Quantum-chemical study of the structure and stability of pseudohalogens: OCN–NCO and its isomers

The equilibrium geometries, stability, and isomerisation of pseudohalogen isomers, C2N2O2, have been investigated by DFT calculations at the B3LYP level and by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory using the 6-311+G(2d) and cc-pVTZ basis sets, as well as at the CBS-QB3 level. Minimum energy structures and their interconnecting transition states, as well as transition states for bond dissociations have been calculated, and possible isomerisation and decomposition pathways are suggested. Calculations have predicted that four isomers, OCNNCO, ONCCNO, ONCOCN, and ONCNCO are kinetically stable toward unimolecular isomerisation or dissociation at room temperature with the lowest kinetic energy barrier of 209, 232, 159, and 95 kJ mol−1, respectively (CCSD(T)//B3LYP), and other isomers, like NCONCO, CNONCO, and CNOCNO are unstable. Calculations have also predicted that valence formulations like NCOOCN, CNOOCN, and CNOONC do not represent existing molecules. The gas-phase generation of OCNNCO has been attempted by thermolysing Me3SiON(Me3SiO)CC(OSiMe3)NOSiMe3, synthesised by a novel method from oxalyl chloride and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydroxylamine; the thermolysis, however, have not produced OCNNCO, but trimethylsilylisocyanate and hexamethyldisiloxane.