Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An ab initio CASSCF study of the Ho + NOCl reaction

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry

A theoretical open-shell study of the chlorine abstraction process occurring in the reaction between hydroxyl radical and nitrosyl chloride has been carried out. Fully optimized geometries were obtained from complete active space multiconfigurational self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations using the standard 6-31G(*) basis set. Three stationary points on the potential energy hypersurface were located. The reaction occurs via formation of a reactive complex previous to a transition state at a slightly lower energy than reactants. The third stationary point was found between the transition state and products. Energetics of reaction and barrier height have been computed form MR-CISD+Q calculations. The process appears to occur in a plane with an activation energy of 3.6 kcal mol{sup {minus}1} and a reaction enthalpy of {Delta}H{degrees} {sub 298} = -15.3 kcal mol{sup {minus}1}, in agreement with experiment (2.25 and -18.2 kcal mol{sup {minus}1}). The kinetic analysis is coherent with a bimolecular homolytic substitution (S{sub H}2), and a reaction profile fairly similar to that proposed for the S{sub N}2 mechanism is suggested. 25 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
255254
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 96; ISSN JPCHAX; ISSN 0022-3654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Ring opening of cyclopropylidene and internal rotation of allene
Journal Article · Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Physical Chemistry · OSTI ID:420877

Mechanisms of electrophilic substitutions of aliphatic hydrocarbons. CH[sub 4] + NO[sup +]
Journal Article · Wed Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of the American Chemical Society; (United States) · OSTI ID:5114370

Oxywater (water oxide): New evidence for the existence of a structural isomer of hydrogen peroxide
Journal Article · Wed Nov 11 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Physical Chemistry · OSTI ID:563410