New organic noble gas molecules: energetics, stability and potential energy surfaces of HCCXeCCH and HCCKrCCH.

The diacetylides of Xe and Kr, HCCXeCCH and HCCKrCCH, are predicted to exist as metastable, chemically-bound compounds. The electronic structure, properties of the potential energy surfaces and decomposition paths are computed and analyzed. MP2, MCSCF and CASPT2 ab initio methods are used, as appropriate for each of the properties studied. Using transition state theory and the computed barrier for decomposition, the lifetime of HCCXeCCH is calculated as a function of temperature. The molecule is predicted to be stable well above the cryogenic range, with a lifetime of 24 h at 200 K. The implications for organic chemistry of the noble gases are discussed.