The importance of NO+ (H2O)4 in the conversion of NO+ (H2O)n to H3O+ (H2O)n: I. Kinetics measurements and statistical rate modeling

The kinetics for conversion of NO(+)(H(2)O)(n) to H(3)O(+)(H(2)O)(n) has been investigated as a function of temperature from 150 to 400 K. In contrast to previous studies, which show that the conversion goes completely through a reaction of NO(+)(H(2)O)(3), the present results show that NO(+)(H(2)O)(4) plays an increasing role in the conversion as the temperature is lowered. Rate constants are derived for the clustering of H(2)O to NO(+)(H(2)O)(1-3) and the reactions of NO(+)(H(2)O)(3,4) with H(2)O to form H(3)O(+)(H(2)O)(2,3), respectively. In addition, thermal dissociation of NO(+)(H(2)O)(4) to lose HNO(2) was also found to be important. The rate constants for the clustering increase substantially with the lowering of the temperature. Flux calculations show that NO(+)(H(2)O)(4) accounts for over 99% of the conversion at 150 K and even 20% at 300 K, although it is too small to be detectable. The experimental data are complimented by modeling of the falloff curves for the clustering reactions. The modeling shows that, for many of the conditions, the data correspond to the falloff regime of third body association.     

Complexes of HNO3 and NO3 - with NO2 and N2O4, and their potential role in atmospheric HONO formation

Calculations were performed to determine the structures, energetics, and spectroscopy of the atmospherically relevant complexes (HNO(3)).(NO(2)), (HNO(3)).(N(2)O(4)), (NO(3)(-)).(NO(2)), and (NO(3)(-)).(N(2)O(4)). The binding energies indicate that three of the four complexes are quite stable, with the most stable (NO(3)(-)).(N(2)O(4)) possessing binding energy of almost -14 kcal mol(-1). Vibrational frequencies were calculated for use in detecting the complexes by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. An ATR-FTIR experiment showed features at 1632 and 1602 cm(-1) that are attributed to NO(2) complexed to NO(3)(-) and HNO(3), respectively. The electronic states of (HNO(3)).(N(2)O(4)) and (NO(3)(-)).(N(2)O(4)) were investigated using an excited state method and it was determined that both complexes possess one low-lying excited state that is accessible through absorption of visible radiation. Evidence for the existence of (NO(3)(-)).(N(2)O(4)) was obtained from UV/vis absorption spectra of N(2)O(4) in concentrated HNO(3), which show a band at 320 nm that is blue shifted by 20 nm relative to what is observed for N(2)O(4) dissolved in organic solvents. Finally, hydrogen transfer reactions within the (HNO(3)).(NO(2)) and (HNO(3)).(N(2)O(4)) complexes leading to the formation of HONO, were investigated. In both systems the calculated potential profiles rule out a thermal mechanism, but indicate the reaction could take place following the absorption of visible radiation. We propose that these complexes are potentially important in the thermal and photochemical production of HONO observed in previous laboratory and field studies.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the hydrolysis of N2O4 isomers in the gas phase

The mechanism and kinetics for the gas-phase hydrolysis of N(2)O(4) isomers have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p) level of theory in conjunction with statistical rate constant calculations. Calculated results show that the contribution from the commonly assumed redox reaction of sym-N(2)O(4) to the homogeneous gas-phase hydrolysis of NO(2) can be unequivocally ruled out due to the high barrier (37.6 kcal/mol) involved; instead, t-ONONO(2) directly formed by the association of 2NO(2), was found to play the key role in the hydrolysis process. The kinetics for the hydrolysis reaction, 2NO(2) + H(2)O ? HONO + HNO(3) (A) can be quatitatively interpreted by the two step mechanism: 2NO(2) → t-ONONO(2), t-ONONO(2) + H(2)O → HONO + HNO(3). The predicted total forward and reverse rate constants for reaction (A), k(tf) = 5.36 × 10(-50)T(3.95) exp(1825/T) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(tr) = 3.31 × 10(-19)T(2.478) exp(-3199/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively, in the temperature range 200-2500 K, are in good agreement with the available experimental data.     

