Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals LUMOs

In view of this, early quantum mechanical approximations still merit interest, as they can provide quantitative data that can be correlated with observations on chemical reactivity. One of the most successful methods for explaining the course of chemical reactions is frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory [5]. The course of a chemical reaction is rationali2ed on the basis of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the frontier orbitals. Both the energy and the orbital coefficients of the HOMO and LUMO of the reactants are taken into account. 

If the mini her of electrons, N, is even, yon can haven dosed shell (as shown ) where the occupied orbitals each contain two electron s. For an odd n nrn her of electron s, at least on e orbital rn ust be singly occupied. In the example, three orbitals are occupied by-electron s and two orbitals arc nn occupied. Th e h ighest occupied nioleciilar orbital (HOMO is t[r), and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is The example above is a singlet, a state oh total spin S=0. Exciting one electron from the HOMO to the LUMO orbital would give one ol the I ollowing excited states ... 

I he electron density distribution of individual molecular orbitals may also be determined and plotted. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) are often of particular interest as these are the orbitals most cimimonly involved in chemical reactions. As an illustration, the HOMO and LUMO for Jonnamide are displayed in Figures 2.12 and 2.13 (colour plate section) as surface pictures. 

When you request an orbital, you can use the cardinal number of the orbital (ordered by energy and starting with number=l) or an offset from either the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Offset from the HOMO are negative and from the LUMO are positive. Often these frontier orbitals are the ones of most chemical interest. 

Thermodynamic properties such as heats of reaction and heats of formation can be computed mote rehably by ab initio theory than by semiempirical MO methods (55). However, the Hterature of the method appropriate to the study should be carefully checked before a technique is selected. Finally, the role of computer graphics in evaluating quantum mechanical properties should not be overlooked. As seen in Figures 2—6, significant information can be conveyed with stick models or various surfaces with charge properties mapped onto them. Additionally, information about orbitals, such as the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), which ate important sites of reactivity in electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions, can be plotted readily. Figure 7 shows representations of the HOMO and LUMO, respectively, for the antiulcer dmg Zantac. 

Fig. 7. Graphical representations of (a) the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and (b) the Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) for ranitidine. It is possible, in the ordinarily visible color-coded data not shown here, to distinguish the strong localization (a) of the HOMO to the sulfur atom and adjacent nitroethyleneamine fragment and the contrasting localization (b) of the LUMO to the nitroethylenearnine fragment. Neither the LUMO not HOMO appear to have contributions from the dimethylaminomethyl-suhstitiited furan.

Chemical Properties. The chemistry of ketenes is dominated by the strongly electrophilic j/)-hybridi2ed carbon atom and alow energy lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Therefore, ketenes are especially prone to nucleophilic attack at Cl and to [2 + 2] cycloadditions. Less frequent reactions are the so-called ketene iasertion, a special case of addition to substances with strongly polarized or polarizable single bonds (37), and the addition of electrophiles at C2. For a review of addition reactions of ketenes see Reference 8. 

It is now possible to "see" the spatial nature of molecular orbitals (10). This information has always been available in the voluminous output from quantum mechanics programs, but it can be discerned much more rapidly when presented in visual form. Chemical reactivity is often governed by the nature of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Spectroscopic phenomena usually depend on the HOMO and higher energy unoccupied states, all of which can be displayed and examined in detail. 

The most extensive calculations of the electronic structure of fullerenes so far have been done for Ceo- Representative results for the energy levels of the free Ceo molecule are shown in Fig. 5(a) [60]. Because of the molecular nature of solid C o, the electronic structure for the solid phase is expected to be closely related to that of the free molecule [61]. An LDA calculation for the crystalline phase is shown in Fig. 5(b) for the energy bands derived from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for Cgo, and the band gap between the LUMO and HOMO-derived energy bands is shown on the figure. The LDA calculations are one-electron treatments which tend to underestimate the actual bandgap. Nevertheless, such calculations are widely used in the fullerene literature to provide physical insights about many of the physical properties. 

Paradoxically, although they are electron-rich, S-N compounds are good electron acceptors because the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are low-lying relative to those in the analogous carbon systems. For example, the ten r-electron [SsNs] anion undergoes a two-electron electrochemical reduction to form the trianion [SsNs] whereas benzene, the aromatic hydrocarbon analogue of [SsNs], forms the monoanion radical [CeHg] upon reduction. ... 

Although the most important, the electrostatic potential is not only the quantity which when mapped onto an electron density surface may provide useful chemical information. Maps of certain key molecular orbitals, in particular, the HOMO and LUMO, may also lead to informative models. Consider, for example, a map of the (absolute) value of the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) in cyclohexanone, two views of which are shown below. 

