A ten-dimensional quantum dynamics model for the X + YCAB2 reaction: Application to H + CH4 reaction.

Abstract

The exact description of the prototypical X + CH4 reactions in the framework of quantum mechanics is a long-standing challenge in chemical reaction dynamics. A number of reduced-dimensional models have been developed and advanced our understanding of polyatomic chemical reactivity. Here, we propose a new ten-dimensional (10D) quantum dynamics model for the kind of X + YCAB2 reaction. The new model is an extension of our previous eight-dimensional (8D) model for the X + YCZ3 reaction. In this 10D model, AB2 holds C2v symmetry and the group CAB2 is assumed to keep Cs symmetry, which gives a better description of the rocking mode of methane than the previous 8D model. The reaction dynamics of H + CH4 → H2 + CH3 is first investigated using this model. The calculations showed that the rocking mode has a similar reaction efficiency to the umbrella mode. For the degenerate asymmetric stretching mode, the averaged efficiency is comparable to that of the symmetric stretching mode.