Abstract
Alternative modes of catalysis of formaldehyde hydration by a single ancillary water molecule are investigated by ab initio calculations at the STO-3G level. A cyclic transition state (FW2†) involving formaldehyde with two molecules of water is characterized and is only 0.8 kcal mol-1 higher in energy than the isolated reactants. The results indicate that gas-phase formaldehyde hydration probably proceeds via FW2† in a concerted mechanism with a Gibbs free energy of activation of 27 kcal mol-1. Addition of a water dimer to formaldehyde via FW2* is predicted to occur in water with a Gibbs free energy of activation of 16 kcal mol-1, in agreement with experiment. Empirical extrapolation to the liquid phase of entropies of activation calculated for reaction of one or two waters in the gas phase suggests that a mechanism involving three water molecules would be consistent with experiments for dioxan solution. Specific solvation by four water molecules is predicted to stablize the zwitterionic adduct H2O+CH2O- (an unbound state in the gas phase) by 111 kcal mol-1 relative to H2O+CH2O- and 4H2O or by 37 kcal mol-1 relative to (H2O)3 and CH2O·2H2O. Thus a stepwise mechanism for formaldehyde hydration also may be feasible, although the energy barrier to formation of a solvated zwitterionic intermediate has not yet been calculated.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 31-40 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1983 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- Chemistry(all)
- Biochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry