Molecular Electrostatic Potential Minimum Research Articles

Quantitative Assessment of Substituent Effects on Cation−π Interactions Using Molecular Electrostatic Potential Topography

A molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topography based approach has been proposed to quantify the substituent effects on cation-π interactions in complexes of mono-, di-, tri-, and hexasubstituted benzenes with Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and NH(4)(+). The MESP minimum (V(min)) on the π-region of C(6)H(5)X showed strong linear dependency to the cation-π interaction energy, E(M(+)). Further, cation-π distance correlated well with V(min)-π distance. The difference between V(min) of C(6)H(5)X and C(6)H(6) (ΔV(min)) is proposed as a good parameter to quantify the substituent effect on cation-π interaction. Compared to benzene, electron-donating groups stabilize the di-, tri-, and hexasubstituted cation-π complexes while electron-withdrawing groups destabilize them. In multiple substituted complexes, E(M(+)) is almost equal (∼95%) to the sum of the individual substituent contributions (E(M(+)) ≈ Σ(ΔE(M(+)))), suggesting that substituent effect on cation-π interactions is largely additive. The ΔV(min) of C(6)H(5)X systems and additivity feature have been used to make predictions on the interaction energies of 80 multiple substituted cation-π complexes with above 97% accuracy. The average mean absolute deviation of the V(min)-predicted interaction energy, E(M(+))(V) from the calculated E(M(+)) is -0.18 kcal/mol for Li(+), -0.09 kcal/mol for Na(+), -0.43 kcal/mol for K(+), and -0.67 kcal/mol for NH(4)(+), which emphasize the predictive power of V(min) as well as the additive feature of the substituent effect.

Mechanisms of Reductive Eliminations in Square Planar Pd(II) Complexes: Nature of Eliminated Bonds and Role oftransInfluence

The trans influence of various phosphine ligands (L) in direct as well as dissociative reductive elimination pathways yielding CH(3)CH(3) from Pd(CH(3))(2)L(2) and CH(3)Cl from Pd(CH(3))(Cl)L(2) has been quantified in terms of isodesmic reaction energy, E(trans), using the MPWB1K level of density functional theory. In the absence of a large steric effect, E(trans) correlated linearly with the activation barrier (E(act)) of both direct and dissociation pathways. The minimum of molecular electrostatic potential (V(min)) at the lone pair region of phosphine ligands has been used to assess their electron donating power. E(trans) increased linearly with an increase in the negative V(min) values. Further, the nature of bonds that are eliminated during reductive elimination have been analyzed in terms of AIM parameters, viz. electron density (ρ(r)), Laplacian of the electron density (∇(2)ρ(r)), total electron energy density (H(r)), and ratio of potential and kinetic electron energy densities (k(r)). Interestingly, E(act) correlated inversely with the strength of the eliminated metal-ligand bonds measured in terms of the bond length or the ρ(r). Analysis of H(r) showed that elimination of the C-C/C-Cl bond becomes more facile when the covalent character of the Pd-C/Pd-Cl bond increases. Thus, AIM details clearly showed that the strength of the eliminated bond is not the deciding factor for the reductive elimination but the nature of the bond, covalent or ionic. Further, a unified picture showing the relationship between the nature of the eliminated chemical bond and the tendency of reductive elimination is obtained from the k(r) values: the E(act) of both direct and dissociative mechanisms for the elimination of CH(3)CH(3) and CH(3)Cl decreased linearly when the sum of k(r) at the cleaved bonds showed a more negative character. It means that the potential electron energy density dominates over the kinetic electron energy density when the bonds (Pd-C/Pd-Cl) become more covalent and the eliminated fragments attain more radical character leading to the easy formation of C-C/C-Cl bond.

