Theoretical study of reactions between MH (M=B,Al) and the H2S molecule

Reaction mechanisms between MH (M=B, Al) and the H₂S molecule have been theoretically studied. The G3 ab initio and DFT calculations demonstrate that only one stable addition complex (HM:SH₂, M=B, Al) can be formed, and that, starting from the addition complex (HM:SH₂) two parallel reaction channels have been found: one is an addition reaction to give H₂MSH via the three‐membered ring transition state (TS), and the other is a dehydrogenation reaction to give MSH+H₂ via the four‐membered ring TS. Thermodynamics and Eyring transition state theory (TST) with the Wigner correction are also used to compute the thermodynamic functions, the equilibrium constants, A factors, and the rate constants of these reaction channels at 300–1500 K. The calculated results predict that the product H₂BSH in the system of BH+H₂S and the product AlSH+H₂ in the system of AlH+H₂S will be mainly observed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Direct dynamics study on mechanism and kinetics of the biradical self‐reaction of HOO

A theoretical study of the mechanism and the kinetics for the hydrogen abstraction reaction of the biradical hydroperoxy radical has been presented at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3d,2p)//CCSD/6‐31+G(d,p) level of theory. Our theoretical calculations suppose a stepwise mechanism involving the formation of a postreactant complex in the triplet and singlet entrance channels. Four transition states of the six‐membered chain complexes (³TS1 and ¹TS1) and six‐membered ring complexes (³TS2 and ¹TS2) are located at the high dual level CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3d,2p)//CCSD/6‐31+G(d,p) method. The rate constants of Path 1 ～ Path 4 at the CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(3d,2p)//CCSD/6‐31+G (d,p) level are calculated by means of the conventional transition state theory (TST) and canonical variational TST without and with small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) correction within the temperature range of 200–2,500 K. The calculated results show that the triplet channel is the dominating reaction channel and Path 2 is found to be the most favorable pathway. The rate constants of Path 2 are in good agreement with the experimental values at the experimentally measured temperatures. Moreover, the variational effect is not obvious in the low temperature range but is not neglectable in the high temperature range. The SCT plays an important role particularly in the low temperature range. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Novel theoretical studies of the dehydrogenation of LiBH2NH3

It is believed that the dehydrogenation of LiNH₂BH₃ (LAB) proceeds through a combination of the decomposition of the LiBH₂NH₃ (LBA) and LAB isomers. The dehydrogenation of LBA, an isomer of LAB, is discussed in this article. It is demonstrated that the loss of H₂ from LBA takes place in a two‐step reaction. Studies of the dehydrogenation process were performed using Møller–Plesset second‐order perturbation theory with a 6‐311++G(3df,2pd) basis set. The intrinsic reaction coordinate was calculated to determine the minimum energy paths. Finally, the rate constants were obtained using the transition‐state theory (TST), TST/Eckart, canonical variational transition‐state theory (CVT), CVT/small‐curvature tunneling correction, and CVT/zero‐curvature tunneling correction methods from 200 to 2500 K. This is the first report on a different dehydrogenation mechanism for an alkali‐metal amidoborane, and the energy barrier of LBA is much lower than that of the traditionally studied LAB. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Systematic kinetic study of H2 release from the dimer of lithium amidoborane (LiNH2BH3)2

The four-step dehydrogenation of lithium amidoborane dimer (LiNH₂BH₃)₂ has been systematically simulated for the first time, and the respective rate constants have been calculated. Density functional theory has been used to optimize the molecular structure and ab initio direct kinetic theory has been applied to identify dehydrogenation mechanisms. The transition states were confirmed by intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations to insure the validity of our simulation and the barrier associated with each reaction was calculated. The Arrhenius equations of the four-step reactions (two pathways in all) were then obtained. The result indicated the dissociation maybe dimer way different from the traditional views. Our study has indicated a lower activation energy for dehydrogenation of the dimer compared to that of the monomer. The simulation is consistent with experimental observation because each step of the process requires increasingly higher energy. The study provides useful information on the properties and dehydrogenation mechanisms of metal-amidoborane compounds.     

