PAH formation under single collision conditions: reaction of phenyl radical and 1,3-butadiene to form 1,4-dihydronaphthalene

The crossed beam reactions of the phenyl radical (C(6)H(5), X(2)A(1)) with 1,3-butadiene (C(4)H(6), X(1)A(g)) and D6-1,3-butadiene (C(4)D(6), X(1)A(g)) as well as of the D5-phenyl radical (C(6)D(5), X(2)A(1)) with 2,3-D2-1,3-butadiene and 1,1,4,4-D4-1,3-butadiene were carried out under single collision conditions at collision energies of about 55 kJ mol(-1). Experimentally, the bicyclic 1,4-dihydronaphthalene molecule was identified as a major product of this reaction (58 ± 15%) with the 1-phenyl-1,3-butadiene contributing 34 ± 10%. The reaction is initiated by a barrierless addition of the phenyl radical to the terminal carbon atom of the 1,3-butadiene (C1/C4) to form a bound intermediate; the latter underwent hydrogen elimination from the terminal CH(2) group of the 1,3-butadiene molecule leading to 1-phenyl-trans-1,3-butadiene through a submerged barrier. The dominant product, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, is formed via an isomerization of the adduct by ring closure and emission of the hydrogen atom from the phenyl moiety at the bridging carbon atom through a tight exit transition state located about 31 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products. The hydrogen atom was found to leave the decomposing complex almost parallel to the total angular momentum vector and perpendicularly to the rotation plane of the decomposing intermediate. The defacto barrierless formation of the 1,4-dihydronaphthalene molecule involving a single collision between a phenyl radical and 1,3-butadiene represents an important step in the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their partially hydrogenated counterparts in combustion and interstellar chemistry.     

Crossed beam reaction of phenyl and D5-phenyl radicals with propene and deuterated counterparts--competing atomic hydrogen and methyl loss pathways

We conducted the crossed molecular beams reactions of the phenyl and D5-phenyl radicals with propylene together with its partially deuterated reactants at collision energies of ~45 kJ mol(-1) under single collision conditions. The scattering dynamics were found to be indirect and were mainly dictated by an addition of the phenyl radical to the sterically accessible CH(2) unit of the propylene reactant. The resulting doublet radical isomerized to multiple C(9)H(11) intermediates, which were found to be long-lived, decomposing in competing methyl group loss and atomic hydrogen loss pathways with the methyl group loss leading to styrene (C(6)H(5)C(2)H(3)) and the atomic hydrogen loss forming C(9)H(10) isomers cis/trans 1-phenylpropene (CH(3)CHCHC(6)H(5)) and 3-phenylpropene (C(6)H(5)CH(2)C(2)H(3)). Fractions of the methyl versus hydrogen loss channels of 68 ± 16% : 32 ± 10% were derived experimentally, which agrees nicely with RRKM theory. As the collision energy rises to 200 kJmol(-1), the contribution of the methyl loss channel decreases sharply to typically 25%; the decreased importance of the methyl group loss channel was also demonstrated in previous crossed beam experiments conducted at elevated collision energies of 130-193 kJ mol(-1). The presented work highlights the interesting differences of the branching ratios with rising collision energies in the reaction dynamics of phenyl radicals with unsaturated hydrocarbons related to combustion processes. The facility of forming styrene, a common molecule found in combustion against the elusiveness of forming the cyclic indane molecule demonstrates the need to continue to explore the potential surfaces through the combinative single collision experiment and electronic structure calculations.     

