A theoretical study for the reaction of vinyl cyanide C2H3CN(X1A') with the ground state carbon atom C(3P) in cold molecular clouds

The reaction of the ground state atomic carbon, C(3P), with simple unsaturated nitrile, C2H3CN(X1A' (vinyl cyanide), is investigated theoretically to explore the probable routes for the formation of carbon-nitrogen-bearing species in extraterrestrial environments particularly of ultralow temperature. Five collision complexes without entrance barrier as a result of the carbon atom addition to the pi systems of C2H3CN are characterized. The B3YLP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory is utilized in obtaining the optimized geometries, harmonic frequencies, and energies of the intermediates, transition states, and products along the isomerization and dissociation pathways of each collision complex. Subsequently, with the facilitation of computed RRKM rate constants at collision energy of 0-10 kcal/mol, the most probable paths for each collision complexes are determined, of which the CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p) energies are calculated. The major products predicted are exclusively due to the hydrogen atom dissociations, while the products of H2, CN, and CH2 decompositions are found negligible. Among many possible H-elimination products, cyano propargyl (p4) and 3-cyano propargyl (p5) are the most probable, in which p5 can be formed via two intermediates, cyano allene (i8) and cyano vinylmethylene (i6), while p4 is yielded from i8. The study suggests this class of reaction is an important route to the synthesis of unsaturated nitriles at the temperature as low as 10 K, and the results are valuable for future chemical models of interstellar clouds.     

Unraveling the formation of HCPH(X2A') molecules in extraterrestrial environments: crossed molecular beam study of the reaction of carbon atoms, C(3Pj), with phosphine, PH3(X1A1)

The reaction between ground state carbon atoms, C(3P(j)), and phosphine, PH3(X(1)A1), was investigated at two collision energies of 21.1 and 42.5 kJ mol(-1) using the crossed molecular beam technique. The chemical dynamics extracted from the time-of-flight spectra and laboratory angular distributions combined with ab initio calculations propose that the reaction proceeds on the triplet surface via an addition of atomic carbon to the phosphorus atom. This leads to a triplet CPH3 complex. A successive hydrogen shift forms an HCPH2 intermediate. The latter was found to decompose through atomic hydrogen emission leading to the cis/trans-HCPH(X(2)A') reaction products. The identification of cis/trans-HCPH(X(2)A') molecules under single collision conditions presents a potential pathway to form the very first carbon-phosphorus bond in extraterrestrial environments like molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes, and even in the postplume chemistry of the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter.     

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

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

Theoretical study of the C6H3 potential energy surface and rate constants and product branching ratios of the C2H(2Sigma+) + C4H2(1Sigma(g)+) and C4H(2Sigma+) + C2H2(1Sigma(g)+) reactions

Ab initio CCSD(T)cc-pVTZ//B3LYP6-311G(**) and CCSD(T)/complete basis set (CBS) calculations of stationary points on the C(6)H(3) potential energy surface have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of C(2)H with diacetylene and C(4)H with acetylene. Totally, 25 different C(6)H(3) isomers and 40 transition states are located and all possible bimolecular decomposition products are also characterized. 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-tridehydrobenzene and H(2)CCCCCCH isomers are found to be the most stable thermodynamically residing 77.2, 75.1, and 75.7 kcal/mol lower in energy than C(2)H + C(4)H(2), respectively, at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The results show that the most favorable C(2)H + C(4)H(2) entrance channel is C(2)H addition to a terminal carbon of C(4)H(2) producing HCCCHCCCH, 70.2 kcal/mol below the reactants. This adduct loses a hydrogen atom from the nonterminal position to give the HCCCCCCH (triacetylene) product exothermic by 29.7 kcal/mol via an exit barrier of 5.3 kcal/mol. Based on Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations under single-collision conditions, triacetylene+H are concluded to be the only reaction products, with more than 98% of them formed directly from HCCCHCCCH. The C(2)H + C(4)H(2) reaction rate constants calculated by employing canonical variational transition state theory are found to be similar to those for the related C(2)H + C(2)H(2) reaction in the order of magnitude of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for T = 298-63 K, and to show a negative temperature dependence at low T. A general mechanism for the growth of polyyne chains involving C(2)H + H(C[triple bond]C)(n)H --> H(C[triple bond]C)(n+1)H + H reactions has been suggested based on a comparison of the reactions of ethynyl radical with acetylene and diacetylene. The C(4)H + C(2)H(2) reaction is also predicted to readily produce triacetylene + H via barrierless C(4)H addition to acetylene, followed by H elimination.     

