Computational study on the mechanism and rate constant for the C6H5 + C6H5NO reaction

The reaction mechanism of C6H5 + C6H5NO involving four product channels on the doublet-state potential energy surface has been studied at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d, p) level of theory. The first reaction channel occurs by barrierless association forming (C6H5)2NO (biphenyl nitroxide), which can undergo isomerization and decomposition. The second channel takes place by substitution reaction producing C12H10 (biphenyl) and NO. The third and fourth channels involve direct hydrogen abstraction reactions producing C6H4NO + C6H6 and C6H5NOH + C6H4, respectively. Bimolecular rate constants of the above four product channels have been calculated in the temperature range 300-2000 K by the microcanonical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory and/or variational transition-state theory. The result shows the dominant reactions are channel 1 at lower temperatures (T < 800 K) and channel 3 at higher temperatures (T > 800 K). The total rate constant at 7 Torr He is predicted to be k(t) = 3.94 x 10(21) T(-3.09) exp(-699/T) for 300-500 K, 2.09 x 10(20) T(-3.56) exp(2315/T) for 500-1000 K, and 1.51 x 10(2) T(3.30) exp(-3043/T) for 1000-2000 K (in units of cm3 mol(-1) s(-1)), agreeing reasonably with the experimental data within their reported errors. The heats of formation of key products including biphenyl nitroxide, hydroxyl phenyl amino radical, and N-hydroxyl carbazole have been estimated.     

New insights into the reaction mechanisms of phenylium ions with benzene

The chemistry of phenylium (benzen-1-ylium) cations with benzene is investigated by using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. The main ionic products from the reaction of C6H5+ with C6H6 are observed at m/z 155 (covalent adduct C12H11+), 154 (C12H10+), 153 (C12H9+), 129 (C10H9+), and 115 (C9H7+). We propose a mechanism according to which channels at m/z 154-115 are formed by elimination of stable neutral molecules (such as H2, C2H2, C3H4) from the collision complex C12H11+, for which the most plausible structure is protonated biphenyl. The proposed mechanism is demonstrated by using partial isotopical labeling of reagents to look for possible H/D atom scrambling. Almost the same ions are produced when benzene is chemically ionized at atmospheric pressure in an APCI source from which oxygen is excluded. Because an ion trap analyzer is coupled to this source, tandem MS experiments can be performed, allowing structural details to be established. Moreover, the use of partially deuterated reagents has allowed the detection of minor reactive channels resulting from charge exchange and H-/D- hydride-transfer processes. Theoretical calculations show that the most stable structure for ions at m/z 129 C10H9+ is that of protonated naphthalene, resulting from the loss of an acetylene molecule by the condensation product, with a reaction exothermicity of 1.27 eV. We have found a possible barrierless pathway for such a channel that might be viable for the synthesis of naphthalene, the smallest PAH, even at low collision energies and therefore would be of particular astrochemical relevance.     

Theoretical study of the C6H3 potential energy surface and rate constants and product branching ratios of the C2H(2Sigma+) + C4H2(1Sigma(g)+) and C4H(2Sigma+) + C2H2(1Sigma(g)+) reactions

Ab initio CCSD(T)cc-pVTZ//B3LYP6-311G(**) and CCSD(T)/complete basis set (CBS) calculations of stationary points on the C(6)H(3) potential energy surface have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of C(2)H with diacetylene and C(4)H with acetylene. Totally, 25 different C(6)H(3) isomers and 40 transition states are located and all possible bimolecular decomposition products are also characterized. 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-tridehydrobenzene and H(2)CCCCCCH isomers are found to be the most stable thermodynamically residing 77.2, 75.1, and 75.7 kcal/mol lower in energy than C(2)H + C(4)H(2), respectively, at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The results show that the most favorable C(2)H + C(4)H(2) entrance channel is C(2)H addition to a terminal carbon of C(4)H(2) producing HCCCHCCCH, 70.2 kcal/mol below the reactants. This adduct loses a hydrogen atom from the nonterminal position to give the HCCCCCCH (triacetylene) product exothermic by 29.7 kcal/mol via an exit barrier of 5.3 kcal/mol. Based on Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations under single-collision conditions, triacetylene+H are concluded to be the only reaction products, with more than 98% of them formed directly from HCCCHCCCH. The C(2)H + C(4)H(2) reaction rate constants calculated by employing canonical variational transition state theory are found to be similar to those for the related C(2)H + C(2)H(2) reaction in the order of magnitude of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for T = 298-63 K, and to show a negative temperature dependence at low T. A general mechanism for the growth of polyyne chains involving C(2)H + H(C[triple bond]C)(n)H --> H(C[triple bond]C)(n+1)H + H reactions has been suggested based on a comparison of the reactions of ethynyl radical with acetylene and diacetylene. The C(4)H + C(2)H(2) reaction is also predicted to readily produce triacetylene + H via barrierless C(4)H addition to acetylene, followed by H elimination.     

