How the Lewis Base F-Catalyzes the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition between Carbon Dioxide and Nitrilimines

The mechanism of the Lewis base F- catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between CO2 and nitrilimines is interrogated using DFT calculations. F- activates the nitrilimine, not CO2 as proposed in the literature, and imparts a significant rate enhancement for the cycloaddition. The origin of this catalysis is in the strength of the primary orbital interactions between the reactants. The Lewis base activated nitrilimine-F- has high-lying filled FMOs. The smaller FMO-LUMO gap promotes a rapid nucleophilic attack and overall cycloaddition with CO2.