Evaluation of data for atmospheric models: Master Equation/RRKM calculations on the combination reaction ClO + NO2 → ClONO2, a recurring issue

Experimental data for the title reaction have been modeled using Master Equation/RRKM methods based on the Multiwell suite of programs. The starting point for the exercise was the empirical fitting provided by the NASA and IUPAC data evaluation panels, which represent the data in the experimental pressure ranges rather well. Despite the availability of quite reliable parameters for these calculations (molecular vibrational frequencies and a value of the bond dissociation energy of ClONO₂, DH₂₉₈(ClONO₂) = 26.5 kcal mol^?1, corresponding to ΔH₀⁰ = 25.35 kcal mol^?1 at 0 K) and use of RRKM/Master Equation methods, fitting calculations to the reported data was anything but straightforward. Using these molecular parameters resulted in a discrepancy between the calculations and the database of rate constants of a factor of ca 4 at, or close to, the low‐pressure limit. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 573–581, 2009     

Classical dynamics of the O + ClO → Cl + O2 and Cl + O3 → ClO + O2 reactions

An explicit function has been derived for the potential-energy surface of the ground state of ClO₃ with the six interatomic distances as variables. This surface is valid over all configurations of the atoms. The surface has been used to calculate classical trajectories for the reactions R₁: O(³P₂)+ClO(²Π_3/2)→ O₂(³∑)+Cl(²)P_3/2 and R₂: Cl(²P_3/2)+O₃(¹A₁)→ClO(²Π_3/2)+O₂(³∑). An appreciable fraction (～1/3) of the reactive trajectories for R₁ go through a long-lived complex ClOO(²A″). The cross section decreases with increasing rotational state of the ClO; and 37% of the energy release is vibrational. The calculated rate constant at 298°K is 2.6 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec. For reaction R₂ there is no evidence of long-lived complexes. The product ClO is predominantly found in the backward-scattering direction. Most of the internal energy is carries off by ClO but O₂ carried off most translational energy. An Arrhenius expression has been deduced from calculations at 220 and 300°K to give an A factor of 2.488 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec and an activation energy of 1.543 kJ/mol.     

Collisional energy transfer in the reactions I + NO + M → INO + M and I + NO2 + M → INO2 + M

The low-pressure recombination rate constants of the reactions I + NO + M → INO + M (with 14 different M) and I + NO₂ + M → INO₂ + M (with 26 different M) have been measured at 330°K by laser flash photolysis. The collision efficiencies β_c are analyzed and compared with other thermal activation systems. Whereas β_c increases in one reaction with an increasing number of atoms in M, practically no such effect is found when, for the same M, different reactions with varying complexities of the reacting molecules are considered.     

Quasiclassical trajectory simulations of OH(v) + NO2 --> HONO2* --> OH(v') + NO2: capture and vibrational deactivation rate constants

Quasiclassical trajectory calculations are used to investigate the dynamics of the OH(v) + NO(2) --> HONO(2) --> OH(v') + NO(2) recombination/dissociation reaction on an analytic potential energy surface (PES) that gives good agreement with the known structure and vibrational frequencies of nitric acid. The calculated recombination rate constants depend only weakly on temperature and on the initial vibrational energy level of OH(v). The magnitude of the recombination rate constant is sensitive to the potential function describing the newly formed bond and to the switching functions in the PES that attenuate inter-mode interactions at long range. The lifetime of the nascent excited HONO(2) depends strongly not only on its internal energy but also on the identity of the initial state, in disagreement with statistical theory. This disagreement is probably due to the effects of slow intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) from the initially excited OH stretching mode. The vibrational energy distribution of product OH(v') radicals is different from statistical distributions, a result consistent with the effects of slow IVR. Nonetheless, the trajectory results predict that vibrational deactivation of OH(v) via the HONO(2) transient complex is approximately 90% efficient, almost independent of initial OH(v) vibrational level, in qualitative agreement with recent experiments. Tests are also carried out using the HONO(2) PES, but assuming the weaker O-O bond strength found in HOONO (peroxynitrous acid). In this case, the predicted vibrational deactivation efficiencies are significantly lower and depend strongly on the initial vibrational state of OH(v), in disagreement with experiments. This disagreement suggests that the actual HOONO PES may contain more inter-mode coupling than found in the present model PES, which is based on HONO(2). For nitric acid, the measured vibrational deactivation rate constant is a useful proxy for the recombination rate, but IVR randomization of energy is not complete, suggesting that the efficacy of the proxy method must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.     

A study of the reaction NO3 + NO2 + M → N2O5 + M(M = N2, O2)

The gas-phase reaction of the NO₃ radical with NO₂ was investigated, using a flash photolysis-visible absorption technique, over the total pressure range 25–400 Torr of nitrogen or oxygen diluent at 298 ± 2 K. The absolute rate constants determined (in units of 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) at 25, 100, and 400 Torr total pressure were, respectively, (4.0 ± 0.5), (7.0 ± 0.7), and (10 ± 2) for M = N₂ and (4.5 ± 0.5), (8.0 ± 0.4), and (8.8 ± 2.0) for M = O₂. These data show that the third-body efficiencies of N₂ and O₂ are identical, within the error limits, and that previous evaluations for M = N₂ are applicable to the atmosphere. In addition, upper limits were determined for the rate constants of the reactions of the NO₃ radical with methanol, ethanol, and propan-2-ol of ?6 × 10^?16, ?9 × 10^?16, and ?2.3 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, at 298 ± 2 K.     