Bimolecular rate constant and product branching ratio measurements for the reaction of C2H with ethene and propene at 79 K

The reactions of the ethynyl radical (C(2)H) with ethene (C(2)H(4)) and propene (C(3)H(6)) are studied under low temperature conditions (79 K) in a pulsed Laval nozzle apparatus. Ethynyl radicals are formed by 193 nm photolysis of acetylene (C(2)H(2)) and the reactions are studied in nitrogen as a carrier gas. Reaction products are sampled and subsequently photoionized by the tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The product ions are detected mass selectively and time-resolved by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Bimolecular rate coefficients are determined under pseudo-first-order conditions, yielding values in good agreement with previous measurements. Photoionization spectra are measured by scanning the ALS photon energy while detecting the ionized reaction products. Analysis of the photoionization spectra yields-for the first time-low temperature isomer resolved product branching ratios. The reaction between C(2)H and ethene is found to proceed by H-loss and yields 100% vinylacetylene. The reaction between C(2)H and propene results in (85 ± 10)% C(4)H(4) (m/z = 52) via CH(3)-loss and (15 ± 10)% C(5)H(6) (m/z = 66) by H-loss. The C(4)H(4) channel is found to consist of 100% vinylacetylene. For the C(5)H(6) channel, analysis of the photoionization spectrum reveals that (62 ± 16)% is in the form of 4-penten-1-yne, (27 ± 8)% is in the form of cis- and trans-3-penten-1-yne and (11 ± 10)% is in the form of 2-methyl-1-buten-3-yne.     

Studies of the kinetics and thermochemistry of the forward and reverse reaction Cl + C6H6 = HCl + C6H5

The laser flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique was used to monitor atomic Cl kinetics. Loss of Cl following photolysis of CCl4 and NaCl was used to determine k(Cl + C6H6) = 6.4 x 10(-12) exp(-18.1 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 578-922 K and k(Cl + C6D6) = 6.2 x 10(-12) exp(-22.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 635-922 K. Inclusion of literature data at room temperature leads to a recommendation of k(Cl + C6H6) = 6.1 x 10(-11) exp(-31.6 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for 296-922 K. Monitoring growth of Cl during the reaction of phenyl with HCl led to k(C6H5 + HCl) = 1.14 x 10(-12) exp(+5.2 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 294-748 K, k(C6H5 + DCl) = 7.7 x 10(-13) exp(+4.9 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 292-546 K, an approximate k(C6H5 + C6H5I) = 2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 300-750 K, and an upper limit k(Cl + C6H5I) < or = 5.3 x 10(-12) exp(+2.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 300-750 K. Confidence limits are discussed in the text. Third-law analysis of the equilibrium constant yields the bond dissociation enthalpy D(298)(C6H5-H) = 472.1 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1) and thus the enthalpy of formation Delta(f)H(298)(C6H5) = 337.0 +/- 2.5 kJ mol(-1).     

