In addition to the
'one-dimensional' calculations earlier in this list, we offer the possibility to do a two-dimensional grid calculation.
This is an experiment for us too, to explore the scope and limitations of
such an exercise in a web environment.
The procedure is not so different. Use the editor to add substituents to
either combination of reactants.
The aldehyde can be placed in two orientations, denoted
by a (+) and (-), which gives the possibility to create either the
s-cis or s-trans vinyl aldehyde. This is a matter of trial and error;
we cannot predict which H you will select for substitution and hence cannot
tell whether (+) corresponds to s-cis or the other way around.
Generally speaking, the user is responsible for creating sensible and
meaningful structures. It is probably very easy to construct compounds that
will create fatal errors during the calculation.
A grid calculation takes more time than a reaction path of course. A 7x7 grid will be finished in about two minutes though, which is to our taste just acceptable for being called 'interactive'.
The result is presented as a two-dimensional clickable plot, next
to a Chime display. In the process the data have been analyzed to some
extent: the plot shows iso-energy contours, an estimated saddle point and a line showing the direction of the reaction coordinate at the saddle point.
Below the plot the saddle point data are shown in editable fields,
which can be used to do a subsequent calculation. The default values
will place the theoretical saddle point at the center of the grid. Decreasing the range is equivalent to zooming in on this point.
If a point sufficiently close to the transition state (TS) is obtained,
the energy and the geometry could be used for comparison with other
orientations of the substituents, in order to study the effect on
product formation.
Maybe one would like to show the complete reaction path from starting material to
product, and/or to look at the orbitals at various stages of the reaction.
That first has been accomplished: an automatic procedure that describes
the complete reaction path. A link under the grid output will take you to
Paderborn, where this feature has been implemented.
See the 'Note on IRC calculations'.
Note:
We use MOPAC AM1 calculations just because they produce a 'reasonable'
result within an acceptable 'interactive' time.
However, the AM1 Diels-Alder transition state bond lenghts are not 'correct'; ab initio calculations arrive at
higher values for the TS, close to 2.3 Å for the unsubstituted
reactants. As long as we use the results
for comparison of similar compounds, this is not a serious problem.
It should be noted that even with sophisticated ab initio methods, it is
hard to reproduce say endo/exo selectivity.
The SN2 reaction is added as another example of a grid calculation,
although there is not so much to vary here. The default input file concerns
chlorine/bromine substitution in methane. The Br and Cl are forced on a
straight line, which is of course not correct for asymmetrically substituted
systems. This is done to prevent the anions from abstracting protons from
added methyl groups.
Unfortunately, it is hard to study SN2 vs. SN1
mechanisms by computation, as this requires inclusion of solvent effects.
This would increase the computation time to such an extent that it is
not practical yet in an interactive web environment.
We consider including some pre-calculated results in this page.