Bhupesh Kumar Mishra

Mechanistic and kinetics study of the gas phase reactions of methyltrifluoroacetate with OH radical and Cl atom

Theoretical investigations are carried out on the title reactions by means of ab initio and DFT methods. The optimized geometries, frequencies and minimum energy path are obtained at MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level. Single point energy calculations are performed at MP2 and QCISD(T) levels of theory. Energetics were further refined by calculating the energy of the species with a high level G2(MP2) method. The rate constant of the two reactions are calculated at 298 K and 1 atm using Canonical Transition State Theory (CTST) utilizing the ab initio data obtained during the present study. The rate constant values are found to be 5.5 × 10−14 and 5.9 × 10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively which are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Theoretical investigation of atmospheric chemistry of volatile anaesthetic sevoflurane: reactions with the OH radicals and atmospheric fate of the alkoxy radical (CF3)2CHOCHFO: thermal decomposition vs. oxidation†

A theoretical study on the mechanism and kinetics of the gas phase reactions of a volatile anaesthetic compound (CF3)2CHOCH2F (Sevoflurane) with the OH radicals has been carried out using the hybrid HF–density functional M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p) method. Three conformations are predicted for the Sevoflurane molecule. Among the three conformers, the most stable one is considered for a detailed study. Reaction profiles are modeled including the formation of pre-reactive and post-reactive complexes at entrance and exit channels. Single point energy calculations have been performed by using the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The hydrogen abstraction from the –CH2F group is found to be the dominant reaction channel for hydrogen abstraction by OH radicals. Theoretically the calculated rate constant is found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for (CF3)2CHOCH2F, (CF3)2COCH2F and (CF3)2CHOCHF radicals are also reported for the first time. The atmospheric fate of the alkoxy radical, (CF3)2CHOCHFO, is also investigated for the first time using the same level of theory. Out of four prominent plausible decomposition channels including oxidation, our results clearly point out that reaction with O2 is the dominant path for the decomposition of (CF3)2CHOCHFO in the atmosphere involving the lowest energy barrier which is in accord with recent experimental findings.

Theoretical study on rate constants for the reactions of CF3CH2NH2 (TFEA) with the hydroxyl radical at 298 K and atmospheric pressure

Theoretical investigations are carried out on reaction mechanism of the reactions of CF3CH2NH2 (TFEA) with the OH radical by means of ab initio and DFT methods. The electronic structure information on the potential energy surface for each reaction is obtained at MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level and energetic information is further refined by calculating the energy of the species with a Gaussian-2 method, G2(MP2). The existence of transition states on the corresponding potential energy surface is ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculation. Our calculation indicates that the H abstraction from –NH2 group is the dominant reaction channel because of lower energy barrier. The rate constants of the reaction calculated using canonical transition state theory (CTST) utilizing the ab initio data. The agreement between the theoretical and experimental rate constants is good at the measured temperature. From the comparison with CH3CH2NH2, it is shown that the fluorine substution decreases the reactivity of the C-H bond.

Theoretical investigation of the gas-phase reactions of CF2ClC(O)OCH3 with the hydroxyl radical and the chlorine atom at 298 K

A Theoretical study on the mechanism of the reactions of CF2ClC(O)OCH3 with the OH radical and Cl atom is presented. Geometry optimization and frequency calculations have been performed at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory and energetic information is further refined by calculating the energy of the species using G2(MP2) theory. Transition states are searched on the potential energy surface involved during the reaction channels and each of the transition states are characterized by presence of only one imaginary frequency. The existence of transition states on the corresponding potential energy surface is ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculation. Theoretically calculated rate constants at 298 K and atmospheric pressure using the canonical transition state theory (CTST) are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions as working chemical reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CF2ClC(O)OCH3, CF2ClC(O)OCH2 and CF3C(O)OCH3 are also reported for the first time.

Theoretical investigation on the atmospheric fate of the CF3C(O)OCH(O)CF3 radical: alpha-ester rearrangement vs. oxidation

A detailed quantum chemical study is performed on the unimolecular decomposition reaction of the alkoxy radical, CF3C(O)OCH(O)CF3 produced from CF3C(O)OCH2CF3, trifluoroethyl trofluoroacetate (TFETFA) at the MPWB1K and M06-2X level of theories using the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. Five plausible decomposition pathways including reaction with O2, α-ester rearrangement and thermal decomposition (C–C, C–H and C–O bonds scission) have been considered in detail. Out of the five prominent decomposition channels, our results reveal that reaction with O2 is the dominant path for the decomposition of the CF3C(O)OCH(O)CF3 radical in the atmosphere involving the lowest energy barrier which is in accordance with recent experimental findings. Our theoretical results also suggest that α-ester rearrangement leading to the formation of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) has a negligible contribution for decomposition of the title alkoxy radical. The thermal rate constants for the above decomposition pathways are evaluated using Canonical Transition State Theory (CTST) at 298 K.

Catalytic oxidation of NO by Au2− dimers: a DFT study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the mechanistic details of NO oxidation promoted by gold dimer anions. Furthermore, we studied a full catalytic cycle producing two NO2 molecules. The reaction is explored along three possible pathways. Our theoretical results show that anionic gold dimers present catalytic activity towards NO oxidation, as indicated by the calculated low energy barriers and high exothermicities. The present results enrich our understanding of the catalytic oxidation of NO by Au-cluster based catalysts. For the first time, we have presented a systematic study on the structure and energetics of various reaction intermediates involved in NO oxidation by Au2− clusters using density functional theory (DFT).