Chemical dynamics of the formation of the 1,3-butadiynyl radical (C4H(X2Sigma+)) and its isotopomers

The reaction of dicarbon molecules in their electronic ground, C2(X1Sigma(g)+), and first excited state, C2(a3Pi(u)), with acetylene, C2H2(X1Sigma(g)+), to synthesize the 1,3-butadiynyl radical, C4H(X2Sigma+), plus a hydrogen atom was investigated at six different collision energies between 10.6 and 47.5 kJ mol(-1) under single collision conditions. These studies were contemplated by crossed molecular beam experiments of dicarbon with three acetylene isotopomers C2D2(X1Sigma(g)+), C2HD (X1Sigma+), and 13C2H2(X1Sigma(g)+) to elucidate the role of intersystem crossing (ISC) and of the symmetry of the reaction intermediate(s) on the center-of-mass functions. On the singlet surface, dicarbon was found to react with acetylene through an indirect reaction mechanism involving a diacetylene intermediate. The latter fragmented via a loose exit transition state via an emission of a hydrogen atom to form the 1,3-butadiynyl radical C4H(X2Sigma+). The D(infinity)(h) symmetry of the decomposing diacetylene intermediate results in collision-energy invariant, isotropic (flat) center-of-mass angular distributions of this microchannel. Isotopic substitution experiments suggested that at least at a collision energy of 29 kJ mol(-1), the diacetylene isotopomers are long-lived with respect to their rotational periods. On the triplet surface, the reaction involved three feasible addition complexes located in shallower potential energy wells as compared to singlet diacetylene. The involvement of the triplet surface accounted for the asymmetry of the center-of-mass angular distributions. The detection of the 1,3-butadiynyl radical, C4H(X2Sigma+), in the crossed beam reaction of dicarbon molecules with acetylene presents compelling evidence that the 1,3-butadiynyl radical can be formed via bimolecular reactions involving carbon clusters in extreme environments such as circumstellar envelopes of dying carbon stars and combustion flames.     

Reaction dynamics of phenyl radicals (C6H5) with propylene (CH3CHCH2) and its deuterated isotopologues

The reactions between phenyl radicals (C6H5) and propylene (CH3CHCH2) together with its D6- and two D3-isotopologues were studied under single collision conditions using the crossed molecular beams technique. The chemical dynamics inferred from the center-of-mass translational and angular distributions suggests that the reactions are indirect and initiated by an addition of the phenyl radical to the alpha-carbon atom (C1 carbon atom) of the propylene molecule at the =CH2 unit to form a radical intermediate (CH3CHCH2C6H5) on the doublet surface. Investigations with D6-propylene specified that only a deuterium atom was emitted; the phenyl group was found to stay intact. Studies with 1,1,2-D3- and 3,3,3-D3-propylene indicated that the initial collision complexes CH3CDCD2C6H5 (from 1,1,2-D3-propylene) and CD3CHCH2C6H5 (from 3,3,3-D3-propylene) eject both a hydrogen atom via rather loose exit transition states to form the D3-isotopomers of cis/trans-1-phenylpropene (CH3CHCHC6H5) (80-90%) and 3-phenylpropene (H2CCHCH2C6H5) (10-20%), respectively. Implications of these findings for the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their precursors in combustion flames are discussed.     

Reaction dynamics of phenyl radicals (C6H5, X2A') with methylacetylene (CH3CCH(X1A1)), allene (H2CCCH2(X1A1)), and their D4-isotopomers

Crossed molecular beam experiments were utilized to untangle the reaction dynamics to form 1-phenylmethylacetylene [CH(3)CCC(6)H(5)] and 1-phenylallene [C(6)H(5)HCCCH(2)] in the reactions of phenyl radicals with methylacetylene and allene, respectively, over a range of collision energies from 91.4 to 161.1 kJ mol(-1). Both reactions proceed via indirect scattering dynamics and are initiated by an addition of the phenyl radical to the terminal carbon atom of the methylacetylene and allene reactants to form short-lived doublet C(9)H(9) collision complexes CH(3)CCHC(6)H(5) and C(6)H(5)H(2)CCCH(2). Studies with isotopically labeled reactants and the information on the energetics of the reactions depict that the energy randomization in the decomposing intermediates is incomplete. The collision complexes undergo atomic hydrogen losses via tight exit transition states leading to 1-phenylmethylacetylene [CH(3)CCC(6)H(5)] and 1-phenylallene [C(6)H(5)HCCCH(2)]. The possible role of both C(9)H(8) isomers as precursors to PAHs in combustion flames and in the chemistry of circumstellar envelopes of dying carbon stars is discussed.     

