Product branching from the CH2CH2OH radical intermediate of the OH + ethene reaction

Using a crossed laser-molecular beam scattering apparatus and tunable photoionization detection, these experiments determine the branching to the product channels accessible from the 2-hydroxyethyl radical, the first radical intermediate in the addition reaction of OH with ethene. Photodissociation of 2-bromoethanol at 193 nm forms 2-hydroxyethyl radicals with a range of vibrational energies, which was characterized in our first study of this system ( J. Phys. Chem. A 2010 , 114 , 4934 ). In this second study, we measure the relative signal intensities of ethene (at m/e = 28), vinyl (at m/e = 27), ethenol (at m/e = 44), formaldehyde (at m/e = 30), and acetaldehyde (at m/e = 44) products and correct for the photoionization cross sections and kinematic factors to determine a 0.765:0.145:0.026:0.063:<0.01 branching to the OH + C(2)H(4), H(2)O + C(2)H(3), CH(2)CHOH + H, H(2)CO + CH(3), and CH(3)CHO + H product asymptotes. The detection of the H(2)O + vinyl product channel is surprising when starting from the CH(2)CH(2)OH radical adduct; prior studies had assumed that the H(2)O + vinyl products were solely from the direct abstraction channel in the bimolecular collision of OH and ethene. We suggest that these products may result from a frustrated dissociation of the CH(2)CH(2)OH radical to OH + ethene in which the C-O bond begins to stretch, but the leaving OH moiety abstracts an H atom to form H(2)O + vinyl. We compare our experimental branching ratio to that predicted from statistical microcanonical rate constants averaged over the vibrational energy distribution of our CH(2)CH(2)OH radicals. The comparison suggests that a statistical prediction using 1-D Eckart tunneling underestimates the rate constants for the branching to the product channels of OH + ethene, and that the mechanism for the branching to the H(2)O + vinyl channel is not adequately treated in such theories.     

Methane activation by titanium monoxide molecules: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study

Reactions of titanium monoxides with methane have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Titanium derivatives of several simple oxyhydrocarbons have been prepared and identified. The titanium monoxide molecules prepared by laser evaporation of bulk TiO2 target reacted with methane to form the TiO(CH4) complex in solid argon, which was predicted to have C3v symmetry with the oxygen atom coordinated to one hydrogen atom of the methane molecule. The complex rearranged to the CH3Ti(O)H titano-acetaldehyde molecule upon visible (lambda > 500 nm) irradiation. The titano-acetaldehyde molecule sustained further photochemical rearrangement to the CH2Ti(H)OH titano-vinyl alcohol molecule, which was characterized to be a simple carbene complex involving agostic bonding. The CH2Ti(H)OH molecule reacted with a second methane to form the (CH3)2Ti(H)OH titano-isopropyl alcohol molecule spontaneously on annealing. The (CH3)2Ti(H)OH molecule also can be produced via UV photon-induced rearrangement of the CH3Ti(O)H(CH4) complex.     

Probing the barrier for CH2CHCO --> CH2CH + CO by the velocity map imaging method

