Barrierless association of CF2 and dissociation of C2F4 by variational transition-state theory and system-specific quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory.

Bao, Junwei Lucas; Zhang, Xin; Truhlar, Donald G · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Bond dissociation is a fundamental chemical reaction, and the first principles modeling of the kinetics of dissociation reactions with a monotonically increasing potential energy along the dissociation coordinate presents a challenge not only for modern electronic structure methods but also for kinetics theory. In this work, we use multifaceted variable-reaction-coordinate variational transition-state theory (VRC-VTST) to compute the high-pressure limit dissociation rate constant of tetrafluoroethylene (C<sub>2</sub>F<sub>4</sub>), in which the potential energies are computed by direct dynamics with the M08-HX exchange correlation functional. To treat the pressure dependence of the unimolecular rate constants, we use the recently developed system-specific quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory. The calculations are carried out by direct dynamics using an exchange correlation functional validated against calculations that go beyond coupled-cluster theory with single, double, and triple excitations. Our computed dissociation rate constants agree well with the recent experimental measurements.