Formation of interstellar 2,4-pentadiynylidyne, HCCCCC(X 2Pi), via the neutral-neutral reaction of ground state carbon atom, C(3P), with diacetylene, HCCCCH(X 1Sigma(g)+)

The interstellar reaction of ground-state carbon atom with the simplest polyyne, diacetylene (HCCCCH), is investigated theoretically to explore probable routes to form hydrogen-deficient carbon clusters at ultralow temperature in cold molecular clouds. The isomerization and dissociation channels for each of the three collision complexes are characterized by utilizing the unrestricted B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory and the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ calculations. With facilitation of RRKM and variational RRKM rate constants at collision energies of 0-10 kcalmol, the most probable paths, thus reaction mechanism, are determined. Subsequently, the corresponding rate equations are solved that the evolutions of concentrations of collision complexes, intermediates, and products versus time are obtained. As a result, the final products and yields are identified. This study predicts that three collision complexes, c1, c2, and c3, would produce a single final product, 2,4-pentadiynylidyne, HCCCCC(X (2)Pi), C(5)H (p1)+H, via the most stable intermediate, carbon chain HC(5)H (i4). Our investigation indicates the title reaction is efficient to form astronomically observed 2,4-pentadiynylidyne in cold molecular clouds, where a typical translational temperature is 10 K, via a single bimolecular gas phase reaction.     

Reaction pathway and potential barrier for the CaH product in the reaction of Ca(4s4p1P1) + H2 --> CaH(X2Sigma+) + H

The nascent CaH product in the reaction Ca(4s4p1P1) + H2 --> CaH(X2Sigma+) + H is obtained using a pump-probe technique. The CaH(v = 0,1) distributions, with a population ratio of CaH(v = 0)/CaH(v = 1) = 2.7+/-0.2, may be characterized by low Boltzmann rotational temperature. According to Arrhenius theory, the temperature dependence measurement yields a potential barrier of 3820+/-480 cm(-1) for the current reaction. As a result of the potential energy surfaces (PES) calculations, the reaction pathway favors a Ca insertion into the H2 bond along a (near) C2v geometric approach. As the H2 bond is elongated, the configurational mixing between the orbital components of the 4p and nearby low-lying 3d state with the same symmetry makes significant the nonadiabatic transition between the 5A' and 2A' surface in the repulsive limbs. Therefore, the collision species are anticipated to track along the 5A' surface, then undergo nonadiabatic transition to the inner limb of the 2A' surface, and finally cross to the reactive 1A' surface. The observed energy barrier probably accounts for the energy requirement to surmount the repulsive hill in the entrance. The findings of the nascent CaH product distributions may be reasonably interpreted from the nature of the intermediate structure and lifetime after the 2A'-1A' surface transition. The distinct product distributions between the Ca(4 1P1) and Mg(3 1P1) reactions with H2 may also be realized with the aid of the PES calculations.     

The interaction of metastable Ne(3s 3 P 2,3 P 0) atoms with alkali atoms

Using crossed beams of alkali atoms (Li, Na, K) and state-selected metastable Ne(3s ³ P ₂,³ P ₀) atoms, we have measured the energy spectra of electrons resulting in the respective Penning ionization processes at thermal collision energies. The spectra are very different for Ne(³ P ₂) and Ne(³ P ₀): those for Ne(³ P ₂) are broad due to a strongly attractive interaction potential with a well depth of 798 (30) meV (Li), 672(20) meV (Na), and 561(20) meV (K), those for Ne(³ P ₀) are narrow and compatible with van der Waals type attraction (well depth <50 meV). The Ne(³ P ₂) cross section exceeds the one for Ne(³ P ₀) by about an order of magnitude.     

A crossed molecular beam study on the formation of hexenediynyl radicals (H(2)CCCCCCH; C(6)H(3) (X(2)A')) via reactions of tricarbon molecules, C(3)(X(1)Sigma(g)(+)), with allene (H(2)CCCH(2); X(1)A(1)) and methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH; X(1)A(1))

Crossed molecular beams experiments have been utilized to investigate the reaction dynamics between two closed shell species, i.e. the reactions of tricarbon molecules, C(3)(X(1)Sigma(g)(+)), with allene (H(2)CCCH(2); X(1)A(1)), and with methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH; X(1)A(1)). Our investigations indicated that both these reactions featured characteristic threshold energies of 40-50 kJ mol(-1). The reaction dynamics are indirect and suggested the reactions proceeded via an initial addition of the tricarbon molecule to the unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules forming initially cyclic reaction intermediates of the generic formula C(6)H(4). The cyclic intermediates isomerize to yield eventually the acyclic isomers CH(3)CCCCCH (methylacetylene reaction) and H(2)CCCCCCH(2) (allene reaction). Both structures decompose via atomic hydrogen elimination to form the 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2 radical (C(6)H(3); H(2)CCCCCCH). Future flame studies utilizing the Advanced Light Source should therefore investigate the existence of 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2 radicals in high temperature methylacetylene and allene flames. Since the corresponding C(3)H(3), C(4)H(3), and C(5)H(3) radicals have been identified via their ionization potentials in combustion flames, the existence of the C(6)H(3) isomer 1-hexene-3,4-diynyl-2 can be predicted as well.     

