DIRECT AB INITIO DYNAMICS STUDIES ON THE REACTION OF METHANETHIOL WITH CHLORINE ATOMS

Abstract

The reaction of CH3SH with Cl atoms has been theoretically studied using dual-level direct dynamics method. Three reaction channels, two H-abstraction (from the –SH and –CH3 groups) and one substitution channel, have been found. The optimized geometries and frequencies of all the stationary points are calculated at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level, and the potential-energy profile along each reaction path is refined by the single-point calculation at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) level. The rate constants for the two H-abstraction channels are evaluated by the improved canonical variational transition-state theory (ICVT) with the small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over a wide temperature range of 193–1000 K. The calculated ICVT/SCT rate constants are in good agreement with available experimental values and exhibit negative temperature dependence below 500 K. The present calculations indicate that the H-abstraction from the –SH group is the major channel for the title reaction, while the H-abstraction from the –CH3 group should be taken into account only at high temperatures.