Conformational preferences and vibrational frequency distributions of short peptides in relation to multidimensional infrared spectroscopy.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the structural distributions and the associated amide-I vibrational modes are carried out for dialanine peptide in water and carbon tetrachloride. The various manifestations in nonlinear-infrared spectroscopic experiments of the distributions of conformations of solvated dialanine are examined. The two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectrum of dialanine exhibits the coupling between the amide oscillators and the correlations of the frequency fluctuations. An internally hydrogen-bonded conformation exists in CCl(4) but not in H(2)O where two externally hydrogen-bonded forms are preferred. Simulations of solvated dialanine show how the 2D-IR spectra expose the underlying structural distributions and dynamics that are not deducible from linear-infrared spectra. In H(2)O the 2D-IR shows cross-peaks from large coupling in the alpha-helical conformer and an elongated higher frequency diagonal peak, reflecting the broader distribution of structures for the more flexible acetyl end. In CCl(4), the computed cross-peak portion of the 2D-IR shows evidence of two amide-I transitions in the high-frequency region which are not apparent from the diagonal peak profile. The vibrational frequency inhomogeneity of the amide-I band arises from fluctuations of the instantaneous normal modes of these conformers rather than the shifts induced by hydrogen bonding. The simulation shows that there are correlations between fluctuations of the acetyl and amino end frequencies in H(2)O that arise from mechanical coupling and not from hydrogen bonding at the two ends of the molecule. The angular relationships between the two amide units which also show up in 2D-IR were computed, and spectral manifestations of them are discussed. The simulations also permit a calculation of the rate of energy transfer from one side of the molecule to the other. From these calculations, 2D-IR spectroscopy in conjunction with simulations is seen to be a promising tool for determining dynamics of structure changes in dipeptides.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CH=CH2 and C4F9CH=CH2: products of the gas-phase reactions with Cl atoms and OH radicals

FTIR-smog chamber techniques were used to study the products of the Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation of CF3CH=CH2 in 700 Torr of N2/O2, diluent at 296 K. The Cl atom initiated oxidation of CF3CH=CH2 in 700 Torr of air in the absence of NOx gives CF3C(O)CH2Cl and CF3CHO in yields of 70+/-5% and 6.2+/-0.5%, respectively. Reaction with Cl atoms proceeds via addition to the >C=C< double bond (74+/-4% to the terminal and 26+/-4% to the central carbon atom) and leads to the formation of CF3CH(O)CH2Cl and CF3CHClCH2O radicals. Reaction with O2 and decomposition via C-C bond scission are competing loss mechanisms for CF3CH(O)CH2Cl radicals, kO2/kdiss=(3.8+/-1.8)x10(-18) cm3 molecule-1. The atmospheric fate of CF3CHClCH2O radicals is reaction with O2 to give CF3CHClCHO. The OH radical initiated oxidation of CxF2x+1CH=CH2 (x=1 and 4) in 700 Torr of air in the presence of NOx gives CxF2x+1CHO in a yield of 88+/-9%. Reaction with OH radicals proceeds via addition to the >C=C< double bond leading to the formation of CxF2x+1C(O)HCH2OH and CxF2x+1CHOHCH2O radicals. Decomposition via C-C bond scission is the sole fate of CxF2x+1CH(O)CH2OH and CxF2x+1CH(OH)CH2O radicals. As part of this work a rate constant of k(Cl+CF3C(O)CH2Cl)=(5.63+/-0.66)x10(-14) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 was determined. The results are discussed with respect to previous literature data and the possibility that the atmospheric oxidation of CxF2x+1CH=CH2 contributes to the observed burden of perfluorocarboxylic acids, CxF2x+1COOH, in remote locations.     

