New insights on reaction dynamics from formaldehyde photodissociation

We review the photodissociation dynamics of formaldehyde with an emphasis on recent calculations that make use of a global ab initio-based potential energy surface for the S(0) state. These calculations together with recent experiments reveal striking departures from conventional transition state theory for the formation of the molecular products H(2) + CO. The evidence for this departure is reviewed in detail by examining properties of the new potential surface and results of quasiclassical trajectory dynamics calculations using this surface. We also review very recent work on the dynamics governing the formation of radical products, H + HCO. These products can be formed on the T(1) surface as well as the S(0) one, and we present some results contrasting the dynamics on these two surfaces. This work makes use of a new semi-global ab initio-based T(1) potential energy surface.     

The roaming atom pathway in formaldehyde decomposition

We present a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of formaldehyde photodissociation to H(2) and CO following excitation to the 2(1)4(1) and 2(1)4(3) transitions in S(1). The CO velocity distributions were obtained using dc slice imaging of single CO rotational states (v=0, j(CO)=5-45). These high-resolution measurements reveal the correlated internal state distribution in the H(2) cofragments. The results show that rotationally hot CO (j(CO) approximately 45) is produced in conjunction with vibrationally "cold" H(2) fragments (v=0-5): these products are formed through the well-known skewed transition state and described in detail in the accompanying paper. After excitation of formaldehyde above the threshold for the radical channel (H(2)CO-->H+HCO) we also find formation of rotationally cold CO (j(CO)=5-28) correlated to highly vibrationally excited H(2) (v=6-8). These products are formed through a novel mechanism that involves near dissociation followed by intramolecular H abstraction [D. Townsend et al., Science 306, 1158 (2004)], and that avoids the region of the transition state entirely. The dynamics of this "roaming" mechanism are the focus of this paper. The correlations between the vibrational states of H(2) and rotational states of CO formed following excitation on the 2(1)4(3) transition allow us to determine the relative contribution to molecular products from the roaming atom channel versus the conventional molecular channel.     

Energetics and kinetics of the reaction of HOCO with hydrogen atoms

The potential energy surface for the reaction of HOCO radicals with hydrogen atoms has been explored using the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ ab initio method. Results show that the reaction occurs via a formic acid (HOC(O)H) intermediate, and produces two types of products: H(2)O+CO and H(2)+CO(2). Reaction enthalpies (0 K) are obtained as -102.0 kcalmol for the H(2)+CO(2) products, and -92.7 kcalmol for H(2)O+CO. Along the reaction pathways, there exists a nearly late transition state for each product channel. However, the transition states locate noticeably below the reactant asymptote. Direct ab initio dynamics calculations are also carried out for studying the kinetics of the H+HOCO reaction. At room temperature, the rate coefficient is predicted to be 1.07x10(-10)cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1) with a negligible activation energy E(a)=0.06 kcalmol, and the branching ratios are estimated to be 0.87 for H(2)+CO(2), and 0.13 for H(2)O+CO. In contrast, the product branching ratios have a strong T dependence. The branching ratio for H(2)O+CO could increase to 0.72 at T=1000 K.     

"Roaming" dynamics in CH3CHO photodissociation revealed on a global potential energy surface

We present a quasiclassical trajectory study of the photodissociation of CH3CHO to molecular and radical products, CH4 + CO and CH3 + HCO, respectively, using global ab initio-based potentials energy surfaces. The molecular products have a well-defined potential barrier transition state (TS) but the dynamics exhibit strong deviations from the TS pathway to these products. The radical products are formed via a variational TS. Calculations are reported at total energies corresponding to photolysis wavelengths of 308, 282, 264, 248 and 233 nm. The results at 308 nm focus on a comparison with experiment [Houston, P. L.; Kable, S. H. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2006, 103, 16079] and the elucidation of the nature and extent of non-TS reaction dynamics to form the molecular products, CH4 + CO. At the other wavelengths the focus is the branching ratio of these products and the radical products, CH3 + HCO.     

