Analysis of the intermolecular interaction between CH(3)OCH(3), CF(3)OCH(3), CF(3)OCF(3), and CH(4): high level ab initio calculations

The intermolecular interaction energies of the CH₃OCH₃? CH₄, CF₃OCH₃? CH₄, and CF₃OCF₃? CH₄ systems were calculated by ab initio molecular orbital method with the electron correlation correction at the second order Møller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) method. The interaction energies of 10 orientations of complexes were calculated for each system. The largest interaction energies calculated for the three systems are ?1.06, ?0.70, and ?0.80 kcal/mol, respectively. The inclusion of electron correlation increases the attraction significantly. It gains the attraction ?1.47, ?1.19, and ?1.27 kcal/mol, respectively. The dispersion interaction is found to be the major source of the attraction in these systems. In the CH₃OCH₃? CH₄ system, the electrostatic interaction (?0.34 kcal/mol) increases the attraction substantially, while the electrostatic energies in the other systems are not large. Fluorine substitution of the ether decreases the electrostatic interaction, and therefore, decreases the attraction. In addition the orientation dependence of the interaction energy is decreased by the substitution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 1472–1479, 2002     

Kinetics of gas‐phase reactions of CH3OCH2CF3, CH3OCH3, CH3OCH2CH3, CH3CH2OCH2CH3, and CHF2CF2OCH2CF3 with NO3 radicals at 298 K

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of CH₃OCH₂CF₃ (k₁), CH₃OCH₃ (k₂), CH₃OCH₂CH₃ (k₃), and CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₃ (k₄) with NO₃ radicals were determined by means of a relative rate method at 298 K. NO₃ radicals were prepared by thermal decomposition of N₂O₅ in a 700–750 Torr N₂O₅/NO₂/NO₃/air gas mixture in a 1‐m³ temperature‐controlled chamber. The measured rate constants at 298 K were k₁ = (5.3 ± 0.9) × 10^?18, k₂ = (1.07 ± 0.10) × 10^?16, k₃ = (7.81 ± 0.36) × 10^?16, and k₄ = (2.80 ± 0.10) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Potential energy surfaces for the NO₃ radical reactions were computationally explored, and the rate constants of k₁–k₅ were calculated according to the transition state theory. The calculated values of rate constants k₁–k₄ were in reasonable agreement with the experimentally determined values. The calculated value of k₅ was compared with the estimate (k₅ < 5.3 × 10^?21 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) derived from the correlation between the rate constants for reactions with NO₃ radicals (k₁–k₄) and the corresponding rate constants for reactions with OH radicals. We estimated the tropospheric lifetimes of CH₃OCH₂CF₃ and CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃ to be 240 and >2.4 × 10⁵ years, respectively, with respect to reaction with NO₃ radicals. The tropospheric lifetimes of these compounds are much shorter with respect to the OH reaction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 490–497, 2009     

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with CH3OCF2CF3, CH3OCF2CF2CF3, and CH3OCF(CF3)2

The rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with CH₃OCF₂CF₃, CH₃OCF₂CF₂CF₃, and CH₃OCF(CF₃)₂ have been measured over the temperature range 250–430 K. Kinetic measurements have been carried out using the flash photolysis, laser photolysis, and discharge flow methods combined respectively with the laser induced fluorescence technique. The influence of impurities in the samples was investigated by using gas‐chromatography. The following Arrhenius expressions were determined: k(CH₃OCF₂CF₃) = (1.90) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1510 ± 120)/T], k(CH₃OCF₂CF₂CF₃) = (2.06) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1540 ± 80)/T], and k(CH₃OCF(CF₃)₂) = (1.94) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1450 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 846–853, 1999     

CHF_2CF_2CH_2OCHF_2与OH自由基反应机理的理论研究

采用从头算和密度泛函方法研究了多通道反应CHF2CF2CH2OCHF2+OH→产物的反应机理.首先在BMK/6-311+G(d,p)水平下优化了稳定点的几何构型并计算了振动频率;然后在BMC-CCSD水平下,对势能面进行高水平能量校正.结果表明,此反应存在提氢和取代两类反应通道,但是无论从动力学还是从热力学分析,提氢反应通道才是主要的反应通道,且从-CH2-基团上提取氢原子的提氢通道是主要的反应通道.     