13C, 18O, and D fractionation effects in the reactions of CH3OH isotopologues with Cl and OH radicals

A relative rate experiment is carried out for six isotopologues of methanol and their reactions with OH and Cl radicals. The reaction rates of CH2DOH, CHD2OH, CD3OH, (13)CH3OH, and CH3(18)OH with Cl and OH radicals are measured by long-path FTIR spectroscopy relative to CH3OH at 298 +/- 2 K and 1013 +/- 10 mbar. The OH source in the reaction chamber is photolysis of ozone to produce O((1)D) in the presence of a large excess of molecular hydrogen: O((1)D) + H2 --> OH + H. Cl is produced by the photolysis of Cl2. The FTIR spectra are fitted using a nonlinear least-squares spectral fitting method with measured high-resolution infrared spectra as references. The relative reaction rates defined as alpha = k(light)/k(heavy) are determined to be: k(OH + CH3OH)/k(OH + (13)CH3OH) = 1.031 +/- 0.020, k(OH + CH3OH)/k(OH + CH3(18)OH) = 1.017 +/- 0.012, k(OH + CH3OH)/k(OH + CH2DOH) = 1.119 +/- 0.045, k(OH + CH3OH)/k(OH + CHD2OH) = 1.326 +/- 0.021 and k(OH + CH3OH)/k(OH + CD3OH) = 2.566 +/- 0.042, k(Cl + CH3OH)/k(Cl + (13)CH3OH) = 1.055 +/- 0.016, k(Cl + CH3OH)/k(Cl + CH3(18)OH) = 1.025 +/- 0.022, k(Cl + CH3OH)/k(Cl + CH2DOH) = 1.162 +/- 0.022 and k(Cl + CH3OH)/k(Cl + CHD2OH) = 1.536 +/- 0.060, and k(Cl + CH3OH)/k(Cl + CD3OH) = 3.011 +/- 0.059. The errors represent 2sigma from the statistical analyses and do not include possible systematic errors. Ground-state potential energy hypersurfaces of the reactions were investigated in quantum chemistry calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory with an extrapolated basis set. The (2)H, (13)C, and (18)O kinetic isotope effects of the OH and Cl reactions with CH3OH were further investigated using canonical variational transition state theory with small curvature tunneling and compared to experimental measurements as well as to those observed in CH4 and several other substituted methane species.     

Atmospheric chemistry of propionaldehyde: kinetics and mechanisms of reactions with OH radicals and Cl atoms, UV spectrum, and self-reaction kinetics of CH3CH2C(O)O2 radicals at 298 K

The kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with CH3CH2CHO were investigated at room temperature using two complementary techniques: flash photolysis/UV absorption and continuous photolysis/FTIR smog chamber. Reaction with Cl atoms proceeds predominantly by abstraction of the aldehydic hydrogen atom to form acyl radicals. FTIR measurements indicated that the acyl forming channel accounts for (88 +/- 5)%, while UV measurements indicated that the acyl forming channel accounts for (88 +/- 3)%. Relative rate methods were used to measure: k(Cl + CH3CH2CHO) = (1.20 +/- 0.23) x 10(-10); k(OH + CH3CH2CHO) = (1.82 +/- 0.23) x 10(-11); and k(Cl + CH3CH2C(O)Cl) = (1.64 +/- 0.22) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The UV spectrum of CH3CH2C(O)O2, rate constant for self-reaction, and rate constant for cross-reaction with CH3CH2O2 were determined: sigma(207 nm) = (6.71 +/- 0.19) x 10(-18) cm2 molecule(-1), k(CH3CH2C(O)O2 + CH3CH2C(O)O2) = (1.68 +/- 0.08) x 10(-11), and k(CH3CH2C(O)O2 + CH3CH2O2) = (1.20 +/- 0.06) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), where quoted uncertainties only represent 2sigma statistical errors. The infrared spectrum of C2H5C(O)O2NO2 was recorded, and products of the Cl-initiated oxidation of CH3CH2CHO in the presence of O2 with, and without, NO(x) were identified. Results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry of propionaldehyde.     

Kinetics studies of aqueous phase reactions of Cl atoms and Cl2(-) radicals with organic sulfur compounds of atmospheric interest

