Density Functional Theory (DFT) based quantum chemical calculations were performed with Gaussian 16 . The hybrid meta generalized gradient approximation functional M06-2X was used for all calculations. A triple zeta 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was used for single point energies after geometry optimization and frequencies were obtained with the 6-31G(d) double zeta basis set. The conductor-like polarizable continuum model was used as the selfconsistent reaction field . This methodology was found by Sturgeon et al. to yield excellent agreement with the Complete Basis Set CBS-QB3 benchmark method for model molecules of interest for ether cleavage . 3 Results