Reaction-Path Dynamics and Theoretical Rate Constants for the CH3F + Cl → HCl + CH2F Reaction by Direct Dynamics Method

Benchmark ab initio characterization of the multi-channel Cl + CH3X [X = F, Cl, Br, I] reactive potential energy surfaces

We determine benchmark geometries and relative energies for the stationary points of the Cl + CH3X [X = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions. We consider four possible reaction pathways: hydrogen abstraction, hydrogen substitution, halogen abstraction, and halogen substitution, where the substitution processes can proceed via either Walden inversion or front-side attack. We perform geometry optimizations and obtain harmonic vibrational frequencies at the explicitly-correlated UCCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, followed by UCCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVQZ single-point computations to make finite-basis-set error negligible. To reach chemical (<1 kcal mol-1), or even subchemical (<0.5 kcal mol-1) accuracy, we include core-correlation, scalar relativistic, post-(T), spin-orbit-splitting and zero-point-energy contributions, as well, in the relative energies of all the stationary points. Our benchmark 0 K reaction enthalpies are compared to available experimental results and show good agreement. The stationary-point structures and energetics are interpreted in terms of Hammond's postulate and used to make predictions related to the dynamical behavior of these reactive systems.

Branching Ratios of Aliphatic Amines + OH Gas-Phase Reactions: A Variational Transition-State Theory Study

A theoretical study on the mechanism of the OH + aliphatic amines reactions is presented. Geometry optimization and frequencies calculations have been performed at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory for all stationary points. Energy values have been improved by single-point calculations at the above geometries using CCSD(T) and the same basis set. All the possible hydrogen abstraction channels have been modeled, involving the rupture of C-H and N-H bonds. It was found that as the temperature decreases the contributions of the channels involving NH sites to the overall reaction also decrease, suggesting that for upper layers in the troposphere these channels become less important. Their percentage contributions to the overall reaction, at 298 K, were found to be about 20%, 2%, and 48% for methylamine, ethlylamine, and dimethylamine, respectively.

DUAL-LEVEL DIRECT DYNAMICS STUDIES ON THE HYDROGEN ABSTRACTION REACTION OF CF3CHFCF3 (HFC-227ea) WITH Cl ATOM

The hydrogen abstraction reaction of CF3CHFCF3 (HFC-227ea) by Cl atom is studied theoretically over a temperature range of 50–2000 K. The reaction path information such as geometries, gradients, etc. are initially obtained at the BB1K/6-31+G (d,p) level. In order to improve the energies, high level single point energy (SPE) calculations are carried out at BB1K/MG3S on BB1K/6-31+G(d,p) geometries. The rate coefficients are obtained by dual-level direct dynamics approach with the interpolated SPE method at BB1K/MG3S//BB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level. Aforementioned rate coefficients are calculated based on canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction. The results show that for the title reaction, variational effect is small while the tunneling effects are significant at low temperature. In order to investigate the reliability of improved BB1K potential energy surface in predicting barrier height of the reaction, different quantum models built such as QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) , QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pv-DZ//MP2/6-31G(d,p) , and MP4SDQ/aug-cc-pv-DZ//MP2/6-31G(d,p) are applied to calculate the rate coefficients of the reaction. The results show the rate coefficients calculated based on MP2 potential energy surface are underestimated as compared to the experimental value. Finally three models are applied to fit the calculated rate coefficients over the temperature range of 50–2000 K. It is shown that the new four-parameter model provided a better temperature dependence than the other expressions. It is expected that obtained theoretical results can be useful for modeling the kinetics nature of the reaction of HFC-227ea and Cl atom over temperature range where no experimental data is accessible.

Theoretical study of the kinetics of reactions of the monohalogenated methanes with atomic chlorine