Isotope exchange in reactions between D2O and size-selected ionic water clusters containing pyridine, H+ (pyridine)m(H2O)n

Pyridine containing water clusters, H(+)(pyridine)(m)(H(2)O)(n), have been studied both experimentally by a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer and by quantum chemical calculations. In the experiments, H(+)(pyridine)(m)(H(2)O)(n) with m = 1-4 and n = 0-80 are observed. For the cluster distributions observed, there are no magic numbers, neither in the abundance spectra, nor in the evaporation spectra from size selected clusters. Experiments with size-selected clusters H(+)(pyridine)(m)(H(2)O)(n), with m = 0-3, reacting with D(2)O at a center-of-mass energy of 0.1 eV were also performed. The cross-sections for H/D isotope exchange depend mainly on the number of water molecules in the cluster and not on the number of pyridine molecules. Clusters having only one pyridine molecule undergo D(2)O/H(2)O ligand exchange, while H(+)(pyridine)(m)(H(2)O)(n), with m = 2, 3, exhibit significant H/D scrambling. These results are rationalized by quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP and MP2) for H(+)(pyridine)(1)(H(2)O)(n) and H(+)(pyridine)(2)(H(2)O)(n), with n = 1-6. In clusters containing one pyridine, the water molecules form an interconnected network of hydrogen bonds associated with the pyridinium ion via a single hydrogen bond. For clusters containing two pyridines, the two pyridine molecules are completely separated by the water molecules, with each pyridine being positioned diametrically opposite within the cluster. In agreement with experimental observations, these calculations suggest a "see-saw mechanism" for pendular proton transfer between the two pyridines in H(+)(pyridine)(2)(H(2)O)(n) clusters.     

Photochemical processes induced by vibrational overtone excitations: dynamics simulations for cis-HONO, trans-HONO, HNO3, and HNO3-H2O

Photochemical processes in HNO3, HNO3-H2O, and cis- and trans-HONO following overtone excitation of the OH stretching mode are studied by classical trajectory simulations. Initial conditions for the trajectories are sampled according to the initially prepared vibrational wave function. Semiempirical potential energy surfaces are used in "on-the-fly" simulations. Several tests indicate at least semiquantitative validity of the potential surfaces employed. A number of interesting new processes and intermediate species are found. The main results include the following: (1) In excitation of HNO3 to the fifth and sixth OH-stretch overtone, hopping of the H atom between the oxygen atoms is found to take place in nearly all trajectories, and can persist for many picoseconds. H-atom hopping events have a higher yield and a faster time scale than the photodissociation of HNO3 into OH and NO2. (2) A fraction of the trajectories for HNO3 show isomerization into HOONO, which in a few cases dissociates into HOO and NO. (3) For high overtone excitation of HONO, isomerization into the weakly bound species HOON is seen in all trajectories, in part of the events as an intermediate step on the way to dissociation into OH + NO. This process has not been reported previously. Well-established processes for HONO, including cis-trans isomerization and H hopping are also observed. (4) Only low overtone levels of HNO3-H2O have sufficiently long liftimes to be spectrocopically relevant. Excitation of these OH stretching overtones is found to result in the dissociation of the cluster H hopping, or dissociation of HNO3 does not take place. The results demonstrate the richness of processes induced by overtone excitation of HNO(x) species, with evidence for new phenomena. Possible relevance of the results to atmospheric processes is discussed.     

Heterogeneous chemistry of the NO3 free radical and N2O5 on decane flame soot at ambient temperature: reaction products and kinetics