Reaction dynamics on the formation of styrene: a crossed molecular beam study of the reaction of phenyl radicals with ethylene

The reaction dynamics of phenyl radicals (C6H5) with ethylene (C2H4) and D4-ethylene (C2D4) were investigated at two collision energies of 83.6 and 105.3 kJ mol-1 utilizing a crossed molecular beam setup. The experiments suggested that the reaction followed indirect scattering dynamics via complex formation and was initiated by an addition of the phenyl radical to the carbon-carbon double bond of the ethylene molecule forming a C6H5CH2CH2 radical intermediate. Under single collision conditions, this short-lived transient species was found to undergo unimolecular decomposition via atomic hydrogen loss through a tight exit transitions state to synthesize the styrene molecule (C6H5C2H3). Experiments with D4-ethylene verified that in the corresponding reaction with ethylene the hydrogen atom was truly emitted from the ethylene unit but not from the phenyl moiety. The overall reaction to form styrene plus atomic hydrogen from the reactants was found to be exoergic by 25 +/- 12 kJ mol(-1). This study provides solid evidence that in combustion flames the styrene molecule, a crucial precursor to form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can be formed within a single neutral-neutral collision, a long-standing theoretical prediction which has remained to be confirmed by laboratory experiments under well-defined single collision conditions for the last 50 years.     

Phenoxy radical (C6H5O) formation under single collision conditions from reaction of the phenyl radical (C6H5, X2A1) with molecular oxygen (O2, X3Σg(-)): the final chapter?

The combustion relevant elementary reaction of photolytically generated phenyl radicals (C(6)H(5), X(2)A(1)) with molecular oxygen to form the phenoxy radical (C(6)H(5)O) plus a ground state oxygen atom was investigated under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 21.2 ± 0.9 kJ mol(-1). The reaction was found to proceed indirectly via the involvement of a long-lived phenylperoxy radical (C(6)H(5)O(2)) intermediate that decomposed via a rather loose exit transition state. In comparison with crossed beams data obtained previously at elevated collision energies, we suggest that, as the collision energy rises from 21 to 107 kJ mol(-1), the lifetime of the C(6)H(5)O(2) reaction intermediate decreases, that is, a classical behavior within the osculating complex model.     

A crossed molecular beams and ab initio study on the formation of C6H3 radicals. an interface between resonantly stabilized and aromatic radicals

The crossed molecular beams reaction of dicarbon molecules, C(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)/a(3)Π(u)) with vinylacetylene was studied under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 31.0 kJ mol(-1) and combined with electronic structure calculations on the singlet and triplet C(6)H(4) potential energy surfaces. The investigations indicate that both reactions on the triplet and singlet surfaces are dictated by a barrierless addition of the dicarbon unit to the vinylacetylene molecule and hence indirect scattering dynamics via long-lived C(6)H(4) complexes. On the singlet surface, ethynylbutatriene and vinyldiacetylene were found to decompose via atomic hydrogen loss involving loose exit transition states to form exclusively the resonantly stabilized 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2 radical (C(6)H(3); H(2)CCCCCCH; C(2v)). On the triplet surface, ethynylbutatriene emitted a hydrogen atom through a tight exit transition state located about 20 kJ mol(-1) above the separated stabilized 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2 radical plus atomic hydrogen product; to a minor amount (<5%) theory predicts that the aromatic 1,2,3-tridehydrobenzene molecule is formed. Compared to previous crossed beams and theoretical investigations on the formation of aromatic C(6)H(x) (x = 6, 5, 4) molecules benzene, phenyl, and o-benzyne, the decreasing energy difference from benzene via phenyl and o-benzyne between the aromatic and acyclic reaction products, i.e., 253, 218, and 58 kJ mol(-1), is narrowed down to only ～7 kJ mol(-1) for the C(6)H(3) system (aromatic 1,2,3-tridehydrobenzene versus the resonantly stabilized free radical 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2). Therefore, the C(6)H(3) system can be seen as a "transition" stage among the C(6)H(x) (x = 6-1) systems, in which the energy gap between the aromatic isomer (x = 6, 5, 4) is reduced compared to the acyclic isomer as the carbon-to-hydrogen ratio increases and the acyclic isomer becomes more stable (x = 1, 2).     

