An ab initio study of a bimolecular mechanism for the pyrolysis of ace
tic acid is reported. At the best method employed (MP2/6-31G) a six-s
ite transition state is localised. Energy single-point calculations we
re performed up to MP4(SDTQ)/6-31G//MP2/6-31G*. (C) 1997 Published by
Elsevier Science B.V.