A laser flash photolysis-long path UV-visible absorption technique has been employed to investigate the kinetics of aqueous phase reactions of chlorine atoms (Cl) and dichloride radicals (Cl2(-)) with four organic sulfur compounds of atmospheric interest, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; CH3S(O)CH3), dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2; CH3(O)S(O)CH3), methanesulfinate (MSI; CH3S(O)O-), and methanesulfonate (MS; CH3(O)S(O)O-). Measured rate coefficients at T = 295 +/- 1 K (in units of M(-1) s(-1)) are as follows: Cl + DMSO, (6.3 +/- 0.6) x 10(9); Cl2(-) + DMSO, (1.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(7); Cl + DMSO2, (8.2 +/- 1.6) x 10(5); Cl2(-) + DMSO2, (8.2 +/- 5.5) x 10(3); Cl2(-) + MSI, (8.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(8); Cl + MS, (4.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(5); Cl2(-) + MS, (3.9 +/- 0.7) x 10(3). Reported uncertainties are estimates of accuracy at the 95% confidence level and the rate coefficients for MSI and MS reactions with Cl2(-) are corrected to the zero ionic strength limit. The absorption spectrum of the DMSO-Cl adduct is reported; peak absorbance is observed at 390 nm and the peak extinction coefficient is found to be 5760 M(-1) cm(-1) with a 2sigma uncertainty of +/-30%. Some implications of the new kinetics results for understanding the atmospheric sulfur cycle are discussed.     

Redox chemistry of morpholine-based Os(VI)-hydrazido complexes: trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+)

The oxidations of benzyl alcohol, PPh3, and the sulfides (SEt2 and SPh2) (Ph = phenyl and Et = ethyl) by the Os(VI)-hydrazido complex trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and O(CH2)4N(-) = morpholide) have been investigated in CH3CN solution by UV-visible monitoring and product analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For benzyl alcohol and the sulfides, the rate law for the formation of the Os(V)-hydrazido complex, trans-[Os(V)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](+), is first order in both trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) and reductant, with k(benzyl) (25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C, CH3CN) = (1.80 +/- 0.07) x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), k(SEt2) = (1.33 +/- 0.02) x 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1), and k(SPh2) = (1.12 +/- 0.05) x 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1). Reduction of trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) by PPh3 is rapid and accompanied by isomerization and solvolysis to give the Os(IV)-hydrazido product, cis-[Os(IV)(tpy)(NCCH3)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+), and OPPh3. This reaction presumably occurs by net double Cl-atom transfer to PPh3 to give Cl2PPh3 that subsequently undergoes hydrolysis by trace H2O to give the final product, OPPh3. In the X-ray crystal structure of the Os(IV)-hydrazido complex, the Os-N-N angle of 130.9(5) degrees and the Os-N bond length of 1.971(7) A are consistent with an Os-N double bond.     

Atmospheric chemistry of a model biodiesel fuel, CH3C(O)O(CH2)2OC(O)CH3: kinetics, mechanisms, and products of Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation in the presence and absence of NOx

Relative rate techniques were used to study the kinetics of the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with ethylene glycol diacetate, CH3C(O)O(CH2)2OC(O)CH3, in 700 Torr of N2/O2 diluent at 296 K. The rate constants measured were k(Cl + CH3C(O)O(CH2)2OC(O)CH3) = (5.7 +/- 1.1) x 10(-12) and k(OH + CH3C(O)O(CH2)2OC(O)CH3) = (2.36 +/- 0.34) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Product studies of the Cl atom initiated oxidation of ethylene glycol diacetate in the absence of NO in 700 Torr of O2/N2 diluent at 296 K show the primary products to be CH3C(O)OC(O)CH2OC(O)CH3, CH3C(O)OC(O)H, and CH3C(O)OH. Product studies of the Cl atom initiated oxidation of ethylene glycol diacetate in the presence of NO in 700 Torr of O2/N2 diluent at 296 K show the primary products to be CH3C(O)OC(O)H and CH3C(O)OH. The CH3C(O)OCH2O* radical is formed during the Cl atom initiated oxidation of ethylene glycol diacetate, and two loss mechanisms were identified: reaction with O2 to give CH3C(O)OC(O)H and alpha-ester rearrangement to give CH3C(O)OH and HC(O) radicals. The reaction of CH3C(O)OCH2O2* with NO gives chemically activated CH3C(O)OCH2O* radicals which are more likely to undergo decomposition via the alpha-ester rearrangement than CH3C(O)OCH2O* radicals produced in the peroxy radical self-reaction.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CH2CH2OH: kinetics, mechanisms and products of Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation in the presence and absence of NOX