Quantification of substituent effects using molecular electrostatic potentials: additive nature and proximity effects

Several ortho, meta, and para substituted benzoic acids have been studied to quantify the substituent effects by analysing subtle variations in the molecular electrostatic potential minimum (Vmin) at the response site of the carboxylic acid moiety using density functional theory. For the first time, the ortho substituent effect is separated into contributions from electronic and proximity effects. A molecular fragment approach in conjunction with a rotation experiment on the COOH moiety of benzoic acid was used to quantify the proximity effects. The quantified proximity effect is in accord with previously proposed steric parameters. The proximity effect-corrected Vmin of ortho systems showed excellent linear correlations to both Vmin of para and meta systems which enabled the computation of the meta : para, ortho : para and meta : ortho electronic effect ratios yielding respective values of 1 : 1.108, 1 : 1.042 and 1 : 1.047. The additive nature of the substituent effects was also tested using the Vmin computation on multiply-substituted benzoic acids. It is found that the total substituent effect is approximately 86.3% of the sum of the individual contributions which was in contrast to a value of 98.5% observed in aliphatic systems (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2008, 10, 6492–6499).

Use of molecular electrostatic potential for quantitative assessment of inductive effect

Density functional theory computations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level have been carried out for three types of model compounds, viz. (i) 4-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane carboxylic acids, (ii) anions of 4-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane carboxylic acids and (iii) 4-substituted quinuclidines where the substituents are NO(2), CN, Cl, Br, CF(3), F, CHO, CH(2)Cl, COOH, COCH(3), CONH(2), OH, OCH(3), C(6)H(5), NH(2), H, CH(3), CH(2)CH(3), CH(CH(3))(2), and C(CH(3))(3) to study the dependencies between molecular electrostatic potential minimum (V(min)) and the inductive substituent constant sigma(I). All the three model systems show excellent linear correlation between V(min) and sigma(I) suggesting that the calculation of V(min) parameter in these systems offers a simple and efficient computational approach for the evaluation of inductive substituent constants. The calculated linear equation for the models (i), (ii), and (iii) are V(min) = 12.982 sigma(I)- 48.867, V(min) = 13.444 sigma(I)- 182.760, and V(min) = 18.100 sigma(I)- 65.785, respectively. Considering the simplicity of the quinuclidine model, V(min) value at the nitrogen lone pair region of a 4-substituted quinuclidine system is recommended for the evaluation of sigma(I). Further, the additivity effect of sigma(I) is tested on multiply substituted quinuclidine and bicyclo[2.2.2]octane carboxylic acid derivatives using the V(min) approach and the results firmly supported the additivity rule of inductive effect. The systems showing considerable deviations from the additivity rule are easily recognized as those showing either steric effect or intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions at the V(min) response site. However, the distance relation of sigma(I) is not well represented in the caged molecular systems.

Quantitative Assessment of the Stereoelectronic Profile of Phosphine Ligands

The stereoelectronic profile of a variety of phosphine ligands (PR3) have been estimated using a combined approach of quantum mechanics (QM) and molecular mechanics (MM). The quantum mechanically derived molecular electrostatic potential minimum (Vmin) of a PR3 ligand at the phosphorus lone pair region provides a direct measure of the total electronic (Eeff) and steric effects (Seff) of the ligand. The difference between the Vmin of unsubstituted PH3 (Vmin(PH3)) and the Vmin of PR3 is considered as Eeff + Seff. It is found that a two-layer QM-MM ONIOM method comprising PH3 in the inner QM layer and the R groups in the outer MM layer is useful to locate the structure of a PR3 ligand in an electronic effect free environment of the substituents. The Vmin of the ONIOM-optimized PR3 at the phosphorus lone-pair region thus provides the quantification of the steric effect as Seff = Vmin(PH3)-Vmin(ONIOM_PR3). Because Vmin(PR3) contains both Eeff and Seff, the Eeff can be easily defined as Eeff = Vmin(ONIOM_PR3)-Vmin(PR3). A modified form of the symmetric deformation coordinate (S4) is calculated for all of the fully optimized and ONIOM-optimized free phosphines to obtain their S4-based steric effect values. Good linear correlation between S4 of ONIOM-optimized phosphines and the MESP-based Seff values was obtained. Further, the determination of the stereoelectronic profile of PR3 ligands has been achieved, leading to a general classification of the ligands into four categories, namely, ligands with (i) (+Eeff, +Seff), (ii) (+Eeff, -Seff), (iii) (-Eeff, +Seff), and (iv) (-Eeff, -Seff), where plus and minus signs indicate electron donation and electron withdrawal properties, respectively.

