Time-sliced ion-velocity imaging study of the reaction Y + O2 → YO + O

The oxidation reaction dynamics of the gas-phase yttrium atoms by oxygen molecules was studied under crossed-beam conditions. The product YO was detected using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with laser single-photon ionization. An acceleration lens system designed for the ion-velocity mapping conditions, a two-dimensional (2-D) detector, and a time-slicing technique were used to obtain the velocity and angular distributions of the products. Two ionization wavelengths were used for the internal (vibrational and/or electronic) energy selective detection of YO. The single photon of the shorter wavelength (202.0 nm) can ionize all states of YO(X?(2)Σ, A'?(2)Δ, and A?(2)Π), while electronically excited YO(A' and A) are dominantly ionized at a longer wavelength (285.0 nm). Time-sliced images were converted to the velocity and angular distributions in the center-of-mass frame. The general features of the velocity distributions of YO, determined at two wavelengths, were well represented by those expected from the statistical energy disposal model. The forward-backward symmetry was also observed for two images. These results suggest that the reaction proceeds via long-lived intermediates, and that this mechanism is consistent with previous chemiluminescence/LIF studies.     

Theoretical determination of the rate coefficient for the HO2 + HO2 → H2O2+O2 reaction: adiabatic treatment of anharmonic torsional effects

The HO(2) + HO(2) → H(2)O(2) + O(2) chemical reaction is studied using statistical rate theory in conjunction with high level ab initio electronic structure calculations. A new theoretical rate coefficient is generated that is appropriate for both high and low temperature regimes. The transition state region for the ground triplet potential energy surface is characterized using the CASPT2/CBS/aug-cc-pVTZ method with 14 active electrons and 10 active orbitals. The reaction is found to proceed through an intermediate complex bound by approximately 9.79 kcal/mol. There is no potential barrier in the entrance channel, although the free energy barrier was determined using a large Monte Carlo sampling of the HO(2) orientations. The inner (tight) transition state lies below the entrance threshold. It is found that this inner transition state exhibits two saddle points corresponding to torsional conformations of the complex. A unified treatment based on vibrational adiabatic theory is presented that permits the reaction to occur on an equal footing for any value of the torsional angle. The quantum tunneling is also reformulated based on this new approach. The rate coefficient obtained is in good agreement with low temperature experimental results but is significantly lower than the results of shock tube experiments for high temperatures.     

The C2H3 + O2 reaction revisited: is multireference treatment of the wave function really critical?

This letter revisits critical intermediates and transition states of the C2H3 + O2 reaction. To obtain their accurate relative energies, ab initio calculations are performed using sophisticated single and multireference theoretical methods with various basis sets. The energy difference between two crucial transition states, for ring opening in dioxiranylmethyl radical and its isomerization to C2H3OO, is calculated as approximately 2 kcal/mol both at multireference MRCI and at single-reference CCSD(T) levels extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. The deviation from the earlier G2M(RCC,MP2) value (approximately 7 kcal/mol) is caused by a deficiency of the 6-311+G(3df,2p) basis set as compared to correlation-consistent Dunning's basis sets.     

17O excess transfer during the NO2 + O3 → NO3 + O2 reaction

The ozone molecule possesses a unique and distinctive (17)O excess (Δ(17)O), which can be transferred to some of the atmospheric molecules via oxidation. This isotopic signal can be used to trace oxidation reactions in the atmosphere. However, such an approach depends on a robust and quantitative understanding of the oxygen transfer mechanism, which is currently lacking for the gas-phase NO(2) + O(3) reaction, an important step in the nocturnal production of atmospheric nitrate. In the present study, the transfer of Δ(17)O from ozone to nitrate radical (NO(3)) during the gas-phase NO(2) + O(3) → NO(3) + O(2) reaction was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. The isotopic composition (δ(17)O, δ(18)O) of the bulk ozone and the oxygen gas produced in the reaction was determined via isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The Δ(17)O transfer function for the NO(2) + O(3) reaction was determined to be: Δ(17)O(O(3)?) = (1.23 ± 0.19) × Δ(17)O(O(3))(bulk) + (9.02 ± 0.99). The intramolecular oxygen isotope distribution of ozone was evaluated and results suggest that the excess enrichment resides predominantly on the terminal oxygen atoms of ozone. The results obtained in this study will be useful in the interpretation of high Δ(17)O values measured for atmospheric nitrate, thus leading to a better understanding of the natural cycling of atmospheric reactive nitrogen.     

