Ab initio studies on proton transfer involving Schiff base and related nitrogen compounds

Proton transfer across cationic hydrogen bonds involving Schiff base, ammonia and related compounds has been studied at the 4-31G level. Proton transfer characteristics are correlated to the proton affinities of the species involved. Hydrogen bond strengths of these hydrogen bonds are correlated to the differences in the proton affinity of the donor and the acceptor. Influence of a neighbouring hydrogen bond on the proton transfer from Schiff base to ammonia and Schiff base to water is also discussed.

An ab-initio study of the proton affinity of conjugated schiff-base and related nitrogen compounds: an analysis of the triggering site of bacteriorhodopsin

The chemical groups which take part in the proton transfer reaction in bacteriorhodopsin have been studied by ab initio quantum chemical methods. The various factors such as conjugation with a linear system, electron delocalization of the guanidine type, cis-trans isomerism, geometry distortion and hydrogen bonding with charged groups can influence the properties of a given chemical group. Several systems are studied at 4-31G and STO-3G levels. Some of the Schiff-base analogues and guanidine type molecules are characterized by their molecular orbital diagrams, energy levels and the nature of charge distribution. Also, the effects of the above-mentioned factors on proton affinity are studied. It is hoped that the values thus obtained can be helpful in evaluating various structural models for proton transfer.

Ab-initio molecular orbital studies on C---H…X hydrogen bonded systemsstar

C---H…X hydrogen bonded systems are studied by the STO-3G method. The proton donor ability of carbon is analysed in terms of its hybridization states and the substituents.

Ab initio studies on the tri- and diphosphate fragments of adenosine triphosphate

Pyrophosphate prototypes such as methyl triphosphate and methyl diphosphate molecules in their different protonation states have been investigated at high levels of quantum chemical calculations. The optimized geometries, the thermochemistry of the hydrolysis and the molecular orbitals contributing to the high energy of these compounds have been analyzed. These investigations provide insights into the "high energy" character of ATP molecule. Further, the dependence of vibrational frequencies on the number of phosphate groups and the charged states has also been presented. These results can aid the interpretation of spectra obtained by experiments on complexes containing pyrophosphate prototypes.

Bond length distortions associated with torsion potentials; ab-initio studies on methanedio

The 4-31G basis set is used to study the bond length variations as functions of dihedral angels in methanediol. This study is compared with O---C---O bond angle optimization studies by Gorenstein and Kar and the possible reason for bond length shorteing in the trans---trans configuration is analysed.

Ab initio studies on the tri- and diphosphate fragments of adenosine triphosphate

Pyrophosphate prototypes such as methyl triphosphate and methyl diphosphate molecules in their different protonation states have been investigated at high levels of quantum chemical calculations. The optimized geometries, the thermochemistry of the hydrolysis and the molecular orbitals contributing to the high energy of these compounds have been analyzed. These investigations provide insights into the ``high energy'' character of ATP molecule. Further, the dependence of vibrational frequencies on the number of phosphate groups and the charged states has also been presented. These results can aid the interpretation of spectra obtained by experiments on complexes containing pyrophosphate prototypes. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on ion-molecule and ion pair-molecule complexes of the water-lithium cyanide system

Ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations with the 3-21G and 6-31G basis sets were performed on a series of ion-molecule and ion pair-molecule complexes for the H2O + LiCN system. Stabilisation energies (with counter-poise corrections), geometrical parameters, internal force constants and harmonic vibrational frequencies were evaluated for 16 structures of interest. Although the interaction energies are smaller, the geometries and relative stabilities of the monohydrated contact ion pair are reminiscent of those computed for the complexes of the individual ions. Thus, interaction of the oxygen lone pair with lithium leads to a highly stabilised C2v structure, while the coordination of water to the cyanide ion involves a slightly non-linear hydrogen bond. Symmetrical bifurcated structures are computed to be saddle points on the potential energy surface, and to have an imaginary frequency for the rocking mode of the water molecule. On optimisation the geometries of the solvent shared ion pair structures (e.g. Li+cdots, three dots, centered OH2cdots, three dots, centered CN−) revealed a proton transfer from the water molecule leading to hydrogen bonded forms such as Li-O-Hcdots, three dots, centered HCN. The variation in the force constants and harmonic frequencies in the various structures considered are discussed in terms of ion-molecular and ion pair-molecule interactions.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations on ion pair-water complexes of metal halides and oxides

Ab initio MO calculations are performed on a series of ion-molecular and ion pair-molecular complexes of H2O + MX (MX = LiF, LiCl, NaCl, BeO and MgO) systems. BSSE-corrected stabilization energies, optimized geometrical parameters, internal force constants and harmonic vibrational frequencies have been evaluated for all the structures of interest. The trends observed in the geometrical parameters and other properties calculated for the mono-hydrated contact ion pair complexes parallel those computed for the complexes of the individual ions. The bifurcated structures are found to be saddle points with an imaginary frequency corresponding to the rocking mode of water molecules. The solvent-shared ion pair complexes have high interaction energies. Trends in the internal force constant and harmonic frequency values are discussed in terms of ion-molecular and ion-pair molecular interactions.

AB-initio study of alpha-silyl and beta-silyl substituent effects on vinyl radicals

The geometries of alpha- and beta-silyl substituted vinyl radicals and of alpha,beta-disilylvinyl radical have been optimised with the STO-3G and the STO-3G* basis sets. The relative stabilities of various conformers have been determined at the UMP2/6-31G* level. The stabilisation of vinyl radicals through alpha-silyl substitution is larger than that due to corresponding alkyl groups. The presence of an alpha-silyl group also leads to a tendency towards linearisation of the vinyl radical centre and a corresponding reduction in the inversion barrier. In marked contrast, the beta-silyl effect is negligible. The geometric, conformational and energetic consequences are insignificant. Overall, the silyl substituent effect at vinyl radicals is very different from that computed earlier for the vinyl cations, but qualitatively similar to that found in carbanions.

