Hydride affinities of some substituted alkynes: prediction by DFT calculations and rationalization by triadic formula

Robert Vianello1, Nena Peran, Zvonimir B Maksić

  • 1Quantum Organic Chemistry Group, Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruder Bosković Institute, POB 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia. vianello@spider.irb.hr

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In nature, compounds containing both carbon and hydrogen are known as "hydrocarbons". Aliphatic hydrocarbons are compounds whose molecules contain saturated single bonds (i.e., alkanes) or unsaturated double or triple bonds. Alkenes contain carbon–carbon double bonds and have a structural formula CnH2n. Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing carbon–carbon triple bonds are called "alkynes" and are structurally represented by the formula CnH2n-2.
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The acidic strength of hydrocarbons follows the order: Alkynes > Alkenes > Alkanes. The strength of an acid is commonly expressed in units of pKa — the lower the pKa, the stronger the acid. Among the hydrocarbons, terminal alkynes have lower pKa values and are, therefore, more acidic. For example, the pKa values for ethane, ethene, and acetylene are 51, 44, and 25, respectively, as shown here.