The interaction of NO3 free radical and N2O5 with laboratory flame soot was investigated in a Knudsen flow reactor at T = 298 K equipped with beam-sampling mass spectrometry and in situ REMPI detection of NO2 and NO. Decane (C10H22) has been used as a fuel in a co-flow device for the generation of gray and black soot from a rich and a lean diffusion flame, respectively. The gas-phase reaction products of NO3 reacting with gray soot were NO, N2O5, HONO, and HNO3 with HONO being absent on black soot. The major loss of NO3 is adsorption on gray and black soot at yields of 65 and 59%, respectively, and the main gas-phase reaction product is N2O5 owing to heterogeneous recombination of NO3 with NO2 and NO according to NO3 + {C} --> NO + products. HONO was quantitatively accounted for by the interaction of NO2 with gray soot in agreement with previous work. Product N2O5 was generated through heterogeneous recombination of NO3 with excess NO2, and the small quantity of HNO3 was explained by heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5. The reaction products of N2O5 on both types of soot were equimolar amounts of NO and NO2, which suggest the reaction N2O5 + {C} --> N2O3(ads) + products with N2O3(ads) decomposing into NO + NO2. The initial and steady-state uptake coefficients gamma 0 and gamma ss of both NO3 and N2O5 based on the geometric surface area continuously increase with decreasing concentration at a concentration threshold for both types of soot. gamma ss of NO3 extrapolated to [NO3] --> 0 is independent of the type of soot and is 0.33 +/- 0.06 whereas gamma ss for [N2O5] --> 0 is (2.7 +/- 1.0) x 10(-2) and (5.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(-2) for gray and black soot, respectively. Above the concentration threshold of both NO3 and N2O5, gamma ss is independent of concentration with gamma ss(NO3) = 5.0 x 10(-2) and gamma ss(N2O5) = 5.0 x 10(-3). The inverse concentration dependence of gamma below the concentration threshold reveals a complex reaction mechanism for both NO3 and N2O5. The atmospheric significance of these results is briefly discussed.     

Structural rearrangements and magic numbers in reactions between pyridine-containing water clusters and ammonia

Molecular cluster ions H(+)(H(2)O)(n), H(+)(pyridine)(H(2)O)(n), H(+)(pyridine)(2)(H(2)O)(n), and H(+)(NH(3))(pyridine)(H(2)O)(n) (n = 16-27) and their reactions with ammonia have been studied experimentally using a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Abundance spectra, evaporation spectra, and reaction branching ratios display magic numbers for H(+)(NH(3))(pyridine)(H(2)O)(n) and H(+)(NH(3))(pyridine)(2)(H(2)O)(n) at n = 18, 20, and 27. The reactions between H(+)(pyridine)(m)(H(2)O)(n) and ammonia all seem to involve intracluster proton transfer to ammonia, thus giving clusters of high stability as evident from the loss of several water molecules from the reacting cluster. The pattern of the observed magic numbers suggest that H(+)(NH(3))(pyridine)(H(2)O)(n) have structures consisting of a NH(4)(+)(H(2)O)(n) core with the pyridine molecule hydrogen-bonded to the surface of the core. This is consistent with the results of high-level ab initio calculations of small protonated pyridine/ammonia/water clusters.     

In Process Citation

Knowing the values of the equilibrium constants corresponding to the reactions N(2)O(4) right harpoon over left harpoon 2NO(2) and N(2)O(4) right harpoon over left harpoon NO(+) + NO(3)(-) in sulpholane, we have undertaken the electrochemical study of N(2)O(4) by means of linear and cyclic voltammetry at the platinum electrode. The N(2)O(4) species undergoes one oxidation step N(2)O(4) right harpoon over left harpoon 2NO(2) right harpoon over left harpoon 2NO(2)(+) + 2e and two reduction steps NO(2) + N(2)O(4) + e(-)right harpoon over left harpoon N(2)O(3) + NO(3)(-) (1st wave), followed by 3N(2)O(4) + 2e(-) right harpoon over left harpoon 2N(2)O(3) + 2NO(3)(-), N(2)O(4) + e(-) right harpoon over left harpoon NO + NO(3)(-), 2N(2)O(3) + e(-) right harpoon over left harpoon 3NO + NO(3)(-) (2nd wave). The redox properties of N(2)O(4) are complicated by trace quantities of water because of the formation of the electroactive species N(2)O(3), HNO(3) and HNO(2) according to N(2)O(4) + H(2)O right harpoon over left harpoon HNO(2) + HNO(3) and N(2)O(4) + HNO(2) right harpoon over left harpoon N(2)O(3) + HNO(3). The standard potentials of the couples concerned have been evaluated and are discussed. sont discutés et évalués.     

