Dimerization of HCN in the gas phase: A theoretical mechanistic study

Potential energy surfaces for the formation of covalently bound HCN dimers from two molecules of HCN or HNC were determined from CBS-QB3/APNO calculations. Several novel pathways, with and without the aid of protons, were found for the formation of iminoacetonitrile (HNCHCN), an intermediate in adenine synthesis from HCN by oligomerization. Covalent C–C or C–N bonds between the two monomers were formed after rearrangement of bimolecular complex intermediates. Energetic and kinetic analyses suggest that the proton-catalyzed dimerizations substantially lower reaction barriers but cannot occur efficiently under interstellar conditions.