Theoretical study on the structure and UV–visible spectrum of pyridine–chloranil charge-transfer complex

The ground-state structure of the charge-transfer complex formed by pyridine (Py) as electron donor and chloranil (CA) as acceptor has been studied by full geometry optimization at the MP2 and DFT levels of theory. Binding energies were calculated and counterpoise corrections were used to correct the BSSE. Both MP2 and DFT indicate that the pyridine binds with chloranil to form an inclined T-shape structure, with the pyridine plane perpendicular to the chloranil. The CP and ZPE corrected binding energies were calculated to be 14.21 kJ/mol by PBEPBE/6-31G(d) and 23.21 kJ/mol by MP2/6-31G(d). The charge distribution of the ground state Py–CA complex was evaluated with the natural population analysis, showing a net charge transfer from Py to CA. Analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals reveals a σ–π interaction between CA and Py, and the binding is reinforced by the attraction of the O₇ atom of CA with the H₂₃ atom of Py. TD-DFT calculations have been performed to analyze the UV–visible spectrum of Py–CA complex, revealing both the charge transfer transitions and the weak symmetry-relieved chloranil π–π^* transition in the UV–visible region.     

Kinetics of molecular motions in liquids and its correlation with kinetics of radical liquid–phase reactions

Stable nitroxide radicals and ESR techniques have been used to investigate rotational and translational motions of molecules in the liquid state. It is found that for hydrocarbons and molecules with low polarity the rotational frequencies are about an order of magnitude faster than translational encounters. Arrhenius parameters are reported for the rates of both types of processes. A scheme is given for the relation of these motions to radical recombination in solution and also to reactions requiring activation energy. The consequences of this scheme are examined. Such important properties as hydrodynamic fluidity, thermal conductivity, processes of extraction and solution, occurring in the liquid phase as well as at the interface are determined by mobility of particles in the liquid. The problem of molecular mobility is of essential significance for the kinetics of chemical and chemico-physical processes in the liquid phase. Application of both ESR techniques and stable nitroxide radicals for kinetic studies of molecular motions in liquids and the correlation between molecular mobility and the kinetic parameters of liquid-phase radical reactions have been studied in the present paper.     

Laboratory studies of photochemistry and gas phase radical reaction kinetics relevant to planetary atmospheres

This review seeks to bring together a selection of recent laboratory work on gas phase photochemistry, kinetics and reaction dynamics of radical species relevant to the understanding of planetary atmospheres other than that of Earth. A majority of work focuses on the rich organic chemistry associated with photochemically initiated reactions in the upper atmospheres of the giant planets. Reactions relevant to Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and with a nitrogen/methane dominated atmosphere, have also received much focus due to potential to explain the chemistry of Earth's prebiotic atmosphere. Analogies are drawn between the approaches of terrestrial and non-terrestrial atmospheric chemistry.     

Gas‐phase radical–radical recombination reactions of nitroxides with substituted phenyl radicals

Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to examine gas‐phase reactions of four different nitroxide free radicals with eight positively charged pyridyl and phenyl radicals (some containing a Cl, F, or CF₃ substituent). All the radicals reacted rapidly (near collision rate) with nitroxides by radical–radical recombination. However, some of the radicals were also able to abstract a hydrogen atom from the nitroxide. The results establish that the efficiency (k_reaction/k_collision) of hydrogen atom abstraction varies with the electrophilicity of the radical, and hence is attributable to polar effects (a lowering of the transition‐state energy by an increase in its polar character). The efficiency of the recombination reaction is not sensitive to substituents, presumably due to a very low reaction barrier. Even so, after radical–radical recombination has occurred, the nitroxide adduct was found to fragment in different ways depending on the structure of the radical. For example, a cationic fragment was eliminated from the adducts of the more electrophilic radicals via oxygen anion abstraction by the radical (i.e., the nitroxide adduct cleaves heterolytically), whereas adducts of the less electrophilic radicals predominantly fragmented via homolytic cleavage (oxygen atom abstraction). Therefore, differences in the product branching ratios were found to be attributable to polar factors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 216–229 2004     

UV-Absorption spectrum of the methylperoxy radical and the kinetics of its disproportionation reaction at 300 K

