A global ab initio potential energy surface for HNO (a3A″) and quantum mechanical studies of vibrational states and reaction dynamics

Quantum state-to-state nonadiabatic dynamics of the charge transfer reaction H+ + NO(X2Π) → H + NO+(X1Σ+): Influence of ro-vibrational excitation of NO

Quantum state-to-state nonadiabatic dynamics of the charge transfer reaction H+ + NO(X2Π, vi = 1, 3, ji = 0, 1) → H + NO+(X1Σ+) has been studied based on the recently constructed diabatic potential energy matrix. It was found that the vibrational excitation of reactant NO inhibits the reactivity, while the rotational excitation of reactant NO has little effect on the reaction probability. These attributes were also observed in the semi-classical trajectory calculations employed in the adiabatic representation. Such an inhibitory effect of the vibrational excitation of reactant NO was owing to lower accessibility of the conical intersection and avoided crossing regions, which are located in the wells with respect to the Π diabat, as evidenced by the analysis of the population of the time-independent wave functions. Calculated vibrational state distributions of the product show that the decrease of the reaction mainly leads to the less formation of low vibrational states (vf < 6), and the product vibrational state distributions are more evenly populated for vi = 1 and 3, suggesting a non-statistical behavior. However, the overall shapes of the product rotational distributions remain unchanged, indicating that the redistribution of energy into the rotation of product NO is sufficient in the charge transfer process between H+ and NO. While the reaction is dominated by the forward and backward scattering in differential cross sections (DCSs), consistent with the complex-forming mechanism, a clear forward bias in the DCSs appears, indicating that the occurrence of the reaction is not sufficiently long to undergo the whole phase space of the interaction configurations.

Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of the charge transfer reaction H+ + NO(X2Π) → H + NO+(X1Σ+)

Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of the charge transfer (CT) reaction H+ + NO(X2Π) → H + NO+(X1Σ+) is investigated on a new diabatic potential energy matrix (PEM) including the 12A' and 22A' states of HNO+/HON+ at the multireference configuration interaction level with Davidson correction using a large basis set. The diabatization of the two coupled states was achieved by the adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation with a mixing angle and the final diabatic PEM was obtained by fitting each matrix element separately using a three-dimensional cubic spline interpolation including more than 22 000 ab initio points. The reaction was found to be dominated by the resonances supported by the double well associated with HNO+ and HON+ species, manifested by the oscillatory structures in the reaction probabilities and product rotational distributions. The product vibrational states were highly excited due to the large exothermicity of the reaction. Consistent with the complex-forming mechanism, the differential cross sections (DCSs) were found to be dominated by the forward and backward scatterings. A clear forward bias in the vibrational state resolved DCSs suggests that the non-statistical behavior of the reaction mainly comes from the low vibrational states of the product. In addition, the rate constants of the reaction in the temperature range from 50 to 500 K were computed for the first time and found to be in fairly good agreement with the available experimental results at 300 K. In particular, compared to other reactions involving neutral species in this system including N, O, and H atoms, such a CT reaction was found to be much more reactive, which has rate constants more than thirty times larger.

Statistical theory for the reaction N + OH → NO + H: thermal low-temperature rate constants

The reaction N + OH → NO + H involves the intermediate formation of NOH adducts which in part rearrange to HNO conformers. A statistical treatment of the process is developed in which an initial adiabatic channel capture of the reactants is accompanied by partial primary redissociation of the N⋯OH collision pairs. A criterion for the extent of this primary redissociation in competition to the formation of randomized, long-lived, complex of NOH is proposed. The NOH adducts then may decompose to NO + H, rearrange in a unimolecular process to HNO, or undergo secondary redissociation back to the reactants N + OH, while HNO may also decompose to NO + H. As the reactants N(⁴S) + OH(²Π) have open electronic shells, non-Born-Oppenheimer effects have to be considered. Their influence on thermal rate constants of the reaction at low temperatures is illustrated and compared with such effects in other reactions such as C(³P) + OH(²Π).

Time-dependent quantum mechanical wave packet dynamics

Starting from a model study of the collinear (H, H₂) exchange reaction in 1959, the time-dependent quantum mechanical wave packet (TDQMWP) method has come a long way in dealing with systems as large as Cl + CH₄. The fast Fourier transform method for evaluating the second order spatial derivative of the wave function and split-operator method or Chebyshev polynomial expansion for determining the time evolution of the wave function for the system have made the approach highly accurate from a practical point of view. The TDQMWP methodology has been able to predict state-to-state differential and integral reaction cross sections accurately, in agreement with available experimental results for three dimensional (H, H₂) collisions, and identify reactive scattering resonances too. It has become a practical computational tool in predicting the observables for many A + BC exchange reactions in three dimensions and a number of larger systems. It is equally amenable to determining the bound and quasi-bound states for a variety of molecular systems. Just as it is able to deal with dissociative processes (without involving basis set expansion), it is able to deal with multi-mode nonadiabatic dynamics in multiple electronic states with equal ease. We present an overview of the method and its strength and limitations, citing examples largely from our own research groups.