CH3OCF2CF2OCH3+Cl的反应机理及动力学性质

利用密度泛函理论直接动力学方法研究了反应CH₃OCF₂CF₂OCH₃+Cl的微观机理和动力学性质. 在BB1K/6-31+G(d,p)水平上获得了反应的势能面信息, 计算中考虑了反应物CH₃OCF₂CF₂OCH₃两个稳定构象(SC1和SC2)的氢提取通道和取代反应通道. 利用改进的正则变分过渡态理论结合小曲率隧道效应(ICVT/SCT)计算了各氢提取通道的速率常数, 进而根据Boltzmann配分函数得到总包反应速率常数(k_T)以及每个构象对总反应的贡献. 结果表明296 K温度下计算的k_T(ICVT/SCT)值与已有实验值符合得很好. 由于缺乏其他温度速率常数的实验数据, 我们预测了该反应在200-2000 K温度区间内反应速率常数的三参数表达式: k_T=0.40×10^-14T^1.05exp(-206.16/T).     

A kinetic study of the reaction of fluorine atoms with CH3F,CH3Cl,CH3Br,CF2H2, CO,CF3H,CF3CHCl2, CF3CH2F,CHF2CHF2, CF2ClCH3, CHF2CH3, and CF3CF2H at 295 ± 2 K

A variety of relative and absolute techniques have been used to measure the reactivity of fluorine atoms with a series of halogenated organic compounds and CO. The following rate constants were derived, in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1: CH₃F, (3.7 ± 0.8) × 10^?11, CH₃Cl, (3.3 ± 0.7) × 10^?11; CH₃Br, (3.0 ± 0.7) × 10^?11; CF₂H₂, (4.3 ± 0.9) × 10^?12; CO, (5.5 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 (in 700 torr total pressure of N₂ diluent); CF₃H, (1.4 ± 0.4) × 10^?13; CF₃CCl₂H (HCFC-123), (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10^?12; CF₃CFH₂ (HFC-134a), (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10^?12, CHF₂CHF₂ (HFC-134), (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10^?12; CF₂ClCH₃ (HCFC-42b), (3.9 ± 0.9) × 10^?12, CF₂HCH₃ (HFC-152a), (1.7 ± 0.4) × 10^?11; and CF₃CF₂H (HFC-125), (3.5 ± 0.8) × 10^?13. Quoted errors are statistical uncertainties (2σ). For rate constants derived using relative rate techniques, an additional uncertainty has been added to account for potential systematic errors in the reference rate constants used. Experiments were performed at 295 ± 2 K. Results are discussed with respect to the previous literature data and to the interpretation of laboratory studies of the atmospheric chemistry of HCFCs and HFCs. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers CH2FCF2OCHF2, CHF2CF2OCH2CF3, CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF3, and CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF2CHF2 at 268–308 K

Rate constants were determined for the reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂(k₁), CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃ (k₂), CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃(k₃), and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂(k₄) by using a relative rate method. OH radicals were prepared by photolysis of ozone at UV wavelengths (>260 nm) in 100 Torr of a HFE–reference–H₂O–O₃–O₂–He gas mixture in a 1‐m³ temperature‐controlled chamber. By using CH₄, CH₃CCl₃, CHF₂Cl, and CF₃CF₂CF₂OCH₃ as the reference compounds, reaction rate constants of OH radicals of k₁ = (1.68) × 10^?12 exp[(?1710 ± 140)/T], k₂ = (1.36) × 10^?12 exp[(?1470 ± 90)/T], k₃ = (1.67) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 140)/T], and k₄ = (2.39) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 110)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained at 268–308 K. The errors reported are ± 2 SD, and represent precision only. We estimate that the potential systematic errors associated with uncertainties in the reference rate constants add a further 10% uncertainty to the values of k₁–k₄. The results are discussed in relation to the predictions of Atkinson's structure–activity relationship model. The dominant tropospheric loss process for the HFEs studied here is considered to be by the reaction with the OH radicals, with atmospheric lifetimes of 11.5, 5.9, 6.7, and 4.7 years calculated for CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂, CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃, CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃, and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂, respectively, by scaling from the lifetime of CH₃CCl₃. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 239–245, 2003     