This work determines the dissociation barrier height for CH2CHCO --> CH2CH + CO using two-dimensional product velocity map imaging. The CH2CHCO radical is prepared under collision-free conditions from C-Cl bond fission in the photodissociation of acryloyl chloride at 235 nm. The nascent CH2CHCO radicals that do not dissociate to CH2CH + CO, about 73% of all the radicals produced, are detected using 157-nm photoionization. The Cl(2P(3/2)) and Cl(2P(1/2)) atomic fragments, momentum matched to both the stable and unstable radicals, are detected state selectively by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization at 235 nm. By comparing the total translational energy release distribution P(E(T)) derived from the measured recoil velocities of the Cl atoms with that derived from the momentum-matched radical cophotofragments which do not dissociate, the energy threshold at which the CH2CHCO radicals begin to dissociate is determined. Based on this energy threshold and conservation of energy, and using calculated C-Cl bond energies for the precursor to produce CH2CHC*O or C*H2CHCO, respectively, we have determined the forward dissociation barriers for the radical to dissociate to vinyl + CO. The experimentally determined barrier for CH2CHC*O --> CH2CH + CO is 21+/-2 kcal mol(-1), and the computed energy difference between the CH2CHC*O and the C*H2CHCO forms of the radical gives the corresponding barrier for C*H2CHCO --> CH2CH + CO to be 23+/-2 kcal mol(-1). This experimental determination is compared with predictions from electronic structure methods, including coupled-cluster, density-functional, and composite Gaussian-3-based methods. The comparison shows that density-functional theory predicts too low an energy for the C*H2CHCO radical, and thus too high a barrier energy, whereas both the Gaussian-3 and the coupled-cluster methods yield predictions in good agreement with experiment. The experiment also shows that acryloyl chloride can be used as a photolytic precursor at 235 nm of thermodynamically stable CH2CHC*O radicals, most with an internal energy distribution ranging from approximately 3 to approximately 21 kcal mol(-1). We discuss the results with respect to the prior work on the O(3P) + propargyl reaction and the analogous O(3P) + allyl system.     

The complexes between CH3OH and CF4. Infrared matrix isolation and theoretical studies

The complex formed between methanol and tetrafluoromethane has been identified in argon and neon matrixes by help of FTIR spectroscopy. Three fundamentals (nu(OH), nu(FCF), and nu(CO)) were observed for the complex isolated in the two matrixes, and the OH stretch was red shifted in a neon matrix and blue shifted in an argon matrix with respect to the corresponding vibration of the methanol monomer. The theoretical studies of the structure and spectral characteristics of the complexes formed between CH(3)OH and CF(4) were carried out at the MP2 level of theory with the 6-311+G(2df,2pd) basis set. The calculations resulted in three stationary points from which two (I-1, I-2) corresponded to structures involving the O-H...F hydrogen bond and the third one (I-3) to the non-hydrogen-bonded structure. The topological analysis of the distribution of the charge density (AIM theory) confirmed the existence of the hydrogen bond in I-1, I-2 complexes and indicated weak interaction between the oxygen atom of CH(3)OH and three fluorine atoms of CF(4) in the I-3 complex. The comparison of the experimental and theoretical data suggests that in the matrixes only the non-hydrogen-bonded complex I-3 is trapped. The blue/red shift of the complex OH stretching vibration with respect to the corresponding vibration of CH(3)OH in argon/neon matrixes is explained by the different sensitivity of the complex and monomer vibrations to matrix material. The ab initio calculations performed for the ternary CH(3)OH-CF(4)-Ar systems indicated a negligible effect of an argon atom on the binary complex frequencies.     

Insight into selected reactions in low-temperature dimethyl ether combustion from Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

