XH-stretching overtone transitions calculated using explicitly correlated coupled cluster methods

We have calculated XH-stretching (where X=O, C, F, Cl) fundamental and overtone transitions for three diatomics and a few small molecules using a local mode model. The potential energy curves and dipole moment functions are calculated using the recently developed explicitly correlated coupled cluster with single doubles and perturbative triples theory [CCSD_T_-F12] with the associated VXZ-F12 (where X=D, T, Q) basis sets. We find that the basis set convergence of calculated frequencies and oscillator strengths obtained with the explicitly correlated method is much more rapid than with conventional CCSD(T) and the Dunning type correlation consistent basis sets. Furthermore, CCSD(T)-F12 frequencies and oscillator strengths obtained with the VTZ-F12 and VQZ-F12 basis sets are found to be in excellent agreement with the CCSD(T) complete basis set limit. We find that comparison of CCSD(T)-F12 frequencies with experiment is less good. The inclusion of explicit correlation exposes the inherent error of the CCSD(T) method to overestimate vibrational frequencies, which is normally compensated by basis set incompleteness error. As a consequence, we suggest that conventional CCSD(T) in combination with the aug-cc-pVTZ or aug-cc-pVQZ basis sets is likely to yield calculated XH-stretching frequencies in closest agreement with experiment

Explicitly correlated intermolecular distances and interaction energies of hydrogen bonded complexes

We have optimized the lowest energy structures and calculated interaction energies for the H2O–H2O, H2O–H2S, H2O–NH3, and H2O–PH3 dimers with the recently developed explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12 methods and the associated VXZ-F12 (where X=D,T,Q) basis sets. For a given cardinal number, we find that the results obtained with the CCSD(T)-F12 methods are much closer to the CCSD(T) complete basis set limit than the conventional CCSD(T) results. In general we find that CCSD(T)-F12 results obtained with the VTZ-F12 basis set are better than the conventional CCSD(T) results obtained with an aug-cc-pV5Z basis set. We also investigate two ways to reduce the effects of basis set superposition error with conventional CCSD(T), namely, the popular counterpoise correction and limiting diffuse basis functions to the heavy atoms only. We find that for a given cardinal number, these selectively augmented correlation consistent basis sets yield results that are closer to the complete basis set limit than the corresponding fully augmented basis sets. Furthermore, we find that the difference between standard and counterpoise corrected interaction energies and intermolecular distances is reduced with the selectively augmented basis sets

Identification of the dimethylamine-trimethylamine complex in the gas phase

We have identified the dimethylamine-trimethylamine complex (DMA-TMA) at room temperature in the gas phase. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of DMA-TMA in the NH-stretching fundamental region was obtained by spectral subtraction of spectra of each monomer. Explicitly correlated coupled cluster calculations were used to determine the minimum energy structure and interaction energy of DMA-TMA. Frequencies and intensities of NH-stretching transitions were also calculated at this level of theory with an anharmonic oscillator local mode model. The fundamental NH-stretching intensity in DMA-TMA is calculated to be approximately 700 times larger than that of the DMA monomer. The measured and calculated intensity is used to determine a room temperature equilibrium constant of DMA-TMA of 1.7 × 10⁻³ atm⁻¹ at 298 K

Calculated two-photon electronic transitions in sulfuric acid and its atmospheric relevance

Non Peer reviewe

Identification of OSSO as a near-UV absorber in the Venusian atmosphere

The planet Venus exhibits atmospheric absorption in the 320–400 nm wavelength range produced by unknown chemistry. We investigate electronic transitions in molecules that may exist in the atmosphere of Venus. We identify two different S_2O_2 isomers, cis-OSSO and trans-OSSO, which are formed in significant amounts and are removed predominantly by near-UV photolysis. We estimate the rate of photolysis of cis- and trans-OSSO in the Venusian atmosphere and find that they are good candidates to explain the enigmatic 320–400 nm near-UV absorption. Between 58 and 70 km, the calculated OSSO concentrations are similar to those of sulfur monoxide (SO), generally thought to be the second most abundant sulfur oxide on Venus

Infrared and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Acetylacetone and Hexafluoroacetylacetone

