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Questions tagged [transition-state-theory]

Questions related to explanations of the reaction rates of elementary chemical reactions. The theory assumes a special type of chemical equilibrium (quasi-equilibrium) between reactants and activated transition state complexes.

26 votes
2 answers
1k views

Ambimodal transition states in some organic reaction pathways

In many computational studies, mechanisms appear to have so-called ambimodal transition states, i.e. a transition state which can lead to multiple products, in conflict to the common undergraduate ...
NotEvans.'s user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
6k views

Transition state and free energy

We have products $\ce{A + B}$ combining to form $\ce{C + D}$ through the transition state $\ce{X}$. Are all reactions at least virtually reversible? Is the difference between a reversible reaction ...
user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why are the total energies of transition states so commonly corrected for zero-point vibrational energy?

So often I see total energies of transition states corrected for zero-point vibrational energy which always confuses me. Zero point energy is the lowest energy that a ground state minimum energy ...
LordStryker's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
286 views

Finding chair and boat transition states during ring-forming reactions

Reactions that form 6 membered rings most commonly go via either boat or chair transition states but the products themselves do not necessarily adopt the same conformation as the TS. I'm attempting ...
NotEvans.'s user avatar
  • 17.2k
9 votes
3 answers
724 views

Units of rate constant (cycles per second vs radians per second) in Eyring equation

In the Eyring equation (EE), $$k = \frac{k_\mathrm B T}{h} \exp\left(\frac{-\Delta G_{\mathrm f}}{RT}\right),$$ the units of $k$ are $\mathrm{s^{-1}}$. However, in general rate constants are usually ...
slaw's user avatar
  • 91
9 votes
1 answer
283 views

Transition state optimisation on the surface of periclase

I want to model a reaction catalysed by periclase ($\ce{MgO}$) using DFT. I have a good guess on the transition state (TS) of the reaction that goes in gas phase/solvent (produced using MOPAC). The ...
schneiderfelipe's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

Entropy of Activation and Temperature Dependence

I am trying to understand the extrapolation of enthalpy $\Delta H^{\ddagger}$ and entropy of activation $\Delta S^{\ddagger}$ from the Eyring equation. It's typically cast as: $$\ln\left(\frac{k}{T}\...
captainalright's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

When are transition state's energy barrier "reasonable" at a certain temperature?

Every computational chemist who does a little bit of mechanistic studies has asked himself this question. When you obtain your first transition state and look at the activation barrier needed to ...
Gwendal Grelier's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
433 views

Transition state - multidimensional surfaces

I've been reading an explanation about transition states in Smith's Organic Synthesis: A transition state is an energy maximum along the reaction coordinate. However, a chemical reaction where ...
EJC's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
787 views

References for Transition State Theory and Quantum Transtion State Theory

Having asked recently this, I started to look for good references and notes on Transition State Theory and, also, modern versions of it including things like tunneling (which isn't taken into account ...
user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
345 views

Unix/MobaXterm Project Assistence (Knowing the Error in my Output File)

I'm a student and I recieved a project in which I am supposed to simulate a transition state in an $\mathrm{S_N2}$ reaction. The first instruction in this project is to use a benchmark reaction in ...
H B's user avatar
  • 79
5 votes
0 answers
866 views

Calculation of rate constant for bimolecular reaction from Gaussian DFT calculations

I am working with a bimolecular reaction for which I have computed the energy profile. I have output files for TS and reactants which I intend to use for rate constant calculations. From TST we have: ...
Lea's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to estimate the temperature needed to overcome an activation energy barrier?

Trying to elucidate a reaction pathway, I calculated the energies for different transition states possible for that reaction (computational chem. DFT). I found activation free energies ranging from 29 ...
Murillo Hortolan's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
387 views

Why only molecules with three or more atoms undergo unimolecular reaction?

Only molecules with three or more atoms undergo unimolecular reactions. A diatomic molecule cannot dissociate in this way because it has a single mode of vibrational freedom. If this mode is excited ...
user8277998's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why some reaction have no transition state?

All stationary point are local minimum, if any parameters changed the energy should be increase. There is no way for a stationary point that energy go straight down to reach another. I was told that ...
Chao Song's user avatar
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