Theoretical study of the reaction of Ni with OCS

The reactivity of Ni⁺ with OCS on both doublet and quartet potential energy surfaces (PES) has been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. The object of this investigation was the elucidation of the reaction mechanism. The calculated results indicated that both the CS and CO bond activations proceed via an insertion–elimination mechanism. Intersystem crossing between the doublet and quartet surfaces may occur along both the CS and CO bond activation branches. The ground states of NiS⁺ and NiO⁺ were found to be quartets, whereas NiCO⁺ and NiCS⁺ have doublet ground states. The CS bond activation is energetically much more favorable than the CO bond activation. All theoretical results are in line with early experiments.     

Theoretical study of the reaction of Cu with OCS

The reactivity of Cu⁺ with OCS on both singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES) has been investigated at the UB3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. The object of this investigation was the elucidation of the reaction mechanism. The calculated results indicated that both the C–S and C–O bond activations proceed via an insertion–elimination mechanism. Intersystem crossing between the singlet and triplet surfaces may occur along both the C–S and C–O bond activation branches. The ground states of CuS⁺ and CuO⁺ were found to be triplets, whereas CuCO⁺ and CuCS⁺ have singlet ground states. The C–S bond activation is energetically much more favorable than the C–O bond activation. All theoretical results are in line with early experiments.     

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.     

A gradient extremal walking algorithm

Gradient extremals define stream beds connecting stationary points on molecular potential energy surfaces. Using this concept we have developed an algorithm to determine transition states. We initiate walks at equilibrium geometries and follow the gradient extremals until a stationary point is reached. As an illustration we have investigated the mechanism for exchange of protons on carbon in methylenimine (H₂C=NH) using a multi-reference self-consistent-field wave function.     

Computing the chemical reaction path with a ray-based fast marching technique for solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equation in a general coordinate system

This article presents a ray-based fast marching approach for solving the static Hamilton-Jacobi equation. The approach is very general and can be used for both orthogonal and non-orthogonal coordinate system. The method is unconditionally stable, algorithmatically simple and highly accurate. As an application, we use the method to compute different types of reaction path. Specifically, we consider the path for which the change in action or time is less than that of all other conceivable paths connecting two states. Such reaction paths are efficiently evaluated by back-tracing on the least-action or least-time surfaces. The method is illustrated by applying it to the collinear reactions, F + H₂ →HF + H and HF + H→H + FH.     

Quantum chemical reaction networks,reaction graphs and the structure of potential energy hypersurfaces

Global properties of the Born-Oppenheimer energy expectation value functional, defined over the nuclear configuration space R, are analyzed. Quantum chemical reaction graphs and reaction networks are defined in terms of intersection graphs of connected sets of nuclear geometries, representing various chemical structures. The set of all possible reaction mechanisms on the given energy hypersurface and the associated activation energy conditions are analyzed using reachability matrices defined over digraphs D ^s() and D ^s(, E).     

The reaction force: Three key points along an intrinsic reaction coordinate

The concept of the reaction force is presented and discussed in detail. For typical processes with energy barriers, it has a universal form which defines three key points along an intrinsic reaction coordinate: the force minimum, zero and maximum. We suggest that the resulting four zones be interpreted as involving preparation of reactants in the first, transition to products in the second and third, and relaxation in the fourth. This general picture is supported by the distinctive patterns of the variations in relevant electronic properties. Two important points that are brought out by the reaction force are that (a) the traditional activation energy comprises two separate contributions, and (b) the transition state corresponds to a balance between the driving and the retarding forces.     

An algorithm for determining dynamically defined reaction paths (DDRP)

Summary A numerically stable and well-parallelizable curve variational algorithm is described for determining tangent curves of vector fields between two given stationary points. In particular, the method is suitable for finding reaction paths and saddle points on potential energy hypersurfaces (PHS). The stability of the procedure is illustrated by an artificial mathematical function, showing phases of following the reaction on the PHS.Dedicated to Professor Zoltán G. Szabó, the great teacher and scientist in reaction kinetics and in many other fields of physical chemistry, on his 84th birthday.     

HS+HO2气相反应机理及主通道速率常数的理论研究

采用CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3df, 2pd)//B3LYP/6-311+G(2df, 2p)双水平计算方法构建了HO₂+HS反应体系的单、三重态反应势能面,并对该反应主通道的速率常数进行了研究。研究结果表明,标题反应经历了八条反应通道,其中三重态反应通道R1是标题反应主通道。此通道包含路径Path 1 (R → ³IM1 → ³TS1 → P1(³O₂+H₂S))和Path 1a (R → ³IM1a → ³TS1a → P1(³O₂+H₂S))两条路径。利用经典过渡态理论(TST)与变分过渡态理论(CVT)并结合小曲率隧道效应模型(SCT),分别计算了主路径Path 1和Path 1a在200-800 K温度范围内的速率常数k^TST、k^CVT和k^CVT/SCT,在此温度区间内路径Path 1和Path 1a具有负温度系数效应。速率常数计算结果显示,对主路径Path 1和Path 1a而言,变分效应在计算温度段内有一定影响,与此同时量子力学隧道效应在低温段有显著影响。路径Path 1和Path 1a的CVT/SCT速率常数的三参数表达式分别为k₁^CVT/SCT(200-800 K) = 1.54×10^-5T^-2.70exp(1154/T) cm³ ·molecule^-1·s^-1和k_1a^CVT/SCT(200-800 K) = 5.82×10^-8T^-1.84exp(1388/T) cm³·molecule^-1·s^-1。     

