Reaction dynamics of Y + O2--> YO(X,A',A)+ O(3P(J)) studied by the crossed-beam technique

The dynamics of the reaction, Y + O2--> YO + O was studied by using the crossed-beam technique at several collision energies from 10.3 to 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The Y atomic beam was generated by laser vaporization and crossed with the O2 beam at a right angle. Among the energetically accessible electronic states of YO, the formation of the A2Pi and A'2Delta states was observed by their chemiluminescence at all collision energies. By analyzing the chemiluminescence spectra of YO(A2Pi(1/2,3/2)-X2Sigma+), vibrational state distributions and relative populations of spin-orbit states were determined for YO(A2Pi(1/2,3/2)). At low collision energies, the vibrational distributions agree quite well with those expected from the statistical energy partitioning, while a little deviation from the statistical expectation was observed at the highest energy, 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The populations of two spin-orbit states are in good agreement with the statistical expectations at all collision energies. The vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (VUV-LIF) technique was employed to determine the distributions of spin-orbit states of the product O(3P(J)) at two collision energies, 20.7 and 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The line shapes of the O atom transitions were analyzed to determine relative branching ratio of the ground state to the excited states of YO, i.e. YO(X2Sigma+)+ O(3P(J))vs. YO(A2Pi and A'2Delta)+ O(3P(J)). The results showed that the electronically excited YO was formed with comparable amount with the ground state which is statistically more favorable, and suggested the occurrence of two mechanisms taking place in the title reaction.     

Product spin-orbit state resolved dynamics of the H+H2O and H+D2O abstraction reactions

The product state-resolved dynamics of the reactions H+H(2)O/D(2)O-->OH/OD((2)Pi(Omega);v',N',f )+H(2)/HD have been explored at center-of-mass collision energies around 1.2, 1.4, and 2.5 eV. The experiments employ pulsed laser photolysis coupled with polarized Doppler-resolved laser induced fluorescence detection of the OH/OD radical products. The populations in the OH spin-orbit states at a collision energy of 1.2 eV have been determined for the H+H(2)O reaction, and for low rotational levels they are shown to deviate from the statistical limit. For the H+D(2)O reaction at the highest collision energy studied the OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular distributions show scattering over a wide range of angles with a preference towards the forward direction. The kinetic energy release distributions obtained at 2.5 eV also indicate that the HD coproducts are born with significantly more internal excitation than at 1.4 eV. The OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular and kinetic energy release distributions are almost identical to those of their spin-orbit excited OD((2)Pi(1/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') counterpart. The data are compared with previous experimental measurements at similar collision energies, and with the results of previously published quasiclassical trajectory and quantum mechanical calculations employing the most recently developed potential energy surface. Product OH/OD spin-orbit effects in the reaction are discussed with reference to simple models.     

Photodissociation channels for N2O near 130 nm studied by product imaging

The photodissociation of N(2)O at wavelengths near 130 nm has been investigated by velocity-mapped product imaging. In all, five dissociation channels have been detected, leading to the following products: O((1)S)+N(2)(X (1)Sigma), N((2)D)+NO(X (2)Pi), N((2)P)+NO(X (2)Pi), O((3)P) + N(2)(A (3)Sigma(+) (u)), and O((3)P) + N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)). The most significant channel is to the products O((1)S) + N(2)(X(1)Sigma), with strong vibrational excitation in the N(2). The O((3)P) + N(2)(A,B):N((2)D,(2)P) + NO branching ratio is measured to be 1.4 +/- 0.5, while the N(2)(A) + O((3)P(J)):N(2)(B) + O((3)P(J)) branching ratio is determined to be 0.84+/-0.09. The spin-orbit distributions for the O((3)P(J)), N((2)P(J)), and N((2)D(J)) products were also determined. The angular distributions of the products are in qualitative agreement with excitation to the N(2)O(D (1)Sigma(+)) state, with participation as well by the (3)Pi(v) state.     

