Theoretical Investigation of the Reaction of O(1D) with Formamide

Carbamic acid (H2NCOOH) is a small organic molecule that is terrestrially unstable in condensed phases under ambient conditions but could survive in the low densities and temperatures of the interstellar medium. In this work, the reaction of formamide (H2NCOH) and electronically excited oxygen atoms in the 1D state, namely, O(1D), has been investigated computationally to determine the feasibility of carbamic acid production. Geometries for carbamic acid and other potential reaction products have been calculated, as well as all pertinent transition states. In addition, harmonic and anharmonic frequency calculations were performed to determine quartic and sextic centrifugal distortion constants for all products. This work enables spectroscopic predictions that can guide the experimental search for carbamic acid. Presented here are the calculations, geometries, molecular constants, and spectral predictions for possible products of the reaction between formamide and O(1D), as well as a discussion of which products are favored. © 2024 American Chemical Society.