A VUV photoionization study of the combustion-relevant reaction of the phenyl radical (C6H5) with propylene (C3H6) in a high temperature chemical reactor

We studied the reaction of phenyl radicals (C(6)H(5)) with propylene (C(3)H(6)) exploiting a high temperature chemical reactor under combustion-like conditions (300 Torr, 1200-1500 K). The reaction products were probed in a supersonic beam by utilizing tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation from the Advanced Light Source and recording the photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves at mass-to-charge ratios of m/z = 118 (C(9)H(10)(+)) and m/z = 104 (C(8)H(8)(+)). Our results suggest that the methyl and atomic hydrogen losses are the two major reaction pathways with branching ratios of 86 ± 10% and 14 ± 10%. The isomer distributions were probed by fitting the recorded PIE curves with a linear combination of the PIE curves of the individual C(9)H(10) and C(8)H(8) isomers. Styrene (C(6)H(5)C(2)H(3)) was found to be the exclusive product contributing to m/z = 104 (C(8)H(8)(+)), whereas 3-phenylpropene, cis-1-phenylpropene, and 2-phenylpropene with branching ratios of 96 ± 4%, 3 ± 3%, and 1 ± 1% could account for the signal at m/z = 118 (C(9)H(10)(+)). Although searched for carefully, no evidence of the bicyclic indane molecule could be provided. The reaction mechanisms and branching ratios are explained in terms of electronic structure calculations nicely agreeing with a recent crossed molecular beam study on this system.     

The effect of the torsional and stretching vibrations of C2H6 on the H + C2H6 --> H2 + C2H5 reaction

We present a three-dimensional quantum scattering model to treat reactions of the type H + C2H6 --> H2 + C2H5. The model allows the torsional and the stretching degrees of freedom to be treated explicitly. Zero-point energies of the remaining modes are taken into account in electronic structure calculations. An analytical potential-energy surface was developed from a minimal number of ab initio geometry evaluations using the CCSD(T,full)/cc-pVTZ//MP2(full)/cc-pVTZ level of theory. The reaction is endothermic by 1.5 kcal mol(-1) and exhibits a vibrationally adiabatic barrier of 12.0 kcal mol(-1). The results show that the torsional mode influences reactivity when coupled with the vibrational C-H stretching mode. We also found that ethyl radical products are formed internally excited in the torsional mode.     

Photoelectron spectroscopic and theoretical study of aromatics-Pb(m) anionic complexes (aromatics = C6H5, C5H4N, C4H3O, and C4H4N; m = 1-4): a comparative study

The reactions between lead vapored by laser ablation and different aromatic molecules (C6H6, C5H5N, C4H4O, or C4H5N) seeded in argon carrier gas were studied by a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RTOF-MS) with a photoelectron spectrometer. The adiabatic electron affinities (EAs) of the dominant anionic products PbmC6H5(-), Pb(m)C5H4N(-) (m = 1-4) and Pb(m)C4H3 (-), Pb(m)C4H4N(-) (m = 1-3) dehydrogenated complexes are obtained from the photoelectron spectra with 308 and 193 nm photon, respectively. It is found that the EAs of Pb(m)C4H4N are higher than those of Pb(m)C6H5, Pb(m)C5H4N, and Pb(m)C4H3O with the same metal number m. The possible structures for Pb(m)C4H4N(-) complexes were calculated with density functional theory (DFT) and the most stable structure was confirmed. The adiabatic detachment energies for the most stable structure were in agreement with the experimental PES results. The calculated density of state (DOS) agrees with the experimental PES spectrum well. It was confirmed by the theoretical calculations that the C4H4N group bonds on lead clusters through the Pb-N sigma bond.     

氟里昂替代物HFC-134a和HFC-152a的多光子电离研究

氟里昂和哈龙等含氯和溴的化合物是导致臭氧层耗损的主要物种 ,其替代物的研究已引起普遍关注 .与此同时 ,国际社会对于全球气候的变化也愈加关注 ,这对今后消耗臭氧层物质 ( ODSs)替代品的选择提出了更高要求 ,即既要满足保护臭氧层的要求 ,又要满足防止气候变化的要求 .目前 ,在制冷行业中已开始使用的消耗臭氧层物质 CFC- 1 2 ( CF2 Cl2 )的替代物主要有氢氯氟烃 ( HCFCs)和氢氟烃( HFCs) ,而 HCFCs是过渡性替代物 ,根据蒙特利尔议定书的规定将于 2 0 4 0年全部被淘汰 [1] ,因此消耗臭氧潜值 ( ODP)为 0 ,全球变暖潜值 ( GWP)…     

Hydrogen for fluorine exchange in C6F6 and C6F5H by monomeric [1,3,4-(Me3C)3C5H2]2CeH: experimental and computational studies