Infrared spectroscopy of Cu+(H2O)(n) and Ag+(H2O)(n): coordination and solvation of noble-metal ions

M(+)(H(2)O)(n) and M(+)(H(2)O)(n)Ar ions (M=Cu and Ag) are studied for exploring coordination and solvation structures of noble-metal ions. These species are produced in a laser-vaporization cluster source and probed with infrared (IR) photodissociation spectroscopy in the OH-stretch region using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Density functional theory calculations are also carried out for analyzing the experimental IR spectra. Partially resolved rotational structure observed in the spectrum of Ag(+)(H(2)O)(1) x Ar indicates that the complex is quasilinear in an Ar-Ag(+)-O configuration with the H atoms symmetrically displaced off axis. The spectra of the Ar-tagged M(+)(H(2)O)(2) are consistent with twofold coordination with a linear O-M(+)-O arrangement for these ions, which is stabilized by the s-d hybridization in M(+). Hydrogen bonding between H(2)O molecules is absent in Ag(+)(H(2)O)(3) x Ar but detected in Cu(+)(H(2)O)(3) x Ar through characteristic changes in the position and intensity of the OH-stretch transitions. The third H(2)O attaches directly to Ag(+) in a tricoordinated form, while it occupies a hydrogen-bonding site in the second shell of the dicoordinated Cu(+). The preference of the tricoordination is attributable to the inefficient 5s-4d hybridization in Ag(+), in contrast to the extensive 4s-3d hybridization in Cu(+) which retains the dicoordination. This is most likely because the s-d energy gap of Ag(+) is much larger than that of Cu(+). The fourth H(2)O occupies the second shells of the tricoordinated Ag(+) and the dicoordinated Cu(+), as extensive hydrogen bonding is observed in M(+)(H(2)O)(4) x Ar. Interestingly, the Ag(+)(H(2)O)(4) x Ar ions adopt not only the tricoordinated form but also the dicoordinated forms, which are absent in Ag(+)(H(2)O)(3) x Ar but revived at n=4. Size dependent variations in the spectra of Cu(+)(H(2)O)(n) for n=5-7 provide evidence for the completion of the second shell at n=6, where the dicoordinated Cu(+)(H(2)O)(2) subunit is surrounded by four H(2)O molecules. The gas-phase coordination number of Cu(+) is 2 and the resulting linearly coordinated structure acts as the core of further solvation processes.     

Ab initio electron correlated studies on the intracluster reaction of NO+ (H2O)(n) → H3O+ (H2O)(n-2) (HONO) (n = 4 and 5)

Hydrated nitrosonium ion clusters NO(+)(H(2)O)(n) (n = 4 and 5) were investigated by using MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory to clarify isomeric reaction pathways for formation of HONO and fully hydrated hydride ions. We found some new isomers and transition state structures in each hydration number, whose lowest activation energies of the intracluster reactions were found to be 4.1 and 3.4 kcal mol(-1) for n = 4 and n = 5, respectively. These thermodynamic properties and full quantum mechanical molecular dynamics simulation suggest that product isomers with HONO and fully hydrated hydride ions can be obtained at n = 4 and n = 5 in terms of excess hydration binding energies which can overcome these activation barriers.     

Observations of different core water cluster ions Y-(H2O)n (Y = O2, HOx, NOx, COx) and magic number in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge mass spectrometry

Reliable mass spectrometry data from large water clusters Y(-)(H(2)O)(n) with various negative core ions Y(-) such as O(2)(-), HO(-), HO(2)(-), NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-), NO(3)(-)(HNO(3))(2), CO(3)(-) and HCO(4)(-) have been obtained using atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge mass spectrometry. All the core Y(-) ions observed were ionic species that play a central role in tropospheric ion chemistry. These mass spectra exhibited discontinuities in ion peak intensity at certain size clusters Y(-)(H(2)O)(m) indicating specific thermochemical stability. Thus, Y(-)(H(2)O)(m) may correspond to the magic number or first hydrated shell in the cluster series Y(-)(H(2)O)(n). The high intensity discontinuity at HO(-)(H(2)O)(3) observed was the first mass spectrometric evidence for the specific stability of HO(-)(H(2)O)(3) as the first hydrated shell which Eigen postulated in 1964. The negative ion water clusters Y(-)(H(2)O)(n) observed in the mass spectra are most likely to be formed via core ion formation in the ambient discharge area (760 torr) and the growth of water clusters by adiabatic expansion in the vacuum region of the mass spectrometers (≈1 torr). The detailed mechanism of the formation of the different core water cluster ions Y(-)(H(2)O)(n) is described.     