Molecular modulation spectroscopy combined with ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques have been used to observe the behavior of the CH₃O₂ radicals generated in the gas phase by near-ultraviolet modulated photolysis of flowing Cl₂? CH₄? O₂ mixtures. The kinetics of the disproportionation reaction (1) and the absorption cross-sections of CH₃O₂ were measured by computer fitting of the modulated absorption traces obtained in the wavelength range 220 to 270 nm at 300 K and 240 torr. The rate constant for the elementary self-reaction ??₁ = ??_1(a) + ??_1(b) + ??_1(c) was determined to be (3.61 ± 0.55) × 10_?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The parameter ??_obs/σ (where ??_obs is the observed apparent second-order rate constant) was measured from the decay curves in the dark phase of the modulated photolysis period in the wavelength range 230–260 nm, and had a value 1.16 × 10⁵ cm² s^?1 at 250 nm. At 250 nm the absorption cross-section was determined as σ(CH₃O₂) = 4.14 × 10^?18 cm² molecule^?1, leading to a value of ??_obs, = (4.8 ± 0.5) × 10 ¹³ cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. In addition, the absorption spectrum of CH₃O₂ was measured in the range 210–295 nm using diode array spectroscopy. A detailed review of all previous studies concerning the kinetics and spectrum of the CH₃O₂ radical is presented, and a recommended spectrum, representing an average from selected recent studies, is proposed.     

A study of the UV—visible absorption spectrum of molecular chlorine

The UV—visible absorption spectrum of molecular chlorine at 298 K was investigated in the wavelength range 200–550 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.2 nm. Except for minor discrepancies, the absorption cross-sections are in agreement with those found in the literature. In the region 250λ-550 nm, the Cl₂ spectrum can be adequately described by a semi-empirical function of the wavelength A (in vacuum) and temperature T

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where TANH=tanh(hcx559.751 cm⁻¹/2kT). The absorption of solar radiation by the weak continuum around λ_max=406.5 nm contributes 9% or more of the photodissociation of molecular chlorine in the atmosphere, but the banded Cl₂ features (λ 479 nm) are of negligible atmospheric significance.     

Addition–elimination versus Tishchenko reaction in the gas phase

Gas phase reactions of the substituted phenide ions with methyl formate have been studied. It was found that the results of these reactions depend mainly on the basicity of the phenide ion, which is related to the presence of the electron‐accepting or electron‐donating substituents in the benzene ring. It was shown that the phenide ions substituted with electron‐withdrawing groups react with methyl formate in the gas phase in a two‐step reaction. The first step that proceeds according to the typical addition–elimination mechanism results in the formation of the anion of the respective benzaldehyde derivative with the negative charge located either in the aldehyde group (acyl anion) or in the benzene ring (phenide anion) in position ortho to an aldehyde moiety. In the second step, the preliminary‐formed anion reacts with the second molecule of methyl formate yielding formally product of the second addition–elimination reaction. Theoretical calculations as well as collision induced dissociation spectra of the model compounds suggest that this reaction proceeds according to the Tishchenko reaction mechanism yielding the respective phthalide anion. According to our knowledge, this is the first example of the Tishchenko‐type reaction in the gas phase. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A flash photolysis investigation of the gas phase uv absorption spectrum and self-reaction kinetics of the neopentylperoxy radical

The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the neopentylperoxy radical, (CH₃)₃CCH₂O₂ (or C₅H₁₁O₂), and the kinetics of its self-reaction have been studied in the gas phase using a flash photolysis technique. The room temperature absorption cross-section at 250 nm was determined to be and was used to normalize the radical absorption spectrum between 210 and 300 nm. Detailed modeling of the self-reaction system was used to interpret the transient absorption kinetic decay curves over the temperature range 228–380 K, at total pressures between 25 and 100 torr. The results are discussed in relation to previous measurements of alkylperoxy radical spectra and kinetics.     

