Using reduced density matrix techniques to capture static and dynamic correlation in the energy landscape for the decomposition of the CH2CH2ONO radical and support a non-IRC pathway
Abstract
The unexpected abundance of HNO in the photodecomposition of the radical 2-nitrosooxy ethyl (CH2CH2ONO) is investigated through calculations of the potential energy surface by the anti-Hermitian contracted Schrödinger equation (ACSE) method, which directly generates the 2-electron reduced density matrix. The ACSE, which is able to balance single-reference (dynamic) and multi-reference (static) correlation effects, reveals some subtle correlation effects along the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) en route to NO + oxirane, an IRC which offers a potential bifurcation to the HNO + vinoxy product channel. These effects were not fully captured by either single-reference techniques, such as coupled cluster, or multi-reference techniques, such as second-order multi-reference perturbation theory. These correlation effects reveal small to moderate energy changes in key transition states, which have implications for the reaction mechanism as related to the production of HNO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.5024512
Entities
People
- David A Mazziotti
- Laurie J Butler
- Preston G. Scrape
- Scott E Smart
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Army Research Office
- Division of Chemistry
- Office of Basic Energy Sciences
- University of Chicago