The net reaction of monomeric Cp'(2)CeH [Cp' = 1,3,4-(Me(3)C)(3)(C(5)H(2))] in C(6)D(6) with C(6)F(6) is Cp'(2)CeF, H(2), and tetrafluorobenzyne. The pentafluorophenylmetallocene, Cp'(2)Ce(C(6)F(5)), is formed as an intermediate that decomposes slowly to Cp'(2)CeF and C(6)F(4) (tetrafluorobenzyne), and the latter is trapped by the solvent C(6)D(6) as a [2+4] cycloadduct. In C(6)F(5)H, the final products are also Cp'(2)CeF and H(2), which are formed from the intermediates Cp'(2)Ce(C(6)F(5)) and Cp'(2)Ce(2,3,5,6-C(6)F(4)H) and from an unidentified metallocene of cerium and the [2+4] cycloadducts of tetra- and trifluorobenzyne with C(6)D(6). The hydride, fluoride, and pentafluorophenylmetallocenes are isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. DFT(B3PW91) calculations have been used to explore the pathways leading to the observed products of the exergonic reactions. A key step is a H/F exchange reaction which transforms C(6)F(6) and the cerium hydride into C(6)F(5)H and Cp'(2)CeF. This reaction starts by an eta(1)-F-C(6)F(5) interaction, which serves as a hook. The reaction proceeds via a sigma bond metathesis where the fluorine ortho to the hook migrates toward H with a relatively low activation energy. All products observed experimentally are accommodated by pathways that involve C-F and C-H bond cleavages.     

Calculational and experimental investigations of the pressure effects on radical-radical cross combination reactions: C2H5+C2H3

Pressure-dependent product yields have been experimentally determined for the cross-radical reaction C2H5 + C2H3. These results have been extended by calculations. It is shown that the chemically activated combination adduct, 1-C4H8*, is either stabilized by bimolecular collisions or subject to a variety of unimolecular reactions including cyclizations and decompositions. Therefore the "apparent" combination/disproportionation ratio exhibits a complex pressure dependence. The experimental studies were performed at 298 K and at selected pressures between about 4 Torr (0.5 kPa) and 760 Torr (101 kPa). Ethyl and vinyl radicals were simultaneously produced by 193 nm excimer laser photolysis of C2H5COC2H3 or photolysis of C2H3Br and C2H5COC2H5. Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection (GC/MS/FID) were used to identify and quantify the final reaction products. The major combination reactions at pressures between 500 (66.5 kPa) and 760 Torr are (1c) C2H5+C2H3-->1-butene, (2c) C2H5 + C2H5-->n-butane, and (3c) C2H3+C2H3-->1,3-butadiene. The major products of the disproportionation reactions are ethane, ethylene, and acetylene. At moderate and lower pressures, secondary products, including propene, propane, isobutene, 2-butene (cis and trans), 1-pentene, 1,4-pentadiene, and 1,5-hexadiene are also observed. Two isomers of C4H6, cyclobutene and/or 1,2-butadiene, were also among the likely products. The pressure-dependent yield of the cross-combination product, 1-butene, was compared to the yield of n-butane, the combination product of reaction (2c), which was found to be independent of pressure over the range of this study. The [1-C4H8]/[C4H10] ratio was reduced from approximately 1.2 at 760 Torr (101 kPa) to approximately 0.5 at 100 Torr (13.3 kPa) and approximately 0.1 at pressures lower than about 5 Torr (approximately 0.7 kPa). Electronic structure and RRKM calculations were used to simulate both unimolecular and bimolecular processes. The relative importance of C-C and C-H bond ruptures, cyclization, decyclization, and complex decompositions are discussed in terms of energetics and structural properties. The pressure dependence of the product yields were computed and dominant reaction paths in this chemically activated system were determined. Both modeling and experiment suggest that the observed pressure dependence of [1-C4H8]/[C4H10] is due to decomposition of the chemically activated combination adduct 1-C4H8* in which the weaker allylic C-C bond is broken: H2C=CHCH2CH3-->C3H5+CH3. This reaction occurs even at moderate pressures of approximately 200 Torr (26 kPa) and becomes more significant at lower pressures. The additional products detected at lower pressures are formed from secondary radical-radical reactions involving allyl, methyl, ethyl, and vinyl radicals. The modeling studies have extended the predictions of product distributions to different temperatures (200-700 K) and a wider range of pressures (10(-3)-10(5) Torr). These calculations indicate that the high-pressure [1-C4H8]/[C4H10] yield ratio is 1.3+/-0.1.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry monitoring of indigo carmine degradation by advanced oxidative processes