Relative rate techniques were used to study the kinetics of the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H and CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH in 700 Torr of N(2) or air diluent at 296 +/- 2 K. The rate constants determined were k(Cl+CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H) = (1.81 +/- 0.27) x 10(-11), k(OH+CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H) = (2.57 +/- 0.44) x 10(-12), k(Cl+CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH) = (1.59 +/- 0.20) x 10(-11), and k(OH+CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH) = (6.91 +/- 0.91) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Product studies of the chlorine initiated oxidation of CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH in the absence of NO show the sole primary product to be CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H. Product studies of the chlorine initiated oxidation of CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH in the presence of NO show the primary products to be CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H (81%), HC(O)OH (10%), and CF(3)C(O)H. Product studies of the chlorine initiated oxidation of CF(3)CH(2)C(O)H in the absence of NO show the primary products to be CF(3)C(O)H (76%), CF(3)CH(2)C(O)OH (14%), and CF(3)CH(2)C(O)OOH (< or =10%). As part of this work, an upper limit of k(O(3)+CF(3)CH(2)CH(2)OH) < 2 x 10(-21) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was established. Results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry of fluorinated alcohols.     

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).     

CH(A2Delta) Formation in hydrocarbon combustion: the temperature dependence of the rate constant of the reaction C2H + O2--> CH(A2Delta) + CO2

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the chemiluminescence reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2, k1e, has been experimentally determined over the temperature range 316-837 K using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant was found to have a pronounced positive temperature dependence given by k1e(T) = AT(4.4) exp(1150 +/- 150/T), where A = 1 x 10(-27) cm(3) s(-1). The preexponential factor for k1e, A, which is known only to within an order of magnitude, is based on a revised expression for the rate constant for the C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO reaction, k2b, of (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) exp(-230 K/T) cm3 s(-1) [Devriendt, K.; Van Look, H.; Ceursters, B.; Peeters, J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 261, 450] and a k2b/k1e determination of this work of 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K. Using the temperature dependence of the rate constant k1e(T)/k1e(300 K), which is much more accurately and precisely determined than is A, we predict an increase in k(1e) of a factor 60 +/- 16 between 300 and 1500 K. The ratio of rate constants k2b/k1e is predicted to change from 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K to 40 +/- 25 at 1500 K. These results suggest that the reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2 contributes significantly to CH(A-->X) chemiluminescence in hot flames and especially under fuel-lean conditions where it probably dominates the reaction C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectral studies, and catechol oxidase activity of trigonal bipyramidal Cu(II) complexes derived from a tetradentate diamide bisbenzimidazole ligand

A new benzimidazole-based diamide ligand-N,N'-bis(glycine-2- benzimidazolyl)hexanediamide (GBHA)-has been synthesized and utilized to prepare Cu(II) complexes of general composition [Cu(GBHA)X]X, where X is an exogenous anionic ligand (X = Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SCN(-)). The X-ray structure of one of the complexes, [Cu(GBHA)Cl]Cl.H(2)O.CH(3)OH, has been obtained. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with unit cell dimensions a = 26.464(3) A, b = 10.2210(8) A, c = 20.444(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 106.554(7) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V= 5300.7(9) A(3), and Z = 8. To the best of our knowledge, the [Cu(GBHA)Cl]Cl.H(2)O.CH(3)OH complex is the first structurally characterized mononuclear trigonal bipyramidal copper(II) bisbenzimidazole diamide complex having coordinated amide carbonyl oxygen. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) ion is distorted trigonal bipyramidal (tau = 0.59). Two carbonyl oxygen atoms and a chlorine atom form the equatorial plane, while the two benzimidazole imine nitrogen atoms occupy the axial positions. The geometry of the Cu(II) center in the solid state is not preserved in DMSO solution, changing to square pyramidal, as suggested by the low-temperature EPR data g( parallel) > g( perpendicular) > 2.0023. All the complexes display a quasi-reversible redox wave due to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction process. E(1/2) values shift anodically from Cl(-) < NO(3)(-) < SCN(-), indicating that the bound Cl(-) ion stabilizes the Cu(II) ion while the N-bonded SCN(-) ion destabilizes the Cu(II) state in the complex. When calculated against NHE, the redox potentials turn out to be quite positive as compared to other copper(II) benzimidazole bound complexes (Nakao, Y.; Onoda, M.; Sakurai, T.; Nakahara, A.; Kinoshita, L.; Ooi, S. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1988, 151, 55. Addison, A. W.; Hendricks, H. M. J.; Reedijk, J.; Thompson, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 1981, 20 (1), 103. Sivagnanam, U.; Palaniandavar, M. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1994, 2277. Palaniandavar, M.; Pandiyan, T.; Laxminarayan, M.; Manohar, H. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1995, 457. Sakurai, T.; Oi, H.; Nakahara, A. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1984, 92, 131). It is therefore concluded that binding of amide carbonyl oxygen destabilizes the Cu(II) state. The complex [Cu(II)(GBHA)(NO(3))](NO(3)) could be successfully reduced by the addition of dihydroxybenzenes to the corresponding [Cu(I)(GBHA)](NO(3)). (1)H NMR of the reduced complex shows slightly broadened and shifted (1)H signals. The reduction of the Cu(II) complex presumably occurs with the corresponding 2e(-) oxidation of the quinol to quinone. Such a conversion is reminiscent of the functioning of a copper-containing catechol oxidase from sweet potatoes and the met form of the enzyme tyrosinase.     

