Lewis molecular acidity of ionic liquids from empirical energy-density models.

Two complementary models of Lewis molecular acidity are introduced and tested in a wide series of 45 room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL). They are defined in the context of the conceptual density functional theory. The first one, which we tentatively call the excess electronic chemical potential, assesses the electron accepting power of the RTIL by relating the H-bond donor acidity with the charge transfer associated to the acidic H-atom migration at the cation of the RTIL considered as a HB-donor species. This global index accounts for the molecular acidity of the cation moiety of the ionic liquid that takes into account the perturbation of the anionic partner. The second index is defined in terms of the local charge capacity modeled through the maximum electronic charge that the cation, in its valence state, may accept from an unspecified environment. Each model is compared with the experimental HB-donor acidity parameter of the Kamlet Taft model. The best comparison is obtained for a combination of both the excess electronic chemical potential and the local charge capacity. As expected, the correlations with the Kamlet Taft α parameter do not lead to a universal model of HB-donor acidity. Reduced correlations for limited series of structurally related RTIL are obtained instead. Finally, we illustrate the reliability and usefulness of the proposed model of RTIL molecular acidity to explain the cation-dependent solvent effects on the reactivity trends for cycloaddition, Kemp elimination, and Menschutkin reactions, for which experimental rate coefficients are available from literature.

On the catalytic effect of water in the intramolecular Diels­Alder reaction of quinone systems: a theoretical study.

The mechanism of the intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) reaction of benzoquinone 1, in the absence and in the presence of three water molecules, 1w, has been studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods, using the M05-2X and B3LYP functionals for exploration of the potential energy surface (PES). The energy and geometrical results obtained are complemented with a population analysis using the NBO method, and an analysis based on the global, local and group electrophilicity and nucleophilicity indices. Both implicit and explicit solvation emphasize the increase of the polarity of the reaction and the reduction of activation free energies associated with the transition states (TSs) of this IMDA process. These results are reinforced by the analysis of the reactivity indices derived from the conceptual DFT, which show that the increase of the electrophilicity of the quinone framework by the hydrogen-bond formation correctly explains the high polar character of this intramolecular process. Large polarization at the TSs promoted by hydrogen-bonds and implicit solvation by water together with a high electrophilicity-nucleophilicity difference consistently explains the catalytic effects of water molecules.

Bond Fukui functions as descriptor of the electron density reorganization in π conjugated systems.

The bond Fukui function is introduced and tested as a new reactivity index capable of predicting the evolution of bond breaking and formation processes during an organic reaction involving π conjugated systems. As an illustration, we examine many cases where substituted ethylenes and dienes may respond to different reagents to yield cycloaddition, Michael addition, and other reactions at double bonds.

A theoretical study on the reaction mechanism for the bergman cyclization from the perspective of the electron localization function and catastrophe theory.

The reaction mechanism associated with the Bergman cyclization of the (Z)-hexa-1,5-diyne-3-ene to render p-benzyne has been analyzed by means of a combined use of the electron localization function (ELF) and the catastrophe theory on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)). The complex electronic rearrangements of this reaction can be highlighted using this novel quantum mechanical perspective. Five domains of structural stability of the ELF occurring along the intrinsic reaction path as well as four catastrophes (fold-cusp-fold-cusp) responsible for the changes in the topology of the system have been identified. The multiple factors that occur along the intrinsic reaction coordinate path are presented and discussed in a consistent way. The topological analysis of ELF and catastrophe theory reveals that mechanical deformation of the C1-C2-C3 unit and closed-shell repulsion between terminal acetylene groups lead to an early formation of diradicaloid character at C2 and C5 atoms. Immediately after the transition structure (TS) is reached, the open-shell-singlet biradical becomes stable. Meanwhile, C1 and C6 atoms are preparing to be covalently bonded; that will finally occur at a distance of 1.791 A. In addition, a separation of the ELF into in-plane (sigma) and out-of-plane (pi) contributions allows us to discuss the aromaticity profiles; sigma-aromaticity appears in the vicinities of the TS, while pi-aromaticity takes place in the final stage of the reaction path, once the ring has been formed.

An Aromaticity Scale Based on the Topological Analysis of the Electron Localization Function Including σ and π Contributions.

In this work, the average bifurcation value of the electron localization function (ELF) of both σ (ELFσ) and π (ELFπ) contributions was used to construct an aromaticity scale for chemical compounds. We have validated the scale with a series of well-known molecules and then used it to evaluate global aromaticity on aluminum based clusters, which present σ aromaticity and π antiaromaticity. The proposed scaled predicts an overall antiaromatic character for the Al4(4)(-) moiety.

Comparison between experimental and theoretical scales of electrophilicity in benzhydryl cations.

The theoretical electrophilicity pattern of a series of benzhydryl cations as described in terms of a model based on global reactivity indexes is compared with an experimental scale recently proposed by Mayr et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 9500]. A good correlation between both theoretical and experimental quantities is found. The effect of chemical substitution on the electrophilic power of these charged electrophiles may also be assessed as local responses at the active site, in terms of a global contribution described by changes in global electrophilicity with reference to the dianisylcarbenium ion, and a local contribution described by the variations in electrophilic Fukui function at that site.