In this work, we propose a cost-effective protocol for the calculation of rate constants within the framework of multiconformer transition state theory. We have developed this methodology while calculating for the first time on a theoretical level rate constants for a series of six reactions between the OH radical and hydrofluoropolyethers: the latter are promising third-generation CFC replacements whose atmospheric impact is still widely unknown. Our investigation, which is based on computationally accessible M08-HX/apcseg-2//M08-HX/pcseg-1 calculations, shows that two of our rate constants are within a factor of 0.6 and 1.4 of experimental data, a good result that probably benefits from some error cancellation. It also exhibits a reactivity trend, for which we provide detailed insights that could be used to shed new light on the general reactivity of ethers toward OH. Finally, because the studied reactions share a ubiquitous mechanism in atmospheric chemistry, we hope that our protocol can be routinely applied to explore the reactivity of computationally challenging reactions and to pave new ways in the development of greener CFC replacements.

The authors present diabatic and adiabatic potential energy surfaces for the three lowest electronic singlet states of H3+. The modeling of the surfaces is based on the multi-sheeted double many-body expansion method which consists of dressing the various matrix elements of the diatomics-in-molecules potential matrix with three-body terms. The avoided crossing between the two lowest states and the conical intersection between the second and the third state are accurately represented by construction.

Not long ago, the occurrence of quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) chemistry involving atoms heavier than hydrogen was considered unreasonable. Contributing to the shift of this paradigm, we present here the discovery of a new and distinct heavy‐atom QMT reaction. Triplet syn‐2‐formyl‐3‐fluorophenylnitrene, generated in argon matrices by UV‐irradiation of an azide precursor, was found to spontaneously cyclize to singlet 4‐fluoro‐2,1‐benzisoxazole. Monitoring the transformation by IR spectroscopy, temperature‐independent rate constants (k≈1.4×10−3 s−1; half‐life of ≈8 min) were measured from 10 to 20 K. Computational estimated rate constants are in fair agreement with experimental values, providing evidence for a mechanism involving heavy‐atom QMT through crossing triplet to singlet potential energy surfaces. Moreover, the heavy‐atom QMT takes place with considerable displacement of the oxygen atom, which establishes a new limit for the heavier atom involved in a QMT reaction in cryogenic matrices.

We report a theoretical investigation on the reaction between ozone and the hydroperoxyl radical, which is part of the ozone depletion cycle. This reaction represents a great challenge to the state of the art ab initio methods, while its mechanism remains unclear to both experimentalists and theoreticians. In this work we calculated the relative energies of the stationary points along the reaction coordinate of the oxygen- and hydrogen-abstraction mechanisms using different levels of theory and extrapolating some of the results to the complete one-electron basis set limit. Oxygen abstraction is shown to be preceded by formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes, while hydrogen abstraction shows a lower energy barrier than oxygen abstraction. Both mechanisms lead to formation of HO3 + O2 in a very troublesome region of the potential-energy surface that is not correctly described by single-reference methods. The implications of the results on reaction dynamics are discussed.

Chemical kinetics plays a fundamental role in the understanding and modeling of tropospheric chemical processes, one of the most important being the atmospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds. These potentially harmful molecules are emitted into the troposphere by natural and anthropogenic sources and are chemically removed by undergoing oxidation processes, most frequently initiated by reaction with OH radicals, the atmosphere’s “detergent”. Obtaining the respective rate constants is therefore of critical importance, with calculations based on transition state theory (TST) often being the preferred choice. However, for molecules with rich conformational variety, a single-conformer method such as lowest-conformer TST is unsuitable while state-of-the-art TST-based methodologies easily become unmanageable. In this Feature Article, the author reviews his own cost-effective protocol for the calculation of bimolecular rate constants of OH-initiated reactions in the high-pressure limit based on multiconformer transition state theory. The protocol, which is easily extendable to other oxidation reactions involving saturated organic molecules, is based on a variety of freeware and open-source software and tested against a series of oxidation reactions of hydrofluoropolyethers, computationally very challenging molecules with potential environmental relevance. The main features, advantages and disadvantages of the protocol are presented, along with an assessment of its predictive utility based on a comparison with experimental rate constants.