Elucidating the ring inversion mechanism(s) for biscalixarenes

Paul Murphy, Scott J. Dalgarno, Martin J. Paterson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
159 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Biscalix[4]arene can be constructed from a calix[4]arene by substitution of a methylene bridge hydrogen by another equivalent moiety. The use of biscalix[4]arenes (biscal) as precursors for the creation of new polymetallic clusters such as single-molecule magnets has potential in the fields of data storage and other applications. Polymetallic clusters involving biscal are expected to preferentially involve octadentate binding to two metal centers (one metal center per tetraphenolic pocket), requiring full inversion of one of the annular rings. In this work, we use density functional theory to establish the mechanism behind this process, considering the various energy pathways and providing insight into the preferred route to full and partial inversion. Fourteen possible pathways to full inversion are presented, including all transition states (up to seven per pathway). Subsequently, the lowest energy pathway to full inversion was found to have a barrier height of 19.31 kcal mol(-1). Solvent optimizations using PCM (with and without SMD) and CPCM solvent models suggest long-range solvent effects may be relatively unimportant in the inversion process. This study represents the first use of density functional theory to elucidate the entire potential energy surface, including barrier heights, of the ring inversion process of biscalix[4]arenes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7986-8001
Number of pages16
JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A
Volume118
Issue number36
Early online date18 Aug 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2014

Keywords

  • CORRELATION-ENERGY
  • DENSITY
  • MODEL
  • APPROXIMATION

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Elucidating the ring inversion mechanism(s) for biscalixarenes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this