Collision-energy-resolved penning ionization electron spectroscopy of HCOOH, CH3COOH, and HCOOCH3 by collision with He*(2(3)S) metastable atoms

Penning ionization of formic acid (HCOOH), acetic acid (CH3COOH), and methyl formate (HCOOCH3) upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by collision-energy/electron-energy-resolved two-dimensional Penning ionization electron spectroscopy (2D-PIES). Anisotropy of interaction between the target molecule and He*(2(3)S) was investigated based on the collision energy dependence of partial ionization cross sections (CEDPICS) obtained from 2D-PIES as well as ab initio molecular orbital calculations for the access of a metastable atom to the target molecule. For the interaction potential calculations, a Li atom was used in place of He*(2(3)S) metastable atom because of its well-known similarity in interaction with targets. The results indicate that in the studied collision energy range the attractive potential localizes around the oxygen atoms and that the potential well at the carbonyl oxygen atom is at least twice as much as that at the hydroxyl oxygen. Moreover we can notice that attractive potential is highly anisotropic. Repulsive interactions can be found around carbon atoms and the methyl group.     

Anisotropic interaction and stereoreactivity in a chemi-ionization process of OCS by collision with He*(2(3)S) metastable atoms

Ionic-state-resolved collision energy dependence of Penning ionization cross sections for OCS with He*(2(3)S) metastable atoms was measured in a wide collision energy range from 20 to 350 meV. Anisotropic interaction potential for the OCS-He*(2(3)S) system was obtained by comparison of the experimental data with classical trajectory simulations. It has been found that attractive potential wells around the O and S atoms are clearly different in their directions. Around the O atom, the collinear approach is preferred (the well depth is ca. 90 meV), while the perpendicular approach is favored around the S atom (the well depth is ca. 40 meV). On the basis of the optimized potential energy surface and theoretical simulations, stereo reactivity around the O and S atoms was also investigated. The results were discussed in terms of anisotropy of the potential energy surface and the electron density distribution of molecular orbitals to be ionized.     

An overlap expansion method for improving ab initio model potentials: anisotropic intermolecular potentials of N2, CO, and C2H2 with He*(2(3)S)

An overlap expansion method is proposed for improving ab initio model potentials. Correction terms are expanded in terms of overlap integrals between orbitals of the interacting system. The method is used to improve ab initio model potentials for N2+He*(2(3)S), CO+He*(2(3)S), and C2H2+He*(2(3)S). Physical meanings of the optimization are elucidated in terms of target orbitals. Correction terms are found to be dominated by the components of HOMO, LUMO, next-HOMO, and next-LUMO on the target molecule. The present overlap expansion method using a limited number of correction terms related to frontier orbitals provides an efficient and intuitive approach for construction of highly anisotropic intermolecular interaction potentials.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of the Bi-excited collision systems He*(23 S) + He*(23 S, 21 S) at thermal and subthermal kinetic energies

We have carried out a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the autoionizing collision systems He*(2³ S, 2¹ S) + He*(2³ S). We present high resolution electron energy spectra, obtained with a single He* beam (average relative collision energy 〈E _rel〉=1.6 meV) and with crossed He* beams (〈E _rel〉> =61 meV). The spectra show substantial structure, and under single beam conditions fast oscillations due to the interference of incoming and outgoing heavy particle waves in the entrance channels are observed. Accurate ab initio potential curves for the seven lowest He*—He*(Σ) molecular states have been obtained from a Feshbach projection scheme, and width functions for He*(2³ S) + He*(2³ S) have been derived by Stieltjes imaging. Based on these ab initio data, detailed quantum mechanical calculations of the electron spectra have been carried out and provide a thorough understanding of the experimentally observed spectral features. Good overall agreement of the calculated spectra with the experimental data is observed. The close coincidence in the positions of the experimental and theoretical peaks, especially for He*(2³ S) + He*(2³ S), underlines the reliability of the ab initio potentials. In the He*(2¹ S) + He*(2³ S) electron spectrum, the dominant peak is traced to be due to autoionization from the 2³Σ⁺ _g molecular state accessed via an avoided crossing. We also present a detailed discussion of the total ionization cross sections σ_tot and of the fraction σ_AI/σ_tot for associative ionization together with a critical comparison with previous work. The ionization probabilities for close collisions in entrance channels, from which autoionization is spin-allowed, are near unity, and therefore the absolute values and the collision energy dependence of the total cross sections simply reflect the long-range behaviour of the excited state potentials.     

