HIGH BASICITY OF ALKYLATED 2-TETRAZENES - AN AB-INITIO STUDY

The spatial and electronic structure of the parent 2-tetrazene and its tetramethyl- and ethyl derivatives are examined by an ab initio appro ach. It is shown by using the MP2(fc)/6-311 + G *//HF/6-31G * + ZPVE (HF/6-32G ) model that alkylated tetrazenes exhibit strong intrinsic basicity as evidenced by their high absolute proton affinities. The la tter is due to the appreciable electron density concentration at the t erminal nitrogen atoms, the increased II-electron delocalization in co njugate acids and the electron density relaxation effect occurring upo n protonation, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.