Quantum-chemical study on reactions of isocyanates with linear methanol associates: VII. Effect of nonspecific solvation on the reaction of methyl isocyanate with linear methanol associates

Abstract

The effect of nonspecific solvation on the reactivity of methyl isocyanate toward linear methanol associates and thermodynamic parameters of this reaction was studied at the B3LYP/6-311++G(df,p) level of theory in terms of the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Transformations in the liquid phase are more exothermic than in the gas phase. Change of the solvent nature leads to variation of the geometric parameters and intrinsic free energies of the reactants and transition states. Increase in solvent polarity is accompanied by increase in the degree of asymmetry and polarity of transition states. As the dielectric permittivity rises, the polar constituent of the Gibbs energy of solvation decreases, while its nonpolar constituent increases. Owing to the opposite variations of these constituents of the Gibbs energy of activation, the reaction is weakly sensitive to solvent polarity.