Impulsive solvent heating probed by picosecond x-ray diffraction

The time-resolved diffraction signal from a laser-excited solution has three principal components: the solute-only term, the solute-solvent cross term, and the solvent-only term. The last term is very sensitive to the thermodynamic state of the bulk solvent, which may change during a chemical reaction due to energy transfer from light-absorbing solute molecules to the surrounding solvent molecules and the following relaxation to equilibrium with the environment around the scattering volume. The volume expansion coefficient alpha for a liquid is typically approximately 1 x 10(-3) K(-1), which is about 1000 times greater than for a solid. Hence solvent scattering is a very sensitive on-line thermometer. The decomposition of the scattered x-ray signal has so far been aided by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, a method capable of simulating the solvent response as well as the solute term and solute/solvent cross terms for the data analysis. Here we present an experimental procedure, applicable to most hydrogen containing solvents, that directly measures the solvent response to a transient temperature rise. The overtone modes of OH stretching and CH3 asymmetric stretching in liquid methanol were excited by near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses at 1.5 and 1.7 microm and the ensuing hydrodynamics, induced by the transfer of heat from a subset of excited CH3OH* to the bulk and the subsequent thermal expansion, were probed by 100 ps x-ray pulses from a synchrotron. The time-resolved data allowed us to extract two key differentials: the change in the solvent diffraction from a temperature change at constant density, seen at a very short time delay approximately 100 ps, and a term from a change in density at constant temperature. The latter term becomes relevant at later times approximately 1 mus when the bulk of liquid expands to accommodate its new temperature at ambient pressure. These two terms are the principal building blocks in the hydrodynamic equation of state, and they are needed in a self-consistent reconstruction of the solvent response during a chemical reaction. We compare the experimental solvent terms with those from MD simulations. The use of experimentally determined solvent differentials greatly improved the quality of global fits when applied to the time-resolved data for C2H4I2 dissolved in methanol.     

Structural dynamics of 1,2-diiodoethane in cyclohexane probed by picosecond X-ray liquidography

We investigate the structural dynamics of iodine elimination reaction of 1,2-diiodoethane (C(2)H(4)I(2)) in cyclohexane by applying time-resolved X-ray liquidography (TRXL). The TRXL technique combines structural sensitivity of X-ray diffraction and 100 ps time resolution of X-ray pulses from synchrotron and allows direct probing of transient structure of reacting molecules. From the analysis of time-dependent X-ray solution scattering patterns using global fitting based on DFT calculation and MD simulation, we elucidate the kinetics and structure of transient intermediates resulting from photodissociation of C(2)H(4)I(2). In particular, the effect of solvent on the reaction kinetics and pathways is examined by comparison with an earlier TRXL study on the same reaction in methanol. In cyclohexane, the C(2)H(4)I radical intermediate undergoes two branched reaction pathways, formation of C(2)H(4)I-I isomer and direct dissociation into C(2)H(4) and I, while only isomer formation occurs in methanol. Also, the C(2)H(4)I-I isomer has a shorter lifetime in cyclohexane by an order of magnitude than in methanol. The difference in the reaction dynamics in the two solvents is accounted for by the difference in solvent polarity. In addition, we determine that the C(2)H(4)I radical has a bridged structure, not a classical structure, in cyclohexane.     

Capturing transient structures in the elimination reaction of haloalkane in solution by transient X-ray diffraction

This Communication reports simultaneous tracking of structural and kinetic information for the photoinduced elimination reaction of 1,2-diiodotetrafluoroethane in solution by transient X-ray diffraction. The transient structure of .CF2CF2I is determined to be a classical mixture whereas .CH2CH2I is bridged. Compared with the gas phase reaction, the secondary dissociation of .CF2CF2I into C2F4 and I is slowed down by a factor of 6 in solution. Transient X-ray diffraction offers a complementary method for capturing transient structures in solution which might be invisible or "optically silent" in time-resolved optical spectroscopy.     

