The acetyl radical studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

The acetyl radical absorption spectrum is a broad band with maximum decadic extinction coefficient of (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ ? mole^?1 cm^?1 at 215 nm and an oscillator strength of 0.23 ± 0.03. Absolute rate constants were estimated as 4.5 × 10¹⁰ ? mole^?1 s^?1 for the mutual interaction of acetyl radicals, and as 7.5 × 10¹⁰ ? mole^?1 s^?1 for the cross interaction of acetyl and methyl radicals.     

A quantitative study of alkyl radical reactions by kinetic spectroscopy III. Absorption spectrum and rate constants of mutual interaction for the ethyl radical

Intrinsic spectral and kinetic parameters have been measured for the ethyl radical, which was formed in the gas phase by the flash photolysis of azoethane. Absolute values of the extinction coefficient ?(λ) were derived from complementary measurements of the yield of nitrogen and the absorbance of an equivalent concentration of the ethyl radical. The absorption spectrum is broad, structureless, and comparatively weak; ?(247) = 4.8 × 10² l/mol·cm at the maximum, and the oscillator strength is (9.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?3. This is in good qualitative agreement with a spectrum obtained independently using the technique of molecular modulation spectrometry. The biomolecular reactions of mutual interaction were the only significant reactions of the ethyl radical in this system; kinetic analysis of the second-order decline of the absorbance during the dark period yielded a value of k/?(λ) for each experiment. The rate constant for mutual interaction was evaluated from the product of corresponding measurements of k/?(λ) and ?(λ) individual values are independent of the wavelength of measurement, and the mean value is k = (1.40 ± 0.27) × 10¹⁰ l/mol·sec. The rate constant for mutual combination was derived with the aid of product analysis as k₂ = (1.24 ± 0.23) × 10¹⁰ l/mol·sec; it stands in close agreement with the set of “high” values obtained by direct measurement using a variety of methods.     

The methyl radical combination rate constant as determined by kinetic spectroscopy

The rate constant for the reaction has been determined by means of vacuum ultraviolet flash photolysis and time-resolved kinetic spectroscopic observations of the 1504-Å absorption band of CH₃. The measurements made using three different sources of methyl radicals (azomethane, dimethylmercury, and ketene-hydrogen) were in accord and yielded a value for the rate constant of k₁ = (9.53 ± 1.17) × 10^?11 cc molec^?1 sec^?1. A detailed error analysis is presented. The f-value for the 1504-Å band of CH₃ is determined to be (2.5 ± 0.7) × 10^?2.     

A quantitative study of alkyl radical reactions by kinetic spectroscopy. IV. The flash photolysis of azopropanes

The flash photolysis of azo?n?propane and of azoisopropane has been studied by kinetic spectroscopy. Transient absorption spectra in theregion of 220–260 nm have been assigned to the n-propyl and isopropyl radicals. For the n-propyl radical, ?_max = 744 ± 39 l/mol cm at 245 nm and the rate constants for the mutual reactions were measured to be k_c = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰ l/mol sec (combination) and k_d = (1.9 ± 0.2) × 10⁹ l/mol sec (disproportionation). For the isopropyl radical, ?_max = 1280 ± 110 l/mol cm at 238 nm, with k_c = (7.7 ± 1.6) × 10⁹ l/mol sec and k_d = (5.0 ± 1.2) × 10⁹ l/mol sec The rate constant for the dissociation of the vibrationally excited triplet state of the azopropanes into radicals was measured from the variation in the quantum yield of radicals with pressure. For azo-n-propane k = (6.6 ± 1.3) × 10⁷ sec^?1, and for azoisopropane k = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ sec^?1. Collisional deactivation of the vibrationally excited singlet and triplet states was found to occur on every collision for n-pentane; but nitrogen and argon were inefficient with a rate constant of 1.1 × 10¹⁰ l/mol sec. Spectra observed in the region of 220–260 and 370–400 nm areattributed to the cis isomers of the parent trans-azopropanes. These are formed, as permanent products, in increasing amounts as the pressure is increased.     

Mutual interactions of the methyl and methylperoxy radicals studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

The decadic extinction coefficient of the methyl radical at 216.4 nm and the rate constant for mutual combination were redetermined as: . The application of the Beer–Lambert law to these measurements was justified experimentally. The absorption spectrum of the methylperoxy radical was characterized as a weak, broad, structureless band, having a maximum at 240 nm with ?(240) = 1.55 × 10³ l./mol cm. The mutual interaction of methylperoxy radicals leads to the generation of methoxy and hydroperoxy radicals as a consequence of the nonterminating interaction . Each derivative radical may consume a significant fraction of the methylperoxy radicals, and either of these cross interactions may be made predominant by a suitable choice of oxygen pressure. The mutual interaction was studied under both conditions. The overall mechanism was analyzed by a precise computational method, and the rate constant of the total mutual interaction was estimated as .     

