The evaluation of bond dissociation energies for NO2 scission in nitro compounds using density functional and complete basis set methods

By using the density functional theory （B3LYP） and four highly accurate complete basis set （CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, CBS-Lq, and CBS-4M）ab initio methods, the X（C, N, O）-NO2 bond dissociation energies （BDEs） for CH3NO2, C2H3NO2, C2H5NO2, HONO2, CH3ONO2, C2H5ONO2, NH2NO2 （CH3）2NNO2 are computed. By comparing the computed BDEs and experimental results, it is found that the B3LYP method is unable to predict satisfactorily the results of bond dissociation energy （BDE）; however, all four CBS models are generally able to give reliable predication of the X（C, N, O）-NO2 BDEs for these nitro compounds. Moreover, the CBS-4M calculation is the least computationally demanding among the four CBS methods considered, Therefore, we recommend CBS-4M method as a reliable method of computing the BDEs for this nitro compound system.

Density Functional Calculations of C–NO_2 Bond Dissociation Energies for Nitroalkanes Molecules

Bond dissociation energies for the removal of nitrogen dioxide group in some nitroalkane energetic materials have been calculated by using the three hybrid density functional theory （DFT） methods B3LYP, B3PW91 and B3P86 with 6-31g^＊＊ and 6-311g^＊＊ basis sets. The computed BDEs have been compared with the available experimental results. It is found that the B3P86 method with 6-31g^＊＊ and 6-311g^＊＊ basis sets can obtain satisfactory bond dissociation energies （BDEs）, which are in extraordinary agreement with the experimental data. Considering the smaller mean absolute deviation and maximum difference, the reliable B3P86/6-311g^＊＊ method was recommended to compute the BDEs for the removal of nitrogen dioxide group in the nitroalkane energetic materials. Using the method, the BDEs of 8 other nitroalkane energetic materials have been calculated and the maximum difference from experimental value is 1.76 kcal.mo1^-1 （for the BDE of tC4Hg-NOz）, which further proves the reliability of B3P86/6-311g^＊＊ method. In addition, it is noted that the BDEs of C-NO2 bond change slightly for main chain nitroalkane compounds with the maximum difference of only 3.43 kcal mo1^-1.

Theoretical Study of the N-NO_2 Bond Dissociation Energies for Energetic Materials with Density Functional Theory

The N-NO2 bond dissociation energies （BDEs） for 7 energetic materials were computed by means of accurate density functional theory （B3LYP, B3PW91 and B3P86） with 6-31G＊＊ and 6-311G＊＊ basis sets. By comparing the computed energies and experimental results, we find that the B3P86/6-311G＊＊ method can give good results of BDE, which has the mean absolute deviation of 1.30kcal/mol. In addition, substituent effects were also taken into account. It is noted that the Hammett constants of substituent groups are related to the BDEs of the N-NO2 bond and the bond dissociation energies of the energetic materials studied decrease when increasing the number of NO2 group.

Quantum chemical calculations of bond dissociation energies for COOH scission and electronic structure in some acids

Quantum chemical calculations are performed to investigate the equilibrium C-COOH bond distances and the bond dissociation energies（BDEs） for 15 acids.These compounds are studied by utilizing the hybrid density functional theory（DFT）（B3LYP,B3PW91,B3P86,PBE1PBE） and the complete basis set（CBS-Q） method in conjunction with the 6311G^＊＊ basis as DFT methods have been found to have low basis sets sensitivity for small and medium molecules in our previous work.Comparisons between the computational results and the experimental values reveal that CBS-Q method,which can produce reasonable BDEs for some systems in our previous work,seems unable to predict accurate BDEs here.However,the B3P86 calculated results accord very well with the experimental values,within an average absolute error of 2.3 kcal/mol.Thus,B3P86 method is suitable for computing the reliable BDEs of C-COOH bond for carboxylic acid compounds.In addition,the energy gaps between the highest occupied molecular orbital（HOMO） and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital（LUMO） of studied compounds are estimated,based on which the relative thermal stabilities of the studied acids are also discussed.

Is HOMO Energy Level a Good Parameter to Characterize Antioxidant Activity

Semiempirical quantum chemical method AM1 was employed to calculate the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels (E-HOMO) for various types of antioxidants. It was verified that the correlation between logarithm of free radical scavenging rate constants (1gks) and E-HOMO substantially arises from the correlation between E-HOMO and O-H bond dissociation energies (BDE) of antioxidants. Furthermore, E-HOMO were poorly correlated with the logarithm of relative free radical scavenging rate constants (1gk(3)/k(1)) for various types of antioxidants that possess complex structures (r = 0.5602). So in a broad sense, E-HOMO was not an appropriate parameter to characterize the free radical scavenging activity of antioxidants.