Ab initio MO and TST calculations for the rate constant of the HNO+NO2→HONO+NO reaction

Potential-energy surfaces for various channels of the HNO+NO₂ reaction have been studied at the G2M(RCC,MP2) level. The calculations show that direct hydrogen abstraction leading to the NO+cis-HONO products should be the most significant reaction mechanism. Based on TST calculations of the rate constant, this channel is predicted to have an activation energy of 6–7 kcal/mol and an A factor of ca. 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at ambient temperature. Direct H-abstraction giving NO+trans-HONO has a high barrier on PES and the formation of trans-HONO would rather occur by the addition/1,3-H shift mechanism via the HN(O)NO₂ intermediate or by the secondary isomerization of cis-HONO. The formation of NO+HNO₂ can take place by direct hydrogen transfer with the barrier of ca. 3 kcal/mol higher than that for the NO+cis-HONO channel. The formation of HNO₂ by oxygen abstraction is predicted to be the least significant reaction channel. The rate constant calculated in the temperature range 300–5000 K for the lowest energy path producing NO+cis-HONO gave rise to © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 729–736, 1998     

Variational transition‐state theory study of the atmospheric reaction OH + O3 → HO2 + O2

We report variational transition‐state theory calculations for the OH + O₃→ HO₂ + O₂ reaction based on the recently reported double many‐body expansion potential energy surface for ground‐state HO₄ [Chem Phys Lett 2000, 331, 474]. The barrier height of 1.884 kcal mol^?1 is comparable to the value of 1.77–2.0 kcal mol^?1 suggested by experimental measurements, both much smaller than the value of 2.16–5.11 kcal mol^?1 predicted by previous ab initio calculations. The calculated rate constant shows good agreement with available experimental results and a previous theoretical dynamics prediction, thus implying that the previous ab initio calculations will significantly underestimate the rate constant. Variational and tunneling effects are found to be negligible over the temperature range 100–2000 K. The O₁? O₂ bond is shown to be spectator like during the reactive process, which confirms a previous theoretical dynamics prediction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 148–153, 2007     

Kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction R−OH + H → R•−OH + H2 reaction class: An application of the reaction class transition state theory

This paper presents an application of the reaction class transition state theory (RC‐TST) to predict thermal rate constants for hydrogen abstraction reactions of the type R‐OH + H → R^?‐OH + H₂. We have derived all parameters for the RC‐TST method with linear energy relationships (LERs) and the barrier height grouping (BHG) approach for this reaction class from rate constants of 37 representative reactions divided in two types of hydrogen abstraction, namely from α carbon sites and non‐α carbon sites two training sets. Error analyses indicate that the RC‐TST/LER, where only reaction energy is needed, and RC‐TST/ BHG, where no other information is needed, can predict rate constants for any reaction in this reaction class with satisfactory accuracy for combustion modeling. Specifically for this reaction class, the RC‐TST/LER and RC‐TST/BHG methods have, respectively, less than 40% and 90% systematic errors in the predicted rate constants, when compared to the explicit full TST/Eckart method. The branching ratio analysis shows that in the low‐temperature regime α abstractions are dominant, whereas, for T > 1500 K, abstractions at other sites become more important. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 78–98, 2011     

Investigation of the rate coefficient for O(3p) + NO2 → O2 + NO

Measurements of the rate coefficient of the reaction (O³P) + NO₂ → O₂ + NO have been made at 296°K and 240°K, using the technique of NO₂* chemiluminescent decay. Values of 9.3 × 10^?12 cm³ molec^?1 sec^?1 at 296°K and 10.5 × 10^?12 cm³ molec^?1 sec^?1 at 240°K were obtained, in excellent agreement with the recent results of Davis, Herron, and Huie [1]. The earlier lower values may have resulted from loss of NO₂ on surfaces.     

Direct determination of the rate constant of the reaction NO + HO2 → NO2 + OH with the LMR

The rate of the reaction was determined in an isothermal discharge flow reactor with a combined ESR–LMR detection under pseudo-first-order conditions in HO₂. The rate constant was identical in experiments with two different HO₂ sources: F + H₂O₂ and H + O₂ + M. The absolute rate constant at T = 293 K was measured as In the range 2 ≤ p mbar ≤ 17 no pressure dependence for k₁ was found.     

Rate constant for the NH3 + NO2 → NH2 + HONO reaction: Comparison of kinetically modeled and predicted results

The rate constant for the NH₃ + NO₂ rlhar2; NH₂ + HONO reaction (1) has been kinetically modeled by using the photometrically measured NO₂ decay rates available in the literature. The rates of NO₂ decay were found to be strongly dependent on reaction (1) and, to a significant extent, on the secondary reactions of NH₂ with NO_X and the decomposition of HONO formed in the initiation reaction. These secondary reactions lower the values of k₁ determined directly from the experiments. Kinetic modeling of the initial rates of NO₂ decay computed from the reported rate equation, - d[NO₂]/dt = k₁[NH₃][NO₂] based on the conditions employed led to the following expression: This result agrees closely with the values predicted by ab initio MO [G2M//B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p)] and TST calculations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 245–251, 1997.     

