Is There an Adduct of Pyridine N-Oxide and Boron Trifluoride in the Gaseous State? Gas Electron Diffraction vs Mass Spectrometry.

A study of saturated vapor over the pyridine N-oxide-boron trifluoride (PyO-BF3) adduct was carried out at T = 448(5) K by a synchronous gas electron diffraction/mass spectrometry (GED/MS) experiment. Due to the absence of ions in the mass spectrum, indicating the presence of a structure with an O-B dative bond, several models of vapor composition were tested by the GED method. It was found that the dominant molecular form (up to 100%) in vapor is the PyO-BF3 adduct. Using the DFT/M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ method, geometric optimization of the molecular ion [PyO-BF3]+ was carried out, which showed its intrinsic instability and dissociation into a [PyO]+ cation and a BF3 molecule. This study certainly demonstrates the significant advantage of the GED method to determine the qualitative and quantitative gas-phase composition of dative-bonded adducts and other noncovalent complexes as well, whereas the interpretation of mass spectra may be ambiguous due to the possible intrinsic instability of ions containing a dative bond. The nature of the O-B bond is discussed in terms of the natural bond orbitals (NBOs) and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). A comparison of structural and energetic parameters for PyO-BF3 and the previously studied BF3 adducts allows the theoretical comprehension of the nature of the O-B bond to be extended and to explain the different thermal stabilities of these compounds.

Gas-Phase Structures of Potassium Tetrakis(hexafluoro- acetylacetonato) Lanthanide(III) Complexes [KLn(C5 HF6 O2 )4 ] (Ln=La, Gd, Lu).

The molecular structures of potassium tetrakis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)lanthanide(III) complexes [KLn(hfa)4 ] (Ln=La, Gd, Lu; hfa=C5 HF6 O2 ,) were studied by synchronous gas-phase electron diffraction/mass spectrometry (GED/MS) supported by quantum-chemical (DFT/PBE0) calculations. The compounds sublime congruently and the vapors contain a single molecular species: the heterobinuclear complex [KLn(hfa)4 ]. All molecules are of C1 symmetry with the lanthanide atom in the center of an LnO8 coordination polyhedron, while the potassium atom is coordinated by three ligands with formation of three K-O and three K-F bonds. One hfa ligand is not bonded to the potassium atom. Topological analysis of the electron-density distributions confirmed the existence of ionic-type K-O and K-F bonding. The structures of the free [KLn(hfa)4 ] molecules are compared with those of the related compounds [KDy(hfa)4 ] and [KEr(hfa)4 ] in their crystalline state. The complex nature of the chemical bonding is discussed on the basis of electron-density topology analyses.

Molecular structure and electron distribution of 4-nitropyridine N-oxide: Experimental and theoretical study of substituent effects.

The molecular structure of 4-nitropyridine N-oxide, 4-NO2-PyO, has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction monitored by mass spectrometry (GED/MS) and by quantum chemical calculations (DFT and MP2). Comparison of these results with those for non-substituted pyridine N-oxide and 4-methylpyridine N-oxide CH3-PyO, demonstrate strong substitution effects on structural parameters and electron density distribution. The presence of the electron-withdrawing -NO2 group in para-position of 4-NO2-PyO results in an increase of the ipso-angle and a decrease of the semipolar bond length r(N→O) in comparison to the non-substituted PyO. The presence of the electron-donating -CH3 group in 4-CH3-PyO leads to opposite structural changes. Electron density distribution in pyridine-N-oxide and its two substituted compounds are discussed in terms of natural bond orbitals (NBO) and quantum theory atoms in molecule (QTAIM).

The molecular structure of 4-methylpyridine-N-oxide: Gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations.

The molecular structure of 4-methylpiridine-N-oxide, 4-MePyO, has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction monitored by mass spectrometry (GED/MS) and quantum chemical (DFT) calculations. Both, quantum chemistry and GED analyses resulted in C S molecular symmetry with the planar pyridine ring. Obtained molecular parameters confirm the hyperconjugation in the pyridine ring and the sp2 hybridization concept of the nitrogen and carbon atoms in the ring. The experimental geometric parameters are in a good agreement with the parameters for non-substituted N-oxide and reproduced very closely by DFT calculations. The presence of the electron-donating CH3 substituent in 4-MePyO leads to a decrease of the ipso-angle and to an increase of r(N→O) in comparison with the non-substituted PyO. Electron density distribution analysis has been performed in terms of natural bond orbitals (NBO) scheme. The nature of the semipolar N→O bond is discussed.

Tautomeric properties and gas-phase structure of acetylacetone.

The tautomeric and structural properties of acetylacetone, CH3C(O)CH2C(O)CH3, have been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximation with different basis sets up to aug-cc-pVTZ). The analysis of GED intensities resulted in the presence of 100(3)% of the enol tautomer at 300(5) K and 64(5)% of the enol at 671(7) K. The enol tautomer possesses Cs symmetry with a planar ring and strongly asymmetric hydrogen bond. The diketo form possesses C2 symmetry. The experimental geometric parameters of both tautomeric forms are reproduced very closely by B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ and MP2/cc-pVTZ methods.

Tautomeric and conformational properties of benzoylacetone, CH3-C(O)-CH2-C(O)-C6H5: gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical study.

Tautomeric and structural properties of benzoylacetone, CH(3)-C(O)-CH(2)-C(O)-C(6)H(5), have been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximation with different basis sets up to aug-cc-pVTZ). Analysis of GED intensities resulted in the presence of 100% enol tautomer at 331(5) K. The existence of two possible enol conformers in about equal amounts is confirmed by both GED and quantum chemical results. In both conformers the enol ring possesses C(s) symmetry with a strongly asymmetric hydrogen bond. The experimental geometric parameters are reproduced very closely by the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ method.