The flash photolysis of azomethane. Minor products from the photolysis of methyl radicals and a rate constant for CH3 + NO

The flash photolysis of azomethane in a quartz reaction vessel produces mainly ethane (>75%) plus smaller quantities of methane, ethylene, and acetylene. The minor products are interpreted quantitatively in terms of methyl radical photolysis at 216 nm to give CH₂ and H. This interpretation is substantiated by the dependence of the minor products on flash intensity. The reduction of the ethane yield on adding NO is employed to obtain a rate constant for CH₃ + NO as a function of total pressure, based on a value for methyl radical recombination of 4.2 × 10^?11 cm³/molec · sec. An RRKM analysis is used to extrapolate the data to give a limiting high-pressure rate constant for CH₃ + NO of (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10^?11 cm³/molec · sec at 298°K.     

The acetyl radicals CH3CO· and CD3CO· studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

Ultraviolet absorption spectra have been characterized for the acetyl-h₃ and acetyl-d₃ radicals, which were generated by the flash photolysis of the corresponding acetones. The spectra are broad and intense, with values of the extinction coefficient at the respective maxima estimated as: ?CH₃CO(215) = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm and ?CD₃CO(207.5) = (1.0 ± 0.05) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm. Rate constants for the reactions of mutual interaction were estimated as: k = 3.5 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 3.4 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. Rate constants for the reactions of cross interaction were estimated as: k = 8.6 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 5.2 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. The related values of the cross interaction ratios k/(kk)^1/2 = 2.6 and k/(kk)^1/2 = 1.6 do not differ significantly from the statistical value of 2. The participation of the radical displacement reactions was estimated in terms of the fractions k/k = 0.38 and k/k = 0.47. Corroborative spectra were obtained from the flash photolysis of methyl ethyl ketone and biacetyl, and the relative rates of the competing primary processes were estimated from the relative peak heights of the acetyl and methyl radicals in each system.     

Photodissociation of naphthalene dimer radical cation during the two-color two-laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis-laser flash photolysis

Photodissociation of naphthalene (Np) dimer radical cation (Np2*+) to give naphthalene radical cation (Np*+) and Np and the subsequent regeneration of Np2*+ by the dimerization of Np*+ and Np were directly observed during the two-color two-laser flash photolysis in solution at room temperature. When Np2*+ was excited at the charge-resonance (CR) band with the 1064-nm laser, the bleaching and recovery of the transient absorption at 570 and 1000 nm, assigned to the local excitation (LE) and CR bands of Np2*+, respectively, were observed together with the growth and decay of the transient absorption at 685 nm, assigned to Np*+. The dissociation of Np2*+ proceeds via a one-photon process within the 5-ns laser flash to give Np*+ and Np in the quantum yield of 3.2 x 10(-3) and in the chemical yield of 100%. The recovery time profiles of Np2*+ at 570 and 1000 nm were equivalent to the decay time profile of Np*+ at 685 nm, suggesting that the dimerization of Np*+ and Np occurs to regenerate Np2*+ in 100% yield. Similar experimental results of the photodissociation and regeneration of Np2*+ were observed during the pulse radiolysis-laser flash photolysis of Np in 1,2-dichloroethane. The photodissociation mechanism can be explained based on the crossing between two potential surfaces of the excited-state Np2*+ and ground-state Np*+.     

Measurement of the rate constants for the interaction of diarylcarbonyl oxides with ketones by the flash photolysis technique

Rate constants for the interaction of a series of diarylcarbonyl oxides with various α-substituted ketones have been measured for the first time by the flash photolysis technique with rapid spectrophotometric detection. A comparative analysis of the dependence of the rate constants on the nature of the substituent in the substrate is presented.     

Reactivities of sulfur-centered radical toward polyisoprenes and polybutadienes studied by flash photolysis method

The kinetic behavior of the thiyl radical in the solution containing polyisoprenes and polybutadienes has been studied by the flash photolysis method. For benzothiazole-2-thiyl radical, the addition rate constants toward these polymers and the model compounds of the polymers were evaluated. The relative reverse rate constants and equilibrium constants were also estimated. The addition rate constants decrease with an increase in the degree of polymerization; the ratio of the addition rate constant for polyisoprene (3.1 × 10⁴ M^?1 s^?1 (in monomer unit); M_v = 674,000) to that for 2-methyl-2-butene (1.5 × 10⁵ M^?1 s^?1) is about 1/5. This indicates that the polymer chain effect appears in the free-radical addition reaction. The relative reverse rate constants for the polymers are also smaller than those for 2-methyl-2-butene, suggesting a kind of polymer effects; i.e., it can be presumed that the bonded-thiyl radicals migrate very rapidly to the neighboring double bonds in the polymer. Significant differences in the rate parameters were observed between polyisoprene and polybutadiene, between cis- and trans-polyisoprenes, and between 1,4- and 1,2-polybutadienes.     

