Aminohydroxymethylene (H2N-C̈-OH), the Simplest Aminooxycarbene.

We generated and isolated hitherto unreported aminohydroxymethylene (1, aminohydroxycarbene) in solid Ar via pyrolysis of oxalic acid monoamide (2). Astrochemically relevant carbene 1 is persistent under cryogenic conditions and only decomposes to HNCO + H2 and NH3 + CO upon irradiation of the matrix at 254 nm. This photoreactivity is contrary to other hydroxycarbenes and aminomethylene, which undergo [1,2]H shifts to the corresponding carbonyls or imine. The experimental data are well supported by the results of CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) computations.

Tunnelling in carbonic acid.

The cis,trans-conformer of carbonic acid (H2CO3), generated by near-infrared radiation, undergoes an unreported quantum mechanical tunnelling rotamerization with half-lives in cryogenic matrices of 4-20 h, depending on temperature and host material. First-principles quantum chemistry at high levels of theory gives a tunnelling half-life of about 1 h, quite near those measured for the fastest rotamerizations.

Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignment of Crypto-Optically Active (2) H6 -Neopentane.

The determination of the absolute configuration of chiral molecules is at the heart of asymmetric synthesis. Here we probe the spectroscopic limits for chiral discrimination with NMR spectroscopy in chiral aligned media and with vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy of the sixfold-deuterated chiral neopentane. The study of this compound presents formidable challenges since its stereogenicity is only due to small mass differences. For this purpose, we selectively prepared both enantiomers of (2) H6 -1 through a concise synthesis utilizing multifunctional intermediates. While NMR spectroscopy in chiral aligned media could be used to characterize the precursors to (2) H6 -1, the final assignment could only be accomplished with VCD spectroscopy, despite the fleetingly small dichroic properties of 1. Both enantiomers were assigned by matching the VCD spectra with those computed with density functional theory.

Preparation of a silanone through oxygen atom transfer to a stable cyclic silylene.

We report the evaporation of a stable cyclic silylene and its oxidation (with ozone or N2 O) through oxygen atom transfer to form the corresponding silanone under matrix isolation conditions. As uncomplexed silanones are rare owing to their very high reactivity, this method provides an alternative route to these sought-after molecules. The silanone, as well as a novel bicyclic silane with a bridgehead silicon atom derived from an intramolecular silylene CH bond insertion, were characterized by comparison of high-resolution infrared spectra with density functional theory (DFT) computations at the M06-2X/cc-pVDZ level of theory.

Domino Tunneling.

Matrix-isolation experiments near 3 K and state-of-the-art quantum chemical computations demonstrate that oxalic acid [1, (COOH)2] exhibits a sequential quantum mechanical tunneling phenomenon not previously observed. Intensities of numerous infrared (IR) bands were used to monitor the temporal evolution of the lowest-energy O-H rotamers (1cTc, 1cTt, 1tTt) of oxalic acid for up to 19 days following near-infrared irradiation of the matrix. The relative energies of these rotamers are 0.0 (1cTc), 2.6 (1cTt), and 4.0 (1tTt) kcal mol(-1). A 1tTt → 1cTt → 1cTc isomerization cascade was observed with half-lives (t1/2) in different matrix sites ranging from 30 to 360 h, even though the sequential barriers of 9.7 and 10.4 kcal mol(-1) are much too high to be surmounted thermally under cryogenic conditions. A general mathematical model was developed for the complex kinetics of a reaction cascade with species in distinct matrix sites. With this model, a precise, global nonlinear least-squares fit was achieved simultaneously on the temporal profiles of nine IR bands of the 1cTc, 1cTt, and 1tTt rotamers. Classes of both fast (t(1/2) = 30-50 h) and slow (t(1/2) > 250 h) matrix sites were revealed, with the decay rate of the former in close agreement with first-principles computations for the conformational tunneling rates of the corresponding isolated molecules. Rigorous kinetic and theoretical analyses thus show that a "domino" tunneling mechanism is at work in these oxalic acid transformations.

Reactions of the methylsulfinyl radical [CH3(O)S˙] with oxygen ((3)O2) in solid argon.

The atmospherically highly relevant methylsulfinyl radical (CH3(O)S˙) readily reacts with molecular triplet oxygen in cryogenic argon matrices containing small amounts of (3)O2. Comparison of experimental and computed IR- and UV/Vis spectra, including isotope exchange, show that the initially formed (3)O2 adduct has the structure of a peroxyl radical (CH3(O)SOO˙), which upon irradiation with UV light isomerizes to the methylsulfonoxyl radical (CH3SO3˙). The latter transforms into the methansulfonic acid radical (˙CH2SO3H) by irradiation with visible light. During the matrix photolysis small amounts of SO3 and the methyl radical were detected indicating competitive direct photodissociation.