Absolute rate coefficients for the reactions of O2- + N(4S(3/2)) and O2- + O(3P) at 298 K in a selected-ion flow tube instrument

The absolute rate coefficients at 298 K for the reactions of O(2) (-) + N((4)S(3/2)) and O(2) (-) + O((3)P) have been determined in a selected-ion flow tube instrument. O atoms are generated by the quantitative titration of N atoms with NO, where the N atoms are produced by microwave discharge on N(2). The experimental procedure allows for the determination of rate constants for the reaction of the reactant ion with N((4)S(3/2)) and O((3)P). The rate coefficient for O(2) (-) + N is found to be 2.3x10(-10)+/-40% cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), a factor of 2 slower than previously determined. In addition, it was found that the reaction proceeds by two different reaction channels to give (1) NO(2)+e(-) and (2) O(-)+NO. The second channel was not reported in the previous study and accounts for ca. 35% of the reaction. An overall rate coefficient of 3.9 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was determined for O(2) (-) + O, which is slightly faster than previously reported. Branching ratios for this reaction were determined to be <55%O(3) + e(-) and >45%O(-) + O(2).     

A gas-phase crossed-beam study of OH produced in the radical-radical reaction of O((3)P) with iso-propyl radical (CH3)2CH

The gas-phase radical-radical reaction dynamics of ground-state atomic oxygen [O((3)P)] with iso-propyl radicals, (CH(3))(2)CH, were investigated by applying a combination of high-resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in a crossed-beam configuration and ab initio calculations. The nascent distributions of OH (X(2)Π: υ' = 0) from the major reaction channel O((3)P) + (CH(3))(2)CH → C(3)H(6) (propene) + OH showed substantial internal excitations with a bimodal feature of low- and high-N' components with neither spin-orbit nor Λ-doublet propensities. Unlike previous kinetic results, proposed to proceed only through the direct H-atom abstraction process, on the basis of the population analysis and comparison with the statistical theory, the title reaction can be described in terms of two competing mechanisms at the molecular level: direct abstraction process and indirect short-lived addition-complex-forming process with a ratio of 1.25?:?1.     

Quantum chemical and theoretical kinetics study of the O(3P) + CS2 reaction

The triplet potential energy surface of the O((3)P) + CS(2) reaction is investigated by using various quantum chemical methods including CCSD(T), QCISD(T), CCSD, QCISD, G3B3, MPWB1K, BB1K, MP2, and B3LYP. The thermal rate coefficients for the formation of three major products, CS + SO ((3)Σ(-)), OCS + S ((3)P) and CO + S(2) ((3)Σ(-)(g)) were computed by using transition state and RRKM statistical rate theories over the temperature range of 200-2000 K. The computed k(SO + CS) by using high-level quantum chemical methods is in accordance with the available experimental data. The calculated rate coefficients for the formation of OCS + S ((3)P) and CO + S(2) ((3)Σ(-)(g)) are much lower than k(SO + CS); hence, it is predicted that these two product channels do not contribute significantly to the overall rate coefficient.     

Ab initio investigations of the radical-radical reaction of O(3P) + C3H3

We present ab initio calculations of the reaction of ground-state atomic oxygen [O((3)P)] with a propargyl (C(3)H(3)) radical based on the application of the density-functional method and the complete basis-set model. It has been predicted that the barrierless addition of O((3)P) to C(3)H(3) on the lowest doublet potential-energy surface produces several energy-rich intermediates, which undergo subsequent isomerization and decomposition steps to generate various exothermic reaction products: C(2)H(3)+CO, C(3)H(2)O+H, C(3)H(2)+OH, C(2)H(2)+CHO, C(2)H(2)O+CH, C(2)HO+CH(2), and CH(2)O+C(2)H. The respective reaction pathways are examined extensively with the aid of statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations, suggesting that the primary reaction channel is the formation of propynal (CHCCHO)+H. For the minor C(3)H(2)+OH channel, which has been reported in recent gas-phase crossed-beam experiments [H. Lee et al., J. Chem. Phys. 119, 9337 (2003); 120, 2215 (2004)], a comparison on the basis of prior statistical calculations is made with the nascent rotational state distributions of the OH products to elucidate the mechanistic and dynamic characteristics at the molecular level.     