Crossed molecular beam studies of the reactions of allyl radicals, C3H5(X2A2), with methylacetylene (CH3CCH(X1A1)), allene (H2CCCH2(X1A1)), and their isotopomers

The chemical dynamics of the reaction of allyl radicals, C(3)H(5)(X(2)A(2)), with two C(3)H(4) isomers, methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH(X(1)A(1))) and allene (H(2)CCCH(2)(X(1)A(1))) together with their (partially) deuterated counterparts, were unraveled under single-collision conditions at collision energies of about 125 kJ mol(-1) utilizing a crossed molecular beam setup. The experiments indicate that the reactions are indirect via complex formation and proceed via an addition of the allyl radical with its terminal carbon atom to the terminal carbon atom of the allene and of methylacetylene (alpha-carbon atom) to form the intermediates H(2)CCHCH(2)CH(2)CCH(2) and H(2)CCHCH(2)CHCCH(3), respectively. The lifetimes of these intermediates are similar to their rotational periods but too short for a complete energy randomization to occur. Experiments with D4-allene and D4-methylacetylene verify explicitly that the allyl group stays intact: no hydrogen emission was observed but only the release of deuterium atoms from the perdeuterated reactants. Further isotopic substitution experiments with D3-methylacetylene combined with the nonstatistical nature of the reaction suggest that the intermediates decompose via hydrogen atom elimination to 1,3,5-hexatriene, H(2)CCHCH(2)CHCCH(2), and 1-hexen-4-yne, H(2)CCHCH(2)CCCH(3), respectively, via tight exit transition states located about 10-15 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products. The overall reactions were found to be endoergic by 98 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1) and have characteristic threshold energies to reaction between 105 and 110 kJ mol(-1). Implications of these findings to combustion and interstellar chemistry are discussed.     

Crossed beam study of the atom-radical reaction of ground state carbon atoms (C(3P)) with the vinyl radical (C2H3(X2A'))

The atom-radical reaction of ground state carbon atoms (C((3)P)) with the vinyl radical (C(2)H(3)(X(2)A')) was conducted under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 32.3 ± 2.9 kJ mol(-1). The reaction dynamics were found to involve a complex forming reaction mechanism, which is initiated by the barrier-less addition of atomic carbon to the carbon-carbon-double bond of the vinyl radical forming a cyclic C(3)H(3) radical intermediate. The latter has a lifetime of at least 1.5 times its rotational period and decomposes via a tight exit transition state located about 45 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products through atomic hydrogen loss to the cyclopropenylidene isomer (c-C(3)H(2)) as detected toward cold molecular clouds and in star forming regions.     

Formation of the diphenyl molecule in the crossed beam reaction of phenyl radicals with benzene

The chemical dynamics to form the D5-diphenyl molecule, C6H5C6D5, via the neutral-neutral reaction of phenyl radicals (C6H5) with D6-benzene (C6D6), was investigated in a crossed molecular beams experiment at a collision energy of 185 kJ mol(-1). The laboratory angular distribution and time-of-flight spectra of the C6H5C6D5 product were recorded at mass to charge mz of 159. Forward-convolution fitting of our data reveals that the reaction dynamics are governed by an initial addition of the phenyl radical to the pi electron density of the D6-benzene molecule yielding a short-lived C6H5C6D6 collision complex. The latter undergoes atomic deuterium elimination via a tight exit transition state located about 30 kJ mol(-1) above the separated reactants; the overall reaction to form D5-diphenyl from phenyl and D6-benzene was found to be weakly exoergic. The explicit identification of the D5-biphenyl molecules suggests that in high temperature combustion flames, a diphenyl molecule can be formed via a single collision event between a phenyl radical and a benzene molecule.     