Reaction-path Dynamics and Theoretical Rate Constants for the Reaction of CH3CH2OCF3 with HOOO Radical

A dynamic method is employed to study the reaction mechanisms of CH3CH2OCF3 with the hydrogen trioxy(HOOO) radical. In our paper, the geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of all the stationary points and minimum energy paths(MEPs) are calculated at the MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and the energetic information along MEPs is further refined by the CCSD/6-31+G(df,p) level of theory. The rate constants are evaluated with the conventional transition-state theory(TST), the canonical variational transition-state theory(CVT), the microcanonical variational transition-state theory(μVT), the CVT coupled with the small-curvature tunneling(SCT) correction(CVT/SCT), and the μVT coupled with the Eckart tunneling correction(μVT/Eckart) based on the ab initio calculations in the temperature range of 200 ~ 3000 K. The theoretical results are important in determining the atmospheric lifetime and the feasible pathways for the loss of HFEs.     

Kinetic study of the reactions of Cl atoms with CF3CH2CH2OH, CF3CF2CH2OH, CHF2CF2CH2OH, and CF3CHFCF2CH2OH

The reaction kinetics of chlorine atoms with a series of partially fluorinated straight-chain alcohols, CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH (1), CF(3)CF(2)CH(2)OH (2), CHF(2)CF(2)CH(2)OH (3), and CF(3)CHFCF(2)CH(2)OH (4), were studied in the gas phase over the temperature range of 273-363 K by using very low-pressure reactor mass spectrometry. The absolute rate coefficients were given by the expressions (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k(1) = (4.42 +/- 0.48) x 10(-11) exp(-255 +/- 20/T); k(1)(303) = (1.90 +/- 0.17) x 10(-11), k(2) = (2.23 +/- 0.31) x 10(-11) exp(-1065 +/- 106/ T); k(2)(303) = (6.78 +/- 0.63) x 10(-13), k(3) = (8.51 +/- 0.62) x 10(-12) exp(-681 +/- 72/T); k(3)(303) = (9.00 +/- 0.82) x 10(-13) and k(4) = (6.18 +/- 0.84) x 10(-12) exp(-736 +/- 42/T); k(4)(303) = (5.36 +/- 0.51) x 10(-13). The quoted 2sigma uncertainties include the systematic errors. All title reactions proceed via a hydrogen atom metathesis mechanism leading to HCl. Moreover, the oxidation of the primarily produced radicals was investigated, and the end products were the corresponding aldehydes (R(F)-CHO; R(F) = -CH(2)CF(3), -CF(2)CF(3), -CF(2)CHF(2), and -CF(2)CHFCF(3)), providing a strong experimental indication that the primary reactions proceed mainly via the abstraction of a methylenic hydrogen adjacent to a hydroxyl group. Finally, the bond strengths and ionization potentials for the title compounds were determined by density functional theory calculations, which also suggest that the alpha-methylenic hydrogen is mainly under abstraction by Cl atoms. The correlation of room-temperature rate coefficients with ionization potentials for a set of 27 molecules, comprising fluorinated C2-C5 ethers and C2-C4 alcohols, is good with an average deviation of a factor of 2, and is given by the expression log(k) (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) = (5.8 +/- 1.4) - (1.56 +/- 0.13) x (ionization potential (in eV)).     

Kinetic mechanism of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of the chlorine atoms with CH3CF2Cl and CH3CFCl2: a dual level direct dynamics study

The mechanisms of the reactions: CH(3)CFCl(2) + Cl (R1) and CH(3)CF(2)Cl + Cl (R2) are studied over a wide temperature range (200-3000 K) using the dual-level direct dynamics method. The minimum energy path calculation is carried out at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) levels, and energetic information is further refined by the G3(MP2) theory. The H-abstraction from the out-of-plane for (R1) is the major reaction channel, while the in-plane H-abstraction is the predominant route of (R2). The canonical variational transition-state theory (CVT) with the small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction method is used to calculate the rate constants. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions and hydrogenation reactions as working chemical reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CH(3)CFCl(2), CH(3)CF(2)Cl, CH(2)CFCl(2), and CH(2)CF(2)Cl are evaluated at the CCSD(T)/6-311 + G(3df,2p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The results indicate that the substitution of fluorine atom for the chlorine atom leads to a decrease in the C-H bond reactivity with a small increase in reaction enthalpies. Also, for all reaction pathways the variational effect is small and the SCT effect is only important in the lower temperature range on the rate constants.     