Dimethyl ether is under consideration as an alternative diesel fuel. Its combustion chemistry is as yet ill-characterized. Here we use Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) based on DFT-B3LYP forces to investigate the short-time dynamics of selected features of the low-temperature dimethyl ether (DME) oxidation potential energy surface. Along the chain propagation pathway, we run BOMD simulations from the transition state involving the decomposition of (*)CH(2)OCH(2)OOH to two CH(2)=O and an (*)OH radical. We predict that formaldehyde C-O stretch overtones are excited, consistent with laser photolysis experiments. We also predict that O-H overtones are excited for the (*)OH formed from (*)CH(2)OCH(2)OOH dissociation. We also investigate short-time dynamics involved in chain branching. First, we examine the isomerization transition state of (*)OOCH(2)OCH(2)OOH --> HOOCH(2)OCHOOH. The latter species is predicted to be a short-lived metastable radical that decomposes within 500 fs to hydroperoxymethyl formate (HPMF; HOOCH(2)OC(=O)H) and the first (*)OH of chain branching. The dissociation of HOOCH(2)OCHOOH exhibits non-RRKM behavior in its lifetime profile, which may be due to conformational constraints or slow intramolecular vibrational energy transfer (IVR) from the nascent H-O bond to the opposite end of the radical, where O-O scission occurs to form HPMF and (*)OH. In a few trajectories, we see HOOCH(2)OCHOOH recross back to (*)OOCH(2)OCH(2)OOH because the isomerization is endothermic, with only an 8 kcal/mol barrier to recrossing. Therefore, some inhibition of chain-branching may be due to recrossing. Second, trajectories run from the transition state leading to the direct decomposition of HPMF (an important source of the second (*)OH radical in chain branching) to HCO, (*)OH, and HC(=O)OH show that these products can recombine to form many other possible products. These products include CH(2)OO + HC(=O)OH, H(2)O + CO + HC(=O)OH, HC(=O)OH + HC(=O)OH, and HC(=O)C(=O)H + H(2)O, which (save CH(2)OO + HC(=O)OH) are all more thermodynamically stable than the original HCO + (*)OH + HC(=O)OH products. Moreover, the multitude of extra products suggest that standard statistical rate theories cannot completely describe the reaction kinetics of significantly oxygenated compounds such as HPMF. These secondary products consume the second (*)OH required for explosive combustion, suggesting an inhibition of DME fuel combustion is likely.     

Spin state, structure, and reactivity of terminal oxo and dioxygen complexes of the (PNP)Rh moiety

[Rh(III)H{(tBu(2)PCH(2)SiMe(2)NSiMe(2)CH(2)PtBu{CMe(2)CH(2)})}], ([RhH(PNP*)]), reacts with O(2) in the time taken to mix the reagents to form a 1:1 eta(2)-O(2) adduct, for which O--O bond length is discussed with reference to the reducing power of [RhH(PNP*)]; DFT calculations faithfully replicate the observed O-O distance, and are used to understand the oxidation state of this coordinated O(2). The reactivity of [Rh(O(2))(PNP)] towards H(2), CO, N(2), and O(2) is tested and compared to the associated DFT reaction energies. Three different reagents effect single oxygen atom transfer to [RhH(PNP*)]. The resulting [RhO(PNP)], characterized at and above -60 degrees C and by DFT calculations, is a ground-state triplet, is nonplanar, and reacts, above about +15 degrees C, with its own tBu C--H bond, to cleanly form a diamagnetic complex, [Rh(OH){N(SiMe(2)CH(2)PtBu(2))(SiMe(2)CH(2)PtBu{CMe(2)CH(2)})}].     

Visible absorption spectrum of the CH3CO radical

The visible absorption spectrum of the acetyl radical, CH(3)CO, was measured between 490 and 660 nm at 298 K using cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Gas-phase CH(3)CO radicals were produced using several methods including: (1) 248 nm pulsed laser photolysis of acetone (CH(3)C(O)CH(3)), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, CH(3)C(O)CH(2)CH(3)), and biacetyl (CH(3)C(O)C(O)CH(3)), (2) Cl + CH(3)C(O)H --> CH(3)C(O) + HCl with Cl atoms produced via pulsed laser photolysis or in a discharge flow tube, and (3) OH + CH(3)C(O)H --> CH(3)CO + H(2)O with two different pulsed laser photolysis sources of OH radicals. The CH(3)CO absorption spectrum was assigned on the basis of the consistency of the spectra obtained from the different CH(3)CO sources and agreement of the measured rate coefficients for the reaction of the absorbing species with O(2) and O(3) with literature values for the CH(3)CO + O(2) + M and CH(3)CO + O(3) reactions. The CH(3)CO absorption spectrum between 490 and 660 nm has a broad peak centered near 535 nm and shows no discernible structure. The absorption cross section of CH(3)CO at 532 nm was measured to be (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(-19) cm(2) molecule(-1) (base e).     

