Shock-tube study of the thermal decomposition of CH3CHO and CH3CHO + H reaction

The thermal decomposition of acetaldehyde, CH3CHO + M --> CH3 + HCO + M (eq 1), and the reaction CH3CHO + H --> products (eq 6) have been studied behind reflected shock waves with argon as the bath gas and using H-atom resonance absorption spectrometry as the detection technique. To suppress consecutive bimolecular reactions, the initial concentrations were kept low (approximately 10(13) cm(-3)). Reaction was investigated at temperatures ranging from 1250 to 1650 K at pressures between 1 and 5 bar. The rate coefficients were determined from the initial slope of the hydrogen profile via k1 = [CH3CHO]0(-1) x d[H]/dt, and the temperature dependences observed can be expressed by the following Arrhenius equations: k1(T, 1.4 bar) = 2.9 x 10(14) exp(-38 120 K/T) s(-1), k1(T, 2.9 bar) = 2.8 x 10(14) exp(-37 170 K/T) s(-1), and k1(T, 4.5 bar) = 1.1 x 10(14) exp(-35 150 K/T) s(-1). Reaction was studied with C2H5I as the H-atom precursor under pseudo-first-order conditions with respect to CH3CHO in the temperature range 1040-1240 K at a pressure of 1.4 bar. For the temperature dependence of the rate coefficient the following Arrhenius equation was obtained: k6(T) = 2.6 x 10(-10) exp(-3470 K/T) cm(3) s(-1). Combining our results with low-temperature data published by other authors, we recommend the following expression for the temperature range 300-2000 K: k6(T) = 6.6 x 10(-18) (T/K) (2.15) exp(-800 K/T) cm(3) s(-1). The uncertainties of the rate coefficients k1 and k6 were estimated to be +/-30%.     

Room temperature and shock tube study of the reaction HCO+O2 using the photolysis of glyoxal as an efficient HCO source

The rate of the reaction 1, HCO+O2-->HO2+CO, has been determined (i) at room temperature using a slow flow reactor setup (20 mbarH2+HCO+CO, into additional HCO radicals. The rate constants of reaction 4 were determined from unperturbed photolysis experiments to be k4(295 K)=(3.6+/-0.3)x10(10) cm3 mol-1 s-1 and k4(769-1107 K)=5.4x10(13)exp(-18 kJ mol-1/RT) cm3 mol-1 s-1(Delta log k4=+/-0.12).     

Low-energy paths for the unimolecular decomposition of CH3OH: a G2M/statistical theory study

The potential energy surface (PES) of the CH3OH system has been characterized by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations at the G2M level of theory. The mechanisms for the decomposition of CH3OH and the related bimolecular reactions, CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O, have been elucidated. The rate constants for these processes have been calculated using variational RRKM theory and compared with available experimental data. The total decomposition rate constants of CH3OH at the high- and low-pressure limits can be represented by k infinity = 1.56 x 10(16) exp(-44,310/T) s-1 and kAr0 = 1.60 x 10(36) T-12.2 exp(-48,140/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, covering the temperature range 1000-3000 K, in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Our results indicate that the product branching ratios are strongly pressure dependent, with the production of CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O dominant under high (P > 10(3) Torr) and low (P < 1 atm) pressures, respectively. For the bimolecular reaction of CH3 and OH, the total rate constant and the yields of 1CH2 + H2O and H2 + HCOH at lower pressures (P < 5 Torr) could be reasonably accounted for by the theory. For the reaction of 1CH2 with H2O, both the yield of CH3 + OH and the total rate constant could also be satisfactorily predicted theoretically. The production of 3CH2 + H2O by the singlet to triplet surface crossing, predicted to occur at 4.3 kcal mol-1 above the H2C...OH2 van der Waals complex (which lies 82.7 kcal mol-1 above CH3OH), was neglected in our calculations.     

