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A theoretical study of paths for decomposition and rearrangement of dihydroxycarbene

The transition states for fragmentation of dihydroxycarbene [C(OH)2] to H2 and CO2 and for the rearrangement of this carbene to formic acid were located by ab initio calculations. The relative energies of the transition states were determined at several levels of theory and the basis set dependence of the energies is discussed. At the best level of theory; using a basis set of double‐zeta quality augmented by polarization functions and with the inclusion of extensive CI, we found that the transition state for fragmentation was considerably higher in energy than that for rearrangement. This finding is at variance with the predictions of the Woodward‐‐Hoffmann rules because fragmentation represents an “allowed” reaction, whereas rearrangement is “forbidden.” In conformity with the Woodward–Hoffman rules, the transition state for rearrangement was found to be close in energy to H· + ·CO2H. The even higher energy of the transition state for concerted fragmentation to H2 and CO2 is attributed to the need for the latter fragment to remain substantially bent in order to permit H2 formation while maintaining a modicum of OH bonding. Difficulties in locating the transition state for concerted fragmentation are discussed and a new method for finding transition states is proposed.