Quantum-chemical study of isocyanate reactions with linear methanol associates: IX. Methyl isocyanate reaction with methanol-phenol complexes

Quantum-chemical method B3LYP/6-311++G(df,p) was applied to the study of complex formation between phenol and methanol. The complexes of molecules bound by the hydrogen bond possess enhanced donoracceptor and acid-base properties as compared to monomer molecules. The reactions of phenol and methanol complexes with methyl isocyanate proceed through a concerted late asymmetric transition state by the type of nucleophilic addition. The most kinetically and thermodynamically favorable transformation is the process involving the complex phenol-acceptor, methanol-donor. Phenol compounds are able to catalyze the addition of alcohols to isocyanates.