A quantum chemical study on •Cl-initiated atmospheric degradation of CH2BrO2•

The singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces for the CH₂BrO₂??+??Cl reaction have been researched theoretically. All of the probable reaction routes were investigated by using B3LYP and G3(MP2) models. Addition/elimination and S_N2 displacement exist on the singlet potential energy surfaces (PES), and the foremost approach process of CH₂BrO₂??+??Cl is generating IM1 (CH₂BrOOCl) with no barrier, followed by the O-O bond breaking accompanied by an H-migrate resulting in the most abundant product P1 (CHBrO?+?HClO). One direct H-abstraction and three S_N2 displacement reaction pathways exist on the triplet PES, and direct H-abstraction is the foremost pathway. RRKM-TST theory was employed to predict product distribution of the CH₂BrO₂??+??Cl reaction. At atmospheric pressure, the production of P1 (CHBrO?+?HClO) by addition/elimination dominants the reaction at T?≤?800?K, while the direct H-abstraction takes over the reaction at T?>?800?K. The total rate constants are insensitive to pressure, and the branching rate constants are just the opposite. The lifetime of CH₂BrO₂? in the presence of ?Cl was predicted to 3.2?d. Moreover, time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations suggest that IM1 (CH₂BrOOCl), IM2 (CH₂BrOClO) and IM3 (CH₂(OBr)OCl) will photolyze under the sunlight.     

Theoretical study on the reactions of CH3NHNH2 with ground state O(3P) atom and excited state O(1D) atom

The reaction mechanisms of methylhydrazine (CH₃NHNH₂) with O(³P) and O(¹D) atoms have been explored theoretically at the MPW1K/6-311+G(d,p), MP2/6-311+G(d,p), MCG3-MPWPW91 (single-point), and CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ (single-point) levels. The triplet potential energy surface for the reaction of CH₃NHNH₂ with O(³P) includes seven stable isomers and eight transition states. When the O(³P) atom approaches CH₃NHNH₂, the heavy atoms, namely N and C atoms, are the favourable combining points. O(³P) atom attacking the middle-N atom in CH₃NHNH₂ results in the formation of an energy-rich isomer (CH₃NHONH₂) followed by migration of O(³P) atom from middle-N atom to middle-H atom leading to the product P6 (CH₃NNH₂+OH), which is one of the most favourable routes. The estimated major product CH₃NNH₂ is consistent with the experimental measurements. Reaction of O(¹D) + CH₃NHNH₂ presents different features as compared with O(³P) + CH₃NHNH₂. O(¹D) atom will first insert into C–H2, N1–H4, and N2–H5 bonds barrierlessly to form the three adducts, respectively. There are two most favourable paths for O(¹D) + CH₃NHNH₂. One is that the C–N bond cleavage accompanied by a concerted H shift from O atom to N atom (mid-N) leads to the product P_I (CH₂O + NH₂NH₂), and the other is that the N–N bond rupture along with a concerted H shift from O to N (end-N) forms P_IV (CH₃NH₂ + HNO). The similarities and discrepancies between two reactions are discussed.     

A theoretical investigation into dimethylcarbene and its diamino and diphosphino analogs: effects of cyclization and unsaturation on the stability and multiplicity

High levels of ab initio and DFT calculations (B3LYP/6‐311++G**, B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ, and CCSD(T)/6‐311++G** levels) coupled with isodesmic reactions are used to compare and contrast the multiplicities and relative stabilities of singlet (s) and triplet (t) acyclic carbenes, including: dimethylcarbene, diaminocarbene, and diphosphinocarbene along with their saturated and unsaturated cyclic ones. Cyclization is unfavorable for all acyclic carbenes while unsaturation of cyclic analogs appears favorable. The simultaneous cyclization and unsaturation of dimethylcarbene increases the singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE_s–t), while for diphosphinocarbene the situation is reversed. For diaminocarbene the increase of ΔE_s–t is encountered only during cyclization. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction mechanism and rate constants of the CH+CH4 reaction: a theoretical study