Density Functional Theory Study of Marine Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Anaerobic Degradation

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs)are a kind of serious pollutants in the ocean.Biodegradation is considered as an economical and safe way for PBDEs removal and reductive debromination dominates the initial pathway of anaerobic degradation.On the basis of experimental study,Octa-BDE 197,Hepta-BDE 183,Hexa-BDE 153,Penta-BDE 99 and Tetra-BDE 47 were selected as the initial degradation objects,and their debromination degradation were studied using density functional theory.The structures were optimized by Gaussian 09 program.Furthermore,the molecular orbitals and charge distribution were analyzed.All C-Br bond dissociation energies at different positions including ortho,meta and para bromine atoms were calculated and the sequence of debromination was obtained.There is a close relationship between molecular structure,charge,molecular orbital and C-Br bond.All PBDEs exhibited similar debromination pathways with preferential removal of meta and para bromines.

Theoretical Study of Remote Substituent Effects on X-H （X=CH2, NH, O） Bond Dissociation Energies of Azulene

In the study, the X-H （X=CH2, NH, O） bond dissociation energies （BDE） of para-substituted azulene （Y-C10H8X-H） were predicted theoretically for the first time using Density Functronal Theory （DFT） methods at UB3LYP/6-311 ＋ ＋g（2df,2p）//UB3LYP/6-31 ＋g（d） level. It was found that the substituents exerted similar effects on the X-H BDE of azulene as those on benzene, except for 6-substituted 2-methylazulene. Owing to the substituent-dipole interaction, the reaction constants （ρ^＋） of 2- and 6-Y-CIoHsX-H （X=NH and O only） varied violently. The origin of the substituent effects on the X-H BDE of azulene was found, by both GE/RE and SIE theory, to be directly associated with variation of the radical effects, although the ground effects also played a modest role in determining the net. substituent effects.

Relativistic density functional investigation of UX_6(X=F,Cl,Br and I)

The molecular structures and the vibrational frequencies of uranium hexahalides UX6 （X=F, Cl, Br and I） molecules are investigated by using local density approximation （LDA） and generalised gradient approximation （GGA） functions （BP, BLYP and RPBE） in combination with two different relativistic methods （scalar and scalar＋spin-orbit relativistic effects）. The calculated results show that the differences are trivial between scalar and scalar＋spin-orbit relativistic methods. The vibrational frequencies are also compared with existing experimental values, and overall, the RPBE approach gives the smallest error. The bond dissociation energies （BDEs） of UX6 are computed by using the RPBE function, thereby obtaining exact vibrational frequencies. In addition, the calculated magnitudes of the spin orbit effect on the BDE of UX6 （X=F, Cl, Br, and I） are found to be approximately -0.3198, 0.3218, -0.3609 and -0.4415 eV, respectively.

DFT Study on the Antioxidant Activity of a Modeled p-Terphenyl Derivative

Relationships between the structure characteristics of natural p-terphenyl com- pounds isolated from three edible mushrooms （Thelephora ganbajun, Thelephora aeronautical, and Boletopsis grisea） indigenous to China and their mechanism of antioxidant activity were studied. Geometry structures of terphenyl molecule and four corresponding radicals, bond dissociation energy （BDE）, frontier orbitals （HOMO and LUMO） and single electron density were calculated using DFT methods （B3LYP/6-311G＊＊）. The computational results which are consistent with the experimental data well show that terphenyl molecule scavenges DPPH radical by hydrogen abstract mechanism and the high antioxidant activity depends on the substitution position of hydroxyls. Two active 7-, 8-hydroxyls facilitate the hydrogen abstraction due to the intramolecular hydrogen bond and the resonance effect makes 4-hydroxyl radical more stable.

α-Substituent Effects on Si--H, P- H and S--H Bond Dissociation Energies

CBS-Q and G3 methods were used to generate a large number of reliable Si--H, P---H and S--H bond dissociation energies （BDEs） for the first time. It was found that the Si--H BDE displayed dramatically different substituent effects compared with the C--H BDE. On the other hand, the P---H and S--H BDE exhibited patterns of substituent effects similar to those of the N--H and O--H BDE. Further analysis indicated that increasing the positive charge on Si of XSiH3 would strengthen the Si--H bond whereas increasing the positive charge on P and S of XPH2 and XSH would weaken the P---H and S--H bonds. Meanwhile, increasing the positive charge on Si of XSiH2^＋ stabilized the silyl radical whereas increasing the positive charge on P and S in XPH＂ and XS＊ destabilized P- and S-centered radicals. These behaviors could be reasonalized by the fact that Si is less electronegative than H while P and S are not. Finally, it was demonstrated that the spin-delocalization effect was valid for the Si-, P- and S-centered radicals.

