Hemibonding of hydroxyl radical and halide anion in aqueous solution

Molecular geometries and properties of the possible reaction products between the hydroxyl radical and the halide anions in aqueous solution were investigated. The formation of two-center three-electron bonding (hemibonding) between the hydroxyl radical and halide anions (Cl, Br, I) was examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculation with a range-separated hybrid (RSH) exchange-correlation functional. The long-range corrected hybrid functional (LC-ωPBE), which have given quantitatively satisfactory results for odd electron systems and excited states, was examined by test calculations for dihalogen radical anions (X(2)(-); X = Cl, Br, I) and hydroxyl radical-water clusters. Equilibrium geometries with hemibonding between the hydroxyl radical and halide anions were located by including four hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Excitation energies and oscillator strengths of σ-σ* transitions calculated by the time-dependent DFT method showed good agreement with observed values. Calculated values of the free energy of reaction on the formation of hydroxyl halide radical anion from the hydroxyl radical and halide anion were endothermic for chloride but exothermic for bromide and iodide, which is consistent with experimental values of equilibrium constants.