Computational study on the kinetics and mechanisms for the reactions of HCO with HONO and HNOH

The kinetics and mechanisms of the HCO reactions with HONO and HNOH have been studied at the G2M level of theory based on the geometric parameters optimized at BH&HLYP/6‐311G(d,p). The rate constants in the temperature range 200–3000 K at different pressures have been predicted by microcanonical RRKM and/or variational transition state theory calculations with Eckart tunneling corrections. For the HCO + HONO reaction, hydrogen abstraction from trans‐HONO and cis‐HONO by HCO produces H₂CO + NO₂, with the latter being dominant. Two other channels involving cis‐HONO by the association/decomposition mechanism via the HC(O)N(O)OH intermediate, which could fragment to give H₂O + CO + NO at high temperatures, were also found to be important. For the HCO + HNOH reaction, three reaction channels were identified: one association reaction giving a stable intermediate, HC(O)N(H)OH (LM2), and two hydrogen abstraction channels producing H₂CO and H₂NOH. The dominant products were predicted to be the formation of LM2 at low temperatures and H₂NOH + CO at middle and high temperatures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 178–187 2004     

An FTIR product study of the reaction between HCO and NO2

The product distribution of the reaction (1a) $$\rm\longrightarrow OH+NO+CO$$ (1b) $$\rm\longrightarrow HNO+CO_{2}$$ (1c) $$\rm\longrightarrow H+NO+CO_{2}$$ (1d) $$\rm\longrightarrow HCO_{2}+NO$$ (1e) (1f) (1g) was investigated at room temperature in the gas phase in Ar buffer gas at 570 mbar pressure by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Mixtures of NO₂/H₂CO/Ar were photolyzed under stationary conditions using a high‐pressure Hg lamp at λ = 300–340 nm. NO, CO, CO₂, HONO, and H₂O were found as major reaction products. A small amount of N₂O was detected at long reaction times. From the yields of CO and CO₂, branching ratios were found to be (k_1a + k_1b)/k₁ = (0.66 ± 0.10) and (k_1c + k_1d + k_1e)/k₁ = (0.34 ± 0.10). The formation of HONO was attributed to reaction ( 1a ) and/or reaction ( 1c ) followed by the reaction HNO + NO₂ → NO + HONO with a combined branching ratio of (k_1a + k_1c)/k₁ = (0.28 ± 0.10). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 136–145, 2000     

Study of the HNO + HNO and HNO + NO reactions by intracavity laser spectroscopy

Flash photolysis of CH₃CHO and H₂CO in the presence of NO has been investigated by the intracavity laser spectroscopy technique. The decay of HNO formed by the reaction HCO + NO → HNO + CO was studied at NO pressures of 6.8–380 torr. At low NO pressure HNO was found to decay by the reaction HNO + HNO → N₂O + H₂O. The rate constant of this reaction was determined to be k₁ = (1.5 ± 0.8) × 10^?15 cm³/s. At high NO pressure the reaction HNO + NO → products was more important, and its rate constant was measured to be k₂ = (5 ± 1.5) × 10^?19 cm³/s. NO₂ was detected as one of the products of this reaction. Alternative mechanisms for this reaction are discussed.     

Thermal reduction of NO by H2: Kinetic measurement and computer modeling of the HNO + NO reaction

The kinetics and mechanism of the thermal reduction of NO by H₂ have been investigated by FTIR spectrometry in the temperature range of 900 to 1225 K at a constant pressure of 700 torr using mixtures of varying NO/H₂ ratios. In about half of our experimental runs, CO was introduced to capture the OH radical formed in the system with the well-known, fast reaction, OH + CO → H + CO₂. The rates of NO decay and CO₂ formation were kinetically modeled to extract the rate constant for the rate-controlling step, (2) HNO + NO → N₂O + OH. Combining the modeled values with those from the computer simulation of earlier kinetic data reported by Hinshelwood and co-workers (refs. [3] and [4]), Graven (ref.[5]), and Kaufman and Decker (ref. [6]) gives rise to the following expression: . This encompasses 45 data points and covers the temperature range of 900 to 1425 K. RRKM calculations based on the latest ab initio MO results indicate that the reaction is controlled by the addition/stabilization processes forming the HN(O)NO intermediate at low temperatures and by the addition/isomerization/decomposition processes producing N₂O + OH above 900 K. The calculated value of k₂ agrees satisfactorily with the experimental result. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx Reactions,Part I: Kinetics and Mechanism for NH2 + HNO

