Quantum-chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(df,p) level of theory showed that reactions of phenyl isocyanate with methanol associates involve formation of pre-and post-reaction complexes. The reactions proceed through late asymmetric cyclic transition states. The height of the energy barrier decreases as the degree of association of the alcohol increases. The relative change in the Gibbs energy in the reaction of phenyl isocyanate with methanol also becomes smaller as the degree of alcohol association increases.

Addition of linear methanol associates at the C=N and C=O bonds of methyl isocyanate was studied in terms of the B3LYP/6-311++G( df,p) hybrid quantum-chemical method. The addition at the C=N bond is m

Addition of linear methanol associates at the C=O group of phenyl isocyanate involves a concerted cyclic asymmetric late transition state. The reaction is accompanied by formation of pre- and post-reaction complexes. Isomerization of intermediate methyl hydrogen phenylimidocarbonate into methyl phenylcarbamate is characterized by a considerable energy barrier. The reactivity of methanol molecules increases in parallel with the degree of their association, which is related to increase in their electron-donor power. Comparison of the calculated parameters for the addition of methanol associates at the C=N and C=O bonds of phenyl isocyanate clearly indicates that the first path is preferred.

The mechanism of addition of linear methanol associates (monomer, dimer, trimer) to aryl isocyanates at their C=N and C=O bonds was investigated applying the quantum-chemical method B3LYP/6-311++G(df,p). Notwithstanding the electronic character of substituents in the aromatic ring of the isocyanates all reactions proceed through concerted asymmetric late transition states. The addition to the C=N bond is considerably more preferable than to the C=O bond. In the transformations under consideration the intermolecular donor-acceptor interactions between the reagents result in the appearance of abnormal selectivity.