A temperature-dependent relative-rate study of the OH initiated oxidation of n-butane: the kinetics of the reactions of the 1- and 2-butoxy radicals

The kinetics of the reactions of 1-and 2-butoxy radicals have been studied using a slow-flow photochemical reactor with GC-FID detection of reactants and products. Branching ratios between decomposition, CH3CH(O*)CH2CH3 --> CH3CHO + C2H5, reaction (7), and reaction with oxygen, CH3CH(O*)CH2CH3+ O2 --> CH3C(O)C2H5+ HO2, reaction (6), for the 2-butoxy radical and between isomerization, CH3CH2CH2CH2O* --> CH2CH2CH2CH2OH, reaction (9), and reaction with oxygen, CH3CH2CH2CH2O* + O2 --> C3H7CHO + HO2, reaction (8), for the 1-butoxy radical were measured as a function of oxygen concentration at atmospheric pressure over the temperature range 250-318 K. Evidence for the formation of a small fraction of chemically activated alkoxy radicals generated from the photolysis of alkyl nitrite precursors and from the exothermic reaction of 2-butyl peroxy radicals with NO was observed. The temperature dependence of the rate constant ratios for a thermalized system is given by k7/k6= 5.4 x 10(26) exp[(-47.4 +/- 2.8 kJ mol(-1))/RT] molecule cm(-3) and k9/k8= 1.98 x 10(23) exp[(-22.6 +/- 3.9 kJ mol(-1))/RT] molecule cm(-3). The results agree well with the available experimental literature data at ambient temperature but the temperature dependence of the rate constant ratios is weaker than in current recommendations.     

Ab initio studies of alkyl radical reactions: Combination and disproportionation reactions of CH3 with C2H5, and the decomposition of chemically activated C3H8

This paper reports the first quantitative ab initio prediction of the disproportionation/combination ratio of alkyl+alkyl reactions using CH3+C2H5 as an example. The reaction has been investigated by the modified Gaussian-2 method with variational transition state or Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations for several channels producing (1) CH4+CH2CH2, (2) C3H8, (3) CH4CH3CH, (4) H2+CH3CHCH2, (5) H2+CH3CCH3, and (6) C2H6+CH2 by H-abstraction and association/decomposition mechanisms through singlet and triplet potential energy paths. Significantly, the disproportionation reaction (1) producing CH4+C2H4 was found to occur primarily by the lowest energy path via a loose hydrogen-bonding singlet molecular complex, H3CHC2H4, with a 3.5 kcal/mol binding energy and a small decomposition barrier (1.9 kcal/mol), instead of a direct H-abstraction process. Bimolecular reaction rate constants for the formation of the above products have been calculated in the temperature range 300-3000 K. At 1 atm, formation of C3H8 is dominant below 1200 K. Over 1200 K, the disproportionation reaction becomes competitive. The sum of products (3)-(6) accounts for less than 0.3% below 1500 K and it reaches around 1%-4% above 2000 K. The predicted rate constant for the disproportionation reaction with multiple reflections above the complex well, k1=5.04 x T(0.41) exp(429/T) at 200-600 K and k1=1.96 x 10(-20) T(2.45) exp(1470/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 600-3000 K, agrees closely with experimental values. Similarly, the predicted high-pressure rate constants for the combination reaction forming C3H8 and its reverse dissociation reaction in the temperature range 300-3000 K, k2(infinity)=2.41 x 10(-10) T(-0.34) exp(259/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(-2)(infinity)=8.89 x 10(22) T(-1.67)exp(-46 037/T) s(-1), respectively, are also in good agreement with available experimental data.     

Ab initio studies of ClO(x) reactions: prediction of the rate constants of ClO+NO2 for the forward and reverse processes.

The potential-energy surface for the reaction of ClO with NO2 has been constructed at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level of theory. Six ClNO3 isomers are located; these are ClONO2, pc-ClOONO, pt-ClOONO, OClNO2, pt-OClONO, pc-OClONO, with predicted energies relative to the reactants of -25.6, -0.5, 1.0, 1.9, 12.2 and 13.6 kcal mol-1, and heats of formation at 0 K of 7.8, 32.9, 34.4, 35.5, 45.6 and 47.0 kcal mol-1, respectively. Isomerizations among them are also discussed. The rate constants for the low-energy pathways have been computed by statistical theory calculations. For the association reaction producing exclusively ClONO2, the predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants in N2 for the temperature range of 200-600 K can be represented by: (N2)=3.19 x 10-17 T-5.54 exp(-384 K/T) cm6 molecule-2 s-1 and =3.33 x 10-7 T-1.48 exp(-18 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants for the decomposition of ClONO2 in N2 at 200-600 K can be expressed, respectively, by =6.08 x 1013 T-6.54 exp(-13813 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and =4.59 x 1023 T-2.43 exp(-13437 K/T) s-1. The predicted values compare satisfactorily with available experimental data. The reverse Cl+NO3 reaction was found to be independent of the pressure, giving exclusively ClO+NO2; the predicted rate constant can be expressed as k(Cl+NO3)=1.19 x 10-9 T-0.60 exp(58 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1..     