Characteristics of charge transfer complexes formed by ferrocene and carbon tetrabromide in solution

Conclusions Ferrocene in solution does not enter into a donor-acceptor interaction with more than one CBr₄ molecule.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1399–1401, June, 1988.     

Photodissociation reaction of 1,2-diiodoethane in solution: a theoretical and X-ray diffraction study

Various molecular species are known to form during the photoreaction of C2H4I2 in the gas phase and in solution. We have studied all species involved in this reaction by ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations: Geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies of C2H4I2, bridged C2H4I*, anti C2H4I*, C4H4, I2, I3-, and the isomer C2H4I-I were calculated. The absorption peaks and oscillator strengths of selected species along the potential energy surface (PES) were calculated using time-dependent DFT and were compared with available experimental results. The calculated PES satisfactorily describes the observed reactions of the photoexcited C2H4I2 molecule. In the gas phase, there is only one reaction pathway: the first C-I bond ruptures followed by a secondary C-I breakage in the haloethyl radical C2H4I*. In solution, by contrast, another reaction channel, which is energetically more favored over the secondary dissociation, is switched on due to a solvation effect: the bridged C2H4I* can bind to the free iodine atom to form a C2H4I-I isomer without any energy barrier. The isomer can then break into C2H4 and I2. The rotational barriers in the gas phase and in solution were also calculated and compared. To provide experimental data on the structure of C2H4I2 in solution, the ground state structure of C2H4I2 in methanol was determined from static X-ray diffraction data using 88 keV (lambda = 0.14 A) X-rays. The structural parameters are compared with those from the theoretical results.     

Unimolecular decay of photoexcited tetramethyldioxetane probed by picosecond spectroscopy

The photolysis of tetramethyldioxetane at 264 nm was probed using picosecond spectroscopic techniques. Singlet excited acetone was one of the observed products. The rise time for acetone fluorescence was determined to be less than 10 ps. A mechanism consistent with these results is proposed.     

Enthalpies of solution oft-butyl chloride and bromide and carbon tetrachloride and tetrabromide in alcohols

Standard enthalpies of solution of t-BuX and CX₄ (X=Cl and Br) in several alcohols are reported as measured by a calorimetric method. The corresponding transfer functions from the gas phase were calculated.     

Stepwise telomerization of trimethylvinylsilane by carbon tetrabromide and dichlorodibromomethane

Conclusions The homolytic addition of CBr₄ or CCl₂Br₂ to trimethylvinylsilane and the formation of 11 adducts is accompanied by stepwise telomerization to compounds with two monomer units in the molecule, of the CX₂[CH₂CHBrSiMe₃]₂ type, where X is Cl or Br. Conditions were found that favor the formation of either adducts or telomers.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 896–900, April, 1985.     

Polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole in presence of carbon tetrabromide. III. Oxygen-induced photodimerization in methanol solution

The rate of photochemical dimerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) in methanol solution which takes place only in the presence of oxygen is greatly increased by addition of carbon tetrabromide (CTB). Similar high rates are obtained with sensitizers like benzil and biacetyl. The mechanism of formation of the cyclic dimer, trans-1,2-dicarbazole-9-yl-cyclobutane (I), and of the open-chain dimeric dimethoxy derivative, 1,4-dicarbazole-9-yl-1′,4′-dimethoxy-n-butane (II), is discussed in some detail.     

Effect of barothermal treatment on the crystal structure of a nickel alloy as probed by X-ray diffraction

The effect of a barothermal batch treatment on the crystal structure of a nickel alloy, in particular, γ and γ′ phases, is studied by X-ray diffraction. The barothermal treatment at certain parameters (pressure, temperature, and duration of isobaric-isothermal exposure) improves the crystal structure of the nickel alloy.     