Reactive quenching of OH A (2)Σ(+) by O(2) and CO: Experimental and nonadiabatic theoretical studies of H- and O-atom product channels

The outcomes following collisional quenching of electronically excited OH A (2)Σ(+) by O(2) and CO are examined in a combined experimental and theoretical study. The atomic products from reactive quenching are probed using two-photon laser-induced fluorescence to obtain H-atom Doppler profiles, O ((3)P(J)) atom fine structure distributions, and the relative yields of these products with H(2), O(2), and CO collision partners. The corresponding H-atom translational energy distributions are extracted for the H + O(3) and H + CO(2) product channels, in the latter case revealing that most of the available energy is funneled into internal excitation of CO(2). The experimental product branching ratios show that the O-atom producing pathways are the dominant outcomes of quenching: the OH A (2)Σ(+) + O(2) → O + HO(2) channel accounts for 48(3)% of products and the OH A (2)Σ(+) + CO → O + HCO channel yields 76(5)% of products. In addition, quenching of OH A (2)Σ(+) by O(2) generates H + O(3) products [12(3)%] and returns OH to its ground X (2)Π electronic state [40(1)%; L. P. Dempsey, T. D. Sechler, C. Murray, and M. I. Lester, J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 6851 (2009)]. Quenching of OH A (2)Σ(+) by CO also yields H + CO(2) reaction products [26(5)%]; however, OH X (2)Π (v(") = 0,1) products from nonreactive quenching are not observed. Theoretical studies characterize the properties of energy minimized conical intersections in four regions of strong nonadiabatic coupling accessible from the OH A (2)Σ(+) + CO asymptote. Three of these regions have the O-side of OH pointing toward CO, which lead to atomic H and vibrationally excited CO(2) products and∕or nonreactive quenching. In the fourth region, energy minimized points are located on a seam of conical intersection from the OH A (2)Σ(+) + CO asymptote to an energy minimized crossing with an extended OH bond length and the H-side of OH pointing toward CO in a bent configuration. This region, exoergic with respect to the reaction asymptote, is likely to be the origin of the dominant O + HCO product channel.     

Nuclear dynamics for a three-state Jahn-Teller model system

We report wavepacket dynamics on a model system with a three-state conical intersection. Quantum wavepacket dynamics using the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method have been carried out for the T ? (e + t(2)) Jahn-Teller problem, using a Jahn-Teller vibronic model Hamiltonian. The effects of the magnitude of the coupling parameters and of the initial position of the wavepacket on the dynamics around the three-state conical intersection have been considered. It was found that the effect of the coupling strength is not dramatic for the population transfer in most cases, but the details of the dynamics and the involvement of the different modes are affected by it.     

Three-state trajectory surface hopping studies of the photodissociation dynamics of formaldehyde on ab initio potential energy surfaces

Full-dimensional, three-state, surface hopping calculations of the photodissociation dynamics of formaldehyde are reported on ab initio potential energy surfaces (PESs) for electronic states S(1), T(1), and S(0). This is the first such study initiated on S(1) with ab initio-calculated spin-orbit couplings among the three states. We employ previous PESs for S(0) and T(1), and a new PES for S(1), which we describe here, as well as new spin-orbit couplings. The time-dependent electronic state populations and the branching ratio of radical products produced from S(0) and T(1) states and that of total radical products and molecular products at three total energies are calculated. Details of the surface hopping dynamics are described, and a novel pathway for isomerization on T(1) via S(0) is reported. Final translational energy distributions of H + HCO products from S(0) and T(1) are also reported as well as the translational energy distribution and final rovibrational distributions of H(2) products from the molecular channel. The present results are compared to previous trajectory calculations initiated from the global minimum of S(0). The roaming pathway leading to low rotational distribution of CO and high vibrational population of H(2) is observed in the present calculations.     

Photodissociation of CO2 - in water clusters via Renner-Teller and conical interactions