The conversion of methane to methanol: a reaction catalyzed by I+ or I2(+)?

The gas-phase reactions of I+ and I2(+) with methane were studied to determine which species is involved in the oxidation of methane to methyl sulfate, an intermediate in the production of methanol. We found that while I+ reacts readily with methane, I2(+) does not react in our experimental reaction conditions. Reaction products and rate constants are measured and reported. In addition, ab initio calculations were carried out to further understand the reaction mechanism. A revised mechanism of catalysis is proposed which is in excellent agreement with available experimental data and our theoretical computations.     

Theoretical Study on Mechanism of C5H7·+O2 Reaction

The potential energy surface (PES) for the reaction of E,E-pentadienyl with molecular oxygen was theoretically studied at the G3B3//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The first step of the reaction was found to be the direct adduction of molecular O2 on either the C1 or the C3 atoms of E,E-pentadienyl, forming two C5H7O2· isomers. These two C5H7O2· isomers undergo a series of isomerization processes through either the hydrogen-transfer or cyclization pathway. In the final step, the hydrogen-transferred and cyclized isomers decompose into unsaturated aldehydes, unsaturated ketones, and hydroxyl radicals. Involves 20 stable species and 14 transition states, and the energies and structures of all reactants, products and transition states were calculated. Based on the calculated barriers and heats of formation, the authors suggest that the C2H3O·+C3H4O formation channel is the dominant channel for the C5H7·+O2 reaction. The possible existence of C5H7O2· radicals as long lifetime intermediates is also proposed, which is consistent with the recent photoionization mass spectrometric experiments by Zils et al.     

Lack of salt effect on the kinetics of the reaction SO2−4 + H3O+ → HSO−4 + H2O

It is found that the broadening of the 1100-cm⁻¹ line of SO⁻²₄, caused by increasing [H₃O⁺], is unaffected by addition of 4 M LiCl, NaBr, KCl and NH₄Cl. This finding is in line with the lack of influence of NaCl reported earlier. The significance of these findings, in terms of the reaction mechanism, is discussed.     

Direct determination of the rate constant for the reaction CO + N2O → CO2 + N2

The rate constant for the bimolecular reaction CO + N₂O → CO₂ + N₂ was determined by comparison of calculated infrared emission profiles of CO₂ with those observed in shock-tube experiments in the temperature range 1350–2100 K for CO-N₂O-He-Ar mixtures. The rate constant was found to be k₁ = 3.2 × 10¹¹exp(−85 kJ/RT) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Mechanism of Mukaiyama-Michael Reaction of Ketene Silyl Acetal: Electron Transfer or Nucleophilic Addition?

Mechanism of Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of ketene silyl acetal has been discussed. The competition reaction employing various types of ketene silyl acetals reveals that those bearing more substituents at the beta-position react preferentially over less substituted ones. However, when ketene silyl acetals involve bulky siloxy and/or alkoxy group(s), less substituted compounds react preferentially. The Lewis acids play an important role in these reactions. Enhanced preference for the more sterically demanding Michael adducts is obtained with Bu(2)Sn(OTf)(2), SnCl(4), and Et(3)SiClO(4) in the former reaction while TiCl(4) gives the highest selectivity for the less sterically demanding products in the latter case. These results are interpreted in terms of alternative reaction mechanisms. The reaction of less bulky ketene silyl acetals are initiated by electron transfer from these compounds to a Lewis acid. On the other hand, bulkier ketene silyl acetals undergo a ubiquitous nucleophilic reaction. Such a mechanistic change is discussed based on a variety of experimental results as well as the semiempirical PM3 MO calculations.     

Theoretical studies on the reaction path and dynamics of the reaction CH_3+H_2O→CH_4+OH

The reaction path, the dynamical properties along the reaction path and CVT rate constants are computed by the ab initio MO method, the reaction path Hamiltonian theory and the variational transition state theory. The results show that the effect of the electron correlation energy on activation barrier is large, the recrossing and tunneling effects exist in the reaction.     