Ab initio calculations at the G2 level were used in a theoretical description of the kinetics and mechanism of the hydrogen abstraction reactions from fluoro-, chloro- and bromomethane by chlorine atoms. The profiles of the potential energy surfaces show that mechanism of the reactions under investigation is complex and consists of two - in the case of CH₃F+Cl - and of three elementary steps for CH₃Cl+Cl and CH₃Br+Cl. The heights of the energy barrier related to the H-abstraction are of 8–10 kJ mol⁻¹, the lowest value corresponds to CH₃Cl+Cl and the highest one to CH₃F+Cl. The rate constants were calculated using the theoretical method based on the RRKM theory and the simplified version of the statistical adiabatic channel model. The kinetic equations derived in this study\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \begin{array}{*{20}c} {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_3}\mathrm{F}+\mathrm{Cl}} \right)=6.75\times 1{0^{-12 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{2.12 }}\times\exp (-900/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_3}\mathrm{Cl}+\mathrm{Cl}} \right)=6.97\times 1{0^{-12 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{1.73 }}\times\exp (-795/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_3}\mathrm{Br}+\mathrm{Cl}} \right)=6.26\times 1{0^{-12 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{1.82 }}\times\exp (-795/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ \end{array} $$\end{document}and\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \begin{array}{*{20}c} {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_2}\mathrm{F}+\mathrm{HCl}} \right)=2.88\times 1{0^{-13 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{2.02 }}\times\exp (-1255/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_2}\mathrm{Cl}+\mathrm{HCl}} \right)=2.42\times 1{0^{-13 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{1.57 }}\times\exp (-2100/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ {k\left( {\mathrm{C}{{\mathrm{H}}_2}\mathrm{Br}+\mathrm{HCl}} \right)=2.21\times 1{0^{-13 }}\times {{{\left( {\mathrm{T}/300} \right)}}^{1.69 }}\times\exp (-1485/\mathrm{T})}{\mathrm{c}{{\mathrm{m}}^3}\mathrm{molecul}{{\mathrm{e}}^{-1 }}{{\mathrm{s}}^{-1 }}} \\ \end{array} $$\end{document}allow a description of the kinetics of the reactions under investigation in the temperature range of 200–3000 K. The kinetics of reactions of the entirely deuterated reactants were also included in the kinetic analysis. Results of ab initio calculations show that D-abstraction process is related with the energy barrier of 5 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than the H-abstraction from the corresponding non-deuterated reactant molecule. The derived analytical equations for the reactions, CD₃X+Cl, CH₂X+HCl and CD₂X+DCl (X = F, Cl and Br) are a substantial supplement of the kinetic data necessary for the description and modeling of the processes of importance in the atmospheric chemistry.

Direct Dynamics Study on the Reaction of N2H4 with F Atom: A Hydrogen Abstraction Reaction?

We present a systematic direct ab initio dynamics investigation of the reaction between N2H4 and F atom, which is predicted to have three possible reaction channels. The structures and frequencies at the stationary points and the points along the minimum energy paths (MEPs) of all reaction channels were calculated at the UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. Energetic information of stationary points and the points along the MEPs was further refined by means of the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ method. The calculated results revealed that the first two primary channels (N2H4+F-->N2H3+HF) are equivalent and occur synchronously via the formation of a pre-reaction complex with Cs symmetry rather than via the direct H abstraction. The pre-reaction complex then evolves into a hydrogen-bonding intermediate through a transition state with nearly no barrier and a high exothermicity, which finally makes the intermediate further decompose into N2H3 and HF. Another reaction channel of minor role (N2H4+F-->NH2F+NH2) was also found during the calculations, which has the same Cs pre-reaction complex but forms NH2F and NH2 via another transition state with high-energy barrier and low exothermicity. The rate constants of these channels were calculated using the improved canonical variational transition state theory with the small-curvature tunneling correction (ICVT/SCT) method. The three-parameter ICVT/SCT rate constant expressions of k(ICVT/SCT) at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory within 220-3000 K were fitted as (7.64x10(-9))T (-0.87) exp(1180/T) cm3 mole-1 s-1 for N2H4+F-->N2H3+HF and 1.45x10(-12)(T/298)(2.17) exp(-1710/T) cm3 mole-1 s-1 for N2H4+F-->NH2F+NH2.

Reaction-Path Dynamics and Theoretical Rate Constants for the CHnF4-n + O3 → HOOO + CHn-1F4-n (n = 2,3) Reactions

We present a theoretical study of the hydrogen abstraction reactions from CH(3)F and CH(2)F(2) by an ozone molecule. The geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of all stationary points are calculated at the MPW1K, BHandHLYP, and MPWB1K levels of theory. The energies of all of the stationary points were refined by using both higher-level (denoted as HL) energy calculations and QCISD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2pd) calculations based on the optimized geometries at the MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The minimum energy paths (MEPs) were obtained by the MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. Energetic information of the points along the MEPs is further refined by the HL method. The rate constants were evaluated on the basis of the MEPs from the HL level of theory in the temperature range 200-2500 K by using the conventional transition-state theory (TST), the canonical variational transition-state theory (CVT), the microcanonical variational transition-state theory (microVT), the CVT coupled with the small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction (CVT/SCT), and the microVT coupled with the Eckart tunneling correction (microVT/Eckart) based on the ab initio calculations. A general agreement was found among the TST, CVT, and microVT theories. The fitted three-parameter Arrhenius expressions of the calculated forward CVT/SCT and microVT/Eckart rate constants of the ozonolysis of fluoromethane are k(CVT/SCT)(T) = 2.76 x 10(-34)T(5.81)e((-13975/)(T)) and k(microVT/Eckart)(T) = 1.15 x 10(-34)T(5.97)e((-14530.7/)(T)), respectively. The fitted three-parameter Arrhenius expressions of the calculated forward CVT/SCT and microVT/Eckart rate constants of the ozonolysis of difluoromethane are k(CVT/SCT)(T) = 2.29 x 10(-36)T(6.42)e((-15451.6/)(T)) and k(microVT/Eckart)(T) = 1.31 x 10(-36)T(6.45)e((-15465.8/)(T)), respectively.

