A theoretical investigation on the kinetics and reactivity of the gas-phase reactions of ethyl chlorodifluoroacetate with OH radical and Cl atom at 298 K

The mechanism, kinetics, and thermochemistry of the gas-phase reactions of CF₂ClC(O)OCH₂CH₃,ethyl chlorodifluoroacetate (ECDFA) with the OH radical and Cl atom are investigated. Geometry optimization and frequency calculations have been performed at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory and energetic information is refined by using G2(MP2) theory. Transition states are searched on the potential energy surface of reaction channels and each of the transition states is characterized by the presence of only one imaginary frequency. Connections of the transition states between designated local minima are confirmed by intrinsic reaction coordinate calculation. Theoretically calculated rate constants at 298 K using the Canonical Transition State Theory are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions as working chemical reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CF₂ClC(O)OCH₂CH₃, CF₂ClC(O)OCH₂CH₂, and CF₃C(O)OCHCH₃ are also reported for the first time. The hydrogen abstraction occurs mainly from –CH₂ group. The T1 diagnostic calculation suggests that the multi-reference character is not an issue for such systems. The estimated atmospheric life time of ECDFA is expected to be around 24 days.     

Thermochemistry and kinetics of the 2-butanone-4-yl CH3C(=O)CH2CH2• + O2 reaction system

Thermochemistry and kinetic pathways on the 2-butanone-4-yl (CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂•) + O₂ reaction system are determined. Standard enthalpies, entropies, and heat capacities are evaluated using the G3MP2B3, G3, G3MP3, CBS-QB3 ab initio methods, and the B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) density functional calculation method. The CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂• radical + O₂ association reaction forms a chemically activated peroxy radical with 35 kcal mol⁻¹ excess of energy. The chemically activated adduct can undergo RO−O bond dissociation, rearrangement via intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions to form hydroperoxide-alkyl radicals, or eliminate HO₂ and OH. The hydroperoxide-alkyl radical intermediates can undergo further reactions forming ketones, cyclic ethers, OH radicals, ketene, formaldehyde, or oxiranes. A relatively new path showing a low barrier and resulting in reactive product sets involves peroxy radical attack on a carbonyl carbon atom in a cyclic transition state structure. It is shown to be important in ketones when the cyclic transition state has five or more central atoms.     

Kinetics of the multichannel reaction of methanethiyl radical (CH3S*) with 3O2

The CH3S* + O2 reaction system is considered an important process in atmospheric chemistry and in combustion as a pathway for the exothermic conversion of methane-thiyl radical, CH3S*. Several density functional and ab initio computational methods are used in this study to determine thermochemical parameters, reaction paths, and kinetic barriers in the CH3S* + O2 reaction system. The data are also used to evaluate feasibility of the DFT methods for higher molecular weight oxy-sulfur hydrocarbons, where sulfur presents added complexity from its many valence states. The methods include: B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p), CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p), B3P86/6-311G(2d,2p)//B3P86/6-31G(d), B3PW91/6-311++G(3df,2p), G3MP2, and CBS-QB3. The well depth for the CH3S* + 3O2 reaction to the syn-CH3SOO* adduct is found to be 9.7 kcal/mol. Low barrier exit channels from the syn-CH3SOO* adduct include: CH2S + HO2, (TS6, E(a) is 12.5 kcal/mol), CH3 + SO2 via CH3SO2 (TS2', E(a) is 17.8) and CH3SO + O (TS17, E(a) is 24.7) where the activation energy is relative to the syn-CH3SOO* stabilized adduct. The transition state (TS5) for formation of the CH3SOO adduct from CH3S* + O2 and the reverse dissociation of CH3SOO to CH3S* + O2 is relatively tight compared to typical association and simple bond dissociation reactions; this is a result of the very weak interaction. Reverse reaction is the dominant dissociation path due to enthalpy and entropy considerations. The rate constants from the chemical activation reaction and from the stabilized adduct to these products are estimated as functions of temperature and pressure. Our forward rate constant and CH3S loss profile are in agreement with the experiments under similar conditions. Of the methods above, the G3MP2 and CBS-QB3 composite methods are recommended for thermochemical determinations on these carbon-sulfur-oxygen systems, when they are feasible.     