Gas-phase generation and matrix isolation of the methylsulfonyl radical CH3SO2˙ from allylmethylsulfone.

The atmospherically highly relevant methylsulfonyl radical (CH3SO2(•)) was generated by high-vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) of allylmethylsulfone and isolated in an argon matrix at 10 K; the allyl radical formed as the cofragment. Upon thermolysis, the methylsulfonyl radical undergoes partial decomposition, leading to substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide in the matrix. The title compound was characterized through the assignment of eight fundamental IR bands of its CD3 and (13)CH3 isotopologues and the excellent agreement with the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,3pd) computed harmonic vibrational frequencies. The two most intense absorptions were found at 1267.1 and 1067.6 cm(-1). In extension of this study S-methyl methanethiosulfonate was found to be another suitable, although less efficient, precursor for the gas-phase generation of the methylsulfonyl radical.

Gas-phase preparation of carbonic acid and its monomethyl ester.

Carbonic acid (H2CO3), an essential molecule of life (e.g., as bicarbonate buffer), has been well characterized in solution and in the solid state, but for a long time, it has eluded its spectral characterization in the gas phase owing to a lack of convenient preparation methods; microwave spectra were recorded only recently. Here we present a novel and general method for the preparation of H2CO3 and its monomethyl ester (CH3OCO2H) through the gas-phase pyrolysis of di-tert-butyl and tert-butyl methyl carbonate, respectively. H2CO3 and CH3OCO2H were trapped in noble-gas matrices at 8 K, and their infrared spectra match those computed at high levels of theory [focal point analysis beyond CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ] very well. Whereas the spectra also perfectly agree with those of the vapor phase above the ß-polymorph of H2CO3, this is not true for the previously reported α-polymorph. Instead, the vapor phase above α-H2CO3 corresponds to CH3OCO2H, which sheds new light on the research that has been conducted on molecular H2CO3 over the last decades.

Combined ab initio molecular dynamics and experimental studies of carbon atom addition to benzene.

Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics was used to explore the reactions between triplet and singlet carbon atoms with benzene. The computations reveal that, in the singlet C atom reaction, products are very exothermic where nearly every collision yields a product that is determined by the initial encounter geometry. The singlet C atom reaction does not follow the minimum energy path because the bimolecular reaction is controlled by dynamics (i.e., initial orientation of encounter). On the other hand, in a 10 K solid Ar matrix, ground state C((3)P) atoms do tend to follow RRKM kinetics. Thus, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) results indicate that a significant fraction of C-H insertion occurs to form phenylcarbene whereas, in marked contrast to previous theoretical and experimental conclusions, the Ar matrix isolation studies indicate a large fraction of direct cycloheptatetraene formation, without the intermediacy of phenylcarbene. The AIMD calculations are more consistent with vaporized carbon atom experiments where labeling studies indicate the initial formation of phenylcarbene. This underlines that the availability of thermodynamic sinks can completely alter the observed reaction dynamics.

Matrix isolation and spectroscopic properties of the methylsulfinyl radical CH3(O)S˙.

The atmospherically highly relevant methylsulfinyl radical CH3(O)S˙ was generated thermally under flash pyrolysis conditions and isolated in Ar matrices at 10 K; the allyl radical is a byproduct. CH3(O)S˙ and its D3- and (13)C-isotopologues were characterized through the excellent agreement between experimental and computed IR and UV/Vis spectra.

Kinetics of carbon mineralization of biochars compared with wheat straw in three soils.

Application of biochars to soils may stabilize soil organic matter and sequester carbon (C). The objectives of our research were to study in vitro C mineralization kinetics of various biochars in comparison with wheat straw in three soils and to study their contribution to C stabilization. Three soils (Oxisol, Alfisol topsoil, and Alfisol subsoil) were incubated at 25°C with wheat straw, charcoal, hydrothermal carbonization coal (HTC), low-temperature conversion coal (LTC), and a control (natural organic matter). Carbon mineralization was analyzed by alkali absorption of CO released at regular intervals over 365 d. Soil samples taken after 5 and 365 d of incubation were analyzed for soluble organic C and inorganic N. Chemical characterization of biochars and straw for C and N bonds was performed with Fourier transformation spectroscopy and with the N fractionation method, respectively. The LTC treatment contained more N in the heterocyclic-bound N fraction as compared with the biochars and straw. Charcoal was highly carbonized when compared with the HTC and LTC. The results show higher C mineralization and a lower half-life of straw-C compared with biochars. Among biochars, HTC showed some C mineralization when compared with charcoal and LTC over 365 d. Carbon mineralization rates were different in the three soils. The half-life of charcoal-C was higher in the Oxisol than in the Alfisol topsoil and subsoil, possibly due to high Fe-oxides in the Oxisol. The LTC-C had a higher half-life, possibly due to N unavailability. We conclude that biochar stabilization can be influenced by soil type.