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HNO have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the CCSD/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The major products of this reaction were found to be NH₃ + NO formed by H‐abstraction via a long‐lived H₂N???HNO complex and the H₂NN(H)O radical intermediate formed by association with 26.9 kcal/mol binding energy. The rate constants for formation of primary products in the temperature range of 300–3000 K were predicted by variational transition state or RRKM theories. The predicted total rate constants at the 760 Torr Ar pressure can be represented by k_total = 3.83 × 10^?20 × T^+2.47exp(1450/T) at T = 300–600 K; 2.58 × 10^?22 × T^+3.15 exp(1831/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 600?3000 K. The branching ratios of major channels at 760 Torr Ar pressure are predicted: k₁ + k₃ + k₄ producing NH₃ + NO accounts for 0.59–0.90 at T = 300–3000 K peaking around 1000 K, k₂ accounts for 0.41–0.03 at T = 300–600 K decreasing with temperature, and k₅ accounts for 0.07–0.27 at T > 600 K increasing gradually with temperature. The NH₃ + NO formation rate constant was found to be a factor of 3–10 smaller than that of the isoelectronic reaction CH₃ + HNO producing CH₄ + NO, which has been shown to take place by barrierless H‐abstraction without involving a hydrogen‐bonding complex as in the NH₂ case. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 677–677, 2009     

Experimental and kinetic modeling study of the effect of NO and SO2 on the oxidation of CO?H2 mixtures

The effect of NO and SO₂ on the oxidation of a CO? H₂ mixture was studied in a jet‐stirred reactor at atmospheric pressure and for various equivalence ratios (0.1, 1, and 2) and initial concentrations of NO and SO₂ (0–5000 ppm). The experiments were performed at fixed residence time and variable temperature ranging from 800 to 1400 K. Additional experiments were conducted in a laminar flow reactor on the effect of SO₂ on CO? H₂ oxidation in the same temperature range for stoichiometric and reducing conditions. It was demonstrated that in fuel‐lean conditions, the addition of NO increases the oxidation of the CO? H₂ mixture below 1000 K and has no significant effect at higher temperatures, whereas the addition of SO₂ has a small inhibiting effect. Under stoichiometric and fuel‐rich conditions, both NO and SO₂ inhibit the oxidation of the CO? H₂ mixture. The results show that a CO? H₂ mixture has a limited NO reduction potential in the investigated temperature range and rule out a significant conversion of HNO to NH through reactions like HNO + CO ?? NH + CO₂ or HNO + H₂ ?? NH + H₂O. The chain terminating effect of SO₂ under stoichiometric and reducing conditions was found to be much more pronounced than previously reported under flow reactor conditions and the present results support a high rate constant for the H + SO₂ + M ?? HOSO + M reaction. The reactor experiments were used to validate a comprehensive kinetic reaction mechanism also used to simulate the reduction of NO by natural gas blends and pure C₁ to C₄ hydrocarbons. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 564–575, 2003     

Laser photolysis studies of hydrazine vapor: 193 and 222-nm H-atom primary quantum yields at 296 K,and the kinetics of H + N2H4 reaction over the temperature range 222–657 K