C-Cl bond fission dynamics and angular momentum recoupling in the 235 nm photodissociation of allyl chloride

The photodissociation dynamics of allyl chloride at 235 nm producing atomic Cl((2)P(J);J=1/2,3/2) fragments is investigated using a two-dimensional photofragment velocity ion imaging technique. Detection of the Cl((2)P(1/2)) and Cl((2)P(3/2)) products by [2+1] resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization shows that primary C-Cl bond fission of allyl chloride generates 66.8% Cl((2)P(3/2)) and 33.2% Cl((2)P(1/2)). The Cl((2)P(3/2)) fragments evidenced a bimodal translational energy distribution with a relative weight of low kinetic energy Cl((2)P(3/2))/high kinetic energy Cl((2)P(3/2)) of 0.097/0.903. The minor dissociation channel for C-Cl bond fission, producing low kinetic energy chlorine atoms, formed only chlorine atoms in the Cl((2)P(3/2)) spin-orbit state. The dominant C-Cl bond fission channel, attributed to an electronic predissociation that results in high kinetic energy Cl atoms, produced both Cl((2)P(1/2)) and Cl((2)P(3/2)) atomic fragments. The relative branching for this dissociation channel is Cl((2)P(1/2))/[Cl((2)P(1/2))+Cl((2)P(3/2))]=35.5%. The average fraction of available energy imparted into product recoil for the high kinetic energy products was found to be 59%, in qualitative agreement with that predicted by a rigid radical impulsive model. Both the spin-orbit ground and excited chlorine atom angular distributions were close to isotropic. We compare the observed Cl((2)P(1/2))/[Cl((2)P(1/2))+Cl((2)P(3/2))] ratio produced in the electronic predissociation channel of allyl chloride with a prior study of the chlorine atom spin-orbit states produced from HCl photodissociation, concluding that angular momentum recoupling in the exit channel at long interatomic distance determines the chlorine atom spin-orbit branching.     

A study of the radical-radical reaction dynamics of O(3P)+t-C4H9 --> OH+iso-C4H8

The radical-radical reaction dynamics of ground-state atomic oxygen [O(3P)] with t-butyl radicals (t-C4H9) in the gas phase were investigated using high-resolution laser spectroscopy in a crossed-beam configuration, together with ab initio theoretical calculations. The radical reactants, O(3P) and t-C4H9, were produced by the photodissociation of NO2 and the supersonic flash pyrolysis of the precursor, azo-t-butane, respectively. A new exothermic channel, O(3P)+t-C4H9 --> OH+iso-C4H8, was identified and the nascent rovibrational distributions of the OH (X 2Pi: upsilon" = 0,1,2) products were examined. The population analyses for the two spin-orbit states of F1(2Pi32) and F2(2Pi12) showed that the upsilon" = 0 level is described by a bimodal feature composed of low- and high-N" rotational components, whereas the upsilon" = 1 and 2 levels exhibit unimodal distributions. No noticeable spin-orbit or Lambda-doublet propensities were observed in any vibrational state. The partitioning ratio of the vibrational populations (Pupsilon") with respect to the low-N" components of the upsilon" = 0 level was estimated to be P0:P1:P2 = 1:1.17+/-0.24:1.40+/-0.11, indicating that the nascent internal distributions are highly excited. On the basis of the comparison of the experimental results with the statistical theory, the reaction mechanism at the molecular level can be described in terms of two competing dynamic pathways: the major, direct abstraction process leading to the inversion of the vibrational populations, and the minor, short-lived addition-complex process responsible for the hot rotational distributions. After considering the reaction exothermicity, the barrier height, and the number of intermediates along the addition reaction pathways on the lowest doublet potential energy surface, the formation of CH3COCH3(acetone)+CH3 was predicted to be dominant in the addition mechanism.     