On the directed gas phase synthesis of the imidoborane molecule (HNBH)--an isoelectronic molecule of acetylene (HCCH)

The elementary reaction of ground state boron atoms, (B((2)P(j))), with ammonia (NH(3)(X(1)A(1))) was conducted under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 20.5 ± 0.4 kJ mol(-1) in a crossed molecular beams machine. Combined with electronic structure calculations, our experimental results suggested that the reaction was initiated by a barrier-less addition of the boron atom to the nonbonding electron pair of the nitrogen atom forming a weakly bound BNH(3) collision complex. This intermediate underwent a hydrogen shift to a doublet HBNH(2) radical that decomposed via atomic hydrogen loss to at least the imidoborane (HBNH(X(1)Σ(+)) molecule, an isoelectronic species of acetylene (HCCH(X(1)Σ(g)(+))). Our studies are also discussed in light of the isoelectronic C(2)H(3) potential energy surface accessed via the isoelectronic carbon-methyl system.     

A crossed beam and ab initio investigation on the formation of vinyl boron monoxide (C2H3BO; X1A') via reaction of boron monoxide (11BO; X2Σ+) with ethylene (C2H4; X1A(g))

The reaction dynamics of the boron monoxide radical ((11)BO; X(2)Σ(+)) with ethylene (C(2)H(4); X(1)A(g)) were investigated at a nominal collision energy of 12.2 kJ mol(-1) employing the crossed molecular beam technique and supported by ab initio and statistical (RRKM) calculations. The reaction is governed by indirect scattering dynamics with the boron monoxide radical attacking the carbon-carbon double bond of the ethylene molecule without entrance barrier with the boron atom. This addition leads to a doublet radical intermediate (O(11)BH(2)CCH(2)), which either undergoes unimolecular decomposition through hydrogen atom emission from the C1 atom via a tight transition state located about 13 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products or isomerizes via a hydrogen shift to the O(11)BHCCH(3) radical, which also can lose a hydrogen atom from the C1 atom. Both processes lead eventually to the formation of the vinyl boron monoxide molecule (C(2)H(3)BO; X(1)A'). The overall reaction was determined to be exoergic by about 40 kJ mol(-1). The reaction dynamics are also compared to the isoelectronic ethylene (C(2)H(4); X(1)A(g)) - cyano radical (CN; X(2)Σ(+)) system studied earlier.     

A crossed beams study of the reaction of carbon atoms, C(3Pj), with vinyl cyanide, C2H3CN(X 1A')--investigating the formation of cyano propargyl radicals

The chemical dynamics of the reaction of ground state carbon atoms, C(3Pj), with vinyl cyanide, C2H3CN(X 1A'), were examined under single collision conditions at collision energies of 29.9 and 43.9 kJ mol(-1) using the crossed molecular beams approach. The experimental studies were combined with electronic structure calculations on the triplet C4H3N potential energy surface (H. F. Su, R. I. Kaiser, A. H. H. Chang, J. Chem. Phys., 2005, 122, 074320). Our investigations suggest that the reaction follows indirect scattering dynamics via addition of the carbon atom to the carbon-carbon double bond of the vinyl cyanide molecule yielding a cyano cyclopropylidene collision complex. The latter undergoes ring opening to form cis/trans triplet cyano allene which fragments predominantly to the 1-cyano propargyl radical via tight exit transition states; the 3-cyano propargyl isomer was inferred to be formed at least a factor of two less; also, no molecular hydrogen elimination channel was observed experimentally. These results are in agreement with the computational studies predicting solely the existence of a carbon versus hydrogen atom exchange pathway and the dominance of the 1-cyano propargyl radical product. The discovery of the cyano propargyl radical in the reaction of atomic carbon with vinyl cyanide under single collision conditions implies that this molecule can be an important reaction intermediate in combustion flames and also in extraterrestrial environments (cold molecular clouds, circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars) which could lead to the formation of cyano benzene (C6H5CN) upon reaction with a propargyl radical.     

