Reaction of propionitrile with methylidyne: A theoretical study

The results of a CCSD(T)-F12/cc-pVTZ-f12//ωB97XD/cc-pVTZ quantum-chemical study of the potential energy surface (PES) for the reaction of propionitrile with methylidyne are combined with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations of the reaction rate constants and product branching ratios in the deep space conditions corresponding to the zero-pressure limit at various collision energies. The most energetically favorable reaction pathways have been identified. The reaction outcome has been shown to strongly depend on the branching in the entrance reaction channel, between CH additions and insertions into various C-H and C-C bonds. For instance, CH addition to the N atom predominantly leads to 3H-pyrrole + H (p9), with CH₂NC + C₂H₄ (p2) also being a significant product. CH addition to the triple C≡N bond mostly results in 2-methylene-2H-azirine + CH₃ (p13), whereas CH insertions into C-H bonds in the CH₃ and CH₂ groups of propionitrile form CH₂CN + C₂H₄ (p1) and CH₂CHCN + CH₃ (p7) respectively. Less likely CH insertions into single C-C bonds yield CH₃CHCHCN + H (p5) and CH₂CHCH₂CN + H (p8). The results indicate that the methylidyne + propionitrile reaction may represent a critical step toward the formation of heterocyclic N-containing molecules in the interstellar medium and in planetary atmospheres.