Effect of matrix on IR frequencies of acetylene and acetylene-methanol complex: Infrared matrix isolation and ab initio study

Effect of nitrogen and argon matrices on the C-H asymmetric stretching and bending infrared frequencies of the acetylene molecule, C(2)H(2), has been studied by matrix isolation experiments as well as by calculations at MP2 level of theory. The complexes of C(2)H(2) in nitrogen and argon matrices, viz., C(2)H(2)(N(2))(m) (with m=2-8) and C(2)H(2)(Ar)(n) (with n=2-10) are theoretically explored. The computed acetylenic C-H asymmetric stretch in C(2)H(2)-nitrogen complexes shows a redshift of 3.0 to 11.9 cm(-1) compared with the frequencies of the free acetylene molecule, and a corresponding blueshift of 7.4 to 26.2 cm(-1) when C(2)H(2) is complexed with argon atoms. The trends in the computed shifts are in good agreement with the experiments. The molecular electrostatic potential minimum of C(2)H(2) becomes more negative when complexed with nitrogen than on complexation with argon. This observation implies a greater basic character for C(2)H(2) in the nitrogen matrix, favoring the formation of H-pi(C(2)H(2)-MeOH) complex as compared to that in the Ar matrix. Experimentally the preferential formation of H-pi(C(2)H(2)-MeOH) complex in the N(2) matrix has indeed been observed.

Electrostatic Potential Minimum of the Aromatic Ring as a Measure of Substituent Constant

The molecular electrostatic potential minimum (Vmin) observed for the arene pi system of a substituted benzene derivatives is found to correlate linearly with the substituent constant sigma(p) degrees . The use of Vmin as a measure of substituent effect is further confirmed by obtaining a linear correlation between Vmin and a thermodynamic measure of the substituent effect obtained from an isodesmic reaction scheme involving benzene derivatives. Vmin and the recently proposed electrostatic potential value at the nucleus of the para carbon atom (Vc) show a nearly identical trend toward quantification of substituent effects. Both quantities have been compared at three different density functional theory methods, viz. B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p), BPW91/6-311G(d,p), and B3LYP/aug-cc-pvtz, as well as the at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, showing remarkable consistency among them.

Molecular Electrostatic Potential Approach to Determining the Steric Effect of Phosphine Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry

A two-layer ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G(d,p):UFF) quantum mechanics (QM)-molecular mechanics (MM) optimization of PR3 ligands, where the QM layer is always constructed as PH3, followed by molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) analysis of the QM layer is suggested as a simple and effective method for evaluating the steric effect of PR3 ligands. The subtle variations in the electron distribution that arise as a result of the steric bulkiness as well as the conformational changes in the substituent groups is well reflected in the value of the MESP minimum (Vmin) located in the QM region. In general, a sterically bulky group has always shown a more negative Vmin than a sterically less bulky group. The difference between the Vmin value of free PH3 and the Vmin value at the QM region of PR3 is used as a measure of the steric effect of the PR3 ligand. This value, designated as MESPsteric, showed a good linear correlation with the cone angle values as well as the average of the intervalence HPH angles found in the QM layer. Further, the difference between the Vmin value at the QM region of PR3 (an indicator of the steric effect) and the Vmin value of the completely optimized PR3 ligand (an indicator of the combined effect of steric and electronic effects) showed a good linear correlation with the Hammett Sigmasigmap constants, which further confirmed the present approach to understanding the steric effect separately from the electronic effect.

