Mechanism of pyrolysis of C2Cl6

Using published data on the kinetics of pyrolysis of C₂Cl₆ and estimated rate parameters for all the involved radical reactions, a mechanism is proposed which accounts quantitatively for all the observations: The steady-state rate law valid for after about 0.1% reaction is and the reaction is verified to proceed through the two parallel stages suggested earlier whose net reaction is A reported induction period obtained from pressure measurements used to follow the rate is shown to be compatible with the endothermicity of reaction A, giving rise to a self-cooling of the gaseous mixture and thus an overall pressure decrease. From the analysis, the bond dissociation energy DH⁰(C₂Cl₅? Cl) is found to be 70.3 ± 1 kcal/mol and ΔH_f300⁰(·C₂Cl₅) = 7.7 ± 1 kcal/mol. The resulting π? bond energy in C₂Cl₄ is 52.5 ± 1 kcal/mol.     

Is the stereomutation of methane possible?

Large basis set ab initio calculations at correlated levels, including MP2, single reference, as well as multireference configuration interaction, carried out on the methane potential energy surface, have located and characterized a transition structure for stereomutation (one imaginary frequency). This structure is best described as a pyramidal complex between singlet methylene and a side-on hydrogen molecule with C_s symmetry. At the single reference CI level, it lies 105 kcal/mol above the methane T_d-ground state but is stable relative to dissociation into CH₂(¹A₁) and H₂ by 13 kcal/mol at 0 K (with harmonic zero point energy (ZPE) corrections for all structures). Dissociation of the transition state into triplet methylene and hydrogen also is endothermic (by 4 kcal/mol), but single bond rupture to give CH and H^. is 3 kcal/mol exothermic. Thus, it does not appear likely that methane can undergo stereomutation classically beneath the dissociation limit. Confirming earlier conclusions, side-on insertion of ¹A₁ CH₂ into H₂ in a perpendicular geometry occurs without activation energy. Planar (D_4h) methane (130.5 kcal/mol) has four imaginary frequencies. Two of these are degenerate and lead to equivalent planar C_2v structures with one three-center, two-electron bond and two two-electron bonds and two imaginary frequencies. The remaining imaginary frequencies of the D_4h form lead to tetrahedral (T_d) and pyramidal (C_4v) methane. The latter has three negative eigenvalues in the force-constant matrix; one of these leads to the T_d global minimum and the other to the C_s (parallel) stereomutation transition structure. Multireference CI calculations with a large atomic natural orbitals basis set produce similar results, with the electronic energy of the C_s stereomutation transition state 0.7 ± 0.5 kcal/mol higher than that of CH + H^. dissociation products, and a ZPE-corrected energy which is 5 ± 1 kcal/mol higher. Also considered are photochemical pathways for stereomutation and the possible effects of nuclear spin, inversion tunneling, and the parity-violating weak nuclear interaction on the possibility of an experimental detection of stereomutation in methane. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction between iodine and phenylsilane and the bond dissociation energy D(C6H5SiH2?H)

The title reaction has been investigated in the temperature range of 490-573 K. Initial reactant pressures were varied in the range of 0.2-5.2 torr (I₂) and 2-20 torr (C₆H₅SiH₃). The rate of iodine consumption, monitored spectrophotometrically, was found to obey both by initial rate and integrated equation fitting procedures. The effect of added initial HI conformed to this expression. The data are consistent with a conventional I-atom propagated chain reaction, and for the step the rate constant is given by From this is derived the bond dissociation energy value C₆H₅SiH₂? H = 374 kJ/mol(88 kcal/mol). A comparison with other Si? H dissociation energy values indicates that the “silabenzyl” stabilization energy is small, ≈7 kJ/mol.     

