Can an α-Anomer of the Trinitro Form of d-Glucopyranose Be More Easily Hydrolyzed in Alkaline Environment than the β-Anomer? A Detailed Theoretical Analysis

Comprehensive computational investigations of detailed alkaline hydrolysis reaction pathways of the α-anomeric form of nitrocellulose monomer (2,3,6-trinitro-α-d-glucopyranose) in the ⁴C₁ chair conformation within the S_N2 framework in the gas phase and in bulk water solution are reported. Geometries of reactant complexes, transition states, intermediates, and completely denitrated product were optimized at the density functional theory (DFT) level using the B3LYP functional and the 6-311G­(d,p) basis set both in the gas phase and in the bulk water solution. The effect of bulk water was modeled using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) approach. The nature of the potential energy surface of the local minima and transition states was ascertained through vibrational frequency analysis. Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations were also performed to validate the computed transition state structures. Effect of electron correlation on computed energies was considered through a single point energy calculation at the MP2 level using the cc-pVTZ basis set. It was revealed that the presence of hydrogen bonds between the attacking OH^– ion and various hydrogen bond donating sites (including CH sites) of monomer was necessary for stabilization of the transition state. It was revealed that the α-anomer will be more reactive than the β-anomer with regard to the denitration reaction. The role of entropy and the denitration ability of various sites are also discussed