AB-INITIO STUDIES OF HYPERCONJUGATION EFFECTS ON CHARGE-DISTRIBUTION IN TETRACYCLODODECANE ALCOHOLS

Ab initio calculations using the STO-3G, 6-31G, and 6-31G* basis sets are used to investigate charge distribution in tetracyclododecane alc ohols. The calculated net atomic charges using fully optimized geometr ies indicate that certain carbon and hydrogen atoms in the proximity o f a nonbonding oxygen lone pair are more negatively charged and the ca rbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds are longer. Analysis of these ch arges and bond lengths as well as atomic orbital populations suggests that the differences between charge distribution on carbon and hydroge n atoms adjacent to the hydroxyl group and their corresponding carbon- carbon and carbon-hydrogen bond lengths can be explained in terms of h yperconjugation.