Unimolecular reactions of the isolated immonium ions CH3CH = NH+C4H9, CH3CH2Ch = NH+C4H9 and (CH3)2C = NH+C4H9

The reactions of ten metastable immonium ions of general structure R¹R²C?NH⁺C₄H₉ (R¹ = H, R² = CH₃, C₂H₅; R¹ = R² = CH₃) are reported and discussed. Elimination of C₄H₈ is usually the dominant fragmentation pathway. This process gives rise to a Gaussian metastable peak; it is interpreted in terms of a mechanism involving ion-neutral complexes containing incipient butyl) cations. Metastable immonium ions ontaining an isobutyl group are unique in undergoing a minor amount of imine (R¹R²C?NH) loss. This decomposition route, which also produces a Gaussian metastable peak, decreases in importance as the basicity of the imine increases. The correlation between imine loss and the presence of an isobutyl group is rationalized by the rearrangement of the appropriate ion-neutral complexes in which there are isobutyl cations to the isomeric complexes containing the thermodynamically more stable tert-butyl cations. A sizeable amount of a third reaction, expulsion of C₃H₆, is observed for metastable n-C₄H₉ ⁺NH?CR¹R² ions; in contrast to C₄H₈ and R¹R²C?NH loss, C₃H₆ elimination occurs with a large kinetic energy release (40–48 kJ mol^?1) and is evidenced by a dish-topped metastable peak. This process is explained using a two-step mechanism involving a 1,5-hydride shift, followed by cleavage of the resultant secondary open-chain cations, CH₃CH⁺ CH₂CH₂NHCHR¹R².     

Arrhenius parameters for the reactions CH3. + C4H10 → CH4 + C4H9. and C2H5. + C4H10 → C2H6 + C4H9.

Study of n-butane pyrolysis at high temperature in a flow system allows measurement of the sum of the rate constants of the initiation reactions and of the Arrhenius parameters of the reactions Established data for k₁/k₂ allow estimation of k₁ for 951°K and this, with recent thermochemical data, yields the result log k_?1 (l.mole s^?1) = 8.5, in remarkable agreement with a recent measurement [20] but over si×ty times smaller than conventional assumption. The product k₃k₄ (l.²mole^?2s^?2) is found to be associated with the Arrhenius parameters log (A₃A₄) = 21.90 ± 0.6 and (E₃ + E₄) = 38.3 ± 2.7 kcal/mole. These values are much higher than would be e×pected on the basis of low temperature estimates. Independent evaluation gives log A₄ = 10.5 ± 0.4 (l.mole^?1s^?1) and E₄ = 20.1 ± 1.7 kcal/mole, hence log A₃ = 11.4 ± 0.8 (l.mole^?1s^?1) and E₃ = 18.2 ± 3.2 kcal/mole. These values are shown to be entirely consistent with a wide range of results from pyrolytic studies, and it is argued that they further confirm the view that Arrhenius plots for alkyl radical–alkane metathetical reactions are strongly curved, in part due to tunneling and, appreciably, to other as yet unidentified effects. Since there is published evidence that metathetical reactions involving hydrogen atoms show even greater curvature, it is suggested that this may be a characteristic of many metathetical reactions.     

Ab initio studies of alkyl radical reactions: Combination and disproportionation reactions of CH3 with C2H5, and the decomposition of chemically activated C3H8

