A comparative study of CH4 and CF4 rf discharges using a consistent plasma physics and chemistry simulator

A self-consistent, one-dimensional simulator for the physics and chemistry of radio frequency (rf) plasmas was developed and applied for CH₄ and CF₄. The simulator consists of a fluid model for the discharge physics, a commercial Boltzmann equation solver for calculations of electron energy distribution fuction (EEDF), a generalized plasma chemistry code, and an interface module among the three models. The CH₄ and CF₄ discharges are compared and contrasted: CH₄ plasmas are electropositive, with negative ion densities one order of magnitude less than those of electrons, whereas CF₄ plasmas are electronegative, with ten times more negative ions than electrons. The high-energy tail of tire EEDF in CH₄, lies below both the Druyvensteyn and Maxwell distributions, whereas tire EEDF high-energy tail in CF₄ lies between the two. For CH₄, the chemistry model was applied for four species, namely, CH₄ CH₃ CH₂, and H, whereas for CF₄, five species were examined namely CF₄, CF₃, CF₂, CF, and F The predicted densities and profiles compare favorably with experimental data. Finally, the chemistry results were fedback into the physics model until convergence was obtained.     

Direct dynamics studies for the reactions of CF3CHFCF3 and CF3CF2CHF2 with H atoms

The rate constants of the hydrogen abstraction reactions of CF₃CHFCF₃ + H (R1) and CF₃CF₂CHF₂ + H (R2) have been calculated by means of the dual-level direct dynamics method. Optimized geometries and frequencies of stationary points and extra points along the minimum-energy path (MEP) are obtained at the MPW1K/6-311+G(d,p) level, and the classical energetic information is further corrected with the interpolated single-point energy (ISPE) approach by the G3(MP2) level of theory. Using the canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with small-curvature tunneling corrections (SCT), the rate constants are evaluated over a wide temperature range of 200-2000 K. The calculated CVT/SCT rate constants are in good agreement with available experimental values. It is found that the variational effect is very small and almost negligible over the whole temperature region. However, the small-curvature tunneling correction plays an important role in the lower temperature range. Furthermore, the heats of formation of species CF₃CF₂CHF₂ (SC₁ or SC₂) and CF₃CF₂CF₂ are studied using isodesmic reactions to further elucidate the thermodynamic properties.     

The addition of (CF3SO2)2CHBr to vinylidene fluoride

It has been found that a mixture of (CF₃SO₂)₂CH₂ and (CF₃SO₂)₂CBr₂ can be used instead of (CF₃SO₂)₂CHBr in the radical addition to H₂CCF₂; the 1:1 and 1:2 adducts have been isolated and characterized. An improved synthesis of (CF₃SO₂)₂CBr₂ is also reported.     

Toward a Better Understanding on the Adsorption Behavior of Aromatics in 12R Window Zeolites

Benzene adsorption behavior in a large family of 12R window zeolites (X, Y, EMT, Beta and LTL) has been examined by means of in-situ FTIR spectroscopy and correlated with the zeolite structure, the type and number of counter-ions, and the negative charge on framework oxygen atoms of zeolites. The effect of coadsorption of HCl, NH₃ and CH₃NH₂ on the benzene location has also been studied. The present work illustrates that besides the benzene adsorption on counter ions of zeolites, the 12R windows could also be the adsorption sites for benzene. Upon adsorption of coadsorbates such as HCl, NH₃ and CH₃NH₂, the migration of preadsorbed benzene molecules from one type of adsorption sites towards another, i.e. from 12R windows towards the cations for HCl and opposite direction for NH₃ and CH₃NH₂, has been evidenced. The lack of adsorption of benzene on 12R windows of NaBeta even upon coadsorption of a series of basic molecules reveals that benzene adsorption on 12R windows is most likely governed by a molecular recognition effect where benzene molecule and 12R window should have the adapted chemical and structural properties like in enzyme-substrate system and zeolites can be referred to as solid enzymes or zeo-enzymes. This paper indicates also that the adsorption properties of zeolites can be modified and accommodated by introduction of a co-adsorbate.     

Investigation of CF2 carbene on the surface of activated charcoal in the synthesis of trifluoroiodomethane via vapor-phase catalytic reaction

This paper investigates the synthetic mechanism of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in the reaction of trifluoromethane and iodine via vapor-phase catalytic reaction. It is suggested that CF₂ carbene is the key intermediate and is formed in the pyrolysis process of CHF₃ at high temperature. However, in pyrolysis of CHF₃ under activated charcoal (AC) existing conditions, no C₂F₄ was detected. H₂ and 2-methyl-2-butene could not trap the CF₂ carbene. When treating the remained compounds on the used AC with H₂, CH₄ is formed on the process. It is proposed that CF₂ carbene combines with AC strongly and transfers into CF₃ radical on heat. In addition, it is found that the AC is not only the catalyst supporter to form CF₃I, but also a co-catalyst to promote the formation of CF₂ carbene and CF₃ radical.     