Prompt NO: Theoretical prediction of the high-temperature rate coefficient for CH + N2 → HCN + N

With potential-energy-surface parameters provided by Walch's calculations of the reaction path, we have calculated the thermal rate coefficient for the reaction, The theory employed assumes that the change in the reaction of the electron spin has little or no effect on the rate coefficient. The resulting expression for k₁, in the temperature range, 1000 K ≤ T ≤ 4000 K, is in remarkably good agreement with the limited amount of experimental data available, suggesting that the assumption is valid. The origins of the “prompt-NO” phenomenon, our analysis of reaction (RI), and comparison of the results with experiment are all discussed in detail. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 253–259, 1997.     

On the chaperon mechanism: application to ClO + ClO (+N2) --> ClOOCl (+N2)

The dynamics of the ClO + ClO (+N(2)) radical complex (or chaperon) mechanism is studied by electronic structure methods and quasi-classical trajectory calculations. The geometries and frequencies of the stationary points on the potential energy surface (PES) are optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level of theory, and the energies are refined at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df) (single-point) level of theory. Basis set superposition error (BSSE) corrections are applied to obtain 1.5 kcal mol(-1) for the binding energy of the ClO.N(2) van der Waals (VDW) complex. A model PES is developed and used in quasi-classical trajectory calculations to obtain the capture rate constant and nascent energy distributions of ClOOCl* produced via the chaperon mechanism. A range of VDW binding energies from 1.5 to 9.0 kcal mol(-1) are investigated. The anisotropic PES for the ClO.N(2) complex and a separable anharmonic oscillator approximation are used to estimate the equilibrium constant for formation of the VDW complex. Rate constants, branching ratios to produce ClOOCl, and nascent energy distributions of excited ClOOCl* are discussed with respect to the VDW binding energy and temperature. Interestingly, even for weak VDW binding energies, the N(2) usually carries away enough energy to stabilize the nascent ClOOCl*, although the VDW equilibrium constant is small. For stronger binding energies, the stabilization efficiency is reduced, but the capture rate constant is increased commensurately. The resulting rate constants for forming ClOOCl* from the title reaction are only weakly dependent on the VDW binding energy and temperature. As a result, the relative importance of the chaperon mechanism is mostly dependent on the VDW equilibrium constant. For the calculated ClO.N(2) binding energy of 1.5 kcal mol(-1), the VDW equilibrium constant is small, and the chaperon mechanism is only important at very high pressures.     

Oxygen-transfer reactions between 3d transition metals and N(2)O and NO(2)

Density functional calculations have been performed to describe reactions of ground-state 3d transition metal atoms (Sc-Ni) with N(2)O and NO(2) molecules. From the analysis of the calculated reaction surfaces, a general reaction mechanism evolved. The reactions are initiated by electron transfer from metal to the oxidant molecule, which weakens the N-O bond and facilitates an O(-)((2)P) abstraction. 4s-3d hybridization taking place in the metal electronic structure plays an essential role in the net 4s(beta) electron transfer from the metal atom to the nitrogen-oxide molecule. These key steps contribute to connect the reactant and product channels on a single potential energy surface. The calculations revealed that reaction with NO(2) yields stable oxo-nitrosyl insertion products, and their equilibrium structural properties can be understood by inspecting the 4pi* metal-oxide orbital occupancies. Correlation is obtained between the metal 3d ionization energies and the reaction rates as well as activation energies. This correlation provides additional support for the reaction mechanism called electron-transfer-assisted oxygen abstraction. This novel mechanism exhibits the basic features of the simple electron transfer and direct abstraction kinetic models and sheds new light on the so-called resonance interaction model as well.     

A shock tube study of the reaction NH2 + CH4 → NH3 + CH3 and comparison with transition state theory

The rate coefficient for NH₂ + CH₄ → NH₃ + CH₃ (R1) has been measured in a shock tube in the temperature range 1591–2084 K using FM spectroscopy to monitor NH₂ radicals. The measurements are combined with a calculation of the potential energy surface and canonical transition state theory with WKB tunneling to obtain an expression for k₁ = 1.47 × 10³ T ^3.01 e^?5001/T(K) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 that describes available data in the temperature range 300 –2100 K. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 304–309, 2003     

ClONO2及其异构体光解反应的从头算研究(Ⅱ)——ClONO2→ClO+NO2反应机理研究

用从头算方法讨论了大气臭氧层主要破坏物ClONO2在光照下分解反应途径:ClONO2→ClO+NO2的反应机理.该反应的2个过渡态ClO…NOO(TS2a)和OCI…NOO(TS2b)中TS2a能垒较高,始态难于越过如此高的势垒;TS2b势垒较低,而产物到过渡态TS2b的能垒也仅有1.20 eV,故预测该反应为一个可逆反应.