FTIR study of the Cl- and Br-atom initiated oxidation of trichloroethylene

The Cl- and Br- initiated oxidations of CHCl(DOUBLEBOND)CCl₂ in 700 torr of air at 296 K have been studied using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Rate constants k(Cl+CHCl(DOUBLEBOND)CCl₂)=(7.2±0.8)×10⁻¹¹ and k(Br+CHCl(DOUBLEBOND)CCl₂)=(1.1±0.4)×10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined using a relative rate technique with ethane and ethylene as references, respectively. The major products observed were CHXClC(O)Cl, (X=Cl or Br), CHClO, and CCl₂O. Combining results obtained for the Cl-initiated oxidation of CHCl₂(SINGLEBOND)CHCl₂, we deduced that Cl-addition on trichloroethylene occurs via channel 1a, Cl+CHCl(DOUBLEBOND)CCl₂→ CHCl₂(SINGLEBOND)CCl₂, (100±12)%. Self-reaction of the subsequently generated peroxy radicals CHCl₂(SINGLEBOND)CCl₂O₂ leads to CHCl₂CCl₂O radicals which were found to decompose via channel 8a, CHCl₂C(O)Cl+Cl, (91±11)% of the time, and channel 8b, CHCl₂+CCl₂O, (9±2)%. The reaction Br+CHCl(DOUBLEBOND)CCl₂→CHBrCl(SINGLEBOND)CCl₂ (17a) accounted for ≥(96±11)% of the total reaction. Decomposition of the CHBrCl(SINGLEBOND)CCl₂O radicals proceeds (≥93±11)% via CHBrClC(O)Cl+Cl. As part of this work, k(Cl+CHCl₂C(O)Cl)=(3.6±0.6)×10⁻¹⁴ and k(Cl+CHCl₂(SINGLEBOND)CHCl₂)=(1.9±0.2)×10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were measured. Errors reported above include statistical uncertainties (2σ) and estimated systematic uncertainties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 29: 695–704, 1997.     

Reaction kinetics and thermochemistry of the chemically activated and stabilized primary ethyl radical of methyl ethyl sulfide,CH3SCH2CH2•, with O2 to CH3SCH2CH2OO•

Oxidation of methyl ethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₂CH₃, methylthioethane, MES) under atmospheric and combustion conditions is initiated by hydroxyl radicals, MES radicals, generated after loss of a H atom via OH abstraction, will further react with O₂ to form chemically activated and stabilized peroxyl radical adducts. The kinetics of the chemically activated reaction between the CH₃SCH₂CH₂• radical and molecular oxygen are analyzed using quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory for k(E) with master equation analysis and a modified strong-collision approach to account for further reactions and collisional deactivation. Thermodynamic properties of reactants, products, and transition states are determined by the B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p), M062X/6-311+G(2d,p), ωB97XD/6-311+G(2d,p) density functional theory, and CBS-QB3, G3MP2B3, and G4 composite methods. The reaction of CH₃SCH₂CH₂• with O₂ forms an energized peroxy adduct CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• with a calculated well depth of 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Thermochemical properties of reactants, transition states, and products obtained under CBS-QB3 level are used for calculation of kinetic parameters. Reaction enthalpies are compared between the methods. The temperature and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for both the chemically activated reactions of the energized adduct and the thermally activated reactions of the stabilized adducts are presented. Stabilization and isomerization of the CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• adduct are important under high pressure and low temperature. At higher temperatures and atmospheric pressure, the chemically activated peroxy adduct reacts to new products before stabilization. Addition of the peroxyl oxygen radical to the sulfur atom followed by sulfur-oxygen double bond formation and elimination of the methyl radical to form S(= O)CCO• + CH₃ (branching) is a potentially important new pathway for other alkyl-sulfide peroxy radical systems under thermal or combustion conditions.     

A theoretical study of the thermodynamics and kinetics of small organosulfur compounds