Very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP) of pentynes. III. Pent-2-yne. Heat of formation and resonance stabilization energy of the 3-methylpropargyl radical

The thermal unimolecular decomposition of pent-2-yne has been studied over the temperature range of 988–1234 K using the technique of very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP). The main reaction pathway is C₄? C₅ bond fission producing the resonance-stabilized 3-methylpropargyl radical. There is a concurrent process producing molecular hydrogen and penta-1,2,4-triene presumably via the intermediate formation of cis-penta-1,3-diene. The 1,4-hydrogen elimination from cis-penta-1,3-diene is the rate-determining step in the molecular pathway. This is supported by an independent VLPP study of cis- and trans-penta-1,3-diene. RRKM calculations show that the experimental rate constants for C? C bond fission are consistent with the following high-pressure rate expression at 1100 K: where θ = 2.303RT kcal/mol and the A factor was assigned from the results of shock-tube studies of related alkynes. The activation energy leads to ΔH[CH₃C?C?H₂] = 70.3 and DH[CH₃CCCH₂? H] = 87.4 kcal/mol. The resonance stabilization energy of the 3-methylpropargyl radical is 10.6 ± 2.5 kcal/mol, which is consistent with previous results for this and other propargylic radicals.     

Theoretical Investigation of the C2H2B2 Potential Energy Surface

Fifteen unique energy minima and thirteen transition states on the C ₂H₂B₂ potential surface have been located and optimized at the MP2 level of theory with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The planar four-membered ring isomer , 1, an analog of cyclobutadiene, is a transition state lying 37 kcal/mol above the nonplanar four-membered ring , 3. The planar , 10, is the second most stable species found, lying 72.2 kcal/mol below 3. The nonplanar, butterfly-shaped ring, 4, is a local minimum 33.7 kcal/mol more stable than 3. A four-membered ring isomer with alternating boron–carbon locations, , 5, lies 67.0 kcal/mol below 3 and 33.3 kcal/mol below 4. The ring of 5 is planar with one hydrogen above and one below the plane (C _2h symmetry). The borylene-substituted boracyclopropene, , 8, is a planar local minimum lying 36.0 kcal/mol above 5. The most stable C₂H₂B₂ isomer found was the planar, four-membered ring system 22 (D _2h symmetry) composed of two BCC three-membered rings fused across the C-C bond. Structure 22 lies 22.2 kcal/mole below 10, 105.4 kcal/mol below 3, 71.7 kcal/mol below 4, and 38.2 kcal/mol below 5. Isomer 22 is the structural analog of the trialene form of C₄H₂. The most stable linear isomer, HB BH, 26, was surprisingly 50.5 kcal/mol less stable than 22. The stabilities of the two most stable cyclic isomers 10 and 22 may be explained by aromaticity.     

Orientational preference of two ethylene ligands bound to a nickel atom

CASSCF and CCI calculations have been performed to analyze the bonding in Ni(C₂H₄)₂. Three different relative orientations of the two olefins have been studied. It is found that a structure with D_2d symmetry, where the C-C bonds in the two olefins make a 90 degree angle to each other, gives the lowest energy. A D_2h form, with the two C-C bonds and Ni in the same plane, is 10.3 kcal/ mol higher in energy. The reason for the preference of the D_2d form is analyzed in terms of valence bond theory, and is found to be due to a d ⁸ structure with two simultaneous d bonds. A C _2v form, for which the two nickel olefin bonds make a 103 degree angle to each other and the C-C bonds are parallel to each other, is 32 kcal/mol higher in energy than the D_2d form. The low binding energy of the C _2v form is due to a poor interaction with inefficient sd hybridization.     

Decomposition of methylamino and aminomethyl radicals. The heats of formation of methyleneimine (CH2NH) and hydrazyl (N2H3) radical

A kinetic analysis of the thermal decomposition of methylamino and aminomethyl radicals into methyleneimine, reactions (1) and (2): leads to ΔH(CH₂?NH) = 25.0 ± 3 kcal/mol in excellent agreement with ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy measurements and to a pi bond energy of E_π = 55.0 kcal/mol in CH₂?NH which is comparable but smaller than to the corresponding value in CH₂?CH₂ (63.7 kcal/mol). Assuming that E_π(CH₂?NH) = 0.5 [E_π(CH₂?CH₂) + E_π(NH?NH)] then requires that E_π(NH?NH) = 46.8 kcal/mol in diimine and BDE(N₂H₃-H) = 87.5 kcal/mol i.e. about 11.5 kcal/mol larger than current data for hydrazine but otherwise consistent with additional evidence. The entropy and heat capacity of methyleneimine, calculated from recent infrared and microwave spectroscopic data using the rigid rotor harmonic oscillator approximation, are also reported.     