Dehydrogenation Mechanism of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers: Dodecahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole on Pd(111)

Dodecahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole (H₁₂‐NEC) has been proposed as a potential liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) for chemical energy storage, as it combines both favourable physicochemical and thermodynamic properties. The design of optimised dehydrogenation catalysts for LOHC technology requires a detailed understanding of the reaction pathways and the microkinetics. Here, we investigate the dehydrogenation mechanism of H₁₂‐NEC on Pd(111) by using a surface‐science approach under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By combining infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface intermediates and their stability are identified. We show that H₁₂‐NEC adsorbs molecularly up to 173 K. Above this temperature (223 K), activation of C? H bonds is observed within the five‐membered ring. Rapid dehydrogenation occurs to octahydro‐N‐ethylcarbazole (H₈‐NEC), which is identified as a stable surface intermediate at 223 K. Above 273 K, further dehydrogenation of H₈‐NEC proceeds within the six‐membered rings. Starting from clean Pd(111), C? N bond scission, an undesired side reaction, is observed above 350 K. By complementing surface spectroscopy, we present a temperature‐programmed molecular beam experiment, which permits direct observation of dehydrogenation products in the gas phase during continuous dosing of the LOHC. We identify H₈‐NEC as the main product desorbing from Pd(111). The onset temperature for H₈‐NEC desorption is 330 K, the maximum reaction rate is reached around 550 K. The fact that preferential desorption of H₈‐NEC is observed even above the temperature threshold for H₈‐NEC dehydrogenation on the clean surface is attributed to the presence of surface dehydrogenation and decomposition products during continuous reactant exposure.     

Kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction R?OH + H → R?O• + H2 reaction class

This paper presents an application of the reaction class transition state theory (RC‐TST) to predict thermal rate constants for the hydrogen abstraction R? OH + H → R? O^? + H₂ reaction class, where R is an alkyl group. We have derived all parameters for the RC‐TST method for this reaction class from rate constants of 19 representative reactions, coupling with linear energy relationships (LERs) and the barrier height grouping (BHG) approach. 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 method has less than 25% systematic errors in the predicted rate constants, whereas the RC‐TST/BHG method has less than 35% error when compared to explicit rate calculations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 414–429, 2010     

Theoretical study on the mechanism for the thermal rearrangement reactions of 2‐silylethyl acetate H3SiCH2CH2OCOCH3

The thermal rearrangement mechanisms of 2‐silylethylacetate H₃SiCH₂CH₂OOCCH₃ were investigated by ab initio molecular orbital theory for the first time. All structures of reactant, transition states, and products were located and fully optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d, p) levels, and harmonic vibrational frequencies for the involved stationary points on the potential energy surface were obtained. The reaction pathways were analyzed and confirmed by intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations. Furthermore, atomic charges were determined by using the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The calculational results show that H₃SiCH₂CH₂OOCCH₃ can rearrange thermally in two ways. One is [1,3] rearrangement (Reaction A), in which silyl group transfers from carbon to oxygen(in C? O? C) via a four‐membered ring transition state, forming silyl acetate and ethylene, the other way, [1,5] rearrangement (Reaction B), happens with transferring of silyl group from carbon to oxygen (in C?O) via a six‐membered ring transition state, forming the same products as in Reaction A. The energy barriers of the Reactions A and B were calculated to be 188.9 and 191.6 kJ/mol at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) levels, respectively. Changes in thermodynamic functions (ΔS, ΔH, and ΔG), equilibrium constant K(T), as well as preexponential factor A(T), and reaction rate constant k(T) in Eyring transition state theory were calculated over a temperature range of 200–1600 K, and then thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the reactions were analyzed. It can be suggested that Reactions A and B are noncompetitive, and both happen only at elevated temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

从头算分子动力学研究O-与CH_3F反应的产物通道

在B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)理论水平下采用基于波恩-奥本海默近似的从头算分子动力学方法重新研究了O-与CH3F反应经抽氢生成OH-和生成H2O的两条产物通道.反应轨线从反应初始过渡态开始,采用300K时的热取样确定初始条件,同时为对比不同的初始碰撞平动能条件下产物通道的变化,分别限定过渡矢量上的能量为2.1、36.8及62.8kJ·mol-1进行轨线计算,所有轨线计算的结果表明抽氢生成OH-的过程始终为主要的产物通道.我们的计算不仅进一步证实了以往实验的结论,而且描绘了抽氢生成OH-和生成H2O这两个产物通道在反应出口势能面上的动态反应路径,更为深刻地揭示了该反应的微观机理.     

Direct Ab Initio Dynamics Study for the Hydrogen Abstraction Reaction: CH _{2} ({^{3}}B_{1}) + H2CO \rightarrow CH3 + CHO

We present a direct ab initio dynamics study of thermal rate constants of the hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH $_{2}(^{3}B_{1})$ + H₂CO $\rightarrow $ CH₃ + CHO. The MP2/cc-pVDZ method is employed to optimize the geometries of stationary points as well as the points on the minimum energy path. The energies of all the points were further refined at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of theory based on the Moller– Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) optimized geometries. The rate constants were evaluated using the conventional transition state theory, the canonical variational TST, and the improved canonical variational TST, also both including small-curvature tunneling correction in the temperature range of 300–2,500 K. The calculated results show that the rate constants have positive temperature dependence in the calculated temperature range. The calculated results show that the tunneling effect is important at low temperature region.     

