Photodissociation of the dimer ions Ar+2, Ne+2, and (CO2)+2

The tandem quadrupole photodissociation mass spectrometer has been used to study photodissociation reactions of Ar⁺₂, Ne⁺₂, and (CO₂)⁺₂. The cross sections for photodissociation of Ar⁺₂ exhibited a strong dependence on ion source pressure, varying from 2 × 10 ^?18cm² at 0.1 torr to 6 × 10^?19cm² at 0.5 torr. A large photodissociation cross section (2 × 10^?17cm² for the reaction (CO₂)⁺₂ → CO⁺₂+ CO₂ was observed at the red end of the visible spectrum (580–620 nm) suggesting that this may be an important reaction in CO₂ rich planetary ionspheres such as that of Mars.     

Reactions of CO2 with H, H2 and deuterated analogues

Combining a temperature variable 22-pole ion trap with a cold effusive beam of neutrals, rate coefficients k(T) have been measured for reactions of CO₂⁺ ions with H, H₂ and deuterated analogues. The neutral beam which is cooled in an accommodator to T_ACC, penetrates the trapped ion cloud with a well-characterized velocity distribution. The temperature of the ions, T_22PT, has been set to values between 15 and 300 K. Thermalization is accelerated by using helium buffer gas. For reference, some experiments have been performed with thermal target gas. For this purpose hydrogen is leaked directly into the box surrounding the trap. While collisions of CO₂⁺ with H₂ lead exclusively to the protonated product HCO₂⁺, collisions with H atoms form mainly HCO⁺. The electron transfer channel H⁺ + CO₂ could not be detected (<20%). Equivalent studies have been performed for deuterium. The rate coefficients for reactions with atoms are rather small. Within our relative errors of less than 15%, they do not depend on the temperature of the CO₂⁺ ions nor on the velocity of the atoms (k(T) lays between 4.5 and 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ with H as target, and 2.2 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ with D). For collisions with molecules, the reactivity increases significantly with falling temperature, reaching the Langevin values at 15 K. These results are reported as k = α (T/300 K)^β with α = 9.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and β = −0.15 for H₂ and α = 4.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and β = −0.30 for D₂.     

Neutral scattering and vibrational excitation in K+Br2 Collisions

Differential cross sections are presented for neutral scattering of K atoms in collisions with Br₂ molecules in the energy range from 20 to 150 eV. In addition energy-loss spectra for the scattered K atoms are shown. The differential cross sections show a large peak near the forward direction. The energy-loss spectra point to considerable vibrational excitation at small angles. The results are attributed to reneutralization from an ion-pair state formed during the collision. In some cases this process can involve three potential surface crossings. The experimental results can be reproduced in simple trajectory calculations on diabatic potential surfaces. The calculations show that the forward scattering is rainbow scattering, caused by the internal motion of the Br₂^? molecular ion during the collision. There is no analog to this rainbow in atom-atom scattering. The internal moti is also responsible for the observed vibrational excitation.     

Mobilities of H+3 and HeH+ ions in helium gas and rate coefficient for HeH+ + H2 → H+3 + He

The mobilities of mass-identified H⁺₃ and HeH⁺ ions in helium and the reaction rate coefficient for HeH⁺ + H₂ → H⁺₃ + He have been measured by a drift-tube quadrupole mass spectrometer at 300 K. The zero-field reduced mobilities of H⁺₃ and HeH⁺ ions, corrected to 273 K, are 31.0 ± 0.8 and 23.4 ± 0.6 cm² V^?1 s^?1 respectively. The reaction rate coefficient was found to be (1.26 + 0.16) × 10^?9 cm³s^?1 and was observed to be independent of the mean ion kinetic energy in the range from 0.04 to 0.3 eV.     

Vibration intervals for tritiated H+3 and D+3

Ab initio calculated values of fundamental vibrational frequencies and zero-point energies are presented for HTD⁺, D₂T⁺, T₂D⁺, H₂T⁺, T₂H⁺ and T⁺₃.     

Experimental determination of repulsive potentials between alkali ions (Li+, Na+, and K+) and N2 and CO molecules

Integral scattering cross sections have been measured for alkali ions (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) in the energy range 500–4000 eV scattered by room temperature N₂ and CO molecules through effective laboratory angles greater than 5 × 10^?3 rad. The repulsive potentials deduced from the cross sections are represented bya practically identical formula for the Na⁺N₂ and Na⁺CO systems, and for the K⁺CO systems, respectively, while the repulsive potentials of the Li⁺N₂ system are somewhat smaller than those of the Li⁺CO system at larger intermolecular distances.     