A force field study of the chemical reaction between ethylene and cis-N2H2

The fully optimized geometry of the activated complex which occurs as an intermediate in the concerted H-transfer reaction between C₂H₄ and cis-N₂H₂ has been determined using the ab initio FORCE method of Pulay. The activation energy for the synchronous transfer of two hydrogen atoms from cis-N₂H₂ to ethylene is found to be 18.8kcal/mol, i.e. substantially lower than the previously estimated energy barrier of around 60 kcal/mol. The same method applied to trans-N₂H₂ and semilinear N₂H₂ gave an isomerization energy of 49.7 kcal/mol indicating that the isomerization of trans-N₂H₂ to the cis form might be the overall rate-controlling step.     

Studying the adsorption and activation of benzene and chlorobenzene on Ni(12%)/Al2O3 by means of gas chromatography and quantum chemistry

In studying the surface and adsorption properties of Al₂O₃ and Ni(12%)/Al₂O₃ with respect to C₆H₆ and C₆H₅Cl, it is found that adsorbate-adsorbent interaction is stronger than adsorbate-adsorbate interaction. It is shown that the calculated isosteric heats of adsorption vary in a range of 61 to 45 kJ/mol depending on adsorption magnitude; for Ni(12%)/γ-Al₂O₃, as in the case of γ-Al₂O₃, the heat of adsorption of chlorobenzene is higher at low degrees of filling than that of benzene. According to density functional theory quantum-chemical calculations of the structures of complexes (NinC₆H₅Cl) ^z and (Ni _n C₆H₆) ^z (n = 1, 4; z = ?1, 0, +1), a nickel atom can penetrate into C₆H₅Cl along the C-Cl bond. It is concluded that a negative charge on nickel contributes to the efficient activation of the C-Cl bond and to an increase in the rate of desorption of benzene, a key step in the hydrodechlorination of chlorobenzene.     

Decomposition of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluorocyclopropane. Arrhenius parameters and their influence on the chemical activation results

The kinetics of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluorocyclopropane (TFC) to 1,1-difluoroethylene and CF₂ was studied in the temperature range of 507.0-577.0 K and with a total pressure of 200 to 300 torr of a 1:100 mixture of reactant and C₂H₄. Also at 557.0 K experiments were made at different total pressures, in the range 2–20 torr with neat TFC and between 20–300 torr with the C₂H₄/TFC mixture, confirming that the reaction is in the high pressure limit. The reaction is first-order and the rate constants fit the following Arrhenius relationship: From this value of the activation energy, the data for the decomposition of chemically activated TFC were revised. The new results yield a minimum energy of the activated molecule of 98 ± 4 kcal/mol and ΔH(TFC) = ?155.4 ± 7 kcal/mol, while an analysis of the kinetic data yields ΔH(TFC) = ?159 ± 9 kcal/mol.     

A bonding study of cyclopentene (c-C5H8) adsorption on Ni(1 1 1) surface

The adsorption of cyclopentene (c-C₅H₈) on Ni(1 1 1) was studied using DFT and semiempirical calculations. Preferred site and geometry calculations were carried out considering a Ni(1 1 1) surface and a unit cell of 64-atoms. The tetrahedral threefold hollow position was identified as the most favorable site, with a surface-molecule minimum distance of 1.83 Å. A bending structure is adopted when the molecule is adsorbed where the carbon atoms of the double bond are closer to the surface forming an angle of 160° among non-equivalents carbon atoms. The metal surface was represented by a two-dimensional slab with an overlayer of c-C₅H₈/Ni of 1/9 ratio. We also computed the density of states (DOS) and the crystal orbital overlap populations (COOP) corresponding to CC, CNi, CH, and NiNi bonds. We found that both NiNi bonds interacting with the ring, and the CC bond are weakened after adsorption, this last bond is linked significantly to the surface. The hydrogen atoms belonging to the saturated carbon atoms also participate in the adsorbate–surface bonding. The main interactions include the 4s, 3p_z and 5d_z² bands of nickel and 2p_z bands of the carbon atoms of the double bond.     