Determination of the CH + O2 product channels

The multichannel CH + O2 reaction was studied at room temperature, in a low-pressure fast-flow reactor. CH radical was obtained from the reaction of CHBr3 with potassium atoms. The overall rate constant was determined from the decay of CH with distance, O2 being introduced in excess. The result, after corrections for axial and radial diffusion, is k = (3.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The OH(A2 sigma +) chemiluminescence was observed, confirming the existence of the OH + CO channel. The vibrational population distribution of OH(A2 sigma +) is 32% in the v' = 1 level and 68% in the v' = 0 level (+/- 5%). The relative atomic concentrations were determined by resonance fluorescence in the vacuum ultraviolet. A ratio of 1.4 +/- 0.2 was found between the H atom density (H atoms being produced from the H + CO2 channel and from the HCO dissociation) and the O atom density (O + HCO). Ab initio calculations of the transition structures have been performed, associated with statistical estimations. The estimated branching ratios are: O + HCO, 20%; O + H + CO, 30%; H + CO2, 30%; and CO + OH, 20%.     

CH2(X 3B1)自由基与O2的反应

用时间分辨富里叶红外发射谱仪（ＴＲ－ＦＴＩＲＳ）研究了ＣＨ２（Ｘ＾３Ｂ１）自由基与Ｏ２反应的通道及产物的振动动态布居，基电子态自由基ＣＨ２（Ｘ＾３Ｂ１）由３５１ｎｍ紫外激光光解ＣＨ２ＣＯ生成，观测到振动发态反应产物ＣＯ（ｖ≤１０），ＣＯ２（ｖ３≤７）ＯＨ（Ｈ２Ｏ）和Ｈ２ＣＯ的红外发射，证实存在生成Ｈ２ＣＯ的通道，由光谱拟合得到不同时刻ＣＯ（ｖ）和ＣＯ２（ｖ３）的相对振动布居，发现ｖ＝４能级的布居数     

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of the methoxyphenols: formation of phenol, cyclopentadienone, vinylacetylene, and acetylene

The pyrolyses of the guaiacols or methoxyphenols (o-, m-, and p-HOC(6)H(4)OCH(3)) have been studied using a heated SiC microtubular (μ-tubular) reactor. The decomposition products are detected by both photoionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (PIMS) and matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy (IR). Gas exiting the heated SiC μ-tubular reactor is subject to a free expansion after a residence time of approximately 50-100 μs. The PIMS reveals that, for all three guaiacols, the initial decomposition step is loss of methyl radical: HOC(6)H(4)OCH(3) → HOC(6)H(4)O + CH(3). Decarbonylation of the HOC(6)H(4)O radical produces the hydroxycyclopentadienyl radical, C(5)H(4)OH. As the temperature of the μ-tubular reactor is raised to 1275 K, the C(5)H(4)OH radical loses a H atom to produce cyclopentadienone, C(5)H(4)═O. Loss of CO from cyclopentadienone leads to the final products, acetylene and vinylacetylene: C(5)H(4)═O → [CO + 2 HC≡CH] or [CO + HC≡C-CH═CH(2)]. The formation of C(5)H(4)═O, HCCH, and CH(2)CHCCH is confirmed with IR spectroscopy. In separate studies of the (1 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectra, we observe the presence of C(6)H(5)OH in the molecular beam: C(6)H(5)OH + λ(275.1?nm) → [C(6)H(5)OH ?] + λ(275.1nm) → C(6)H(5)OH(+). From the REMPI and PIMS signals and previous work on methoxybenzene, we suggest that phenol results from a radical/radical reaction: CH(3) + C(5)H(4)OH → [CH(3)-C(5)H(4)OH]* → C(6)H(5)OH + 2H.     

