A Free-Radical Prompted Barrierless Gas-Phase Synthesis of Pentacene

A representative, low-temperature gas-phase reaction mechanism synthesizing polyacenes via ring annulation exemplified by the formation of pentacene (C₂₂H₁₄) along with its benzo[a]tetracene isomer (C₂₂H₁₄) is unraveled by probing the elementary reaction of the 2-tetracenyl radical (C₁₈H₁₁^.) with vinylacetylene (C₄H₄). The pathway to pentacene—a prototype polyacene and a fundamental molecular building block in graphenes, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes—is facilitated by a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas-phase process thus disputing conventional hypotheses that synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) solely proceeds at elevated temperatures. This low-temperature pathway can launch isomer-selective routes to aromatic structures through submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free-radical intermediates, and methodical ring annulation in deep space eventually changing our perception about the chemistry of carbon in our universe.     

A Free‐Radical Prompted Barrierless Gas‐Phase Synthesis of Pentacene

A representative, low‐temperature gas‐phase reaction mechanism synthesizing polyacenes via ring annulation exemplified by the formation of pentacene (C₂₂H₁₄) along with its benzo[a]tetracene isomer (C₂₂H₁₄) is unraveled by probing the elementary reaction of the 2‐tetracenyl radical (C₁₈H₁₁^.) with vinylacetylene (C₄H₄). The pathway to pentacene—a prototype polyacene and a fundamental molecular building block in graphenes, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes—is facilitated by a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase process thus disputing conventional hypotheses that synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) solely proceeds at elevated temperatures. This low‐temperature pathway can launch isomer‐selective routes to aromatic structures through submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and methodical ring annulation in deep space eventually changing our perception about the chemistry of carbon in our universe.     

Reactivity of the Indenyl Radical (C9H7) with Acetylene (C2H2) and Vinylacetylene (C4H4)

The reactions of the indenyl radicals with acetylene (C₂H₂) and vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) is studied in a hot chemical reactor coupled to synchrotron based vacuum ultraviolet ionization mass spectrometry. These experimental results are combined with theory to reveal that the resonantly stabilized and thermodynamically most stable 1-indenyl radical (C₉H₇^.) is always formed in the pyrolysis of 1-, 2-, 6-, and 7-bromoindenes at 1500 K. The 1-indenyl radical reacts with acetylene yielding 1-ethynylindene plus atomic hydrogen, rather than adding a second acetylene molecule and leading to ring closure and formation of fluorene as observed in other reaction mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition or hydrogen abstraction vinylacetylene addition pathways. While this reaction mechanism is analogous to the bimolecular reaction between the phenyl radical (C₆H₅^.) and acetylene forming phenylacetylene (C₆H₅CCH), the 1-indenyl+acetylene→1-ethynylindene+hydrogen reaction is highly endoergic (114 kJ mol⁻¹) and slow, contrary to the exoergic (−38 kJ mol⁻¹) and faster phenyl+acetylene→phenylacetylene+hydrogen reaction. In a similar manner, no ring closure leading to fluorene formation was observed in the reaction of 1-indenyl radical with vinylacetylene. These experimental results are explained through rate constant calculations based on theoretically derived potential energy surfaces.     

适用于汽油参比燃料TRF的多环芳香烃生成机理

构造了一个包括287种组分和1569个反应的汽油参比燃料TRF(toluene reference fuel)燃烧过程中多环芳香烃(PAHs)生成机理的详细化学反应动力学模型,引入四种PAH生长路径将多环芳香烃的生成机理发展到芘A4(C20H12)水平,并通过对PAH产率的分析,指出乙炔(C2H2)、丙炔(C3H3)、乙烯基乙炔(C4H4)以及含有奇数碳原子的环戊二烯自由基(C5H5)和茚基(C9H7)等物质对PAHs生成和生长起到重要作用.该机理可以较准确计算基础燃料(PRF)和TRF火焰的着火延迟期、燃烧火焰中小分子(PAH前驱体C2H2、C3H4等)和PAHs的物质浓度.通过与实验数据的比较表明,该机理在不同温度、压力、化学计量比下具有较好的性能.由此分析,该机理对碳烟前驱物PAHs的预测性能是可靠的.     

