Thermal decomposition of monomethylhydrazine: Shock tube experiments and kinetic modeling

The thermal decomposition of gaseous monomethylhydrazine (MMH) was studied by recording MMH absorption at 220 nm of the reacting gas behind a reflected shock wave at temperatures of 900–1370 K, pressures of 140–450 kPa, and in mixtures containing 97.5–99 mol% argon. Based on previous work (Sun and Law; J Phys Chem A 2007, 111(19), 3748–3760), a kinetic mechanism was developed over extended temperature and pressure ranges to model these experimental data. Specifically, the temperature and pressure dependence of the unimolecular rate coefficients on the dissociation of MMH and the associated radicals were calculated by the QRRK/Master equation analysis at temperatures of 300–2000 K and pressures of 1–100 atm based on published thermochemical and kinetic parameters. They were then fitted using the Troe formalism and incorporated in the kinetic model. This unadjusted model was then used to predict the MMH decomposition profiles at different temperatures and pressures for seven groups of MMH/Ar mixtures and the half‐life decomposition times from shock tube experiments. Good agreement was observed below 940 K and above 1150 K for the diluted MMH/Ar mixtures. The model predictions further show that the overall MMH decomposition rate follows first‐order kinetics, and that the N–N bond scission is the most sensitive reaction path for the modeling of the homogeneous decomposition of MMH at elevated pressures. However, the model predictions deviate from the experimental data with the incubation period of ca. 100 μs observed in the 1030–1090 K temperature range, and it also predicts longer ignition delays for highly concentrated MMH/Ar mixtures. The discrepancy between the model predictions and experimental data at these special conditions of MMH decomposition was analyzed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 176–186, 2009     

Thermal decomposition of ethylene oxide: potential energy surface, master equation analysis, and detailed kinetic modeling

The unimolecular decomposition of ethylene oxide (oxirane) and the oxiranyl radial is examined by molecular orbital calculations, Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM)/Master Equation analysis, and detailed kinetic modeling of ethylene oxide pyrolysis in a single-pulse shock tube. It was found that the largest energy barrier to the decomposition of ethylene oxide lies in its initial isomerization to form acetaldehyde, and in agreement with previous studies, the isomerization was found to proceed through the *CH2CH2O* biradical. Because of the biradical nature of the transition states and intermediate, the energy barriers for the initial C-O rupture in ethylene oxide and the subsequent 1,2-H shift remain highly uncertain. An overall isomerization energy barrier of 59 +/- 2 kcal/mol was found to satisfactorily explain the available single pulse shock tube data. This barrier height is in line with the estimates made from an approximate spin-corrected procedure at the MP4/6-31+G(d) and QCISD(T)/6-31G(d) levels of theory. The dominant channel for the unimolecular decomposition of ethylene oxide was found to form CH3 + HCO at around the ambient pressure. It accounts for >90% of the total rate constant for T > 800 K. The high-pressure limit rate constant for the unimolecular decomposition of ethylene oxide was calculated as k(1,infinity)(s(-1)) = (3.74 x 10(10))T(1.298)e(-29990/T) for 600 < T < 2000 K.     

Isomerization and decomposition reactions in the pyrolysis of branched hydrocarbons: 4-methyl-1-pentyl radical

The kinetics of the decomposition of 4-methyl-1-pentyl radicals have been studied from 927-1068 K at pressures of 1.78-2.44 bar using a single pulse shock tube with product analysis. The reactant radicals were formed from the thermal C-I bond fission of 1-iodo-4-methylpentane, and a radical inhibitor was used to prevent interference from bimolecular reactions. 4-Methyl-1-pentyl radicals undergo competing decomposition and isomerization reactions via beta-bond scission and 1, x-hydrogen migrations (x = 4, 5), respectively, to form short-chain radicals and alkenes. Major alkene products, in decreasing order of concentration, were propene, ethene, isobutene, and 1-pentene. The observed products are used to validate a RRKM/master equation (ME) chemical kinetics model of the pyrolysis. The presence of the branched methyl moiety has a significant impact on the observed reaction rates relative to analogous reaction rates in straight-chain radical systems. Systems that result in the formation of substituted radical or alkene products are found to be faster than reactions that form primary radical and alkene species. Pressure-dependent reaction rate constants from the RRKM/ME analysis are provided for all four H-transfer isomers at 500-1900 K and 0.1-1000 bar pressure for all of the decomposition and isomerization reactions in this system.     