Theoretical Investigations on Photodissociation Dynamics of Deuterated Alkyl Halides CD3CH2F

The product branching ratio between different products in multichannel reactions is as important as the overall rate of reaction, both in terms of practical applications (\emph{e.g}. models of combustion or atmosphere chemistry) in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of such chemical reactions. A global ground state potential energy surface for the dissociation reaction of deuterated alkyl halide CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F was computed at the CCSD(T)/CBS//B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory for all species. The decomposition of CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F is controversial concerning C\begin{document}$ - $\end{document}F bond dissociation reaction and molecular (HF, DF, H\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}, D\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}, HD) elimination reaction. Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations were applied to compute the rate constants for individual reaction steps and the relative product branching ratios for the dissociation products were calculated using the steady-state approach. At the different energies studied, the RRKM method predicts that the main channel for DF or HF elimination from 1, 2-elimination of CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F is through a four-center transition state, whereas D\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document} or H\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document} elimination from 1, 1-elimination of CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F occurs through a direct three-center elimination. At 266, 248, and 193 nm photodissociation, the main product CD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}+DF branching ratios are computed to be 96.57%, 91.47%, and 48.52%, respectively; however, at 157 nm photodissociation, the product branching ratio is computed to be 16.11%. Based on these transition state structures and energies, the following photodissociation mechanisms are suggested: at 266, 248, 193 nm, CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}absorption of a photon\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}TS5\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}the formation of the major product CD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}+DF; at 157 nm, CD\begin{document}$ _3 $\end{document}CH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}F\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}absorption of a photon\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}D/F interchange of TS1\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}CDH\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}CDF\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}H/F interchange of TS2\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}CHD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}CHDF\begin{document}$ \rightarrow $\end{document}the formation of the major product CHD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}+CHDF.     

Following gradient extremal paths

Summary For any point on a gradient extremal path, the gradient is an eigenvector of the hessian. Two new methods for following the gradient extremal path are presented. The first greatly reduces the number of second derivative calculations needed by using a modified updating scheme for the hessian. The second method follows the gradient extremal using only the gradient, avoiding the hessian evaluation entirely. The latter algorithm makes it possible to use gradient extremals to explore energy surfaces at higher levels of theory for which analytical hessians are not available.Dedicated to Prof. Klaus Ruedenberg     

Ab initio Study on Mechanism of Forming a Silicic Bis-Heterocyclic Compound Between Dimethylmethylenesilylene and Ethene

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of forming a silicic bis-heterocyclic compound between singlet dimethylmethylenesilylene (Me₂C=Si:) and ethene has been investigated with the CCSD(T)//MP2/6-31G^* method. From the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that, this reaction has one dominant channel. The presented rule of this dominant channel: the 3p unoccupied orbital of Si in dimethylmethylenesilylene and the π orbital of ethene forming the π→p donor-acceptor bond, resulting in the formation of three-membered ring intermediate (INT1); INT1 then isomerizes to a four-membered ring silylene (P2), which is driven by ring-enlargement effect; due to sp³ hybridization of Si atom in P2, P2 further combines with ethene to form a silicic bis-heterocyclic compound.     

A string model for the chemical reaction coordinate in static external fields

A theoretical method for estimating the effects of a static external field upon a reaction path is proposed. The reaction path is defined as the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) which is treated as a string. The string is deformed by the external static force field. We project the external force onto the normal modes orthogonal and parallel to the string. The string is dragged along each direction of the normal mode. The cell structure [10b] attached to the string is also deformed; the transition state (TS) is shifted, and the internal structure of the reaction system is expanded or compressed in configuration space. A min-max relationship of the external effect on the string is found: the smaller the magnitude of the force constant of the normal mode orthogonal to the string, the larger the deformation of the string in the direction of the normal mode. As an example, the effects of one water molecule for hydrogen-migrating isomerization of formaldehyde and fluoroformaldehyde are considered.     

Ab initio quantum chemical studies of reaction mechanism for CH2CO with NCO

An extensive quantum chemical study of the potential energy surface (PES) for all possible isomerization and dissociation reactions of CH₂CO with NCO is reported at the DFT (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) and CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. For the CH₂CO+NCO reaction, the formation of CO+CH₂NCO via an addition–elimination mechanism is the dominant channel on the doublet surface. While the formation of CO+CH₂OCN via bimolecular substitution reaction is in the secondary. Meanwhile, the isomerization and dissociation reactions of the products, CH₂NCO and CH₂OCN, also have been investigated using the same theoretical approach. It can be concluded that these reaction channels are not feasible kinetically at low or fairly high temperatures. On the basis of the ab initio data, the total rate constants for the CH₂CO+NCO reaction in the T=296–560 K range have been computed using conventional transition state theory with Wigner tunneling correction and fitted by a rate expression as k=2.14×10⁻¹² (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) exp(654.29/T). The calculated total rate constants with Wigner tunneling correction for the CH₂CO+NCO reaction are in good agreement with the available experimental values.     