Sequestered carbon on clay mineral probed by electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

This paper describes the interaction among soil organic matter components with kaolinite, an important clay mineral present in tropical soils, especially in Brazil. XPS data show that the soil organic matter adsorbed on kaolinite has aromatic and aliphatic structures, with phenolic and/or alcoholic functions and carbonyl carbons (CO) of amide and/or carboxylic groups. The N1s spectrum of the kaolinite shows an asymmetric peak that is assigned to amide and protonated ammines probably from humin. The interaction between them is strong enough to resist chemical oxidative or reductive attack besides loose amide functionalities. EPR data show that reductive treatment reduces some Fe3+ of the kaolinite structure, loosing organic components. A schematic representation of the reduction of structural Fe3+ in the concentrated domains and consequently increased concentration of Fe3+ ions in diluted domains of the spectrum is presented. This reinforces the hypothesis that humin is a stable carbon sink in soils when adsorbed to clays.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of photochromic reaction of fulgides: crystalline state reaction induced by two-photon excitation

Although most fulgides show their photochromism in the solid state, crystal structure changes accompanying the photochromism have not been previously observed. The photochromic reactions have been so far considered to take place on surfaces or at defects of the crystals or to proceed with destruction of the crystals. In this study we have succeeded in observing crystal structure changes accompanying the photochromism of fulgides using X-ray diffraction analysis. Detection of the photoproducts in the crystal structures was not possible when the single crystals of the fulgides were irradiated with steady UV light. Two-photon excitation by pulsed laser light was essential to produce a sufficient amount of the photoproducts without significant deterioration in the quality of the crystals.     

Ultrafast spin-state photoswitching in a crystal and slower consecutive processes investigated by femtosecond optical spectroscopy and picosecond X-ray diffraction

We report the spin state photo-switching dynamics in two polymorphs of a spin-crossover molecular complex triggered by a femtosecond laser flash, as determined by combining femtosecond optical pump-probe spectroscopy and picosecond X-ray diffraction techniques. The light-driven transformations in the two polymorphs are compared. Combining both techniques and tracking how the X-ray data correlate with optical signals allow understanding of how electronic and structural degrees of freedom couple and play their role when the switchable molecules interact in the active crystalline medium. The study sheds light on crossing the border between femtochemistry at the molecular scale and femtoswitching at the material scale.     

X-ray diffraction study of a “three-ion” aqueous solution

X-ray diffraction data on an aqueous solution 2 M in MgCl₂ are shown to be consistent with octahedral coordinations for the three ions as already found in solutions of single electrolytes. The rare-gas-like ion hydration thus appears not affected by the presence of other ions independently hydrated.     

The binding and correlation effects in carbon dioxide as investigated by gas X-ray diffraction

The X-ray scattering intensities of gaseous carbon dioxide have been measured by the enerey-dispersive method. Comparison of the measured intensities with theoretical calculations by the Hartree-Fock independent-atom model revealed the binding effect in the small-s region, which is largely consistent with theoretical predictions based on the molecular Hartree-Fock wavefunction.     

X-ray diffraction by liquid-crystalline elastomers

A new series of mesomorphic side chain polysiloxane networks has been recently synthesized in which the chemical nature of the linkage and the mesogenic group have been varied and the gelation conditions during the chemical reaction have been studied. This paper presents an X-ray diffraction study of the mesogenic group orientation in stretched samples of these networks. The angular extension of the so-called wide angle diffuse ring is used to estimate the orientational order of the mesogenic group versus strain. To perform these experiments, a special stretching device was developed and a new two-dimensional X-ray detector was used which allowed us to collect the data in a few minutes. On stretching, it was observed that the mesogenic groups orient themselves perpendicular to the stress direction for all of the samples but for one for which the parallel orientation prevailed. This prevents the establishment of a simple general law. From another point of view, the polymer concentration during the chemical reaction, which controls the gelation, is shown to be an important parameter with which to understand the physical properties: the networks synthesized below the gel point do not display reproducible and reversible behaviour, rather they flow when they are stretched. Conversely, all of the networks synthesized above the gel point really show the same well-defined behaviour independent of the sample history. Their orientational order increases regularly with the strain, first quickly, then moderately until it eventually saturates. This saturation value of the mesogenic group orientational order does not reach the nematic order parameter of the same (uncross-linked) mesomorphic side chain polymers. This suggests that the cross-links may create local tensions which disturb the nematic field.