Kinetics of the CH2Cl + CH3 and CHCl2 + CH3 radical-radical reactions

The CH2Cl + CH3 (1) and CHCl2 + CH3 (2) cross-radical reactions were studied by laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectroscopy. Overall rate constants were obtained in direct real-time experiments in the temperature region 301-800 K and bath gas (helium) density (6-12) x 10(16) atom cm(-3). The observed rate constant of reaction 1 can be represented by an Arrhenius expression k1 = 3.93 x 10(-11) exp(91 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%) or as an average temperature-independent value of k1= (4.8 +/- 0.7) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The rate constant of reaction 2 can be expressed as k2= 1.66 x 10(-11) exp(359 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%). C2H4 and C2H3Cl were detected as the primary products of reactions 1 and 2, respectively. The experimental values of the rate constant are in reasonable agreement with the prediction based on the "geometric mean rule." A separate experimental attempt to determine the rate constants of the high-temperature CH2Cl + O2 (10) and CHCl2 + O2 (11) reaction resulted in an upper limit of 1.2 x 10(-16) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for k10 and k11 at 800 K.     

Computational study on the mechanism and rate constant for the C6H5 + C6H5NO reaction

The reaction mechanism of C6H5 + C6H5NO involving four product channels on the doublet-state potential energy surface has been studied at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d, p) level of theory. The first reaction channel occurs by barrierless association forming (C6H5)2NO (biphenyl nitroxide), which can undergo isomerization and decomposition. The second channel takes place by substitution reaction producing C12H10 (biphenyl) and NO. The third and fourth channels involve direct hydrogen abstraction reactions producing C6H4NO + C6H6 and C6H5NOH + C6H4, respectively. Bimolecular rate constants of the above four product channels have been calculated in the temperature range 300-2000 K by the microcanonical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory and/or variational transition-state theory. The result shows the dominant reactions are channel 1 at lower temperatures (T < 800 K) and channel 3 at higher temperatures (T > 800 K). The total rate constant at 7 Torr He is predicted to be k(t) = 3.94 x 10(21) T(-3.09) exp(-699/T) for 300-500 K, 2.09 x 10(20) T(-3.56) exp(2315/T) for 500-1000 K, and 1.51 x 10(2) T(3.30) exp(-3043/T) for 1000-2000 K (in units of cm3 mol(-1) s(-1)), agreeing reasonably with the experimental data within their reported errors. The heats of formation of key products including biphenyl nitroxide, hydroxyl phenyl amino radical, and N-hydroxyl carbazole have been estimated.     

Kinetics of the O + HCNO reaction

The kinetics of the O + HCNO reaction were investigated by a relative rate technique using infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Laser photolysis (355 nm) of NO2 was used to produce O atoms, followed by O atom reactions with CS2, NO2, and HCNO, and infrared detection of OCS product from the O + CS2 reaction. Analysis of the experiment data yields a rate constant of k1= (9.84 +/- 3.52) x 10-12 exp[(-195 +/- 120)/T)] (cm3 molecule-1 s-1) over the temperature range 298-375 K, with a value of k1 = (5.32 +/- 0.40) x 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at 298 K. Infrared detection of product species indicates that CO producing channels, probably CO + NO + H, dominate the reaction.     

