramolecular and does not involve direct protonation from surrounding residues which appear to be unable to provide a replenishable supply of 6H+. Many steps in this intramolecular hydrogenation are expected to be enhanced by H tunneling.

The mechanism of the (bispidine)copper(II)-catalyzed aziridination of styrene: a combined experimental and theoretical study.

Abstract: Experimental and DFT-based computational results on the aziridination mechanism and the catalytic activity of (bispidine)copper(I) and -copper(II) complexes are reported and discussed (bispidine=tetra- or pentadentate 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]nonane derivative with two or three aromatic N donors in addition to the two tertiary amines). There is a correlation between the redox potential of the copper(II/I) couple and the activity of the catalyst. The most active catalyst studied, which has the most positive redox potential among all (bispidine)copper(II) complexes, performs 180 turnovers in 30 min. A detailed hybrid density functional theory (DFT) study provides insight into the structure, spin state, and stability of reactive intermediates and transition states, the oxidation state of the copper center, and the denticity of the nitrene source. Among the possible pathways for the formation of the aziridine product, the stepwise formation of the two N-C bonds is shown to be preferred, which also follows from experimental results. Although the triplet state of the catalytically active copper nitrene is lowest in energy, the two possible spin states of the radical intermediate are practically degenerate, and there is a spin crossover at this stage because the triplet energy barrier to the singlet product is exceedingly high.

Kinetics of CH + N2 revisited with multireference methods.

Abstract: The potential energy surface for the CH + N2 reaction was reexamined with multireference ab initio electronic structure methods employing basis sets up to aug-cc-pvqz. Comparisons with related CCSD(T) calculations were also made. The multireference ab initio calculations indicate significant shortcomings in single reference based methods for two key rate-limiting transition states. Transition state theory calculations incorporating the revised best estimates for the transition state properties provide order of magnitude changes in the predicted rate coefficient in the temperature range of importance to the mechanism for prompt NO formation. At higher temperatures, two distinct pathways make a significant contribution to the kinetics. A key part of the transition state analysis involves a variable reaction coordinate transition state theory treatment for the formation of H + NCN from HNCN. The present predictions for the rate coefficients resolve the discrepancy between prior theory and very recent experim...

Development of a Q2MM Force Field for the Asymmetric Rhodium Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Enamides.

Abstract: The rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides to generate amino acid products and derivatives is a widely used method to generate unnatural amino acids. The choice of a chiral ligand is of utmost importance in this reaction and is often based on high throughput screening or simply trial and error. A virtual screening method can greatly increase the speed of the ligand screening process by calculating expected enantiomeric excesses from relative energies of diastereomeric transition states. Utilizing the Q2MM method, new molecular mechanics parameters are derived to model the hydride transfer transition state in the reaction. The new parameters were based off of structures calculated at the B3LYP/LACVP** level of theory and added to the MM3* force field. The new parameters were validated against a test set of experimental data utilizing a wide range of bis-phosphine ligands. The computational model agreed with experimental data well overall, with an unsigned mean error of 0.6 kcal/mol against a set of 18 data points from experiment. The major errors in the computational model were due either to large energetic errors at high e.e., still resulting in qualitative agreement, or cases where large steric interactions prevent the reaction from proceeding as expected.

Catalysis of 6π Electrocyclizations

Abstract: The synthetic power of pericyclic reactions has greatly increased with the emergence of catalytic variants. Indeed, catalysis in cycloadditions and sigmatropic rearrangements is now well established. General methods for the catalysis of electrocyclizations, however, have remained elusive, with the notable exception of the Nazarov cyclization. The development of such methods would enable electrocyclizations to occur under milder conditions and create the possibility of catalytic asymmetric variants. Herein, we report the first examples of catalytic 6p electrocyclizations and provide a detailed investigation into the mechanism of these reactions. Experimental and computational studies have shown that the rate of 6p electrocyclizations can be influenced by varying the electronics of the substituents on the triene. Electronwithdrawing groups located in the 2-position of hexatriene systems have been observed to lower their electrocyclization energy barriers, sometimes by as much as 10 kcalmol . We envisioned exploiting this effect to catalyze 6p electrocyclizations by the coordination of a Lewis acid to a Lewis basic electron-withdrawing group located in the 2-position of a hexatriene system. This coordination should increase the electron-withdrawing effect of the substituent, thereby decreasing the electrocyclization energy barrier. We began our investigations by computationally assessing the viability of this approach in the catalysis of 6p electrocyclizations. Hexatriene systems with methyl ester substituents at all possible positions and orientations were modeled by density functional theory (Figure 1). A proton, serving as the simplest Lewis acid, was bonded to the carbonyl oxygen

