Exploring the specific chemistries of the cycloaddition reactions of 5-benzoyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone and stable nitrile oxides: Insights from Density Functional Theory analysis

Isothiazolones are important heterocyclics with pharmacological potency such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and robust biocidal (used in agrochemicals). This study seeks to provide mechanistic insight into the chemo- and regio-selectivities of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 5-benzoyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone (A1) with two stable nitrile oxides, that is, mesitonitrile oxide (A2) and dichlorobenzonitrile oxide (A3) using M06-2X hybrid density functional calculations coupled with the 6-311G (d, p) basis sets. Mesitonitrile oxide A2 chemo-selectively adds across the carbonyl of the benzyl group of A1 while dichloro benzonitrile oxide A3 preferentially adds across the ethylene center of A1. Derivatization of A1 with electron-donating groups lowers the activation barriers by a very minute margin ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 kcal/mol whereas electron-withdrawing groups significantly decrease the energetics of the reaction by a margin of 1.1 to 2.5 kcal/mol. Solvation with chloroform does not affect the selectivity of the reaction but tends to increase both activation and reaction energies of the various routes. Analysis of the Parr function on different reactive sites of A1 shows the addition of A2 via the atomic center with the largest Mullikan atomic spin densities. Substitution of the S-heteroatom with C, O, or N does not affect the regioselectivity of the reaction but lowers the activation energies in the reaction of A1 with A3. The global electron density transfer (GEDT) values predict a polar reaction between A1 and A2 whereas the reaction of A1 and A3 is non-polar.