Collision-energy-resolved penning ionization electron spectroscopy of phenylacetylene and diphenylacetylene by collision with He*(2(3)s) metastable atoms

Penning ionization of phenylacetylene and diphenylacetylene upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms was studied by collision-energy-/electron-energy-resolved two-dimensional Penning ionization electron spectroscopy (2D-PIES). On the basis of the collision energy dependence of partial ionization cross-sections (CEDPICS) obtained from 2D-PIES as well as ab initio molecular orbital calculations for the approach of a metastable atom to the target molecule, anisotropy of interaction between the target molecule and He*(2(3)S) was investigated. For the calculations of interaction potential, a Li(2(2)S) atom was used in place of He*(2(3)S) metastable atom because of its well-known interaction behavior with various targets. The results indicate that attractive potentials localize in the pi regions of the phenyl groups as well as in the pi-conjugated regions of the acetylene group. Although similar attractive interactions were also found by the observation of CEDPICS for ionization of all pi MOs localized at the C[triple bond]C bond, the in-plane regions have repulsive potentials. Rotation of the phenyl groups about the C[triple bond]C bond can be observed for diphenylacetylene because of a low torsion barrier. So the examination of measured PIES was performed taking into consideration the change of ionization energies for conjugated molecular orbitals.     

Collision-energy-resolved Penning ionization electron spectroscopy of bromomethanes (CH3Br, CH2Br2, and CHBr3) by collision with He*(2(3)S) metastable atoms

Ionization of bromomethanes (CH3Br, CH2Br2, and CHBr3) upon collision with metastable He*(2(3)S) atoms has been studied by means of collision-energy-resolved Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. Lone-pair (nBr) orbitals of Br4p characters have larger ionization cross sections than sigma(C-Br) orbitals. The collision-energy dependence of the partial ionization cross sections shows that the interaction potential between the molecule and the He*(2(3)S) atom is highly anisotropic around CH3Br or CH2Br2, while isotropic attractive interactions are found for CHBr3. Bands observed at electron energies of approximately 2 eV in the He*(2(3)S) Penning ionization electron spectra (PIES) of CH2Br2 and CHBr3 have no counterpart in ultraviolet (He I) photoionization spectra and theoretical (third-order algebraic diagrammatic construction) one-electron and shake-up ionization spectra. Energy analysis of the processes involved demonstrates that these bands and further bands overlapping with sigma(C-Br) or piCH2 levels are related to autoionization of dissociating (He+ - Br-) pairs. Similarly, a band at an electron energy of approximately 1 eV in the He*(2(3)S) PIES spectra of CH3Br has been ascribed to autoionizing Br** atoms released by dissociation of (unidentified) excited states of the target molecule. A further autoionization (S) band can be discerned at approximately 1 eV below the lone-pair nBr bands in the He*(2(3)S) PIES spectrum of CHBr3. This band has been ascribed to the decay of autoionizing Rydberg states of the target molecule (M**) into vibrationally excited states of the molecular ion. It was found that for this transition, the interaction potential that prevails in the entrance channel is merely attractive.     

Development of a cooled He*(23S) beam source for measurements of state-resolved collision energy dependence of Penning ionization cross sections: Evidence for a stereospecific attractive well around methyl group in CH3CN

A low-temperature discharge nozzle source with a liquid-N(2) circulator for He*(2(3)S) metastable atoms has been developed in order to obtain the state-resolved collision energy dependence of Penning ionization cross sections in a low collision energy range from 20 to 80 meV. By controlling the discharge condition, we have made it possible to measure the collision energy dependence of partial ionization cross sections (CEDPICS) for a well-studied system of CH(3)CN+He*(2(3)S) in a wide energy range from 20 to 350 meV. The anisotropic interaction potential energy surface for the present system was obtained starting from an ab initio model potential via an optimization procedure based on classical trajectory calculations for the observed CEDPICS. A dominant attractive well depth was found to be 423 meV (ca. 10 kcal/mol) at a distance of 3.20 A from the center of mass of CH(3)CN in the N-atom side along the CCN axis. In addition, a weak attractive well (ca. 0.9 kcal/mol) surrounding the methyl group (-CH(3)) has been found and ascribed to the interaction between an unoccupied molecular orbital of CH(3)CN and 2s atomic orbital of He*(2(3)S).     

