Quantum chemistry study on cation structures of fluorinated and chlorinated germanes and their radicals

The structures and vibrational frequencies of cations of fluorinated and chlorinated germanes and radicals (GeHxXy+, X = F, Cl; x + y = 1-4) and protonated germanes are investigated theoretically at B3LYP/6-31+G(2df,p) level. For GeH2, GeHX, GeH2X, GeHX2, and germanes, the most stable cationic structures are largely distorted from their neutral ones and all can be viewed as ion complexes between a Ge-centered cation and a neutral atom or diatom. The ionization potentials, appearance energies, and proton affinities are obtained at Gaussian-3(CC) levels. Cations with the lowest energy (and adiabatic ionization potentials (in eV)) are Ge+-H2 (2B2, 8.94), Ge+-FH (9.42), Ge+-ClH (9.45), GeH3(+) (8.01), GeF+-H2 (7.71), GeCl+-H2 (8.01), GeF+-FH (7.69), GeCl+-ClH (7.80), GeH2(+)-H2 (10.45), GeH2(+)-FH (10.32), GeHF+-FH (10.64), GeF2(+)-FH (11.40), GeF4(+) (15.22), GeH2(+)-ClH (10.29), GeHCl+-ClH (10.33), GeCl2(+)-ClH (10.43), and GeCl4(+) (11.48). The most stable protonated germanes (and proton affinities (in kJ/mol, 0 K)) are GeH3(+)-H2 (658.3), GeH3(+)-FH (672.5), GeH2F+-FH (634.2), GeHF2(+)-FH (583.4), GeF3(+)-FH (516.3), GeH3(+)-ClH (672.7), GeH2Cl+-ClH (652.6), GeHCl2(+)-ClH (637.5), and GeCl3(+)-ClH (624.4), respectively. The G3 atomization energies of fluorinated Ge-species are found to be significantly different from G3X and G4 ones, and this may merit further investigation.     

Why are SiX5(-) and GeX5(-) (X = F, Cl) stable but not CF5(-) and CCl5(-)?

The possible existence of the CF(5)(-), CCl(5)(-), SiF(5)(-), SiCl(5)(-), GeF(5)(-), and GeCl(5)(-) anions has been investigated using ab initio methods. The species containing Si and Ge as central atoms were found to adopt the D(3h)-symmetry trigonal bipyramidal equilibrium structures whose thermodynamic stabilities were confirmed by examining the most probable fragmentation channels. The ab initio re-examination of the electronic stabilities of the SiF(5)(-), SiCl(5)(-), GeF(5)(-), and GeCl(5)(-) anions [using the OVGF(full) method with the 6-311+G(3df) basis set] led to the very large vertical electron detachment (VDE) energies of 9.316 eV (SiF(5)(-)) and 9.742 eV (GeF(5)(-)), whereas smaller VDEs of 6.196 and 6.452 eV were predicted for the SiCl(5)(-) and GeCl(5)(-) species, respectively. By contrast, the high-symmetry and structurally compact anionic CF(5)(-) and CCl(5)(-) systems cannot exist due to the strongly repulsive potential predicted for the X(-) (F(-) or Cl(-)) approaching the CX(4) (CF(4) or CCl(4)). The formation of weakly bound CX(4)···X(-) (CF(4)···F(-) and CCl(4)···Cl(-)) anionic complexes (consisting of pseudotetrahedral neutral CX(4) with the weakly tethered X(-)) might be expected at low temperatures (approaching 0 K), whereas neither CX(5)(-) (CF(5)(-), CCl(5)(-)) systems nor CX(4)···X(-) (CF(4)···F(-) and CCl(4)···Cl(-)) complexes can exist in the elevated temperatures (above 0K) due to their susceptibility to the fragmentation (leading to the X(-) loss).     