Rotationally resolved infrared spectroscopy of a jet-cooled phenyl radical in the gas phase

The first high-resolution IR spectra of a jet-cooled phenyl radical are reported, obtained via direct absorption laser spectroscopy in a slit-jet discharge supersonic expansion. The observed A-type band arises from fundamental excitation of the out-of-phase symmetric CH stretch mode (nu19) of b2 symmetry. Unambiguous spectral assignment of the rotational structure to the phenyl radical is facilitated by comparison with precision 2-line combination differences from Fourier transform microwave and direct absorption mm-wave measurements on the ground state [R. J. McMahon et al., Astrophys. J., 2003, 590, L61]. Least-squares fits to an asymmetric top Hamiltonian permit the upper-state rotational constants to be obtained. The corresponding gas-phase vibrational band origin at 3071.8904 (10) cm(-1) is in remarkably good agreement with previous matrix isolation studies [A. V. Friderichsen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2001, 123, 1977], and indicates only a relatively minor red shift (approximately 0.9 cm(-1)) between the gas and Ar matrix phase environment. Such studies offer considerable promise for further high resolution IR study of other aromatic radical species of particular relevance to combustion phenomena and interstellar chemistry.     

The UV absorption spectrum of trimethylsilyl radical in the gas phase

The UV absorption spectrum of trimethylsilyl radical was observed at 256 nm for the first time by photolysing allyltrimethylsilane and hexamethyldisilane with an ArF excimer laser. A bimolecular rate constant for recombination of trimethylsilyl radical of (2.5±0.5×10⁻¹¹ molecule⁻¹ cm³ s⁻¹ was measured.     

EPR and UV–visible spectroscopic studies of alumina-supported chromium oxide catalysts

The oxidation state, the mobility and the molecular structure of chromium species present on CrO_x–Al₂O₃ catalysts have been studied by combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, EPR and reduction–extraction by ethane 1,2 diol. CrO₄²⁻ species exist on the alumina surface in the form of loosely-interacting species on hydrated surface (species A) and in the form of strongly bonded species on dehydrated Al₂O₃ surface (species B). The CrO₄²⁻ species show high mobility and are probably responsible for the formation of CrO_x clusters.     

Photocuring kinetics of UV‐initiated free‐radical photopolymerizations with and without silica nanoparticles

We used photodifferential scanning calorimetry to investigate the photocuring kinetics of UV‐initiated free‐radical photopolymerizations of acrylate systems with and without silica nanoparticles. Two kinetics parameters—the rate constant (k) and the order of the initiation reaction (m)—were determined for hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite systems containing different amounts of added silica nanoparticles (0–20 wt %) and at different isothermal temperatures (30–100 °C) using an autocatalytic kinetics model. The kinetic analysis revealed that the silica nanoparticles apparently accelerate the cure reaction and cure rate of the UV‐curable acrylate system, most probably due to the synergistic effect of silica nanoparticles during the photopolymerization process. However, a slight decrease in polymerization reactivity that occurred when the silica content increased beyond 15 wt % was attributed to aggregation between silica nanoparticles. We also observed that the addition of silica nanoparticles lowered the activation energy for the UV‐curable acrylate system, and that the collision factor for the system with silica nanoparticles was higher than that obtained for the system without silica nanoparticles, indicating that the reactivity of the former was greater than that of the latter. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 658–670, 2005     

The kinetics of the gas phase decomposition reactions of the hexafluoro-t-butoxy radical

Hexafluoro-t-butoxy radicals have been generated by reacting fluorine with hexafluoro-2-methyl isopropanol: Over the temperature range of 406–600 K the hexafluoro-t-butoxy radical decomposes exclusively by loss of a CF₃ radical [reaction (-2)] rather than by loss of a CH₃ radical [reaction (-1)]: (1) The limits of detectability of the product CF₃COCF₃, by gas-chromatographic analysis, place a lower limit on the ratio k_?2/k_-1 of ～80. The implications of this finding in relation to the reverse radical addition reactions to the carbonyl group are briefly discussed. A thermochemical kinetic calculation reveals a discrepancy in the kinetics and thermodynamics of the decomposition and formation reactions of the related t-butoxy radical:      

Experimental and theoretical studies of the phenyl radical reaction with propene

The kinetics for the reaction of C6H5 with propene has been measured by cavity ring-down spectrometry (CRDS) at temperatures 296-496 K under an Ar pressure of 40 Torr. The total rate constant can be given by the following Arrhenius expression (in units of cm3 mol(-1) s(-1)): k(C6H5 + C3H6) = 10(11.93+/-0.06) exp[-(1512 +/- 51)/T]. Density functional and higher level of theory calculations (up to the G2M level) have been carried out to provide additional insights about the mechanism of this reaction, and we also performed transition state theory (TST) calculation for the rate constant prediction. Our theoretical kinetic calculations predict that the C6H5 addition to the terminal =CH2 site in propene is dominant at the temperature range of our CRDS measurements. However, the H-abstraction channel forming benzene and the allyl radical becomes increasingly important at higher temperatures. The total high-pressure limiting rate constant calculated on the basis of the G2M reaction barriers is in reasonable agreement with the experimental values.     