On the kinetic mechanism of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of the hydroxyl radical with CH3CF2Cl and CH3CFCl2: A dual level direct dynamics study

By means of the dual‐level direct dynamics method, the mechanisms of the reactions, CH₃CF₂Cl + OH → products (R1) and CH₃CFCl₂ + OH → products (R2), are studied over a wide temperature range 200–2000 K. The optimized geometries and frequencies of the stationary points are calculated at the MP2/6‐311G(d,p) level, and then the energy profiles of the reactions are refined with the interpolated single‐point energy method at the G3(MP2) level. The canonical variational transition‐state theory with the small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) correction method is used to calculate the rate constants. For the title reactions, three reaction channels are identified and the H‐abstraction channel is the major pathway. The results indicate that F substitution has a significant (reductive) effect on hydrochlorofluorocarbon reactivity. Also, for all H‐abstraction reaction channels the variational effect is small and the SCT effect is only important in the lower temperature range on the rate constants calculation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Amide–π interactions between formamide and benzene

High‐level ab initio calculations have been carried out using a formamide–benzene model system to evaluate amide–π interactions. The interaction energies were estimated as a sum of the CCSD(T) correlation contribution and the HF energy at the complete basis set limit, for the geometries of the model structures at the energy minimum obtained by potential energy surface (PES) scans. NH/π geometry in a face‐on configuration was found to be the most attractive among the various geometries considered, with interaction energy of ?3.75 kcal/mol. An interaction energy of ?2.08 kcal/mol was calculated for the stacked N/Center type geometry, where the nitrogen atom of formamide points directly toward the center of the aromatic ring. The weakest C?O/π geometry, where a carbonyl oxygen atom points toward the plane of the aromatic ring, was found to have energy minimum at an intermolecular distance of 3.67 Å from the PES, with a repulsive interaction energy less than 1 kcal/mol. However, if there are simultaneous attractive interactions with other parts of the molecule besides the amide group, the weak repulsion could be easily overcome, to give a C?O/π geometry interaction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of the first examples of perfluoroalkyl-substituted trialkyloxonium salts, [(CH3)2OCF3]+[Sb2F11]- and [(CH3)2OCF(CF3)2]+[Sb2F11]-

In the superacidic HF/SbF(5) system, methyl trifluoromethyl ether forms at -78 degrees C the new tertiary oxonium salt [(CH(3))(2)OCF(3)](+)[Sb(2)F(11)](-), which was characterized by Raman and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and its crystal structure. The same oxonium salt was also obtained by methylation of CH(3)OCF(3) with CH(3)F and SbF(5) in HF solution at -30 to -10 degrees C. Replacement of one methyl group in the trimethyloxonium cation by the bulkier and more electronegative trifluoromethyl group increases the remaining O-CH(3) bond lengths by 0.037(1) A and the sum of the C-O-C bond angles by about 4.5 degrees. Methylation of CH(3)OCF(CF(3))(2) with CH(3)F in HF/SbF(5) solution at -30 degrees C produces [(CH(3))(2)OCF(CF(3))(2)](+)[Sb(2)F(11)](-). The observed structure and vibrational and NMR spectra were confirmed by theoretical studies at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) and the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) levels.     