The Reaction of o-Benzyne with Vinylacetylene: An Unexplored Way to Produce Naphthalene

The mechanism and kinetics of the reaction of ortho-benzyne with vinylacetylene have been studied by ab initio and density functional CCSD(T)-F12/cc-pVTZ-f12//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculations of the pertinent potential energy surface combined with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus - Master Equation calculations of reaction rate constants at various temperatures and pressures. Under prevailing combustion conditions, the reaction has been shown to predominantly proceed by the biradical acetylenic mechanism initiated by the addition of C₄H₄ to one of the C atoms of the triple bond in ortho-benzyne by the acetylenic end, with a significant contribution of the concerted addition mechanism. Following the initial reaction steps, an extra six-membered ring is produced and the rearrangement of H atoms in this new ring leads to the formation of naphthalene, which can further dissociate to 1- or 2-naphthyl radicals. The o-C₆H₄+C₄H₄ reaction is highly exothermic, by ∼143 kcal/mol to form naphthalene and by 31–32 kcal mol⁻¹ to produce naphthyl radicals plus H, but features relatively high entrance barriers of 9–11 kcal mol⁻¹. Although the reaction is rather slow, much slower than the reaction of phenyl radical with vinylacetylene, it forms naphthalene and 1- and 2-naphthyl radicals directly, with their relative yields controlled by the temperature and pressure, and thus represents a viable source of the naphthalene core under conditions where ortho-benzyne and vinylacetylene are available.     

Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) was studied behind reflected shock waves using both a single-pulse method (reaction time between 0.8 and 3.3 ms) and a time-resolved UV-absorption method (230 nm). The studies were done over the temperature range of 1170–1690 K at the total pressure range of 1.3–2.3 atm. The mechanism was used to interpret both the early and late stages of vinylacetylene decomposition at the high temperatures. It was confirmed that C₄H₄ dissociation proceeded through the following three channels. The rate constant expression of reaction (1) was determined as k₁ = 6.3 × 10¹³ exp(?87.1 kcal/RT) s^?1. The rate constants of the succeeding reactions (chain reaction, C₄H₄ + H → i-C₄H₃ + H₂ and C₄H₄ + H → C₂H₂ + C₂H₃ and decomposition reactions of free radicals, i-C₄H₃ + M → C₄H₂ + H + M) were confirmed or estimated. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hydrogen‐Abstraction/Acetylene‐Addition Exposed

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are omnipresent in the interstellar medium (ISM) and also in carbonaceous meteorites (CM) such as Murchison. However, the basic reaction routes leading to the formation of even the simplest PAH—naphthalene (C₁₀H₈)—via the hydrogen‐abstraction/acetylene‐addition (HACA) mechanism still remain ambiguous. Here, by revealing the uncharted fundamental chemistry of the styrenyl (C₈H₇) and the ortho‐vinylphenyl radicals (C₈H₇)—key transient species of the HACA mechanism—with acetylene (C₂H₂), we provide the first solid experimental evidence on the facile formation of naphthalene in a simulated combustion environment validating the previously postulated HACA mechanism for these two radicals. This study highlights, at the molecular level spanning combustion and astrochemistry, the importance of the HACA mechanism to the formation of the prototype PAH naphthalene.     

Hydrogen Abstraction/Acetylene Addition Revealed

For almost half a century, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proposed to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) and in the chemistry of combustion systems. However, even the most fundamental reaction mechanism assumed to lead to the simplest PAH naphthalene—the hydrogen abstraction–acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism—has eluded experimental observation. Here, by probing the phenylacetylene (C₈H₆) intermediate together with naphthalene (C₁₀H₈) under combustion‐like conditions by photo‐ionization mass spectrometry, the very first direct experimental evidence for the validity of the HACA mechanism which so far had only been speculated theoretically is reported.     