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of the alanine dipeptide in aqueous solution

The linear-infrared and two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra in the amide-I' region of the alanine dipeptide and its (13)C isotopomers in aqueous solution (D(2)O) are reported. The two amide-I' IR transitions have been assigned unambiguously by using (13)C isotopic substitution of the carbonyl group; the amide unit at the acetyl end shows a lower transition frequency in the unlabeled species. The ratio of their transition dipole strengths remains almost unchanged upon (13)C substitution, indicating the absence of intensity transfer between two vibrators. The 2D IR cross peaks directly associated with intramode coupling in this case show a small off-diagonal anharmonicity (0.2 +/- 0.2 cm(-1)), leading to a small coupling constant (1.5 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)). The coupling and the 2D IR spectra in two different polarizations (zzzz and zxxz) are as expected for a polyproline-II (PP(II))-like conformation for dialanine, with the backbone dihedral angles (phi, psi) determined to be in the range of (-70 degrees +/- 25 degrees, +120 degrees +/- 25 degrees). Ab initio DFT calculations and normal mode decoupling analysis in the Ramachandran subspace in the neighborhood of PP(II) conformation confirm the presence of a region where the coupling is vanishingly small and support these experimental findings. The relationship between the coupling and off-diagonal anharmonicity is consolidated by examining the distribution of the latter from an ensemble averaged Hamiltonian incorporating uncorrelated diagonal frequency distributions and a small coupling (<2 cm(-1)); it is found that the most probable value for the off-diagonal anharmonicity falls into the range of experimental observations. Further, incorporating DFT results, the simulated linear-IR and 2D IR can reproduce the essential features of the measurements, including the transition frequency positions and apparent peak intensities. All the experimental results and simulations are consistent with a PP(II)-like conformation for the alanine dipeptide in aqueous solution, in which two amide-I' modes are highly localized and whose frequency distributions are uncorrelated.     

Kinetics of the reactions of Cl*(2P(1/2)) and Cl(2P(3/2)) atoms with CH3OH, C2H5OH, n-C3H7OH, and i-C3H7OH at 295 K

The title reactions were studied using laser flash photolysis/laser-induced-fluorescence (FP-LIF) techniques. The two spin-orbit states, Cl*(2P(1/2)) and Cl(2P(3/2)), were detected using LIF at 135.2 and 134.7 nm, respectively. Measured reaction rate constants were as follows (units of cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1)): k(Cl(2P(3/2))+CH3OH) = (5.35 +/- 0.24) x 10(-11), k(Cl(2P(3/2))+C2H5OH) = (9.50 +/- 0.85) x 10(-11), k(Cl(2P(3/2))+n-C3H7OH) = (1.71 +/- 0.11) x 10(-10), and k(Cl(2P(3/2))+i-C3H7OH) = (9.11 +/- 0.60) x 10(-11). Measured rate constants for total removal of Cl*(2P(1/2)) in collisions with CH3OH, C2H5OH, n-C3H7OH, and i-C3H7OH were (1.95 +/- 0.13) x 10(-10), (2.48 +/- 0.18) x 10(-10), (3.13 +/- 0.18) x 10(-10), and (2.84 +/- 0.16) x 10(-10), respectively; quoted errors are two-standard deviations. Although spin-orbit excited Cl*(2P(1/2)) atoms have 2.52 kcal/mol more energy than Cl(2P(3/2)), the rates of chemical reaction of Cl*(2P(1/2)) with CH3OH, C2H5OH, n-C3H7OH, and i-C3H7OH are only 60-90% of the corresponding Cl(2P(3/2)) atom reactions. Under ambient conditions spin-orbit excited Cl* atoms are responsible for 0.5%, 0.5%, 0.4%, and 0.7% of the observed reactivity of thermalized Cl atoms toward CH3OH, C2H5OH, n-C3H7OH, and i-C3H7OH, respectively.     