Theoretical studies on kinetics, mechanism and thermochemistry of gas-phase reactions of HFE-449mec-f with OH radicals and Cl atom

A theoretical study on the mechanism and kinetics of the gas phase reactions of CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF3 (HFE-449mec-f) with the OH radicals and Cl atom have been performed using meta-hybrid modern density functional M06-2X using 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. Two conformers have been identified for CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF3 and the most stable one is considered for detailed study. Reaction profiles for OH-initiated hydrogen abstraction are modeled including the formation of pre-reactive and post-reactive complexes at entrance and exit channels. Our calculations reveal that hydrogen abstraction from the CH2 group is thermodynamically and kinetically more facile than that from the CHF group. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for HFE-449mecf and radicals generated by hydrogen abstraction, are also reported. The calculated bond dissociation energies for CH bonds are in good agreement with experimental results. The rate constants of the two reactions are determined for the first time in a wide temperature range of 250-450K. The calculated rate constant values are found to be 9.10×10(-15) and 4.77×10(-17)cm(3)molecule(-1)s(-1) for reactions with OH radicals and Cl atom, respectively. At 298K, the total calculated rate coefficient for reactions with OH radical is in good agreement with the experimental results. The atmospheric life time of HFE-449mec-f is estimated to be 0.287 years.

A Theoretical Investigation on Kinetics, Mechanism, and Thermochemistry of the Gas-Phase Reactions of Methyl Fluoroacetate with OH Radicals and Fate of Alkoxy Radical

We theoretically investigated OH-initiated hydrogen abstraction reactions of methyl fluoroacetate (MFA) CH2FC(O)OCH3 at the MPWB1K level of theory in conjunction with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. Thermodynamic and kinetic data are computed using the comparatively accurate G2(MP2) method. Two most stable conformers of MFA are identified, and the energy difference between them is found to be only 0.32 kcal mol(-1). Both of them are considered for rate coefficient calculations, and the contribution from each of the conformers is found to be quite significant. We propose an indirect mechanism due to validation of pre- and post-reactive complexes. The rate parameters are determined using canonical transition state theory and energetics at the G2(MP2) level. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be described by the Arrhenius expressions: k = 8.79 × 10(-13) exp[(-377.27 ± 64)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over a temperature range of 250-450 K. The ΔfH°298 for CH2FC(O)OCH3, CH2FC(O)OC(•)H2, and C(•)HFC(O)OCH3 are also computed using an isodesmic procedure. The OH-driven atmospheric lifetime of MFA was estimated to be 24 days. A mechanistic study to shed light on the atmospheric degradation and the sole fate for the consumption of CH2FC(O)OCH2O(•) radical has also been reported.

Theoretical investigation on gas-phase reaction of CF3CH2OCH3 with OH radicals and fate of alkoxy radicals (CF3CH(O•)OCH3/CF3CH2OCH2O•).

Detailed theoretical investigation has been performed on the mechanism, kinetics and thermochemistry of the gas phase reactions of CF3CH2OCH3 (HFE-263fb2) with OH radicals using ab-initio and DFT methods. Reaction profiles are modeled including the formation of pre-reactive and post-reactive complexes at entrance and exit channels, respectively. Our calculations reveal that hydrogen abstraction from the CH2 group is thermodynamically and kinetically more facile than that from the CH3 group. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CF3CH2OCH3 and radicals (CF3CHOCH3 and CF3CH2OCH2) are also reported for the first time. The calculated bond dissociation energies for the CH bonds are in good agreement with experimental results. At 298K, the calculated total rate coefficient for CF3CH2OCH3+OH reactions is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The atmospheric fate of the alkoxy radicals, CF3CH(O)OCH3 and CF3CH2OCH2O are also investigated for the first time using the same level of theory. Out of three plausible decomposition channels, our results clearly point out that reaction with O2 is not the dominant path leading to the formation of CF3C(O)OCH3 for the decomposition of CF3CH(O)OCH3 radical in the atmosphere. This is in accord with the recent report of Osterstrom et al. [CPL 524 (2012) 32] but found to be in contradiction with experimental finding of Oyaro et al. [JPCA 109 (2005) 337].

A computational perspective on the kinetics and thermochemistry of the gas phase reactions of 1, 1-dichlorodimethylether (DCDME) with OH radical at 298 K

Kinetics and thermochemistry of the gas phase reactions between CH3OCHCl2 (DCDME) and OH radical are investigated theoretically. The geometries and all the stationary points on the potential energy surface are calculated at BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p) method. The energy information is further refined at CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Reaction profiles are modelled including the formation of two pre-reactive and post-complexes. The rate constants, which are evaluated by Canonical Transition State Theory (CTST) including tunnelling correction at 298 K, are in very good agreement with the available experimental data. The percentage contributions of both reaction channels are also reported at 298 K. The hydrogen abstraction reaction from the –CHCl2 group is found to be dominant leading to the formation of CH3OCCl2 + H2O. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CH3OCHCl2, CH3OCCl2 and CH2OCHCl2 are also reported.