Cationic germanium fluorides: a theoretical investigation on the structure, stability, and thermochemistry of GeFn/GeFn+ (n = 1-3)

The structure, harmonic frequencies, enthalpies of formation, and dissociation energies of the GeF(n)(+) cations (n = 1-3) and of their neutral counterparts GeF(n) have been investigated at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory and discussed in connection with previous experimental and theoretical data. The CCSD(T,full)/cc-pVTZ-optimized geometries and MP2(full)/6-311G(d) harmonic frequencies are 1.744 A and 668.0 cm(-1) for GeF((2)Pi), 1.670 A and 798.6 cm(-1) for GeF(+)((1)Sigma(+)), 1.731 A/97.4 degrees and 267.0 (a(1))/673.1 (b(2))/690.6 (a(1)) cm(-1) for GeF(2)(C(2)(v),(1)A(1)), 1.666 A/116.9 degrees and 202.3 (a(1))/769.6 (a(1))/834.6 (b(2)) cm(-1) for GeF(2)(+)(C(2)(v),(2)A(1)), 1.706 A/112.2 degrees and 214.4 (e)/273.1 (a(1))/699.6 (a(1))/734.1 (e) cm(-1) for GeF(3)(C(3)(v),(2)A(1)), and 1.644 A and 211.4 (e')/229.9 (a(2)' ')/757.4 (a(1)')/879.3 (e') cm(-1) for GeF(3)(+)(D(3)(h),(1)A(1)). These calculated values are in excellent agreement with the experimental data reported for GeF, GeF(+), and GeF(2), and should be therefore of good predictive value for the still unexplored GeF(2)(+), GeF(3), and GeF(3)(+). The comparison of the CCSD(T,full)/cc-pVTZ enthalpies of formation at 298.15 K, -11.6 (GeF), -125.9 (GeF(2)), -180.4 (GeF(3)), 158.4 (GeF(+)), 134.1 (GeF(2)(+)), and 44.8 (GeF(3)(+)) kcal mol(-1), with the available experimental data, especially for the cations, shows discrepancies which suggest the need for novel and more refined measurements. On the other hand, the computed adiabatic ionization potentials of GeF, 7.3 eV, GeF(2), 11.2 eV, and GeF(3), 9.7 eV, are in good agreement with the available experimental estimates.     

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy: dissociation dynamics and thermochemistry of Ge(CH3)4, Ge(CH3)3Cl, and Ge(CH3)3Br

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy (TPEPICO) has been used to investigate the gas-phase ionic dissociation energies and thermochemistry of Me4Ge and Me3GeX, (Me = methyl; X = Cl, Br) molecules. The 0 K dissociation onsets for these species have been measured from the breakdown diagram and the ion time-of-flight distributions, which were modeled with the statistical RRKM theory and DFT calculations. The measured 0 K dissociative photoionization onsets were as follows: Me3Ge+ + Me (9.826 +/- 0.010 eV); Me3Ge+ + Cl (10.796 +/- 0.040 eV); Me3Ge+ + Br (10.250 +/- 0.011 eV); Me2GeCl+ + Me (10.402 +/- 0.010 eV); and Me2GeBr+ + Me (10.333 +/- 0.020 eV). These onsets were used to obtain new values for delta(f)H(degrees)298 (in kJ/mol) of the neutral molecules Me3GeCl (-239.8 +/- 5.7) and Me3GeBr (-196.5 +/- 4.3), and also for the following ionic species: Me3Ge+ (682.3 +/- 4.1), Me2GeCl+ (621.1 +/- 5.8), and Me2GeBr+ (657.8 +/- 4.7).     

Complexes of germanium(IV) fluoride with phosphane ligands: structural and spectroscopic authentication of germanium(IV) phosphane complexes

The first phosphane complexes of germanium(iv) fluoride, trans-[GeF(4)(PR(3))(2)] (R = Me or Ph) and cis-[GeF(4)(diphosphane)] (diphosphane = R(2)P(CH(2))(2)PR(2), R = Me, Et, Ph or Cy; o-C(6)H(4)(PR(2))(2), R = Me or Ph) have been prepared from [GeF(4)(MeCN)(2)] and the ligands in dry CH(2)Cl(2) and characterised by microanalysis, IR, Raman, (1)H, (19)F{(1)H} and (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of [GeF(4)(diphosphane)] (diphosphane = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(2)PPh(2) and o-C(6)H(4)(PMe(2))(2)) have been determined and show the expected cis octahedral geometries. In anhydrous CH(2)Cl(2) solution the complexes are slowly converted into the corresponding phosphane oxide adducts by dry O(2). The apparently contradictory literature on the reaction of GeCl(4) with phosphanes is clarified. The complexes trans-[GeCl(4)(AsR(3))(2)] (R = Me or Et) are obtained from GeCl(4) and AsR(3) either without solvent or in CH(2)Cl(2), and the structures of trans-[GeCl(4)(AsEt(3))(2)] and Et(3)AsCl(2) determined. Unexpectedly, the complexes of GeF(4) with arsane ligands are very unstable and have not been isolated in a pure state. The behaviour of the germanium(iv) halides towards phosphane and arsane ligands are compared with the corresponding silicon(iv) and tin(iv) systems.     