A study of isomeric retinal triplets by low temperature spectroscopic and kinetic flash photolysis

Spectroscopic and kinetic data of triplets of all-trans retinal and several of the cis isomers obtained with frozen samples at liquid nitrogen temperature are reported. They are believed due to unisomerized triplets of the corresponding ground state isomers. Interestingly, decay of transients from 7-cis-retinal was found to be wavelength dependent.     

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.     

Laser flash photolysis kinetic studies of enol ether radical cations. Rate constants for heterolysis of alpha-methoxy-beta-phosphatoxyalkyl radicals and for cyclizations of enol ether radical cations

Two series of enol ether radical cations were studied by laser flash photolysis methods. The radical cations were produced by heterolyses of the phosphate groups from the corresponding alpha-methoxy-beta-diethylphosphatoxy or beta-diphenylphosphatoxy radicals that were produced by 355 nm photolysis of N-hydroxypryidine-2-thione (PTOC) ester radical precursors. Syntheses of the radical precursors are described. Cyclizations of enol ether radical cations 1 gave distonic radical cations containing the diphenylalkyl radical, whereas cyclizations of enol ether radical cations 2 gave distonic radical cation products containing a diphenylcyclopropylcarbinyl radical moiety that rapidly ring-opened to a diphenylalkyl radical product. For 5-exo cyclizations, the heterolysis reactions were rate limiting, whereas for 6-exo and 7-exo cyclizations, the heterolyses were fast and the cyclizations were rate limiting. Rate constants were measured in acetonitrile and in acetonitrile solutions containing 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and several Arrhenius functions were determined. The heterolysis reactions showed a strong solvent polarity effect, whereas the cyclization reactions that gave distonic radical cation products did not. Recombination reactions or deprotonations of the radical cation within the first-formed ion pair compete with diffusive escape of the ions, and the yields of distonic radical cation products were a function of solvent polarity and increased in more polar solvent mixtures. The 5-exo cyclizations were fast enough to compete efficiently with other reactions within the ion pair (k approximately 2 x 10(9) s(-1) at 20 degrees C). The 6-exo cyclization reactions of the enol ether radical cations are 100 times faster (radical cations 1) and 10 000 times faster (radical cations 2) than cyclizations of the corresponding radicals (k approximately 4 x 10(7) s(-1) at 20 degrees C). Second-order rate constants were determined for reactions of one enol ether radical cation with water and with methanol; the rate constants at ambient temperature are 1.1 x 10(6) and 1.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), respectively.     

Determination of rate constants for some reactions of CBr radicals by VUV laser flash photolysis

The CBr radical has been produced by VUV laser flash photolysis of CHBr₃ and absolute rate constants for reactions with O₂, CO₂ and N₂ have been measured. The possible mechanisms of these reactions have been discussed.     

Oxidation of Cu(II) aminopolycarboxylates by carbonate radical: A flash photolysis study

Reactions of carbonate radical (Co₃ ⁻) generated by photolysis or by radiolysis of a carbonate solution, with Cu(II) complexes of aminopolycarboxylic acids viz., Cu(II)ethylenediamine tetraacetate [Cu^IIEDTA]²⁻ and Cu(II)-iminodiacetate [Cu^IIIDA] were studied at pH 10. 5 and ionic strength 0.2 mol·dm⁻³. Time-resolved spectroscopy and kinetics for the transients were studied using flash photolysis and stable products arising from the ligand degradation of the complex were ascertained by steady-state radiolysis experiments. From the kinetic data it is observed that CO₃ ⁻, radical reacts initially with Cu^II-complex to form a transient intermediate having maximum absorption at 335 nm and 430 nm. From the subsequent reactions of this intermediate it was assigned to be Cu^III. species. This Cu(III) species undergoes intermolecular electron transfer with the Cu^II-complex to give a radical intermediate which again slowly reacts with Cu^II-complex to give a long lived species containing Cu−C bond. This long lived species, however, slowly decomposed to give glyoxalic reaction between Cu^III-complex and a suitable donor, the one electron reduction potential for [Cu^IIIEDTA]¹⁻/[Cu^IIEDTA]²⁻ and [Cu^IIIIDA]⁺¹/Cu^IIIDA was determined.     

