Kinetics of tautomerisation of thiouracils and cognate species at low temperatures: theory experiment.

Hydrogen-atom tunnelling is an important component in some chemical reactions particularly at low temperatures ≤300 K. Recent experiments by Rostkowska [H. Rostkowska, L.

Application of Sublimation in the Synthesis and Crystal Growth of Organosulfones.

The solvent-free elimination of sulfinic acid and aromatization of 1,6-trans-substituted bis(arylsulfone) trienes is reported. It is shown that sublimation can be used as a 'green' method to combine the thermal transformation of six trienes and the crystal growth of the resulting 4-(phenylsulfonyl)biphenyls. When the sublimation conditions are carefully controlled, high quality single crystals of the 4-(phenylsulfonyl)biphenyls are obtained.

Peptide Bonds in the Interstellar Medium: Facile Catalytic Formation from Nitriles on Water-Ice Grains.

A recent suggestion that acetamide, CHC(O)NH, could be readily formed on water-ice grains by the acid induced addition of water across the C≡N bond has now been shown to be credible. Computational modeling of the reaction between R-CN (R = H, CH) and a cluster of 32 molecules of water and one HO proceeds catalytically to form first a hydroxy imine R-C(OH)═NH and second an amide R-C(O)NH. Quantum mechanical tunneling, computed from small-curvature estimates, plays a key role in the rates of these reactions.

Barriometry - an enhanced database of accurate barrier heights for gas-phase reactions.

The kinetics of many reactions are critically dependent upon the barrier heights for which accurate determination can be difficult. From the perspective of attaining such quantities using computational quantum chemistry, it is important to appropriately validate routine and efficient methodologies such as density functional theory (DFT) procedures. In the present study, we embark on the journey of establishing diverse databases using a consistent high-level quantum chemistry procedure, against which new and existing methodologies can be assessed.

H-Atom Abstraction Reactions by Ground-State Ozone from Saturated Oxygenates.

Theoretical insights into H-abstraction by ozone from saturated species have been virtually nonexistent, in sharp contrast to the situation for reactions with unsaturated species. Our computed rate constants for reactions with tetrahydrofuran and its methyl derivatives, obtained at various levels of theory, show that abstraction occurs primarily at the carbons situated beside the heterocyclic oxygen, with least likely reaction from the methyl groups. All of the methods tested are in broad relative agreement with this conclusion and with recent experiments although they do differ widely in terms of their absolute values.

Toward the Development of a Fundamentally Based Chemical Model for Cyclopentanone: High-Pressure-Limit Rate Constants for H Atom Abstraction and Fuel Radical Decomposition.

Theoretical aspects of the development of a chemical kinetic model for the pyrolysis and combustion of a cyclic ketone, cyclopentanone, are considered. Calculated thermodynamic and kinetic data are presented for the first time for the principal species including 2- and 3-oxo-cyclopentyl radicals, which are in reasonable agreement with the literature. These radicals can be formed via H atom abstraction reactions by Ḣ and Ö atoms and ȮH, HȮ2, and ĊH3 radicals, the rate constants of which have been calculated.

Modeling Nitrogen Species as Pollutants: Thermochemical Influences.

To simulate emissions of nitrogen-containing compounds in practical combustion environments, it is necessary to have accurate values for their thermochemical parameters, as well as accurate kinetic values to describe the rates of their formation and decomposition. Significant disparity is observed in the literature for the former, and we therefore present herein high-accuracy ab initio gas-phase thermochemistry for 60 nitrogenous compounds, many of which are important in the formation and consumption chemistry of NOx species. Several quantum-chemical composite methods (CBS-APNO, G3, and G4) were utilized to derive enthalpies of formation via the atomization method.

Pyrolysis Pathways of the Furanic Ether 2-Methoxyfuran.

Substituted furans, including furanic ethers, derived from nonedible biomass have been proposed as second-generation biofuels. In order to use these molecules as fuels, it is important to understand how they break apart thermally. In this work, a series of experiments were conducted to study the unimolecular and low-pressure bimolecular decomposition mechanisms of the smallest furanic ether, 2-methoxyfuran.

Benchmarking Compound Methods (CBS-QB3, CBS-APNO, G3, G4, W1BD) against the Active Thermochemical Tables: Formation Enthalpies of Radicals.