A crossed beam and ab initio investigation of the reaction of boron monoxide ((11)BO; X(2)Σ+) with acetylene (C2H2; X(1)Σ(g)+)

The reaction dynamics of boron monoxide (BO; X(2)Σ(+)) with acetylene (C(2)H(2); X(1)Σ(g)(+)) were investigated under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 13 kJ mol(-1) employing the crossed molecular beam technique; electronic structure RRKM calculations were conducted to complement the experimental data. The reaction was found to have no entrance barrier and proceeded via indirect scattering dynamics initiated by an addition of the boron monoxide radical with its boron atom to the carbon-carbon triple bond forming the O(11)BHCCH intermediate. The latter decomposed via hydrogen atom emission to form the linear O(11)BCCH product through a tight exit transition state. The experimentally observed sideways scattering suggests that the hydrogen atom leaves perpendicularly to the rotational plane of the decomposing complex and almost parallel to the total angular momentum vector. RRKM calculations indicate that a minor micro channel could involve a hydrogen migration in the initial collision to form an O(11)BCCH(2) intermediate, which in turn can also emit atomic hydrogen. The overall reaction to form O(11)BCCH plus atomic hydrogen from the separated reactants was determined to be exoergic by 62 ± 8 kJ mol(-1). The reaction dynamics were also compared with the isoelectronic reaction of the cyano radical (CN; X(2)Σ(+)) with acetylene (C(2)H(2); X(1)Σ(g)(+)) studied earlier.     

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).     

Thermochemical studies of benzoylnitrene radical anion: the N-H bond dissociation energy in benzamide in the gas phase

The thermochemical properties of benzoylnitrene radical anion, C6H5CON-, were determined by using a combination of energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (CID) and proton affinity bracketing. Benzoylnitrene radical anion dissociates upon CID to give NCO- and phenyl radical with a dissociation enthalpy of 0.85 +/- 0.09 eV, which is used to derive an enthalpy of formation of 33 +/- 9 kJ/mol for the nitrene radical anion. Bracketing studies with the anion indicate a proton affinity of 1453 +/- 10 kJ/mol, indicating that the acidity of benzamidyl radical, C6H5CONH, is between those of benzamide and benzoic acid. Combining the measurements gives an enthalpy of formation for benzamidyl radical of 110 +/- 14 kJ/mol and a homolytic N-H bond dissociation energy in benzamide of 429 +/- 14 kJ/mol. Additional thermochemical properties obtained include the electron affinity of benzamidyl radical, the hydrogen atom affinity of benzoylnitrene radical anion, and the oxygen anion affinity of benzonitrile.     

The dynamical properties of the aromatic hydrogen bond in NH4(C6H5)4B from quasielastic neutron scattering