The infrared and near-infrared spectra of acetylacetone, acetylacetone-d8, and hexafluoroacetylacetone are characterized from experiment and computations at different levels. In the fundamental region, the intramolecular hydrogen bonded OH-stretching transition is clearly observed as a very broad band with substantial structure and located at significantly lower frequency compared to common OH-stretching frequencies. There is no clear evidence for OH-stretching overtone transitions in the near-infrared region, which is dominated by the CH-stretching overtones of the methine and methyl CH bonds. From molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, with a potential energy surface previously validated for tunneling splittings, the infrared spectra are determined and used in assigning the experimentally measured ones. It is found that the simulated spectrum in the region associated with the proton transfer mode is exquisitely sensitive to the height of the barrier for proton transfer. Comparison of the experimental and the MD simulated spectra establishes that the barrier height is around 2.5 kcal/mol, which favorably compares with 3.2 kcal/mol obtained from high-level electronic structure calculations

Unimolecular Reactions Following Indoor and Outdoor Limonene Ozonolysis

Limonene is one of the monoterpenes with the largest biogenic emissions and is also widely used as an additive in cleaning products, leading to significant indoor emissions. Studies have found that the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) from limonene oxidation has important implications for indoor air quality. Although ozonolysis is considered the major limonene oxidation pathway under most indoor conditions, little is known about the mechanisms for SOA formation from limonene ozonolysis. Here, we calculate the rate coefficients of the possible unimolecular reactions of the first-generation peroxy radicals formed by limonene ozonolysis using a high-level multiconformer transition state theory approach. We find that all of the peroxy radicals formed initially in the ozonolysis of limonene react unimolecularly with rates that are competitive both indoors and outdoors, except under highly polluted conditions. Differences in reactivity between the peroxy radicals from ozonolysis and those formed by OH, NO₃, and Cl oxidation are discussed. Finally, we sketch possible oxidation mechanisms for the different peroxy radicals under both indoor and pristine atmospheric conditions and in more polluted environments. In environments with low concentrations of HO₂ and NO, efficient autoxidation will lead to the formation of highly oxygenated organic compounds and thus likely aid in the growth of SOA

Thermalized Epoxide Formation in the Atmosphere

Epoxide formation was established a decade ago as a possible reaction pathway for beta-hydroperoxy alkyl radicals in the atmosphere. This epoxide-forming pathway required excess energy to compete with O-2 addition, as the thermal reaction rate coefficient is many orders of magnitude too slow. However, recently, a thermal epoxide forming reaction was discovered in the ISOPOOH + OH oxidation pathway. Here, we computationally investigate the effect of substituents on the epoxide formation rate coefficient of a series of substituted beta-hydroperoxy alkyl radicals. We find that the thermal reaction is likely to be competitive with O-2 addition when the alkyl radical carbon has a OH group, which is able to form a hydrogen bond to a substituent on the other carbon atom in the epoxide ring being formed. Reactants fulfilling these requirements can be formed in the OH-initiated oxidation of many biogenic hydrocarbons. Further, we find that beta-OOR alkyl radicals react similarly to beta-OOH alkyl radicals, making epoxide formation a possible decomposition pathway in the oxidation of ROOR peroxides. GEOS-Chem modeling shows that the total annual production of isoprene dihydroxy hydroperoxy epoxide is 23 Tg, making it by far the most abundant C-5-tetrafunctional species from isoprene oxidation.Peer reviewe

Identification of OSSO as a near-UV absorber in the Venusian atmosphere

The planet Venus exhibits atmospheric absorption in the 320–400 nm wavelength range produced by unknown chemistry. We investigate electronic transitions in molecules that may exist in the atmosphere of Venus. We identify two different S_2O_2 isomers, cis-OSSO and trans-OSSO, which are formed in significant amounts and are removed predominantly by near-UV photolysis. We estimate the rate of photolysis of cis- and trans-OSSO in the Venusian atmosphere and find that they are good candidates to explain the enigmatic 320–400 nm near-UV absorption. Between 58 and 70 km, the calculated OSSO concentrations are similar to those of sulfur monoxide (SO), generally thought to be the second most abundant sulfur oxide on Venus

Stereoselectivity in Atmospheric Autoxidation

We show that the diastereomers of hydroxy peroxy radicals formed from OH and O_2 addition to C2 and C3, respectively, of crotonaldehyde (CH_3CHCHCHO) undergo gas-phase unimolecular aldehydic hydrogen shift (H-shift) chemistry with rate coefficients that differ by an order of magnitude. The stereospecificity observed here for crotonaldehyde is general and will lead to a significant diastereomeric-specific chemistry in the atmosphere. This enhancement of specific stereoisomers by stereoselective gas-phase reactions could have widespread implications given the ubiquity of chirality in nature. The H-shift rate coefficients calculated using multiconformer transition state theory (MC-TST) agree with those determined experimentally using stereoisomer-specific gas-chromatography chemical ionization mass spectroscopy (GC–CIMS) measurements