Isopropylcyclopropane + OH Gas Phase Reaction: A Quantum Chemistry + CVT/SCT Approach

A theoretical study of the mechanism and kinetics of the OH hydrogen abstraction from isopropylcyclopropane (IPCP) is presented. Optimum geometries, frequencies and gradients have been computed at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory for all stationary points, as well as for additional points along the minimum energy path (MEP). Energies have been improved by single-point calculations at the above geometries using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p) to produce the potential energy surface. The rate coefficients are calculated for the temperature range 260-350 K by using canonical variational theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) corrections. Our analysis suggests a stepwise mechanism involving the formation of a reactant complex in the entrance channel and a product complex in the exit channel, for all the modeled paths. The reactant complexes are examined in detail, because they exhibit alkene-like structure. The excellent agreement between the overall calculated and experimental rate coefficients at 298 K supports the reliability of the parameters obtained for the temperature dependence and branching ratios of the IPCP + OH reaction, proposed here for the fist time. The expression that best describes the studied reaction is k(overall) = 6.15 x 10(-13)e1747/RT cm3 x molecule(-1) x s(-1). The predicted activation energy is -0.89 kcal/mol.

Glycolaldehyde + OH Gas Phase Reaction: A Quantum Chemistry + CVT/SCT Approach

We present a theoretical study of the mechanism and kinetics of the OH hydrogen abstraction from glycolaldehyde. Optimum geometries, frequencies, and gradients have been computed at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory for all stationary points, as well as for additional points along the minimum energy path (MEP). Energies are obtained by single-point calculations at the above geometries using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p) to produce the potential energy surface. The rate coefficients are calculated for the temperature range 200-500 K by using canonical variational theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) corrections. Our analysis suggests a stepwise mechanism involving the formation of a reactant complex in the entrance channel and a product complex in the exit channel, for all the modeled paths. The overall agreement between the calculated and experimental kinetic data that are available at 298 K is very good. This agreement supports the reliability of the parameters obtained for the temperature dependence of the glycolaldehyde + OH reaction. The expressions that best describe the studied reaction are k(overall) = 7.76 x 10(-13) e(1328/)(RT) cm(3).molecule(-1).s(-1) and k(overall) = 1.09 x 10(-21)T(3.03) e(3187/)(RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), for the Arrhenius and Kooij approaches, respectively. The predicted activation energy is (-1.36 +/- 0.03) kcal/mol, at about 298 K. The agreement between the calculated and experimental branching ratios is better than 10%. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in OO-s-cis glycolaldehyde is found to be responsible for the discrepancies between SAR and experimental rate coefficients.

Persistent Photo-Reversible Transition-Metal Methylidene System Generated from Reaction of Methyl Fluoride with Laser-Ablated Zirconium Atoms and Isolated in a Solid Argon Matrix

A photoreversible transition-metal methylidene system has been formed for the first time by reaction of methyl fluoride and laser-ablated Zr atoms, isolated in solid argon, and investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy. Four different groups of absorptions are characterized on the basis of behaviors upon broad-band irradiation and sample annealing. Growth of Group I is accompanied by demise of Group II on irradiation with visible light (lambda > 530 nm) and vice versa with UV light (240 < lambda < 380 nm). The methylidene complex CH(2)=ZrHF is responsible for Groups I and II either in different singlet-triplet spin states or argon matrix packing configurations. The ground singlet state is stabilized by an agostic interaction. On the other hand, Group III, which arises from the Grignard type compound CH(3)-ZrF, disappears upon irradiation of UV light (lambda > 380 nm), increasing the concentration of CH(2)=ZrHF by alpha-H elimination. Fragments of methyl fluoride such as the CH(2)F radical comprise Group IV. Theoretical calculations are carried out for the alkylidene complex and other plausible products, and the results are compared with the experimental frequencies.

DFT and ab initio direct dynamics studies on the hydrogen abstraction reactions of chlorine atoms with CH(4-n)F(n) (n = 1-3)

A direct dynamics study is carried out for the hydrogen abstraction reactions Cl + CH(4-n)F(n) (n = 1-3) in the temperature range of 200-1,000 K. The minimum energy paths (MEPs) of these reactions are calculated at the BH&H-LYP/6-311G(d,p) level, and the energies along the MEPs are further refined at the QCISD(T)/6-311+G(2df,2p) and QCISD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) (single-point) level. The rate constants obtained by using the improved canonical variational transition state theory incorporating small-curvature tunneling correction (ICVT/SCT) are in good agreement with the available experimental results. It is shown that the vibrational adiabatic potential energy curves for these reactions have two barriers, a situation similar to the analogous reactions CH(3)X+Cl (X=Cl, Br). The theoretical results show that for the title reactions the variational effect should not be neglected over the whole considered temperature range, while the small-curvature tunneling effect is only important in the lower temperature range. The effects of fluorine substitution on the rate of this kind of reactions are also examined.