Characterization of the Azirinyl Cation and Its Isomers

The azirinyl cation (C2H2N(+)) and its geometrical isomers could be present in the interstellar medium. The C2H2N(+) isomers are, however, difficult to identify in interstellar chemistry because of the lack of high-resolution spectroscopic data from laboratory experiments. Ab initio quantum chemical methods were used to characterize the structures, relative energies, and spectroscopic and physical properties of the low energy isomers of the azirinyl cation. We have employed second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), second-order Z-averaged perturbation theory (ZAPT2), and coupled cluster theory with singles and doubles with perturbative triples CCSD(T) methods along with large correlation consistent basis sets such as cc-pVTZ, cc-pCVTZ, cc-pVQZ, cc-pCVQZ, and cc-pV5Z. Harmonic vibrational frequencies, dipole moments, rotational constants, and proton affinities for the lowest energy isomers were calculated using the CCSD(T) method. Azirinyl cation, a cyclic isomer, is lowest in energy at all levels of theory employed. Azirinyl cation is followed by the cyanomethyl cation (H2CCN)(+), isocyanomethyl cation (H2CNC)(+), and a quasilinear HCCNH(+) cation, which are 13.8, 17.3, and 21.5 kcal mol(-1) above the cyclic isomer, respectively, at the CCSD(T)/cc-pV5Z level of theory. The lowest three isomers all have C2v symmetry and (1)A1 ground electronic states. The quasilinear HCCNH(+) cation has a Cs symmetry planar structure, and a (3)A″ electronic ground state, unlike what some previous work suggested.