Penning ionization electron spectroscopy of C6H6 by collision with He*(2 3 S) metastable atoms and classical trajectory calculations: optimization of ab initio model potentials

The potential energy surface of benzene (C(6)H(6)) with a He*(2(3)S) atom was obtained by comparison of experimental data in collision-energy-resolved two-dimensional Penning ionization electron spectroscopy with classical trajectory calculations. The ab initio model interaction potentials for C(6)H(6)+He*(2(3)S) were successfully optimized by the overlap expansion method; the model potentials were effectively modified by correction terms proportional to the overlap integrals between orbitals of the interacting system, C(6)H(6) and He*(2(3)S). Classical trajectory calculations with optimized potentials gave excellent agreement with the observed collision-energy dependence of partial ionization cross sections. Important contributions to corrections were found to be due to interactions between unoccupied molecular orbitals and the He*2s orbital. A C(6)H(6) molecule attracts a He*(2(3)S) atom widely at the region where pi electrons distribute, and the interaction of -80 meV (ca. -1.8 kcal/mol) just cover the carbon hexagon. The binding energy of a C(6)H(6) molecule and a He* atom was 107 meV at a distance of 2.40 A on the sixfold axis from the center of a C(6)H(6) molecule, which is similar to that of C(6)H(6)+Li and is much larger than those of the C(6)H(6)+[He,Ne,Ar] systems.     

Collision-induced harpooning observed in the excimer formation in the oriented NF3 + oriented Kr*(3P2, MJ = 2) reaction

We have studied how the KrF* formation in the NF3 t Kr*(3P2) reaction depends on the mutual configuration between the orientation of the NF3 molecule and the alignment of the Kr*(3P2, M(J) = 2) atom in the collision frame. The molecular steric opacity function has been determined as a function of the atomic orbital alignment (M'(L)) in the collision frame. The molecular steric opacity function turns out to depend remarkably on M'(L) ; the |M'(L)| = 1 alignment is favorable at the molecular axis direction, whereas the M'(L) = 0 alignment is favorable at the sideways direction with a very poor reactivity at the molecular axis direction. The influence of deformation of the NF3 geometry on the electron affinity has been evaluated by ab initio calculation, and the M'(L) dependent intermolecular potential has been estimated from the interaction potential for the bromine-rare gas system. We propose the "collision-induced harpooning mechanism" as a novel process for the harpooning in which collisional deformation of the NF3 geometry with C(s) symmetry plays an important role as an initiating factor on electron transfer for the formation of NF3(-) due to increasing the electron affinity of NF3 and due to localizing the negative charge on the closest F-atom of NF3(-) anion. All experimental observations can support the collision-induced harpooning mechanism.     

Penning ionization of N2O molecules by He*(2(3,1)S) and Ne*(3P2,0) metastable atoms: a crossed beam study

The energetics of [Rg... N2O]* autoionizing collision complexes (where Rg=He or Ne) and their dynamical evolution have been studied in a crossed beam apparatus, respectively, by Penning ionization electron spectroscopy (PIES) and by mass spectrometry (MS) techniques in the thermal energy range. The PIES spectra, detected by an electron energy analyzer, were recorded for both complexes at four different collision energies. Such spectra allowed the determination of the energy shifts for Penning electron energy distributions, and the branching ratios for the population of different electronic states and for the vibrational population in the molecular nascent ions. For the [Ne...N2O]* collision complex it was found, by MS, that the autoionization leads to the formation of N2O+, NO+, O+, and NeN2O+ product ions whose total and partial cross sections were measured in the collision energy range between 0.03 and 0.2 eV. The results are analyzed exploiting current models for the Penning ionization process: the observed collision energy dependence in the PIES spectra as well as in the cross sections are correlated with the nature of the N2O molecule orbitals involved in the ionization and are discussed in term of the Rg-N2O interaction potentials, which are estimated by using a semiempirical method developed in our laboratory.     