Quantum chemical and master equation study of OH + CH2O → H2O + CHO reaction rates in supercritical CO2 environment

We investigated the reaction rates of OH + CH₂O → H₂O + CHO at CO₂ pressures of up to 1000 atm with and without CO₂ molecule included in a reactive complex. Both mechanisms begin with formation of the hydrogen-bonded prereactive complexes. Our ab initio calculations indicate a possibility of catalytic effect, predicting an activation barrier that one order of magnitude lower when the CO₂ molecule is involved. To verify this effect, we use the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory and solve unimolecular master equations in the steady-state approximation. We assume the equilibrium between prereactive complexes and reactants and compare the bimolecular reaction rates for the two mechanisms. The catalyzed reaction mechanism is found to be faster at higher CO₂ pressures and lower temperatures, when prereactive complexes have nonnegligible concentration. Therefore, this catalytic effect may be important for this reactive process in room temperature supercritical CO₂ solvent, but is unlikely to play a role during oxy-combustion.     

Structure and reaction pathway of TMP-Zincate: amido base or alkyl base?

The novel directed ortho metalation (DoM) reagents for functionalized aromatic rings, TMP-Zn-ates (R2Zn(TMP)Li (R = Me, 1; tBu, 2)), have been reported to be synthetically useful for the chemo- and regioselective construction of multi-functionalized aromatic compounds. Here, we present the first comprehensive structural and mechanistic investigation by means of X-ray, NMR, and DFT studies on the DoM reaction employing our original TMP-Zn-ate base. The structures of TMP-Zn-ates in solution and in the solid state were determined. The DFT study strongly suggested that the deprotonation involving the TMP ligand on the TMP-Zn-ate is kinetically more favorable than that involving the alkyl ligand, and this view was supported by monitoring of the 13C NMR spectrum of the reaction mixture.     

The reaction of nitroso oxides with olefins: Concerted or nonconcerted addition?

The mechanism of the interaction of nitroso oxides (RNOO) with olefins was studied at MCQDPT2/6-311+G(3df, 2p)//CASSCF(10; 9)/6-311G(d) level of theory. The following reaction channels were considered: (1) (3 + 2)-cycloaddition and nonconcerted biradical addition of nitroso oxide (2) through the terminal oxygen atom and (3) through the nitrogen atom to the C=C multiple bond. It was shown for the cases of (A) cis/trans-HNOO + C₂H₄, (B) cis/trans-HNOO + C₂F₄, (C) cis/trans-PhNOO + C₂H₄, and (D) cis/trans-PhNOO + C₂H₃CH₃ model systems that the typical reaction of nitroso oxides with alkenes was cycloaddition. For olefins with a decreased electron density at the multiple bond, as in system B, a substantial contribution of the one-center mechanism with the formation of biradical intermediates is possible.     

Thermal conversion of 15,9-triynes : (2+2+2]cycloadditions or [3.3]sigmatropic shifts?

The gas phase pyrolyses of variously labeled 1,5,9-decatriynes (1) and 1,5,9-cyclododecatriynes (2) were investigated to determine possible modes of thermal isomerizations. Conditions iocluded temperatures in the range 400–600°, pressures of 40–10^-4 Torr,and contact times of ca 1 ms to to 15s.The labeling patterns in 1 and 2 were chosen such as to be able to distinguish direct intramolecular [2 +2+2]cycloadditions of the alkyna units to form an aromatic ring (perbaps with subsequent rearrangements), and [3.3]sigmatropic shifts of the 1,5-diyne moieties. Methods for synthesizing the isotopically (particularly ¹³C) labeled triynes were devised and unplemented. The route to 5,6-¹³C₂-1,5,9-decatriyne (1c) made use of a new procedure for the synthesis of symmetrically diaubstituted alkynes involing coupling between two equivalents of an alkl copper reagent and diiodoacetylene-¹³C₂. The synthesis of 1,10-¹³C₂-1,5,9-cyclododecatriyne (2b) was accomplished starting with K¹³CN, elaboration to labeled diethylsuccinate, a crucial bis-Wittig condensation to labeled l,5,9-cyclododecatriene 10, and bromination-dehydrobromination of the latter (NaOH-ethylene glycol). Products from the pyrolysis of unlabeled 1a included [1,2:4,5] dicyclobutabenzene, naphthalene, and 3,4-dimethylidene-1-(but-3-ynyl)cyclobutene. Pyrolysis of 1b gave 3,6-dideuterio[l,2:4,5]dicyclobutabenzene and partially deuterated naphthalene, that of 1c produced 1,2-¹³C₂-[1,2,:4,5]dicyclobutabenzene and 9,10-¹³C₂-naphthalene. While the pyrolysis of 2a resulted in hexamethylidenecyclohexane (hexaradialene), 2b furnished 1,4-¹³C₂-hexaradialene. The results rule out the occurrence of [2+2+2]cycloadditions of the alkyne units, but are consistent with the intervention of a series of [3.3]sigmatropic shifts which connect starting materials with products.     

