Spherical harmonics representation of the potential energy surface for the H2⋯H2 van der Waals complex.

We perform a study of the molecular anisotropy for the H2⋯H2 van der Waals system using a spherical harmonics expansion. We use six leading stable configurations to construct our analytical potential energy surface (PES) from ab initio calculations guided qualitatively by the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) analyses. We extrapolate the energies of the PES performed at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVnZ (n = 2 and 3) levels to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. To best fit the shallow potential energy surface of each leading configuration with the intermolecular distance, it was employed an extended version of the Rydberg potential. To assess the quality of our extrapolated analytical PES, we calculate the second virial coefficients, which are in relatively good agreement with the experimental data. As a result, the spherical harmonics coefficients obtained might be of considerable relevance in spectroscopy and dynamics applications.

Reaction rate of H2CO (1A) and (3A) via TST.

In this work, we present the reaction rate and dissociation of formaldehyde H2CO, where we found three possible pathways for the singlet state (1A), and two for triplet state (3A). The optimized geometries and frequencies were determined at B3LYP/6-311g(2d,d,p) internal to CBS-QB3 methods. The reaction rates are calculated using the APUAMA code, applying the tunneling correction of Wigner, Eckart, and small curvature transmission coefficient (SCT), and the total reaction rate is presented in the Arrhenius form as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], for singlet and triplet state, respectively. Graphical Abstract PES for singlet and triplet formaldehyde.

Rate constant calculations of the C2 + HCN → CCCN+H addition via the Master Equation.

The addition of C2 to HCN is of relevant interest in astrochemistry. We studied the pathways of this addition to produce CCCN and estimated its reaction rate using the Master Equation in the circumstellar environment. From the results of this study, it was possible to show that a different pathway in the Surface Potential Energy-PES can also be investigated. In a circumstellar envelop environment, with temperatures varying between 1000 K and 2000 K, the abundances of these species are favorable to this kind of addition, and our branching ratio for the rate constant showed that the new pathway is more favorable in comparison with other possibilities for this range of temperatures in this environment, and must be taken into account in any computation of the rate constant. Graphical Abstract Branching ratios of pathways involved in the C2 + HCN → CCCN+H addition, at a temperature range of 1000-2000 K.

Interactions of Hydrogen Molecules with Halogen-Containing Diatomics from Ab Initio Calculations: Spherical-Harmonics Representation and Characterization of the Intermolecular Potentials.

For the prototypical diatomic-molecule-diatomic-molecule interactions H2-HX and H2-X2, where X = F, Cl, Br, quantum-chemical ab initio calculations are carried out on grids of the configuration space, which permit a spherical-harmonics representation of the potential energy surfaces (PESs). Dimer geometries are considered for sets of representative leading configurations, and the PESs are analyzed in terms of isotropic and anisotropic contributions. The leading configurations are individuated by selecting a minimal set of mutual orientations of molecules needed to build the spherical-harmonic expansion on geometrical and symmetry grounds. The terms of the PESs corresponding to repulsive and bonding dimer geometries and the averaged isotropic term, for each pair of interacting molecules, are compared with representations in terms of a potential function proposed by Pirani et al. (see Chem. Phys. Lett. 2004, 394, 37-44 and references therein). Connections of the involved parameters with molecular properties provide insight into the nature of the interactions.

Thermal rate constant calculation of the NF + F reactive system multiple arrangements.

In this work we analyzed the multiple channels of the reaction NF+F through the evaluation of thermal rate constants with both Wigner and Eckart tunneling corrections. Minimum energy paths and intrinsic reaction coordinates of the systems were obtained and accurately studied in order to ensure the consistency of our results. Specifically, we investigated the NF + F = N + F(2), NF + F = NF + F, and NF(2) = NF + F, reactive systems. As experimental data are available for the latter reaction, we were able to conclude that our thermal rate constants are in agreement for a wide range of temperatures. The here performed study is relevant to the understanding of the decomposition process of nitrogen trifluoride (NF(3)).