Atomic alignment effect on the branching to ArCl* and CCl2* formation in the reaction of oriented Ar(3P2,MJ=2) + CCl4

Atomic alignment effects for the formation of ArCl*(C) and CCl2*(A) in the reaction of Ar((3)P 2) + CCl 4 have been measured by using an oriented Ar( (3)P2, M J=2) beam at a collision energy of 0.08 eV. The emission intensity for ArCl*(C) and CCl2*(A) has been measured as a function of the magnetic orientation field direction in the collision frame. A significant atomic alignment effect is observed for the atom transfer process [ArCl*(C) formation]. Formation of ArCl*(C) is modestly enhanced when the electron angular momentum of the Ar((3)P 2) reactant is aligned along the relative velocity vector, while the excitation transfer process [CCl2*(A) formation] shows little alignment effect.     

Probing anisotropic interaction potentials of unsaturated hydrocarbons with He*(2 3S) metastable atom: attractive-site preference of sigma-direction in C2H2 and pi-direction in C2H4

State-resolved collision energy dependence of Penning ionization cross sections of acetylene (C2H2) and ethylene (C2H4) with He*(2 3S) metastable atoms was observed in a wide collision energy range from 20 to 350 meV. A recently developed discharge nozzle source with a liquid N2 circulator was employed for the measurements in the low-energy range from 20 to 80 meV. Based on classical trajectory calculations for the energy dependence of the partial ionization cross sections, anisotropic potential energy surfaces for the present systems were obtained by optimizing ab initio model potentials for the chemically related systems Li+C2H2 and C2H4. In the case of C2H2, the global minimum was found to be located around the H atom along the molecular axis with a well depth of 48 meV (ca. 1.1 kcal/mol). On the other hand, a dominant attractive well with a depth of 62 meV (ca. 1.4 kcal/mol) was found in the piCC electron region of C2H4. These findings were discussed in connection with orbital interactions between molecular orbitals of the target molecules and atomic orbitals of the metastable atom. It is concluded that sigma-type unoccupied molecular orbitals of C2H2 and a piCC-type highest occupied molecular orbital of C2H4 play a significant role for the attractive-site preference of sigma direction in C2H2 and pi direction in C2H4, respectively.     

The interaction of metastable helium atoms with alkaline earth atoms: He*(23 S,21 S)+Mg,Ca, Sr and Ba

We have carried out experimental and theoretical studies of Penning ionization processes occurring in thermal energy collisions of state-selected metastable He*(2³ S) and He*(2¹ S) atoms with ground state alkaline earth atoms X(X=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Penning ionization electron energy spectra for these eight systems, measured with a crossed-beam set-up perpendicular to the collision velocity at energy resolutions 40–70 meV, are reported; relative populations of the different ionic X ⁺ (ml) states are presented and well depths D*_e for the He*+X entrance channel potentials with uncertainties around 25 meV are derived from the electron spectra as follows: He*(2³ S)+Mg/Ca/Sr/Ba: 130/250/240/260 meV; He*(2¹ S) +Mg/Ca/Sr/Ba: 300/570/550/670 meV. The spectra show substantial differences for the three ionic states X ⁺(² S), X ⁺(² P) and X ⁺(² D) and reveal that transitions to a repulsive potential — attributed to He+X ⁺(² P)² Σ formation — are mainly involved for the X ⁺(² P) channel. Ab initio calculations of potential curves, autoionization widths, electron energy spectra and ionization cross sections are reported for the systems He*(2³ S)+Ca and He*(2¹ S)+Ca. The respective well depths D _e ^* are calculated to be 243(15) meV and 544(15) meV; the ionization cross sections at the experimental mean energy of 72 meV amount to 101 Ų and 201 Ų, respectively. Very good overall agreement with the experimental electron spectra is observed.     