This paper reports the first quantitative ab initio prediction of the disproportionation/combination ratio of alkyl+alkyl reactions using CH3+C2H5 as an example. The reaction has been investigated by the modified Gaussian-2 method with variational transition state or Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations for several channels producing (1) CH4+CH2CH2, (2) C3H8, (3) CH4CH3CH, (4) H2+CH3CHCH2, (5) H2+CH3CCH3, and (6) C2H6+CH2 by H-abstraction and association/decomposition mechanisms through singlet and triplet potential energy paths. Significantly, the disproportionation reaction (1) producing CH4+C2H4 was found to occur primarily by the lowest energy path via a loose hydrogen-bonding singlet molecular complex, H3CHC2H4, with a 3.5 kcal/mol binding energy and a small decomposition barrier (1.9 kcal/mol), instead of a direct H-abstraction process. Bimolecular reaction rate constants for the formation of the above products have been calculated in the temperature range 300-3000 K. At 1 atm, formation of C3H8 is dominant below 1200 K. Over 1200 K, the disproportionation reaction becomes competitive. The sum of products (3)-(6) accounts for less than 0.3% below 1500 K and it reaches around 1%-4% above 2000 K. The predicted rate constant for the disproportionation reaction with multiple reflections above the complex well, k1=5.04 x T(0.41) exp(429/T) at 200-600 K and k1=1.96 x 10(-20) T(2.45) exp(1470/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 600-3000 K, agrees closely with experimental values. Similarly, the predicted high-pressure rate constants for the combination reaction forming C3H8 and its reverse dissociation reaction in the temperature range 300-3000 K, k2(infinity)=2.41 x 10(-10) T(-0.34) exp(259/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(-2)(infinity)=8.89 x 10(22) T(-1.67)exp(-46 037/T) s(-1), respectively, are also in good agreement with available experimental data.     

Kinetics of OH reactions with N2H4, CH3NHNH2 and (CH3)2NNH2 in the gas phase

The gas phase reaction kinetics of OH with three di‐amine rocket fuels—N₂H₄, CH₃NHNH₂, and (CH₃)₂NNH₂—was studied in a discharge flow tube apparatus and a pulsed photolysis reactor under pseudo‐first‐order conditions in [OH]. Direct laser‐induced fluorescence monitoring of the [OH] temporal profiles in a known excess of the [diamine] yielded the following absolute second‐order OH rate coefficient expressions; k₁ = (2.17 ± 0.39) × 10^?11 e^(160±30)/T, k₂ = (4.59 ± 0.83) × 10^?11 e^(85±35)/T and k₃ = (3.35 ± 0.60) × 10^?11 e^(175±25)/T cm³ molec^?1 s^?1, respectively, for reactions with N₂H₄, CH₃NHNH₂ and (CH₃)₂NNH₂ in the temperature range 232–637 K. All three reactions did not show any discernable pressure dependence on He or N₂ buffer gas pressure of up to 530 torr. The magnitude of the weak temperature and the lack of pressure effects of the OH + N₂H₄ reaction rate coefficient suggest that a simple direct metathesis of H‐atom may not be important compared to addition of the OH to one of the N‐centers of the diamine skeleton, followed by rapid dissociation of the intermediate into products. Our findings on this reaction are qualitatively consistent with a previous ab initio study [ 3 ]. However, in the alkylated diamines, direct H‐abstraction from the methyl moiety cannot be completely ruled out. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 354–362, 2001     

Kinetics of the CH2Cl + CH3 and CHCl2 + CH3 radical-radical reactions

The CH2Cl + CH3 (1) and CHCl2 + CH3 (2) cross-radical reactions were studied by laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectroscopy. Overall rate constants were obtained in direct real-time experiments in the temperature region 301-800 K and bath gas (helium) density (6-12) x 10(16) atom cm(-3). The observed rate constant of reaction 1 can be represented by an Arrhenius expression k1 = 3.93 x 10(-11) exp(91 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%) or as an average temperature-independent value of k1= (4.8 +/- 0.7) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The rate constant of reaction 2 can be expressed as k2= 1.66 x 10(-11) exp(359 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%). C2H4 and C2H3Cl were detected as the primary products of reactions 1 and 2, respectively. The experimental values of the rate constant are in reasonable agreement with the prediction based on the "geometric mean rule." A separate experimental attempt to determine the rate constants of the high-temperature CH2Cl + O2 (10) and CHCl2 + O2 (11) reaction resulted in an upper limit of 1.2 x 10(-16) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for k10 and k11 at 800 K.     

