Hybrid-Density Functional Theory Study and Natural Bond Orbital Interpretation of the Conformational Behavior of 1,3-Dioxanyl, 1,3-Dithianyl, and 1,3-Diselenanyl Carbanions

Abstract

The effective factors on the conformational properties of 1,3-dioxanyl (1), -dithianyl (2), and -diselenanyl (3) carbanions have been investigated by means of the hybrid-density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP/6-311+G**)-based method and natural bond orbital (NBO) interpretation. The results obtained showed that the axial conformation (i.e., the axial H atom attached to C2) of carbanion 1 is more stable than its equatorial conformation. Contrary to the carbanion 1, the equatorial conformations of carbanions 2 and 3 are more stable than their corresponding axial conformations. The instability of the axial conformations of carbanions 1–3 increases from carbanion 1 to carbanion 2 but decreases from carbanion 2 to carbanion 3. The NBO analysis showed that the anomeric effect (AE) associated with the electron delocalization increases from carbanion 1 to carbanion 2, but decreases from carbanion 2 to carbanion 3. The calculated total dipole moment values of the axial conformations of carbanions 1–3 are greater than those of their corresponding equatorial conformations, but the calculated total dipole moment difference values between the axial and equatorial conformations decreases from carbanion 1 to carbanion 3. Consequently, the AE associated with the electron delocalization, but not the total dipole moment changes (i.e., Δμax–eq), thus explaining the total energy differences between the axial and equatorial conformations of carbanions 1–3. The correlations between the AE, dipole moments, ΔGax–eq, structural parameters, and conformational behaviors of carbanions 1–3 have been investigated. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.