Evaluation of density functional theory in the bond rupture of octane

Density functional methods at the 6-31G* level are applied to the rupture of n-octane into methyl–heptyl, ethyl–hexyl, propyl–pentyl, and butyl–butyl radical fragments. The energetics of the radicals at UMP3, UMP2/6-31G*//UHF/6-31G* (hereafter referred to as UMP), are compared to UB3LYP/6-31G* results (referred to as UB). Although the UMP approach matches additivity energies to within 5 kcal/mol, it fails to mimic the overall energetic trend. The UB energies agree with additivity estimates and trends to within 1–2 kcal/mol and radical entropies deviate by only 2 e.u. from available experimental data. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 154–167, 1998