Energetic, structural, and kinetic characterization of the hydrogen abstraction reaction N(4S)+CH4 →NH(X3Σ−)+CH3

Abstract: Geometries, frequencies, energies, and rate constants of the reaction N(4S)+CH4 →NH+CH3 were computed using coupled-cluster theory, correlation-consistent basis sets, and extrapolations schemes to assess the complete basis set limit energies. Our best calculation gives a classical barrier height and reaction energy of 32.9 and 29.3kcal/mol, respectively, and 24.6kcal/mol for the reaction enthalpy (. Thermal (200–2000K) rate constants were calculated with the canonical variational transition state theory, and indicate a very slow reaction when compared with the ones with N(2D) and N(2P). Using the CVT/μOMT method, the value of H/D KIE is 6.3 (300K). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]