The performance of a large set of ab initio procedures in predicting geometries, thermochemical and kinetic data of small sulfur compounds is assessed. Geometries and thermochemical data for H₂S, (CH₃)₂S, H₂S₂, (CH₃)₂S₂ and H₂C=S are studied using the HF method, density functional theory methods (B3LYP, BHandHLYP, MPW1PW91 and BMK), post-HF methods [MP2, MP3, MP4, CCSD, CCSD(T) and QCISD] and composite techniques (G3, G3B3, CBS-QB3 and W1U). A set of five reactions involving these small organosulfur compounds is studied and the influence of the level of theory on transition state geometries, reaction barriers and rate coefficients is assessed. Independent of the level of theory used, accurate geometries are obtained with the 6-311G(2d,d,p) and cc-pVTZ basis sets, both reproducing experimental bond lengths and bond angles within 2 pm and 0.5°. Besides composite methods, the BMK/cc-pVTZ method is the only studied method that succeeds to predict standard enthalpies of formation within 10 kJ mol^?1 of the experimental data. The best agreement with experimental rate coefficients is obtained with the BHandHLYP/cc-pVTZ method, closely followed by the composite methods and the BMK/cc-pVTZ method. All these methods succeed to reproduce the experimental rate coefficients within a factor 4. To obtain an accurate prediction of both thermochemical and kinetic data for organosulfur compounds, the commonly used composite methods G3B3 and CBS-QB3 and the BMK/cc-pVTZ method prove to be valuable tools.     

Theoretical study of the complex reaction of O(3P) with cis-2-butene

The complex triplet potential energy surface for the reaction of the triplet oxygen atom O(³P) with cis-2-butene is investigated at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. The different possible isomerization and dissociation pathways, including both O-additions and H-abstractions, are thoroughly studied. Our calculations show that as found for the trans-2-butene reaction, in the high-pressure limit, the major product is CH₃CHC(O)H + CH₃ (P1), whereas in the low-pressure limit the most thermodynamically stable product forms CH₃CO + CH₃CH₂ (P4). The experimental negative activation energy reported for the addition step is very well reproduced at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Various thermodynamic and kinetic values of interest for these reactions are predicted for the first time. A discussion on the negative activation energy for the addition step of the trans- and cis-2-butene reactions with O(³P) focussing on the addition reactant complexes is presented.     

Molecular structure of trichlorophosphazo compounds from ab initio calculation and chlorine-35 NQR spectroscopy data

The molecular structures of trichlorophosphazo compounds Cl₃P=NR with R = C(CH₃)₃, C(C₂H₅)₃, C(CF₃)₃, CCl(CF₃)₂, CCl₂CF₃, CCl₃, CCl₂CCl₃, and CCl(CCl₃)₂ were analyzed by combined consideration of the results of ab initio MP2/6-31G* calculations and previously measured ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies. The conformational peculiarity of these molecules caused by the relative spatial orientations of the P-Cl and N-C bonds is reflected in the calculated geometric parameters of the Cl₃P=NC fragments and in the pattern of ³⁵Cl quadrupole resonance spectra for PCl₃ groups. For these atomic groups, the ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies were brought in correlation with the charges of the chlorine atoms found by quantum-chemical calculations.     

Liquid phase kinetic study of the formation and decomposition of methylsulfonyl and cyclohexylsulfonyl radicals in the cyclohexane–MeSO2C1-SO2 System at 150°

The thermally and radiolytically induced chain decomposition of methanesulfonyl chloride (MeSO₂Cl) in liquid cyclohexane (RH) was studied at 150°C. The main products, chlorocyclohexane, sulfur dioxide, and methane, are formed in almost equal yields, and a relatively small amount of methyl chloride is also observed. The formation and addition of SO₂ strongly inhibit the chain decomposition reaction. By kinetic analysis it is shown that the formation of the main products can be explained only in terms of a mechanism that postulates the decomposition of MeSO₂, and that the alternative mechanism of methane and SO₂ formation via the methanesulfinic acid is inconsistent with the kinetic behavior of the system. For the reactions Me + MeSO₂Cl → MeCl + MeSO₂(2b), Me + RH → MeH + R (4), and Me + CCl₄ → MeCCl₄ → MeCl + CCl₃ (15b) the following rate constant ratios are determined; k_2b/k₄=2.17±0.20 and k_2b/k_15b=2.63±0.52. For the reactions R + MeSO₂Cl → RCl + MeSO₂(2a) and R + CCl₄ → RCl + CCl₃ (15a), k_2a/k_15a is equal to 1.55±0.05. In addition the equilibrium constant K₇ for the reaction R + SO₂ ? RSO₂ (7) is estimated as being equal to (9.4±3) × 10³ mole/l.     