Rate coefficients and equilibrium constant for the CH2CHO + O2 reaction system

The kinetics of the CH2CHO + O2 reaction was experimentally studied in two quasi-static reactors and a discharge flow-reactor at temperatures ranging from 298 to 660 K and pressures between 1 mbar and 46 bar with helium as the bath gas. The CH2CHO radicals were produced by the laser-flash photolysis of ethyl vinyl ether at 193 nm and by the reaction F + CH3CHO, respectively. Laser-induced fluorescence excited at 337 or 347.4 nm was used to monitor the CH2CHO concentration. The reaction proceeded via reversible complex formation with subsequent isomerization and fast decomposition: CH2CHO + O2 <= => O2CH2CHO --> HO2CH2CO --> products. The rate coefficients for the first and second steps were determined (k1, k-1, k2) and analyzed by a master equation with specific rate coefficients from the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. Molecular and transition-state parameters were obtained from quantum chemical calculations. A third-law analysis led to the following thermodynamic parameters for the first step: Delta(R)S degrees 300K(1) = -144 J K(-1) mol(-1) (1 bar) and Delta(R)H degrees 300K(1) = (-101 +/- 4) kJ mol(-1). From the falloff analysis, the following temperature dependencies for the low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients were obtained: k1(0) = 5.14 x 10(-14) exp(210 K/T) cm(-3) s(-1); k1(infinity) = 1.7 x 10(-12) exp(-520 K/T) cm(-3) s(-1); and k2(infinity) = 1.3 x 10(12) exp[-(82 +/- 4) kJ mol(-1)/RT] s(-1). Readily applicable analytical representations for the pressure and temperature dependence of k1 were derived to be used in kinetic modeling.     

Absolute rate coefficient of the OH + CH(3)C(O)OH reaction at T = 287-802 K. The two faces of pre-reactive H-bonding

The rate constants for the reaction OH + CH3C(O)OH --> products (1) were determined over the temperature range 287-802 K at 50 and 100 Torr of Ar or N2 bath gas using pulsed laser photolysis generation of OH by CH3C(O)OH photolysis at 193 nm coupled with OH detection by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficient displays a complex temperature dependence with a sharp minimum at 530 K, indicating the competition between a reaction proceeding through a pre-reactive H-bonded complex to form CH3C(O)O + H2O, expected to prevail at low temperatures, and a direct methyl-H abstraction channel leading to CH2C(O)OH + H2O, which should dominate at high temperatures. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be described adequately by k1(287-802 K) = 2.9 x 10(-9) exp{-6030 K/T} + 1.50 x 10(-13) exp{515 K/T} cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1), with a value of (8.5 +/- 0.9) x 10-13 cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1) at 298 K. The steep increase in rate constant in the range 550-800 K, which is reported for the first time, implies that direct abstraction of a methyl-H becomes the dominant pathway at temperatures greater than 550 K. However, the data indicates that up to about 800 K direct methyl-H abstraction remains adversely affected by the long-range H-bonding attraction between the approaching OH radical and the carboxyl -C(O)OH functionality.     

CH(A2Delta) Formation in hydrocarbon combustion: the temperature dependence of the rate constant of the reaction C2H + O2--> CH(A2Delta) + CO2

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the chemiluminescence reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2, k1e, has been experimentally determined over the temperature range 316-837 K using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant was found to have a pronounced positive temperature dependence given by k1e(T) = AT(4.4) exp(1150 +/- 150/T), where A = 1 x 10(-27) cm(3) s(-1). The preexponential factor for k1e, A, which is known only to within an order of magnitude, is based on a revised expression for the rate constant for the C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO reaction, k2b, of (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) exp(-230 K/T) cm3 s(-1) [Devriendt, K.; Van Look, H.; Ceursters, B.; Peeters, J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 261, 450] and a k2b/k1e determination of this work of 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K. Using the temperature dependence of the rate constant k1e(T)/k1e(300 K), which is much more accurately and precisely determined than is A, we predict an increase in k(1e) of a factor 60 +/- 16 between 300 and 1500 K. The ratio of rate constants k2b/k1e is predicted to change from 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K to 40 +/- 25 at 1500 K. These results suggest that the reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2 contributes significantly to CH(A-->X) chemiluminescence in hot flames and especially under fuel-lean conditions where it probably dominates the reaction C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO.     

