A comprehensive decomposition analysis of stabilization energy (CDASE) and its application in locating the rate-determining step of multi-step reactions.

Stabilization energy, as proposed by Parr and Pearson (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1983, 105, 7512) is decomposed into fragments. When the donor is not a perfect one and both the donor and the acceptor are ordinary organic molecules this decomposition is shown to provide energy fragments which, individually, can be correlated to the reaction rate of that particular step. It is shown how these different energy fragments can be used, together with the global electrophilicity value of the acceptor (w(A)), to locate the rate-determining step in multi-step reactions.

Correlation of global electrophilicity with the activation energy in single-step concerted reactions.

The experimental energy of activation (Ea) of the single-step concerted oxidation process of aliphatic primary alcohols by quinolinium bromochromate (QBC) are correlated with the theoretically evaluated global electrophilicity values (w) [as proposed by Parr et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 1922)]. Conceptual justification in favor of correlating w of the substrate with Ea involved in a single-step concerted reaction is also discussed. The evaluated w values at HF/cc-pVTZ and MP2/6-31G(d,p) methods are found to be as expected (when we consider structural aspects), although there are some inconsistencies in other methods [e.g., HF/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, BLYP/dnp, PW91/dnp, PWC/dnp, VWN/dnp]. The reasons for the inconsistencies, even with a superior B3LYP/cc-pVTZ method, are discussed thoroughly. It is observed that the higher the value of w, the more the value of Ea involved in the process of oxidation of primary alcohols by QBC. The present study also reveals that the apparent success of insignificant (i.e., much smaller) local electrophilicity values (S+O(OH)), evaluated using Hirshfeld population analysis (HPA), in explaining observed trend of experimental Ea values turns out to be ambiguous when more significant (i.e., much larger) local nucleophilicity values (S-O(OH)) are also compared. This is evident from the corresponding correlation coefficient values.

Chemoselectivities in acetalization, thioacetalization, oxathioacetalization and azathioacetalization.

In the present article (experimental as well theoretical) the relative yields of cyclic (O,O), (S,S), (S,O), and (S,N) acetals, formed from p-(NO2)C6H4CHO and p-(OH)C6H4CHO, are compared. Atomic charges, global electrophilicity descriptor (w) [as proposed by Parr et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 1922] and hard-soft acid-base concept of Pearson (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1963, 85, 3533) are used to explain the experimental observations. Although the w values can explain the yields, charge and local softness values of the interacting sites explain the plausible reaction mechanism. The bisnucleophiles chosen for acetalization are CH2(OH)-CH2(OH) (glycol), CH2(SH)-CH2(SH) (dithiol), CH2(OH)-CH2(SH) (oxathiol) and CH2(SH)-CH2(NH2) (azathiol). For p-(NO2)C6H4CHO, the experimental yield of cyclic acetals were found to follow the trend as (S,N) > (S,O) > (O,O) > (S,S), which is also supported by theoretical explanation based on the w values and applying the concept of hard-hard (i.e., charge-controlled) and soft-soft (i.e., orbital-controlled) interaction between the interacting sites of the substrates (i.e., aldehydes) and the reactants (bisnucleophiles). Similarly, for p-(OH)C6H4CHO the relative yields of cyclic acetals follow the trend (S,N) approximately (S,S) > (S,O) > (O,O). It is argued that the attack on C(CHO) (i.e., C-atom of the CHO group) in p-(NO2)C6H4CHO by O(OH) (i.e., O-atom of OH group) or N(NH2) (i.e., N-atom of NH2 group) is mainly charge-controlled but the attack on C(CHO) in p-(OH)C6H4CHO) by S(SH) (i.e., S-atom of SH group) is orbital-controlled.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on some series of calcium channel blockers.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been made on four different series of dihydropyrimidine analogs that mimic the most widely studied class of calcium channel blockers (CCBs)-the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) class. The results show that almost all those characteristics that are essential for the activity of 1,4-DHPs are also essential for the activity of dihydropyrimidine analogs. The important characterstics indicated by the present study for dihydropyrimidine analogs are conformation of the molecule, the relative orientation of the aryl ring with respect to the pyrimidine ring, and some substituents capable of forming the hydrogen bonds with the receptor but less bulky in nature, and high molar refractivity of the molecule.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship study on a series of Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been made on a new series of digitalis-like Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors in which the guanylhydrazone group has been replaced by an aminoalkyloxime group. The correlations obtained have shown that the oxime moiety, primary amine group, overall size, and polarizability of the new type of substituents are higly beneficial to the Na+,K+-ATPase inhibition potency of the compounds and that their effect can be quantitatively assessed. The study also showed that the inotropic activity of the compounds is very well correlated with their Na+,K+-ATPase inhibition potency.