The keto/enol tautomerism in acetoacetyl fluoride: properties, spectroscopy, and gas-phase and crystal structures of the enol form.

Tautomeric properties of acetoacetyl fluoride, CH(3)-C(O)-CH(2)-C(O)-F, were studied by IR (gas phase), Raman (liquid and solid), and NMR spectroscopy (neat liquid), gas electron diffraction (GED), X-ray crystallography, and quantum chemical calculations. The keto-enol tautomer possesses a much higher vapour pressure than the diketo form and therefore the keto-enol form strongly predominates in the gas phase. In the neat liquid state the thermally unstable compound tautomerizes at low temperatures slowly to yield the diketo form. Raman and NMR spectra show equilibrium with strong predominance of the diketo tautomer (>90%) in the liquid phase. Single crystals, grown at -90 °C from the gas phase, contain exclusively acetoacetyl fluoride in the keto-enol form and the molecules possess a planar skeleton with overall C(S) symmetry and with the O-H bond adjacent to the methyl group.

Tautomeric and conformational properties of malonamic acid methyl ester, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)OCH3: electron diffraction and quantum chemical study.

The tautomeric and conformational properties of malonamic acid methyl ester, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)OCH3, have been investigated by means of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (HF, B3LYP, and MP2 approximations with different basis sets up to 6-311++G(3df,pd)). Both quantum chemistry and GED at 360(8) K result in the existence of a single diketo conformer in the gas phase. According to GED refinement, this conformer possesses an (ac, sc) conformation with dihedral angles C-C-C(NH2)=O of 140.3(3.0) degrees and C-C-C(OCH3)=O of 31.1(7.2) degrees. The experimental geometric parameters are reproduced very closely by MP2 and B3LYP methods with large basis sets.

Tautomeric properties and gas-phase structure of 3-chloro-2,4-pentanedione.

The tautomeric properties of alpha-chlorinated acetylacetone, 3-chloro-2,4-pentanedione CH3C(O)-CHCl-C(O)CH3, have been investigated by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximations with different basis sets up to cc-pVTZ). Analysis of the GED intensities resulted in the presence of 100(2)% enol tautomer at 269(8) K. The following skeletal geometric parameters (rh1 values) of the molecule, which possesses Cs symmetry, were derived: r(C=C) = 1.378(3) A, r(C-C) = 1.450(3) A, r(C=O) = 1.243(3) A, r(C-O) = 1.319(3) A, r(O-H) = 1.001(4) A, r(C-Cl) = 1.752(4) A, angleC-C=C = 121.3(1.0) degrees , angleC=C-O = 119.9(1.2) degrees , angleC-C=O = 119.1(1.2) degrees . Due to very small contributions of the keto tautomer in alpha-chlorinated acetylacetone and its parent species, the effect of alpha-chlorination on tautomeric properties cannot be derived from experimental data. Quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G**, B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, and MP2/cc-pVTZ) predict that alpha-chlorination of acetylacetone has no pronounced effect on the tautomeric properties. On the other hand, similar calculations for 1-chloro-1,3-butanedion, ClC(O)-CH2-C(O)CH3, demonstrate that chlorination in one beta position destabilizes the enol tautomer. In both chlorinated species the enol form is strongly preferred.

Tautomeric and conformational properties of malonamide, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)NH2: electron diffraction and quantum chemical study.

The geometric structure of malonamide, NH2C(O)-CH2-C(O)NH2, has been investigated by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximations with 6-311++G(3df,pd) basis sets). Both GED and quantum chemistry result in the existence of a single diketo conformer in the gas phase. According to GED refinement this conformer possesses (sc,ac) conformation with one C=O bond in synclinal orientation (dihedral angle tau(O=C-C-C)=49.0(3.0) degrees) and the other C=O bond in anticlinal orientation (dihedral angle tau(O=C-C-C)=139.5(3.3) degrees). The experimental geometric parameters are reproduced very closely by the B3LYP method.

Tautomeric and conformational properties of acetoacetamide: electron diffraction and quantum chemical study.

The tautomeric properties of acetoacetamide, CH3C(O)CH2C(O)NH2, have been investigated by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2 approximations with 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311++G(3df,pd) basis sets). GED results in a mixture of 63(7)% enol tautomer and 37(7)% diketo form at 74(5) degrees C. Only one enol form with the O-H bond adjacent to the methyl group (CH3C(OH)=CHC(O)NH2) and only one diketo conformer (with dihedral angles tau(O=C(CH3)-C-C) = 31.7(7.5) degrees and tau(O=C(NH2)-C(H2)-C(O)) = 130.9(4.5) degrees ) are present. The calculated tautomeric composition varies in a wide range depending on the quantum chemical method and basis set. Only the B3LYP method with small basis sets reproduces the experimental composition correctly.

Molecular structure of tris(dipivaloylmethanato)lutetium(iii) studied by gas electron diffraction and ab initio and DFT calculations.

Combined gas electron diffraction/mass spectrometry (GED/MS) was used to determine the molecular structure of tris(dipivaloylmethanato)lutetium(III), Lu(dpm)(3)(dpm = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-heptane-3,5-dionato). Up to about 520-570 K the vapour consisted only of molecules Lu(dpm)(3). The experimental data recorded at 408(5) K indicate that the molecules have D(3) symmetry. The bond distances (r(h1)) in the chelate ring are Lu-O 2.197(6) Angstrom, C-O 1.270(4) Angstrom and C-C 1.390(6) Angstrom . Theoretical computations at the HF and DFT levels with basis sets up to 6-311G* afford structures similar to those found experimentally, with a distorted LuO(6) antiprism.