Ab initio and density functional calculations have been performed to elucidate the mechanism of CH radical insertion into methane. The results show that the reaction can be viewed to occur via two stages. On the first stage, the CH radical approaches methane without large structural changes to acquire proper positioning for the subsequent stage, where H-migration occurs from CH₄ to CH, along with a C–C bond formation. Where the first stage ends and the second begins, a tight transition state was located using the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and MP4(SDQ)/6-311++G(d,p) methods. Using a rigid rotor – harmonic oscillator approach within transition state theory, we show that at the MP5/6-311++G(d,p)//MP4(SDQ)/6-311++G(d,p) level the calculated rate constants are in a reasonably good agreement with experiment in a broad temperature range of 145–581 K. Even at low temperatures, the insertion reaction bottleneck is found about the location of the tight transition state, rather than at long separations between the CH and CH₄ reactants. In addition, high level CCSD(T)-F12/CBS calculations of the remainder of the C₂H₅ potential energy surface predict the CH+CH₄ reaction to proceed via the initial insertion step to the ethyl radical which then can emit a hydrogen atom to form highly exothermic C₂H₄+H products.     

Direct ab initio dynamics study of rate constants and kinetic isotope effects for C2(A3Π u ) + CH3OH reaction

The hydrogen abstraction of CH₃OH by C₂ (A³Π _u ) has been investigated by direct ab initio dynamics over a wide temperature range 200–3000?K. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) have been constructed at the UCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//UMP2/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. Two different hydrogen abstractions on the methyl and hydroxyl sites of methanol are considered. For the methyl H-abstraction, it is essentially a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), whereas the hydroxyl site H-abstraction is better described as a proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) according to the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. The results suggest that the methyl site reaction is dominant, and the calculated rate constants are roughly consistent with available experimental values. On the other hand, the temperature dependence of deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) analysis reveals a substantial normal isotope effect in the methyl H-abstraction process, while normal and inverse KIEs coexist in the hydroxyl H-abstraction channel. Furthermore, the three and four–parameter expressions of Arrhenius rate constants are also provided within 200–3000?K.     

Isomers of OCS and their reaction with H2O on singlet potential energy surface

The isomers of the carbonyl sulfide (OCS) molecule are investigated in detail at CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. One cyclic isomer was identified along with three different linear minima of the OCS molecule. Three interconversion transition states were also located between cyclic and linear forms of OCS. Among these four isomers, the singlet potential energy surface (PES) for the molecule–molecule reaction between the three most energetically favoured isomers of OCS and H₂O has been explored theoretically at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. This singlet PES comprises of three paths. Path 1 is the reaction of linear OCS molecule with water producing the major product P1 (CO₂?+?H₂S), minor product P2 (S?+?HCOOH) and two isomers via 14 minima and 15 transition states. The Path 2 is an isomerization process in which cyclic isomer of OCS reacts with water molecule via another initial barrierless aduct producing five isomers of the OCS–H₂O system through five interconversion transition states. The reaction of linear COS isomer with water is shown in Path 3. This path produces the radicals SH and COOH from another COS–H₂O complex via a transition state. Among these three products, the product P1 is energetically most favoured. The overall exothermicity of the product channels for the formation of major product P1 on PES is calculated to be about 10.60?kcal/mol possessing initial high entrance barriers of 45.48 and 55.47?kcal/mol in two possible pathways. As the process is favoured thermodynamically but not kinetically, the reaction is expected to be very slow.     

Theoretical study of the hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH3OH with NCO

A direct dynamics method is employed to study the mechanism and kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH₃OH with NCO. The optimized geometries and frequencies of the stationary points and the minimum-energy paths (MEPs) are obtained at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) level. In order to obtain more accurate potential energy surface (PES) information and provide more credible energy data for kinetic calculation, the single-point energies along the MEPs are further computed at QCISD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) and G3MP2 levels. The rate constants for two channels, the methyl-H abstraction channel and hydroxyl-H abstraction channel, are calculated by canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling (SCT) contributions over the wide temperature region 220–1500?K. The theoretical overall rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental data. For the title reaction, the methyl-H abstraction channel is dominant, while the hydroxyl-H abstraction channel is negligible over the whole temperature region.     