A computational investigation of the multiple channels of the NF2 + F reaction.

We have theoretically studied the NF(3) = NF(2) + F, NF(2) + F = NF + F(2), and NF(2) + F = NF(2) + F reactive processes. More precisely, we have evaluated the thermal rate constants (TRC), with the Wigner and Eckart tunneling corrections, minimum energy path, and the intrinsic reaction coordinates of these systems. The NF(3) = NF(2) + F conventional and Wigner TRCs agree very well with experimental data available in the literature for a wide range of temperatures. This study gives a first step to understand and determine the correct decomposition path of nitrogen trifluoride (NF(3)).

A quantum chemical study of H2S2: Intramolecular torsional mode and intermolecular interactions with rare gases.

The structural and energetic properties of the H(2)S(2) molecule have been studied using density functional theory, second-order Moller-Plesset method, and coupled cluster theory with several basis sets. In order to extend previous work on intra- and intermolecular dynamics of the chirality changing modes for H(2)O(2) and its derivatives, our focus has been on the torsion around the S-S bond, along with an extensive characterization of the intermolecular potentials of H(2)S(2) with the rare gases (He, Ne, Ar, and Kr). Use is made of previously defined coordinates and expansion formulas for the potentials which allow for a faithful representation of geometrical and symmetry properties of these systems that involve the interaction of an atom with a floppy molecule. The potential energy surfaces obtained in this work are useful for classical and quantum mechanical simulations of molecular collisions responsible for chirality changing processes of possible interest in the modeling of prebiotic phenomena.

The hydrogen peroxide-rare gas systems: quantum chemical calculations and hyperspherical harmonic representation of the potential energy surface for atom-floppy molecule interactions.

A quantum chemical exploration is reported on the interaction potentials of H2O2 with the rare gases, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Hydrogen peroxide (the simplest example of chiral molecule in its equilibrium geometry) is modeled as rigid except for the torsional mode around the O-O bond. However, on the basis of previous work (Maciel, G. S.; et al. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2006 432, 383), the internal mode description is based, rather than on the vectors of the usual valence picture, on the orthogonal local representation, which was demonstrated useful for molecular dynamics simulations, because the torsion around the vector joining the center-of-mass of the two OH radicals mimics accurately the adiabatic reaction path for chirality changing isomerization, following the torsional potential energy profile from equilibrium through the barriers for the trans and cis geometries. The basic motivation of this work is the determination of potential energy surfaces for the interactions to be used in classical and quantum simulations of molecular collisions, specifically those leading to chirality changes of possible relevance in the modeling of prebiotic phenomena. Particular attention is devoted to the definition of coordinates and expansion formulas for the potentials, allowing for a faithful representation of geometrical and symmetry properties of these systems, prototypical of the interaction of an atom with a floppy molecule.

Intermolecular interactions of H2S with rare gases from molecular beam scattering in the glory regime and from ab initio calculations.

Integral cross sections for collisions of rotationally hot H2S molecules with rare gas atoms (Ne, Ar, and Kr) have been measured, in the collision energy range of 10-60 kJ mol(-1), using a molecular beam apparatus operating under high resolution both in angle and in velocity. A well resolved glory pattern has been measured which permitted the accurate characterization of the intermolecular potentials both at long range (in the attractive region) and at intermediate distances (in the well region). Considering the conditions used in the experiments, the obtained potentials must be considered very close to the spherical averages of the full intermolecular potential energy surfaces. Extensive ab initio calculations have also been carried out in parallel in order to characterize energy minima in the potential energy surfaces and energy barriers associated to the motion of the rare gas atoms around H2S. An assessment of the relative role of the various interaction components has been also attempted: the combined analysis of experimental and theoretical results suggests that H2S-rare gas aggregates are mainly bound by nearly isotropic noncovalent interactions of the van der Waals type.