Singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces of the reaction between molecular oxygen and two nitric oxide(II) molecules were studied by quantum chemical methods (coupled cluster, CASSCF, and density functional theory: B3LYP, TPSS, VSXC, BP86, PBE, B2-PLYP, B2K-PLYP). Elementary steps involving various N2O4 isomers (cyclic, cis-cis-, cis-trans-, trans-trans-ONOONO, cis- and trans-ONONO2, O2NNO2) were considered, as well as weakly bound molecular clusters preceding formation of O2NNO2, and Coupe-type quasi-aromatic hexagonal ring intermediate NO2.O2N. We found that activation energy strongly depends on the conformation of ONOONO peroxide, which is formed barrierlessly. The best agreements with experimental values were achieved by the B3LYP functional with aug-pc3 basis set. The lowest transition state (TS) energies correspond to the following reaction channel: 2NO + O2 (0 kJ/mol) --> cis-cis-ONOONO (-45 kJ/mol) --> TS1 --> NO2.O2N (-90 kJ/mol) --> TS2 --> cis-ONONO2 (-133 kJ/mol)--> TS3 --> trans-ONONO2 (-144 kJ/mol) --> TS4 --> O2NNO2 (-193 kJ/mol). A valley ridge inflection (VRI) point is located on the minimum energy path (MEP) connecting NO2.O2N and cis-ONONO2. The energy landscape between NO2.O2N and CC-TS2 can be classified as a downhill valley-pitchfork VRI bifurcation according to a recent classification of bifurcation events [Quapp, W. J. Mol. Struct. 2004, 95, 695-696]. The first and second transition states correspond to barrier heights of 10.6 and 37.0 kJ/mol, respectively. These values lead to the negative temperature dependence of the rate constant. The apparent activation enthalpy of the overall reaction was calculated to be Delta(r)H(0) = -4.5 kJ/mol, in perfect agreement with the experimental value.

The reaction between molecular oxygen and two nitric oxide(II) molecules is studied with high-level ab initio wave function methods, including geometry optimizations with coupled cluster (CCSD(T,full)/cc-pCVTZ) and complete active space with second order perturbation theory levels (CASPT2/cc-pVDZ). The energy at the critical points was refined by calculations at the CCSD(T,full)/aug-cc-pCVTZ level. The controversies found in the previous theoretical studies are critically discussed and resolved. The best estimate of the activation energy is 6.47 kJ/mol.

The mechanisms of the initial step in chemical reaction between ozone and ethylene were studied by multireference perturbation theory methods (MRMP2, CASPT2, NEVPT2, and CIPT2) and density functional theory (OPW91, OPBE, and OTPSS functionals). Two possible reaction channels were considered: concerted addition through the symmetric transition state (Criegee mechanism) and stepwise addition by the biradical mechanism (DeMore mechanism). Predicted structures of intermediates and transition states, the energies of elementary steps, and activation barriers were reported. For the rate-determining steps of both mechanisms, the full geometry optimization of stationary points was performed at the CASPT2/cc-pVDZ theory level, and the potential energy surface profiles were constructed at the MRMP2/cc-pVTZ, NEVPT2/cc-pVDZ, and CIPT2/cc-pVDZ theory levels. The rate constants and their ratio for reaction channels calculated for both mechanisms demonstrate that the Criegee mechanism is predominant for this reaction. These results are also in agreement with the experimental data and previous computational results. The structure of DeMore prereactive complex is reported here for the first time at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ and CASPT2/cc-pVDZ levels. Relative stability of the complexes and activation energies were refined by single-point energy calculations at the CCSD(T)-F12/VTZ-F12 level. The IR shifts of ozone bands due to formation of complexes are presented and discussed.