Infrared spectrum of the CH3OCH2 radical in solid argon

The methoxymethyl radical, CH(3)OCH(2), is prepared via hydrogen photodissociation from dimethyl ether during codeposition of CH(3)OCH(3) in excess argon at 4 K with laser-excited metal plume radiation. The spectrum of this radical is characterized by four infrared absorptions at 1468.1, 1253.9, 1226.6, and 944.4 cm(-1), which are assigned by deuterium substitution as well as frequency and intensity calculations using density functional theory. The O-CH(2) bond length is calculated to be 0.07 ? shorter than the CH(3)-O bond due to additional π bonding interactions. In the matrix near-UV irradiation destroys the CH(3)OCH(2) radical with the formation of HCO radical and CH(4), which is different from the decomposition mechanism of CH(3)OCH(2) radical to H(2)CO and CH(3) radical proposed for the gas phase process.     

Ab initio investigations of the radical-radical reaction of O(3P) + C3H3

We present ab initio calculations of the reaction of ground-state atomic oxygen [O((3)P)] with a propargyl (C(3)H(3)) radical based on the application of the density-functional method and the complete basis-set model. It has been predicted that the barrierless addition of O((3)P) to C(3)H(3) on the lowest doublet potential-energy surface produces several energy-rich intermediates, which undergo subsequent isomerization and decomposition steps to generate various exothermic reaction products: C(2)H(3)+CO, C(3)H(2)O+H, C(3)H(2)+OH, C(2)H(2)+CHO, C(2)H(2)O+CH, C(2)HO+CH(2), and CH(2)O+C(2)H. The respective reaction pathways are examined extensively with the aid of statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations, suggesting that the primary reaction channel is the formation of propynal (CHCCHO)+H. For the minor C(3)H(2)+OH channel, which has been reported in recent gas-phase crossed-beam experiments [H. Lee et al., J. Chem. Phys. 119, 9337 (2003); 120, 2215 (2004)], a comparison on the basis of prior statistical calculations is made with the nascent rotational state distributions of the OH products to elucidate the mechanistic and dynamic characteristics at the molecular level.     

CH3与NO2的反应

The elementary reaction of the CH3 radical with NO2 was investigated by time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The CH3 radical was produced by laser photolysis of CH3Br or CH3I at 248 nm. Vibrationally excited products OH, HNO and CO2 were observed by the time-resolved spectroscopy for the first time. The formation of another product NO was also verified. According to these observations, the product channels leading to CH3O+NO, CH2NO+OH and HNO+H2CO were identified. The channel of CH3O+NO was the major one. The reaction mechanisms of the above channels were studied by quantum chemical calculations at CCSD(T)/6-311++G(df,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) level. The calculated results fit with the experimental observations well.     

Sigma-organyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium supported by a mixed-donor ligand

A series of vinyl, aryl, acetylide and silyl complexes [Ru(R)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2] (R = CH=CH2, CH=CHPh, CH=CHC6H4CH3-4, CH=CH(t)Bu, CH=2OH, C(C triple bond CPh)=CHPh, C6H5, C triple bond CPh, SiMe2OEt; MI = 1-methylimidazole-2-thiolate) were prepared from either [Ru(R)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2] or [Ru(R)Cl(CO)(BTD)(PPh3)2](BTD = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) by reaction with the nitrogen-sulfur mixed-donor ligand, 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole (HMI), in the presence of base. In the same manner, [Os(CH=CHPh)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2] was prepared from [Os(CH=CHPh)(CO)Cl(BTD)(PPh3)2]. The in situ hydroruthenation of 1-ethynylcyclohexan-1-ol by [RuH(CO)Cl(BTD)(PPh3)2] and subsequent addition of the HMI ligand and excess sodium methoxide yielded the dehydrated 1,3-dienyl complex [Ru(CH=CHC6H9)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2]. Dehydration of the complex [Ru(CH=CHCPh2OH)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2] with HBF4 yielded the vinyl carbene [Ru(=CHCH=CPh2)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2]BF4. The hydride complexes [MH(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2](M = Ru, Os) were obtained from the reaction of HMI and KOH with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] and [OsHCl(CO)(BTD)(PPh3)2], respectively. Reaction of [Ru(CH=CHC6H4CH3-4)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2] with excess HC triple bond CPh leads to isolation of the acetylide complex [Ru(C triple bond CPh)(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2], which is also accessible by direct reaction of [Ru(C triple bond CPh)Cl(CO)(BTD)(PPh3)2] with 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole and NaOMe. The thiocarbonyl complex [Ru(CPh = CHPh)Cl(CS)(PPh3)2] reacted with HMI and NaOMe without migration to yield [Ru(CPh= CHPh)(kappa2-MI)(CS)(PPh3)2], while treatment of [Ru(CH=CHPh)Cl(CO)2(PPh3)2] with HMI yielded the monodentate acyl product [Ru{eta(1)-C(=O)CH=CHPh}(kappa2-MI)(CO)(PPh3)2]. The single-crystal X-ray structures of five complexes bearing vinyl, aryl, acetylide and dienyl functionality are reported.     