The photochemistry of mass selected CO(2) (-)(H2O)(m), m=2-40 cluster anions is investigated using 266 nm photofragment spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Similar to the previous 355 nm experiment [Habteyes et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 424, 268 (2006)], the fragmentation at 266 nm yields two types of anionic products: O(-)(H2O)(m-k) (core-dissociation products) and CO(2) (-)(H2O)(m-k) (solvent-evaporation products). Despite the same product types, different electronic transitions and dissociation mechanisms are implicated at 355 and 266 nm. The 355 nm dissociation is initiated by excitation to the first excited electronic state of the CO(2) (-) cluster core, the 1 (2)B(1)(2A") state, and proceeds via a glancing Renner-Teller intersection with the ground electronic state at a linear geometry. The 266 nm dissociation involves the second excited electronic state of CO(2) (-), the 2 (2)A(1)(2A') state, which exhibits a conical intersection with the 3 (2)B(2)(A') state at a bent geometry. The asymptotic O(-) based products are believed to be formed via this 3 (2)B(2)(A') state. By analyzing the fragmentation results, the bond dissociation energy of CO(2) (-) to O(-)+CO in hydrated clusters (m> or =20) is estimated as 2.49 eV, compared to 3.46 eV for bare CO(2) (-). The enthalpy of evaporation of one water molecule from asymptotically large CO(2) (-)(H(2)O)(m) clusters is determined to be 0.466+/-0.001 eV (45.0+/-0.1 kJ/mol). This result compares very favorably with the heat of evaporation of bulk water, 0.456 eV (43.98 kJ/mol).     

Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of C(1D)+H2→CH+H: coupled-channel calculations including Renner-Teller and Coriolis terms

The Renner-Teller (RT) coupled-channel dynamics for the C((1)D)+H(2)(X(1)Σ(g) (+))→CH(X(2)Π)+H((2)S) reaction has been investigated for the first time, considering the first two singlet states ??(1)A' and b(1)A' of CH(2) dissociating into the products and RT couplings, evaluated through the ab initio matrix elements of the electronic angular momentum. We have obtained initial-state-resolved probabilities, cross sections and thermal rate constants via the real wavepacket method for both coupled electronic states. In contrast to the N((2)D)+H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)) system, RT effects tend to reduce probabilities, cross sections, and rate constants in the low energy range compared to Born-Oppenheimer (BO) ones, due to the presence of a repulsive RT barrier in the effective potentials and to long-lived resonances. Furthermore, contrary to BO results, the rate constants have a positive temperature dependence in the 100-400 K range. The two-state RT rate constant at 300 K, lower than the BO one, remains inside the error bars of the experimental value.     

乙烯酮自由基(HCCO·)与二氧化氮(NO2)反应势能面的理论研究

在CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p)+ZPE水平上对反应HCCO+NO2进行了计算, 建立了反应势能面. 此反应由反应物通过三步反应到达产物. 首先, NO2的O原子进攻HCCO自由基中与H相邻的C原子, 形成异构体1[ONOC(H)CO]或2[H(CONOC)O]. 然后, 异构体1和2通过N-O键的断裂形成产物NO和OC(H)CO. 最后, 产物中的OC(H)CO可以通过C-C键的断裂进一步分解为HCO和CO. 由HCCO+NO2反应得到产物NO+HCO+CO.     

A velocity map ion-imaging study on ketene photodissociation at 208 and 213 nm: Rotational dependence of product angular anisotropy

Photodissociation dynamics of ketene following excitation at 208.59 and 213.24 nm have been investigated using the velocity map ion-imaging method. Both the angular distribution and translational energy distribution of the CO products at different rotational and vibrational states have been obtained. No significant difference in the translational energy distributions for different CO rotational state products has been observed at both excitation wavelengths. The anisotropy parameter beta is, however, noticeably different for different CO rotational state products at both excitation wavelengths. For lower rotational states of the CO product, beta is smaller than zero, while beta is larger than zero for CO at higher rotational states. The observed rotational dependence of angular anisotropy is interpreted as the dynamical influence of a peculiar conical intersection between the (1)B(1) excited state and (1)A(2) state along the C(S)-I coordinate.     

On the characterization of three state conical intersections using a group homomorphism approach: mapping the full N-5 dimensional seam space

A method for characterizing the degeneracy preserving seam space in the vicinity of a three state conical intersection is introduced. Second order degenerate perturbation theory is used to construct an approximately diabatic Hamiltonian whose eigenenergies and eigenstates accurately describe the vicinity of the three state conical intersection in its full dimensionality. The perturbative analysis enables the large number, 6(N(int)(N(int)+1)2), of unique second order parameters needed to construct this accurate Hamiltonian to be determined from ab initio data at a limited number of nuclear configurations, with (N(int)+10) being minimal. Using the minimum energy three state conical intersection of the pyrazolyl radical (N(int) = 18), the potential of this approach is illustrated. A Hamiltonian comprised of the ten characteristic (linear) parameters and over 1440 second order parameters is constructed and used to determine the locus of the conical intersection seam as well as to describe the 18 dimensional space in the vicinity of that point of intersection. Our results demonstrate the ability of this methodology to quantitatively reproduce the ab initio potential energy surfaces near a three state conical intersection.     

