The reaction mechanism and origin of asymmetric induction for conjugate addition of cyanide to the C=C bond of olefin were investigated at the B3LYP-D3(BJ)/6-31+G**//B3LYP-D3(BJ)/6-31G**(SMD, toluene) theoretical level. The release of HCN from the reaction of ethyl cyanoformate (CNCOOEt) and isopropanol (HOiPr) was catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid catalyst. The cyanation reaction of olefin proceeded through a two-step mechanism, in which the C-C bond construction was followed by H-transfer to generate a cyanide adduct. For non-catalytic reaction, the activation barrier for the rate-determining C-H bond construction step was 34.2 kcal mol−1, via a four-membered transition state. The self-assembly Ti(IV)-catalyst from tetraisopropyl titanate, (R)-3,3′-disubstituted biphenol, and cinchonidine accelerated the addition of cyanide to the C=C double bond by a dual activation process, in which titanium cation acted as a Lewis acid to activate the olefin and HNC was orientated by hydrogen bonding. The steric repulsion between the 9-phenanthryl at the 3,3′-position in the biphenol ligand and the Ph group in olefin raised the Pauli energy (ΔE≠Pauli) of reacting fragments at the re-face attack transition state, leading to the predominant R-product.
Au(100) as a Template for Pentacene Monolayer