A shock tube study of the reaction of methyl radicals with hydroxyl radicals

The reaction of CH₃ with OH has been studied near 1200 K and 1 atmosphere pressure in shock tube experiments in which UV absorption was used to monitor [OH]. A rate coefficient of (1.1 ± 0.3) × 10¹³ cm³/mol-s was measured for removal of OH by CH₃. This measured value is compared with previous experimental data and calculations. Several possible reaction channels are discussed, and although products were not monitored, it seems probable, on the basis of other work and theoretical estimates, that the primary mechanism (?75%) for the removal of OH by CH₃ at these conditions is their combination to form CH₃OH. Rate coefficients of (5.3 ± 0.8) × 10¹² and (9.0 ± 1.4) × 10¹² cm³/mol-s were measured for the reactions of OH with acetone and ethane, respectively, at the same temperature and pressure.     

Pressure and temperature dependence of the recombination of p-fluorobenzyl radicals

The rate constants of the recombination reaction of p-fluorobenzyl radicals, p-F-C6H4CH2 + p-F-C6H4CH2 (+M) --> C14H12F2 (+M), have been measured over the pressure range 0.2-800 bar and the temperature range 255-420 K. Helium, argon, and CO2 were employed as bath gases (M). At pressures below 0.9 bar in Ar and CO2, and 40 bar in He, the rate constant k1 showed no dependence on the pressure and the nature of the bath gas, clearly indicating that it had reached the limiting high-pressure value of the energy-transfer (ET) mechanism (k(1,infinity)ET). A value of k(1,infinity)ET(T) = (4.3 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) (T/300 K)(-0.2) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) was determined. At pressures above about 5 bar, the k1 values in Ar and CO2 were found to gradually increase in a pressure range where according to energy-transfer mechanism, they should remain at the constant value k(1,infinity)ET. The enhancement of the recombination rate constant beyond the value k(1,infinity)ET increased in the order He < Ar < CO2, and it became more pronounced with decreasing temperature. The dependences of k1 on pressure, temperature, and the bath gas were similar to previous observations in the recombination of benzyl radicals. The effect of fluorine-substitution of the benzyl ring on k1 values is discussed. The present results confirm the significant role of radical complexes in the recombination kinetics of benzyl-type radicals in the gas-liquid transition range. The observations on a rate enhancement beyond the experimental value of k(1,infinity)ET at elevated densities up to the onset of diffusion-control are consistently explained by the kinetic contribution of a "radical-complex" mechanism which is solely based on standard van der Waals interaction between radicals and bath gases.     

Pressure and temperature dependence of dissociative and non-dissociative electron attachment to CF3: experiments and kinetic modeling

The kinetics of electron attachment to CF(3) as a function of temperature (300-600 K) and pressure (0.75-2.5 Torr) were studied by variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry exploiting dissociative electron attachment to CF(3)Br as a radical source. Attachment occurs through competing dissociative (CF(3) + e(-) → CF(2) + F(-)) and non-dissociative channels (CF(3) + e(-) → CF(3)(-)). The rate constant of the dissociative channel increases strongly with temperature, while that of the non-dissociative channel decreases. The rate constant of the non-dissociative channel increases strongly with pressure, while that of the dissociative channel shows little dependence. The total rate constant of electron attachment increases with temperature and with pressure. The system is analyzed by kinetic modeling in terms of statistical theory in order to understand its properties and to extrapolate to conditions beyond those accessible in the experiment.     

Quantum chemical and master equation simulations of the oxidation and isomerization of vinoxy radicals

The vinoxy radical, a common intermediate in gas-phase alkene ozonolysis, reacts with O2 to form a chemically activated alpha-oxoperoxy species. We report CBS-QB3 energetics for O2 addition to the parent (*CH2CHO, 1a), 1-methylvinoxy (*CH2COCH3, 1b), and 2-methylvinoxy (CH3*CHCHO, 1c) radicals. CBS-QB3 predictions for peroxy radical formation agree with experimental data, while the G2 method systematically overestimates peroxy radical stability. RRKM/master equation simulations based on CBS-QB3 data are used to estimate the competition between prompt isomerization and thermalization for the peroxy radicals derived from 1a, 1b, and 1c. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radicals 4a and 4c (derived from 1a and 1c, respectively) is a 1,4-shift of the acyl hydrogen requiring 19-20 kcal/mol. The resulting hydroperoxyacyl radical decomposes quantitatively to form *OH. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radical 4b (derived from 1b) is a 1,5-shift of a methyl hydrogen requiring 26 kcal/mol. About 25% of 4a, but only approximately 5% of 4c, isomerizes promptly at 1 atm pressure. Isomerization of 4b is negligible at all pressures studied.     