Reactions of the dications C7H6, C7H7, and C7H8 with methane: Predominance of doubly charged intermediates

The reactions of methane with the dications C₇H₆²⁺, C₇H₇²⁺, and C₇H₈²⁺ generated by electron ionization of toluene are studied using mass-spectrometry tools. It is shown that the reactivity is dominated by the formation of doubly charged intermediates, which can either eliminate molecular hydrogen to yield doubly charged products or undergo charge-separation reactions leading to the formation of a methyl cation and the corresponding C₇H_n+1⁺ monocation. Typical processes observed for dications, like electron transfer or proton transfer, are largely suppressed. The theoretically derived mechanism of the reaction between C₇H₆²⁺ and CH₄ indicates that the formation of the doubly charged intermediate is kinetically preferred at low internal energies of the reactants. In agreement, the experimental results show a pronounced hydrogen scrambling and dominant formation of the doubly charged products at low collision energies, whereas direct hydride transfer prevails at larger collision energies.     

A further study of the near-thermoneutral reactions O2H+ + H2 ⇌ H3+ + O2

The forward and reverse rate coefficients for the reactions (1) O₂H⁺ + H2 ? H₃⁺ + O₂ and (2) O₂D⁺ + D₂ ? D₃⁺ + O₂ have been determined in a SIFT at 80 and 300 K, from which values of the enthalpy and entropy changes in the reactions have been obtained. The data indicate that the proton affinity of H₂ is greater than that of O₂ by 0.33 ± 0.04 kcal mole^?1; similary, the deuteron affinity of D₂ is 0.35 ± 0.04 kcal mole^?1 greater than that of O₂. The measurements of entropy changes confirm that O₂H⁺ has a triplet electronic ground state.     

Conformational analysis of X3PNP(O)X2 and (X3PNPX3)+ for X = H,F, Cl,CH3 by the pcilo method

Conformational energy maps have been calculated, using the PCILO method, for X₃PNP(O)X₂ and (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ for X = H, F, Cl, CH₃ as a function of the PNP angle. In H₃PNP(O)H₂ the global energy minimum corresponds to the eclipsed conformation of the H₃P and P(O)H₂ fragments for all PNP angles, while in Cl₃PNP(O)Cl₂, the global minimum always has Cl₃P and P(O)C1₂ staggered: the global minimum in F₃PNP(O)F₂ corresponds to eclipsed F₃P and P(O)F₂ fragments at low PNP angles and staggered fragments at high PNP angles: in (CH₃))₃PNPO(CH₃)₂ the global minimum conformation is very sensitive to ∠ PNP. Subordinate energy minima occur for all X₃PNP(O)X₂, species: in particular, there are two local conformational minima for Cl₃PNP(O)Cl₂ at the optimum value of ∠ PNP, and the relative energies of the three stable conformations are in good agreement with those derivable from the ³¹P NMR spectrum of this compound. In (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ the global minimum, usually the sole minimum on the conformational energy surface, is always close to the eclipsed conformation: free rotation of the X₃P groups relative to one another is approached in each (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ ion as ∠PNP approaches 180°. The conformations of the transition states for the equilibria between energy minima are reported with their relative energies, for X₃PNP(O)X₂ (X = H, F. Cl, CH₃) and for (Cl₃PNPCl₃)⁺     

Dynamics of ion—molecule processes: A crossed-beam study of the reaction B+(3P) + H2 → BH+ + H

Dynamics of the reaction B⁺(³P) + H₂ → BH⁺ + H has been studied in crossed-beam scattering experiments in the collision-energy range 0.6–2.3 eV (c.m.). Scattering diagrams obtained show that in the reaction both the ground state BH⁺(²Σ⁺) and the excited state BH⁺(² Π) (if energetically accessible) are formed; both states are formed via intermediate complexes whose mean lifetimes are of the order of 10^?13 s and decrease with increasing collision energy, as reflected in the decreasing forward-backward symmetry of the scattering diagrams.     

Theoretical models for activation of CO2 towards hydration (CO2 + H2O → H2CO3) by cationic binding sites

Theoretical models are studied which illustrate how the hydration reaction CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ can be catalysed by one or two cationic binding sites (NH₄⁺). In the latter, the arrangement of the two bindings sites is held during the course of the reaction, simulating a rigid molecular receptor. Two different arrangements of the binding sites are studied, and their relative abilities to lower the activation energy of the hydration reaction are studied.     

Measurements of differential cross sections for vibrational quantum transitions in scattering of Li+ on H2

A pulsed monoenergetic ⁷Li⁺ ion beam (lab. energy 10–40 eV) is scattered from a highly collimated (= 1.5°) H₂ nozzle beam. The time-of-flight spectrum of the ions scattered in the forward laboratory direction shows both a fast peak corresponding to forward center-of-mass scattering and a slow peak corresponding to wide-angle center-of-mass scattering. These peaks have been further resolved to show contributions from individual vibrational quantum transitions. From an analysis of the time-of flight spectra the differential inelastic cross sections for a wide range of angles and energies between 2 eV <E_cm < 9 eV have been determined. The spectra also contain information on rotational inelastic cross sections.     