The degradation of the dye indigo carmine in aqueous solution induced by two oxidative processes (H(2)O(2)/iodide and O(3)) was investigated. The reactions were monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode, ESI(-)-MS, and the intermediates and oxidation products characterized by ESI(-)-MS/MS. Both oxidative systems showed to be highly efficient in removing the color of the dye aqueous solutions. In the ESI(-)-MS of the indigo carmine solution treated with H(2)O(2) and H(2)O(2)/iodide, the presence of the ions of m/z 210 (indigo carmine in its anionic form, 1), 216, 226, 235, and 244 was noticeable. The anion of m/z 235 was proposed to be the unprecedented hydroperoxide intermediate 2 formed in solution via an electrophilic attack by hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals of the exocyclic C=C bond of 1. This intermediate was suggested to be rapidly converted into the anionic forms of 2,3-dioxo-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid (3, m/z 226), 2-amino-alpha-oxo-5-sulfo-benzeneacetic acid (4, m/z 244), and 2-amino-5-sulfo-benzoic acid (5, m/z 216). In the ESI(-)-MS of the indigo carmine solution treated with O(3), two main anions were detected: m/z 216 (5) and 244 (4). Both products were proposed to be produced via an unstable ozonide intermediate. Other anions in this ESI(-) mass spectrum were attributed to be [4 - H + Na](-) of m/z 266, [4 - H](2-) of m/z 121.5, and [5 - H](2-) of m/z 107.5. ESI-MS/MS data were consistent with the proposed structures for the anionic products 2-5.     

Time-resolved molecular beam mass spectrometry of the initial stage of particle formation in an Ar/He/C2H2 plasma

The temporal evolution of the neutral plasma chemistry products in a capacitively coupled plasma from argon/helium/acetylene is followed via molecular beam mass spectrometry with a time resolution of 100 ms. Several chemistry pathways are resolved. (i) The formation of C2nH2 (n = 2-5) molecules proceeds via the following sequence: the production of highly reactive C2H radicals in electron impact dissociation of C2H2 is followed by C2H induced chain polymerization of C2nH2 (n = 1-4). (ii) CnH4 (n = 4, 5, 6) compounds are detected already at an early stage of the discharge excluding polymerization reactions with C2H radical being responsible for their formation. Instead, vinylidene reactions with acetylene or mutual neutralization reactions of ionic species are proposed as sources of their formation. (iii) Surface reactions are identified as the source of C8H6. The measured hydrocarbon molecules represents possible precursors for negative ion formation via dissociative electron attachment reactions and can hence play a crucial role in particle nucleation. On the basis of the comparison of our data with available experimental and modeling results for acetylene plasmas in the literature, we propose C2nH2 (n > 1) molecules as important precursors for negative ion formation.     

Radical-molecule reactions HCO/HOC + C2H2: mechanistic study

A detailed computational study is performed on the unknown radical-molecule reactions between HCO/HOC and acetylene (C2H2) at the CCSD(T)/6-311G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)+ZPVE, Gaussian-3//B3LYP/6-31G(d), and Gaussian-3//MP2(full)/6-31G(d) levels. For the HCO + C2H2 reaction, the most favorable pathway is direct C-addition forming the intermediate HC=CHCH=O followed by a 1,3-H-shift leading to H2C=CHC=O, which finally dissociates to the product C2H3 + CO. The overall reaction barrier is 13.8, 10.5, and 11.3 kcal/mol, respectively, at the three levels. The quasi-direct H-donation process to produce C2H3 + CO with barriers of 14.0, 14.1, and 14.1 kcal/mol is less competitive. Thus only at higher temperatures could the HCO + C2H2 reaction play a role. In contrast, the HOC + C2H2 reaction can barrierlessly generate C2H3 + CO via the quasi-direct H-donation mechanism proceeding via a prereactive complex with OH...C2 hydrogen bonding. This is suggestive of the potential importance of the HOC + C2H2 reaction in both combustion and interstellar processes. However, the direct C-addition channel is much less competitive. For both reactions, the possible formation of the intriguing interstellar molecules propadiene and propynal is also discussed. The present theoretical study represents the first attempt to probe the reaction mechanism between HOC and pi-systems. Future laboratory investigations on both reactions (particularly HOC + C2H2) are recommended.     