Partial asymptotic decomposition of domain: Navier-Stokes equation in tube structure

The Navier-Stokes problem stated in tube structures (or finite rod structures), i.e. in connected finite unions of thin cylinders with ratio of the diameter to the height of the order ε < < 1, is considered. The method of asymptotic partial decomposition of the domain (MAPDD) is applied and justified for the Navier-Stokes problem posed in a tube structure. This method reduces the initial Navier-Stokes problem to the Navier-Stokes problem in certain small parts of the domain (where the boundary layers are “concentrated”).     

Pressure dependence of chemical branching in the oxygen-atom reaction with allyl chloride

The pressure dependence of the rate constant of the O-atom reaction with allyl chloride and its branching fraction to produce HCO + CH₂ClCH₂ were measured over a seven-fold pressure range (0.5-3.5 Torr) at 299 K. Both are independent of pressure (<20% change). The results suggest that the rearrangements in the energy-rich adduct which are required to yield the products of the route studied are not collision induced.     

Information theory for experiments with known conditional probabilities: Application to the prediction of branching ratios

Information theory is used, under conditions of incomplete data, to provide a maximally conservative prior expectation of a population distribution. This is done by systematically refining the estimates of the full distribution via the incorporation of fragmentary data in the form of conditional probabilities. The net effect is to reduce the available phase space volume of the distribution as more data are incorporated. The above refinements are then applied to calculate estimates of branching ratios for chemical reactions with more than one possible product. Two new branching ratio expressions are derived: one for the case where each product's internal state distribution is known for reactions originating from various specific reactant state?, and when the joint state-to-state reactive probability is known.     

Reactions of 1-naphthyl radicals with ethylene. Single pulse shock tube experiments, quantum chemical, transition state theory, and multiwell calculations

The reactions of 1-naphthyl radicals with ethylene were studied behind reflected shock waves in a single pulse shock tube, covering the temperature range 950-1200 K at overall densities behind the reflected shocks of approximately 2.5 x 10(-5) mol/cm3. 1-Iodonaphthalene served as the source for 1-naphthyl radicals as its C-I bond dissociation energy is relatively small. It is only approximately 65 kcal/mol as compared to the C-H bond strength in naphthalene which is approximately 112 kcal/mol and can thus produce naphthyl radicals at rather low reflected shock temperatures. The [ethylene]/[1-iodo-naphthalene] ratio in all of the experiments was approximately 100 in order to channel the free radicals into reactions with ethylene rather than iodonaphthalene. Four products resulting from the reactions of 1-naphthyl radicals with ethylene were found in the post shock samples. They were vinyl naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, and naphthalene. Some low molecular weight aliphatic products at rather low concentrations, resulting from the attack of various free radicals on ethylene were also found in the shocked samples. In view of the relatively low temperatures employed in the present experiments, the unimolecular decomposition rate of ethylene is negligible. Three potential energy surfaces describing the production of vinyl naphthalene, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene were calculated using quantum chemical methods and rate constants for the elementary steps on the surfaces were calculated using transition state theory. Naphthalene is not part of the reactions on the surfaces. Acenaphthylene is obtained only from acenaphthene. A kinetics scheme containing 27 elementary steps most of which were obtained from the potential energy surfaces was constructed and computer modeling was performed. An excellent agreement between the experimental yields of the four major products and the calculated yields was obtained.     

Pressure and temperature dependence of the decomposition pathway of LiBH4

The decomposition pathway is crucial for the applicability of LiBH(4) as a hydrogen storage material. We discuss and compare the different decomposition pathways of LiBH(4) according to the thermodynamic parameters and show the experimental ways to realize them. Two pathways, i.e. the direct decomposition into boron and the decomposition via Li(2)B(12)H(12), were realized under appropriate conditions, respectively. By applying a H(2) pressure of 50 bar at 873 K or 10 bar at 700 K, LiBH(4) is forced to decompose into Li(2)B(12)H(12). In a lower pressure range of 0.1 to 10 bar at 873 K and 800 K, the concurrence of both decomposition pathways is observed. Raman spectroscopy and (11)B MAS NMR measurements confirm the formation of an intermediate Li(2)B(12)H(12) phase (mostly Li(2)B(12)H(12) adducts, such as dimers or trimers) and amorphous boron.     