Theoretical studies of decomposition kinetics of CF3CCl2O radical

The unimolecular decomposition reaction of CF₃CCl₂O radical has been investigated using theoretical methods. Two most important channels of decomposition occurring via C–C bond scission and Cl elimination have been considered during the present investigation. Ab initio quantum mechanical calculations are performed to get optimized structure and vibrational frequencies at DFT and MP2 levels of theory. Energetics are further refined by the application of a modified Gaussian-2 method, G2M(CC,MP2). The thermal rate constants for the decomposition reactions involved are evaluated using Canonical Transition State Theory (CTST) utilizing the ab initio data. Rate constants for C–C bond scission and Cl elimination are found to be 6.7 × 10⁶ and 1.1 × 10⁸ s^?1, respectively, at 298 K and 1 atm pressure with an energy barrier of 8.6 and 6.5 kcal/mol, respectively. These values suggest that Cl elimination is the dominant process during the decomposition of the CF₃CCl₂O radical. Transition states are searched on the potential energy surface of the decomposition reactions involved and are characterized by the existence of only one imaginary frequency (NIMAG = 1) during frequency calculation. The existence of transition states on the corresponding potential energy surface is further ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculation.     

Hydrogenation of conjugated CC and CO bonds: Quantum chemical preview before metal catalysis

Hydrogenation of acrolein, ethylene and formaldehyde by molecular hydrogen in gas phases, as a preview before metal catalysis, is investigated using density functional theory (PW91 and B3LYP), ab initio (MP2), and composite theoretical methods (G2, CBS-QB3, and CBS-APNO). Compared to the most accurate CBS-APNO method used in this paper, PW91 functional underestimates the barrier while B3LYP reproduces close results. All the reaction barriers are predicted to be no less than 70 kcal/mol and the CC hydrogenation is thermodynamically favored. Kinetically, however, the hydrogenation of CO bond is more favorable than that of the CC bond, especially for the isolated CO. The conjugation effect in acrolein greatly reduces the kinetic preference for the isolated CO hydrogenation. It is revealed that there is a good relationship between the energy barrier and the increase of the molecular H₂ bond length from the reactant to transition state.     

Chemistry and Structures of Hexakis(halogenomethyl)‐, Hexakis(azidomethyl)‐, and Hexakis(nitratomethyl)disiloxanes

An investigation of the structures and chemistry of substituted hexamethyl disiloxanes ((XCH₂)₃Si)₂O; X=F, Cl, Br, I, N₃, and ONO₂) is reported. New synthetic routes to the precursor hexakis(chloromethyl)disiloxane are presented. The products with X=Cl, Br, I, and N₃ were characterized by NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the single‐crystal structures of the products with X=Cl, Br, and I are discussed in detail. The compounds with X=F and ONO₂ were not obtained in their pure form; instead investigations of the decomposition products revealed their conversion into intermediates. Theoretical calculations of the gas‐phase structures at the B3LYP/cc‐pVDZ, B3LYP/3‐21G, MP2/6‐31G*, and MP2/3‐21G levels of theory are used to explain the chemical and physical behavior of the compounds with X=Cl, Br, I, N₃, and ONO₂. A new decomposition pathway of hexakis(nitratomethyl)disiloxane is presented and is used to explain their remarkable instability. The energetic properties and values of the nitrate and azide derivatives were calculated at the CBS‐4M level of theory by using the improved EXPLO5 computer code version 6.01.     

Ab initio calculations on the barrier height for the hydrogen addition to ethylene and formaldehyde. The importance of spin projection

Heats of reaction and barrier heights have been computed for H + CH₂CH₂ → C₂H₅, H + CH₂O → CH₃O, and H + CH₂O → CH₂OH using unrestricted Hartree-Fock and Møller–Plesset perturbation theory up to fourth order (with and without spin annihilation), using single-reference configuration interaction, and using multiconfiguration self-consistent field methods with 3-21G, 6-31G(d), 6-31G(d,p), and 6-311G(d,p) basis sets. The barrier height in all three reactions appears to be relatively insensitive to the basis sets, but the heats of reaction are affected by p-type polarization functions on hydrogen. Computation of the harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities with two sets of polarization functions on heavy atoms [6-31G(2d)] improves the agreement with experiment. The experimental barrier height for H + C₂H₄ (2.04 ± 0.08 kcal/mol) is overestimated by 7?9 kcal/mol at the MP2, MP3, and MP4 levels. MCSCF and CISD calculations lower the barrier height by approximately 4 kcal/mol relative to the MP4 calculations but are still almost 4 kcal/mol too high compared to experiment. Annihilation of the largest spin contaminant lowers the MP4SDTQ computed barrier height by 8?9 kcal/mol. For the hydrogen addition to formaldehyde, the same trends are observed. The overestimation of the barrier height with Møller-Plesset perdicted barrier heights for H + C₂H₄ → C₂H₅, H + CH₂O → CH₃O, and H + CH₂O → CH₂OH at the MP4SDTQ /6-31G(d) after spin annihilation are respectively 1.8, 4.6, and 10.5 kcal/mol.     

