Molecular-orbital study of the gas-phase reactions between methyl formate and the fluoride ion

Abstract

An ab initio MO calculation with the 4-31G basis set is carried out on the gas-phase reaction between the fluoride ion and methyl formate. The minimum-energy paths of two channels F^–+ HCOOCH₃→ CH₃OHF^–+ CO (1), F^–+ HCOOCH₃→ HCOO^–+ CH₃F (2), are investigated by the geometry optimization. For (1) and (2), two and one intermediates are generated, respectively. The reactivity of the fluoride ion toward the carbonyl site is discussed with reference to the presence or the absence of a solvent effect.