Poly-p-phenylenes (PPs) are prototype systems for understanding the charge transport in π-conjugated polymers. In a combined computational and experimental study, we demonstrate that the smooth evolution of redox and optoelectronic properties of PP cation radicals toward the polymeric limit can be significantly altered by electron-donating iso-alkyl and iso-alkoxy end-capping groups. A multiparabolic model (MPM) developed and validated here rationalizes this unexpected effect by interplay of the two modes of hole stabilization: due to the framework of equivalent p-phenylene units and due to the electron-donating end-capping groups. A symmetric, bell-shaped hole in unsubstituted PPs becomes either slightly skewed and shifted toward an end of the molecule in iso-alkyl-capped PPs or highly deformed and concentrated on a terminal unit in PPs with strongly electron-donating iso-alkoxy capping groups. The MPM shows that the observed linear 1/n evolution of the PP cation radical properties toward the polymer limit originates from the hole stabilization due to the growing chain of p-phenylene units, while shifting of the hole toward electron-donating end-capping groups leads to early breakdown of these 1/n dependencies. These insights, along with the readily applicable and flexible multistate parabolic model, can guide studies of complex donor–spacer–acceptor systems and doped molecular wires to aid the design of the next generation materials for long-range charge transport and photovoltaic applications.

High-level ab initio calculations employing the CCSD and CCSD(T) coupled cluster methods with a series of systematically convergent correlation-consistent basis sets have been performed to obtain accurate molecular geometry and energetic properties of the simplest S-nitrosothiol (RSNO), HSNO. The properties of the S-N bond, which are central to the physiological role of RSNOs in the storage and transport of nitric oxide, are highlighted. Following corrections for quadruple excitations, core-valence correlation and relativistic effects, the CCSD(T) method extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit yielded values of 1.85 A and 29.2 kcal mol(-1) for the S-N bond length and the dissociation energy for homolysis of the S-N bond, respectively, in the energetically most stable trans-conformer of HSNO. The properties of the S-N bond strongly depend on the basis-set size and the inclusion of triple, and, to a lesser extent, quadruple excitations in the coupled cluster expansion. CCSD calculations systematically underestimate the S-N equilibrium distance and S-N bond dissociation energy by 0.05-0.07 A and 6-7 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The significant differences between the CCSD(T) and CCSD descriptions of HSNO, the high values of the coupled cluster T(1) (0.027) and D(1) (0.076) diagnostics, as well as the instability of the reference restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) wavefunction indicate that the electronic structure of the SNO group possesses multireference character. Previous quantum-chemical data on RSNOs are reexamined based on the new insight into the SNO electronic structure obtained from the present high-level calculations on HSNO.

A resonance representation of the electronic structure of S-nitrosothiols as a combination of the conventional R-S-N=O structure, a zwitterionic structure R-S+=N-O-, and a RS-/NO+ ion pair is proposed. The resonance forms are employed to predict and rationalize the structural and conformational properties of RSNOs, their interaction with Lewis acids, and their overall chemical reactivity.

Thionitrous acid (HSNO), the smallest S-nitrosothiol, has been identified as a potential biologically active molecule that connects the biochemistries of two important gasotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Here, we computationally explore possible isomerization reactions of HSNO that may occur under physiological conditions using high-level coupled-cluster as well as density functional theory and composite CBS-QB3 methodology calculations. Gas-phase calculations show that the formation of the tautomeric form HONS and the Y-isomer SN(H)O is thermodynamically feasible, as they are energetically close, within ∼6 kcal mol(-1), to HSNO, while the recently proposed three-membered ring isomer is not thermodynamically or kinetically accessible. The gas-phase intramolecular proton-transfer reactions required for HSNO isomerization into HONS and SN(H)O are predicted to have prohibitively high reaction barriers, 30-50 kcal mol(-1). However, the polar aqueous environment and water-assisted proton shuttle should decrease these barriers to ∼9 kcal mol(-1), which makes these two isomers kinetically accessible under physiological conditions. Our calculations also support the possibility of an aqueous reaction between the Y-isomer SN(H)O and H2S leading to biologically active nitroxyl HNO. These results suggest that the formation of HSNO in biological milieu can lead to various derivative species with their own, possibly biologically relevant, activity.

There is currently great interest in S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) because formation of protein-based RSNOs-protein S-nitrosation-has been recently recognized as a major pathway of the biological function of nitric oxide, NO. Despite the growing number of S-nitrosated proteins identified in vivo, enzymatic processes that control reactions of biological RSNOs are still not well understood. In this article, we use a range of models to computationally demonstrate that specific interactions of RSNOs with charged and polar residues in proteins can result in dramatic modification of RSNO structure, stability, and reactivity. This unprecedented sensitivity of the -SNO group toward interactions with charged species is related to their unusual electronic structure that can be elegantly expressed in terms of antagonistic resonance structures. We propose a 'ligand effect map' (LEM) approach as an efficient way to estimate the environment effects on the -SNO groups in proteins without performing electronic structure calculations. Furthermore, the calculated (15)N NMR signatures of these specific interactions suggest that (15)N NMR spectroscopy can be an effective technique to identify and study these interactions experimentally. Overall, the results of this study suggest that RSNO reactions in vivo should be tightly controlled by the protein environment via modulation of the RSNO electronic structure.