Influence of the - interaction on the hydrogen bonding capacity of stacked DNA/RNA bases

The interplay between aromatic stacking and hydrogen bonding in nucleobases has been investigated via high-level quantum chemical calculations. The experimentally observed stacking arrangement between consecutive bases in DNA and RNA/DNA double helices is shown to enhance their hydrogen bonding ability as opposed to gas phase optimized complexes. This phenomenon results from more repulsive electrostatic interactions as is demonstrated in a model system of cytosine stacked offset-parallel with substituted benzenes. Therefore, the H-bonding capacity of the N3 and O2 atoms of cytosine increases linearly with the electrostatic repulsion between the stacked rings. The local hardness, a density functional theory-based reactivity descriptor, appears to be a key index associated with the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) minima around H-bond accepting atoms, and is inversely proportional to the electrostatic interaction between stacked molecules. Finally, the MEP minima on surfaces around the bases in experimental structures of DNA and RNA–DNA double helices show that their hydrogen bonding capacity increases when taking more neighboring (intra-strand) stacking partners into account.

Molecular interpretation of water structuring and destructuring effects: Hydration of alkanediols

Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) guidelines are employed for understanding the reactivity and hydration patterns in alkanediol molecules. The deeper oxygen lone pair MESP minima indicate stronger basicity of 1,n-diols and 2,4-pentanediol (2,4-PeD) as compared to that of vicinal diols. The existence and strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in diols are gauged in terms of the electron density at the bond saddle points. A model named electrostatic potential for intermolecular complexation (EPIC) is used for generating the structures of hydrated complexes, which are subsequently subjected to ab initio calculations at Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation level of theory. Further, the nature of water...water as well as diol...water interactions is appraised employing many-body energy decomposition analysis. It is seen that water...water interactions are more favorable in vicinal diol...6H(2)O than those in 1,n-diol...6H(2)O (n=3, 4, 5,...) complexes. Exactly opposite trends are shown by diol...water interaction energies. Thus vicinal diols, being more effective at strengthening water...water network, are expected to act as water structuring agents, whereas the non-vicinal diols are expected to be water destructuring agents.

Quantifying the electronic effect of substituted phosphine ligands via molecular electrostatic potential.

Values of the molecular electrostatic potential minimum (V(min)) corresponding to the lone pair region of several substituted phosphine ligands (PR(3)) have been determined at the DFT level. The V(min) value is proposed as a quantitative measure of the electronic effect of the PR(3) ligands. Good linear correlation between V(min) and Tolman electronic parameter of PR(3) has been obtained. V(min) is also proportional to the pK(a) values of the conjugate acids of PR(3), viz., [PR(3)H](+). Further, the DeltaE values of the reaction Ni(CO)(3) + PR(3) --> Ni(CO)(3)PR(3) and ScH(3) + PR(3) --> ScH(3)PR(3) are also linearly proportional to the V(min) values. However, if there is a strong metal to phosphorus pi-back-bonding, the DeltaE and V(min) do not fit to a line. It is also found that the standard reduction potential as well as the enthalpy change corresponding to the electrochemical couple eta-Cp(CO)(PR(3))(COMe)Fe(+)/eta-Cp(CO)(PR(3))(COMe)Fe(0) is linearly proportional to the V(min) values of PR(3). These correlations suggest that V(min) is a quantitative measure of the sigma-donating ability of the phosphine. It is hoped that, in phosphine-metal coordination chemistry, the V(min) based electronic parameter could be more advantageous than nu-CO and pK(a) based electronic parameters as it solely represents the inherent electronic property of the ligand.

Structure–activity relationship investigations of the modulating effect of core substituents on the affinity of pyrazoloquinolinone congeners for the benzodiazepine receptor

A series of 6- and 7-substituted-2-arylpyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3-ones was synthesized and tested in vitro for binding with the benzodiazepine receptor in competition with [3H]flunitrazepam. Electronic parameters (molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), charge distribution on the nitrogen atoms, dipole moment μ, and ionization potential (IP)) were calculated for the compounds by semi-empirical quantum chemistry methods. Lipophilicity of the compounds, expressed as logarithm of the octanol–water partition coefficient (logP), was calculated by the program Pallas. A quantitative correlation of the biological data with molecular parameters revealed a significant dependence (r=0.95) of the activity on hydrophobic constants of the substituents, logP, and magnitude of the MEP minimum associated with the carbonyl oxygen atom.

