Major

Chemistry

Research Abstract

Density functional methods have been used to study the mechanisms for the sequential electrocyclic ring closures of [16]annulene, with a goal of determining the likelihood of heavy-atom tunneling. Using M06-2X/6-31G*, we computed barriers of 27 and 13 kcal/mol for the first and second electrocyclizations, respectively, compared with 21 kcal/mol for the parent cyclization of 1,3,5-hexatriene. The second cyclization is predicted to have a lower and narrower barrier than the first cyclization, which suggests a higher probability of tunneling. However, if [16]annulene undergoes the first cyclization by passage over the 27 kcal/mol barrier, then it would have more than enough energy to pass over the second cyclization barrier as well, implying that tunneling would be insignificant.

Faculty Mentor/Advisor

William Karney

Available for download on Sunday, January 01, 2040

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Effect of Tunneling on 6-Electron Electrocyclizations

Density functional methods have been used to study the mechanisms for the sequential electrocyclic ring closures of [16]annulene, with a goal of determining the likelihood of heavy-atom tunneling. Using M06-2X/6-31G*, we computed barriers of 27 and 13 kcal/mol for the first and second electrocyclizations, respectively, compared with 21 kcal/mol for the parent cyclization of 1,3,5-hexatriene. The second cyclization is predicted to have a lower and narrower barrier than the first cyclization, which suggests a higher probability of tunneling. However, if [16]annulene undergoes the first cyclization by passage over the 27 kcal/mol barrier, then it would have more than enough energy to pass over the second cyclization barrier as well, implying that tunneling would be insignificant.