Bond-forming reactions of dications with molecules:: A computational and experimental study of the mechanisms for the formation of HCF2+ from CF32+ and H2

The QCISD and QCISD(T) quantum chemical methods have been used to characterize the energetics of various possible mechanisms for the formation of HCF(2)(+) from the bond-forming reaction of CF(3)(2+) with H(2). The stationary points on four different pathways leading to the product combinations HCF(2)(+) + H(+) + F and HCF(2)+ HF(+) have been calculated. All four pathways begin with the formation of a collision complex [H(2)-CF(3)](2+), followed by an internal hydrogen atom migration to give HC(FH)F(2)(2+). In two of the mechanisms, immediate charge separation of HC(FH)F(2)(2+) via loss of either HF(+) or a proton, followed by loss of an F atom, yields the experimentally observed bond-forming product HCF2+. For the other two mechanisms, internal hydrogen rearrangement of HC(FH)F(2)(2+) to give C(FH)(2)F(2+), followed by charge separation, yields the product CF(2)H(+). This product can then overcome a 2.04 eV barrier to rearrange to the HCF2+ isomer, which is 1.80 eV more stable. All four calculated mechanisms are in agreement with the isotope effects and collision energy dependencies of the product ion cross sections that have been previously observed experimentally following collisions between CF(3)(2+) and H(2)/D(2). We find that in this open-shell system, CCSD(T) and QCISD(T) T(1)-diagnostic values of up to 0.04 are acceptable. A series of angularly resolved crossed-beam scattering experiments on collisions of CF(3)(2+) with D(2) have also been performed. These experiments show two distinct channels leading to the formation of DCF(2)(+). One channel appears to correspond to the pathway leading to the ground state (1)DCF(2)(+) + D(+) + F product asymptote and the other to the (3)DCF(2)(+) + D+ + F product asymptote, which is 5.76 eV higher in energy. The experimental kinetic energy releases for these channels, 7.55 and 1.55 eV respectively, have been determined from the velocities of the DCF(2)(+) product ion and are in agreement with the reaction mechanisms calculated quantum chemically. We suggest that both of these observed experimental channels are governed by the reaction mechanism we calculate in which charge separation occurs first by loss of a proton, without further hydrogen atom rearrangement, followed by loss of an F atom to give the final products (1)DCF(2)(+) + D(+) + F or (3)DCF(2)(+) + D(+) + F.