Intermolecular interactions of H2S with rare gases from molecular beam scattering in the glory regime and from ab initio calculations

Integral cross sections for collisions of rotationally hot H2S molecules with rare gas atoms (Ne, Ar, and Kr) have been measured, in the collision energy range of 10-60 kJ mol(-1), using a molecular beam apparatus operating under high resolution both in angle and in velocity. A well resolved glory pattern has been measured which permitted the accurate characterization of the intermolecular potentials both at long range (in the attractive region) and at intermediate distances (in the well region). Considering the conditions used in the experiments, the obtained potentials must be considered very close to the spherical averages of the full intermolecular potential energy surfaces. Extensive ab initio calculations have also been carried out in parallel in order to characterize energy minima in the potential energy surfaces and energy barriers associated to the motion of the rare gas atoms around H2S. An assessment of the relative role of the various interaction components has been also attempted: the combined analysis of experimental and theoretical results suggests that H2S-rare gas aggregates are mainly bound by nearly isotropic noncovalent interactions of the van der Waals type.     

(CH3)2S与HOCl分子间的卤键和氢键相互作用

在DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G**水平上分别求得(CH3)2S…ClOH卤键复合物和(CH3)2S…HOCl氢键复合物势能面上的稳定构型. 频率分析表明, 与单体HOCl相比, 在两种复合物中, 10Cl—11O和12H—11O键伸缩振动频率发生显著的红移. 经MP2/6-311++G**水平计算的含基组重叠误差(BSSE)校正的气相中相互作用能分别为-11.69和-24.16 kJ·mol-1. 自然键轨道理论(NBO)分析表明, 在(CH3)2S…ClOH卤键复合物中, 引起10Cl—11O键变长的因素包括两种电荷转移: (i) 孤对电子LP(1S)1→σ*(10Cl—11O); (ii) 孤对电子LP(1S)2→σ*(10Cl—11O), 其中孤对电子LP(1S)2→σ*(10Cl—11O)转移占主要作用, 总的结果是使σ*(10Cl—11O)的自然布居数增加0.14035e, 同时11O原子的再杂化使其与10Cl成键时s成分增加, 即具有与电荷转移作用同样的“拉长效应”; 在(CH3)2S…HOCl氢键复合物中也存在类似的电荷转移, 但是11O原子的再杂化不同于前者. 自然键共振理论(NRT)进行键序分析表明, 在卤键复合物和氢键复合物中, 10Cl—11O和12H—11O键的键序都减小. 通过分子中原子理论(AIM)分析了复合物中卤键和氢键的电子密度拓扑性质.     

Classical trajectory study of orientation and alignment effects for charge exchange processes in H+- Na*(3p m) collisions

The orientation and alignment effects for charge exchange in H⁺ + Na*(3p) collisions are studied using the classical trajectory Monte-Carlo method in the energy range from 1 to 8 keV. For Na*(3p _-1) → H*(2s, 2p _±1) transitions a large orientation effect is predicted by the probability functions, in very good agreement with semiclassical calculations. Angular differential cross sections are also calculated and interpreted using the impact parameter dependence of the proton deflection angle. They predict left-right asymmetry in agreement with semiclassical calculations or experimental results, but slightly smaller. Another geometry, not experimentally realized, is considered, where the proton velocity is parallel to the quantization axis of the p _±1 oriented states. Charge exchange from different aligned states with respect to the direction of the projectile velocity is also investigated, but the alignment effects are not as well described as the orientation effects. Total cross sections from oriented or aligned states with cylindrical symmetry around the projectile velocity direction are calculated and allow the hypothesis of velocity matching to be tested.     

"Quasi flexible" automatic docking processing for studying stereoselective recognition mechanisms, part 2: Prediction of DeltaDeltaG of complexation and 1H-NMR NOE correlation