Backside attack may be favored in order to facilitate transfer of nonbonding electrons from the nucleophile into the electrophile s lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Efficient electron transfer requires maximal overlap of the LUMO and the donor orbital (usually a nonbonded electron pair on the nucleophile). Examine the LUMO of methyl bromide. How would a nucleophile have to approach in order to obtain the best overlap Is your answer more consistent with preferential backside or frontside attack ... 

Next, examine the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for the cation. The components of the LUMO (its lobes ) identify locations where the cation might bond to a water molecule. How many lobes are associated with C 7 For each lobe, draw the alcohol that will be produced (show stereochemistry). How many alcohol enantiomers will form If more than one is expected, decide which wiU form more rapidly based on the relative sizes of the lobes. 

Compare atomic charges and electrostatic potential maps for the three cations. For each, is the charge localized or delocalized Is it associated with an empty a-type or Tt-type orbital Examine the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of each cation. Draw all of the resonance contributors needed for a complete description of each cation. Assign the hybridization of the C" atom, and describe how each orbital on this atom is utilized (o bond, n bond, empty). How do you explain the benzene ring effects that you observe ... 

Display the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for cyclohexyl bromonium ion. From which side will the Br attack Will this lead to formation of cis-1,2-dibromo-cyclohexane or 1,2-dibromocyclohexane Is this... 

Dimethylborane+propene Cl depicts the transition state for addition of dimethylborane onto the terminal alkene carbon of propene. Examine and describe the vibration with the imaginary frequency. Which bonds stretch and compress the most What simultaneous changes in bonding are implied by these motions Simultaneously display the highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of propene and the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of dimethylborane. Is the overall geometry of the transition state consistent with constructive overlap between the two Explain. 

Is the location of positive charge in the more stable cation also where the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is most concentrated Rationalize what you observe. Does attack by a nucleophile (bromide) lead to the Markovnikov or anti Markovnikov product ... 

Selective ether cleavage comes about during the substitution step, which obeys an Sn2 mechanism. Therefore, selective cleavage requires selective attack by Y on one of the electrophilic carbons in the protonated ether. Determine if selective attack is likely by examining the shape of the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) in protonated ethyl propyl ether. Is this orbital larger near one carbon than the other If so, what product combination will result What other atom(s) contribute to the LUMO What would happen if 1 attacked this atom(s) ... 

The product of nucleophilic attack can be anticipated by examining the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) on protonated cyclopentene oxide. From which direction (top or bottom) would a nucleophile be more likely to approach each epoxide carbon in order to transfer electrons into this orbital Explain. Does one carbon contribute more to the LUMO, or is the orbital evenly spread out over both epoxide carbons Assuming that LUMO shape dictates product stereochemistry, predict which stereoisomers will be obtained, and their approximate relative amounts. Is the anticipated kinetic product also the thermodynamic product (Compare energies of 1,2-cyclopentanediol stereoisomers to tell.)... 

With strong nucleophiles such as methoxide, ring opening follows an Sn2 mechanism. Examine the next to lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO+1) for propylene oxide. On which carbon is it most heavily concentrated Is this also the least crowded carbon (Examine a spacefilling model for propylene oxide.) What should be the product of Sn2 addition ... 

Another useful way to think about carbon electrophilicity is to compare the properties of the carbonyls lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). This is the orbital into which the nucleophile s pair of electrons will go. Examine each compound s LUMO. Which is most localized on the carbonyl group Most delocalized Next, examine the LUMOs while displaying the compounds as space-filling models. This allows you to judge the extent to which the LUMO is actually accessible to an approaching nucleophile. Which LUMO is most available Least available ... 

Display the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for equatorial methylcyclohexanone. This is the orbital into which the nucleophile s pair of electrons will go. Is it larger on the axial or equatorial face A clearer picture follows from the LUMO map, which gives the value of the LUMO on the electron density surface, that is, the accessible surface of the molecule. Display the LUMO map for equatorial methylcyclohexanone. Which face of the carbonyl group is more likely to be attacked by a nucleophile Which alcohol will result ... 

One way to investigate the electrophilic properties of these molecules is to examine the orbital that each uses to accept electrons from a nucleophile. This orbital is the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Examine the LUMO for methyl acetate (Z=OCH3), acetaldehyde (Z=H), N,N-dimethylacetamide (Z=N(CH3)2) and acetyl chloride (Z=C1) (acetaldehyde is not a carboxylic acid derivative, but is included here for comparison). What is the shape of the LUMO in the region of the carbonyl group Is it a o or 7U orbital Is it bonding or antibonding What other atoms contribute to the LUMO Which bonds, if any, would be weakened when a nucleophile transfers its electrons into the LUMO ... 

Examine the lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for the most stable conjugate acid of each compound (inchideprotonated acetonitrile). Which atom makes the largest contribution to this orbital Is this the site of H2O attack Will adding electrons to the LUMO strengthen or weaken die C=0 (C=N) 7U bond Explain. 

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