NH(4)(C(6)H(5))(4)B represents a prototypical system for understanding aromatic H bonds. In NH(4)(C(6)H(5))(4)B an ammonium cation is trapped in an aromatic cage of four phenyl rings and each phenyl ring serves as a hydrogen bond acceptor for the ammonium ion as donor. Here the dynamical properties of the aromatic hydrogen bond in NH(4)(C(6)H(5))(4)B were studied by quasielastic incoherent neutron scattering in a broad temperature range (20< or =T< or =350 K). We show that in the temperature range from 67 to 350 K the ammonium ions perform rotational jumps around C(3) axes. The correlation time for this motion is the lifetime of the "transient" H bonds. It varies from 1.5 ps at T=350 K to 150 ps at T=67 K. The activation energy was found to be 3.14 kJ mol, which means only 1.05 kJ mol per single H bond for reorientations around the C(3) symmetry axis of the ammonium group. This result shows that the ammonium ions have to overcome an exceptionally low barrier to rotate and thereby break their H bonds. In addition, at temperatures above 200 K local diffusive reorientational motions of the phenyl rings, probably caused by interaction with ammonium-group reorientations, were found within the experimental observation time window. At room temperature a reorientation angle of 8.4 degrees +/-2 degrees and a correlation time of 22+/-8 ps were determined for the latter. The aromatic H bonds are extremely short lived due to the low potential barriers allowing for molecular motions with a reorientational character of the donors. The alternating rupture and formation of H bonds causes very strong damping of the librational motion of the acceptors, making the transient H bond appear rather flexible.     

The perfluorinated alcohols (F5C6)(F3C)2COH and (F5C6)(F10C5)COH: synthesis, theoretical and acidity studies, spectroscopy and structures in the solid state and the gas phase

The syntheses of the perfluorinated alcohols (F(5)C(6))(F(3)C)(2)COH (1) and (F(5)C(6))(C(5)F(10))COH (2) are described. Both compounds were prepared in reasonable yields (1: 65%, 2: 85%) by reacting the corresponding ketone with C(6)F(5)MgBr, followed by acidic work-up. The alcohols were characterized by NMR, vibrational spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, acidity measurements and gas-phase electron diffraction. A combination of appropriate 2D NMR experiments allowed the unambiguous assignment of all signals in the (19)F spin systems, of which that of 2 was especially complex. High acidity of the alcohols is indicated by acidity measurements as well as the calculated gas phase acidities. It is also supported by the crystal structure of 2, which exhibits only a single weak intermolecular hydrogen bridge with an O...O distance of 301 pm. This shows the low donor strength of the oxygen atom in the compound, which is partly compensated through formation of two intramolecular CF...H contacts of 220 and 232 pm length to the proton not involved in the hydrogen bridge. The pK(a) values in acetonitrile are 22.2 for 1 and 22.0 for 2; their calculated gas phase acidities are 1367 and 1343 kJ mol(-1) (MP2/TZVPP level).     

A crossed molecular beam study on the reaction of methylidyne radicals [CH(X(2)Π)] with acetylene [C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+))]-competing C(3)H(2) + H and C(3)H + H(2) channels

We carried out the crossed molecular beam reaction of ground state methylidyne radicals, CH(X(2)Π), with acetylene, C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)), at a nominal collision energy of 16.8 kJ mol(-1). Under single collision conditions, we identified both the atomic and molecular hydrogen loss pathways forming C(3)H(2) and C(3)H isomers, respectively. A detailed analysis of the experimental data suggested the formation of c-C(3)H(2) (31.5 ± 5.0%), HCCCH/H(2)CCC (59.5 ± 5.0%), and l-HCCC (9.0 ± 2.0%). The reaction proceeded indirectly via complex formation and involved the unimolecular decomposition of long-lived propargyl radicals to form l-HCCC plus molecular hydrogen and HCCCH/H(2)CCC plus atomic hydrogen. The formation of c-C(3)H(2) was suggested to be produced via unimolecular decomposition of the cyclopropenyl radical, which in turn could be accessed via addition of the methylidyne radical to both carbon atoms of the acetylene molecule or after an initial addition to only one acetylenic carbon atom via ring closure. This investigation brings us closer to unraveling of the reaction of important combustion radicals-methylidyne-and the connected unimolecular decomposition of chemically activated propargyl radicals. This also links to the formation of C(3)H and C(3)H(2) in combustion flames and in the interstellar medium.