Computational study on the kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of C6H5NO2 and the related C6H5 + NO2 and C6H5O + NO reactions

The kinetics and mechanisms for the unimolecular dissociation of nitrobenzene and related association reactions C(6)H(5) + NO(2) and C(6)H(5)O + NO have been studied computationally at the G2M(RCC, MP2) level of theory in conjunction with rate constant prediction with multichannel RRKM calculations. Formation of C(6)H(5) + NO(2) was found to be dominant above 850 K with its branching ratio > 0.78, whereas the formation of C(6)H(5)O + NO via the C(6)H(5)ONO intermediate was found to be competitive at lower temperatures, with its branching ratio increasing from 0.22 at 850 K to 0.97 at 500 K. The third energetically accessible channel producing C(6)H(4) + HONO was found to be uncompetitive throughout the temperature range investigated, 500-2000 K. The predicted rate constants for C(6)H(5)NO(2) --> C(6)H(5) + NO(2) and C(6)H(5)O + NO --> C(6)H(5)ONO under varying experimental conditions were found to be in good agreement with all existing experimental data. For C(6)H(5) + NO(2), the combination processes producing C(6)H(5)ONO and C(6)H(5)NO(2) are dominant at low temperature and high pressure, while the disproportionation process giving C(6)H(5)O + NO via C(6)H(5)ONO becomes competitive at low pressure and dominant at temperatures above 1000 K.     

Unexpected Chemistry from the Reaction of Naphthyl and Acetylene at Combustion‐Like Temperatures

The hydrogen abstraction/acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism has long been viewed as a key route to aromatic ring growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion systems. However, doubt has been drawn on the ubiquity of the mechanism by recent electronic structure calculations which predict that the HACA mechanism starting from the naphthyl radical preferentially forms acenaphthylene, thereby blocking cyclization to a third six‐membered ring. Here, by probing the products formed in the reaction of 1‐ and 2‐naphthyl radicals in excess acetylene under combustion‐like conditions with the help of photoionization mass spectrometry, we provide experimental evidence that this reaction produces 1‐ and 2‐ethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₂H₈), acenaphthylene (C₁₂H₈) and diethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₄H₈). Importantly, neither phenanthrene nor anthracene (C₁₄H₁₀) was found, which indicates that the HACA mechanism does not lead to cyclization of the third aromatic ring as expected but rather undergoes ethynyl substitution reactions instead.     

In situ direct sampling mass spectrometric study on formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in toluene pyrolysis

The gas-phase reaction products of toluene pyrolysis with and without acetylene addition produced in a flow tube reactor at pressures of 8.15-15.11 Torr and temperatures of 1136-1507 K with constant residence time (0.56 s) have been detected in an in situ direct sampling mass spectrometric study by using a vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique. Those products range from methyl radical to large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of mass 522 amu (C(42)H(18)) including smaller species, radicals, polyynes, and PAHs, together with ethynyl, methyl, and phenyl PAHs. On the basis of observed mass spectra, the chemical kinetic mechanisms of the formation of products are discussed. Especially, acetylene is mixed with toluene to understand the effect of the hydrogen abstraction and acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism on the formation pathways of products in toluene pyrolysis. The most prominent outputs of this work are the direct detection of large PAHs and new reaction pathways for the formation of PAHs with the major role of cyclopenta-fused radicals. The basis of this new reaction route is the appearance of different sequences of mass spectra that well explain the major role of aromatic radicals mainly cyclopenta fused radicals of PAHs resulting from their corresponding methyl PAHs, with active participation of c-C(5)H(5), C(6)H(5), C(6)H(5)CH(2) ,and C(9)H(7) in the formation of large PAHs. The role of the HACA only seemed important for the formation of stable condensed PAHs from unstable primary PAHs with zigzag structure (having triple fusing sites) in one step by ring growth with two carbon atoms.     