Reaction Dynamics of Mg(3s3p1P1) with H2

We measured the temperature dependence of rotational population distribution of the nascent product MgH(²∑⁺) in the reaction of Mg(3s3p¹P₁) with H₂. The results indicate that the reaction is dominated by an Mg-insertive mechanism, consistent with the isotope effect reported previously. We also presented the vibrational population distribution, and thereby found that two parallel reaction pathways are responsible for the subject reaction following Mg-H₂ collision in a bent configuration. The major one produces MgH in higher rotational levels and comparable v″ = 0 and v″ = 1 populations, while the other minor one produces MgH in low rotational levels and preferentially v″ = 0. By means of a two-dimensional potential energy sur-face(PES) calculation, a deep insight into the reaction pathways has been gained. The resulting PES's information reveals the possibility of a nonadiabatic transition between the excited ¹B₂ PES and the ground PES. The bent intermediate MgH₂ near the surface crossing starts trajectories either smoothly following the dissociation coordinate of Mg-H distance or attractively falling down through a linear HMgH geometry before breaking apart. The former trajectory accounts for the minor reaction pathway to produce MgH, while the latter one responses to the major reaction pathway. The impact of isotope and temperature effects on MgH can also be readily explained with use of the calculated PES's.     

Enhanced luminescence of Eu(3+) by Y(3+) in ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy

Rare-earth ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy {X=0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1.0, using thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) as ligand and 2,2'-dipyridyl (Dipy) as synergic agent} were synthesized. Characterization with X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR and elemental analysis had also been carried out. The photophysical properties of these complexes were studied in detail with ultraviolet absorption spectra and fluorescent spectra. It is found that the enhanced luminescence of Eu(3+) ions by Y(3+) ions occurs in ternary complexes. And we monitored the spectra of Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy (PVK:Eu/BCP/AlQ/Al) at the different rate (rpm). The results showed that the Y(3+) ion acts as an energy transfer bridge that helps energy transfer from PVK to Eu(3+).     

Cross sections and rate constants for the C(3P)+OH(X 2Pi)-->CO(X 1Sigma+)+H(2S) reaction using a quasiclassical trajectory method

First quasiclassical trajectory calculations have been carried out for the C(3P)+OH(X 2Pi)-->CO(X 1Sigma+)+H(2S) reaction using a recent ab initio potential energy surface for the ground electronic state, X 2A', of HCO/COH. Total and state-specific integral cross sections have been determined for a wide range of collision energies (0.001-1 eV). Then, thermal and state-specific rate constants have been calculated in the 1-500 K temperature range. The thermal rate constant varies from 1.78x10(-10) cm3 s-1 at 1 K down to 5.96x10(-11) cm3 s-1 at 500 K with a maximum value of 3.39x10(-10) cm3 s-1 obtained at 7 K. Cross sections and rate constants are found to be almost independent of the rovibrational state of OH.     

C(3P)与H2S反应的反应机理

The mechanisms of the C(3P)+H 2S→HCS+H and C(3P)+H 2S → HSC+H reactions have been studied at the UMP2/6-31G(d,p),UMP2/6-311G(d,p),and G2 levels, and six transition states and three intermediates have been located along the reaction paths. The predicted path for the C(3P)+H2S→HCS+H reaction is: C(3P)+H2S→IM1→TS1→IM2→TS4→HCS+H, in line with the reaction process suggested by Lee et al. [1] in which only the intermediates were given. Our energetic results indicate that the C(3P)+H2S→HCS+H reaction is more favorable than the C(3P)+H 2S→HSC+H reaction, in agreement with experiment.     