A quantum mechanical study of the decomposition of CF3OCF3 and CF3CF2OCF2CF3 in the presence of AlF3

The effect of AlF3 on the decomposition of CF3OCF3 and CF3CF2OCF2CF3 is investigated using ab initio theory. Previous work by Pancansky et al. [Pacansky, J.; Waltman, R. J. J Fluorine Chem. 1997, 83, 41] showed that AlF3 significantly reduces the activation energy of the decomposition of CF3OCF3 due to the strong electrostatic interaction between the aluminum trifluoride and the reactant. In this work, a new transition-state structure and reaction mechanism have been identified for the decomposition of CF3OCF3 in the presence of AlF3. This new mechanism shows that AlF3 functions by accepting a fluorine atom from one carbon and simultaneously donating a fluorine atom to the other carbon. We show that the same pathway is obtained independently of the level of theory. The reaction rate, generated via statistical mechanics and transition-state theory, is 2-3 orders of magnitude higher for the new transition state when compared to that of the old one. The study was also performed for CF3CF2OCF2CF3 in order to ascertain the effect of chain length on the reaction mechanism and rate. We find that an analogous transition state, with lower activation energy, provides the lowest-energy path for decomposition of the longer chain.     

Spin‐Resolved Rotational Energy Transfer for the CH B 2Σ−(v=0, N,F) State by Collisions with Ar

An experimental and theoretical investigation of rotational energy transfers (RET) of CH involving the B ²Σ^? (v=0, 0≤N≤5, F) state by collisions with Ar is undertaken, using the photolysis‐probe technique. Time‐resolved laser‐induced fluorescence resulting from an initially prepared fine‐structure label is dispersed using a step‐scan Fourier transform spectrometer. The spin‐resolved RET rate constants are evaluated with the simulation of a kinetic model. The quantum‐scattering method is used for the calculation of the fine‐structure‐resolved cross sections and rate constants in the rotationally inelastic collisions. The theoretical values are generally consistent with our experimental findings, both in the order of magnitude and trend of N and ΔN dependence. The propensity rules obtained from the experiments are essentially obeyed by theoretical calculations, and are also in accordance with those reported by Kind and Stuhl. The RET rate constants obtained for the v=0 level are smaller than those obtained previously for v=1. The discrepancy in the RET behavior may be caused by an anisotropy difference of the interaction potential resulting from vibrational excitation.     

Definitive ab initio studies of model SN2 reactions CH(3)X+F- (X=F,Cl, CN,OH, SH,NH(2), PH(2))

The energetics of the stationary points of the gas-phase reactions CH(3)X+F(-)-->CH(3)F+X(-) (X=F, Cl, CN, OH, SH, NH(2) and PH(2)) have been definitively computed using focal point analyses. These analyses entailed extrapolation to the one-particle limit for the Hartree-Fock and MP2 energies using basis sets of up to aug-cc-pV5Z quality, inclusion of higher-order electron correlation [CCSD and CCSD(T)] with basis sets of aug-cc-pVTZ quality, and addition of auxiliary terms for core correlation and scalar relativistic effects. The final net activation barriers for the forward reactions are: E (b/F,F)=-0.8, E (b/F, Cl)=-12.2, E (b/F,OH)=+13.6, E b/F,OH=+16.1, E b/F,SH=+2.8, Eb/F, NH=+32.8, and E b/F,PH =+19.7 kcal x mol(-1). For the reverse reactions E b/F,F= -0.8, Eb/Cl,F =+18.3, E b/CN,F=+12.2, E b/OH,F =-1.8, E b/SH,F =+13.2, E b/NH(2),=-1.5, and E b/PH(2) =+9.6 kcal x mol(-1). The change in energetics between the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ reference prediction and the final extrapolated focal point value is generally 0.5-1.0 kcal mol(-1). The inclusion of a tight d function in the basis sets for second-row atoms, that is, utilizing the aug-cc-pV(X+d)Z series, appears to change the relative energies by only 0.2 kcal x mol(-1). Additionally, several decomposition schemes have been utilized to partition the ion-molecule complexation energies, namely the Morokuma-Kitaura (MK), reduced variational space (RVS), and symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) techniques. The reactant complexes fall into two groups, mostly electrostatic complexes (FCH(3).F(-) and ClCH(3).F(-)), and those with substantial covalent character (NCCH(3).F(-), CH(3)OH.F(-), CH(3)SH.F(-), CH(3)NH(2).F(-) and CH(3)PH(2).F(-)). All of the product complexes are of the form FCH(3).X(-) and are primarily electrostatic.