Structure, Stability, and Cycloaddition Reactions of Nitrile Selenides

Abstract

The equilibrium structure, unimolecular reactions, and bimolecular reactions of nitrile selenides (XCNSe, where X = H, F, Cl, Br, CN, CH3) have been investigated using CCSD(T), CCSD(T)//B3LYP, and MR-AQCC//UB3LYP quantum-chemical methods. Nitrile selenides are demonstrated to be stable under isolated conditions at ambient temperature, i.e. in the dilute gas phase or in an inert solid matrix, but unstable in the condensed phase or solutions owing to bimolecular reactions. FCNSe and CH3CNSe cycloaddition with ethynes, ethenes, and nitriles was studied using the MR-AQCC//UB3LYP method. Cycloaddition was predicted to be facile at room temperature with small dipolarophiles.