Thermal decomposition of 1,1,2,2-tetramethylcyclopropane in a single-pulse shock tube

1,1,2,2-Tetramethylcyclopropane (TTMC) has been decomposed in a single-pulse shock tube. The main reaction process is Side reactions are unimportant. From comparative rate experiments (with cyclohexene decomposition as standard) the rate expression for these reactions are These numbers are consistent with a «best» value for cyclohexene decomposition of      

Detailed kinetics of cyclopentadiene decomposition studied in a shock tube

Mixtures of cyclopentadiene diluted with argon were used to investigate its decomposition pattern in a single pulse shock tube. The temperatures ranged from 1080 to 1550 K and pressures behind the shock were between 1.7–9.6 atm. The cyclopentadiene concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 2%. Gas-chromatographic analysis was used to determine the product distribution. The main products in order of abundance were acetylene, ethylene, methane, allene, propyne, butadiene, propylene, and benzene. The decomposition of cyclopentadiene was simulated with a kinetic scheme containing 44 species and 144 elementary reactions. This was later reduced to only 36 reactions. The ring opening process of the cyclopentadienyl radical was found to be the crucial step in the mechanism. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 505–514, 1997.     

Reaction of phenyl radicals with acetylene: quantum chemical investigation of the mechanism and master equation analysis of the kinetics

The mechanism of the C(6)H(5) + C(2)H(2) reaction has been investigated by various quantum chemical methods. Electrophilic addition to the CC triple bond is found to be the only important mode of phenyl radical attack on acetylene. The initially formed chemically activated C(6)H(5)C(2)H(2) adducts may follow several isomerization pathways in competition with collisional stabilization and H-elimination. Thermochemistry of various decomposition and isomerization channels is evaluated by the G2M method. For key intermediates, the following standard enthalpies of formation have been deduced from isodesmic reactions: 94.2 +/- 2.0 kcal/mol (C(6)H(5)CHCH), 86.4 +/- 2.0 kcal/mol (C(6)H(5)CCH(2)), and 95.5 +/- 1.8 kcal/ mol (o-C(6)H(4)C(2)H(3)). The accuracy of theoretical predictions was examined through extensive comparisons with available experimental and theoretical data. The kinetics and product branching of the C(6)H(5) + C(2)H(2) reaction have been evaluated by weak collision master equation/Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) analysis of the truncated kinetic model including only kinetically important transformations of the isomeric C(8)H(7) radicals. Available experimental kinetic data can be quantitatively reproduced by calculation with a minor adjustment of the C(6)H(5) addition barrier from 3.7 to 4.1 kcal/mol. Our predicted total rate constant, k(R1) = (1.29 x 10(10))T(0.834) exp(-2320/T) cm(3) mol(-)(1) s(-)(1), is weakly dependent on P and corresponds to the phenylation process under combustion conditions (T > 1000 K).     

Rate constants and branching ratios for the reaction of CH radicals with NH3: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The reaction between CH radicals and NH(3) molecules is known to be rapid down to at least 23 K {at which temperature k = (2.21 ± 0.17) × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1): Bocherel ; et al. J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 3063}. However, there have been only limited theoretical investigations of this reaction and its products are not known. This paper reports (i) ab initio quantum chemical calculations on the energy paths that lead to various reaction products, (ii) calculations of the overall rate constant and branching ratios to different products using transition state and master equation methods, and (iii) an experimental determination of the H atom yield from the reaction. The ab initio calculations show that reaction occurs predominantly via the initial formation of a datively bound HC-NH(3) complex and reveal low energy pathways to three sets of reaction products: H(2)CNH + H, HCNH(2) + H, and CH(3) + NH. The transition state calculations indicate the roles of "outer" and "inner" transition states and yield rate constants between 20 and 320 K that are in moderate agreement with the experimental values. These calculations and those using the master equation approach show that the branching ratio for the most exothermic reaction, to H(2)CNH + H, is ca. 96% throughout the temperature range covered by the calculations, with those to HCNH(2) + H and CH(3) + NH being (4 ± 3)% and <0.3%, respectively. In the experiments, multiple photon dissociation of CHBr(3) was used to generate CH radicals and laser-induced fluorescence at 121.56 nm (VUV-LIF) was employed to observe H atoms. By comparing signals from CH + NH(3) with those from CH + CH(4), where the yield of H atoms is known to be unity, it is possible to estimate that the yield of H atoms from CH + NH(3) is equal to 0.89 ± 0.07 (2σ), in satisfactory agreement with the theoretical estimate.     