Carbodications. I. The structures and energies of C4H isomers

At high levels of ab initio theory (6-31G*//4-31G), the most stable C₄H isomer is indicated to be the nonplanar cyclobutadiene dication ( 1a ); the planar form, 1b , is indicated to be 7.5 kcal/mol less stable. The second most stable C₄H isomer, the methylenecyclopropene dication, is indicated to prefer the perpendicular ( 2a ) over the planar ( 2b ) arrangement by 7 kcal/mol. The “anti van't Hoff” cyclo-(HB)₂C?CH₂ system ( 4 ), isoelectronic with 2 , also prefers the perpendicular conformation ( 4a ), and retains the C?C double bond. The linear butatriene dication ( 3 ) is the least stable C₄H species investigated. The perpendicular (D_2d) arrangement ( 3a ), permitting double allyl cationlike conjugation, is preferred over the planar D_2h form ( 3b ) by 26 kcal/mol. The heat of formation of the most stable form of C₄H, 1a , is estimated to be 623–640 kcal/mol. This species should be thermodynamically stable toward dissociation into smaller charged fragments.     

Dissociation of diimide

Parts of the potential energy surface of N₂H₂ have been studied using CASSCF- and contracted CI-methods. Of particular interest was the concerted dissociation of cis- and trans-diimide into N₂ and H₂, since the trans-dissociation is symmetry allowed and the cis-dissociation forbidden. Three different saddle points were located, of which only one, of C ₂- symmetry, is a true transition state. Elaborate numerical gradient methods using exact Hessians and update procedures had to be used to find these saddle points on the unexpectedly complex N₂H₂-surface. The barrier height with respect to trans-diimide is 61 kcal/mol after vibration correction. Since this energy is higher than the barrier for interconversion, cis- and trans-diimide have the same transition state. It is further found that diimide preferably dissociates stepwise, by losing one hydrogen at a time, rather than in a concerted way. This conclusion is drawn basically because the geometry of the transition state for the concerted dissociation has a very long H-H distance of 5.6 a.u. The N-H bond energy in trans-diimide is 56 kcal/mol after vibration correction.     

The Very low-pressure pyrolysis of 2-phenylethylamine. The enthalpy of formation of the aminomethyl radical

The thermal unimolecular decomposition of 2-phenylethylamine (PhCH₂CH₂NH₂) into benzyl and aminomethyl radicals has been studied under very-low-pressure conditions, and the enthalpy of formation of the aminomethyl radicals, ΔH°_{f, 298K} (H₂NCH₂·) = 37.0 ± 2.0 kcal/mol, has been derived from the kinetic data. This result leads to a value for the C—H bond dissociation energy in methylamine, BDE(H₂NCH₂—H) = 94.6 ± 2.0 kcal/mol, which is about 3.4 kcal/mol lower than in C₂H₆ (98 kcal/mol), indicating a sizable stabilization in α-aminoalkyl radicals.     

Bonding of acetylene to copper atom,dimer, and trimer

The bonding of acetylene to copper atom, dimer, and trimer was investigated with a Kohn–Sham density functional approach. Full geometry optimization yielded the equilibrium structures of various Cu_nC₂H₂ species. Gradient corrections were included in the calculation of binding energies (BE ). The Cu—C₂H₂ complex was found to have a C_s structure and a BE of 10 kcal/mol. Three isomers of Cu₂C₂H₂ have similar total energies: a C_2v end-bonded structure with a BE of 18 kcal/mol, and two 1,2-dicupro ethylene isomers—a cis form with a BE of 12 kcal/mol and a trans form with a BE of 15 kcal/mol. Two stable C_2v isomers of Cu₃C₂H₂ were found. In both isomers, the Cu₃ ring relaxes from its isosceles structure, with two short bonds (2.247 Å) and one long bond (2.478 Å), and adopts a nearly equilateral geometry. In one isomer of Cu₃C₂H₂, the acetylene is bonded to one apex of the Cu₃ ring with a BE of 29 kcal/mol. In the other, it is bonded to two copper atoms of one side of the Cu₃ ring with a BE of 33 kcal/mol. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the dimerization process of nitroso compounds