Theoretical study of the oxygen exchange in uranyl hydroxide. An old riddle solved

Abstract: A multistep mechanism for the experimentally observed oxygen exchange [Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 1456] of UO22+ cations in highly alkaline solutions is suggested and probed computationally. It involves an equilibrium between [UO2(OH)4]2− and [UO2(OH)5]3−, followed by formation of the stable [UO3(OH)3·H2O]3− intermediate that forms from [UO2(OH)5]3− through intramolecular water elimination. The [UO3(OH)3·H2O]3− intermediate facilitates oxygen exchange through proton shuttling, retaining trans-uranyl structures throughout, without formation of the cis-uranyl intermediates proposed earliar. Alternative cis-uranyl pathways have been explored but were found to have activation energies that are too high. Relativistic density functional theory (DFT) has been applied to obtain geometries and vibrational frequencies of the different species (reactants, intermediates, transition states, products) and to calculate reaction paths. Two different relativistic methods were used: a scalar four-component all-electron relativ...

Mechanism of the intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes catalyzed by neutral indenyltitanium complexes: a DFT study.

Abstract: Three mechanistic pathways for the [Ind(2)TiMe(2)]-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes have been investigated by employing density functional theory calculations on the possible intermediates and transition states. The results indicate that the reaction cycle proceeds via a Ti-imido-amido complex as the catalytically active species. However, at the moment, the question as to whether this imido-amido complex is involved in a [2+2]-cycloaddition with the alkene or a newly proposed insertion of the alkene into a Ti--N single bond cannot be answered; the calculated barriers of both the insertion mechanism and the [2+2]-cycloaddition mechanism are similar (143 vs. 136 kJ mol(-1)), and both pathways are in accordance with the experimentally observed rate law (first-order dependence on the aminoalkene concentration). Interestingly, the newly proposed insertion mechanism that takes place by an insertion of the alkene moiety into the Ti--N single bond of an imido-amido complex seems to be much more likely than a mechanism that involves an alkene insertion into a Ti--N single bond of a corresponding trisamide. The latter mechanism, which has been proposed in analogy to rare-earth-metal-catalyzed hydroamination reactions, can be ruled out for two reasons: a surprisingly high activation barrier (164 kJ mol(-1)) and the fact that the rate-limiting insertion step is independent of the aminoalkene concentration. This is in sharp contrast to the experimental findings for indenyltitanium catalysts.

Effect of Lewis acid catalysts on Diels-Alder and hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadditions sharing a common transition state.

Abstract: The thermal and Lewis acid catalyzed cycloadditions of beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-ketophosphonates and nitroalkenes with cyclopentadiene have been explored by using density functional theory (DFT) methods. In both cases, only a single highly asynchronous bis-pericyclic transition state yielding both Diels-Alder and hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts could be located. Stepwise pathways were found to be higher in energy. On the potential energy surface, the bis-pericyclic cycloaddition transition state is followed by the Claisen rearrangement transition state. No intermediates were located between these transition states. Claisen rearrangement transition states are also highly asynchronous, but bond lengths are skewed in the opposite direction compared to the bis-pericyclic transition states. The relative positions of the bis-pericyclic and Claisen rearrangement transition states may control periselectivity due to the shape of the potential energy surface and corresponding dynamical influences. Inspection of the thermal potential energy surface (PES) indicates that a majority of downhill paths after the bis-pericyclic transition state lead to the Diels-Alder cycloadducts, whereas a smaller number of downhill paths reach the hetero-Diels-Alder products with no intervening energy barrier. Lewis acid catalysts alter the shape of the surface by shifting the cycloaddition and the Claisen rearrangement transition states in opposite directions. This topographical change qualitatively affects the branching ratio after the bis-pericyclic transition state and ultimately reverses the periselectivity of the cycloaddition giving a preference for hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts.