Computational Study of Main Mechanisms for Gas-Phase Decomposition of 1,1- and 1,2-Dinitroethane

Abstract

The gas-phase enthalpies of formation of 1,1- and 1,2-dinitroethane and corresponding radical products were calculated using G3B3, CBS-QB3 composite methods and DFT B3LYP level of theory with various basis sets. The enthalpies of the C–N, C–C bonds dissociation and activation enthalpies for HONO elimination were also calculated and compared with available experimental data. It was found that G3B3 calculations do provide a reasonable way to tackle the problem of the decomposition channels of 1,1- and 1,2-dinitroethane. Four main mechanisms for gas-phase decomposition of 1,1- and 1,2-dinitroethane were studied using G3B3 model chemistry. HONO elimination seems to be the most favorable mechanism for the decomposition of 1,2-dinitroethane. However, the difference in energies of the HONO elimination and C–N homolytic bond cleavage in 1,1-dinitroethane does not allow to favor any of these channels, especially at the working temperature. Gauche conformation of 1,2-dinitroethane is calculated to be the lowest-energy minimum.