AB initio calculations of the stability of the OH+4 and FH+3 ions

Some geometric configurations of the OH⁺₄ and FH⁺₃ ions have been calculated by the SCF MO LCAO method using linear combinations of gaussian lobe functions. The total electronic energies of the systems under study are lower than the sum of the energies for H₂O and H⁺₂ or OH⁺₃ and H, and HF and H⁺₂ or FH⁺₂ and H, respectively.     

Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Ti+(CO2)2Ar and Ti+(CO2)n(n=3-7) Comple xes (cited: 1)

Ti⁺(CO₂)₂Ar and Ti⁺(CO₂)_n(n=3-7) complexes are produced by laser vaporization in a pulsed supersonic expansion. The ion complexes of interest are each mass-selected in a time-of-flight spectrometer, and studied with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy. For each complex, a sharp band in the CO stretching frequency region is observed, which confirms the formation of the OTi⁺CO(CO₂)_n-1 oxide-carbonyl species. Small OTi⁺CO(CO₂)_n-1 complexes (n≦5) exhibit CO stretching and antisymmetric CO₂ stretching vibrational bands that are blue-shifted from those of free CO and CO₂. The experimental observations indicate that the coordination number of CO and CO₂ molecules around TiO⁺ is five. Evidence is also observed for the presence of another electrostatic bonding Ti⁺(CO₂)₂ structural isomer for the Ti⁺(CO₂)₂Ar complex, which is characterized to have a bent OCO-Ti⁺-OCO structure stabilized by argon coordination     

Dissociation of hydrogen molecules in collisions with light alkali ions. II. Li+-H2

The dissociation of a ground state H₂ molecule in single collisions with a Li⁺ ion has been studied using a time of flight technique over a large range of center of mass scattering angles (30° ? υ ? 180°) and collision energies (16 eV < E_cm < 55.5 ev).The results have been transformed into the center of mass system to obtain inelastic differential cross sections (contour maps). In contrast to most other scattering experiments on collision induced dissociation, the results at high energies (E_cm > 40 eV) cannot be explained by a two-step mechanism. Instead dissociation appears to occur in a time comparable to the collision time. The results are consistent with several collision models. Of these the spectator model in which only one of the atoms of the molecule is struck by the incident ion is favored since it is in good agreement with the differential cross sections for backward scattering.     

Fluorescence quantum yields and cascade-free lifetimes of state selected CO+2, COS+, CS+2 and N2O+ determined by photoelectron—photon coincidence spectroscopy

The details and principles of an apparatus built for measurements of fluorescence quantum yields and cascade-free lifetimes of open-shell cations are reported. These rely on the detection of coincidences between energy selected photoelectrons and undispersed photons. The results of such measurements for CO⁺₂, COS⁺, CS⁺₂ and N₂O⁺ in selected vibrational levels of their excited states are presented. Non-unity fluorescence quantum yields are found for some vibronic levels of CO⁺₂($\text{B}$), COS⁺ ($\text{A}$), N₂OP⁺($\text{A}$) and a non-exponential decay is observed for CS⁺₂($\text{A}$). The data yield the following values for the radiative lifetimes: CO⁺₂($\text{A}$) 124 ± 6 ns, CO⁺₂($\text{B}$) 140 ± 7 ns, COS⁺($\text{A}$) 550 ± 50 ns and N₂O⁺($\text{A}$) 240 ± 12 ns.     

Observation of far-infrared transitions of HCO+, CO+ and HN+2

Rotational transitions of molecular ions HCO⁺, CO⁺, and HN⁺₂ have been observed at frequencies aroud 1 THz. The ions were produced in the negative glow of a hollow cathode discharge cooled by liquid nitrogen. Preliminary results indicate efficient production of ions in an absorption cell of simple construction.     

Solution raman spectra and normal coordinate analysis of the H3CPH+3 and H3CPD+3 cations

The Raman spectra of solutions of H₃ CPH₃⁺ and H₃ CPD₃⁺ in aqueous concentrated hydrochloric and deuterochloric acid are reported together with polarisation data. A complete vibrational assignment is given on the basis of C_3v, symmetry except for the inactive A₂ mode. A set of valence force constants and potential energy distributions have been calculated from the data of the two isotopes H₃ CPH₃ and H₃⁺ CPD⁺₃. For H₃ CPD⁺₃ the potential energy distribution demonstrates strong interaction between the P-C stretching and the symmetrical PD₃ deformation mode.