Energy barriers to gas-phase unimolecular decomposition of trinitrotoluenes

Abstract

Alternative versions of gas-phase unimolecular decomposition of six isomeric trinitrotoluenes, in particular homolytic dissociation of C_arom–NO₂ and C_arom–CH₃ bonds, nitro–nitrite rearrangement, intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the methyl group to nitro group with formation of aci-trinitrotoluenes, and formation of various bicyclic intermediates, have been simulated at the B3LYP/6-31+G(2df,p) level of theory. Except for 3,4,5-trinitrotoluene, the most energetically favorable for all other examined trinitrotoluenes is intramolecular hydrogen transfer. 3,4,5-Trinitrotoluene preferentially decomposes via formation of [6 + 4]-bicyclic intermediates or homolytic dissociation of the C_arom–NO₂ bond.