Hydrogen-bonding effects, electrostatic potential, and the antitumor activity of flavone acetic acid and related compounds. II. Ab initio studies on the second stable conformations

We previously studied the first stable conformations of flavone acetic acid and related compounds. In this article, a similar investigation was carried out on the second stable conformation of the same compounds. Emphasis is on the conformation dependence of the hydrogen-bonding effects, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and the antitumor activity shown by these compounds. The results show that the second conformation is about 7.0 kcal mol−1 higher in energy and possibly is an inactive conformation as no correlation has been found between the antitumor activity and the MEP features. In addition, a detailed comparison with the first conformation, which is probably the active conformation, has been made of the geometry, the total energy, the Mulliken charges on some important atoms, hydrogen-bonding effects, and the MEP minima and isosurfaces. The role of the hydrogen-bonding effects, which was unclear in our previous work, is clarified in this work. The possible molecular basis of the antitumor activity is suggested. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Synthesis, ligand binding, and quantitative structure-activity relationship study of 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)-2 beta-heterocyclic tropanes: evidence for an electrostatic interaction at the 2 beta-position.

A set of 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)-2 beta-heterocyclic tropanes was designed, synthesized, and characterized. We discovered that these compounds can function as bioisosteric replacements for the corresponding WIN 35,065-2 analogs which possess a 2 beta-carbomethoxy group. Several of the compounds showed high affinity and selectivity for the dopamine transporter (DAT) relative to the serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. From the structure-activity relationship study, the 3 beta-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2 beta-(3'-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)tropane (5d) emerged as the most potent and selective compound. The binding data for 2 beta-heterocyclic tropanes were found to show a high correlation with molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) minima near one of the heteroatoms in the 2 beta-substituents. In contrast, low correlations were found for other MEP minima near the 2 beta-substituent as well as for calculated log P or substituent volume. These quantitative structure-activity relationship studies are consistent with an electrostatic contribution to the binding potency of these WIN 35,065-2 analogs at the DAT.

Hydrogen‐bonding effects, electrostatic potential, and the antitumor activity of flavone acetic acid and related compounds. II. Ab initio studies on the second stable conformations

We previously studied the first stable conformations of flavone acetic acid and related compounds. In this article, a similar investigation was carried out on the second stable conformation of the same compounds. Emphasis is on the conformation dependence of the hydrogen-bonding effects, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and the antitumor activity shown by these compounds. The results show that the second conformation is about 7.0 kcal mol−1 higher in energy and possibly is an inactive conformation as no correlation has been found between the antitumor activity and the MEP features. In addition, a detailed comparison with the first conformation, which is probably the active conformation, has been made of the geometry, the total energy, the Mulliken charges on some important atoms, hydrogen-bonding effects, and the MEP minima and isosurfaces. The role of the hydrogen-bonding effects, which was unclear in our previous work, is clarified in this work. The possible molecular basis of the antitumor activity is suggested. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Basis set dependence of the molecular electrostatic potential topography. A case study of substituted benzenes

The basis set dependence of the topographical structure of the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), as well as the effect of substituents on the MESP distribution, has been investigated with substituted benzenes as test cases. The molecules are studied at HF-SCF 3–21G and 6–31G ∗∗ levels, with a further MESP topographical investigation at the 3–21G, double-zeta, 6–31G ∗, 6–31G ∗∗, double-zeta polarized and triple-zeta polarized levels. The MESP critical points for a 3–21G optimized/6–31G ∗∗ basis are similar to the corresponding 6–31G ∗∗ optimized/6–31G ∗∗ ones. More generally, the qualitative features of the MESP topography computed at the polarized level are independent of the level at which optimization is carried out. For a proper representation of oxygen lone pairs, however, optimization using a polarized basis set is required. The nature of the substituent drastically changes the MESP distribution over the phenyl ring. The values and positions of MESP minima indicate the most active site for electrophilic attack. This point is strengthened by a study of disubstituted benzenes.