The 298.15 K formation enthalpies of 38 radicals with molecular formula CxHyOz have been computed via the atomization procedure using the five title methods. The computed formation enthalpies are then benchmarked against the values recommended in the Active Thermochemical Tables (ATcT).

Thermal Decomposition of 2(3H) and 2(5H) Furanones: Theoretical Aspects.

The thermal decomposition reactions of 2(3H) and 2(5H) furanones and their methyl derivatives are explored. Theoretical calculations of the barriers, reaction enthalpies, and the properties of these and intermediate species are reported using the composite model chemistry CBS-QB3 and also the functional M06-2X allied to the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Thus, the bond dissociation enthalpies, ionization energies, and unimolecular chemical kinetic rate constants in the high-pressure limit were computed.

Benchmarking Compound Methods (CBS-QB3, CBS-APNO, G3, G4, W1BD) against the Active Thermochemical Tables: A Litmus Test for Cost-Effective Molecular Formation Enthalpies.

The theoretical atomization energies of some 45 CxHyOz molecules present in the Active Thermochemical Tables compilation and of particular interest to the combustion chemistry community have been computed using five composite model chemistries as titled. The species contain between 1-8 "heavy" atoms, and a few are conformationally diverse with up to nine conformers. The enthalpies of formation at 0 and 298.

Thermochemistry of C7H16 to C10H22 alkane isomers: primary, secondary, and tertiary C-H bond dissociation energies and effects of branching.

Standard enthalpies of formation (ΔH°f 298) of methyl, ethyl, primary and secondary propyl, and n-butyl radicals are evaluated and used in work reactions to determine internal consistency. They are then used to calculate the enthalpy of formation for the tert-butyl radical. Other thermochemical properties including standard entropies (S°(T)), heat capacities (Cp(T)), and carbon-hydrogen bond dissociation energies (C-H BDEs) are reported for n-pentane, n-heptane, 2-methylhexane, 2,3-dimethylpentane, and several branched higher carbon number alkanes and their radicals.

Combined experimental and theoretical study of the reactivity of γ-Butyro- and related lactones, with the OH radical at room temperature.

The total rates of reaction between four cyclic esters (β-butyro-, γ-butyro-, γ-valero- and δ-valero-lactones) and the OH radical have been measured relative to the rate of reaction of a reference compound, ethene, at room temperatures. The measurements show that the rates increase with increasing ring size. Theoretical calculations on the four lactones with the inclusion of a fifth, α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, are broadly in agreement with this picture but provide a more insightful view of the sites at which hydrogen atom abstraction occurs in each molecule.

Thermochemistry and kinetics of angelica and cognate lactones.

The enthalpies of formation, bond dissociation energies, ionization potentials, and kinetics of reaction with hydrogen atoms and methyl radicals have been systematically calculated for angelica lactone and a number of related furanones. The objective was to provide comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic data of compounds that are projected to play a role as intermediates in the production of platform chemicals and biofuels.

The pyrolysis of 2-methylfuran: a quantum chemical, statistical rate theory and kinetic modelling study.

Due to the rapidly growing interest in the use of biomass derived furanic compounds as potential platform chemicals and fossil fuel replacements, there is a simultaneous need to understand the pyrolysis and combustion properties of such molecules. To this end, the potential energy surfaces for the pyrolysis relevant reactions of the biofuel candidate 2-methylfuran have been characterized using quantum chemical methods (CBS-QB3, CBS-APNO and G3). Canonical transition state theory is employed to determine the high-pressure limiting kinetics, k(T), of elementary reactions.

A high temperature and atmospheric pressure experimental and detailed chemical kinetic modelling study of 2-methyl furan oxidation.

An experimental ignition delay time study for the promising biofuel 2-methyl furan (2MF) was performed at equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.

Harmonising production, properties and environmental consequences of liquid transport fuels from biomass--2,5-dimethylfuran as a case study.

The rapid development in methods for transforming non-edible biomass into platform chemicals and fuels has accelerated over recent years. However, the determination of whether these 'next-generation' biofuels perform in a satisfactory manner in engines, turbines and burners has lagged behind. The evaluation of the ecological and toxicological aspects has also been unable to keep up.