Experimental and computational thermochemistry: how strong is the intramolecular hydrogen bond in alkyl 2-hydroxybenzoates (salicylates).

Hydrogen bonding (HB) is a fascinating phenomenon that exhibits unusual properties in organic and biomolecules. The qualitative manifestation of hydrogen bonds is known in numerous chemical processes. However, quantifying HB strength is a challenging task, especially in the case of intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. It is qualitatively well established that the alkyl 2-hydroxybenzoates have strong intra-HB. The thermochemical methods suitable for the determination of intra-HB strength were the focus of this study. The experimental gas phase formation enthalpies for alkyl 2-hydroxybenzoates (including methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl) at 298.15 K were derived from a combination of vapour pressure measurements and high-precision combustion calorimetry and validated by the quantum chemical methods G3MP2 and G4. The intra-HB strength in methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate was determined from the evaluated gas-phase enthalpies of formation by comparing the energies of cis- and trans- conformers, by well-balanced reactions, the "para-ortho" method and the "HB and Out" method. All these methods give a common level of intra-molecular hydrogen bond strength of -43 kJ mol-1. The intra-HB strength was found to be independent of the chain length of the alkyl 2-hydroxybenzoates.

Sublimation Study of Six 5-Substituted-1,10-Phenanthrolines by Knudsen Effusion Mass Loss and Solution Calorimetry.

The vapor pressures of six solid 5-X-1,10-phenanthrolines (where X = Cl, CH3, CN, OCH3, NH2, NO2) were determined in suitable temperature ranges by Knudsen Effusion Mass Loss (KEML). From the temperature dependencies of vapor pressure, the molar sublimation enthalpies, ΔcrgHm0(⟨T⟩), were calculated at the corresponding average ⟨T⟩ of the explored temperature ranges. Since to the best of our knowledge no thermochemical data seem to be available in the literature regarding these compounds, the ΔcrgHm0(⟨T⟩) values obtained by KEML experiments were adjusted to 298.15 K using a well known empirical procedure reported in the literature. The standard (p0 = 0.1 MPa) molar sublimation enthalpies, ΔcrgHm0(298.15 K), were compared with those determined using a recently proposed solution calorimetry approach, which was validated using a remarkable amount of thermochemical data of molecular compounds. For this purpose, solution enthalpies at infinite dilution of the studied 5-chloro and 5-methylphenantrolines in benzene were measured at 298.15 K. Good agreement was found between the values derived by the two different approaches, and final mean values of ΔcrgHm0(298.15 K) were recommended. Finally, the standard molar entropies and Gibbs energies of sublimation were also derived at T = 298.15 K. The volatilities of the six compounds were found to vary over a range of three orders of magnitude in the explored temperature range. The large difference in volatility was analyzed in the light of enthalpies and entropies of sublimation. The latter was tentatively put in relation to the rotational contribution of the substituent group on the phenanthroline unit.

Nearest-Neighbor and Non-Nearest-Neighbor Interactions between Substituents in the Benzene Ring. Experimental and Theoretical Study of Functionally Substituted Benzamides.

Standard molar enthalpies of formation of 2- and 4-hydroxybenzamides were measured by combustion calorimetry. Vapor pressures of benzamide and 2-hydroxybenzamide were derived by the transpiration method. Standard molar enthalpies of sublimation or vaporization of these compounds at 298 K were obtained from vapor pressure temperature dependence. Thermochemical data on benzamides with hydroxyl, methyl, methoxy, amino, and amide substituents were collected, evaluated, and tested for internal consistency. The high-level G4 quantum-chemical method was used for mutual validation of the experimental and theoretical gas-phase enthalpies of formation. Sets of nearest-neighbor and non-nearest-neighbor interactions between substituents in the benzene ring have been evaluated. A simple incremental procedure has been suggested for a quick appraisal of the vaporization and gas-phase formation enthalpies of the substituted benzamides.

Benchmark Thermodynamic Properties of Methyl- and Methoxybenzamides: Comprehensive Experimental and Theoretical Study.

The enthalpies of formation of 2-, 3-, and 4-CH3-benzamide, as well as for 2-CH3O-benzamide, were measured by using combustion calorimetry. Vapor pressures of the isomeric CH3- and CH3O-benzamides were measured by using the transpiration method. The enthalpies of sublimation/vaporization of these compounds at 298 K were obtained from temperature dependencies of vapor pressures. The enthalpies of solution of the isomeric CH3- and CH3O-benzamides were measured with solution calorimetry. The enthalpies of sublimation of m- and p-substituted benzamides were independently derived with help of a solution calorimetry-based procedure. The enthalpies of fusion of the CH3-benzamides were derived from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Thermochemical data on CH3- and CH3O-benzamides were collected, evaluated, and tested for internal consistency. A simple incremental procedure was suggested for a quick appraisal of vaporization enthalpies of substituted benzamides. The high-level G4 quantum-chemical method was used for mutual validation of the experimental and theoretical gas-phase enthalpies of formation. A remarkable ability of the G4-based atomization procedure to calculate reliable enthalpies of formation was established for the set of aliphatic and aromatic amides. An outlook for the proper validation of the G4-AT procedure was discussed.