Thermochemistry of the gaseous vanadium chlorides VCl, VCl2, VCl3, and VCl4

Gaseous equilibria in the V-Ag-Cl system were studied at elevated temperatures by effusion-beam mass spectrometry, where the pertinent species were generated by reaction of Cl 2(g) with V + Ag granules in the effusion cell source. Reaction enthalpies were derived from the equilibrium data, and the standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K of gaseous VCl, VCl2, and VCl3 were found to be +49.7, -34.8, and -85.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The corresponding bond dissociation energies at 298 K are D(V-Cl) = 102.9 kcal, D(ClV-Cl) = 113.5 kcal, D(Cl2V-Cl) = 79.8 kcal, and D(Cl3V-Cl) = 69.5 kcal. From these data, the dissociation energy D degrees 0(VCl) = 101.9 kcal mol(-1) or 4.42 eV is obtained. An alternate value, Delta(f)H(o)298(VCl 3,g) = -87.0 kcal mol (-1) was derived from third-law analysis of literature sublimation data for VCl3(s). In addition, literature thermochemical data on VCl4(g) were re-evaluated, leading to Delta(f)H(o)298 = -126.1 kcal mol (-1). The results are compared with various estimates in the literature.     

Gas-phase chemistry of ionized and protonated GeF4: a joint experimental and theoretical study

The gas-phase ion chemistry of GeF(4) and of its mixtures with water, ammonia and hydrocarbons was investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) and ab initio calculations. Under ITMS conditions, the only fragment detected from ionized GeF(4) is GeF(3)(+). This cation is a strong Lewis acid, able to react with H(2)O, NH(3) and the unsaturated C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4) and C(6)H(6) by addition-HF elimination reactions to form F(2)Ge(XH)(+), FGe(XH)(2)(+), Ge(XH)(3)(+) (X = OH or NH(2)), F(2)GeC(2)H(+), F(2)GeC(2)H(3)(+) and F(2)GeC(6)H(5)(+). The structure, stability and thermochemistry of these products and the mechanistic aspects of the exemplary reactions of GeF(3)(+) with H(2)O, NH(3) and C(6)H(6) were investigated by MP2 and coupled cluster calculations. The experimental proton affinity (PA) and gas basicity (GB) of GeF(4) were estimated as 121.5 ± 6.0 and 117.1 ± 6.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively, and GeF(4)H(+) was theoretically characterized as an ion-dipole complex between GeF(3)(+) and HF. Consistently, it reacts with simple inorganic and organic molecules to form GeF(3)(+)-L complexes (L = H(2)O, NH(3), C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), C(6)H(6), CO(2), SO(2) and GeF(4)). The theoretical investigation of the stability of these ions with respect to GeF(3)(+) and L disclosed nearly linear correlations between their dissociation enthalpies and free energies and the PA and GB of L. Comparing the behavior of GeF(3)(+) with the previously investigated CF(3)(+) and SiF(3)(+) revealed a periodically reversed order of reactivity CF(3)(+) < GeF(3)(+) < SiF(3)(+). This parallels the order of the Lewis acidities of the three cations.     

Thermochemical and theoretical study of some methyldiazines

The standard (p ⁰ = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation for the liquid 2,3-dimethylpyrazine and trimethylpyrazine and the crystalline 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline and tetramethylpyrazine were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, in oxygen, atT=298.15 K, measured by static-bomb combustion calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of vaporization or of sublimation for the same compounds were determined by Calvet microcalorimetry. Ab initio full geometry optimization at the 3-21G and 6-31G^* levels were also performed for all the methylpyrazine isomers. MP2/RHF/3-21G//3-21G and DFT energies were also calculated for all the methylpyrazine isomers, thus allowing us to estimate their isodesmic resonance energies.     