Theoretical Study on the Metabolism of Caffeine by Cytochrome P‐450 1A2 and its Inhibition

AbstractThe primary metabolism of caffeine (1,3,7‐trimethylxanthine) is catalyzed by the isozyme P‐450 1A2 which has toxicological relevance because it is involved in the activation of some chemicals to carcinogenic compounds. A theoretical model for the demethylation of caffeine is proposed by means of the study of the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) distributions of caffeine and other xanthine derivatives that are inhibitors of this metabolic process. Negative zones of these distributions show a common triangular pattern in the xanthine plane. The model proposes that the alignment of the caffeine molecule in the active site is determined by these negative MEP zones. An interesting finding was that all the methyl groups to be removed have at least a MEP minimum at a distance of approximately 3 Å. This feature would explain the preference for the N3 demethylation leading to paraxanthine (1,7‐dimethylxanthine) because only this methyl group is placed at a distance of 3 Å from the deepest MEP minimum. Another experimental observation consistent with the proposed model is the inhibition of caffeine demethylation by several 8‐methylxanthines. Among them, 1,3,8‐trimethylxanthine, furafylline (1,8‐dimethyl‐3‐(2‐furfuryl)xanthine) and 1,8‐dimethyl‐3‐phenylxanthine were considered in the present study. The inhibition is explained by the fact that all these compounds have a methyl on C8 placed at a distance of 3 Å from the deepest MEP minimum.

Bonding and delocalization in C60 via topographical analysis of the electrostatic potential and electron density

Analysis of the ab initio electron density distribution of C60 show that all exo bonds to the five-membered rings have partial double-bond character with all molecular electrostatic potential minima located outside the molecular cage.

Use of molecular electrostatic potentials for analysis of anticonvulsant activities of phenylsuccinimides.

The present study was performed on a group of 27 derivatives of phenylsuccinimides, of which only 12 were active against maximal electrical shock in spite of the structural similarities of these compounds. The work consisted of four main parts: 1. crystallographic investigations of a subset of chosen compounds; 2. conformational analysis of characteristic molecules from the investigated series, performed by means of molecular mechanics calculations; 3. molecular orbital optimization of all the molecules using the MNDO method starting with conformations obtained in 2; 4. molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis which was performed on the semiempirical (MNDO) and ab initio levels. This research showed that MEP maps provide a signature that distinguishes between active and inactive compounds. There are MEP minima close to the two carbonyl oxygens of the imide ring, and although the magnitude of the difference between the two minima is approximately constant, the sign of the difference provides an activity index. The initial orientations of phenylsuccinimide molecules in relation to the receptor are not equivalent and they depend on the potential distribution around both the succinimide molecules and around the receptor. In the active compounds the negative potential difference at the discussed points most probably influences the initial set-up of the molecules in relation to the receptor and results in a considerably higher probability of the molecules being bound at the right place on the receptor.

Conformational and MO studies of hydroxy‐2‐aminotetralins

AbstractAttempting to explain the differences in the pharmacological profiles of the isomeric monohydroxy‐and dihydroxy‐2‐aminotetralins (DHAT) which are potent dopaminergic agonists we have calculated the conformational energies of 2‐aminotetralin and its N,N‐dipropyl derivative using the QCFF/Pi and PCILO methods. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps based on ab initio (STO‐3G) wave functions were computed for both dihydroxytetralins. Root‐mean‐square (rms) deviations from steric congruence between the enantiomeric 5,6‐ and 6,7‐DHAT based either on atomic centers or on the minima in MEP near the putative points of attachment to the receptor are small, but may nevertheless be sufficient to cause differences in activity on subtypes of the dopamine receptor. N,N‐dipropyl substitution influences the conformational energies of the skeleton and the preferences in the orientation of the propyl groups in the isomeric DHAT may be important for the interaction with the receptor. The HOMO energies of the isomeric HAT and DHAT do not correlate with their potencies.