Master equation methods for multiple well systems: application to the 1-,2-pentyl system

The master equation (ME) provides a powerful technique for modeling reactions that involve at least one potential energy well. It can be widely applied to reactions with several connected energy wells and multiple product channels. The application of the technique is reviewed by reference to the H + SO(2) reaction, where phenomenological rate constants for use, for example, in a combustion model can be extracted through an analysis of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the collision matrix, M, that describes formation of the adducts HSO(2) and HOSO from the source H + SO(2), collisional energy transfer in the adduct wells and reaction via the product channel (sink) OH + SO. The approach is extended to systems with more than one sink and it is demonstrated that macroscopic (phenomenological) rate coefficients derived from a ME obey detailed balance if the original ME is appropriately constructed. The method has been applied to the 1-, 2-pentyl radical system, that includes isomerisation and dissociation via two channels to form C(3)H(6) + C(2)H(5) and C(2)H(4) + C(3)H(7). The calculations clearly demonstrate the importance of indirect dissociation channels, in which an isomer can dissociate to form the product set to which it is not directly connected, e.g. formation of C(3)H(6) + C(2)H(5) from 1-pentyl, via the energized states of 2-pentyl. As in previous studies of pentyl dissociation, there is a convergence of the chemically significant eigenvalues and the internal energy relaxation eigenvalues above approximately 1000 K; the consequences of this convergence are discussed.     

Dissociation of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane behind reflected shock waves: shock tube/time-of-flight mass spectrometry experiments

The dissociation of 1,1,1,-trifluoroethane, a potential non-RRKM reaction, has been studied at 600 and 1200 Torr and high temperatures (1500-1840 K) using a new shock tube/time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ST/TOF-MS). These data obtained by an independent method are in good agreement with the laser schlieren, LS, experiments of Kiefer et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2443-2450] and extend the range of that experimental dataset. The data have been simulated by both standard RRKM calculations and the non-RRKM model reported by Kiefer et al. but with = 750 cm(-1). Both the RRKM and non-RRKM calculations provide equally good fits to the ST/TOF-MS data. Neither model simulates the combined ST/TOF-MS and LS datasets particularly well. However, the non-RRKM model predicts a pressure dependency closer to that observed in the experiments than the RRKM model.     

Mechanism and rate constants for the decomposition of 1-pentenyl radicals

This paper is concerned with the mechanisms and rate constants for the decomposition of 1-penten-3-yl, 1-penten-4-yl, and 1-penten-5-yl radicals. They are formed from radical attack on 1-pentene, which is an important decomposition product of normal alkyl radicals with more than 6 carbon atoms in combustion systems. This work is based on related data in the literature. These involve rate constants for the reverse radical addition process under high-pressure conditions, chemical activation experiments, and more recent direct studies. The high-pressure rate constants are based on detailed balance. The energy transfer effects and the pressure dependences of the rate constants are determined through the solution of the master equation and are projected to cover combustion conditions. The low barriers to these reactions make it necessary to treat these thermal reactions as open systems, as in chemical activation studies. The multiple reaction channels make the nature of the pressure effects different from those usually described in standard texts. The order of stability is 1-penten-3-yl approximately 1-penten-4-yl > 1-penten-5-yl and straddles those for the n-alkyl radicals. A key feature in these reactions is the effects traceable to allylic resonance. However, the 50 kJ/mol allylic resonance energy is not fully manifested. The important unsaturated products are 1,3-butadiene, the pentadienes, allyl radicals, and vinyl radicals. The results are compared with the recommendations in the literature, and significant differences are noted. Extensions to larger radicals with similar structures are discussed.     

Velocity dependence of vibrational branching ratios in electronic energy transfer collisions of metastable argon atoms with nitrogen

Measurements have been made of the vibrational branching ratio (υ′=0)/(υ′=1) in N^*₂ (C³Π_u) formed in electronic energy transfer collisions between argon metastable atoms and ground state nitrogen molecules, using crossed molecular beams. In the relative collision energy range, 0.08–0.20 eV, this ratio is 3.5±0.2.