Theoretical study on the gas phase reaction mechanism of acetylene with nitrous oxide

The reaction mechanism of C₂H₂ and N₂O on the singlet potential energy surface is investigated in this study, at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd), MP2/6-311++G(d,p), and CCSD(T) levels of theory. We have obtained three kinds of products in both methods, B3LYP and MP2, which have enough thermodynamic stability. The results reveal that the product P1, CH₂CO + N₂, is spontaneous and exothermic with ?86.176 and ?83.149 kcal/mol in Gibbs free energy and enthalpy of reaction at the MP2 level, respectively. Hence, the product P1 is thermodynamically the most favored adduct of the C₂H₂ + N₂O gas phase reaction at atmospheric pressure and 298.15 K temperature.     

Properties of chloroformyl peroxynitrate, ClC(O)OONO(2)

The synthesis of ClC(O)OONO(2) is accomplished by photolysis of a mixture of Cl(2), NO(2), and CO in large excess of O(2) at about -70 degrees C. The product is isolated after repeated trap-to-trap condensation. The solid compound melts at -84 degrees C, and the extrapolated boiling point is 80 degrees C. ClC(O)OONO(2) is characterized by IR, Raman, (13)C NMR, and UV spectroscopy. According to the IR matrix spectra, the compound exists at room temperature only as a single conformer. The molecular structure of ClC(O)OONO(2) is determined by gas electron diffraction. The molecule possesses a gauche structure with a dihedral angle of phi(COON) = 86.7(19) degrees , and the C=O bond is oriented syn with respect to the O-O bond. The short O-O bond (1.418(6) A) and the long N-O bond (1.511(8) A) are consistent with the facile dissociation of ClC(O)OONO(2) into the radicals ClC(O)OO and NO(2). The experimental geometry of ClC(O)OONO(2) is reproduced reasonably well by B3LYP/6-311+G(2df) calculations, whereas the MP2 approximation predicts the N-O bond considerably too long and the dihedral angle too small.     

Insights into the photochemical processes of ClC(O)SCl from ab initio calculations

All possible unimolecular processes upon photolysis of ClC(O)SCl in the UV-visible region have been characterized in the present paper through the optimized stationary structures and computed potential-energy profiles of the S0, S1, T2, and S2 states with the MP2, B3LYP, CASSCF, and MR-CI methods in conjugation with the cc-pVDZ basis set. Upon photoexcitation in the range of 300-400 nm, the ClC(O)SCl molecules are excited to the S1 state. From this state, the dissociation into ClC(O)S + Cl takes place immediately and subsequently Cl2 and SCO are formed. The C-Cl and C-S bond fissions that start from the S2 state are the dominant channels upon photodecomposition of ClC(O)SCl in the gas and condensed phases in the wavelength range of 200-248 nm. The formed Cl, C(O)SCl, ClCO, and SCl radicals are very reactive, and the Cl2, SCO, CO, and SCl2 molecules are subsequently produced as stable products in the condensed phase.     

Thinking out of the black box: accurate barrier heights of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of ozone with acetylene and ethylene