The primary quantum yield of H-atom production in the pulsed-laser photolysis of hydrazine vapor, N₂H₄ + hν → H + N₂H₃, was measured to be (1.01 ± 0.12) at 193 nm relative to HBr photolysis, and (1.06 ± 0.16) at 222 nm relative to 248-nm N₂H₄ photolysis, in excess He buffer gas at 296 K. The H-atoms were directly monitored in the photolysis by cw-resonance fluorescence detection of H(²S) at 121.6 nm. The high H-atom yield observed in the photolysis is consistent with the continuous ultraviolet absorption spectrum of N₂H₄ involving unit dissociation of the diamine from repulsive excited singlet state(s). The laser photodissociation of N₂H₄ was thus used as a ‘clean’ source of H-atoms in excess N₂H₄ and He buffer gas to study the gas-phase reaction, H + N₂H₄ → products; (k₁), in a thermostated photolysis reactor made of quartz or Pyrex. The pseudo-first-order temporal profiles of [H] decay immediately after photolysis were determined for a range of different hydrazine concentrations employed in the experiments to calculate the absolute second-order reaction rate coefficient, k₁. The Arrhenius expression was determined to be k₁ = (11.7 ± 0.7) × 10^?12 exp[?(1260 ± 20)/T] cm³ molec^?1 s^?1 in the temperature range 222–657 K. The rate coefficient at room temperature was, within experimental errors, independent of the He buffer gas pressure in the range 24.5–603 torr. The above temperature dependence of k₁ is in excellent agreement to that we determine in our discharge flow-tube apparatus in the temperature range 372–252 K and in 9.5 torr of He pressure. The Arrhenius parameters we report are consistent with a metathesis reaction mechanism involving the abstraction of hydrogen from N₂H₄ by the H-atom. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A shock tube study of the CH2O + NO2 reaction at high temperatures

The reaction of CH₂O with NO₂ has been studied with a shock tube equipped with two stabilized ew CO lasers. The production of CO, NO, and H₂O has been monitored with the CO lasers in the temperature range of 1140–1650 K using three different Ar-diluted CH₂O-NO₂ mixtures. Kinetic modeling and sensitivity analysis of the observed CO, NO, and H₂O production profiles over the entire range of reaction conditions employed indicate that the bimolecular metathetical reaction, NO₂ + CH₂O → HONO + CHO (1) affects most strongly the yields of these products. Combination of the kinetically modeled values of ??₁ with those obtained recently from a low temperature pyrolytic study, ref. [8], leads to for the broad temperature range of 300–2000 K.     

Theoretical study on the mechanism of OH + HCNO reaction

A detailed mechanistic study of the OH + HCNO reaction, in which the products P _i with i=1, 2, . . . ,7 are involved, is carried out by means of CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPVE computatio-nal method to determine a set of reasonable pathways. It is shown that P ₆ (CO + H₂NO) and P ₃ (HNO +HCO) are the major product channels with a minor contribution from P ₅ (NO + H₂CO), whereas the other channels for P ₁ (H₂O + NCO), P ₂ (NH₂ + CO₂), P ₄ (HCN + HO₂) and P ₇(CO + H₂ + NO) are less favorable. All these theoretical results are in harmony with experimental facts.     

Highly Active,Low‐Valence Molybdenum‐ and Tungsten‐Amide Catalysts for Bifunctional Imine‐Hydrogenation Reactions

The reactions of [M(NO)(CO)₄(ClAlCl₃)] (M=Mo, W) with (iPr₂PCH₂CH₂)₂NH, (PN^HP) at 90 °C afforded [M(NO)(CO)(PN^HP)Cl] complexes (M=Mo, 1a ; W, 1b ). The treatment of compound 1a with KOtBu as a base at room temperature yielded the alkoxide complex [Mo(NO)(CO)(PN^HP)(OtBu)] ( 2a ). In contrast, with the amide base Na[N(SiMe₃)₂], the PN^HP ligand moieties in compounds 1a and 1b could be deprotonated at room temperature, thereby inducing dehydrochlorination into amido complexes [M(NO)(CO)(PNP)] (M=Mo, 3a ; W, 3b ; PNP=(iPr₂PCH₂CH₂)₂N)). Compounds 3a and 3b have pseudo‐trigonal‐bipyramidal geometries, in which the amido nitrogen atom is in the equatorial plane. At room temperature, compounds 3a and 3b were capable of adding dihydrogen, with heterolytic splitting, thereby forming pairs of isomeric amine‐hydride complexes [Mo(NO)(CO)H(PN^HP)] ( 4a(cis) and 4a(trans) ) and [W(NO)(CO)H(PN^HP)] ( 4b(cis) and 4b(trans) ; cis and trans correspond to the position of the H and NO groups). H₂ approaches the Mo/W?N bond in compounds 3a , 3b from either the CO‐ligand side or from the NO‐ligand side. Compounds 4a(cis) and 4a(trans) were only found to be stable under a H₂ atmosphere and could not be isolated. At 140 °C and 60 bar H₂, compounds 3a and 3b catalyzed the hydrogenation of imines, thereby showing maximum turnover frequencies (TOFs) of 2912 and 1120 h^?1, respectively, for the hydrogenation of N‐(4 ‐ methoxybenzylidene)aniline. A Hammett plot for various para‐substituted imines revealed linear correlations with a negative slope of ?3.69 for para substitution on the benzylidene side and a positive slope of 0.68 for para substitution on the aniline side. Kinetics analysis revealed the initial rate of the hydrogenation reactions to be first order in c(cat.) and zeroth order in c(imine). Deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE) experiments furnished a low k_H/k_D value (1.28), which supported a Noyori‐type metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism with H₂ addition as the rate‐limiting step.     