Computational study on structures,thermochemical properties,and bond energies of disulfide oxygen (S–S–O)‐bridged CH3SSOH and CH3SS(=O)H and radicals

Cleavage of disulfide bonds is a common method used in linking peptides to proteins in biochemical reactions. The structures, internal rotor potentials, bond energies, and thermochemical properties (Δ_fH°, S°, and Cp(T)) of the S–S bridge molecules CH₃SSOH and CH₃SS(=O)H and the radicals CH₃SS?=O and C?H₂SSOH that correspond to H‐atom loss are determined by computational chemistry. Structure and thermochemical parameters (S° and Cp(T)) are determined using density functional Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP)/6‐31++G (d, p), B3LYP/6‐311++G (3df, 2p). The enthalpies of formation for stable species are calculated using the total energies at B3LYP/6‐31++G (d, p), B3LYP/6‐311++G (3df, 2p), and the higher level composite CBS–QB3 levels with work reactions that are close to isodesmic in most cases. The enthalpies of formation for CH₃SSOH, CH₃SS(=O)H are ?38.3 and ?16.6 kcal mol^?1, respectively, where the difference is in enthalpy RSO–H versus RS(=O)–H bonding. The C–H bond energy of CH₃SSOH is 99.2 kcal mol^?1, and the O–H bond energy is weaker at 76.9 kcal mol^?1. Cleavage of the weak O–H bond in CH₃SSOH results in an electron rearrangement upon loss of the CH₃SSO–H hydrogen atom; the radical rearranges to form the more stable CH₃SS· = O radical structure. Cleavage of the C–H bond in CH₃SS(=O)H results in an unstable [CH₂SS(=O)H]* intermediate, which decomposes exothermically to lower energy CH₂ = S + HSO. The CH₃SS(=O)–H bond energy is quite weak at 54.8 kcal mol^?1 with the H–C bond estimated at between 91 and 98 kcal mol^?1. Disulfide bond energies for CH₃S–SOH and CH3S–S(=O)H are low: 67.1 and 39.2 kcal mol^?1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study on the reaction of CH3CHCl + NO2

The detailed reaction mechanism of 1-chloroethyl radical with NO₂ is investigated theoretically. The results show that the title reaction is more favourable on the singlet potential energy surface than on the triplet one. For the singlet PES of CH₃CHCl?+?NO₂, it is shown that the CH₃CHCl radical can react with NO₂ to barrierlessly generate adduct a (H₃CHClCNO₂), b₁ (H₃CHClCONO-trans), and b₂ (H₃CHClCONO-cis), respectively. A total of six energetically reaction pathways and ten products are found. However, the most competitive path way is P₁ (CH₃CHO?+?ClNO), which can further dissociate to give P₆ (CH₃CHO?+?Cl?+?NO) and P₂ (CH₃CClO?+?HNO). The present results can lead to a deep understanding of the mechanism of the title reaction and may be helpful for understanding the halogenated ethyl chemistry.     

Theoretical investigation of the oxidation pathways of the Cl-initiated reaction of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol

The mechanism and products of the reaction of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO232) with Cl atoms in the presence of O₂ have been elucidated by performing high-level quantum chemistry calculations. The geometries of the reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products are optimized at the MP2(full)/6-311G(d,?p) level, and their single-point energies are refined at the CCSD(T)/6-311?+?G(d,?p) level. The potential energy surface profiles have been constructed at the CCSD(T)/6-311?+?G(d,?p)//MP2(full)/6-311G(d,?p)?+?0.95?×?ZPE level of theory, and the possible channels involved in the reaction are also discussed. The calculations indicate that the reaction predominantly proceeds via the addition of Cl atoms to the double bond rather than the direct abstraction of the H atoms in MBO232. The nascent adducts (CH₃)₂C(OH)CHCH₂Cl (IM1) and (CH₃)₂C(OH)CHClCH₂ (IM2) do not undergo subsequent isomerization and dissociation reactions, but rather react with O₂. The theoretical results show that the major products are CH₂ClCHO and CH₃C(O)CH₃ for the reaction of MBO232?+?Cl in the presence of O₂, which is in good agreement with the experimental finding.     

Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the angular group induced bond alternation (AGIBA) substituent effect

The geometries, natural charges, and resonance structures of 11 monosubstituted benzene derivatives were analyzed at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) and HF/6‐311++G(d, p) levels of theory. The following angular substituents were chosen: OCH₃, CH₂CH₃, OH, SH, NHCH₃, NHNH₂, N?O, CH?CH₂, N?CH₂, N?NH, and CHO. The analysis of resonance structures was performed by using two different methodologies: harmonic oscillator stabilization energies (HOSE) and natural resonance theory (NRT). Also, the natural bond orbital (NBO) donor–acceptor stabilization energies for different resonance structures were calculated. We found that for all the substituents, the purely geometric resonance stabilization parameter (HOSE) is linearly correlated with quantum chemically derived resonance structure weight (NRT) of a given structure. Also, the calculations provide qualitative support for the earlier assumption of a through space angular group induced bond alternation (AGIBA) effect. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

P‐Heterocyclic silylenes: a survey of stability with density functional theory

The effects of phosphorous atom on the stability, multiplicity, and reactivity of six‐member cyclic silylenes are investigated at B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ//B3LYP/6‐31+G* and MP2/6‐311++G**//B3LYP/6‐31+G* coupled with appropriate isodesmic reactions. From a thermodynamic point of view, 1H‐2‐silaphosphinine‐2‐ylidene ( 1_a ) and 1H‐4‐silaphosphinine‐4‐ylidene ( 2_a ) are relatively the most stable with singlet–triplet energy gaps (ΔE_S–T) of 37.0 and 28.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The calculated energy barrier for the 1,2‐H shift of 1_a to the corresponding 2‐silapyridine ( 1 ) is 26.5 kcal/mol, which is lower than the 28.8 kcal/mol required for the 1,4‐H shift of 2_a to the corresponding 4‐silapyridine ( 2 ). In contrast to the previous reports, isodesmic reactions indicate that π‐donor/σ‐donor phosphorous destabilizes the singlet while stabilizes the triplet state. Both 1_a and 2_a silylenes appear invulnerable to the head‐to‐head as well as the head‐to‐tail dimerization, inviting experimental explorations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational study of singlet and triplet sulfonylnitrenes insertion into the C―C or C―H bonds of ethylene

Formation of N‐sulfonylaziridines, N‐ethylidenesulfonamides, N‐vinylsulfonamides and 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxathiazole 2‐oxides by the reaction of singlet and triplet trifluoromethyl‐, methyl‐ and tosylnitrenes with ethylene is studied computationally at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory in both gas phase and in solution. Singlet sulfonylnitrenes react with ethylene via [1 + 2]‐cycloaddition exothermically to give N‐sulfonylaziridines. Triplet sulfonylnitrenes are formed from the singlet ones by the intersystem crossing with the energy barrier not exceeding 2.5 kcal/mol and react in a stepwise fashion by C‐addition or H‐abstraction. The C‐addition gives rise to the formation of N‐sulfonylaziridines or N‐ethylidenesulfonamides depending on the S―N―C_sp3―C_sp2 dihedral angle, with the barrier to rotation about the N―C_sp3 bond not exceeding 2.5 kcal/mol. The H‐abstraction results in N‐vinylsulfonamides. Transformation of N‐sulfonylaziridines to N‐ethylidenesulfonamides requires to overcome the barrier of 57–60 kcal/mol, N‐ethylidenesulfonamides to 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxathiazole 2‐oxides—74–80 kcal/mol and N‐vinylsulfonamides to N‐ethylidenesulfonamides—about 64 kcal/mol. The use of the polarizable continuum model does not lead to a change of the course of the reaction of trifluoromethanesulfonylnitrene with ethylene and only slightly affects the relative energies of the products, intermediates and transition states. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From electronic structure to model application of key reactions for gasoline/alcohol combustion: Hydrogen-atom abstraction by CH3OȮ radicals