Spectra of propylperoxy radicals and rate constants for mutual interaction

The flash photolyses of azo-n-propane and azoisopropane in the presence of oxygen have been studied by kinetic spectroscopy. The transient absorption spectra observed in the region of 210–290 nm are assigned to the n-propylperoxy and isopropylperoxy radicals. For the n-propylperoxy radical, ε_max = 1148 ± 29 L/mol cm at 242.5 nm and for the isopropylperoxy radical, ε_max = 1273 ± 75 L/mol cm at 240 nm. The rate constants for the mutual reactions (7) 2RO₂· → products were measured to be k₇ = (2.0 ± 0.2) X 10⁸ L/mol s for the n-propylperoxy radical and k₇ = (7.8 ± 2.2) X 10⁵ L/mol s for the isopropylperoxy radical.     

A kinetic study of chlorine radical reactions with ketones by laser photolysis technique

Rate coefficients for reactions between Cl radicals and four ketones were determined at 294 ± 1 K with a relative rate method using a laser photolysis technique. The experiments were conducted in synthetic air in a flow system at atmospheric pressure. A mixture of Cl₂/ClONO₂ was photolyzed and the formation of NO₃ through the reaction Cl + ClONO₂ → Cl₂ + NO₃ was measured with and without ketones in the reaction mixture. The NO₃ radical concentration was measured by optical absorption using a diode laser as the light source. The rate coefficients for the Cl-ketone reactions could then be evaluated. The following rate coefficients were obtained (in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): cyclohexanone (7.00 ± 1.15) × 10⁻¹¹; cyclopentanone (4.76 ± 0.33) × 10⁻¹¹; acetone (1.69 ± 0.32) × 10⁻¹²; and 2,3-butanedione (7.62 ± 1.66) × 10⁻¹³. The accuracy of the method employed was tested by using the well-studied reaction between Cl and methane and a rate coefficient of (9.37 ± 1.04) × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was obtained, which is in good agreement with previous work. The errors are at the 95% confidence level. The results in this work indicate that a carbonyl group in a ketone lowers the reactivity towards α-hydrogen abstraction by Cl radicals, compared to the corresponding Cl-alkane reactions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 195–201, 1997.     

Laser flash photolysis generation and kinetic studies of corrole-manganese(V)-oxo intermediates

Corrole-manganese(V)-oxo intermediates were produced by laser flash photolysis of the corresponding corrole-manganese(IV) chlorate complexes, and the kinetics of their decay reactions in CH2Cl2 and their reactions with organic reductants were studied. The corrole ligands studied were 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (H3TPFC), 5,10,15-triphenylcorrole (H3TPC), and 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10-(p-methoxyphenyl)corrole (H3BPFMC). In self-decay reactions and in reactions with substrates, the order of reactivity of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) was TPC > BPFMC > TPFC, which is inverted from that expected based on the electron-demand of the ligands. The rates of reactions of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) were dependent on the concentration of the oxidant and other manganese species, with increasing concentrations of various manganese species resulting in decreasing rates of reactions, and the apparent rate constant for reaction of (TPFC)Mn(V)(O) with triphenylamine was found to display fractional order with respect to the manganese-oxo species. The kinetic results are consistent in part with a reaction model involving disproportionation of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) to give (Cor)Mn(IV) and (Cor)Mn(VI)(O) species, the latter of which is the active oxidant. Alternatively, the results are consistent with oxidation by (Cor)Mn(V)(O) which is reversibly sequestered in non-reactive complexes by various manganese species.     

The hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant and products of cyclohexanol

The gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with cyclohexanol (COL) has been studied. The rate coefficient was determined to be (19.0 ± 4.8) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (at 297 ± 3 K and 1 atmosphere total pressure) using the relative rate technique with pentanal, decane, and tridecane as the reference compounds. Assuming an average OH concentration of 1 × 10⁶ molecules cm⁻³, an atmospheric lifetime of 15 h is calculated for cyclohexanol. Products of the OH + COL reaction were determined to more clearly define COL's atmospheric degradation mechanism. The observed products and their formation yields were: cyclohexanone (0.55 ± 0.06), hexanedial (0.32 ± 0.15), 3‐hydroxycyclohexanone (0.31 ± 0.14), and 4‐hydroxycyclohexanone (0.08 ± 0.04). Consideration of the potential reaction pathways suggests that each of these products is formed via hydrogen abstraction at a different site on the COL ring. The products and their relative amounts are discussed in light of the predicted yields for each reaction channel. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 108–117, 2001     

Photochemical reagents for the study of metalloproteins by flash photolysis

Flash photolysis has been used extensively in the advancement of our understanding of the electron transfer reactivity of metalloproteins and in investigation of the kinetic complexities of electron transfer-initiated protein folding. Additional opportunities for the use of flash photolysis to understand the functional properties of metalloproteins have been afforded through the use of photoactive caged complexes. This review surveys the uses of caged complexes to the study of metalloproteins that have been reported and considers the potential for expanded use of photoactive caged complexes that have not yet been applied in this manner.