TEA CO2 laser-induced reaction of CH3NO2 with CF2HCl: A mechanistic study

Dissociation of nitromethane has been observed when a mixture of CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ is irradiated using pulsed TEA CO₂ laser at 9R (24) line (1081 cm^-1), which is strongly absorbed by CF₂HCl but not by CH₃NO₂. Under low laser fluence conditions, only nitromethane dissociates, whereas at high fluence CF₂HCl also undergoes dissociation, showing that dissociation occurs via the vibrational energy transfer processes from the TEA CO₂ laser-excited CF₂HCl to CH₃NO₂. Time-resolved infrared fluorescence from vibrationally excited CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ molecules as well as UV absorption of CF₂ radicals are carried out to elucidate the dynamics of excitation/dissociation and the chemical reactions of the dissociation products.     

Dissociation and IVR pathways for the CF3H(H2O)3 cluster

Classical trajectory simulations are used to study the intramolecular dynamics of isolated CF₃H and the CF₃H(H₂O)₃ cluster, by either exciting the CH stretch local mode to then=6 level or by adding an equivalent amount of energy to an OH stretch normal mode. Energy transfer from the CH local mode is statistically the same for CF₃H(H₂O)₃ as for isolated CF₃H, and agrees with previous experimental studies. Clusters excited with 6 quanta in the CH local mode are remarkably stable. Though the CF₃H-(H₂O)₃ intermolecular potential is only 1.5 kcal/mol, only 1 of 26 clusters excited with 6 quanta in the CH local mode dissociate within 10 ps. The absorption linewidth for the CH local mode in CF₃H(H₂O)₃ is related to IVR within CF₃H and not to the unimolecular lifetime of the cluster. When an OH stretch normal mode of the cluster is excited, energy transfer to CF₃H is negligible and nearly one half of the clusters dissociate within 10 ps.     

Similarities in the Intensities of Analogous Rydberg–Rydberg Transitions in the Molecular Series CF x Cl y (x=3, 2, 1; y=1, 2, 3)

In this work, the photoabsorption behaviour of the molecular series CF₃Cl, CF₂Cl₂ and CFCl₃, involving their ground state and two different Rydberg series, has been studied. The discrepancies or similarities in the intensities of homologous transitions in the three CF _x Cl _y molecules have been analysed on account of their electronic structure. Absorption oscillator strengths have been calculated with the Molecular quantum defect orbital (MQDO) approach. Electronic transitions between states belonging to two different unperturbed Rydberg series of the same molecule have been calculated by us for the first time. The quality of the achieved oscillator strengths has been assessed by comparison with, to our knowledge, scarce experimental data available in the literature, through analysis of the discrepancies or similarities in the intensities of homologous transitions in the molecular series CF _x Cl _y when states of different type are involved, and by testing the compliance of regularities by the Rydberg series object of our study.Article for the special issue dedicated to J.-P. Malrieu     

Reaction of HCFC‐133a (CF3CH2C1) or HFC‐134a (CF3CH2F) with alcohols or phenols in DMSO in the presence of KOH

In an open glassware, heating a gas HCFC‐133a (CF₃CH₂C1) or HFC‐134a (CF₃CH₂F), KOH and a phenol (or an alcohol) in DMSO at 80°C gave ethers ROCF₂CH₂X and (E/Z)‐ROCF = CHX (X = Cl, F) in moderate yields.     

Preparation of trifluoroiodomethane via vapor-phase catalytic reaction between hexafluoropropylene oxide and iodine

Based on our previous investigation on the reaction mechanism to produce difluorocarbene and subsequent CF₃I starting with CHF₃ and I₂, a new route for preparing CF₃I at a relative low temperature, 200 °C, has been developed via a vapor-phase catalytic reaction between hexafluoropropylene oxide with I₂ in the presence of KF supported on activate charcoal as a catalyst. The influence of reaction temperature and reaction time on the amount of CF₃I was investigated. In the reaction process, coke-formation was suggested on the surface of catalysts by means of BET, XPS and TG-DTA analysis. The process for the formation of CF₃I and by-products is also discussed.     