Conformations and reactions of bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-8-ylidene.

Bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-8-ylidene (1) can assume either the conformation of "classical" carbene 1a or that of foiled carbene 1b in which the divalent carbon bends toward the double bond. Oxadiazoline precursors for the generation of 1 were prepared, followed by photochemical and thermal decomposition as well as flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of a tosyl hydrazone sodium salt precursor, to give a number of rearrangement products. Matrix isolation experiments demonstrate the presence of a diazo intermediate and methyl acetate in all photochemical and thermal precursor reactions. The major product from rearrangements of "classical" bridged carbene 1a is bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-1,3-diene as a result of an alkyl shift, while dihydrosemibullvalene formed from a 1,3-C-H insertion. In contrast, thus far unknown strained bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,7-diene formed by a vinyl shift in foiled carbene 1b. The experimental results are corroborated by density functional theory (DFT), MP2, and G4 computations.

Methylhydroxycarbene: tunneling control of a chemical reaction.

Chemical reactivity is conventionally understood in broad terms of kinetic versus thermodynamic control, wherein the decisive factor is the lowest activation barrier among the various reaction paths or the lowest free energy of the final products, respectively. We demonstrate that quantum-mechanical tunneling can supersede traditional kinetic control and direct a reaction exclusively to a product whose reaction path has a higher barrier. Specifically, we prepared methylhydroxycarbene (H(3)C-C-OH) via vacuum pyrolysis of pyruvic acid at about 1200 kelvin (K), followed by argon matrix trapping at 11 K. The previously elusive carbene, characterized by ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy as well as exacting quantum-mechanical computations, undergoes a facile [1,2]hydrogen shift to acetaldehyde via tunneling under a barrier of 28.0 kilocalories per mole (kcal mol(-1)), with a half-life of around 1 hour. The analogous isomerization to vinyl alcohol has a substantially lower barrier of 22.6 kcal mol(-1) but is precluded at low temperature by the greater width of the potential energy profile for tunneling.

Intramolecular hydroxycarbene C-H-insertion: The curious case of (o-methoxyphenyl)hydroxycarbene.

The first C-H insertion of a hydroxycarbene species in the gas phase has been observed experimentally by means of high vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) and subsequent matrix isolation: (o-Methoxyphenyl)glyoxylic acid gives non-isolable (o-methoxyphenyl)hydroxycarbene upon pyrolysis at 600 °C, which rapidly inserts into the methyl C-H bond. The insertion product, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ol, was trapped in an excess of Ar at 11 K and characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The insertion process kinetically outruns the alternative [1,2]H-tunneling reaction to o-anisaldehyde, a type of reaction observed for other hydroxycarbenes. Traces of the dehydration product, benzo[b]furan, were also detected. The potential energy hypersurface including the insertion and hydrogen migration processes was computed at the all-electron coupled-cluster level of theory encompassing single and double substitutions and perturbatively included triple excitations [AE-CCSD(T)] in conjunction with a correlation-consistent double-ζ basis set (cc-pVDZ) by utilizing density functional theory (DFT) optimized geometries (M06-2X/cc-pVDZ) with zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrections. Exchange of the methoxy for a trifluoromethoxy group successfully prevents insertion and (o-trifluoromethoxy)benzaldehyde is produced instead; however, the carbene cannot be observed under these conditions. Thermal decomposition of (o-methoxyphenyl)glyoxylic acid in refluxing xylenes does not give the insertion product but yields o-anisaldehyde. This unanticipated outcome can be rationalized by protonation of the hydroxycarbene intermediate leading to the tautomeric formyl group. Thermochemical computations at M06-2X/cc-pVDZ in conjunction with a self-consistent solvent reaction field model support this suggested reaction pathway.

Electronic effects on atom tunneling: conformational isomerization of monomeric para-substituted benzoic acid derivatives.

We present the first generation and spectroscopic identification of the higher-lying E conformer of the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid, benzoic acid (1a), as its O-deuterated isotopologue (E)-d(1)-1a using matrix-isolation techniques; the parent (E)-1a could not be observed because of fast H-tunneling to the more stable conformer (Z)-1a. Even deuterated (E)-d(1)-1a converts quickly back to (Z)-d(1)-1a through D-tunneling with a half-life (τ) of ∼12 min in Ar at 11 K. Tunneling computations using an Eckart barrier in conjunction with a CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/cc-pVDZ + ZPVE intrinsic reaction path revealed that τ of (E)-1a is only ∼10(-5) min, in marked contrast to those of simple aliphatic acids, which are in the range of minutes. The electronic substituent effects on D-tunneling in para-substituted benzoic acid derivatives (p-X-PhCOOD, d(1)-1) were systematically studied in Ar matrices at 11 K to derive the first Hammett relationships for atom tunneling. σ-Electron donors (X = alkyl) increase the half-life of d(1)-1, while σ-acceptor/π-donor groups (X = OD, NH(2), halogen) and to an even greater extent a σ-/π-acceptor group (X = NO(2)) decrease τ. The latter finding is in line with the smaller E-to-Z reaction barriers and narrower reaction widths for the isomerization. Tunneling substituent constants (σ(t)) for this conformational isomerization were derived experimentally and computationally.