CH3NO2异构化反应的理论研究

利用密度泛函和电子密度拓扑分析方法对CH3NO2 (NM)的异构化反应进行了研究。 找到了九种可能的异构体和八个反应通道。通过内禀反应坐标(IRC)分析确认了过渡态与异构体之间的连接关系。计算结果表明,在CH3NO2→CH3ONOt反应过程中,过渡态为紧密结构(在整个反应过程中CH3NO2没有分解为CH3 和NO2 ),与Arenass等人的结论一致。在CH3NOOc→CH2NOOH反应过程中,存在有一个含有四元环→五元环→四元环→五元环变化过程的结构过渡区,这也是在反应过程中首次发现五元环状过渡结构。     

Direct Ab Initio Dynamics Study on the Reaction of CH3CHF2 (HFC‐152a) with the Cl Atom

A direct ab initio dynamics method is used to investigate the hydrogen‐abstraction reaction CH₃CHF₂+Cl. One transition state is located for α‐H abstraction, and two are identified for β‐H abstraction. The potential‐energy surface (PES) is obtained at the G3(MP2)//MP2/6‐311G(d, p) level. Furthermore, the rate constants of the three channels are evaluated by using canonical variational transition‐state theory (CVT) with small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) contributions over a wide temperature range of 200–2500 K. The dynamic calculations show that the reaction proceeds mainly by α‐H abstraction over the whole temperature range. The calculated rate constants and branching ratios are both in good agreement with the available experimental values.     

Theoretical studies on the structures and isomerization of methylene lithium‐chlorosilylenoid H2CSiLiCl

The methylene lithium‐chlorosilylenoid H₂C?SiLiCl was studied with ab initio calculations at the G2(MP2) level. Its four equilibrium structures, p‐complex, three‐membered ring, σ complex and silene, and three isomerization transition states were located. The calculations show that the nonplanar p‐complex structure is the lowest in energy among four equilibrium structures of H₂C?SiLiCl and should be experimentally detectable. The silene and σ complex structures with high energies are unstable and easy to isomerize to the most stable p‐complex structure via three‐membered ring one. Also, the geometric characteristics and bonding properties of various structures were analyzed and discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Mechanism and Rate Constants of the CH3+ CH2CO Reaction: A Theoretical Study

The mechanism of the reaction of ketene with methyl radical has been studied by ab initio CCSD(T)‐F12/cc‐pVQZ‐f12//B2PLYPD3/6‐311G** calculations of the potential energy surface. Temperature‐ and pressure‐dependent reaction rate constants have been computed using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM)–Master Equation and transition state theory methods. Three main channels have been shown to dominate the reaction; the formation of the collisionally stabilized CH₃COCH₂ radical and the production of the C₂H₅ + CO and HCCO + CH₄ bimolecular products. Relative contributions of the CH₃COCH₂, C₂H₅ + CO, and HCCO + CH₄ channels strongly depend on the reaction conditions; the formation of thermalized CH₃COCH₂ is favored at low temperatures and high pressures, HCCO + CH₄ is dominant at high temperatures, whereas the yield of C₂H₅ + CO peaks at intermediate temperatures around 1000 K. The C₂H₅ + CO channel is favored by a decrease in pressure but remains the second most important reaction pathway after HCCO + CH₄ under typical flame conditions. The calculated rate constants at different pressures are proposed for kinetic modeling of ketene reactions in combustion in the form of modified Arrhenius expressions. Only rate constant to form CH₃COCH₂ depends on pressure, whereas those to produce C₂H₅ + CO and HCCO + CH₄ appeared to be pressure independent.     

Theoretical Study of the Mechanism of Cycloaddition Reaction between Silylene Silylene (H2SiSi:) and Acetone

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet silylene silylene (H₂Si?Si:) and acetone has been investigated with the CCSD (T)//MP2/6‐31G?? method. According to the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction channels. The present rule of this reaction is that the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of the two π‐bonds in silylene silylene (H₂Si?Si:) and acetone leads to the formation of a four‐membered ring silylene (E3). Because of the unsaturated property of Si: atom in E3, it further reacts with acetone to form a silicic bis‐heterocyclic compound (P7). Simultaneously, the ring strain of the four‐membered ring silylene (E3) makes it isomerize to a twisted four‐membered ring product (P4).     