乙烯酮自由基(HCCO·)与氧气(O2)反应势能面的理论研究

在G2(B3LYP/MP2/CC)水平上对反应HCCO+O2进行了计算,得到了反应势能面,提出了3种可能的反应机理:(1)四元环反应机理得到产物P1(HCO+CO2);(2)三元环反应机理得到产物P2(CO+HCO2);(3)O—O键断裂反应机理得到产物P3(O+OCC(O)H)和P4(O+CO+HCO).由反应势能面推测产物P1(HCO+CO2)为主要产物,产物P2(CO+HCO2),P3(O+OCC(O)H)和P4(O+CO+HCO)为次要产物.     

Multireference theoretical investigation on selectivity of the bond fissions in photodissociation of acetyl cyanide

The selectivity of the C-CH(3) and C-CN bond fissions upon excitation of acetyl cyanide at 193 nm has been investigated at the theoretical level of multistate complete active space self-consistent field second order perturbation. The calculated results indicated that the initially excited S(3) state relaxes to S(2) via ultrafast internal conversion. The S(2) state could dissociate via two pathways. One, adiabatically dissociates to CH(3)CO(X)+CN(A). The other one internally converts to S(1) before S(1) intersystem crossing to T(1). The T(1) state subsequently dissociates to two groups of products: CH(3)(X)+OCCN(X) and CH(3)CO(X)+CN(X). The experimentally observed preference branching of CN elimination over CH(3) one and bond selectivity are the results of the competition between the adiabatic and nonadiabatic dynamics of the S(2) state.     

Monitoring the effect of a control pulse on a conical intersection by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

We have previously shown how femtosecond angle- and energy-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy can be used to monitor quantum wavepacket bifurcation at an avoided crossing or conical intersection and also how a symmetry-allowed conical intersection can be effectively morphed into an avoided crossing by photo-induced symmetry breaking. The latter result suggests that varying the parameters of a laser to modify a conical intersection might control the rate of passage of wavepackets through such regions, providing a gating process for different chemical products. In this paper, we show with full quantum mechanical calculations that such optical control of conical intersections can actually be monitored in real time with femtosecond angle- and energy-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. In turn, this suggests that one can optimally control the gating process at a conical intersection by monitoring the photoelectron velocity map images, which should provide far more efficient and rapid optimal control than measuring the ratio of products. To demonstrate the sensitivity of time-resolved photoelectron spectra for detecting the consequences of such optical control, as well as for monitoring how the wavepacket bifurcation is affected by the control, we report results for quantum wavepackets going through the region of the symmetry-allowed conical intersection between the first two (2)A' states of NO(2) that is transformed to an avoided crossing. Geometry- and energy-dependent photoionization matrix elements are explicitly incorporated in these studies. Time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions and photoelectron images are seen to systematically reflect the effects of the control pulse.     

A two-dimensional wavepacket study of the nonadiabatic dynamics of CH2BrCl

The nonadiabatic photodissociation dynamics of CH2BrCl into CH2Br + Cl or CH2Cl + Br is studied using two-dimensional wavepacket propagations on ab initio multiconfigurational MS-CASPT2 potential energy surfaces. Using a three-state diabatic model, we investigate the electronic states responsible for the two competing fragmentation channels and how the conical intersection present between the two lowest excited states affects the dissociation rate. Within this model, we find that the Br/Cl branching ratio depends on the irradiation wavelength. Predominant C-Br fragmentation occurs for wavelengths longer than 200 nm, while nonadiabatic C-Cl dissociation with a constant branching ratio of 0.4 is predicted upon absorption of photons in the range of 170-180 nm. Additionally, we observe complete nonadiabatic population transfer in less than 100 fs, that is, before the wavepacket can reach the conical intersection. As a consequence, there is no three-body CH2 + Br + Cl dissociation.     