Dynamic aspects of the reaction O(1D) + H2S → OH + SH

The energy distribution of nascent OH(²Π, υ, J) produced in the reaction of O(¹D) with H₂S has been measured by laser-induced fluorescence. The rotational distributions in υ″ = 0 and υ″ = 1 are Boltzmannian with temperature parameters T_r″-0 = 2300 ± 100 K and T_r⁻-1 = 2650 ± 150 K. A population ratio N(υ″ = 1)/N(υ″ = 0) = 0.17 is observed. The product-state distribution over the different spin and A components is statistically within the experimental uncertainty of 20%. A comparison of the OH product populations from the title reaction with the well known OH yield from the O(¹D)+H₂O reaction shows that 25% of the reactive encounters follow the reaction channel which produces OH in υ″ = 0 and υ″ = 1.     

Determination of the Rate Constants of the Reactions Cr + O2 + M → CrO2 + M and Cr + O2 → CrO + O

Kinetics and Catalysis - The rate constants of the interactions of chromium atoms with molecular oxygen through recombination Cr + O2 + M → CrO2 + M (I) and exchange Cr + O2 → CrO + O...     

Quasi-classical trajectory studies of the stereodynamics of the reaction O + HCl → ClO + H

The stereodynamics of the O + HCl → ClO + H reaction are investigated by quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method. The calculations are carried out on the ground 1 ¹ A′ potential energy surface (PES). The orientation and alignments of the product rotational angular momentum for the title reaction are reported. The influence of collision energy on the product vector properties is also studied in the present work. Four (2π/σ)(dσ₀₀/dω _t ), (2π/σ)(dσ₂₀/dω _t ), (2π/σ)(dσ₂₂₊/dω _t ), and (2π / σ)(dσ₂₁₋/dω _t ), and have been calculated in the center of mass frame.     

Palladium-catalyzed highly chemo- and regioselective formal [2+2+2] sequential cycloaddition of alkynes: a renaissance of the well known trimerization reaction?

A new concept of highly chemo- and regioselective formation of the benzene ring by a palladium-catalyzed formal [2 + 2 + 2] sequential intermolecular trimerization of alkynes is proposed. Homodimerization of terminal alkynes and subsequent [4 + 2] benzannulation with diynes gives tetrasubstituted benzenes in moderate to good yields. The introduction of two different alkynes (terminal and internal) in the first step of the sequence allows for construction of pentasubstituted benzenes from three different acyclic acetylenic units. In all cases the tetra- and pentasubstituted benzenes are formed as a single reaction product without being accompanied by any of regio- or chemoisomers. A significant acceleration of the sequential trimerization reaction in the presence of Lewis acid/phosphine combined system was observed. Mechanistic studies reveal that the Lewis acid assisted isomerization of the E-enyne formed in the first step of the sequence to the more reactive Z-isomer is responsible for the observed acceleration effect. The proposed methodology provides a conceptually new and synthetically useful route to multifunctional aromatic compounds.     

A theoretical study of the H2SO4+H2O → HSO4 −+H3O+ reaction at the surface of aqueous aerosols

The surface region of sulfate aerosols (supercooled aqueous concentrated sulfuric acid solutions) is the likely site of a number of important heterogeneous reactions in various locations in the atmosphere, but the surface region ionic composition is not known. As a first step in exploring this issue, the first acid ionization reaction for sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄ + H₂O HSO₄^– + H₃O⁺, is studied via electronic structure calculations at the Hartree–Fock level on an H₂SO₄ molecule embedded in the surface region of a cluster containing 33 water molecules. An initial H₂SO₄ configuration is selected which could produce H₃O⁺ readily available for heterogeneous reactions, but which involves reduced solvation and is consistent with no dangling OH bonds for H₂SO₄. It is found that at 0 K and with zero-point energy included, the proton transfer is endothermic by 3.4 kcal/mol. This result is discussed in the context of reactions on sulfate aerosol surfaces and, further, more complex calculations.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue