Search

Density functional theory method and B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory were used to determine the acidity of α‐carbon in the hydroxyl derivatives of beta diketones in the gas phase. An investigation of acidity strength in the gas phase indicates that α‐carbon of hydroxyl derivatives of beta diketones become stronger acids than the α‐carbon of beta diketone itself as their conjugate bases gain more stability via both enolate and hydrogen bond formation. Natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses also confirm the role of hydrogen bond interactions on increasing the acidity of α‐carbon of hydroxyl derivatives of beta diketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to investigate the acidity of the various silica alkyl sulfonic acids. In this regard, cluster models with various alkyl spacer lengths were selected to mimic the surface of silica gel. The effects of distance from the surface and the role of hydrogen bond (H–bond) on the ΔHacidityvalues of these catalysts were investigated. DFT calculations revealed that a notable gap of ΔHacidityvalues exists between the structures considering lateral hydrogen bonding with the surface of the silicaHB structureand the structures with omitted surface interactions (non-HB structures). Natural bonding orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses were carried out to obtain detailed information about the nature of the H–bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Good correlation exists between experimental and computed pK a values. [•] The average error was found to be less than 1.6pK a unit. [•] In the series of analogous structures, the PA values decrease as the number of phenyl groups increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the drastic influence of the boron atom on the acidity of alcohol has been con-sidered. The calculated ΔHacid (320.9--338.1 kcal/mol) and pKa range of boron containing alcohol (--0.1--9.4) indicate that the boronation of alcohol leads to considerable enhancement of its acidity. For instance, we have obtained the ΔHacid values 338.1, 335.2 kcal/mol and the pKa values 4.12, 2.81 for BH2CH2OH, BF2CH2OH alcohols, respectively, which are much smaller than that of CH3OH (with ΔHacid = 374.9kcal/mol and pKa = 15). The increase in the acidity of boronated alcohol can be related to the stabilization of alkoxy ion due to overlap of unoc-cupied orbital of boron atom with the electron pairs of negative oxygen. All gas phase computations were performed at MP2/6-311++G(d,p)//(B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) level. The primary results indicate that the presence of boron atom in an alcohol might make it as acidic as nitric acid. The geometry optimization of studied structures was performed with DFT computation and optimized structures were used to carry out natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. NBO analysis revealed that the increase in the acidity of boron-containing alcohols is due to the charge transfer from the negative oxygen (in deprotonated structure) to the empty orbital of --BH2 and --BF2. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was also applied to determine the nature of bonds formed in the deprotonated structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the specific target of calculating the pK a values of boronic acids (RB(OH)2) in aqueous solution we inquired the solute–solvent interactions of these acids and their corresponding conjugate base. Relative pK a values were computed for each boronic acid using methylboronic acid (CH3B(OH)2) as a reference. All gas phase computations were performed at (MP2/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) level of theory. Solvation was included in the calculations using the polarized continuum model (PCM) at the HF/6-31G(d,p) level. The geometry optimization of studied structures was performed with DFT computation and the optimized structures were used to carry out Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis was examined as indicator for the variations observed in the calculated pK a. Natural resonance theory (NRT) was used to calculate the natural bond order and predict bond polarity. The NRT results indicate that the O–H bonds in all studied compounds have an electrovalency character. The results revealed that difference in acid strength is more relevant to the type of substituent. The electron withdrawing substituent will increase the acidic strength. However, the electron releasing substituent will have a reverse effect and decrease the acidic strength. There are good agreement between theoretical values and experimental results for this series of compounds, the average error was found to be less than 1.2 pK a unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of selected metal ions on the gas-phase acidity of weak organic acids have been explored using the DFT and Moller–Plesset Perturbation Theory (MP2) calculations. The three organic acids selected for this study were acetic acid (aliphatic), benzoic acid (aromatic), and glycine (amino acid). The acidities of these compounds are compared with the acidity of their Li+-, Na+-, and K+-complexed species. The results indicate that upon complexation with Li+, Na+, and K+ at 298 K, the gas-phase acidity of acetic acid, for example, varies from 345.3 to 218.8, 230.2, and 240.1 kcal/mol, respectively (i.e., its dissociation becomes much less endothermic). These values indicate that a weak organic acid can be converted to a super acid when it is complexed with an ionic metal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The derivatives of glucose such as glucosamine (β-D-GlcN) and N-acetyl-D-β-glucosamine (GlcNAc) are significant in several biological systems. D-GlcN has been used widely to treat osteoarthritis in humans and animal models as well as GlcNAc has been proposed as a treatment for autoimmune diseases. The DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G (d,p) method as well as QTAIM and NBO analyses were used to the acidity values of D-GlcN and GlcNAc sugars and their complexes with alkali ions in the gas phase. The Li+, Na+ and K+ prefer bi-dentate chelate in these complexes. The computed results indicate that metal ion affinity (MIA) in GlcNAc is higher than that in D-GlcN. There are direct correlations between the MIA values of D-GlcN and GlcNAc sugars and the atomic numbers of Li, Na, and K. The calculated acidity values for GlcNAc at C 2 –NH and C 6 –HO 6 sites are 331 and 333 kcal mol−1, respectively. Whereas the calculated acidity values for D-GlcN at C 2 –NH and C 6 –HO 6 sites are 365 and 372 kcal mol−1, respectively. The AIM and NBO analyses indicate the presence of intramolecular H-bonds in GlcNAc sugar in both its neutral form and conjugate base; whereas D-GlcN indicates intramolecular H-bonds in only its conjugate base. Image 1 • Hydrogen bonding effect on Acidity of d -Glucosamine and N-Acetyl- d -Glucosamine. • Metal Ion Affinity of d -Glucosamine and N-Acetyl- d -Glucosamine. • D-Glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as ideal cation exchangers models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]