Gas-phase reactions of CF3 and CF2 with atomic and molecular fluorine: Their significance in plasma etching

Reaction rate coefficients have been measured at 295 K for both CF₃ and CF₂ with atomic and molecular fluorine. The reaction between CF₃ and F was studied over a gas number density range of (2.4–23)×10¹⁶ cm^–3 with helium as the bath gas. The measured rate coefficient increased from (1.1–1.7)×10^–11 cm³ s^–1 as the gas number density increased over this range. In contrast to this relatively small change in rate coefficient with gas number density, the rate coefficient for CF₂+F increased from (0.4–2.3)×10^–12 cm³ s^–1 as the helium gas number density increased from (3.4–28.4)×10¹⁶ cm^–3. Even for the highest bath gas number density employed, the rate coefficient was still more than an order of magnitude lower than earlier measurements of this coefficient performed at comparable gas number densities.Both these association reactions are examined from the standpoint of the Gorin model for association of radicals and use is made of unimolecular dissociation theory to examine the expected dependence on gas number density. The calculations reveal that CF₃+F can be explained satisfactorily in these terms but CF₂+F is not well described by the simple Gorin model for association.CF₃ was found to react with molecular fluorine with a rate coefficient of (7±2)×10^–14 cm³ s^–1 whereas only an upper limit of 2×10^–15 cm³ s^–1 could be placed on the rate coefficient for the reaction between CF₂ and F₂. The values obtained for this set of reactions mean that the reaction between CF₃ and F will play an important role in plasmas containing CF₄. The high rate coefficient will mean that, under certain conditions, this particular reaction will control the amount of CF₄ consumed. On the other hand, the much lower rate coefficient for reactions between CF₂ and F means that CF₂ will attain much higher concentrations than CF₃ in plasmas where these combination reactions are dominant.     

Ab initio study of the potential energy surface and product branching ratios for the reaction of O(D) with CH3CH2F

The potential energy surface of O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction has been studied using QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) method. The calculations reveal an insertion–elimination reaction mechanism of the title reaction. The insertion process has two possibilities: one is the O(¹D) atom inserting into C–F bond of CH₃CH₂F produces one energy-rich intermediate CH₃CH₂OF and another is the O(¹D) atom inserting into one of the C–H bonds of CH₃CH₂F produces two energy-rich intermediates, IM1 and IM2. The three intermediates subsequently decompose to various products. The calculations of the branching ratios of various products formed though the three intermediates have been carried out using RRKM theory at the collision energies of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kcal/mol. CH₃CH₂O is the main decomposition product of CH₃CH₂OF. HF and CH₃ are the main decomposition products for IM1; CH₂OH is the main decomposition product for IM2. Since IM1 is more stable and more likely to form than CH₃CH₂OF and IM2, HF and CH₃ are probably the main products of the O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction. Our computational results can give insight to reaction mechanism and provide probable explanations for future experiments.     

Halogen displacement chemistry with silver and alkali metal salts: Preparation of SF5-esters, alcohols, aliphatic olefins, acids and an iodide

It has been found that treatment of SF₅-alkyl halides, especially SF₅(CH₂)₂Br, with silver salts such as CH₃C(O)OAg, p-CH₃C₆H₄SO₃Ag, CF₃SO₃Ag and AgNO₃ provides convenient pathways for preparing the following ester compounds: SF₅CH₂CH₂R (R = CH₃COO, TosO, CF₃SO₃, NO₃), SF₅(CH₂)₃OTos, and SF₅(CF₂)₄(CH₂)₂OAc. Important derivatives prepared from these esters include SF₅(CH₂)₂OH; SF₅(CF₂)₄(CH₂)₂OH. Several alkenes SF₅C(Br)CH₂ and SF₅CH₂(COOCH₃)CCHC(O)OCH₃ are obtained using silver salts. The use of alkali metals salts with SF₅(CH₂)₃Br is studied and yields SF₅(CH₂)₃I; also, a pathway has been developed that extends for SF₅(CH₂)₃₋ the chain by two-carbon atoms and also produces the first SF₅-containing malonic acid.     

Dimethyl carbonate: an environmentally friendly solvent for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)/methyltrioxorhenium (CH3ReO3, MTO) catalytic oxidations

Environmentally friendly oxidations of various organic compounds with the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)/methyltrioxorhenium (CH₃ReO₃, MTO) catalytic system have been described in dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a cheap commercially available and benign chemical having interesting solvating properties, low toxicity and high biodegradability. Oxidations proceeded with good conversions and in good yields. Spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that the [CH₃ReO(O-O)₂] complex was formed in DMC and that it was stable for several days at room temperature.     