Infrared spectra of the OH+ and H2O+ cations solvated in solid argon

Infrared spectra of various OH+ and H2O+ isotopomers solvated in solid argon are presented. The OH+ and H2O+ cations were produced by co-deposition of H2O/Ar mixture with high-frequency discharged Ar at 4 K. Detailed isotopic substitution studies confirm the assignments of absorptions at 3054.9 and 3040.0 cm(-1) to the antisymmetric and symmetric H-O-H stretching vibrations of H2O+ and 2979.6 cm(-1) to the O-H stretching vibration of OH+. The frequencies of H2O+ solvated in solid argon are red-shifted, whereas the frequency of OH+ is blue-shifted with respect to the gas-phase fundamentals. On the basis of previous gas-phase studies and quantum chemical calculations, the OH+ and H2O+ cations solvated in solid argon may be regarded as the OH+-Ar5 and H2O+-Ar4 complexes isolated in the argon matrix.     

氧负离子与乙烯自由基反应的理论研究

在G3MP2B3理论水平下研究了氧负离子与乙烯自由基的反应机理. 反应入口势能面的刚性扫描显示: 对于不同的初始反应取向, 体系存在3种不同的反应机理, 分别对应直接脱水、插入反应和直接键合成中间体通道. 其中, 通过插入反应形成的富能中间体[CH2＝C—OH]－及键合中间体[CH2＝CHO]－都可以进一步经异构化和解离生成其它各种可能产物, 如C2H－＋H2O, OH－＋CH2C和 ＋CO产物通道. 基于计算得到的反应势垒的相对高度, 直接脱水反应显然是该反应体系最主要的产物通道, 同时我们还结合Mulliken电荷布居分析研究了其中涉及的电子交换过程. 由此, 计算结果证实了以往OH－与C2H2反应的实验研究结果. 此外, 还对比了该反应体系、氧原子与乙烯自由基、氧负离子与乙烯分子三个反应的不同机理.     

H2-induced CO adsorption and dissociation over Co/Al2O3 catalyst

The activation of adsorbed CO is an important step in CO hydrogenation. The results from TPSR of pre-adsorbed CO with H2 and syngas suggested that the presence of H2 increased the amount of CO adsorption and accelerated CO dissocia-tion. The H2 was adsorbed first, and activated to form H* over metal sites, then reacted with carbonaceous species. The oxygen species for CO2 formation in the presence of hydrogen was mostly OH*, which reacted with adsorbed CO subsequently via CO*+OH* → CO2*+H*; however, the direct CO dissociation was not excluded in CO hydrogenation. The dissociation of C-O bond in the presence of H2 proceeded by a concerted mechanism, which assisted the Boudourd reaction of adsorbed CO onthe surface via CO*+2H* → CH*+OH*. The formation of the surface species (CH) from adsorbed CO proceeded as indicated with the participation of surface hydrogen, was favored in the initial step of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.     