Transition-metal mediated heteroatom removal by reactions of FeL+ [L=O,C4H6, c-C5H6, c-C5H5, C6H6, C5H4(=CH2)] with furan,thiophene, and pyrrole in the gas phase

Reactions of Fe⁺ and FeL⁺ [L=O, C₄H₆, c-C₅H₆, C₅H₅, C₆H₆, C₅H₄(=CH₂)] with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole in the gas phase by using Fourier transform mass spectrometry are described. Fe⁺, Fe(C₅H₅)⁺, and FeC₆H ₆ ⁺ yield exclusive rapid adduct formation with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole. In addition, the iron-diene complexes [FeC₄H ₆ ⁺ and Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺], as well as FeC₅H₄(=CH₂)⁺ and FeO⁺, are quite reactive. The most intriguing reaction is the predominant direct extrusion of CO from furan by FeC₄H₆ ⁺, Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺, and FeC₅H₄(=CH₂)⁺. In addition, FeC₄H ₆ ⁺ and Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺ cause minor amounts of HCN extrusion from pyrrole. Mechanisms are presented for these CO and HCN extrusion reactions. The absence of CS elimination from thiophene may be due to the higher energy requirements than those for CO extrusion from furan or HCN extrusion from pyrrole. The dominant reaction channel for reaction of Fe(c-C₅H₆)⁺ with pyrrole and thiophene is hydrogen-atom displacement, which implies D^O(Fa(N₅H₅)⁺-C₄H₄X)>D^O(Fe(C₅H₅)⁺-H)=46±5 kcal mol^?1. D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄S) and D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₅N)=D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₆)=48±5 kcal mol^?1. Finally, 55±5 kcal mol^?1=D^O(Fe⁺-C₆H₆)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄O)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₂H₄)=39.9±1.4 kcal mol^?1. FeO⁺ reacts rapidly with thiophene, furan, and pyrrole to yield initial loss of CO followed by additional neutral losses. D^O(Fe⁺-CS)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₄S)≈48±5 kcal mol^?1 and D^O(Fe⁺-C₄H₅N)≈48±5 kcal mol^?1>D^O(Fe⁺-HCN)>D^O(Fe⁺-C₂H₄)=39.9±1.4 kcal mil^?1.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the decomposition of Cs2Pt[CH3]2Cl4 in aqueous solution with concurrent formation of C2H6, C2H4, and C2H5Cl

Reductive elimination of ethane from Cs₂Pt(CH₃)₂Cl₄ in aqueous chloride solutions at 368 K is accompanied by C-H bond scission. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction which includes the intermediate formation of an ethylhydrideplatinum(IV) and an ethylplatinum(II) complex.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 154–158, March–April, 1993.     

Association rate constants for reactions between resonance-stabilized radicals: C3H3 + C3H3, C3H3 + C3H5, and C3H5 + C3H5

Reactions between resonance-stabilized radicals play an important role in combustion chemistry. The theoretical prediction of rate coefficients and product distributions for such reactions is complicated by the fact that the initial complex-formation steps and some dissociation steps are barrierless. In this paper direct variable reaction coordinate transition state theory (VRC-TST) is used to predict accurately the association rate constants for the self and cross reactions of propargyl and allyl radicals. For each reaction, a set of multifaceted dividing surfaces is used to account for the multiple possible addition channels. Because of their resonant nature the geometric relaxation of the radicals is important. Here, the effect of this relaxation is explicitly calculated with the UB3LYP/cc-pvdz method for each mutual orientation encountered in the configurational integrals over the transition state dividing surfaces. The final energies are obtained from CASPT2/cc-pvdz calculations with all pi-orbitals in the active space. Evaluations along the minimum energy path suggest that basis set corrections are negligible. The VRC-TST approach was also used to calculate the association rate constant and the corresponding number of states for the C(6)H(5) + H --> C(6)H(6) exit channel of the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) reaction, which is also barrierless. For this reaction, the interaction energies were evaluated with the CASPT2(2e,2o)/cc-pvdz method and a 1-D correction is included on the basis of CAS+1+2+QC/aug-cc-pvtz calculations for the CH(3) + H reference system. For the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) reaction, the VRC-TST results for the energy and angular momentum resolved numbers of states in the entrance channels and in the C(6)H(5) + H exit channel are incorporated in a master equation simulation to determine the temperature and pressure dependence of the phenomenological rate coefficients. The rate constants for the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) and C(3)H(5) + C(3)H(5) self-reactions compare favorably with the available experimental data. To our knowledge there are no experimental rate data for the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(5) reaction.     

