Topological properties of the electronic structures of the reactants, transition states, and products of the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with the series C2HnF6−n, n = 1–6

Abstract

Properties of the bond critical points, including the electron density and its Laplacian, and distances to bonded nuclei, for all species (reactants, transition states, and products) in the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with the series C2HnF6−nn = 1–6 were calculated using Bader's atoms-in-molecules methodology. The electron density and its Laplacian at the bond critical points correlate with bond strength, as measured by bond dissociation energies. The positions of the bond critical points vary with the electronegativity of surrounding atoms. Charge development in the course of the reactions was monitored using Mulliken population analysis at the HF/6-31G(d), HF/6-311G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-311G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d), and HF/6-311G(d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory, and natural population analysis and Bader population analysis at the highest common level of theory, MP2/6-311G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d). In general, there is a buildup of charge in the transition states, concentrated near the reaction centre, which dissipates somewhat as the reaction proceeds to products. The description of charge transfer varies somewhat with the three methods. Key words: topological properties, atomic charges, charge development, reactions of the hydroxyl radical with fluorinated ethanes.