Use of HNO(3) as the source of NO to prepare a nitric oxide complex of ruthenium

Reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl(2), where bisox is 4,4,4',4'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bisoxazoline, with HNO(3) in 1 : 4 molar proportion in boiling water under N(2) atmosphere and subsequent addition of an excess of NaClO(4).H(2)O yields [Ru(bisox)(HL)(NO)](ClO(4))(NO(3)) (1). HL is a hydrolysed form of bisox where one of the oxazoline rings opens up. X-Ray crystallography shows that 1 contains an octahedral RuN(5)O core. HL binds the metal through an imino N, an amide N and an alcoholic O atom. Reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl(2) with an excess of NaNO(2) in water gives cis-Ru(bisox)(2)(NO(2))(2) (2). On acidification by HClO(4) in methanol, is smoothly converted to cis-[Ru(bisox)(2)(NO(2))(NO)](ClO(4))(2) (3) due to equilibrium (1). [formula: see text] (1) The X-ray crystal structures of 2 and 3 have also been determined. NO binds Ru in 1 and 3 linearly. The Ru-NO bond length in 1 is 1.764(13) A and that in 3 is approximately 1.78 A. All the three complexes have been characterised by FTIR, NMR and ESIMS. The NO stretching frequencies in 1 and 3 are 1897 and 1936 cm(-1) respectively. While 3 reverts back to 2 readily in presence of OH(-) [equilibrium (1)], 1 does not react with OH(-). It is concluded that while in the reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl(2) with HNO(3), bisox is hydrolysed following abstraction of NO from HNO(3), generation of the nitrosyl complex 3 via reaction (1) is not accompanied with such hydrolysis.     

Raman spectra of complexes of HNO3 and NO3- with NO2 at surfaces and with N2O4 in solution

Raman spectra of HNO(3).NO(2) have been detected on liquid and solid surfaces in the presence of concentrated HNO(3) and NO(2) gas. The Raman spectrum of HNO(3) solutions containing N(2)O(4) has been partly reinterpreted in terms of contributions from HNO(3).N(2)O(4) and N(2)O(4).NO(3)(-) complexes.     

Near-resonant vibration-to-vibration energy transfer in the NO+-N2 collisions

First principles model calculations of the vibration-to-vibration (VV) energy transfer (ET) processes NO(+)(nu=1)+N(2)(nu=n-1)-->NO(+)(nu=0)+N(2)(nu=n)+(28.64n-14.67) cm(-1) and NO(+)(nu=n)+N(2)(nu=0)-->NO(+)(nu=n-1)+N(2)(nu=1)+(32.52(n-1)+13.97) cm(-1) for n=1-3 in the 300-1000 K temperature range are performed. The VV ET probability is computed for three mechanisms: (1) The charge on NO(+) acting on the average polarizability of N(2) induces a dipole moment in N(2) which then interacts with the permanent dipole moment of NO(+) to mediate the energy transfer. (2) The charge on NO(+) acting on the anisotropic polarizability of N(2) induces a dipole moment in N(2) which then interacts with the permanent dipole moment of NO(+) to mediate the energy transfer. (3) The dipole moment of NO(+) interacts with the quadrupole moment of N(2) to mediate the energy transfer. Because the probability amplitudes of the second and third mechanisms add coherently the ET probability for these two mechanisms is given as a single number. The probability of energy transfer per collision is in the 5 x 10(-3) range. The results of this calculation are compared with the available experimental data. This calculation should help quantify the role of NO(+) in the energy budget of the upper atmosphere.     