Association rate constants for reactions between resonance-stabilized radicals: C3H3 + C3H3, C3H3 + C3H5, and C3H5 + C3H5

Reactions between resonance-stabilized radicals play an important role in combustion chemistry. The theoretical prediction of rate coefficients and product distributions for such reactions is complicated by the fact that the initial complex-formation steps and some dissociation steps are barrierless. In this paper direct variable reaction coordinate transition state theory (VRC-TST) is used to predict accurately the association rate constants for the self and cross reactions of propargyl and allyl radicals. For each reaction, a set of multifaceted dividing surfaces is used to account for the multiple possible addition channels. Because of their resonant nature the geometric relaxation of the radicals is important. Here, the effect of this relaxation is explicitly calculated with the UB3LYP/cc-pvdz method for each mutual orientation encountered in the configurational integrals over the transition state dividing surfaces. The final energies are obtained from CASPT2/cc-pvdz calculations with all pi-orbitals in the active space. Evaluations along the minimum energy path suggest that basis set corrections are negligible. The VRC-TST approach was also used to calculate the association rate constant and the corresponding number of states for the C(6)H(5) + H --> C(6)H(6) exit channel of the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) reaction, which is also barrierless. For this reaction, the interaction energies were evaluated with the CASPT2(2e,2o)/cc-pvdz method and a 1-D correction is included on the basis of CAS+1+2+QC/aug-cc-pvtz calculations for the CH(3) + H reference system. For the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) reaction, the VRC-TST results for the energy and angular momentum resolved numbers of states in the entrance channels and in the C(6)H(5) + H exit channel are incorporated in a master equation simulation to determine the temperature and pressure dependence of the phenomenological rate coefficients. The rate constants for the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(3) and C(3)H(5) + C(3)H(5) self-reactions compare favorably with the available experimental data. To our knowledge there are no experimental rate data for the C(3)H(3) + C(3)H(5) reaction.     

Role of phenyl radicals in the growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the role of phenyl radical in the growth of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), pyrolysis of toluene with and without benzene has been studied by using a heatable tubular reactor couple with an in-situ sampling vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionization (SPI) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) at temperatures 1155-1467 K and a pressure of 10.02 Torr with 0.56 s residence time. When benzene was added, a significant increase of phenyl addition products (biphenyl, terphenyl, and triphenylene) was observed and the mass spectra showed a clear regular sequence with an interval of approximately 74 mass number, corresponding to the phenyl addition (+C6H5) followed by H-elimination (-H) and cyclization (-H2). The analysis showed that the PAC (phenyl addition/cylization) mechanism is efficient for the growth of PAHs without a triple fusing site, for which the HACA (hydrogen abstraction/C2H2 addition) step is inefficient, and produces PAHs with five-membered rings. The PAC process was also suggested to be efficient in the subsequent growth of PAHs with five-membered rings. The role of the PAC mechanism in combustion conditions is discussed in relation to the importance of disordered five-membered ring structure in fullerene or soot core.     

A tandem mass spectrometry study of the gas phase RSC6H5Cr+L (R = H,C6H5; L = arene) and C6H5SSC6H5Cr+ ions

Ion-molecule reactions of chromium containing ions with arylsulfides have been studied in the gas phase and their products have been characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. C₆H₅SH and (C₆H₅)₂S react as typical aromatic compounds and give rise to Cr⁺C₆H₅SR] and RC₆H₅Cr⁺QH₅SR′ [R = H, CH₃, CH(CH₃)₂; R′ = H, C₆H₅] ions. Metastable ion mass spectra of the latter species show that the metal is more strongly bound to diphenylsulfide than to alkylbenzenes. C₆H₅SSC₆H₅ reacts with chromium-containing ions to form only Cr⁺(C₆H₅SSC₆H₅). The decomposition characteristics of this ion and, in particular, the presence of a recovery signal in the neutralization-reionization mass spectrum are in keeping with the formation of a 1,2-dithia[2]cyclophane complex ion, which rearranges into a structurel(s) that contains Cr?S bond(s). No evidence was found for metal atom insertion into S?S, C?S, or S?H bonds.