B-N distance potential of CH3CN-BF3 revisited: Resolving the experiment-theory structure discrepancy and modeling the effects of low-dielectric environments

James A. Phillips, Christopher J. Cramer

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Abstract

We have re-examined the B-N distance potential of CH3CN-BF 3 using MP2, DFT, and high-accuracy multicoefficient methods (MCG3 and MC-QCISD). In addition, we have solved a 1-D Schrödinger equation for nuclear motion along the B-N stretching coordinate, thereby obtaining vibrational energy levels, wave functions, and vibrationally averaged B-N distances. For the gas-phase, MCG3//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ potential, we find an average B-N distance of 1.95 Å, which is 0.13 Å longer than the corresponding equilibrium value. In turn, this provides solid evidence that the long-standing discrepancy between the experimental (Å(BN) = 2.01 Å) and theoretical (R(B-N) = 1.8 Å or R(B-N) = 2.2-2.3 Å) distances may be genuine, stemming from large amplitude vibrational motion in the B-N stretching coordinate. Furthermore, we have examined the effects of low-dielectric media (∈ = 1.1-5.0) on the structure of CH 3CN-BF3 by calculating solvation free energies (PCM/B97-2/aug-cc-pVTZ) and adding them to the gas-phase, MCG3 potential. These calculations demonstrate that the inner region of the potential is stabilized to a greater extent by these media, and correspondingly, the equilibrium and average B-N distances decrease with increasing dielectric constant. We find that the crystallographic structural result (R(B-N) = 1.63 Å) is nearly reproduced with a dielectric constant of only 5.0, and also predict significant structural changes for e values of 1.1 -1.5, consistent with results from matrix-isolation-IR experiments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1408-1415
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume111
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2007

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