反式2-甲基-2-丁烯酸甲酯与臭氧反应机理的计算研究

采用G3B3方法构建反式2-甲基-2-丁烯酸甲酯与O3反应体系以及后续Criegee自由基有、无水分子参与下异构化反应的势能面剖面.结果表明,反式2-甲基-2-丁烯酸甲酯与O3反应首先生成一个稳定的五元环中间体,此中间体按断键位置不同后续裂解反应存在两条路径,分别生成产物P1(CH3CHOO+CH3OC(O)C(CH3)O)和P2(CH3CHO+CH3OC(O)C(CH3)OO).利用经典过渡态理论(TST)并结合Wigner矫正模型计算了200-1200 K温度区间内标题反应的速率常数kTST/W.计算结果显示,294 K时,该反应速率常数为7.55×10-18cm3molecule-1s-1,与Bernard等对类似反应所测实验值非常接近.生成的Criegee自由基(CH3CHOO和CH3OC(O)C(CH3)OO)可分别与水分子发生α-加成及β-氢迁移反应,其中Criegee自由基与水的α-加成反应较其与水的β-氢迁移反应具有优势.另外与无水分子参与CH3CHOO和CH3OC(O)C(CH3)OO异构化反应相比,水分子的参与使得异构化反应较为容易进行.     

The DFT and ab initio investigations on the mechanism of CF3O2 + H reaction

The mechanisms for the reaction of CF₃O₂ with atomic hydrogen were studied with ab initio and DFT methods. The results reveal that the reaction could take place on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES). For the singlet PES, addition/elimination and substitution mechanisms are determined, and the former one is dominant. The most favorable channel involves the association of CF₃O₂ with H atom to form CF₃O₂H (IM1) via a barrierless process, and then the O–O bond dissociates to give out CF₃O + OH. The secondary product might be CF₃OH + O, formed from the O–O bond cleavage in the initial adduct CF₃O(H)O (IM2). Other products such as CF₃ + O₂H, HF + CF₂O₂ and O₂ + CHF₃ are of no importances because of higher barriers. On the triplet PES, only substitution mechanism is located. With higher barriers involving, the channels on the triplet PES could be negligible compared with the channels on the singlet PES.     

Reactions of CF3-enones with ethyl nitroacetate and nitromethane: synthesis of CF3-γ-nitroketones

Reactions of α,β-unsaturated CF₃-ketones with nitromethane and ethyl nitroacetate have been investigated. We found that α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethylketones react with ethyl nitroacetate in the presence of calcinated potassium fluoride to form two classes of 1,4-conjugated addition products: CF₃-γ-nitroketones and 6,6,6-trifluoro-2-nitro-5-oxohexanoates in nearly quantitative yields. The products obtained are precursors for CF₃-pyrrolidine synthesis.     

Excess enthalpies of ketone+methyl methylthiomethyl sulfoxide or +dimethyl sulfoxide at 298.15 k

Excess enthalpies of sixteen binary mixtures between one each of methyl methylthiomethyl sulfoxide (MMTSO) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and one of ketone {CH₃CO(CH₂)_nCH₃, n=0 to 6 and CH₃COC₆H₅} have been determined at 298.15 K. All the mixtures showed positive excess enthalpies over the whole range of mole fractions. Excess enthalpies of ketone+MMTSO or DMSO increased with increasing the number of methylene radicals in the methyl alkyl ketone molecules. Excess enthalpies of MMTSO+ketone are smaller than those of DMSO+ketone for the same ketone mixtures. The limiting excess partial molar enthalpies of the ketone, H ₁ ^E,∞, in all the mixtures with MMTSO were smaller than those of DMSO. Linear relationships were obtained between limiting excess partial molar enthalpies and the number of methylene groups except 2-propanone.     

Spin-spin coupling constant 3 J H,F as a reliable criterion for recognition of individual regioisomeric and tautomeric pairs of H(CF2)2-containing isoxazoles and pyrazoles

The spin-spin coupling constant ³ J _H,F of the H(CF₂)₂ group varies within 1.6—3.5 Hz for 5-R^F- and 3.8—4.5 Hz for 3-R^F-isoxazoles and pyrazoles in CDCl₃ and can serve as a reliable criterion for recognition of regioisomeric and tautomeric structures of H(CF₂)₂-containing heterocyclic compounds.     

CH2＝CHCl与O(3P)反应的理论研究

用量子化学密度泛函理论和QCISD (Quadratic configuration interaction calculation)方法, 对O(³P)与CH₂CHCl的反应进行了理论研究. 在UB3LYP/6-311＋＋G(d,p), UB3LYP/6-31＋＋G(3df, 3pd)计算水平上, 优化了反应物、产物、中间体和过渡态的几何构型, 并在UQCISD(T)/6-311＋＋G(2df,2pd)水平上计算了单点能量. 为了确证过渡态的真实性, 在UB3LYP/6-311＋＋G(3df,3pd)水平上进行了内禀坐标(IRC)计算和频率分析, 并确定了反应机理. 研究结果表明, 反应主要产物为CH₂CHO和Cl.