时间分辨红外发射光谱研究C2H3+NO反应体系

The elementary reaction of C2H3＋ NO has been reported for the first time in this paper.C2H3 radical was produced by laser photolysis of vinyl bromide at 248 nm. Vibrationally excited reaction products H2CO,NCO and HCN were observed. Two exothermic reaction channels leading to HCN＋ H2CO and CH3＋ NCO are identified.     

The Stability of α‐Hydroperoxyalkyl Radicals

High‐level ab initio and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamic calculations have been carried out on a series of hydroperoxyalkyl (α‐QOOH) radicals with the aim of investigating the stability and unimolecular decomposition mechanism into QO+OH of these species. Dissociation was shown to take place through rotation of the C?O(OH) bond rather than through elongation of the CO?OH bond. Through the C?O(OH) rotation, the unpaired electron of the radical overlaps with the electron density on the O?OH bond, and from this overlap the C=O π bond forms and the O?OH bond breaks spontaneously. The CH₂OOH, CH(CH₃)OOH, CH(OH)OOH, and α‐hydroperoxycycloheptadienyl radical were found to decompose spontaneously, but the CH(CHO)OOH has a decomposition energy barrier of 5.95 kcal mol^?1 owing to its steric and electronic features. The systems studied in this work provide the first insights into how structural and electronic effects govern the stabilizing influence on elusive α‐QOOH radicals.     

Structural effects on the OH-promoted fragmentation of methoxy-substituted 1-arylalkanol radical cations in aqueous solution: the role of oxygen acidity

A kinetic and product study of the OH- -induced decay in H2O of the radical cations generated from some di-and tri-methoxy-substituted 1-arylalkanols (ArCH(OH)R*+) and 2- and 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)alkanols has been carried out by using pulse- and gamma-radiolysis techniques. In the 1-arylalkanol system, the radical cation 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3CH2-OH*+ decay at a rate more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of its methyl ether; this indicates the key role of the side-chain OH group in the decay process (oxygen acidity). However, quite a large deuterium kinetic isotope effect (3.7) is present for this radical cation compared with its a-dideuterated counterpart. A mechanism is suggested in which a fast OH deprotonation leads to a radical zwitterion which then undergoes a rate-determining 1,2-H shift, coupled to a side-chain-to-ring intramolecular electron transfer (ET) step. This concept also attributes an important role to the energy barrier for this ET, which should depend on the stability of the positive charge in the ring and, hence, on the number and position of methoxy groups. On a similar experimental basis, the same mechanism is suggested for 2,5-(MeO)2C6H3CH2OH*+ as for 3,4-(MeO)2C6H3CH2OH*+, in which some contribution from direct C-H deprotonation (carbon acidity) is possible. In fact, the latter process dominates the decay of the trimethoxylated system 2,4,5-(MeO)3C6H2CH2-OH*+, which, accordingly, reacts with OH- at the same rate as that of its methyl ether. Thus, a shift from oxygen to carbon acidity is observed as the positive charge is increasingly stabilized in the ring; this is attributed to a corresponding increase in the energy barrier for the intramolecular ET. When R=tBu, the OH- -promoted decay of the radical cation ArCH(OH)R*+ leads to products of C-C bond cleavage. With both Ar = 3,4- and 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl the reactivity is three orders of magnitude higher than that of the corresponding cumyl alcohol radical cations; this suggests a mechanism in which a key role is played by the oxygen acidity as well as by the strength of the scissile C-C bond: a radical zwitterion is formed which undergoes a rate-determining C-C bond cleavage, coupled with the intramolecular ET. Finally, oxygen acidity also determines the reactivity of the radical cations of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanol and 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanol. In the former the decay involves C-C bond cleavage, in the latter it leads to 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanal. In both cases no products of C-H deprotonation were observed. Possible mechanisms, again involving the initial formation of a radical zwitterion, are discussed.