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The mechanism of free radical oxygenation of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), one of the biologically important sterols, is investigated by using density functional theory. The energetic origin of the product distribution and the stereoelectronic factors involved in various mechanistic pathways are delineated. The addition of triplet molecular oxygen to two types of conjugatively stabilized radicals, generated by the removal of the reactive allylic hydrogens from C9 or C14 positions, respectively denoted as H9 and H14 pathways, is studied. The distortion interaction analysis of the C-O bond formation transition states suggests that the energetic preference toward the a prochiral face stems from reduced skeletal distortions of the cholesterol backbone as compared to that in the corresponding beta prochiral face. This insight derived through a detailed quantitative analysis of the stereocontrolling transition states suggests that the commonly found interpretations solely based on steric interactions between the incoming oxygen and the protruding angular methyl groups (C10, C13 methyls) in the beta face calls for adequate refinement. The relative energies of the transition states for molecular oxygen addition to C9, C5, and C14 (where spin densities are higher) and the ensuing products thereof are in agreement with the experimentally reported distribution of oxygenated 7-DHCs.

Mechanistic insights into the factors responsible for the reversible hydrogen-activation ability exhibited by an aryl phosphine-borane system ((CH(3))(2)P-C(6)F(4)-B(CF(3))(2)) are presented. A detailed evaluation of the energies of various intermediates, generated by the addition of molecular hydrogen, and their interconverting barriers have been carried out using ab initio and DFT methods. Several rearrangement possibilities of the H(2)-phosphinoborane adduct have been investigated so as to unravel the lower energy pathways that convert the initial adduct to a series of other intermediates. The initial adduct formed by the heterolytic addition of a molecular hydrogen across the C-B bond is identified to undergo a series of rearrangement reactions until it terminates at the C-P end of the molecule. Among the possible 1,n-migrations (for which n = 1-5), 1,2-proton migrations are found to possess lower energy transition states, whereas 1,2-hydride (in a zwitterionic intermediate) and 1,4-proton-coupled electron transfers exhibited much higher energy transition states. The minimum energy pathway for the transfer of a proton and hydride from the C-B bond to the C-P bond is found to involve a cascade of 1,2-proton transfers followed by a 1,2-hydride migration and finally a 1,40 proton-coupled electron transfer. The higher energy pathways identified for the hydride transfer suggest the possibility of a cascade of reversible proton migrations from a thermodynamically stable intermediate (M(a)). Possible uptake of two hydrogen molecules by the phosphine-borane system is additionally considered in the present study., in which relatively higher barriers than those with one molecule of hydrogen are observed. The computed thermodynamic parameters are found to be in accordance with the experimental observations, in which the uptake and storage of molecular hydrogen are carried out at lower temperatures whereas the liberation demands elevated temperatures.

The developments in the area of transition-metal pincer complexes have opened up new avenues for conversion of saturated hydrocarbons to more useful aromatic compounds under homogeneous reaction conditions. In the backdrop of an interesting series of conversions of unbranched alkanes to benzene, toluene, and xylene (known as the BTX family aromatics) reported by Goldman and co-workers (Nature Chem. 2011, 3, 167), we herein present a comprehensive mechanistic picture obtained by using density functional computations. The reaction involves an iridium-PCP-pincer-catalyzed dehydroaromatization of hexane to benzene (in which PCP=η(3) -C6 H3 (iPrP)2 -1,3) by using tert-butylethylene (TBE) as a sacrificial acceptor. The most energetically preferred pathway for a sequence of dehydrogenations is identified to begin with a terminal CH bond activation of n-hexane leading to the formation of hex-1-ene. Although the initial dehydrogenation of n-hexane was found to be endergonic, the accompanying exoergic hydrogenation of TBE to tert-butylethane (TBA) compensates the energetics to keep the catalytic cycle efficient. Subsequent dehydrogenations provide a hexa-1,3-diene and then a hexa-1,3,5-triene. The pincer bound triene is identified to undergo cyclization to furnish cyclohexadiene. Eventually, dehydrogenation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene offers benzene. In the most preferred pathway, the Gibbs free energy barrier for cyclization leading to the formation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene is found to exhibit the highest barrier (21.7 kcal mol(-1) ).