HACA's Heritage: A Free‐Radical Pathway to Phenanthrene in Circumstellar Envelopes of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars

The hydrogen‐abstraction/acetylene‐addition (HACA) mechanism has been central for the last decades in attempting to rationalize the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as detected in carbonaceous meteorites such as in Murchison. Nevertheless, the basic reaction mechanisms leading to the formation of even the simplest tricyclic PAHs like anthracene and phenanthrene are still elusive. Here, by exploring the previously unknown chemistry of the ortho ‐biphenylyl radical with acetylene, we deliver compelling evidence on the efficient synthesis of phenanthrene in carbon‐rich circumstellar environments. However, the lack of formation of the anthracene isomer implies that HACA alone cannot be responsible for the formation of PAHs in extreme environments. Considering the overall picture, alternative pathways such as vinylacetylene‐mediated reactions are required to play a crucial role in the synthesis of complex PAHs in circumstellar envelopes of dying carbon‐rich stars.     

A Unified Mechanism on the Formation of Acenes,Helicenes, and Phenacenes in the Gas Phase

A unified low-temperature reaction mechanism on the formation of acenes, phenacenes, and helicenes—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distinct via the linear, zigzag, and ortho-condensed arrangements of fused benzene rings—is revealed. This mechanism is mediated through a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas-phase chemistry utilizing tetracene, [4]phenacene, and [4]helicene as benchmarks contesting established ideas that molecular mass growth processes to PAHs transpire at elevated temperatures. This mechanism opens up an isomer-selective route to aromatic structures involving submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free-radical intermediates, and systematic ring annulation potentially yielding molecular wires along with racemic mixtures of helicenes in deep space. Connecting helicene templates to the Origins of Life ultimately changes our hypothesis on interstellar carbon chemistry.     

Pyrolysis of vinylacetylene between 300 and 450°C

Vinylacetylene was pyrolyzed at 300–450°C in a packed and an unpacked static reactor with a pinhole bleed to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The reactant and C₈H₈ products were monitored continuously during a reaction by mass spectrometry. In some runs, the products were also analyzed by gas chromatography after the run. In these runs CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, and C₂H₄ were also detected. The reaction for vinylacetylene removal and C₈H₈ formation is homogeneous, second order in reactant, and independent of the presence of a large excess of N₂ or He. However, C₈H₈ formation is about half-suppressed by the addition of the free-radical scavengers NO or O₂. The rate coefficient for total vinylacetylene removal is 1.7 × 10⁶ exp(?79 ± 13 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The major reaction for C₄H₄ removal is polymerization. In addition four C₈H₈ isomers, carbon, and small hydrocarbons are formed. The three major C₈H₈ isomers are styrene, cyclooctatetraene (COT), and 1,5? dihydropentalene (DHP). The C₈H₈ compounds are formed by both molecular and free-radical processes in a second-order process with an overall k ? 3 × 10⁸ exp(?122 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s (average of packed and unpacked cell results). The molecular process occurs with an overall k = 8.5 × 10⁷ exp (?118 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The COT, DHP, and an unidentified isomer (d), are formed exclusively in molecular processes with respective rate coefficients of 4.4 × 10⁴ exp(?77 kJ/mol RT), 1.7 × 10⁵ exp(?89 kJ/mol RT), and 3.1 × 10⁹ exp(? 148 kJ/mol RT) L/mol · s. The styrene is formed both by a direct free-radical process and by isomerization of COT.     