Potential energy surfaces, product distributions and thermal rate coefficients of the reaction of O(3P) with C2H4(X1Ag): a comprehensive theoretical study

The potential energy surface for the O((3)P) + C(2)H(4) reaction, which plays an important role in C(2)H(4)/O(2) flames and in hydrocarbon combustion in general, was theoretically reinvestigated using various quantum chemical methods, including G3, CBS-QB3, G2M(CC,MP2), and MRCI. The energy surfaces of both the lowest-lying triplet and singlet electronic states were constructed. The primary product distribution for the multiwell multichannel reaction was then determined by RRKM statistical rate theory and weak-collision master equation analysis using the exact stochastic simulation method. Intersystem crossing of the "hot" CH(2)CH(2)O triplet adduct to the singlet surface, shown to account for about half of the products, was estimated to proceed at a rate of approximately 1.5 x 10(11) s(-1). In addition, the thermal rate coefficients k(O + C(2)H(4)) in the T = 200-2000 K range were computed using multistate transition state theory and fitted by a modified Arrhenius expression as k(T) = 1.69 x 10(-16) x T(1.66) x exp(-331 K/T) . Our computed rates and product distributions agree well with the available experimental results. Product yields are found to show a monotonic dependence on temperature. The major products (with predicted yields at T = 300 K/2000 K) are: CH(3) + CHO (48/37%), H + CH(2)CHO (40/19%), and CH(2)(X(3)B(1)) + H(2)CO (5/29%), whereas H + CH(3)CO, H(2) + H(2)CCO, and CH(4) + CO are all minor (< or =5%).     

Ab initio chemical kinetic study on the reactions of ClO with C2H2 and C2H4

The mechanisms for the reactions of ClO with C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4) have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The results show that in both systems, the interaction between the Cl atom of the ClO radical and the triple and double bonds of C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4) forms prereaction van der Waals complexes with the O-Cl bond pointing perpendicularly toward the π-bonds, both with 2.1 kcal/mol binding energies. The mechanism is similar to those of the HO-C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4) systems. The rate constants for the low energy channels have been predicted by statistical theory. For the reaction of ClO and C(2)H(2), the main channels are the production of CH(2)CO + Cl (k(1a)) and CHCO + HCl (k(1b)), with k(1a) = 1.19 × 10(-15)T(1.18) exp(-5814/T) and k(1b) = 6.94 × 10(-21) × T(2.60) exp(-6587/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). For the ClO + C(2)H(4) reaction, the main pathway leads to C(2)H(4)O + Cl (k(2a)) with the predicted rate constant k(2a) = 2.13 × 10(-17)T(1.52) exp(-3849/T) in the temperature range of 300-3000 K. These rate constants are pressure-independent below 100 atm.     

Studies of the kinetics and thermochemistry of the forward and reverse reaction Cl + C6H6 = HCl + C6H5

The laser flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique was used to monitor atomic Cl kinetics. Loss of Cl following photolysis of CCl4 and NaCl was used to determine k(Cl + C6H6) = 6.4 x 10(-12) exp(-18.1 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 578-922 K and k(Cl + C6D6) = 6.2 x 10(-12) exp(-22.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 635-922 K. Inclusion of literature data at room temperature leads to a recommendation of k(Cl + C6H6) = 6.1 x 10(-11) exp(-31.6 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for 296-922 K. Monitoring growth of Cl during the reaction of phenyl with HCl led to k(C6H5 + HCl) = 1.14 x 10(-12) exp(+5.2 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 294-748 K, k(C6H5 + DCl) = 7.7 x 10(-13) exp(+4.9 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 292-546 K, an approximate k(C6H5 + C6H5I) = 2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 300-750 K, and an upper limit k(Cl + C6H5I) < or = 5.3 x 10(-12) exp(+2.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 300-750 K. Confidence limits are discussed in the text. Third-law analysis of the equilibrium constant yields the bond dissociation enthalpy D(298)(C6H5-H) = 472.1 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1) and thus the enthalpy of formation Delta(f)H(298)(C6H5) = 337.0 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1).     