First-principles thermochemistry for the production of TiO2 from TiCl4

Despite the industrial importance of the process, the detailed chemistry of the high-temperature oxidation of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) to produce titania (TiO2) nanoparticles remains unknown, partly due to a lack of thermochemical data. This work presents the thermochemistry of many of the intermediates in the early stages of the mechanism, computed using quantum chemistry. The enthalpies of formation and thermochemical data for TiOCl, TiOCl2, TiOCl3, TiO2Cl2, TiO2Cl3, Ti2O2Cl3, Ti2O2Cl4, Ti2O3Cl2, Ti2O3Cl3, Ti3O4Cl4, and Ti5O6Cl8 were calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The use of isodesmic and isogyric reactions was shown to be important for determining standard enthlapy of formation (Delta(f)H(degree)(298K)) values for these transition metal oxychloride species. TiOCl2, of particular importance in this mechanism, was also studied with CCSD(T) and found to have Delta(f)H(degree)(298K) = -598 +/- 20 kJ/mol. Finally, equilibrium calculations were performed to identify which intermediates are likely to be most prevalent in the high temperature industrial process, and as a first attempt to identify the size of the critical nucleus.     

Experimental and computational investigation of the energetics of the three isomers of monochloroaniline

The standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of 2-, 3-, and 4-chloroaniline were derived from the standard molar energies of combustion, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, measured by rotating bomb combustion calorimetry. The Calvet high-temperature vacuum sublimation technique was used to measure the enthalpies of vaporization or sublimation of the three isomers. These two thermodynamic parameters yielded the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the three isomers of chloroaniline, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, as 53.4 +/- 3.1 kJ.mol(-1) for 2-chloroaniline, 53.0 +/- 2.8 kJ.mol(-1) for 3-chloroaniline, and 59.7 +/- 2.3 kJ.mol(-1) for 4-chloroaniline. These values, which correct previously published data, were used to test the computational methodologies used. Therewith, gas-phase acidities, proton affinities, electron donor capacities, and N-H bond dissociation enthalpies were calculated and found to compare well with available experimental data for these parameters.     

Relative ortho‐directing power of fluorine,chlorine and methoxy group for the metalation reaction in the diazine series. Diazines XXXV

The regioselectivity of the metalation of 2‐chloro‐6‐methoxypyrazine, 2‐fluoro‐6‐methoxypyrazine and 3‐fluoro‐6‐chloropyridazine was studied; the relative ortho‐directing power was F > OMe > Cl.     

二氯甲烷同步辐射光电离的动力学研究

采用VUV同步辐射光源，在超声射流冷却条件下研究了二氯甲烷（CH2Cl2）光电离及其解离电离的动力学过程，测得CH2Cl2的电离能（IP）为11．32士0．01eV．通过对CH2Cl2光解离电离过程产生的碎片离子的出现势（AP）的测定，并结合有关中性分子的热力学数据，估算出该体系中有关离子的标准生成焓、中性分子和离子型分子中的键能及母体离子的解离能（DE）等一系列热力学数据．对CH2Cl2分子VUV光解离电离通道进行了细致的分析．     

Influence of molecular structure on the C-N bond strength in the nitroalkane series: II. Nitroethane,fluoronitroethanes, chloronitroethanes,and fluorochloronitroethanes

The equilibrium geometric parameters, enthalpies of formation of molecular and radical species, and dissociation energies of the C-N bond at 0 and 298 K were determined by the B3LYP density functional method for nitroethane, fluoronitroethanes, chloronitroethanes, and mixed fluorochloronitroethanes. Trends in variation of the geometric and electronic parameters of the molecules, enthalpies of formation, and dissociation energies were discussed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1835–1841.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Khrapkovskii, Chachkov, Shamov.For communication I, see [1].This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Theoretical study for the reaction of CH3OCl with Cl atom

