title: On gas phase alpha-effects. 1. The gas-phase manifestation and potential SET character.
abstract: The possibility of a gas-phase alpha-effect has been explored for the methyl transfer from methyl formate to hydroxide, hydroperoxide, and ethoxide by computing barrier heights at the HF/6-311++G(2df,2p) level of theory. The alpha-nucleophile (hydroperoxide) is found to have a lower barrier than the gas-phase-acidity-matched normal nucleophile (ethoxide) by 3.6 kcal/mol, offering evidence for a gas phase alpha-effect. A Shi-Boyd analysis for these reactions indicates that there is more single-electron-transfer character in the hydroperoxide transition state than for either hydroxide or ethoxide, further bolstering the existence of a gas-phase alpha-effect and the appropriateness of the Hoz model for the alpha-effect.
authors.affiliation: Truman State University, Division of Science, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, USA. sc18@truman.edu
authors.forename: Eric V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fountain