Theoretical studies on a series of nitroaliphatic energetic compounds

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G＊＊ level are performed to study the geometric and elec- tronic structures of a series of nitroaliphatic compounds. The heats of formation （HOF） are predicted through the designed isodesmic reactions. Thermal stabilities are evaluated via the homolytic bond dissociation energies （BDEs）. Further, the correlation is developed between impact sensitivity h50% and the ratio （BDE/E） of the weakest BDE to the total energy E containing zero point energy correction. In addition, the relative stability of the title compounds is evaluated based on the analysis of calculated Mulliken population and the energy gaps between the frontier orbitals. The calculated BDEs, HOFs, and energy gaps consistently indicate that compound 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexanitro-3-hexyne is the most unstable and the compound 3,3,4,4,-tetranitro-hexane is the most stable. These results provide basic information for the molecular design of novel high energetic density materials.

Computational studies on the structure and detonation properties of nitro-substituted triazole-furazan derivatives

Some nitro-substituted triazole-furazan derivatives are considered as potential candidates for high energy density compounds through quantum chemical treatment. Their geometric and electronic structures,band gap,thermodynamic properties and detonation properties were studied using the density functional theory at the B3 LYP /6- 311 ＋ G＊＊level. The calculated energy of explosion,density,and detonation properties of model compounds were comparable to 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane（ RDX） and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane（ HMX）. The heats of formation and bond dissociation energy were also analysed to understand the nature of thermal stabilities and the trigger bond in the pyrolysis process.

Theoretical Investigations on the Structure,Density,Thermodynamic and Performance Properties of Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal

Density functional method was used to investigate the IR spectrum, heat of forma- tion and thermal stability of a new energetic material bis（2,2-dinitropropyl） formal （BDNPF）. The detonation velocity and pressure were evaluated by using the Kamlet-Jacobs equations based on the theoretical density and heat of formation. The bond dissociation energies for the weakest bonds were analyzed to investigate the thermal stability of the title compound. The results show that the C（I ）-N（I ） bond is predicted to be the trigger bond during pyrolysis. The crystal structure obtained by molecular mechanics belongs to the P21 space group, with the lattice parameters to be Z = 2, a = 11.5254, b = 6.2168, c = 9.5000 A andp= 1.66 g/cm3.

Theoretical Study on the Dissociation of Ligands in the Rhodium and Iridium Complexes Containing 1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexafl uo roacetylaceto nato

Functionalization of the inert C-H bonds of unsaturated molecules by transition metal complex is an important means to form new C-C bonds. The functionalization is usually initiated by the ligand dissociation of a complex. In this paper we employ both ab initio and density functional methods to explore the influence of central metals, conformation, solvent and protonation on the ligand dissociation of the （hfac-O,O）2M（L）（py） complexes [M=Rh（Ⅲ） or Ir（Ⅲ）, hfac-O,O=k^2-O,O-1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato, L = CH3, CH3CO2, （CH3CO）2CH, CH30 or OH, py=pyridine]. We demonstrate that ligand pyridine dissociates more easily than the ＂L＂ ligands un-der study in aprotic solvent and gas phase and the dissociation of pyridine is more facile in the trans-conformation than in the cis-isomer. These phenomena are rationalized based on electronic structure and molecular orbital inter-actions. We show that solvation only slightly stabilizes the complexes and does not change the ligand dissociation ordering. In particular, we show that pyridine is no longer the labile ligand in protic media. Instead, the oxy-gen-containing ligands （apart from those like hfac that form a cyclic structure with the central metal） that coordinate to the central metal via oxygen atom become the labile ones. Finally our calculations indicate that hfac is a stable ligand, even in protic media.

A Distinctive Pattern for Substituent Effects on Transition Metal Centers:Enhanced Electron-Donating Capacity of Cationic Palladium Species

Electronic and bonding situations at reaction centers are often detected by the remote substituent effect.For nonorganometallic reactions,this effect is conventionally described by the well-known Hammett-type substituent constants.However,for most transition metal(TM)-involved systems,no analogous numeral descriptors reflecting the intrinsic differences between metallic and nonmetallic bonding have been rigorously established till present.Herein,we report a Pd(II)–O bond heterolysis energyΔG_(het)(Pd–O)study of the archetypal palladium complexes to represent the thermodynamics of the essential bond-breaking step in Pd-mediated transformations.Meanwhile we furnish the new substituent constantsσPd^(+)s and therefrom facilitate linear free-energy relationship(LFER)analysis for Pd-catalyzed reactions.Indeed,this led us to find an unexpected electron-donating ability of Pd(II)cation,which provided a gifted experimental support,with the aid of computation,to attribute the frustrating observation of a much scattered curvature in theΔG_(het)(Pd–O)-σ+correlation to the electrondonating capacity of the cationic palladium through back-donation of its d-electrons.Applications of LFER analysis withσPd^(+)to predict the redox behavior of the palladium complex and in a kinetics vs.thermodynamicsmechanistic study of transmetalation added further credence to their applicability to TM systems.