Gas-phase structures of acetyl peroxynitrate and trifluoroacetyl peroxynitrate

The molecular structures and conformational properties of acetyl peroxynitrate (PAN, CH3C(O)OONO2) and trifluoroacetyl peroxynitrate (FPAN, CF3C(O)OONO2) were investigated in the gas phase by electron diffraction (GED), microwave spectroscopy (MW), and quantum chemical methods (HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G*, MP2/6-31G*, B3PW91/6-31G*, and B3PW91/6-311+G*). All experimental and theoretical methods show the syn conformer (C=O bond of acetyl group syn to O-O bond) to be strongly predominant relative to the anti conformer. The O-NO2 bonds are extremely long, 1.492(7) A in PAN and 1.526(10) A in FPAN, which correlates with their low bond energy and the easy formation of CX3C(O)OO* and *NO2 radicals in the atmosphere. The O-O bonds (1.418(12) A in PAN and 1.408(8) A in FPAN) are shorter than that in hydrogen peroxide (1.464 A). In both compounds the C-O-O-N dihedral angle is close to 85 degrees.     

The "azido gauche effect"-implications for the conformation of azidoprolines

The "azido gauche effect" was examined both experimentally and theoretically and was found to determine the conformation of, for example, (4R)- and (4S)-azidoproline (Azp) derivatives. For (4R)Azp derivatives, the azido gauche effect induces a preferred C(4)-exo conformation of the pyrrolidine ring, which leads to stabilization of the s-trans amide conformer of, e.g., Ac-(4R)Azp-OCH(3) (5R) via an n-->pi interaction between the nonbonding electrons of the oxygen of the acetyl group and the carbonyl group of the ester. For (4S)Azp derivatives, the azido gauche effect results in a C(4)-endo conformation of the pyrrolidine ring that does not allow for this stabilizing n-->pi interaction of the s-trans conformer. Consequently, a significantly higher s-trans:s-cis amide conformer ratio is observed for (4R)Azp compared to (4S)Azp derivatives (e.g., 6.1:1 versus 2.6:1 in D(2)O for Ac-(4R)Azp-OCH(3) (5R) compared to Ac-(4S)Azp-OCH(3) (5S)). These conformational preferences are reflected in the higher tendency of (4S)Azp-containing peptides to form cyclic peptides with all-cis amide bonds compared to (4R)Azp derivatives. Ab initio calculations demonstrate that the strength of the azido gauche effect is comparable to that of the well-known "fluorine gauche effect". For azidoethane derivatives N(3)-CH(2)CH(2)-X (X = N(3), NHCOH, NHAc, or N(CH(3))Ac), the ab initio calculations revealed energy differences of 5-13 kJ mol(-)(1) between the anti and gauche conformations in favor of the gauche conformer. Calculations were also performed for the (4R)Azp and (4S)Azp derivatives 5R and 5S, supporting the experimentally observed data.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of O-donor Ir(III) complexes: C-H activation studies with benzene