Nitrous acid as a source of NO and NO(2) in the reaction with a macrocyclic superoxorhodium(III) complex

The title reaction takes place according to the stoichiometry 2L(2)RhOO(2+) + 3HNO(2) + H(2)O --> 2L(2)Rh(OH(2))(3+) + 3NO(3)(-) + H(+) (L(2) = meso-Me(6)-[14]ane-N(4)). The kinetics are second order in HNO(2) and independent of the concentration of L(2)RhOO(2+), rate = (k(1) + k(2)[H(+)])[HNO(2)](2), where k(1) = 10.9 M(-1) s(-1) and k(2) = 175 M(-2) s(-1) at 25 degrees C and 0.10 M ionic strength. The reaction produces two observable intermediates, the nitrato (L(2)RhONO(2)(2+)) and hydroperoxo (L(2)RhOOH(2+)) complexes. The product analysis and kinetics are indicative of the initial rate-controlling formation of NO and NO(2), both of which react rapidly with L(2)RhOO(2+) in subsequent steps. The reaction with NO produces mainly L(2)RhONO(2)(2+), which hydrolyzes to L(2)Rh(OH(2))(3+) and NO(3)(-). Another minor pathway generates the hydroperoxo complex, which was detected by its known reaction with Fe(aq)(2+). The reaction of NO(2) with L(2)RhOO(2+) requires an additional equivalent of HNO(2) and produces L(2)Rh(OH(2))(3+) and NO(3)(-) via a proposed peroxynitrato complex L(2)RhOONO(2)(2+). This work provides strong evidence for the long-debated reaction between HNO(2) and H(2)NO(2)(+) to generate N(2)O(3).     

Tuning of the internal energy and isomer distribution in small protonated water clusters H(+)(H2O)(4-8): an application of the inert gas messenger technique

Infrared spectroscopy of gas-phase hydrated clusters provides us much information on structures and dynamics of water networks. However, interpretation of spectra is often difficult because of high internal energy (vibrational temperature) of clusters and coexistence of many isomers. Here we report an approach to vary these factors by using the inert gas (so-called "messenger")-mediated cooling technique. Protonated water clusters with a messenger (M), H(+)(H(2)O)(4-8)·M (M = Ne, Ar, (H(2))(2)), are formed in a molecular beam and probed with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the OH stretch region. Observed spectra are compared with each other and with bare H(+)(H(2)O)(n). They show clear messenger dependence in their bandwidths and relative band intensities, reflecting different internal energy and isomer distribution, respectively. It is shown that the internal energy follows the order H(+)(H(2)O)(n) > H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·(H(2))(2) > H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·Ar > H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·Ne, while the isomer-selectivity, which changes the isomer distribution in the bare system, follows the order H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·Ar > H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·(H(2))(2) > H(+)(H(2)O)(n)·Ne ~ (H(+)(H(2)O)(n)). Although the origin of the isomer-selectivity is unclear, comparison among spectra measured with different messengers is very powerful in spectral analyses and makes it possible to easily assign spectral features of each isomer.     

Dissociative recombination of H+(H2O)3 and D+(D2O)3 water cluster ions with electrons: cross sections and branching ratios

Dissociative recombination (DR) of the water cluster ions H(+)(H(2)O)(3) and D(+)(D(2)O)(3) with electrons has been studied at the heavy-ion storage ring CRYRING (Manne Siegbahn Laboratory, Stockholm University). For the first time, absolute DR cross sections have been measured for H(+)(H(2)O)(3) in the energy range of 0.001-0.8 eV, and relative cross sections have been measured for D(+)(D(2)O)(3) in the energy range of 0.001-1.0 eV. The DR cross sections for H(+)(H(2)O)(3) are larger than previously observed for H(+)(H(2)O)(n) (n=1,2), which is in agreement with the previously observed trend indicating that the DR rate coefficient increases with size of the water cluster ion. Branching ratios have been determined for the dominating product channels. Dissociative recombination of H(+)(H(2)O)(3) mainly results in the formation of 3H(2)O+H (probability of 0.95+/-0.05) and with a possible minor channel resulting in 2H(2)O+OH+H(2) (0.05+/-0.05). The dominating channels for DR of D(+)(D(2)O)(3) are 3D(2)O+D (0.88+/-0.03) and 2D(2)O+OD+D(2) (0.09+/-0.02). The branching ratios are comparable to earlier DR results for H(+)(H(2)O)(2) and D(+)(D(2)O)(2), which gave 2X(2)O+X (X=H,D) with a probability of over 0.9.     

