Theoretical values of the enthalpies of formation of the NHx (x = 1,2,3) compounds. Importance of the core-correlation effects

Ab initio ground-state potential energy function and vibration-rotation energy levels of imidogen, NH

The accurate ground-state potential energy function of imidogen, NH, has been determined from ab initio calculations using the multireference averaged coupled-pair functional (MR-ACPF) method in conjunction with the correlation-consistent core-valence basis sets up to octuple-zeta quality. The importance of several effects, including electron correlation beyond the MR-ACPF level of approximation, the scalar relativistic, adiabatic, and nonadiabatic corrections were discussed. Along with the large one-particle basis set, all of these effects were found to be crucial to attain "spectroscopic" accuracy of the theoretical predictions of vibration-rotation energy levels of NH.

Ab initio based potential energy surface and kinetics study of the OH + NH3 hydrogen abstraction reaction

A full-dimensional analytical potential energy surface (PES) for the OH + NH3 → H2O + NH2 gas-phase reaction was developed based exclusively on high-level ab initio calculations. This reaction presents a very complicated shape with wells along the reaction path. Using a wide spectrum of properties of the reactive system (equilibrium geometries, vibrational frequencies, and relative energies of the stationary points, topology of the reaction path, and points on the reaction swath) as reference, the resulting analytical PES reproduces reasonably well the input ab initio information obtained at the coupled-cluster single double triple (CCSD(T)) = FULL/aug-cc-pVTZ//CCSD(T) = FC/cc-pVTZ single point level, which represents a severe test of the new surface. As a first application, on this analytical PES we perform an extensive kinetics study using variational transition-state theory with semiclassical transmission coefficients over a wide temperature range, 200-2000 K. The forward rate constants reproduce the experimental measurements, while the reverse ones are slightly underestimated. However, the detailed analysis of the experimental equilibrium constants (from which the reverse rate constants are obtained) permits us to conclude that the experimental reverse rate constants must be re-evaluated. Another severe test of the new surface is the analysis of the kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), which were not included in the fitting procedure. The KIEs reproduce the values obtained from ab initio calculations in the common temperature range, although unfortunately no experimental information is available for comparison.

QCT and QM calculations of the Cl(2P) + NH3 reaction: influence of the reactant well on the dynamics

A detailed dynamics study, using both quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) and reduced-dimensional quantum mechanical (QM) calculations, was carried out to understand the reactivity and mechanism of the Cl((2)P) + NH(3)→ HCl + NH(2) gas-phase reaction, which evolves through deep wells in the entry and exit channels. The calculations were performed on an analytical potential energy surface recently developed by our group, PES-2010 [M. Monge-Palacios, C. Rangel, J. C. Corchado and J. Espinosa-Garcia, Int. J. Quantum. Chem., 2011], together with a simplified model surface, mod-PES, in which the reactant well is removed to analyze its influence. The main finding was that the QCT and QM methods show a change of the reaction probability with collision energy, suggesting a change of the atomic-level mechanism of reaction with energy. This change disappeared when the mod-PES was used, showing that the behaviour at low energies is a direct consequence of the existence of the reactant well. Analysis of the trajectories showed that different mechanisms operate depending on the collision energy. Thus, while at high energies (E(coll) > 5 kcal mol(-1)) practically all trajectories are direct, at low energies (E(coll) < 3 kcal mol(-1)) the trajectories are indirect, i.e., with the mediation of a trapping complex in the entry and/or the exit wells. The reactant complex allows repeated encounters between the reactants, increasing the reaction probability at low energies. The differential cross section results reinforce this change of mechanism, showing also the influence of the reactant well on this reaction. Thus, the PES-2010 surface yields a forward-backward symmetry in the scattering, while when the reactant well is removed with the mod-PES the shape is more isotropic.

Reaction-path dynamics calculations of the Cl + NH(3) hydrogen abstraction reaction: the role of the intermediate complexes

Using ab initio information at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level, the reaction path for the Cl + NH(3) hydrogen abstraction reaction was traced, and the coupling terms between the reaction coordinate and the normal modes were analyzed along it. Two intermediate complexes were located in the entry channel and characterized close to the reactants. One of them presents a typical Cl...H-N bond, while the second presents a two-center/three-electron Cl[symbol:see text]N bond. Both complexes are on the reaction path and contribute to the final rate constants. With this information, the rate constants were calculated over the temperature range 200-2000 K, using variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling contributions, and were found to reproduce the experimental evidence in the common temperature range. Finally, analysis of the coupling terms showed qualitatively that vibrational excitation of the N-H stretch and the bending and umbrella modes in the reactant NH(3) enhances the forward thermal rate constants, and that, in the products, the H-Cl stretch mode and the bending mode in NH(2) could appear vibrationally excited, although the randomization of the energy in the well in the exit channel might diminish this excitation.

Theoretical investigation of excited and Rydberg states of imidogen radical NH: Potential energy curves, spectroscopic constants, and dipole moment functions

A search is conducted for the calculation of potential energy curves (PECs), spectroscopic constants, and dipole moment functions for excited and Rydberg states of imidogen radical NH, with a particular emphasis on the Rydberg states arising from 3s configuration of nitrogen and 2s and 2p configurations of hydrogen. A range of about 11 eV above the electronic ground state X (3)Sigma- atomic separation limit which corresponds to the first eight asymptotes of dissociation is spanned. Computations are carried out at the internally contracted multireference singles plus doubles configuration interaction level of theory, including the Davidson correction to account for quadruple excitations. The Gaussian basis set used has been modified from a standard basis to give a balanced description of valence-Rydberg interactions. States of (1)Sigma-, (1)Pi, (1)Delta, (3)Sigma-, (3)Pi, (3)Delta, and (5)Sigma- symmetries are computed accurately in the range of energy investigated. PECs of the three lowest (5)Pi states are obtained for the first time. Our spectroscopic constants show good agreement with experimental data in comparison with other theoretical studies reported in the literature. A discussion on the variations of dipole moment functions helps to understand the strong interactions between excited and Rydberg states as well as the avoided crossings. The present study may be of great practical interest for investigations in astrophysical research as well as in laboratory experiments.