Activation energy theoretical studies

The abihty of these gases to form true chemical compounds with other atoms is limited to the heavier members of the group, krypton, xenon, and radon, where the first ionization energies are reduced to a level comparable with other chemically active elements. Theoretical studies, however, have indicated that it may be possible to isolate helium derivatives, such as MeBeHe. Many of the compounds are prepared at low temperature and characterized through spectroscopic techniques. More recently, multinuclear NMR has emerged as an extremely useful characterization technique. ... 

Computational chemistry has reached a level in which adsorption, dissociation and formation of new bonds can be described with reasonable accuracy. Consequently trends in reactivity patterns can be very well predicted nowadays. Such theoretical studies have had a strong impact in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, particularly because many experimental data are available for comparison from surface science studies (e.g. heats of adsorption, adsorption geometries, vibrational frequencies, activation energies of elementary reaction steps) to validate theoretical predictions. 

Photoelectrochemical experiments on the pyrite/H2S system, as well as theoretical considerations, led Tributsch et al. (2003) to the conclusion that CO2 fixation at pyrite probably could not have led to the syntheses proposed by Wachtershauser. The reaction mechanism involved in such reactions is likely to be much more complex than had previously been assumed. The Berlin group supports the objection of Schoonen et al. (1999) that, apart from other points, the electron transfer from pyrrhotine to CO2 is hindered by an activation energy which is too high. There is, thus, no lack of different opinions on the model of chemoautotrophic biogenesis hopefully future studies will shed more light on the situation ... 

In addition to the electronic difference between PR3 and PH3, bulkier ligands on the phosphine can change the reaction through their steric effect. Using the R = Bu on the anthraphos system, Haenel et al. calculated the available molecular surface (AMS) around the metal center as a measure of the space available to the alkane (13b). They correlated the AMS to the relative reactivities of the catalysts and the results show that two bulky tert-butyl groups on each P certainly limit the access to the metal center, and thus, may reduce the reactivity. Other theoretical studies on the pincer complexes showed that this steric contribution/ limitation plays a less important role than the activation barriers introduced by the catalyst itself (22), where the increase in energy barrier induced by the bulky 4Bu is smaller than the original barriers calculated... 

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