Theoretical insights into the reaction mechanisms between azacyclopropenylidene and R-H (R = F, OH, NH₂, CH₃): An alternative approach to the formation of ketenimine

Article type: Research Article

Authors: He, Wenxing^a | Wang, Weihua^b | Tan, Xiaojun^{a; *} | Li, Ping^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] College of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China | [b] School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, P.R. China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Xiaojun Tan, College of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan,Shandong 250022, P.R. China. E-mail: [email protected]

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Ping Li, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong 273165, P.R. China. Tel.: +86 531 82767363.

Abstract: The reaction mechanisms between azacyclopropenylidene and R-H (R = F, OH, NH2, CH3) have been systematically investigated employing the second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory method in order to better understand the reactivity of azacyclopropenylidene with R-H compounds. We have investigated the reaction mechanisms and obtained the potential energy surface of these reactions. The mechanisms of the four reactions are identical to each other. Based on the calculated results, there are three steps along the reaction pathways of azacyclopropenylidene and R-H. The first step is insertion of azacyclopropenylidene into the R-H bond to form the cyclicimine intermediate. The second step is the H-transfer process to form the cyclic carbene intermediate. The third step is the ring-opening process to form ketenimine. Based on the calculated energy barrier the second step is the rate-determining step.

Keywords: Azacyclopropenylidene, reaction mechanisms, MP2 method, ketenimine

DOI: 10.3233/MGC-150178

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 359-367, 2015