DENSITY-FUNCTIONAL STUDY OF AMINE SENSITIZATION OF NITROMETHANE

The mechanism of the observed amine sensitization of nitromethane has been investigated by means of a density functional procedure (Becke-3 exchange, Lee, Yang and Parr correlation functionals and 6-31 + G bas is set). Of the various possibilities examined, the most reasonable is that involving the aci (nitronate) ion in an activated form which can interact with the amine eventually to yield another amine and the nit rite ion. The key features of this process are firstly an activation b arrier less than the C-NO2 dissociation of nitromethane, secondly a ne t release of energy and thirdly products that can sustain the reaction .