Theoretical study of the dynamics of the H+CH4 and H+C2H6 reactions using a specific-reaction-parameter semiempirical Hamiltonian

We present a theoretical study of the reactions of hydrogen atoms with methane and ethane molecules and isotopomers. High-accuracy electronic-structure calculations have been carried out to characterize representative regions of the potential-energy surface (PES) of various reaction pathways, including H abstraction and H exchange. These ab initio calculations have been subsequently employed to derive an improved set of parameters for the modified symmetrically-orthogonalized intermediate neglect of differential overlap (MSINDO) semiempirical Hamiltonian, which are specific to the H+alkane family of reactions. The specific-reaction-parameter (SRP) Hamiltonian has then been used to perform a quasiclassical-trajectory study of both the H+CH4 and H+C2H6 reactions. The calculated values of dynamics properties of the H+CH4-->H2+CH3 reaction and isotopologues, including alkyl product speed distributions, diatomic product internal-state distributions, and cross sections, are generally in good agreement with experiment and with the results provided by the ZBB3 PES [Z. Xie et al., J. Chem. Phys. 125, 133120 (2006)]. The results of trajectories propagated with the SRP Hamiltonian for the H+C2H6-->H2+C2H5 reaction also agree with experiment. The level of agreement between the results calculated with the SRP Hamiltonian and experiment in both the H+methane and H+ethane reactions indicates that semiempirical Hamiltonians can be improved for not only a specific reaction but also a family of reactions.     

Kinetics and mechanism for the reactions of H atoms with CH3SH and C2H5SH

A kinetic study of the reactions of H atoms with CH₃SH and C₂H₅SH has been carried out at 298 K by the discharge flow technique with EPR and mass spectrometric analysis of the species. The pressure was 1 torr. It was found: k₁ = (2.20 ± 0.20) × 10^?12 for the reaction H + CH₃SH (1) and k₂ = (2.40 ± 0.16) × 10^?12 for the reaction H + C₂H₅SH (2). Units are cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. A mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction products and a computer simulation of the reacting systems have shown that reaction (1) proceeds through two mechanisms leading to the formation of CH₃S + H₂ (1a) and CH₃ + H₂S (1b).     

Electrosynthesis of Rh2(dpf)4(R) where dpf = N,N'-diphenylformamidinate anion and R = CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C4H9 or C5H11

The electrosynthesis of Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R) where dpf is the N,N'-diphenylformamidinate anion and R = CH(3), C(2)H(5), C(3)H(7), C(4)H(9) or C(5)H(11) was carried out in THF containing 0.2 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) and one of several alkyl iodides represented as RI. The initial step in the reaction involved a one-electron reduction of the Rh(2)(4+) unit in Rh(2)(dpf)(4) to its Rh(2)(3+) form followed by a homogeneous reaction involving electrogenerated [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)](-) and the alkyl iodide in solution to give Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R). The homogeneously generated Rh(2)(5+) product was then immediately reduced by a second electron at the potential where [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R)](-) is generated, giving [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R)](-) which contains a Rh(2)(4+) center as a final product of an electrochemical ECE mechanism. The electrosynthesized [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(CH(3))](-) derivative could be reoxidized to Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(CH(3)) on the reverse potential sweep and both forms of the CH(3) bonded derivative were in situ characterized by cyclic voltammetry combined with UV-visible and/or ESR spectroscopy. The reversible Rh(2)(4+/3+) process of Rh(2)(dpf)(4) is located at E(1/2) = -1.11 V in THF, 0.2 M TBAP while the electrogenerated Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R) products are substantially easier to reduce, with E(p) values for the Rh(2)(5+/4+) couples ranging from -0.50 to -0.54 V vs. SCE depending upon the specific R group.     