Reaktionen von Fluorphosphoranen mit dem N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-Derivat des o-Aminophenols

Reactions of Fluorophosphoranes with the N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl) Derivative of o-Aminophenol The reaction of the N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) derivative of o-aminophenol, 5 , with the tetrafluorophosphoranes, RPF₄, 2a–2d , (R = F, Me, Ph, and 1-adamantyl) in a 1:1 molar ratio led to monocyclic-1,3,2λ⁵-4,5-benzoxazaphospholes, C₆H₄(O)(NH)PF₂R, 6a–6d . ¹⁹F n.m.r. spectroscopic studies suggest a trigonal-bipyramidal structure with the C₆H₄(O)(NH) grouping attached to one axial and one equatorial position at five-coordinate phosphorus for these compounds. The spirophosphoranes, [C₆H₄(O)(NH)]₂PR, 8a – 8d (R = F, Me, Ph, 1-adamantyl) were obtained from the reaction of the appropriate tetrafluorophosphorane, RPF₄, 2a – 2d with 5 in a 1:2 molar ratio. The compounds 8a – 8d also result from a spontaneous scrambling reaction of 6a – 6d , with the corresponding tetrafluorophosphoranes, RPF₄ ( 2a – 2d ) as the other product. Reaction of the difluorophosphorane, Bu₃ⁿPF₂ with 5 and with N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)urea furnished the cyclic, fluorine-free phosphoranes, 9 and 10 , respectively. The phosphonium bromide, Bu₃ⁿPFBr, reacted with 5 in a 1:1 and a 2:1 molar ratio to produce the ionic compounds, [C₆H₄(OSiMe₃)(NHPBu₃ⁿ)]⁺Br^?, 11 , and [C₆H₄(OPBu₃ⁿ)HNPBu₃ⁿ]²⁺ 2 Br^?, 12 , respectively.     

C9H12+·侧链分解反应机理的理论研究

正苯丙烷正离子的分解过程可以作为研究烷基苯正离子分解反应机理的原型。使用Gaussian98程序包,在B3LYP/6-311++G**基组水平上,C9H12+·分解反应系统的各反应被详细研究。用振动模式分析充分研究了各反应通道以确定过渡态,用电子布居分析讨论电子的分布并阐明反应机理。C9H12+·链反应可以由C-H键断裂而引发,但是有一个直接产生C8H9+ + CH3·的通道。     

7H-benz [kl]acridin-7-ylium closed-shell ion produced from 1,8-bis(phenylamino)naphthalenes under electron impact: Tandem mass spectrometric structure elucidation

Not only strongly basic aromatic amines such as ‘proton sponges’ show characteristic [M – Me₂NH – H]⁺ peaks corresponding to cyclization to stable heterocyclic ions under electron impact. The fragmentation of the title compounds, which are weak bases, leads to [M – RNH₂ – C₆H₅]⁺ heteroaromatic ions. These are the 7-phenyl-7H-benz[kl]acridine radical cation and the delocalized stable 7H-benz[kl]acridin-7-ylium ion as shown by unimolecular metastable ion spectra, collision-induced decomposition (CID) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and accurate mass measurements. The high-collision-energy CID tandem mass spectra of these ions are perfectly superimposable on those of the ions produced by the reference substance, 7-phenyl-7H-benz[kl]acridine obtained as a by-product in the Ullmann phenylation of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene. This combination of MS/MS experiments also provides strong support for the gas-phase reaction mechanism leading to the benz[kl]acridine ions and for the structures of these ions.     

Dynamics simulation and reaction pathway analysis of characteristics of soot particles in ethylene oxidation at high temperature