A system with three contiguous planar tetracoordinate carbons is viable: a computational study on a C6H6 isomer

Ab initio and density functional theory calculations indicate that a benzene dication isomer (1: C₆H₆²⁼) with three contiguous planar tetracoordinate carbons is at a minimum on the potential energy surface. The remarkable preference for the planar structure for 1 is traced to the aromatic stabilization present in the three membered ring formed by the three planar tetracoordinate carbon atoms.     

Ab initio thermal rate coefficients for H + NH3 ⇌ H2 + NH2

The reversible reaction NH₃ + H ⇌ H₂ + NH₂, which plays an important role in NH₃ fuel combustion, is studied with a theoretical approach that combines the high-accuracy extrapolated ab initio thermochemistry (HEAT) protocol with semiclassical transition state theory (SCTST). The calculated forward reaction is endothermic by 11.8 ± 1 kJ/mol, in nearly perfect agreement with the active thermochemical tables (ATcT) value of 11.5 ± 0.2 kJ/mol. Using this improved thermochemistry yields better rate constants, especially at low temperatures. Experimental rate constants available from 400 to 2000 K for the forward and reverse reaction pathways can be reproduced (within 20%) by the calculations from first principles.     

Kinetics and Mechanisms for the Reactions of Phenyl Radical with Ketene and its Deuterated Isotopomer: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of phenyl radical (C₆H₅) with ketene (H₂C_β?C_α?O) were studied by the cavity ring‐down spectrometric (CRDS) technique and hybrid DFT and ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The C₆H₅ transition at 504.8 nm was used to detect the consumption of the phenyl radical in the reaction. The absolute overall rate constants measured, including those for the reaction with CD₂CO, can be expressed by the Arrhenius equation k=(5.9±1.8)×10¹¹ exp[?(1160±100)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 over a temperature range of 301–474 K. The absence of a kinetic isotope effect suggests that direct hydrogen abstraction forming benzene and ketenyl radical is kinetically less favorable, in good agreement with the results of quantum chemical calculations at the G2MS//B3LYP6‐31G(d) level of theory for all accessible product channels, including the above abstraction and additions to the C_α, C_β, and O sites. For application to combustion, the rate constants were extrapolated over the temperature range of 298–2500 K under atmospheric pressure by using the predicted transition‐state parameters and the adjusted entrance reaction barriers E_α=E_β=1.2 kcal mol^?1; they can be represented by the following expression in units of cm³ mol^?1 s^?1: k_α=6.2×10¹⁹ T^?2.3 exp[?7590/T] and k_β=3.2×10⁴ T^2.4 exp[?246/T].     

The water mediated ring closing in the formose reaction

In this work, we investigate the ring closing mechanisms leading to the formation of formose by high‐level ab initio theoretical calculations. We suggest that a water‐mediated ring closing mechanism (through the use of H₃O⁺) is energetically the most favorable pathway for this process. Solvent effects have also been computed and the results further confirm our assertion of the catalytic effect of water in the ring‐closing mechanism of the formose reaction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Ab initio study of the unimolecular decomposition of 2‐butenenitrile: Molecular elimination channels

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed for the unimolecular decomposition of 2‐butenenitrile (CH₃CH?CHCN), especially for HCN and H₂ molecular elimination channels. Structures and energies of the reactants, products, and relevant species in the individual reaction pathways were determined by MP2 gradient optimization and MP4 CCSD(T) single‐point energy calculations. Direct 1,1 and 1,2 molecular eliminations and H or CN migration followed by elimination channels were identified. Dissociation rates for the individual reaction pathways were calculated from vibrational frequencies at the ab initio transition state geometries by employing Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory, from which channel branching ratios were determined. It was concluded that the most important reaction channel should be the direct 1,1 three‐center molecular elimination of HCN. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Theoretical studies on the mechanism of α-hydroxy-acid gas-phase elimination process and its substituent effect

The α-hydroxy-acid gas-phase elimination process has been studied theoretically by HF/3-21G.The calculated results can be summed up as follows:(1) The elimination process is a stepwise reaction.In the first step,a 3-membered ring intermediate is formed via a 5-membered ring transition state;while the product is formed in the second step via a 3-membered ring transition state.(2) The obtained results of the substituent effect show that the increase of electronic donation of the alkyl groups is favorable for the reaction.Other substituents which show the electron-withdrawing inductive effect (e.g.-Cl,-CN,-CF3) are unfavorable for this process.