Accurate barriers for the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of ozone with acetylene and ethylene have been determined via the systematic extrapolation of ab initio energies within the focal point approach of Allen and co-workers. Electron correlation has been accounted for primarily via coupled cluster theory, including single, double, and triple excitations, as well as a perturbative treatment of connected quadruple excitations [CCSD, CCSD(T), CCSDT, and CCSDT(Q)]. For the concerted [4 + 2] cycloadditions, the final recommended barriers are DeltaH(0K) = 9.4 +/- 0.2 and 5.3 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) for ozone adding to acetylene and ethylene, respectively. These agree with recent results of Cremer et al. and Anglada et al., respectively. The reaction energy for O3 + C2H2 exhibits a protracted convergence with respect to inclusion of electron correlation, with the CCSDT/cc-pVDZ and CCSDT(Q)/cc-pVDZ values differing by 2.3 kcal mol-1. Recommended enthalpies of formation (298 K) for cycloadducts 1,2,3-trioxole and 1,2,3-trioxolane are +32.8 and -1.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Popular composite ab initio approaches [CBS-QB3, CBS-APNO, G3, G3B3, G3(MP2)B3, G4, G4(MP3), and G4(MP2)] predict a range of barrier heights for these systems. The CBS-QB3 computed barrier for ozone and acetylene, DeltaH(0K) = 4.4 kcal mol(-1), deviates by 5 kcal mol(-1) from the focal point value. CBS-QB3 similarly underestimates the barrier for the reaction of ozone and ethylene, yielding a prediction of only 0.7 kcal mol(-1). The errors in the CBS-QB3 results are significantly larger than mean errors observed in application to the G2 test set. The problem is traced to the nontransferability of MP2 basis set effects in the case of these reaction barriers. The recently published G4 and G4(MP2) approaches perform substantially better for O3 + C2H2, predicting enthalpy barriers of 9.0 and 8.4 kcal mol(-1), respectively. For the prediction of these reaction barriers, the additive corrections applied in the majority of the composite approaches considered lead to worse agreement with the reference focal point values than would be obtained relying only on single point energies evaluated at the highest level of theory utilized within each composite method.     

Thermochemical and kinetic analyses on oxidation of isobutenyl radical and 2-hydroperoxymethyl-2-propenyl radical

In recognition of the importance of the isobutene oxidation reaction in the preignition chemistry associated with engine knock, the thermochemistry, chemical reaction pathways, and reaction kinetics of the isobutenyl radical oxidation at low to intermediate temperature range were computationally studied, focusing on both the first and the second O2 addition to the isobutenyl radical. The geometries of reactants, important intermediates, transition states, and products in the isobutenyl radical oxidation system were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and MP2(full)/6-31G(d) levels, and the thermochemical properties were determined on the basis of ab initio, density functional theory, and statistical mechanics. Enthalpies of formation for several important intermediates were calculated using isodesmic reactions at the DFT and the CBS-QB3 levels. The kinetic analysis of the first O2 addition to the isobutenyl radical was performed using enthalpies at the CBS-QB3 and G3(MP2) levels. The reaction forms a chemically activated isobutenyl peroxy adduct which can be stabilized, dissociate back to reactants, cyclize to cyclic peroxide-alkyl radicals, and isomerize to the 2-hydroperoxymethyl-2-propenyl radical that further undergoes another O2 addition. The reaction channels for isomerization and cyclization and further dissociation on this second O2 addition were analyzed using enthalpies at the DFT level with energy corrections based on similar reaction channels for the first O2 addition. The high-pressure limit rate constants for each reaction channel were determined as functions of temperature by the canonical transition state theory for further kinetic model development.     

Mechanisms of single-electron capture by the dichlorocarbene dication

The single-electron capture (SEC) by dichlorocarbene dications with eight different atomic and molecular target gases, CCl ₂ ²⁺ + G → CCl ₂ ⁺ + G⁺, has been studied by product ion spectroscopy and ion kinetic energy spectroscopy. The experimental data have been interpreted in the framework of a theoretical model mat describes the charge exchange process. Exothermic charge exchange is handled within the Landau-Zener model, whereas endothermic charge exchange is described by the Demkov model. The calculated data reproduce qualitatively the essential features of the experimental results: (1) the appearance of a reaction window centered at an exothermicity in the 4–4.5-eV range, (2) the lower SEC cross sections for endothermic charge exchange, (3) the wider internal energy distributions obtained for CCl ₂ ⁺ in the endothermic regime than in the exothermic one, which results in larger dissociation yields, (4) the excitation of molecular targets that accompany their ionization in the SEC process, and (5) the kinetic energy released on the CCl⁺ + Cl fragments in dissociative SEC.     

Structure and internal rotation in molecules Cl<Subscript>3</Subscript>P=NCOCX<Subscript>3</Subscript> (X = F and Cl)

Applying the quantum-chemical calculations by MP2/6-31G* method molecular structures of trichlorophosphazenes Cl₃P=NCOCX₃ with X = F and Cl were determined and barriers to intramolecular reorientation of PCl₃ group relative to P=N bond and of CF₃ and CCl₃ groups relative to C-C bond were estimated. The values of potential barriers to internal rotation calculated for isolated molecules were compared with the values of the barriers obtained from the data of NQR and NMR spectroscopy of the compounds in the crystalline state. The structural and dynamic features of the studied molecules are discussed.