QM/MM non-adiabatic decay dynamics of formamide in polar and non-polar solvents

Non-adiabatic on-the-fly dynamics simulations of the photodynamics of formamide in water and n-hexane were performed using a QM/MM approach. It was shown that steric restrictions imposed by the solvent cage do not have an influence on the initial motion which leads to the lowest energy conical intersection seam. The initial deactivation in water is faster than in n-hexane and in the gas phase. However, most of the formamide molecules in water do not reach the ground state. The reason for the deactivation inefficiency in water is traced back to a decrease of close COHOH and NHOH(2) contacts which fall in the range of hydrogen bonds. The energy deposition into H-bond breaking events leaves molecules with less energy for surmounting the CN dissociation barrier. In both solvents, after hopping to the ground state, the solvent cage keeps the HCO and NH(2) fragments or CO and NH(3) products in close proximity. Consequently, the number of trajectories where fast recombination happens is augmented with delayed recombinations that start when the dissociation fragments hit the cage wall and return back. The hot ground state formamide is formed in an internal conversion process identical to the path leading to CN photodissociation. In the case of aqueous formamide, good agreement with experimental results is achieved by combining dynamics simulations starting from the S(1) and the S(2) excited states collecting high and low energy trajectories, respectively.     

Substituent effects on dynamics at conical intersections: alpha,beta-enones

Femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and high-level theoretical calculations were used to study the effects of methyl substitution on the electronic dynamics of the alpha,beta-enones acrolein (2-propenal), crotonaldehyde (2-butenal), methylvinylketone (3-buten-2-one), and methacrolein (2-methyl-2-propenal) following excitation to the S2(pipi*) state at 209 and 200 nm. We determine that following excitation the molecules move rapidly away from the Franck-Condon region, reaching a conical intersection promoting relaxation to the S1(npi*) state. Once on the S1 surface, the trajectories access another conical intersection, leading them to the ground state. Only small variations between molecules are seen in their S2 decay times. However, the position of methyl group substitution greatly affects the relaxation rate from the S1 surface and the branching ratios to the products. Ab initio calculations used to compare the geometries, energies, and topographies of the S1/S0 conical intersections of the molecules are not able to satisfactorily explain the variations in relaxation behavior. We propose that the S1 lifetime differences are caused by specific dynamical factors that affect the efficiency of passage through the S1/S0 conical intersection.     

Theoretical studies on the photochemical reaction mechanisms of o-xylylene. Effects of phenyl group for electrocyclic reaction mechanism

The potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the electrocyclic reactions of o-xylylene at the ground and the lowest excited states are calculated by CASSCF molecular orbital and MRMP2 methods. The lowest excited state geometry of o-xylylene has C(2v) symmetry and is about 65 kcal mol(-1) in energy above the ground state. The PESs in the vicinity of the conical intersection are different from those of the electrocyclic reaction of cis-butadiene. In the vicinity of the conical intersection, the transition state at the ground state relating to methylene-cycloheptadienyl carbene is located. The transition state is only 4.3 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than the conical intersection at the CASSCF(10,10)/6-31G(d) level and 0.5 kcal mol(-1) lower at the MRMP2/6-311+G(d,p) level. The transition state corresponding to benzocyclobutene does not locate in the vicinity of the conical intersection because of the resonance energy between benzene ring and methylene group.     

State-selective predissociation dynamics of methylamines: the vibronic and HD effects on the conical intersection dynamics

The photodissociation dynamics of methylamines (CH(3)NH(2) and CD(3)ND(2)) on the first electronically excited state has been investigated using the velocity map ion imaging technique probing the H or D fragment. Two distinct velocity components are found in the H(D) translational energy distribution, implying the existence of two different reaction pathways for the bond dissociation. The high H(D) velocity component with the small internal energy of the radical fragment is ascribed to the N-H(D) fragmentation via the coupling of S(1) to the upper-lying S(2) repulsive potential energy surface along the N-H(D) bond elongation axis. Dissociation on the ground S(0) state prepared via the nonadiabatic dynamics at the conical intersection should be responsible for the slow H(D) fragment. Several S(1) vibronic states of methylamines including the zero-point level and nnu(9) states (n=1, 2, or 3) are exclusively chosen in order to explore the effect of the initial quantum content on the chemical reaction dynamics. The branching ratio of the fast and slow components is found to be sensitive to the initial vibronic state for the N-H bond dissociation of CH(3)NH(2), whereas it is little affected in the N-D dissociation event of CD(3)ND(2). The fast component is found to be more dominant in the translational distribution of D from CD(3)ND(2) than it is in that of H from CH(3)NH(2). The experimental result is discussed with a plausible mechanism of the conical intersection dynamics.