Photodissociation dynamics of N2O at 130 nm: the N2(A 3Sigmau +,B 3Pig)+O(3PJ = 2,1,0) channels

Oxygen Rydberg time-of-flight spectroscopy was used to study the vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of N(2)O near 130 nm. The O((3)P(J)) products were tagged by excitation to high-n Rydberg levels and subsequently field ionized at a detector. In agreement with previous work, we find that O((3)P(J)) formation following excitation to the repulsive N(2)O D((1)Sigma(+)) state produces the first two electronically excited states of the N(2) counterfragment, N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) and N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)). The O((3)P(J)) translational energy distribution reveals that the overall branching ratio between N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) and N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)) formation is approximately 1.0:1.0 for J = 1 and 2, with slightly less N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)) produced in coincidence with O((3)P(0)). The angular distributions were found to be independent of J and highly anisotropic, with beta = 1.5+/-0.2.     

Angular distributions and angular momentum alignment of O((3)P(J)) atoms formed in the photolysis of O(2)via the Herzberg continuum

Sliced velocity-map imaging has been used to measure photofragment scattering distributions for the O((3)P(2)) and O((3)P(1)) products of O(2) photolysis following laser excitation into the Herzberg continuum between 205 and 241 nm. The images were analysed to extract the photofragment spatial anisotropy parameter, β, together with the alignment parameters a(∥), a(⊥), a(⊥), and Re[a(∥, ⊥)]. Our alignment measurements bridge the gap between the recent 193 nm measurement of Brouard et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2006, 8, 5549 and those of Alexander et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2003, 118, 10566 at 222 and 237 nm, and extend out to the threshold at 241 nm. Our measured parameters show no strong dependence on photolysis wavelength. Near the threshold we were able to separate the contributions from the O((3)P(2)) + O((3)P(2)) and O((3)P(2)) + O((3)P(1)) channels, and found significantly different photofragment alignments for the two cases.     

A crossed molecular beam imaging study of the O(1D2)+HCl-->OH+Cl(2P J=3/2, 1/2) reaction.

A crossed molecular beam study is presented for the O((1)D(2))+HCl-->OH+Cl((2)P(J)) reaction at the collision energy of 6 kcal mol(-1). State-resolved doubly differential cross sections are obtained for the Cl((2)P(J=3/2) ) and Cl*((2)P(J=1/2) ) products by velocity-map ion imaging. Both products are slightly more forward scattered, which suggests a reaction mechanism without a long-lived intermediate in the ground electronic state. A small fraction (23 %) of the energy release into the translational degree of freedom indicates strong internal excitation of the counterpart OH radical. The contribution of the electronic excited states of O--HCl to the overall reaction is also examined from the doubly differential cross sections.     

An investigation of nonadiabatic interactions in Cl(2Pj) + D2 via crossed-molecular-beam scattering

We have determined limits on the cross section for both electronically nonadiabatic excitation and quenching in the Cl((2)P(j)) + D(2) system. Our experiment incorporates crossed-molecular-beam scattering with state-selective Cl((2)P(12,32)) detection and velocity-mapped ion imaging. By colliding atomic chlorine with D(2), we address the propensity for collisions that result in a change of the spin-orbit level of atomic chlorine either through electronically nonadiabatic spin-orbit excitation Cl((2)P(32)) + D(2)-->Cl(*)((2)P(12)) + D(2) or through electronically nonadiabatic spin-orbit quenching Cl(*)((2)P(12)) + D(2)-->Cl((2)P(32)) + D(2). In the first part of this report, we estimate an upper limit for the electronically nonadiabatic spin-orbit excitation cross section at a collision energy of 5.3 kcal/mol, which lies above the energy of the reaction barrier (4.9 kcal/mol). Our analysis and simulation of the experimental data determine an upper limit for the excitation cross section as sigma(NA)< or =0.012 A(2). In the second part of this paper we investigate the propensity for electronically nonadiabatic spin-orbit quenching of Cl(*) following a collision with D(2) or He. We perform these experiments at collision energies above and below the energy of the reaction barrier. By comparing the amount of scattered Cl(*) in our images to the amount of Cl(*) lost from the atomic beam we obtain the maximum cross section for electronically nonadiabatic quenching as sigma(NA)< or =15(-15) (+44) A(2) for a collision energy of 7.6 kcal/mol. Our experiments show the probability for electronically nonadiabatic quenching in Cl(*) + D(2) to be indistinguishable to that for the kinematically identical system of Cl(*) + He.     