Kinetics of Depletion of Electronically Excited Ti Atom by CH4, C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6

The kinetics of depletion of ground state Ti(a³F) and electronically excited state Ti(a⁵F) upon interactions with CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆ are studied in a fast-flow reactor at a He pressure of 0.70 Torr. No depletion of ground state Ti(a³F) was observed upon interaction with all hydrocarbons studied here. Two alkanes, CH₄ and C₂H₆, were also quite inert for depletion of the excited state Ti(a⁵F), On the other hand, C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ deplete the excited state Ti(a⁵F) very efficiently. Rate constants were determined to be (266 ± 86) and (476 ± 88) × 10^?12 cm³s^?1 for Ti(a⁵F) + C₂H₄ and Ti(a⁵F) + C₂H₂, respectively. These large rate constants compared with the ground state Ti were explained by an electron donor-acceptor interaction model that works in the interaction between C₂H₄ or C₂H₂ and the excited state with unfilled 4s orbital.     

Direct dynamics study on the hydrogen abstraction reactions N2H4 + R-->N2H3 + RH (R=NH2, CH3)

We present a direct ab initio dynamics study on the hydrogen abstraction reactions N(2)H(4)+R-->N(2)H(3)+RH (R=NH(2),CH(3)), which are predicted to have six possible reaction channels for NH(2) abstraction and four for CH(3) abstraction caused by the different N(2)H(4) isomers and various attacking orientations of foreign radical to N(2)H(4). The structures and frequencies at the stationary points and the points along the minimum energy paths (MEPs) of all reaction channels are obtained at the UMP2(full)6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. Energetic information of stationary points and the points along the MEPs is further refined by means of MC-QCISD method. The rate constants of these channels are calculated using the improved canonical variational transition-state theory with the small-curvature tunneling correction (ICVT/SCT) method. The calculated results show that the favorable reaction channels are channels (n1) and (n4) as well as (c1) and (c3) (refer to Scheme 1) in the whole temperature range. The total ICVT/SCT rate constants of all channels for the two reactions at the MC-QCISDUMP2(full)6-31+G(d,p) level are both in good agreement with the available experimental data, and corresponding three-parameter expressions of k(ICVTSCT) in 220-3000 K are fitted as 6.46 x 10(-15)(T298)(3.60) exp(-386T) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) for NH(2) abstraction and 1.04 x 10(-14)(T298)(4.00) exp(-2037T) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) for CH(3) abstraction. Additionally, the long range interaction between the H atom of X-H bond in foreign radicals and the lone pair on the nonreactive N atom of the transition states is further discussed to explain the various transition-state numbers of the two similar hydrogen abstraction reactions.     

Thermal decomposition of ethanol. 4. Ab initio chemical kinetics for reactions of H atoms with CH3CH2O and CH3CHOH radicals

The potential energy surfaces of H-atom reactions with CH(3)CH(2)O and CH(3)CHOH, two major radicals in the decomposition and oxidation of ethanol, have been studied at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p) level of theory with geometric optimization carried out at the BH&HLYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. The direct hydrogen abstraction channels and the indirect association/decomposition channels from the chemically activated ethanol molecule have been considered for both reactions. The rate constants for both reactions have been calculated at 100-3000 K and 10(-4) Torr to 10(3) atm Ar pressure by microcanonical VTST/RRKM theory with master equation solution for all accessible product channels. The results show that the major product channel of the CH(3)CH(2)O + H reaction is CH(3) + CH(2)OH under atmospheric pressure conditions. Only at high pressure and low temperature, the rate constant for CH(3)CH(2)OH formation by collisonal deactivation becomes dominant. For CH(3)CHOH + H, there are three major product channels; at high temperatures, CH(3)+CH(2)OH production predominates at low pressures (P < 100 Torr), while the formation of CH(3)CH(2)OH by collisional deactivation becomes competitive at high pressures and low temperatures (T < 500 K). At high temperatures, the direct hydrogen abstraction reaction producing CH(2)CHOH + H(2) becomes dominant. Rate constants for all accessible product channels in both systems have been predicted and tabulated for modeling applications. The predicted value for CH(3)CHOH + H at 295 K and 1 Torr pressure agrees closely with available experimental data. For practical modeling applications, the rate constants for the thermal unimolecular decomposition of ethanol giving key accessible products have been predicted; those for the two major product channels taking place by dehydration and C-C breaking agree closely with available literature data.     