Atmospheric chemistry of propionaldehyde: kinetics and mechanisms of reactions with OH radicals and Cl atoms, UV spectrum, and self-reaction kinetics of CH3CH2C(O)O2 radicals at 298 K

The kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with CH3CH2CHO were investigated at room temperature using two complementary techniques: flash photolysis/UV absorption and continuous photolysis/FTIR smog chamber. Reaction with Cl atoms proceeds predominantly by abstraction of the aldehydic hydrogen atom to form acyl radicals. FTIR measurements indicated that the acyl forming channel accounts for (88 +/- 5)%, while UV measurements indicated that the acyl forming channel accounts for (88 +/- 3)%. Relative rate methods were used to measure: k(Cl + CH3CH2CHO) = (1.20 +/- 0.23) x 10(-10); k(OH + CH3CH2CHO) = (1.82 +/- 0.23) x 10(-11); and k(Cl + CH3CH2C(O)Cl) = (1.64 +/- 0.22) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The UV spectrum of CH3CH2C(O)O2, rate constant for self-reaction, and rate constant for cross-reaction with CH3CH2O2 were determined: sigma(207 nm) = (6.71 +/- 0.19) x 10(-18) cm2 molecule(-1), k(CH3CH2C(O)O2 + CH3CH2C(O)O2) = (1.68 +/- 0.08) x 10(-11), and k(CH3CH2C(O)O2 + CH3CH2O2) = (1.20 +/- 0.06) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), where quoted uncertainties only represent 2sigma statistical errors. The infrared spectrum of C2H5C(O)O2NO2 was recorded, and products of the Cl-initiated oxidation of CH3CH2CHO in the presence of O2 with, and without, NO(x) were identified. Results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry of propionaldehyde.     

Hydrolysis, hydrosulfidolysis, and aminolysis of imido(methyl)rhenium complexes

The tris(imido)methylrhenium complex CH3Re(NAd)3 (1a, Ad = 1-adamantyl) reacts with H2O to give CH3Re(NAd)2O (2a) and AdNH2. The resulting di(imido)oxo species can further react with another molecule of H2O to generate CH3Re(NAd)O2 (3a). The kinetics of these reactions have been studied by means of 1H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. The second-order rate constant for the reaction of 1a with H2O at 298 K in C6H6 is 3.3 L mol-1 s-1, which is much larger than the value 1 x 10(-4) L mol-1 s-1 obtained for the reaction between CH3Re(NAr)3 (1b, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) and H2O in CH3CN at 313 K. Both 1a and 1b react with H2S to produce the rhenium(VII) sulfide, (CH3Re(NR)2)2(mu-S)2 (4a, R = Ad; 4b, R = Ar), with second-order rate constants of 17 and 1.6 x 10(-4) L mol-1 s-1 in C6H6 and CH3CN, respectively. Complex 4b has been structurally characterized. The crystal data are as follows: space group C2/c, a = 30.4831 (19) A, b = 10.9766 (7) A, c = 18.1645 (11) A, beta = 108.268(1) degrees, V = 5771.5 (6) A3, Z = 4. The reaction between CH3Re(NAr)2O (2b) and H2S also yields the dinuclear compound 4b. Unlike 1b, 1a reacts with aniline derivatives to give mixed imido rhenium complexes.     

Kinetics of the unimolecular decomposition of the 2-chloroallyl radical

The thermal decomposition of the 2-chloroallyl radical, CH(2)CClCH(2) --> CH(2)CCH(2) + Cl (1), was studied using the laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectrometry technique. Rate constants were determined in time-resolved experiments as a function of temperature (720-840 K) and bath gas density ([He] = (3-12) x 10(16), [N(2)] = 6 x 10(16) molecule cm(-3)). C(3)H(4) was observed as a primary product of reaction 1. The rate constants of reaction 1 are in the falloff, close to the low-pressure limit, under the conditions of the experiments. The potential energy surface (PES) of reaction 1 was studied using a variety of quantum chemical methods. The results of the study indicate that the minimum energy path of the CH(2)CClCH(2) dissociation proceeds through a PES plateau corresponding to a weakly bound Cl-C(3)H(4) complex; a PES saddle point exists between the equilibrium CH(2)CClCH(2) structure and the Cl-C(3)H(4) complex. The results of quantum chemical calculations, the rate constant values obtained in the experimental study, and literature data on the reverse reaction of addition of Cl to allene were used to create a model of reactions 1 and -1. The experimental dependences of the rate constants on temperature and pressure were reproduced in RRKM/master equation calculations. The reaction model provides expressions for the temperature dependences of the high-pressure-limit and the low-pressure-limit rate constants and the falloff broadening factors (at T = 300-1600 K): k(infinity)(1) = 1.45 x 10(20)T(-1.75) exp(-19609 K/T) s(-1), k(infinity)(-)(1) = 8.94 x 10(-10)T(-0.40) exp(481 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(1)(0)(He) = 5.01 x 10(-32)T(-12.02) exp(-22788 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(1)(0)(N(2)) = 2.50 x 10(-32)T(-11.92) exp(-22756 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(cent)(He) = 0.46 exp(-T/1001 K) + 0.54 exp(-T/996 K) + exp(-4008 K/T), and F(cent)(N(2)) = 0.37 exp(-T/2017 K) + 0.63 exp(-T/142 K) + exp(-4812 K/T). The experimental data are not sufficient to specify all the parameters of the model; consequently, some of the model parameters were obtained from quantum chemical calculations and from analogy with other reactions of radical decomposition. Thus, the parametrization is most reliable under conditions close to those used in the experiments.     