Summary Many organic C-nitroso compounds R-NO form stable dimers with a covalent NN bond. To gain insight into the dimerization reaction 2 R-NO (R-NO)₂ a theoretical study of the dimerization to atrans-form was performed using HNO as a model compound. Complete geometry optimizations were carried out at the HF, MP2 and QCISD levels using a 6–31G* basis. In the stationary points energies were calculated at the MP4(SDTQ) and QCISD(T) levels. For the equilibrium structure of the monomer and dimers stable RHF solutions were found, whereas for the TS UHF and UMPn calculations were applied. Extensive spin contamination was found in the UHF wavefunction, and projections up tos+4 were invoked. Relative energies were corrected for differences in ZPE. Calculations were made (a) for the least-motion path (C _2h symmetry) and (b) for a path with complete relaxation of all internal coordinates. Along the latter path a TS having virtuallyC _i symmetry was found. Along path (a) an activation energy of around 150 kcal/mol was predicted, in conformity with a symmetry forbidden reaction. On the relaxed path (b) the barrier to dimerization was estimated to be 10.7 kcal/mol at the MP4(SDTQ)//MP2 level, and 10.9 kcal/mol at the QCISD(T)//QCISD level. Unscaled ZPE corrections, calculated at the SCF level, changed these values to 12.7 and 12.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The reaction energy for the dimerization process is predicted to be – 17.2 kcal/mol at the MP4(SDTQ)//MP2 level corrected for ZPE. Calculations at the G1 level gave a corresponding value of – 16.4 kcal/mol. The equilibrium constant for the association to thetrans dimer is estimated to beK _p =259 atm, indicating that the dimer should be an observable species in the gas phase.     

Some hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of CF2H and CFH2 radicals,and the C?H bond dissociation energy in CF2H2

By photolyzing (CF₂H)₂CO and (CFH₂)₂CO the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of CF₂H radicals with (CF₂H)₂CO, H₂, D₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, n? C₄H₁₀ and iso? C₄H₁₀, and the reactions of CFH₂ radicals with (CFH₂)₂CO and n? C₄H₁₀, have been studied. Arrhenius parameters for these reactions are compared with related systems. From a knowledge of the activation energies for the forward and reverse reactions a value of the bond dissociation energy, D(CF₂H? H) = 97.4 ± 1.3 kcal mole^?1 at a mean temperature of 543°K is obtained. This value is subject to much uncertainty due to possible compensation effects in the Arrhenius parameters. These effects are discussed for this and the other reactions, and the data suggest that D(CF₂H? H) is approximately 100 kcal mole^?1, and that D(CFH₂? H) is very similar. Other literature data tend to confirm these approximate values.     

The kinetics of radiation-induced hydrogen abstraction by CCl3 radicals in the liquid phase: Cyclohexene

The kinetics of hydrogen abstraction from cyclohexene by CCl₃ radicals were studied in CCl₄ solution as a function of cyclohexene concentration and temperature in the range of 26–140°C. The CCl₃ radicals were produced both by radiolysis of CCl₄ and by photolysis of CCl₃Br. The rate constant for the reaction was found to be given by the equation where θ = 2.303 RT kcal/mol. This activation energy leads to C? H bond strength for the allylic hydrogen of 85 ± 1 kcal/mol, which means a resonance stabilization energy of 11 ± 1.5 kcal/mol for the C-C₆H₁₁ radical.     

Cl-atom transfer from CFCl3 to the c-C6H11 radical. An indirect estimation of the CFCl2?Cl bond dissociation energy

The Cl-transfer reaction between CFCl₃ and c-C₆H₁₁ radicals (R) was studied in liquid cyclohexane (RH). The Arrhenius parameters for Cl abstraction were determined in the RH-CFCl₃ system versus the termination reaction between cyclohexyl radicals and competitively versus addition to C₂Cl₄ in the RH-CFCl₃-C₂Cl₄ system. The two sets of results are in very good agreement and give the following Arrhenius expression for the reaction R + CFCL₃ → RCl + CFCl₂ (2): where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mol. Comparison with Cl-transfer data of other chloromethanes and chloroethanes shows that an increase in the C? Cl bond dissociation energy is the main cause of the reduced reactivity of CFCl₃. Based on a previously developed correlation, D(CFCl₂ ? Cl) is estimated to be equal to 74.4 kcal/mol.