Are insertion compounds of CH2CHF and the rare gases stable? A computational study.
Ab initio calculations, using second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with a 6-311+ +G(2d,2p) basis set, predict the stability of two novel compounds of monofluoroethene, CH2CHF, with the rare-gas atoms Ar and Kr. The dissociation energies to the lowest-energy fragmentation products, CH2CHF + Rg (Rg = Ar,Kr), were computed to be -528 and -449 kJ mol(-1), respectively, at the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and triples level of theory. Possible transition states (at second-order Møller-Plesset theory) via a C-Rg-F bending mode for these fragmentation reactions were also located with barrier heights of about 76 and 106 kJ mol(-1), for the Ar- and Kr-containing species, respectively. However, the Ar-containing species may not exist at all as it is less stable than the fragments CH2CH + F + Ar at the higher level of theory and may possibly dissociate via this route.
Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, P.O. Box 64, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sean A C
SA
McDowell