A direct dynamics method is employed to study the kinetics of the multiple channel reaction CH(3)OCl + Cl. The potential energy surface (PES) information is explored from ab initio calculations. Two reaction channels, Cl- and H-abstractions, have been identified. The optimized geometries and frequencies of the stationary points and the minimum-energy paths (MEPs) are calculated at the MP2 level of theory using the 6-311G(d, p) and cc-pVTZ basis sets, respectively. The single-point energies along the MEPs are further refined at the G3(MP2)//MP2/6-311G(d, p), G3//MP2/6-311G(d, p), as well as by the multicoefficient correlation method based on QCISD (MC-QCISD) using the MP2/cc-pVTZ geometries. The enthalpies of formation for the species CH(3)OCl and CH(2)OCl are calculated via isodesmic reactions. The rate constants of the two reaction channels are evaluated by using the variational transition-state theory over a wide range of temperature, 220-2200 K. The calculated rate constants exhibit the slightly negative temperature dependence and show good agreement with the available experimental data at room temperature at the G3(MP2)//MP2/6-311G(d, p) level. The present calculations indicate that the two channels are competitive at low temperatures while H-abstraction plays a more important role with the increase of temperature. The calculated k(1a)/k(1) ratio of 0.5 at 298 K is in general agreement with the experimental one, 0.8 +/- 0.2. The high rate constant for CH(3)OCl + Cl shows that removal by reaction with Cl atom is a potentially important loss process for CH(3)OCl in the polar stratosphere.     

Enthalpies of formation and bond dissociation energies of lower alkyl hydroperoxides and related hydroperoxy and alkoxy radicals

The enthalpies of formation and bond dissociation energies, D(ROO-H), D(RO-OH), D(RO-O), D(R-O 2) and D(R-OOH) of alkyl hydroperoxides, ROOH, alkyl peroxy, RO, and alkoxide radicals, RO, have been computed at CBS-QB3 and APNO levels of theory via isodesmic and atomization procedures for R = methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl and n-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl and sec-butyl. We show that D(ROO-H) approximately 357, D(RO-OH) approximately 190 and D(RO-O) approximately 263 kJ mol (-1) for all R, whereas both D(R-OO) and D(R-OOH) strengthen with increasing methyl substitution at the alpha-carbon but remain constant with increasing carbon chain length. We recommend a new set of group additivity contributions for the estimation of enthalpies of formation and bond energies.     

A computational study of bond dissociation enthalpies in haloethenes

Carbon–hydrogen bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) were computed for all haloethenes, C₂H_4−nX_n (n=0–3, X=F, Cl, Br, I), at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level using isodesmic reactions. It was found that C–H bond strengths in the monohaloethenes varied substantially, by as much as 18 kJ mol⁻¹, dependent upon the bond's stereochemical position relative to the halogen. BDEs in the dihaloethanes varied in the order CX₂CH–H>(E)-CHXCX–H>(Z)-CHXCX–H. Trends in the computed bond enthalpies were discussed and explained on the basis of relative steric repulsions and hyperconjugative delocalization interactions, as determined from Natural Bond Orbital analysis.     

The dissociation energy of the new diatomic molecules SiPb and GePb

The diatomic molecules SiPb and GePb were for the first time identified by producing high temperature vapors of the constituent pure elements in a "double-oven-like" molecular-effusion assembly. The partial pressures of the atomic, heteronuclear, and homonuclear gaseous species observed in the vapor, namely, Si, Ge, Pb, SiPb, GePb, Pb2, Gen, and Sin (n=2-3), were mass-spectrometrically measured in the overall temperature ranges 1753-1961 K (Ge-Pb) and 1992-2314 K (Si-Pb). The dissociation energies of the new species were determined by second- and third-law analyses of both the direct dissociation reactions and isomolecular exchange reactions involving homonuclear molecules. The selected values of the dissociation energies at 0 K (D0 degrees) are 165.1+/-7.3 and 141.6+/-6.9 kJ/mol, respectively, for SiPb and GePb, and the corresponding enthalpies of formation (DeltafH0 degrees) are 476.4+/-7.3 and 419.3+/-6.9 kJ/mol. The ionization efficiency curves of the two species were measured, giving the following values for the first ionization energies: 7.0+/-0.2 eV (SiPb) and 7.1+/-0.2 eV (GePb). A computational study of the species SiPb and GePb was also carried out at the CCSD(T) level of theory using the relativistic electron core potential approach. Molecular parameters, adiabatic ionization energies, adiabatic electron affinities, and dissociation energies of the title species were calculated, as well as the enthalpy changes of the exchange reactions involving the other Pb-containing diatomics of group 14. Finally, a comparison between the experimental and theoretical results is presented, and from a semiempirical correlation the unknown dissociation energies of the SiSn and PbC molecules are predicted as 234+/-7 and 185+/-11 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Dual‐level direct dynamics study on the reactions of SH (SD) with F2