Soot particles characteristics were investigated numerically for high temperature oxidation of C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ (C/O ratio of 2.2) in a closed jet-stirred/plug-flow reactor (JSR/PFR) system. Based on the growth mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), two mechanisms were used to explore the formation pathways of soot precursors and soot. Numerical results were compared with the experimental and reference data. The simulation results show that the value predicted for small molecule intermediates within A1 gives a strong regularity, consistent trend with reference data. However, with the hydrogen-abstraction-carbon-addition (HACA) growth mechanism, the predicted value for beyond-A1 PAH macromolecules and soot volume fraction are smaller than the experimental data. The results also show that the predicted soot volume fraction is in good agreement with experimental data when a combination of the HACA and PAHs condensation (HACA + PAH-PAH) growth mechanisms is used. Analyses of the A1 sensitivity and reaction pathway elucidated that A1 are mainly formed from C₂H₃, C₂H₂, C₃H₃, C₆H₅OH, A1C₂H and A1-. The reaction 2C₃H₃ → A1 is the dominant route of benzene formation. The prediction results and an analysis of the A3 reaction pathway indicate that the growth process from benzene to larger aromatic hydrocarbons (beyond two-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]) goes by two pathways, i.e., HACA combined with the PAH-PAH radical recombination and addition reaction growth mechanisms.     

A Unified Mechanism on the Formation of Acenes,Helicenes, and Phenacenes in the Gas Phase

A unified low‐temperature reaction mechanism on the formation of acenes, phenacenes, and helicenes—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distinct via the linear, zigzag, and ortho‐condensed arrangements of fused benzene rings—is revealed. This mechanism is mediated through a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase chemistry utilizing tetracene, [4]phenacene, and [4]helicene as benchmarks contesting established ideas that molecular mass growth processes to PAHs transpire at elevated temperatures. This mechanism opens up an isomer‐selective route to aromatic structures involving submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and systematic ring annulation potentially yielding molecular wires along with racemic mixtures of helicenes in deep space. Connecting helicene templates to the Origins of Life ultimately changes our hypothesis on interstellar carbon chemistry.     

Specific Processes and Scrambling in the Dehydrogenation of Ethane and the Degenerate Hydrogen Exchange in the Gas‐Phase Ion Chemistry of the Ni(C,H3,O)+/C2H6 Couple

A mechanistically unprecedented situation characterizes the gas‐phase ion chemistry of Ni(C,H₃,O)⁺ when reacted under thermal, single‐collision conditions with ethane. A dehydrogenation channel leading to Ni(C₃,H₇,O)⁺ is to 90% preceded by a complete loss of positional identity of all nine H‐atoms of the encounter complex (‘scrambling’), whereas ca. 10% of the reaction exhibit a selective C? H bond activation of the alkane. In addition, a degenerate H exchange between ethane and the (C,H₃,O) unit occurs as a side reaction, the mechanistic details of which remain unknown for the time being.     

Mass spectra of organometallic compounds: XIV—Some monometallic olefing manganese tricarbonyl derivatives

The metastable ion supported fragmentation process in the mass spectra of the cyclohexadienyl derivative C₆H₇Mn(CO)₃, the cycloheptadienyl derivative C₇H₉Mn(CO)₃, the 1,2,3,4,5-and 1,2,3,5,6-pentahaptocyclootadienyl derivatives C₈H₁₁Mn(CO)₃, the cyclooctatrienyl derivative C₈H₉Mn(CO)₃ and the substituted cyclopentadienyl derivative (CH₃)₂NCH₂C₅H₄Mn(CO)₃, are described. Losses of carbonyl groups, generally stepwise, from the molecular ions to give the corresponding [M – 3CO]⁺· ions are first observed. Further fragmentation of the carbonyl-free [M – 3CO]⁺· ions can involve a variety of processes such as the following: (a) elimination of a neutral manganese atom to give a hydrocarbon fragment; (b) elimination of a neutral hydrocarbon fragment to give an [MnH]⁺· ion; (c) dehydrogenation; (d) elimination of a 2-carbon C₂H₂ or C₂H₄ fragment; (e) elimination of a C₃H₄ or C₃H₆ fragment as a neutral species when it is bridging two carbon atoms bonded to manganese, as in C₈H₉Mn(CO)₃ and 1,2,3,4,5,h⁵-C₈H₁₁Mn(CO)₃, respectively. Fragmentation of the [M – 3CO]⁺· ion in (CH₃)₂NCH₂C₅H₄Mn(CO)₃ presents the following additional features: (a) elimination of C₆H₆ with a nitrogen shift from carbon to manganese; (b) elimination of a neutral dimethylamino fragment to give [C₆H₆Mn]⁺·, which then loses neutral C₆H₆, C₆H₅ or Mn fragments and thus is formulated tentatively as [(fulvene)Mn]⁺· or [C₆H₅MnH]⁺· rather than [(benzene)Mn]⁺·.     