An examination of the BEBO model with the results of ab initio calculations of a reaction series

The BEBO (bond energy-bond order) model of Johnston and Parr is examined with the results of ab initio MO calculations on a series of metathetic reactions which involve hydrogen transfer. Energies are calculated at the 6-31G**/PMP2 = full//6-31G** level while the bond orders are estimated using the 6-31G** basis set with the geometry optimisation at the single configuration unrestricted Hartree-Fock frame. Our analysis reveals that the bond-order exponent in the BEBO theory is greater than unity for the reaction series and the entropy term becomes implicitly present in the BEBO model.

Use of L matrix to obtain reliable ab initio force constants of polyatomic molecules: ethylene as a test system

Direct use of experimental eigenvalues of the vibrational secular equation on to the ab initio predicted eigenvector space is suggested as a means of obtaining a reliable set of intramolecular force constants. This method which we have termed RECOVES (recovery in the eigenvector space) is computationally simple and free from arbitrariness. The RECOVES force constants, by definition, reproduce the experimental vibrational frequencies of the parent molecule exactly. The ab initio calculations were carried out for ethylene as a test molecule and the force constants obtained by the present procedure also correctly predict the vibrational frequencies of the deuterated species. The RECOVES force constants for ethylene are compared with those obtained by using the SQM procedure.

Ab initio studies of the structure and vibrational spectra of methyl isocyanide-borane and acetonitrile-borane

The SCF/DZP and MP2/DZP methods of ab initio quantum chemistry have been utilized to study the structure, vibrational spectra, binding energy, and barrier to internal rotation of methyl isocyanide-borane and acetonitrile-borane adducts. The eclipsed conformation of the complexes was predicted to be a minimum, and the staggered form is a transition state with a barrier height of about 10 cal/mol. The vibrational analyses of CH3NC-BH3 and CH3CN-BH3 and several of their isotopomers have been carried out by the GF matrix method. Computations have also been carried out for free CH3NC and CH3CN in order to investigate the changes in CH3NC and CH3CN as a result of their complex formation with BH3. To obtain an acceptable set of force constants, a recently proposed procedure ''RECOVES'' has been utilized. The increase in the N=C/C=N stretching force constant of CH3NC/CH3CN on adduct formation is interpreted with the help of Parr and Borkman's model. The binding energies for the two adducts have been determined taking basis set superposition error (BSSE) into consideration. The effect of the BSSE on structure, dipole moment, and vibrational frequencies of CH3CN and CH3NC is also evaluated. The predicted infrared band intensities for the two complexes are in good agreement with the experimentally observed features, and they have been utilized in the assignment of vibrational frequencies.

Electron donor-acceptor complexes of I-2 with diethyl ether and diethyl sulphide. An ab initio MO study

The charge-transfer complexes of I-2 with the n-donors diethyl ether and diethyl sulfide were studied at the Hartree-Fock and MP2 levels. The structures were fully optimized using the 3-21G((*)) basis set as well as with effective core potentials. The calculations consistently yield a C-2v structure for the ether-I-2 complex, but an unsymmetrical form for the sulfide-I-2 complex. A natural bond orbital analysis and the BSSE-corrected complexation energies reveal stronger interactions in the sulfide complex. The computed orbital energies of the monomers and complexes reproduce the trends in experimentally observed vertical ionization potentials.

Electron donor-acceptor complex of ICl with diethyl ether - He I photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio molecular orbital study

The He I photoelectron spectrum of the diethyl ether-ICl complex has been obtained. The oxygen orbitals are shifted to higher binding energies and that of ICl to lower binding energies owing to complex formation. Ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations of the complex molecule showed that the bonding is between the sigma-type lone pair of oxygen and the I atom and that the complex has C-2v symmetry. The binding energy of the complex is computed to be 8.06 kcal mol(-1) at the MP2/3-21G* level. The orbital energies obtained from the photoelectron spectra of the complex are compared and assigned with orbital energies obtained by MO calculations. Natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) shows that charge transfer is from the sigma-type oxygen lone pair to the iodine atom and the magnitude of charge transfer is 0.0744 e.

UVPES and ab initio molecular orbital studies on the electron donor-acceptor complexes of bromine with methylamines

The He I photoelectron spectra of bromine, methylamine, and their complex have been obtained, and the spectra show that lone-pair orbital energy of nitrogen in methylamine is stabilized by 1.8 eV and the bromine orbital energies are destabilized by about 0.5 eV due to complexation. Ab initio calculations have been performed on the charge-transfer complexes of Br-2 with ammonia and methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethylamines at the 3-21G*, 6-311G, and 6-311G* levels and also with effective core potentials. Calculations predict donor and acceptor orbital energy shifts upon complexation, and there is a reasonable agreement between the calculated and experimental results. Complexation energies have been corrected for BSSE. Frequency analysis has confirmed that ammonia and trimethylamine form complexes with C-3v symmetry and methylamine and dimethylamine with C-s symmetry. Calculations reveal that the lone-pair orbital of nitrogen in amine and the sigma* orbital of Br-2 are involved in the charge-transfer interaction. LANL1DZ basis seems to be consistent and give a reliable estimate of the complexation energy. The computed complexation energies, orbital energy shifts, and natural bond orbital analysis show that the strength of the complex gradually increases from ammonia to trimethylamine.