Various new thermally air- and water-stable alkyl and aryl analogues of (acac-O,O)2Ir(R)(L), R-Ir-L (acac-O,O = kappa2-O,O-acetylacetonate, -Ir- is the trans-(acac-O,O)2Ir(III) motif, R = CH3, C2H5, Ph, PhCH2CH2, L = Py) have been synthesized using the dinuclear complex [Ir(mu-acac-O,O,C3)-(acac-O,O)(acac-C3)]2, [acac-C-Ir]2, or acac-C-Ir-H2O. The dinuclear Ir (III) complexes, [Ir(mu-acac-O,O,C3)-(acac-O,O)(R)]2 (R = alkyl), show fluxional behavior with a five-coordinate, 16 electron complex by a dissociative pathway. The pyridine adducts, R-Ir-Py, undergo degenerate Py exchange via a dissociative mechanism with activation parameters for Ph-Ir-Py (deltaH++ = 22.8 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol; deltaS++ = 8.4 +/- 1.6 eu; deltaG++298 K) = 20.3 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol) and CH3-Ir-Py (deltaH++ = 19.9 +/- 1.4 kcal/mol; deltaS++ = 4.4 +/- 5.5 eu; deltaG++298 K) = 18.6 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol). The trans complex, Ph-Ir-Py, undergoes quantitatively trans-cis isomerization to generate cis-Ph-Ir-Py on heating. All the R-Ir-Py complexes undergo quantitative, intermolecular CH activation reactions with benzene to generate Ph-Ir-Py and RH. The activation parameters (deltaS++ =11.5 +/- 3.0 eu; deltaH++ = 41.1 +/- 1.1 kcal/mol; deltaG++298 K = 37.7 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol) for CH activation were obtained using CH3-Ir-Py as starting material at a constant ratio of [Py]/[C6D6] = 0.045. Overall the CH activation reaction with R-Ir-Py has been shown to proceed via four key steps: (A) pre-equilibrium loss of pyridine that generates a trans-five-coordinate, square pyramidal intermediate; (B) unimolecular, isomerization of the trans-five-coordinate to generate a cis-five-coordinate intermediate, cis-R-Ir- square; (C) rate-determining coordination of this species to benzene to generate a discrete benzene complex, cis-R-Ir-PhH; and (D) rapid C-H cleavage. Kinetic isotope effects on the CH activation with mixtures of C6H6/C6D6 (KIE = 1) and with 1,3,5-C6H3D3 (KIE approximately 3.2 at 110 degrees C) are consistent with this reaction mechanism.     

Conformational stability from variable temperature infrared spectra of rare gas solutions of 2-chloro-3-fluoropropene

Variable temperature (-55 to -155 degrees C) infrared spectra of rare gas solutions of 2-chloro-3-fluoropropene, H2C=C(Cl)CH2F, have been recorded from 3500 to 400 cm(-1). The relative intensities of 16 conformer pairs at ten different temperatures of a krypton solution have been measured and from these data an enthalpy difference of 271+/-27 cm(-1) (3.17+/-0.32 kJ x mol(-1)) has been obtained with the cis conformer the more stable form. Similar studies were also carried out in xenon and an enthalpy difference of 334+/-33 cm(-1) (4.00+/-0.39 kJ x mol(-1)) was obtained again with the cis conformer the more stable form. It is estimated that there is 35+/-2% of the gauche conformer present at ambient temperature. However, in the crystalline solid the gauche conformer is the stable rotamer. Extensive ab initio calculations with full electron correlation by the perturbation method at the MP2 level with a variety of basis sets as well as density functional theory calculations (DFT) by the B3LYP method have been carried out. Several of these calculations predict an energy difference in the range of 400 cm(-1) with the cis form the more stable conformer but most of the predicted energy differences are significantly larger than the experimentally determined value. The spectroscopic and theoretical results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.     

Rate constants and H atom branching ratios of the gas-phase reactions of methylidyne CH(X2Pi) radical with a series of alkanes

The reactions of the CH radical with several alkanes were studied, at room temperature, in a low-pressure fast-flow reactor. CH(X2Pi, v = 0) radicals were obtained from the reaction of CHBr(3) with potassium atoms. The overall rate constants at 300 K are (0.76 +/- 0.20) x 10(-10) [Fleurat-Lessard, P.; Rayez, J. C.; Bergeat, A.; Loison, J. C. Chem. Phys. 2002, 279, 87],1 (1.60 +/- 0.60) x 10(-10)[Galland, N.; Caralp, F.; Hannachi, Y.; Bergeat, A.; Loison, J.-C. J. Phys. Chem. A 2003, 107, 5419],2 (2.20 +/- 0.80) x 10(-10), (2.80 +/- 0.80) x 10(-10), (3.20 +/- 0.80) x 10(-10), (3.30 +/- 0.60) x 10(-10), and (3.60 +/- 0.80) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), (errors refer to +/-2sigma) for methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, n-pentane, neo-pentane, and n-hexane respectively. The experimental overall rate constants correspond to those obtained using a simple classical capture theory. Absolute atomic hydrogen production was determined by V.U.V. resonance fluorescence, with H production from the CH + CH4 reaction being used as a reference. Observed H branching ratios were for CH4, 1.00[Fleurat-Lessard, P.; Rayez, J. C.; Bergeat, A.; Loison, J. C. Chem. Phys. 2002, 279, 87];1 C(2)H(6), 0.22 +/- 0.08 [Galland, N.; Caralp, F.; Hannachi, Y.; Bergeat, A.; Loison, J.-C. J. Phys. Chem. A 2003, 107, 5419];2 C(3)H(8), 0.19 +/- 0.07; C(4)H(10) (n-butane), 0.14 +/- 0.06; C(5)H(12) (n-pentane), 0.52 +/- 0.08; C(5)H(12) (neo-pentane), 0.51 +/- 0.08; C(5)H(12) (iso-pentane), 0.12 +/- 0.06; C(6)H(14) (n-hexane), 0.06 +/- 0.04.     

