Ab initio G2(MP2, SVP) study of the reaction of hydroxymethylene with formaldehyde

The mechanism for the reaction of formation of glycolaldehyde from formaldehyde and hydroxymethylene has been studied by using ab initio calculations at the G2(MP2, SVP) level. The results indicate that the most favoured path for this reaction is that predicted by previous quantum mechanical studies at lower levels of theory. This mechanism does not involve any transition state nor complex between the reactants, but rather is a direct addition of the radical to the formaldehyde molecule without any energy barrier.