Hydrogen atom abstraction by methyl peroxy (CH₃OȮ) radicals can play an important role in gasoline/ethanol interacting chemistry for fuels that produce high concentrations of methyl radicals. Detailed kinetic reactions for hydrogen atom abstraction by CH₃OȮ radicals from the components of FGF-LLNL (a gasoline surrogate) including cyclopentane, toluene, 1-hexene, n-heptane, and isooctane have been systematically studied in this work. The M06–2X/6–311++G(d,p) level of theory was used to obtain the optimized structure and vibrational frequency for all stationary points and the low-frequency torsional modes. The 1-D hindered rotor treatment for low-frequency torsional modes was treated at M06–2X/6–31G level of theory. The UCCSD(T)-F12a/cc-pVDZ-F12 and QCISD(T)/CBS level of theory were used to calculate single point energies for all species. High pressure limiting rate constants for all hydrogen atom abstraction channels were performed using conventional transition state theory with unsymmetric tunneling corrections. Individual rate constants are reported in the temperature range from 298.15 to 2000 K. Our computed results show that the abstraction of allylic hydrogen atoms from 1-hexene is the fastest at low temperatures. When the temperature increases, the hydrogen atom abstraction reaction channel at the primary alkyl site gradually becomes dominant. Thermodynamics properties for all stable species and high-pressure limiting rate constants for each reaction pathway obtained in this work were incorporated into the latest gasoline surrogate/ethanol model to investigate the influence of the rate constants calculated here on model predicted ignition delay times.     

2,2,9,9‐Tetramethylcyclonona‐3,5,7‐trienylidene vs. its heterocyclic analogues: A quest for stable carbenes at DFT

Replacement of α‐methylenes with BH, AlH, CMe₂, SiH₂, NH, NMe, N^tButyl, NPh, PH, O, and S in non‐planar cyclonona‐3,5,7‐trienylidene (CH₂) alters its status from an unstable transition state to rather stable minima, at B3LYP/6‐311++G**//B3LYP/6‐31 + G* levels of theory. All species appear with singlet closed shell (S_cs) global minima, except for SiH₂ and CH₂ which exhibit triplet electronic ground states. The order of stability based on singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE_s–t / kcalmol^?1) is: CMe₂ (45.8) > NH (35.8) > NMe (32.3) > O (31.5) > N^tButyl (27.7) ≥ NPh (27.5) ≥ BH (27.4) > S (21.9) > PH (17.0) > CH₂ (?4.4) > SiH₂ (?12.5). In contrast to many reports on N‐heterocyclic carbenes, here alkyl groups appear to exert a higher stabilizing effect than heteroatoms, making CMe₂ the most stable. In addition bulky NMe, N^tButyl, and NPh appear more nucleophilic than their synthesized imidazol‐2‐ylidene congeners. Excluding SiH₂, isodesmic reactions reveal that all substituents stabilize singlet state considerably more than the corresponding triplet. Finally, this work is hoped to pave the path for future matrix isolations and IR studies of these rather stable cyclic non‐planar carbenes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Atmospheric oxidation chemistry of 1–methoxy 2–propyl acetate initiated by OH radicals: kinetics and mechanisms

Kinetics and mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of CH₃C(O)OCH(CH₃)CH₂OCH₃ (MPA) with OH radicals in the presence of O₂ and NO have been investigated theoretically by performing a high and reliable level of theory, viz., CCSD(T)/6-311?+?G(d,p)//BH&HLYP/6-311++G(d,p)?+?0.9335×ZPE. The calculations predict that the H-abstraction from the ?CH₂?O? position of MPA is the most facile channel, which leads to the formation of the corresponding alkoxy radicals CH₃C(O)OCH(CH₃)C(O ?)HOCH₃ under atmospheric conditions. This activated radicals CH₃C(O)OCH(CH₃)C(O ?)HOCH₃ will undergo further rearrangement, fragmentation and oxidative reactions and predominantly leads to the formation of various products (methyl formate HC(O)OCH₃ and acetic anhydride CH₃C(O)OC(O)CH₃). In the presence of water, acetic anhydride can convert into acetic acid CH₃C(O)OH via the hydrolysis reaction. The calculated total rate constants over the temperature range 263–372?K are used to derive a negative activation energy (E_a= ?5.88 kJ/mol) and an pre-exponential factor (A?=?1.78×10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). The obtained Arrhenius parameters presented here are in strong agreement with the experimental values. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the total rate constant over a temperature range of 263?1000?K can be described by k?=?5.60 × 10^?14×(T/298?K)^3.4×exp(1725.7?K/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1.     