Thermal reaction of CH2O with NO2 in the temperature range of 393–476 K: FTIR product measurement and kinetic modeling

The thermal reaction of CH₂O with NO₂ has been investigated in the temperature range of 393–476 K by means of FTIR product analysis. Kinetic modeling of the measured CH₂O, NO, CO, and CO₂ concentration time profiles under varying reaction conditions gave rise to the rate constants for the following key reactions: (1) and (2) The error limits shown represent only the scatter (±1 σ) of the modeled values. In the modeling, the total rate constant for the CHO + NO₂ reaction, k₂ + k₃, was not varied and the value reported by Gutman and co-workers (ref. [8]) was used for the whole temperature range investigated here. The proposed reaction mechanism, employing these newly established rate constants, can quantitively account for nearly all measured product yields, including the [CO]/([CO] + [CO₂]) ratios reported by earlier workers.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction H + CH3ONO

The reaction of hydrogen atoms with methyl nitrite was studied in a fast-flow system using photoionization mass spectrometry and excess atomic hydrogen. The associated bimolecular rate coefficient can be expressed by in the temperature range of 223-398°K. NO, CH₃OH, CH₄, C₂H₆, CH₂O, and H₂O are the main products; OH and CH₃ radicals were detectable intermediates. The mechanism was deduced from the observed product yields using normal and deuterated reactants. The primary reaction steps were identified as followed by a rapid unimolecular decomposition of CH₂ONO into CH₂O and NO. Since the extent of reaction channel (1b) could not be determined independently, only extreme limits could be obtained for the individual contributions of the two channels of reaction (3) which follows the generation of CH₃O radicals: The most probable values, k_3a/k₃ = 0.31 ± 0.30 and k_3b/k₃ = 0.69 ± 0.30, support the previous results on this reaction, although the range of uncertainties is much greater here.     

Ozone–olefin reactions in the gas phase 1. Rate constants and activation energies

Reactions of ozone with simple olefins have been studied between 6 and 800 mtorr total pressure in a 220-m³ reactor. Rate constants for the removal of ozone by an excess of olefin in the presence of 150 mtorr oxygen were determined over the temperature range 280 to 360° K by continuous optical absorption measurements at 2537 Å. The technique was tested by measuring the rate constants k₁ and k₂ of the reactions (1) NO + O₃ → NO₂ + O₂ and (2) NO₂ + O₃ rarr; NO₃ + O₂ which are known from the literature. The results for NO, NO₂, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, 2-butene (mixture of the isomers), 1,3→butadiene, isobutene, and 1,1 -difluoro-ethylene are 1.7 × 10^{?1 4} (290°K), 3.24 × 10^?17 (289°K), 1.2 × 10^{?1 4} exp (–4.95 ± 0.20/RT), 1.1 × 10^{?1 4} exp (–3.91 ± 0.20/RT), 0.94 × 10^{?1 4} exp ( –2.28 ± 0.15/RT), 5.45 ± 10^{?1 4} exp ( –5.33 ± 0.20/RT), 1.8 ×10^?17 (283°K), and 8 × 10^?20 cm³/molecule ·s(290°K). Productformation from the ozone–propylene reaction was studied by a mass spectrometric technique. The stoichiometry of the reaction is near unity in the presence of molecular oxygen.     

