Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.103, No.12, 4930-4936, 1995
Characterization of the Minimum Energy Path for the Reaction of Singlet Methylene with N-2 - The Role of Singlet Methylene in Prompt No
We report calculations of the minimum energy pathways connecting (CH2)-C-1+N-2 to diazomethane and diazirine, for the rearrangement of diazirine to diazomethane, for the dissociation of diazirine to HCN2+H, and of diazomethane to CH2N+N. The calculations use complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) derivative methods to characterize the stationary points and internally contracted configuration interaction (ICCI) to determine the energetics. The calculations suggest a potential new source of prompt NO from the reaction of (CH2)-C-1 with N-2 to give diazirine, and subsequent reaction of diazirine with hydrogen abstracters to form doublet HCN2, which leads to HCN+N(S-4) on the previously studied CH+N-2 surface. The calculations also predict accurate 0 K heats of formation of 77.7 kcal/mol and 68.0 kcal/mol for diazirine and diazomethane, respectively.
Keywords:CONFIGURATION-INTERACTION CALCULATIONS;REACTION CH(X2-PI)+N2(X1-SIGMA-G+)-)HCN(X1-SIGMA+)+N(4S);BASIS-SETS;MECHANISM