A combined crossed beam and theoretical investigation of O(3P) + C3H3 --> C3H2 + OH

The radical-radical reaction dynamics of ground-state atomic oxygen [O(3P)] with propargyl radicals (C3H3) has first been investigated in a crossed beam configuration. The radical reactants O(3P) and C3H3 were produced by the photodissociation of NO2 and the supersonic flash pyrolysis of precursor propargyl bromide, respectively. A new exothermic channel of O(3P) + C3H3 --> C3H2 + OH was identified and the nascent distributions of the product OH in the ground vibrational state (X 2Pi:nu" = 0) showed bimodal rotational excitations composed of the low- and high-N" components without spin-orbit propensities. The averaged ratios of Pi(A')/Pi(A") were determined to be 0.60 +/- 0.28. With the aid of ab initio theory it is predicted that on the lowest doublet potential energy surface, the reaction proceeds via the addition complexes formed through the barrierless addition of O(3P) to C3H3. The common direct abstraction pathway through a collinear geometry does not occur due to the high entrance barrier in our low collision energy regime. In addition, the major reaction channel is calculated to be the formation of propynal (CHCCHO) + H, and the counterpart C3H2 of the probed OH product in the title reaction is cyclopropenylidene (1c-C3H2) after considering the factors of barrier height, reaction enthalpy and structural features of the intermediates formed along the reaction coordinate. On the basis of the statistical prior and rotational surprisal analyses, the ratio of population partitioning for the low- and high-N" is found to be about 1:2, and the reaction is described in terms of two competing addition-complex mechanisms: a major short-lived dynamic complex and a minor long-lived statistical complex. The observed unusual reaction mechanism stands in sharp contrast with the reaction of O(3P) with allyl radical (C3H5), a second significant conjugated hydrocarbon radical, which shows totally dynamic processes [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 2017 (2002)], and should be understood based upon the characteristic electronic structures and reactivity of the intermediates on the potential energy surface.     

The effect of spin-orbit coupling on fast neutral chemical reaction O(3P)+CH3-->CH3O

The effect of nonadiabatic transitions through the spin-orbit couplings has been investigated on the fast neutral reaction, O((3)P)+CH(3)-->CH(3)O. Adiabatic potential energies and the spin-orbit coupling terms have been evaluated for the four electronic states of CH(3)O ((2)E, (2)A(2), (4)E, and (4)A(2)) that correlate with the O((3)P)+CH(3) asymptote, as a function of CO distance and OCH angle under the C(3v) symmetry, by ab initio electronic structure calculations using multireference internally contracted single and double excitation configuration interaction method with the 6-311G(2df,2pd) basis sets. Multistate quantum reactive scattering calculations have been carried out with the use of thus obtained potential energies and spin-orbit coupling matrices, based on the generalized R-matrix propagation method. The calculated thermal rate constants show a slight positive dependence on temperature in a range between 50 and 2000 K, supporting the previous experimental results. It is shown that the spin-orbit coupled excited states give rise to reflections over the centrifugal barrier due to the quantum interference. Classical capture calculations yield larger rate constants due to the neglect of quantum reflections. It is concluded that the effect of nonadiabatic transitions is of minor importance on the overall reactivity in this reaction.     