The dual‐level direct dynamics study is carried out in the reactions of SH (SD) + F₂, and enthalpies of formation for the species FSH (FSD) are evaluated using isodesmic reactions. Furthermore, the dynamics calculations are performed using the variational transition‐state theory (VTST) with interpolated single‐point energies (ISPE) method at the approximate QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(3df, 2pd)//MPW1K/6‐311G(d, p) level. Over the temperature range of 200–2000 K, theoretical rate constants evaluated using canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) are in good agreement with the available experimental values. The kinetic isotope effects for the title reactions are not obvious. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 710–716, 2005     

Enthalpies of formation, bond dissociation energies, and molecular structures of the n-aldehydes (acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal) and their radicals

Aldehydes are important intermediates and products in a variety of combustion and gas-phase oxidation processes, such as in low-temperature combustion, in the atmosphere, and in interstellar media. Despite their importance, the enthalpies of formation and bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for the aldehydes are not accurately known. We have determined enthalpies of formation for acetaldehyde, propanal, and butanal from thermodynamic cycles, using experimentally measured reaction and formation enthalpies. All enthalpy values used for reference molecules and reactions were first verified to be accurate to within around 1 kcal mol-1 using high-level ab initio calculations. Enthalpies of formation were found to be -39.72 +/- 0.16 kcal mol-1 for acetaldehyde, -45.18 +/- 1.1 kcal mol-1 for propanal, and -49.27 +/- 0.16 kcal mol-1 for butanal. Enthalpies of formation for these three aldehydes, as well as for pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal, were calculated using the G3, G3B3, and CBS-APNO theoretical methods, in conjunction with bond-isodesmic work reactions. On the basis of the results of our thermodynamic cycles, theoretical calculations using isodesmic work reactions, and existing experimental measurements, we suggest that the best available formation enthalpies for the aldehydes acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal are -39.72, -45.18, -50.0, -54.61, -59.37, and -64.2 kcal mol-1, respectively. Our calculations also identify that the literature enthalpy of formation of crotonaldehyde is in error by as much as 1 kcal mol-1, and we suggest a value of -25.1 kcal mol-1, which we calculate using isodesmic work reactions. Bond energies for each of the bonds in the aldehydes up to pentanal were calculated at the CBS-APNO level. Analysis of the BDEs reveals the R-CH(2)CH=O to be the weakest bond in all aldehydes larger than acetaldehyde, due to formation of the resonantly stabilized vinoxy radical (vinyloxy radical/formyl methyl radical). It is proposed that the vinoxy radical as well as the more commonly considered formyl and acetyl radicals are important products of aldehyde combustion and oxidation, and the reaction pathways of the vinoxy, formyl, and acetyl radicals are discussed. Group additivity values for the carbon-oxygen-hydrogen groups common to the aldehydes are also determined. Internal rotor profiles and electrostatic potential surfaces are used to study the dipole induced dipole-dipole interaction in the synperiplanar conformation of propanal. It is proposed that the loss of this dipole-dipole interaction in RC(.-)HCH(2)CH=O radicals causes a ca. 1-2 kcal mol-1 decrease in the aldehyde C-H and C-C bond energies corresponding to RC(.-)HCH(2)CH=O radical formation.     

The effect of stoichiometry on ab initio-based thermochemistry predictions

The effect of various reaction schemes used to convert total reaction enthalpies obtained via ab initio methods into enthalpies of formation has been studied employing a new optimization technique. The reaction schemes, conventional, isostoichiometric, and isodesmic have been defined and generated for 47 species for which highly accurate experimental enthalpies of formation in addition to total reaction enthalpies at 298 K at G2 and G3 levels of theory are known. The main finding is that the effect of reaction schemes in ab initio-based thermochemistry predictions is small, especially, for enthalpy predictions involving high-level ab initio methods.