Time-independent quantum theory on vibrational inelastic scattering between atoms and open-shell diatomic molecules: Applications to NO + Ar and NO + H scattering

A full-dimensional rigorous quantum mechanical treatment of non-reactive inelastic scattering of an open-shell diatom [e.g., NO(²Π)] with a structureless and spinless atom is presented within the time-independent close-coupling framework. The inclusion of the diatomic vibrational degree of freedom allows the investigation of transitions between different vibrational manifolds, in addition to those between different rotational, spin-orbit, and Λ-doublet states. This method is applied to the scattering of vibrationally excited NO(²Π) with Ar and H (with its spin ignored). The former has negligible vibrational inelasticity, thanks to the weak interaction between the two collisional partners. This conclusion justifies the commonly used two-dimensional approximation in treating NO scattering with rare gas atoms. The latter, on the other hand, is shown to undergo significant vibrational relaxation, even in the ultra-cold regime, owing to a chemically bonded (HNO) complex on the lowest-lying singlet potential energy surfaces.

On the role of HNS and HSN as light-sensitive NO-donors for delivery in biological media

Results are presented that suggest that thiazyl hydride (HSN)/thionitrosyl hydride (sulfimide, HNS) can be used as light-sensitive compounds for NO-delivery in biological media, as well as markers for the possible detection of intermediates in nitrites + H2S reactions at the cellular level. They are expected to be more efficient than the HNO/HON isovalent species and hence they should be considered instead. A set of characteristic spectroscopic features are identified that could aid in the possible detection of these species in the gas phase or in biological environments. The possibility of intramolecular dynamical processes involving excited states that are capable of interconverting HNS and its isomeric form HSN is examined.

A global ab initio potential energy surface for the X2A' ground state of the Si + OH → SiO + H reaction

We report the first global potential energy surface (PES) for the X(2)A' ground electronic state of the Si((3)P) + OH(X(2)Π) → SiO(X(1)Σg(+)) + H((2)S) reaction. The PES is based on a large number of ab initio energies obtained from multireference configuration interaction calculations plus Davidson correction (MRCI+Q) using basis sets of quadruple zeta quality. Corrections were applied to the ab initio energies in the reactant channel allowing a proper description of long-range interactions between Si((3)P) and OH(X(2)Π). An analytical representation of the global PES has been developed by means of the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method. The reaction is found barrierless. Two minima, corresponding to the SiOH and HSiO isomers, and six saddle points, among which the isomerization transition state, have been characterized on the PES. The vibrational spectra of the SiOH/HSiO radicals have been computed from second-order perturbation theory and quantum dynamics methods. The structural, energetic, and spectroscopic properties of the two isomers are in good agreement with experimental data and previous high quality calculations.

State-to-state quantum dynamics of the N(4S) + CH(X2Π) → CN(X2Σ+,A2Π) + H(2S) reactions

The reactions between N((4)S) and CH(X(2)Π) lead to H((2)S) plus CN in its two lowest electronic states (X(2)Σ(+) and A(2)Π), which are responsible for the interstellar CN formation. Accurate quantum dynamics of these reactions are investigated on new global potential energy surfaces of the two lowest-lying triplet states of HCN (1(3)A' and 1(3)A") fitted to more than 37,000 points at the internally contracted multi-reference configuration interaction level with the Davidson correction. The pathways for these highly exothermic and barrierless reactions feature both the HCN and HNC wells. Long-lived resonances supported by these wells manifest in reaction probabilities as numerous oscillations, particularly for low J partial waves. The 1(3)A" state is found to be more reactive than the 1(3)A' state, due apparently to its more attractive nature in the entrance channel. The CN products in both electronic states are highly excited in both vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom. The near forward-backward symmetric differential cross sections are consistent with a complex-forming mechanism.

Computational investigations of HNO in biology

HNO (nitroxyl) has been found to have many physiological effects in numerous biological processes. Computational investigations have been employed to help understand the structural properties of HNO complexes and HNO reactivities in some interesting biologically relevant systems. The following computational aspects were reviewed in this work: 1) structural and energetic properties of HNO isomers; 2) interactions between HNO and non-metal molecules; 3) structural and spectroscopic properties of HNO metal complexes; 4) HNO reactions with biologically important non-metal systems; 5) involvement of HNO in reactions of metal complexes and metalloproteins. Results indicate that computational investigations are very helpful to elucidate interesting experimental phenomena and provide new insights into unique structural, spectroscopic, and mechanistic properties of HNO involvement in biology.

Low temperature kinetics of unstable radical reactions

Recent advances in Earth and satellite based observations of molecules in interstellar environments and in planetary atmospheres have highlighted the lack of information regarding many important gas-phase formation mechanisms involving neutral species at low temperatures. Whilst significant progress has been made towards a better understanding of radical-molecule reactions in these regions, the inherent difficulties involved in the investigation of reactions between two unstable radical species have hindered progress in this area. This perspective article provides a brief review of the most common techniques applied to study radical-radical reactions below room temperature, before outlining the developments in our laboratory that have allowed us to extend such measurements to temperatures relevant to astrochemical environments. These developments will be discussed with particular emphasis on our recent investigations of the reactions of atomic nitrogen with diatomic radicals.