The fate of the tert-butyl radical in low-temperature autoignition reactions
Alkyl combustion models depend on kinetic parameters derived from reliable experimental or theoretical energetics that are often unavailable for larger species. Here, we have performed a comprehensive investigation of the tert -butyl radical ( R • in this paper) autoignition pathways. CCSD(T)/ANO0 geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies were obtained for key stationary points for the R • + O 2 and QOOH + O 2 mechanisms. Relative energies were computed to chemical accuracy (±1 kcal mol -1 ) via extrapolation of RCCSD(T) energies to the complete basis-set limit, or usage of RCCSD(T)-F12 methods. At 0 K, the minimum energy R • + O 2 pathway involves direct elimination of HO $^{•}_{2}$ (30.3 kcal mol -1 barrier) from the tert -butyl peroxy radical ( ROO • ) to give isobutene. This pathway lies well below the competing QOOH -forming intramolecular hydrogen abstraction pathway (36.2 kcal mol -1 barrier) and ROO • dissociation (35.9 kcal mol -1 barrier). The most favorable decomposition channel for QOOH radicals leads to isobutene oxide (12.0 kcal mol -1 barrier) over isobutene (18.6 kcal mol -1 barrier). For the QOOH + O 2 pathways, we studied the transition states and initial products along three pathways: (1) α -hydrogen abstraction (42.0 kcal mol -1 barrier), (2) γ -hydrogen abstraction (27.0 kcal mol -1 barrier), and (3) hydrogen transfer to the peroxy moiety (24.4 kcal mol -1 barrier). The barrier is an extensive modification to the previous 18.7 kcal mol -1 value and warrants further study. However, it is still likely that the lowest energy QOOH + O 2 pathway corresponds to pathway (3). We found significant spin contamination and/or multireference character in multiple stationary points, especially for transition states stemming from QOOH . Lastly, we provide evidence for an $\tilde{A} - \tilde{X}$ surface crossing at a C s -symmetric, intramolecular hydrogen abstraction structure.