Theoretical study on the HACA chemistry of naphthalenyl radicals and acetylene: The formation of C12H8, C14H8, and C14H10 species

The hydrogen-abstraction-C₂H₂-addition (HACA) chemistry of naphthalenyl radicals has been studied extensively, but there is a significant discrepancy in product distributions reported or predicted in literature regarding appearance of C₁₄H₈ and C₁₄H₁₀ species. Starting from ab initio calculations, a comprehensive theoretical model describing the HACA chemistry of both 1- and 2-naphthalenyl radicals is generated. Pressure-dependent kinetics are considered in the C₁₂H₉, C₁₄H₉, and C₁₄H₁₁ potential energy surfaces including formally direct well-skipping pathways. On the C₁₂H₉ PES, reaction pathways were found connecting two entry points: 1-naphthalenyl (1-C₁₀H₇) + acetylene (C₂H₂) and 2-C₁₀H₇ + C₂H₂. A significant amount of acenaphthylene is predicted to be formed from 2-C₁₀H₇ + C₂H₂, and the appearance of C₁₄H₈ isomers is predicted in the model simulation, consistent with high-temperature experimental results from Parker et al. At 1500 K, 1-C₁₀H₇ + C₂H₂ mostly generates acenaphthylene through a formally direct pathway, which predicted selectivity of 66% at 30 Torr and 56% at 300 Torr. The reaction of 2-C₁₀H₇ with C₂H₂ at 1500 K yields 2-ethynylnaphthalene as the most dominant product, followed by acenaphthylene mainly generated via isomerization of 2-C₁₀H₇ to 1-C₁₀H₇. Both the 1-C₁₀H₇ and 2-C₁₀H₇ reactions with C₂H₂ form some C₁₄H₈ products, but negligible phenanthrene and anthracene formation is predicted at 1500 K. A rate-of-production analysis reveals that C₁₄H₈ formation is strongly affected by the rates of H-abstraction from acenaphthylene, 1-ethynylnaphthalene, and 2-ethynylnaphthalene, so the kinetics of these reactions are accurately calculated at the high level G3(MP2,CC)//B3LYP/6-311G^** level of theory. At intermediate temperatures like 800 K, acenaphthylene + H are the leading bimolecular products of 1-C₁₀H₇ + C₂H₂, and 1-acenaphthenyl radical is the most abundant C₁₂H₉ isomer due to its stability. The predicted product distribution of 2-C₁₀H₇ + C₂H₂ at 800 K, in contrast to the results of Parker et al is predicted to consist primarily of species containing three fused benzene rings—for example, phenanthrene and anthracene—as the leading products, indicating HACA chemistry is valid from two to three ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under some conditions. Further experiments are needed for validation.     

A Theoretical Investigation on the Reaction Mechanism of the C8H10+· Side‐Chain Decomposition Processes

The dissociation of ethylbenzene cation C₈H₁₀^+· served as a prototype to investigate the decompasition mechanisms of alkylbenzene cations. The reactions of C₈H₁₀^+· decomposition reaction system have been studied extensively at the B3LYP/6‐311++G?? ?? level with Gaussion 98 package. The chain reaction of C₈H₁₀^+· dissociation is initiated by C–H bond rupture. All reaction channels were fully investigated with the vibrational mode analysis to confirm the transition states and reveal the reaction mechanism. The energetically most favorable pathway is C₈H₁₀^+·→TS4→P2+H· and the channel leading to C₈H₁₀^+· and C₂H₄ is also competitive.