The reactions of excited state singlet molecular oxygen ((1)Delta(g), O-1(2)) continue to witness interesting new developments. In the most recent manifestation, O-1(2) is tamed to react with enecarbamates in a stereoselective manner, which is remarkable, in view of its inherently high reactivity (Acc. Chem. Res. 2008, 41, 387). Herein, we employed the CAS-MP2(8,7)/6-31G* as well as the CAS-MP2(10,8)/6-31G* computations to unravel the origin of (i) diastereoselectivities in dioxetane or hydroperoxide formation and (ii) regioselectivity leading to a [2 + 2] cycloadduct or an ene product when O-1(2) reacts with an oxazolidinone tethered 2-phenyl-1-propenyl system. The computed Gibbs free energy profiles for E- and Z-isomers when O-1(2) approaches through the hindered and nonhindered diastereotopic faces (by virtue of chiral oxazolidinone) of the enecarbamates exhibit distinct differences. In the case of E-isomer, the relative energies of the transition structures responsible for hydroperoxide (ene product) are lower than that for dioxetane formation. On the other hand, the ene pathway is predicted to involve higher barriers as compared to the corresponding dioxetane pathway for Z-isomer. The energy difference between the rate-determining diastereomeric transition structures involved in the most favored ene reaction for E-enecarbamate suggests high diastereoselectivity. In contrast, the corresponding energy difference for Z-enecarbamate in the ene pathway is found to be diminishingly close, implying low diastereoselectivity. However, the dioxetane formation from Z-enecarbamate is predicted to exhibit high diastereoselectivity. The application of activation strain model as well as the differences in stereoelectronic effects in the stereocontrolling transition structures is found to be effective toward rationalizing the origin of selectivities reported herein. These predictions are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental observations.

The mechanism and stereoselectivity of the aziridination reaction between guanidinium ylide and a series of para-substituted benzaldehydes have been studied by using density functional theory methods. The mechanistic details and analyses of the key elementary steps involved in (a) the addition of nitrogen ylide to benzaldehydes and (b) subsequent fragmentation of the resulting oxaspirocyclic intermediate are presented. The relative energies of important transition states and intermediates are found to be useful toward rationalizing reported diastereoselective product formation. The relative energies of the key transition states could be rationalized on the basis of the differences in steric, electrostatic, and other stabilizing weak interactions. The deformation analysis of the transition state geometries exhibited good correlation with the predicted activation barriers. The changes in cis/trans diastereoselectivity preferences upon changes in the electron donating/withdrawing abilities of the para substituents on benzaldehyde are identified as arising due to vital differences in the preferred pathways. The large value of reaction constant (rho > 4.8) estimated from the slope of good linear Hammett plots indicated high sensitivity to the electronic nature of substituents on benzaldehyde. The formation of trans-aziridine in the case of strong electron donating groups and cis-aziridines with weakly electron donating/withdrawing group has been explained by the likely changes in the mechanistic course of the reaction. In general, the predicted trends are found to be in good agreement with the earlier experimental reports.

The mechanism of M(II)-PNP-pincer catalyzed reaction between (i) ethene, (ii) trans-butene with 2-methylbut-2-ene, 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene and tert-butylbutene is examined by using density functional theory methods (where M = Pt or Pd). All key intermediates and transition states involved in the reaction are precisely located on the respective potential energy surfaces using the popular DFT functionals such as mPW1K, M06-2X, and B3LYP in conjunction with the 6-31+G** basis set. The reaction between these olefins can lead to a linear coupling product or a substituted cyclopropane. The energetic comparison between coupling as well as cyclopropanation pathways involving four pairs of olefins for both platinum (1-4) and palladium (5-8) catalyzed reactions is performed. The key events in the lower energy pathway in the mechanistic course involves (i) a C-C bond formation between the metal bound olefin (ethene or trans-butene) and a free olefin, and (ii) two successive [1,2] hydrogen migrations in the ensuing carbocationic intermediates (1c-4c, and 1d-4d), toward the formation of the coupling product. The computed barriers for these steps in the reaction of metal bound ethene to free tert-butylbutene (or other butenes) are found to be much lower than the corresponding steps when trans-butene is bound to the metal pincer. The Gibbs free energy differences between the transition states leading to the coupling product (TS(d-e)) and that responsible for cyclopropanated product (TS(d-g)) are found to be diminishingly closer in the case of the platinum pincer as compared to that in the palladium system. The computed energetics indicate that the coupled product prefers to remain as a metal olefin complex, consistent with the earlier experimental reports.

A new Na(I)/Cu(I-II) heterometallic coordination complex [Cu(2)L(2)Na(NCO)(2)Cu](n) (1) with an unusual architecture has been synthesised. In 1 cyclic Na-O-Cu-O-Cu cages constructed by the tetradentate N(2)O(2) donor Schiff base ligand (H(2)L = N, N'-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone) propylenediimine) are interconnected to each other by a rare singly end-to-end bridged OCN-Cu(I)-NCO link generating 1D chain. The complex has been characterised by elemental, spectral and structural analysis. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 has been compared with the analogous complexes. Cryomagnetic susceptibility studies indicate the copper(II) centers in the cyclic Na-O-Cu-O-Cu cages are antiferromagnetically coupled with J = -13.8 cm(-1). Complex 1 is a new addition to a class of rare singly end-to-end cyanato bridged copper(I) species and interestingly the copper ions involved in OCN-Cu(I)-NCO links possess a linear 2-coordinate geometry. Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to gain additional insights into the metal and ligand orbitals participating in this unusual structure.