The purpose of this work is to apply the global molecular interaction evaluation ("Glob-MolInE") computational protocol to the study of two molecular complexes characterized by a chiral selector and a couple of enantiomeric selectands experimentally known to give large difference in the free energy of complexation much higher than the experimental error normally associated to the molecular mechanic calculations. We have considered the well known diastereomeric complexes between the selector (S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-leucine-n-propylamide (S)-1 and the selectands (R) or (S)-N-(2-naphthyl)-alanine methyl ester 2, widely studied by enantioselective HPLC, NMR and X-ray. The experimental difference of free energy of complexation between [(S)-1*(R)-2] and [(S)-1*(S)-2] (-1.34 kcal/mol) was reproduced by the new computational protocol with an excellent confidence error. Detailed results about the conformational search, the "quasi-flexible" docking and the thermodynamic estimation are presented in this work. A remarkable correlation between the theoretical results and experimental data (NOE measurements, X-ray crystallographic structure of the [(S)-1*(S)-2] complex and the free energy of complexation) supports the validity of the computational approach and underline the importance of the conformational multiplicity in the definition of the macroscopic properties of the complex in solution.     

Classical models for electronic degrees of freedom: Quenching of Br*(2P1/2) by collision with H2 in three dimensions

Three-dimensional classical trajectory calculations have been carried out for the quenching of Br*(²P_1/2) by collision with ground-state H₂, using an approach that describes the electronic as well as heavy-particle (i.e. transition, rotation, vibration) degrees of freedom by classical mechanics. We find a sizeable quenching cross section (≈$\text{1}\text{2}$ Ų), with essentially all of the collision products having H₂ vibrationally excited to υ = 1, i.e. near-resonant EV transfer dominates the non-resonant ET,R processes. This is in agreement with experimental results.     

Hinge Distortion in Platinum(II) Dimers with a Pt(2)S(2) Ring. An ab Initio Molecular Orbital Study

Ab initio calculations have been carried out for Pt(II) dimers with S(2)(-) and/or RS(-) bridging ligands in order to elucidate the factors governing the structural preference, planar or hinged, of these complexes. Calculations have been performed for systems which model all structurally characterized Pt(II) binuclear complexes. All possible determinants of the hinge angle have been taken into account in the ab initio calculations. These show that electronic rather than steric effects govern the geometry of the central Pt(2)S(2) ring. Only one minimum of energy has been found for each complex, but the energetic cost of the hinge motion is low. Complexes with two S(2)(-), or with one S(2)(-) and one RS(-), bridging ligands are hinged; the decrease of the through-ring antibonding interaction between the in-plane sulfur p orbitals with folding appears to be the determinant for hinging. Complexes with two RS(-) bridging ligands can be planar or hinged depending on the relative orientation, syn or anti, of the R groups, on the nature, L(4) or L(2)L(2)', of the terminal ligands, and in the latter case on their disposition, cis or trans. However, the aromatic or aliphatic nature of bridging thiolates does not influence the geometry of the Pt(2)S(2) ring significantly. Conclusions drawn from platinum dimers can be extended to the palladium analogs.     

The low energy collision between metastable Ne*(3 P 0,2) and He(1 S 0): ab initio potentials,differential cross sections and polarization effects

Potential energies for molecular states dissociating into Ne*(¹ P ₁,³ P _0,1,2) + He(¹ S ₀) have been calculated ab initio within the distance range 4–100a ₀. The SCF energy (without spin-orbit interaction) is optimized on the lowest³Σ state. After CI, the four Λ-states (^1,3Σ,^1,3Π)are obtained. They dissociate into Ne*(^1,3 P) + He(¹ S). All of them are repulsive atR ? 8a ₀, they exhibit shallow wells around 12a ₀ and have a correct asymptotic behaviour (～ -R ^?6). The spin-orbit interaction is introduced, using the Cohen-Schneider scheme, and adiabatic Ω-potentials are derived. The collision at low energy (E ≦ 124 meV) is described in the frame of a fragment-state basis. By means of a deflation procedure, it is shown that states dissociating into Ne*(¹ P ₁) + He can be eliminated, which lead to a 9 × 9 interaction matrix dynamically equivalent to the original 12 × 12 matrix, in the subspace of interest. Collision channels are defined by angular momenta,J (total),j (of Ne*) andl (of the relative motion). Scattering radial equations are solved by the algorithm of Gordon and theS matrix is derived. Two sets of physically meaningful scattering amplitudes (and differential cross sections) are constructed, referred to the incident axis or to the initial and final directions of the internuclear axis. Polarization effects are discussed. The case of a quantization axis perpendicular to the collision plane is also mentioned.