Metal-catalyzed anaerobic disproportionation of hydroxylamine. Role of diazene and nitroxyl intermediates in the formation of N2, N2O, NO+, and NH3

The catalytic disproportionation of NH(2)OH has been studied in anaerobic aqueous solution, pH 6-9.3, at 25.0 degrees C, with Na(3)[Fe(CN)(5)NH(3)].3H(2)O as a precursor of the catalyst, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3)(-). The oxidation products are N(2), N(2)O, and NO(+) (bound in the nitroprusside ion, NP), and NH(3) is the reduction product. The yields of N(2)/N(2)O increase with pH and with the concentration of NH(2)OH. Fast regime conditions involve a chain process initiated by the NH(2) radical, generated upon coordination of NH(2)OH to [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3)(-). NH(3) and nitroxyl, HNO, are formed in this fast process, and HNO leads to the production of N(2), N(2)O, and NP. An intermediate absorbing at 440 nm is always observed, whose formation and decay depend on the medium conditions. It was identified by UV-vis, RR, and (15)NMR spectroscopies as the diazene-bound [Fe(II)(CN)(5)N(2)H(2)](3)(-) ion and is formed in a competitive process with the radical path, still under the fast regime. At high pH's or NH(2)OH concentrations, an inhibited regime is reached, with slow production of only N(2) and NH(3). The stable red diazene-bridged [(NC)(5)FeHN=NHFe(CN)(5)](6)(-) ion is formed at an advanced degree of NH(2)OH consumption.     

Alternative low-energy mechanisms for isotopic exchange in gas-phase D2O-H+(H2O)n reactions.

Molecular-dynamics (MD) trajectories and high-level ab initio methods have been used to study the low-energy mechanism for D(2)O-H(+)(H(2)O)(n) reactions. At low collisional energies, MD simulations show that the collisional complexes are long-lived and undergo fast monomolecular isomerization, converting between different isomers within 50-500 ps. Such processes, primarily involving water-molecule shifts along a water chain, require the surmounting of very-low-energy barriers and present sizable non- Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) effects, which are interpreted as a lack of randomization of the internal kinetic energy. Interestingly, the rate of water shifts was found to increase upon increasing the size of the cluster. Based on these findings, we propose to incorporate the following steps into the mechanism for low-energy isotopic scrambling these D(2)O-H(+)(H(2)O)(n) reactions: a) formation of the collisional complex [H(+)(H(2)O)(n)D(2)O]* in a vibro-rotational excited state; b) incorporation of the heavy-water molecule in the cluster core as HD(2)O(+) by means of isomerization involving molecular shifts; c) displacement of solvation molecules from the first shell of HD(2)O(+) inducing de-deuteration (shift of a D(+) to a neighbor water molecule); d) reorganization of the clusters and/or expulsion of one of the isotopic variants of water (H(2)O, HDO or D(2)O) from the periphery of the complex.     

Low-temperature fast atom bombardment mass spectra of frozen nitric acid-water solution

Positive ion low-temperature fast atom bombardment mass spectra of the frozen nitric acid-water system with an initial components ratio which provides preferential formation of the crystalline hydrate of the nitric acid trihydrate, HNO(3).3H(2)O, are reported. A complicated spectral pattern is created by a number of cluster sets which, on the basis of discussion, were attributed to (H(2)O)(n). NO(+) (n = 1-3), (H(2)O)(n).NO(2)(+) (n = 1, 2), (HNO(3))(m). (H(2)O)(n).H(+) (m = 1-5 and n variable) and (H(2)O)(n).H(+) (n = 1-9). Similarities between the size-dependent behavior of hydrate clusters of nitrogen oxides and nitric acid obtained with sputtering from the solid in the present low-temperature experiments and under gas-phase conditions (reported earlier in the literature) were revealed. A suggestion as to possibility of the yield of the cluster ions sputtered due to energetic particle collision with the frozen grains of water ice and nitric acid trihydrate, present in the atmosphere, to the total ionic population of the atmosphere is discussed. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.