Low barrier methyl rotation in 3-pentyn-1-ol as observed by microwave spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

The rotational spectrum of 3-pentyn-1-ol, CH₃?C≡C?CH₂CH₂OH, was measured using a molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer operating in the frequency range from 2 to 26.5 GHz. A two-dimensional potential energy surface was calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory for a conformational analysis, yielding five conformers. The most stable conformer exhibits C₁ symmetry and was assigned in the spectrum by comparison with the results from quantum chemical calculations. The barrier to internal rotation of the propynyl methyl group CH₃?C≡C? was found to be only 9.4552(94) cm^?1. Molecular parameters and internal rotation parameters could be accurately determined using the program xiam and belgi-C₁. The internal rotation barrier was compared with those of other molecules containing a propynyl methyl group.     

Theoretical study on the mechanism of the reaction of FOX-7 with OH and NO2 radicals: bimolecular reactions with low barrier during the decomposition of FOX-7

The decomposition of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7) attracts great interests, while the studies on bimolecular reactions during the decomposition of FOX-7 are scarce. This study for the first time investigated the bimolecular reactions of OH and NO₂ radicals, which are pyrolysis products of ammonium perchlorate (an efficient oxidant usually used in solid propellant), with FOX-7 by computational chemistry methods. The molecular geometries and energies were calculated using the (U)B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) method. The rate constants of the reactions were calculated by canonical variational transition state theory. We found three mechanisms (H-abstraction, OH addition to C and N atom) for the reaction of OH + FOX-7 and two mechanisms (O abstraction and H abstraction) for the reaction of NO₂ + FOX-7. OH radical can abstract H atom or add to C atom of FOX-7 with barriers near to zero, which means OH radical can effectively degrade FOX-7. The O abstraction channel of the reaction of NO₂ + FOX-7 results in the formation of NO₃ radical, which has never been detected experimentally during the decomposition of FOX-7.     

Computational study on mechanisms and pathways of the atmospheric NH2 + IO reaction

ABSTRACT

The potential-energy surfaces of the amino radical (NH₂) with IO reaction have been studied at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. Two kinds of pathways are revealed, namely H-abstraction and addition/elimination. Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory and transition state theory are employed to calculate the overall and individual rate constants over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. It is predicted that, at atmospheric pressure with N2 as bath gas, the formation of P1 (HI?+?HNO) is the dominant pathways at 200–700?K, while the direct H-abstraction leading to P3 (³NH?+?HOI) takes over the reaction at a temperature above 700?K. At the high-pressure limit, IM1 [IONH₂] formed by collisional stabilisation is dominant at 200–700?K; the direct H-abstraction resulting in P3 (³NH?+?HOI) plays an important role at higher temperatures. However, the total rate constants are independence on the pressure; however, the individual rate constants are sensitive to pressure. The atmospheric lifetime of NH₂ in IO is around one week. TD-DFT computations imply that IM1 [IONH₂], IM1A [IONH₂′], IM2 [IN(H₂)O], IM3 [OINH₂], IM4 [HOINH], tra-IM5 [tra-HON(H)I] and cis-IM5 [cis-HON(H)I] will photolyze under the sunlight.     

The gas-phase pyrolysis of methyl azidoformate in the absence and presence of water: a theoretical study

The potential energy surface profiles for the gas-phase pyrolysis of methyl azidoformate (MA, CH₃OC(O)N₃) in the absence and presence of one water molecule have been investigated by ab initio methods at CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2pd)//MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p)+0.95×ZPE levels of theory. Three types of mechanisms are discussed for the gas-phase decomposition of CH₃OC(O)N₃. Ab initio calculations show that a four-membered-ring intermediate can be formed by the stepwise routes. The resulting intermediate can undergo two competitive decomposition channels to generate the major products CO₂?+?CH₂?=?NH and HNCO?+?HC(O)H. The calculated results are in qualitative agreement with the observed experimental data. However, CH₃ONCO can be produced from the Curtius-type rearrangement route. This is an intriguing finding in this study. Moreover, the effect of one water molecule on the gas-phase pyrolysis of MA has been also explored. We find that the relative energy of the hydrated transition states is effectively lowered when water is added to the reaction. However, the estimated rate constant at 625?K for the naked reaction is about 30 times faster than the reaction with water. Thus, a single water molecule cannot play an important role in the thermal decomposition of MA.