Expt. 11- Conformational Isomerism in n-Butane

 

Comparison of Conformer Energies (kcal/mol) Calculated by Different Methods

C-C-C-C

Angle (Degr.)

AM1

(kcal/mol)

AM1

Relative

(kcal/mol)

SYBYL

(kcal/mol)

SYBYL

Relative

(kcal/mol)

MMFF94

(kcal/mol)

MMFF94

Relative

(kcal/mol)

3-21G

(hartrees)

3-21G

Relative

(hartrees)

3-21G

Relative

(kcal/mol)

0

-27.849

3.277

6.884

5.895

0.134

5.209

-156.41638

0.01609

10.096

30

-28.984

2.142

3.500

3.384

-2.385

2.690

-156.42670

0.00284

1.782

60

-30.256

0.870

1.606

0.617

-4.254

0.821

-156.43106

0.00141

0.885

90

-30.197

0.929

2.708

1.719

-3.311

1.764

-156.42958

0.00289

1.813

120

-29.599

1.527

5.361

4.372

-1.123

3952

-156.42673

0.00574

3.602

150

-30.392

0.734

2.698

1.709

-3.401

1.674

-156.42963

0.00284

1.7821

180

-31.126

0.0

0.989

0.0

-5.075

0.0

-156.43247

0.0

0.0

 

 

Suggested Reading: "Quantum Chemistry Study of Conformational Energies and Rotational Energy Barriers in n-Alkanes", Smith, et al.,

J. Phys. Chem. 100, 18718-18724 (1996)

WATCH OUT: SMITH HAS INCORRECT DEFINITION of cis (c), gauche (g), gauche-trans (g-t) barrier, & trans (t)

conformations in terms of C-C-C-C torsional angles. Correct definition is given in table below. Smith's energies are

correct for c, g, g-t, & t, but his angle definitions are incorrect

Comparision of Expt . 11 Results to those of Smith, et al. (kcal/mol)

C-C-C-C

AM1 relative

SYBYL Relative

MMFF94 Relative

3-21G Relative

6-31G** (Smith)

Expt.

0 cis

3.3

5.9

5.2

10.1

6.3

4-6

60 gauche

0.9

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.9

0.8

120 g-t barrier

1.5

1.5

4.0

3.6

3.6

3.4