Oxathiirane.

We describe the first preparation of the long-sought parent oxathiirane from sulfine through photochemical rearrangement with light at lambda = 313 +/- 10 nm in an Ar matrix at 11 K. Oxathiirane was characterized by the extraordinarily good agreement of experimentally measured and (unscaled) CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ computed vibrational frequencies for both the perhydrogenated and perdeuterated species. The title molecule is ca. 10 kcal mol(-1) less stable than sulfine, in marked contrast to the isomer energy difference of dioxirane vs carbonyl oxide (ca. -25 kcal mol(-1)). This is due to the strong positive polarization (blue potential) versus the highly electronegative oxygen atom (red). The stability ordering and the relative energy differences of carbonyl versus thiocarbonyl groups underline the likely role oxathiiranes play in sulfur transfer reactions.

Phenylhydroxycarbene.

Phenylhydroxycarbene (Ph-C-OH, 1), the parent of all arylhydroxycarbenes, was generated by high-vacuum flash pyrolysis of phenylglyoxylic acid at 600 degrees C and spectroscopically characterized (IR, UV-vis) via immediate matrix isolation in solid Ar at 11 K. The identity of 1 was unequivocally confirmed by the precise agreement between the observed IR bands and (unscaled) anharmonic vibrational frequencies computed from a CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ quartic force field. The UV-vis spectrum of 1 displays a broad band with maximum absorption at 500 +/- 25 nm (2.5 +/- 0.1 eV) that extends to approximately 640 nm (1.9 eV), in full accord with combined CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ and EOM-CCSD/cc-pVTZ computations that yield a gas-phase vertical (adiabatic) excitation energy of 2.7 (1.9) eV. Unlike singlet phenylchlorocarbene, 1 does not undergo photochemical ring expansion. Instead, 1 exhibits quantum-mechanical hydrogen tunneling to benzaldehyde underneath a formidable barrier of 28.8 kcal mol(-1), even at cryogenic temperatures. The remarkable hydrogen tunneling mechanism is supported by the temperature insensitivity of the observed half-life (2.5 h) and substantiated by a comparable theoretical half-life (3.3 h) determined from high-level barrier penetration integrals computed along the intrinsic reaction path. As expected, deuteration turns off the tunneling mechanism, so d-1 is stable under otherwise identical conditions.

Infrared signatures of the NCCO radical.

The first definitive infrared signatures of the elusive NCCO radical have been measured using a microwave discharge technique combined with low-temperature matrix-isolation spectroscopy, resulting in a consistent set of vibrational assignments for six isotopologues. The infrared spectra of these NCCO isotopologues were concomitantly established by rigorous variational nuclear-motion computations based on a high-level coupled-cluster quartic vibrational force field [ROCCSD(T)/cc-pCVQZ] and cubic dipole field [ROCCSD/cc-pCVTZ]. Our experimental and theoretical results for NCCO overturn the vibrational assignments in a NIST-JANAF compilation and those from a recent two-dimensional cross-spectral correlation analysis. For the parent isotopologue at 11 K in a nitrogen matrix, we find the signature bands nu(2)(CO str.) = 1889.2 cm(-1) and nu(3)(CC str.) = 782.0 cm(-1). Our variational vibrational computations reveal strong mixing of the nu(3) stretching fundamental and the nu(4) + nu(5) bending combination level for all isotopologues. These Fermi resonances manifest a clear breakdown of the simple normal-mode picture of molecular vibrations at low energies.

[123]Tetramantane: parent of a new family of sigma-helicenes.

We present a new type of sigma-helical structure based on a diamondoid (nanodiamond) framework, C(2)-symmetric [123]tetramantane, whose (+) and (-) isomers could be enantioseparated by HPLC techniques. Bromination of the enantiopure hydrocarbon led to the isolation of (+)-7-bromo-[123]tetramantane, which could be crystallized and subjected to X-ray structure analysis. Using the anomalous dispersion, we have identified this compound as the P isomer for the hydrocarbon moiety. Experimental and computed optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra independently and in agreement with the X-ray structure analysis gave M-(-) as the configuration of the second eluted parent hydrocarbon isomer.