N-甲硝胺异构化和分解反应机理和动力学的理论研究

The complex potential energy surface and reaction mechanisms for the unimolecular isomerization and decomposition of methyl-nitramine (CH3NHNO2) were theoretically probed at the QCISD(T)/6-311+G*//B3LYP/6-311+G* level of theory. The results demonstrated that there are four low-lying energy channels: (i) the NN bond fission pathway; (ii) a sequence of isomerization reactions via CH3NN(OH)O; (IS2a); (iii) the HONO elimination pathway; (iv) the isomerization and the dissociation reactions via CH3NHONO (IS3). The rate constants of each initial step (rate-determining step) for these channels were calculated using the canonical transition state theory. The Arrhenius expressions of the channels over the temperature range 298-2000 K are k6(T)=1014:8e-46:0=RT , k7(T)=1013:7e-42:1=RT , k8(T)=1013:6e-51:8=RT and k9(T)=1015:6e-54:3=RT s-1, respectively. The calculated overall rate constants is 6.9￡10-4 at 543 K, which is in good agreement with the experimental data. Based on the analysis of the rate constants, the dominant pathway is the isomerization reaction to form CH3NN(OH)O at low temperatures, while the NN bond fission and the isomerization reaction to produce CH3NHONO are expected to be competitive with the isomerization reaction to form CH3NN(OH)O at high temperatures.     

Reactive domains of energy hypersurfaces and the stability of minimum energy reaction paths

Special properties of the Riemannian metric for energy hypersurfaces, defined within the framework of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, are utilized in devising a partitioning scheme for domains of nuclear coordinates. The chemically important coordinate domains are distinguished from domains of lesser importance by their curvature properties. Conditions are derived for the stability of minimum energy reaction paths, and the effects of instability regions are investigated. Instability domains along minimum energy paths may allow small vibrational perturbations to alter the outcome of the chemical reaction.     

O+HCNO反应势能面的理论研究

采用CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPVE方法对反应O＋HCNO进行了研究. 通过反应势能面揭示了该反应的机理, 通过H或O迁移等多步反应路径得到3种产物, 其中, P1(HCO+NO)为主要产物, P2(HNO+CO)和P3(NCO+OH)为次要产物. 为进一步实验研究提供了参考.     

BH+2与C2H2反应势能面的量子化学研究

用B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) 密度泛函方法和高级电子相关的CCSD(T)/6-311G(2df,p)偶合簇法研究BH+2与C2H2反应势能面. 结果表明 该势能面上存在(a) H2B+*C2H2, (b) HBCHCH2+, (c) H2BCCH+2和(d) H2*BHCCH+四种异构体, 其中(b)能量最低且在动力学上最稳定, (a), (c)和(d)在动力学上均不稳定; BH+2通过对C2H2的分步亲电加成以及随后的氢迁移和H2消除等反应形成离解产物HBCCH++H2, 该反应不需要活化能且大量放热. 计算结果有助于深入了解BH+2等缺电子硼氢正离子的反应行为.     

Quasi-classical Trajectory Study of F-I-H20→HF-I-OH Reaction： Influence of Barrier Height,Reactant Rotational Excitation,and Isotopic Substitution

The reaction dynamics of the F＋H20/D20→HF/DF＋OH/OD are investigated on an accurate potential energy surface （PES） using a quasi-classical trajectory method. For both isotopomers, the hydrogen/deuterium abstraction reaction is dominated by a direct rebound mechanism over a very low ＂reactant-like＂ barrier, which leads to a vibrationally hot HF/DF product with an internally cold OH/OD companion. It is shown that the lowered reaction barrier on this PES, as suggested by high-level ab initio calculations, leads to a much better agreement with the experimental reaction cross section, but has little impact on the product state distributions and mode selectivity. Our results further indicate that rotational excitation of the H20 reactant leads to significant enhancement of the reactivity, suggesting a strong coupling with the reaction coordinate.     

Density Functional Theory Study of Mechanism of Cycloaddition Reaction Between Dimethyl-Silylene Carbene and Acetone

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet dimethyl-silylene carbene and acetone has been investigated with density functional theory, From the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction pathways. The presented rule of this reaction: the [2+2] cycloaddition effect between the πorbital of dimethyl-silylene carbene and the π orbital of π-bonded compounds leads to the formation of a twisty four-membered ring intermediate and a planar four-membered ring product; The unsaturated property of C atom from carbene in the planar four-membered ring product,resulting in the generation of CH₃-transfer product and silicic bis-heterocyclic compound.