Possible molecular mechanisms of the gas-phase ion/molecule reaction of
VO
2+ in its lowest singlet andtriplet states (
1A
1/
3A' ') with propyne ha
ve been in
vestigated theoretically by density functional theory (DFT)methods. The geometries, energetic
values, and bonding features of all stationary and intersystem crossingpoints in
vol
ved in the fi
ve different reaction pathways (paths 1-5), in both high-spin (triplet) and low-spin(singlet) surfaces, are reported and analyzed. The oxidation reaction starts by a hydrogen transfer from propynemolecule to the
vanadyl complex, followed by oxygen migration to the hydrocarbon moiety. A hydride transferprocess to the
vanadium atom opens four different reaction courses, paths 1-4, while path 5 arises from ahydrogen transfer process to the hydroxyl group. Fi
ve crossing points between high- and low-spin states arefound: one of them takes place before the first branching point, while the others occur along path 1. Fourdifferent exit channels are found: elimination of hydrogen molecule to yield propynaldehyde and VO
+ (
1![](/images/gifchars/Sigma.gif)
/
3![](/images/gifchars/Sigma.gif)
); formation of propynaldehyde and the moiety V-(OH
2)
+; and two elimination processes of water moleculeto yield cationic products, Prod-fc
+ and Prod-dc
+ where the
vanadium atom adopts a four- and di-coordinatestructure, respecti
vely.