Ab initio electron correlated studies on the intracluster reaction of NO+ (H2O)(n) → H3O+ (H2O)(n-2) (HONO) (n = 4 and 5).

Hydrated nitrosonium ion clusters NO(+)(H(2)O)(n) (n = 4 and 5) were investigated by using MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory to clarify isomeric reaction pathways for formation of HONO and fully hydrated hydride ions. We found some new isomers and transition state structures in each hydration number, whose lowest activation energies of the intracluster reactions were found to be 4.1 and 3.4 kcal mol(-1) for n = 4 and n = 5, respectively. These thermodynamic properties and full quantum mechanical molecular dynamics simulation suggest that product isomers with HONO and fully hydrated hydride ions can be obtained at n = 4 and n = 5 in terms of excess hydration binding energies which can overcome these activation barriers.