A computational study on the kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene

The kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)NO(2)) have been studied computationally at the G2M(RCC, MP2)//B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level of theory in conjunction with rate constant predictions with RRKM and TST calculations. The results of the calculations reveal 10 decomposition channels for o-nitrotoluene and its six isomeric intermediates, among them four channels give major products: CH(3)C(6)H(4) + NO(2), C(6)H(4)C(H)ON (anthranil) + H(2)O, CH(3)C(6)H(4)O (o-methyl phenoxy) + NO, and C(6)H(4)C(H(2))NO + OH. The predicted rate constants in the 500-2000 K temperature range indicate that anthranil production, taking place initially by intramolecular H-abstraction from the CH(3) group by NO(2) followed by five-membered ring formation and dehydration, dominates at temperatures below 1000 K, whereas NO(2) elimination becomes predominant above 1100 K and CH(3)C(6)H(4)O formation by the nitro-nitrite isomerization/decomposition process accounts for only 5-11% of the total product yield in the middle temperature range 800-1300 K. The branching ratio for CH(2)C(6)H(4)NO formation by the decomposition process of CH(2)C(6)H(4)N(O)OH is negligible. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants with the rate expression of 4.10 x 10(17) exp[-37000/T] s(-1) for the NO(2) elimination channel and 9.09 x 10(12) exp[-25800/T] s(-1) for the H(2)O elimination channel generally agree reasonably with available experimental data. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants for the NO and OH elimination channels are represented as 1.49 x 10(14) exp[-30000/T] and 1.31 x 10(15) exp[-38000/T] s(-1), respectively.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of reactions of methyldioxorhenium(V) in aqueous solutions: dimer formation and oxygen-atom abstraction reactions

The stable compound CH3ReO3 (MTO), upon treatment with aqueous hypophosphorous acid, forms a colorless metastable species designated MDO, CH3ReO2(H2O)n (n = 2). After standing, MDO is first converted to a yellow dimer (lambda max = 348 nm; epsilon = 1.3 x 10(4) L mol-1 cm-1). That reaction follows second-order kinetics with k = 1.4 L mol-1 s-1 in 0.1 M aq trifluoromethane sulfonic acid at 298 K. Kinetics studies as functions of temperature gave delta S++ = -4 +/- 15 J K-1 mol-1 and delta H++ = 71.0 +/- 4.6 kJ mol-1. A much more negative value of delta S++ would be expected for simple dimerization, suggesting the release of one or more molecules of water in forming the transition state. If solutions of the dimer are left for a longer period, an intense blue color results, followed by precipitation of a compound that does, even after a long time, retain the Re-CH3 bond in that aq. hydrogen peroxide generates the independently known CH3Re(O)(O2)2(H2O). The blue compound may be analogous to the intensely colored purple cation [(Cp*Re)3(mu 2-O)3(mu 3-O)3ReO3]+. If a pyridine N-oxide is added to the solution of the dimer, it is rapidly but not instantaneously lost at the same time that a catalytic cycle, separately monitored by NMR, converts the bulk of the PyO to Py according to this stoichiometric equation in which MDO is the active intermediate: C5H5NO + H3PO2-->C5H5N + H3PO3. A thorough kinetic study and the analysis by mathematical and numerical simulations show that the key step is the conversion of the dimer D into a related species D* (presumably one of the two mu-oxo bonds has been broken); the rate constant is 5.6 x 10(-3) s-1. D* then reacts with PyO just as rapidly as MDO does. This scheme is able to account for the kinetics and other results.