Computational Studies of Carbodiimide Rings

Abstract

Computational studies of alicyclic carbodiimides (RN═C═NR) (rings five through twelve) at the MP2/6-31G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory were conducted to locate the transition states between carbodiimides isomers. Transition states for rings six through twelve were found. The RNCNR dihedral angle is ∼0° for even-numbered rings, but deviates from 0° for rings seven, nine, eleven, and twelve. The even- and odd-numbered ring transition states have different symmetry point groups. Cs transition states (even rings) have an imaginary frequency mode that transforms as the asymmetric irreducible representation of the group. C2 transition states (odd rings) have a corresponding mode that transforms as the totally symmetric representation. Intrinsic reaction coordinate analyses followed by energy minimization along the antisymmetric pathways led to enantiomeric pairs. The symmetric pathways give diastereomeric isomers. The five-membered ring carbodiimide is a stable structure, possibly isolable. A twelve-membered ring transition state was found only without applying symmetry constraints (C1). Molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics studies of the seven-, eight-, and nine-membered rings gave additional structures, which were then minimized using ab initio methods. No structures beyond those found from the IRC analyses described were found. The potential for optical resolution of the seven-membered ring is discussed.