Computational study of the ion-molecule reactions involving fluxional cations: CH4+ + H2--> CH5+ + H and isotope effect

Potential energy surfaces for the reactions of CH4+ with H2, HD, and D2 have been calculated using high-level ab initio methods, including coupled cluster theory, complete active space self-consistent field, and multireference configuration interaction. The energies are extrapolated to the complete basis set limit using the basis sets aug-cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5, 6). The CH4+ + H2 reaction produces CH5+ and H exclusively. Three types of reaction mechanisms have been found, namely, complex-forming abstraction, scrambling, and S(N)2 displacement. The abstraction occurs via a very minor barrier and it is dominant. The other two mechanisms are negligible because of the significant barriers involved. Quantum phase space theory and variational transition state theory are used to calculate the rate coefficients as a function of temperatures in the range of 5-1000 K. The theoretical rate coefficients are compared with the available experimental data and the discrepancy is discussed. The significance of isotope effect, tunneling effect, and nuclear spin effect is investigated. The title reaction is predicted to be slightly exothermic with DeltaHr = -12.7 +/- 5.2 kJ/mol at 0 K.     

Schwingungsspektroskopische Untersuchungen an den Organohydrogensilanen (XCH2)(CH3)2SiH (X = Cl,Br, J), X(YO)2SiH (X = CH3, C2H5/Y = CH3, C2H5 … tert.-C4H9), (C6H5)2SiH2 und C6H5SiH3

Infrared and Raman Spectroscopic Investigations on the Organosubstituted Silicon Hydrides (XCH₂)(CH₃)₂SiH (X = Cl, Br, J), X(YO)₂SiH (X = CH₂, C₂H₅/Y = CH₃, C₂H₅ … tert.-C₄H₉), (C₆H₅)₂SiH₂ and C₆H₅SiH₃ Typical band splittings, specially for the SiH stretching vibration, are shown in the infrared and Raman spectra of the silicon hydrides (XCH₂)(CH₃)₂SiH (X = Cl, Br, J), and X(YO)₂SiH (X = CH₃, C₂H₅/Y = CH₃, C₂H₅ … tert.-C₄H₉). The cause of this behavior is in all probability the existence of rotational isomers. Raman polarization measurements at organosubstituted silicon di- and trihydrides demonstrate the accidental degeneracy of the SiH valence vibrations.     

Thermochemical Kinetics of Nitrogen Compounds. Part 4. The gas phase unimolecular thermal decomposition of triallylamine

The gas phase thermal decomposition of triallylamine was studied in the temperature range 531 to 620 K. The major products observed in the reaction were propylene and 3-picoline. The first order rate constants for depletion of triallylamine, obtained using the internal standard technique, are found to be independent of pressure and conversion, and fit the Arrheniusrelationship The reaction appears to be homogeneous, as a 15-fold change in thc surface-to-volume ratio of the vessel left the rate constants unchanged. The Arrhenius parameters are consistent with a molecular elimination reaction involving a six-center transition state, yielding propylene and N-allyl-prop-2-enaldimine. It is proposed that the latter product undergoes a 1,5-hydrogen transfer, followed by a ring closure reaction to yield dihydropicoline, which in turn reacts forming 3-picoline via a self-initiated decomposition reaction.