The electronic absorption spectrum of the CNO free radical in the gas phase

A new band with heads at 796.3.3 and 7893.1 A has been found during the flash photolysis of 3-methyl-4-oximinoisoxazol-5(411)-one. By comparison with earlier work in a neon matrix. and on the basis of a partial rotational analysis, the band is assigned as the 0 0 band of the A²x⁺-X²11_i transition of the CNO free radical. Preliminary mlecular constant are given.     

Experimental and computational studies of the phenyl radical reaction with allene

The kinetics for the gas-phase reaction of phenyl radicals with allene has been measured by cavity ring-down spectrometry (CRDS), and the mechanism and initial product branching have been elucidated with the help of quantum-chemical calculations. The absolute rate constant measured by the CRDS technique can be expressed by the following Arrhenius equation: kallene (T=301-421 K)=(4.07+/-0.38)x10(11) exp[-(1865+/-85)/T] cm3 mol(-1) s(-1). Theoretical calculations, employing high level G2M energetic and IRCMax(RCCSD(T)//B3LYP-DFT) molecular parameters, indicate that under our experimental conditions the most preferable reaction channel is the addition of phenyl radicals to the terminal carbon atoms in allene. Predicted total rate constants agree with the experimental values within 40%. Calculated total and branching rate constants are provided for high-T kinetic modeling.     

Theoretical study on the gas phase reaction of propargyl alcohol with hydroxyl radical

The reaction of propargyl alcohol with hydroxyl radical has been studied extensively at CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ//MP2/cc‐pVTZ level. This is the first time to gain a conclusive insight into the reaction mechanism and kinetics for this important reaction in detail. Two reaction mechanisms were revealed, namely addition/elimination and hydrogen abstraction mechanism. The reaction mechanism confirms that OH addition to C?C triple bond forms the chemically activated adducts, IM1 (·CHCOHCH₂OH) and IM2 (CHOH·CCH₂OH), and the hydrogen abstraction pathways (? CH₂OH bonded to the carbon atom and alcohol hydrogen) may occur via low barriers. Harmonic model of Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory and variational transition state theory are used to calculate the overall and individual rate constants over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The calculated rate constants are in good agreement with the experimental data. At atmospheric pressure with Ar as bath gas, IM1 (·CHCOHCH₂OH) and IM2 (CHOH·CCH₂OH) formed by collisional stabilization are dominant in the low temperature range. The production of CHCCHOH + H₂O via hydrogen abstraction becomes dominate at higher temperature. The fraction of IM3 (CH₂COHCH₂·O) is very significant over the moderate temperature range. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical study on the gas phase reaction of acrylonitrile with a hydroxyl radical

The mechanism and kinetics of the reaction of acrylonitrile (CH(2)=CHCN) with hydroxyl (OH) has been investigated theoretically. This reaction is revealed to be one of the most significant loss processes of acrylonitrile. BHandHLYP and M05-2X methods are employed to obtain initial geometries. The reaction mechanism conforms that OH addition to C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bond or C atom of -CN group to form the chemically activated adducts, 1-IM1(HOCH(2)=CHCN), 2-IM1(CH(2)=HOCHCN), and 3-IM1(CH(2)=CHCOHN) via low barriers, and direct hydrogen abstraction paths may also occur. Temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants have been evaluated using the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory. The calculated rate constants are in good agreement with the experimental data. At atmospheric pressure with N(2) as bath gas, 1-IM1(OHCH(2)=CHCN) formed by collisional stabilization is the major product in the temperature range of 200-1200 K. The production of CH(2)CCN and CHCHCN via hydrogen abstractions becomes dominant at high temperatures (1200-3000 K).