Pressure dependence of the reaction Cl + C2H2 over the temperature range 230 to 370 K

The pressure dependence of reaction (1), Cl + C₂H₂ + M → C₂H₂Cl + M, has been measured by a relative rate technique using the pressure independent abstraction reaction (2), Cl + C₂H₆ → C₂H₅ + HCl, as the reference. Values of k₁/k₂ were measured at pressures between 25 and 1300 torr at four temperatures ranging from 252 to 370 K, using air, N₂, or SF₆ diluent gases. Low pressure measurements (10–50 torr) were performed at 230 K. Assuming a temperature-independent center broadening factor of 0.6 in the Troe formalism and using the established value of k₂, these data can be used to determine the temperature dependent high and low pressure limiting rate constants over the range of conditions studied in air for reaction (1): k_∞(1) = 2.13 × 10^?10 (T/300)^?1.045 cm³/molecule-s; and k₀(1) = 5.4 × 10^?30 (T/300)^?2.09 cm⁶/molecule²-s. Use of these expressions yields rate constants with an estimated 20% accuracy including uncertainty in the reference reaction. The data indicate that the rate constant for a typical stratospheric condition at 30 km altitude is approximately 50% of that previously estimated.     

The quantum efficiency of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis at 3130 Å and 25°C

The mechanism of the photolysis of formaldehyde was studied in experiments at 3130 Å and in the pressure range of 1–12 torr at 25°C. The experiments were designed to establish the quantum yields of the primary decomposition steps (1) and (2), CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1): CH₂O + hν → H₂ + CO (2), through the effects of added isobutene, trimethylsilane, and nitric oxide on Φ_CO and Φ. The ratio Φ_CO/Φ was found to be 1.01 ± 0.09(2σ) and (Φ + Φ_CO)/2 = 1.10 ± 0.08 over the range of pressures and a 12-fold change in incident light intensity. Isobutene and nitric oxide additions reduced Φ to about the same limiting value, 0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, but these added gases differed in their effects on Φ_CO. With isobutene addition Φ_CO/Φ reached a limiting value of 2.3; with NO addition Φ_CO exceeded unity. The addition of small amounts of Me₃SiH reduced Φ to 1.02 ± 0.08 and lowered Φ_CO to 0.7. These findings were rationalized in terms of a mechanism in which the “nonscavengeable,” molecular hydrogen is formed in reaction (2) with ?₂ = 0.32 ± 0.03, while the “free radical” hydrogen is formed in reaction (1) with ?₁ = 0.68 ± 0.03. In the pure formaldehyde system these reactions are followed by (3)–(5): H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3); 2HCO → CH₂O + CO (4); 2HCO → H₂ + 2CO (5). The data suggest k₄/k₅ ? 5.8. Isobutene reduced Φ by the reaction H + iso-C₄H₈ → C₄H₉ (20), and the results give k₂₀/k₃ ? 43 ± 4, in good agreement with the ratio of the reported values of the individual constants k₃ and k₂₀.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx reactions,part III: Kinetics and mechanism for NH2 + HONO2

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HONO₂ have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level. The reaction producing the primary products, NH₃ + NO₃, takes place via a precursor complex, H₂N…HONO₂ with an 8.4‐kcal/mol binding energy. The rate constants for major product channels in the temperature range 200–3000 K are predicted by variational transition state or variational Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory. The results show that the reaction has a noticeable pressure dependence at T < 900 K. The total rate constants at 760 Torr Ar‐pressure can be represented by k_total = 1.71 × 10^?3 × T^?3.85 exp(?96/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 200–550 K, 5.11 × 10^?23 × T^+3.22 exp(70/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 550–3000 K. The branching ratios of primary channels at 760 Torr Ar‐pressure are predicted: k₁ producing NH₃ + NO₃ accounts for 1.00–0.99 in the temperature range of 200–3000 K and k₂ + k₃ producing H₂NO + HONO accounts for less than 0.01 when temperature is more than 2600 K. The reverse reaction, NH₃ + NO₃ → NH₂ + HONO₂ shows relatively weak pressure dependence at P < 100 Torr and T < 600 K due to its precursor complex, NH₃…O₃N with a lower binding energy of 1.8 kcal/mol. The predicted rate constants can be represented by k_?1 = 6.70 × 10^?24 × T^+3.58 exp(?850/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 200–3000 K and 760 Torr N₂ pressure, where the predicted rate at T = 298 K, 2.8 × 10^?16 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 is in good agreement with the experimental data. The NH₃ + NO₃ formation rate constant was found to be a factor of 4 smaller than that of the reaction OH + HONO₂ producing the H₂O + NO₃ because of the lower barrier for the transition state for the OH + HONO₂. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 69–78, 2010     

Direct measurement of the C2H5C(O)O2 + NO reaction rate coefficient using chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The rate coefficient for the reaction of the peroxypropionyl radical (C₂H₅C(O)O₂) with NO was measured with a laminar flow reactor over the temperature range 226–406 K. The C₂H₅C(O)O₂ reactant was monitored with chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The measured rate coefficients are k(T) = (6.7 ± 1.7) × 10⁻¹² exp{(340 ± 80)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k(298 K) = (2.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our results are comparable to recommended rate coefficients for the analogous CH₃C(O)O₂ + NO reaction. Heterogeneous effects, pressure dependence, and concentration gradients inside the flow reactor are examined. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 31: 221–228, 1999     

Kinetics and mechanism of the C2H5O2 + NO reaction: A temperature and pressure dependence study using chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The overall rate coefficient (k₁) for the reaction of C₂H₅O₂ + NO has been measured using the turbulent flow CIMS technique. The temperature dependence of the rate coefficient was investigated between 203 and 298 K. Across the temperature range, the experimentally determined rate coefficients showed good agreement with previous studies and were fitted using an Arrhenius type analysis to yield the expression k₁ = (1.75) × 10^?12 exp[(462 ± 19)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Experiments were carried out in the pressure range of 100–200 Torr within the stated temperature range, where the rate coefficients were shown to be invariant with pressure. The branching ratio of the reaction was also assessed as a function of temperature and was found to proceed 100 ± 5% via the C₂H₅O + NO₂ reactive channel. This work represents the first temperature and pressure study over which the branching ratio has been studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 253–260, 2005     

Rate constants of elementary reactions in the high temperature system of nitric oxide and hydrogen

The consumption of nitric oxide in the shock-heated nitric oxide, hydrogen, and argon system had been studied and modeled as the chain-branching process containing the reaction H + NO ? N + OH (k₃) as a slow-branching step. Through the computer simulation method the authors clarified the role of the initiation reaction H₂ + NO ? HNO + H (k₁) in the system and obtained the rate constants of k₁ and k₃ as k₁ = 10^13.5±0.15 exp (?55.2 kcal/RT) and k₃ = 10^13.7±0.15 exp (?48.7 kcal/RT) (cm³/mole·sec), respectively. k₁ was one order larger than the value obtained in the flame experiment by Halstead and Jenkins.     

Theoretical study on the gas‐phase reaction mechanism between rhodium monoxide and methane for methanol production

The gas‐phase reaction mechanism between methane and rhodium monoxide for the formation of methanol, syngas, formaldehyde, water, and methyl radical have been studied in detail on the doublet and quartet state potential energy surfaces at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD//B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD level. Over the 300–1100 K temperature range, the branching ratio for the Rh(⁴F) + CH₃OH channel is 97.5–100%, whereas the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is 0.0–2.5%, and the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is so small to be ruled out. The minimum energy reaction pathway for the main product methanol formation involving two spin inversions prefers to both start and terminate on the ground quartet state, where the ground doublet intermediate CH₃RhOH is energetically preferred, and its formation rate constant over the 300–1100 K temperature range is fitted by k_CH3RhOH = 7.03 × 10⁶ exp(?69.484/RT) dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. On the other hand, the main products shall be Rh + CH₃OH in the reactions of RhO + CH₄, CH₂ORh + H₂, Rh + CO +2H₂, and RhCH₂ + H₂O, whereas the main products shall be CH₂ORh + H₂ in the reaction of Rh + CH₃OH. Meanwhile, the doublet intermediates H₂RhOCH₂ and CH₃RhOH are predicted to be energetically favored in the reactions of Rh + CH₃OH and CH₂ORh + H₂ and in the reaction of RhCH₂ + H₂O, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010