The photodissociation dynamics of OCS at 248 nm: the S((3)P(J)) atomic angular momentum polarization

The dissociation of OCS has been investigated subsequent to excitation at 248 nm using velocity map ion imaging. Speed distributions, speed dependent translational anisotropy parameters, and the atomic angular momentum orientation and alignment are reported for the channel leading to S((3)P(J)). The speed distributions and beta parameters are in broad agreement with previous work and show behavior that is highly sensitive to the S-atom spin-orbit state. The data are shown to be consistent with the operation of at least two triplet production mechanisms. Interpretation of the angular momentum polarization data in terms of an adiabatic picture has been used to help identify a likely dissociation pathway for the majority of the S((3)P(J)) products, which strongly favors production of J=2 fragment atoms, correlated, it is proposed, with rotationally hot and vibrationally cold CO cofragments. For these fragments, optical excitation to the 2 (1)A(') surface is thought to constitute the first step, as for the singlet dissociation channel. This is followed by crossing, via a conical intersection, to the ground 1 (1)A(') state, from where intersystem crossing occurs, populating the 1 (3)A(')1 (3)A(")((3)Pi) states. The proposed mechanism provides a qualitative rationale for the observed spin-orbit populations, as well as the S((3)P(J)) quantum yield and angular momentum polarization. At least one other production mechanism, leading to a more statistical S-atom spin-orbit state distribution and rotationally cold, vibrationally hot CO cofragments, is thought to involve direct excitation to either the (3)Sigma(-) or (3)Pi states.     

O(3P) + CO2 collisions at hyperthermal energies: dynamics of nonreactive scattering, oxygen isotope exchange, and oxygen-atom abstraction

The dynamics of O((3)P) + CO(2) collisions at hyperthermal energies were investigated experimentally and theoretically. Crossed-molecular-beams experiments at = 98.8 kcal mol(-1) were performed with isotopically labeled (12)C(18)O(2) to distinguish products of nonreactive scattering from those of reactive scattering. The following product channels were observed: elastic and inelastic scattering ((16)O((3)P) + (12)C(18)O(2)), isotope exchange ((18)O + (16)O(12)C(18)O), and oxygen-atom abstraction ((18)O(16)O + (12)C(18)O). Stationary points on the two lowest triplet potential energy surfaces of the O((3)P) + CO(2) system were characterized at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory and by means of W4 theory, which represents an approximation to the relativistic basis set limit, full-configuration-interaction (FCI) energy. The calculations predict a planar CO(3)(C(2v), (3)A') intermediate that lies 16.3 kcal mol(-1) (W4 FCI excluding zero point energy) above reactants and is approached by a C(2v) transition state with energy 24.08 kcal mol(-1). Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations with collision energies in the range 23-150 kcal mol(-1) were performed at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) and BMK/6-311G(d) levels. Both reactive channels observed in the experiment were predicted by these calculations. In the isotope exchange reaction, the experimental center-of-mass (c.m.) angular distribution, T(θ(c.m.)), of the (16)O(12)C(18)O products peaked along the initial CO(2) direction (backward relative to the direction of the reagent O atoms), with a smaller isotropic component. The product translational energy distribution, P(E(T)), had a relatively low average of = 35 kcal mol(-1), indicating that the (16)O(12)C(18)O products were formed with substantial internal energy. The QCT calculations give c.m. P(E(T)) and T(θ(c.m.)) distributions and a relative product yield that agree qualitatively with the experimental results, and the trajectories indicate that exchange occurs through a short-lived CO(3)* intermediate. A low yield for the abstraction reaction was seen in both the experiment and the theory. Experimentally, a fast and weak (16)O(18)O product signal from an abstraction reaction was observed, which could only be detected in the forward direction. A small number of QCT trajectories leading to abstraction were observed to occur primarily via a transient CO(3) intermediate, albeit only at high collision energies (149 kcal mol(-1)). The oxygen isotope exchange mechanism for CO(2) in collisions with ground state O atoms is a newly discovered pathway through which oxygen isotopes may be cycled in the upper atmosphere, where O((3)P) atoms with hyperthermal translational energies can be generated by photodissociation of O(3) and O(2).