A kinetic and mechanistic study of the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with 3,3,3-trifluoropropanol under atmospheric conditions

Product distribution studies of the OH radical and Cl atom initiated oxidation of CF3CH2CH2OH in air at 1 atm and 298 +/- 5 K have been carried out in laboratory and outdoor atmospheric simulation chambers in the presence and absence of NOx. The results show that CF3CH2CHO is the only primary product and that the aldehyde is fairly rapidly removed from the system. In the absence of NOx the major degradation product of CF3CH2CHO is CF3CHO, and the combined yields of the two aldehydes formed from CF3CH2CH2OH are close to unity (0.95 +/- 0.05). In the presence of NOx small amounts of CF3CH2C(O)O2NO2 were also observed (<15%). At longer reaction times CF3CHO is removed from the system to give mainly CF2O. The laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique was used to determine values of k(OH + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (0.89 +/- 0.03) x 10(-12) and k(OH + CF3CH2CHO) = (2.96 +/- 0.04) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). A relative rate method has been employed to measure the rate coefficients k(OH + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (1.08 +/- 0.05) x 10(-12), k(OH + C6F13CH2CH2OH) = (0.79 +/- 0.08) x 10(-12), k(Cl + CF3CH2CH2OH) = (22.4 +/- 0.4) x 10(-12), and k(Cl + CF3CH2CHO) = (25.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The results from this investigation are discussed in terms of the possible importance of emissions of fluorinated alcohols as a source of fluorinated carboxylic acids in the environment.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with dimethyl phosphonate over the temperature range of 278-351 K and for a series of other organophosphorus compounds at approximately 280 K

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with dimethyl phosphonate [DMHP; (CH3O)2P(O)H] were measured over the temperature range of 278-351 K at atmospheric pressure of air using a relative rate method with 4-methyl-2-pentanone as the reference compound. The Arrhenius expression obtained was 1.01 x 10(-12) e((474 +/- 159)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the indicated error is two least-squares standard deviations and does not include uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compound. Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with dimethyl methylphosphonate [DMMP, (CH3O)2P(O)CH3], dimethyl ethylphosphonate [DMEP, (CH3O)2P(O)C2H5], diethyl methylphosphonate [DEMP, (C2H5O)2P(O)CH3], diethyl ethylphosphonate [DEEP, (C2H5O)2P(O)C2H5], and triethyl phosphate [TEP, (C2H5O)3PO] were also measured at 278 and/or 283 K for comparison with a previous study (Aschmann, S. M.; Long, W. D.; Atkinson, R. J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 7393). With the experimental procedures employed, experiments conducted at temperatures below the dew point where a water film was present on the outside of the Teflon reaction chamber resulted in measured rate constants which were significantly higher than those expected from the extrapolation of rate data obtained at temperatures (283-348 K) above the dew point. Using rate constants measured at > or = 283 K, the resulting Arrhenius expressions (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) units) are 6.25 x 10(-14) e((1538 +/- 112)/T) for DMMP (283-348 K), 9.03 x 10(-14) e((1539 +/- 27)/T) for DMEP (283-348 K), 4.35 x 10(-13) e((1444 +/- 148)/T) for DEMP (283-348 K), 4.08 x 10(-13) e((1485 +/- 328)/T) for DEEP (283-348 K), and 4.07 x 10(-13) e((1448 +/- 145)/T) for TEP (283-347 K), where the indicated errors are as above. Aerosol formation at 296 +/- 2 K from the reactions of OH radicals with these organophosphorus compounds was relatively minor, with aerosol yields of < or = 8% in all cases.