Mode-Specific SN2 Reaction Dynamics

Despite its importance in chemistry, the microscopic dynamics of bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reactions is still not completely elucidated. In this publication, the dynamics of a prototypical SN2 reaction (F(-) + CH3Cl → CH3F + Cl(-)) is investigated using a high-dimensional quantum mechanical model on an accurate potential energy surface (PES) and further analyzed by quasi-classical trajectories on the same PES. While the indirect mechanism dominates at low collision energies, the direct mechanism makes a significant contribution. The reactivity is found to depend on the specific reactant vibrational mode excitation. The mode specificity, which is more prevalent in the direct reaction, is rationalized by a transition-state-based model.