Ab initio/Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus study of the singlet C4H4 potential energy surface and of the reactions of C2(X1 Sigmag+) with C4H4(X1A1g) and C(1D) with C3H4 (allene and methylacetylene)

Ab initio modified Gaussian-2 G2M(RCC,MP2) calculations have been performed for various isomers and transition states on the singlet C4H4 potential energy surface. The computed relative energies and molecular parameters have then been used to calculate energy-dependent rate constants for different isomerization and dissociation processes in the C4H4 system employing Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory and to predict branching ratios of possible products of the C2(1Sigmag+)+C2H4, C(1D)+H2CCCH2, and C(1D)+H3CCCH reactions under single-collision conditions. The results show that C2 adds to the double C=C bond of ethylene without a barrier to form carbenecyclopropane, which then isomerizes to butatriene by a formal C2 "insertion" into the C-C bond of the C2H4 fragment. Butatriene can rearrange to the other isomers of C4H4, including allenylcarbene, methylenecyclopropene, vinylacetylene, methylpropargylene, cyclobutadiene, tetrahedrane, methylcyclopropenylidene, and bicyclobutene. The major decomposition products of the chemically activated C4H4 molecule formed in the C2(1Sigmag+)+C2H4 reaction are calculated to be acetylene+vinylidene (48.6% at Ecol = 0) and 1-buten-3-yne-2-yl radical [i-C4H3(X2A'), H2C=C=C=CH*]+H (41.3%). As the collision energy increases from 0 to 10 kcal/mol, the relative yield of i-C4H3+H grows to 52.6% and that of C2H2+CCH2 decreases to 35.5%. For the C(1D)+allene reaction, the most important products are also i-C4H3+H (55.2%) and C2H2+CCH2 (30.1%), but for C(1D)+methylacetylene, which accesses a different region of the C4H4 singlet potential energy surface, the calculated product branching ratios differ significantly: 65%-69% for i-C4H3+H, 18%-14% for C2H2+CCH2, and approximately 8% for diacetylene+H2.     

OXO (X=Cl,Br)与X (2P3/2)反应机理的理论研究

用密度泛函B3LYP/6-311+G**和高级电子相关的组态相互作用QCISD(T)/6-311+G**方法研究了OXO与X (2P3/2)双自由基反应的微观机理.研究结果表明该反应存在两个反应通道,产物分别为XO和X2+O2.由于形成产物XO的活化势垒较低,因而是主要反应通道,这与实验观察到的结果是一致的.而形成X2+O2的通道从动力学上看是不利的.     

OXO (X=Cl,Br)与X (2P3/2)反应机理的理论研究

用密度泛函B3LYP/6-311+G^**和高级电子相关的组态相互作用QCISD(T)/6-311+G^**方法研究了OXO与X(²P_3/2)双自由基反应的微观机理.研究结果表明:该反应存在两个反应通道,产物分别为XO和X₂+O₂.由于形成产物XO的活化势垒较低,因而是主要反应通道,这与实验观察到的结果是一致的.而形成X₂+O₂的通道从动力学上看是不利的.     

Chemiluminescent reaction of Ba(3P) with N2O at hyperthermal collision energies: rotational alignment of the BaO(A 1Sigma+) product

The chemiluminescent reaction Ba(6s6p (3)P)+N(2)O was studied at an average collision energy of 1.56 eV in a beam-gas arrangement. Ba((3)P) was produced by laser ablation of barium, which resulted in a broad collision energy distribution extending up to approximately 5.7 eV. A series of experiments was made to extract the Ba((3)P) contribution to chemiluminescence from that corresponding to Ba 6s(2) (1)S0 and 6s5d (3)D, which are the other two most populated states in the atomic beam. The fully dispersed polarized chemiluminescence spectra at 400-600 nm from the title reaction were recorded and assigned to a BaO molecule excited in the A (1)Sigma+ level. In addition, the average and wavelength-resolved degrees of polarization associated to the parallel BaO(A (1)Sigma+-->X (1)Sigma+) emission are reported. The analysis of the average polarization degree show that the BaO(A (1)Sigma+) product is significantly aligned, suggesting that the reaction mechanism is predominantly direct. The product rotational alignment was found to depend markedly on the emission wavelength, which revealed a negative correlation with the BaO(A (1)Sigma+) product vibrational state. On the basis of experimental and theoretical investigations on the reactions of N(2)O with both the (1)S0, (3)D, and (1)P1 states of Ba and the lighter group 2 atoms, it is suggested that the Ba((3)P) reaction involves a charge transfer at relatively short reagent separations and that restricted collision geometries at the highest velocity components of the broad distribution are necessary to rationalize the data.     

Ionization of Na(3P) atoms by collisions with vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules in crossed molecular beams

A crossed molecular beam experiment is described in which the rate of ionization of Na(3P) atoms in collision with vibrationally excited N₂ molecul has been measured as a function of the N₂ temperature up to 3050 K. The activation energy in the experiment appears to be close to the ionization energy of the 3P level. An ionization cross section of about 100 »A² (excluding the activation energy factor) is derived with the help of a theoretical model. The limitations of the experiments as well as of the model are discussed.     

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

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