Absolute rate constants for the reaction of bromine atoms with ozone from 234 to 360 K

The rate constant for the reaction of Br + O₃ → BrO + O₂ has been measured at four temperatures from 234 to 360 K by the technique of discharge flow coupled with resonance-fluorescence detection of bromine atoms. The measured rate constants obey the Arrhenius expression k = (9.45 ± 2.48) × 10^?12 exp(-659 ± 64/T) cm³/molec·sec (one standard deviation). The results are compared with two previous studies, one of which utilized the flash-photolysis–resonance-fluorescence technique and the other utilized the discharge-flow–mass-spectrometric technique. The result is also discussed from a theoretical point of view.     

Formation of water and ammonia cluster anions by electron transfer from laser excited Rydberg atoms

Using a laser excited Rydberg atomic beam as a very low energy (10-270 meV) electron source, we have investigated the experimental conditions for observation of water (from dimer to 40-mer) and ammonia cluster anions. From simple model calculations, estimates of the small water cluster adiabatic electron affinities have been determined as well as the orders of magnitude of autodetachment lifetimes and attached electron critical energies.     

He-HF vibrational inelasticity at low and intermediate energies from quantum collision theory

The rotational-sudden approximation (IOSA) has been applied to He-HF scattering at intermediate energies by using an ab initio computed potential-energy surface which explicitly included the dependence on the internal molecular coordinate. The vibrational degree of freedom has therefore been treated exactly by solving the coupled radial equations that were obtained after expanding the target vibrations over a large number of HO wavefunctions. The radial behaviour of the computed coupling matrix elements between lower-lying target states is analyzed at various relative orientations of the atom-to-target vector with respect to the molecular bond. The present results clearly show that the coupling strength and range can be directly related to the specific anisotropic behaviour of the potential surface and to the varying efficiency of (V, T) coupling as the He atom probes different molecular regions. The computed relaxation times are compared with experiments at various temperatures and with previous calculations performed via different surfaces and dynamical models and show satisfactory agreement with observations, thus markedly improving the quality of earlier computed cross sections.     

Vibrationally selective electronic energy transfer from metastable xe atoms to N2 and CO molecules

Formation of N₂(B) and CO(a', d) by collisions with Xe(³P_0,2) has been studied in the energy range 50–700 meV_c.m using crossed beams and beam/gas apparatus. Well-resolved product emission spectra were observed which showed high vibrational state specificity and low rotational excitation. These features are explained using semi-empirical interaction potentials.     

Photocurrent kinetics at electron emission from metal to electrolyte solution: Part V. Ionization rate constants of hydrogen and deuterium atoms adsorbed on mercury

Absolute ionization rate constant values of hydrogen and deuterium atoms adsorbed on mercury were measured using the method of pulse photoelectronic emission from metal into solution. In accordance with the Tafel law, these constants decrease from 2.5×10⁷s^?1 to 9×10⁵s^?1 (Table 1) in a 1 M solution of KCl in the range ?0.25 to ?0.5 V SCE. The transfer coefficient is 0.33±0.03 and the isotope ratio about 2.5. Owing to specific anion adsorption, rate constants increase as their concentration increases and KBr is added to the solution. In 0.05 M solutions of HCl and H₂SO₄, transfer coefficients are 0.30±0.05. From a comparison of measured values, with the hydrogen ion discharge rate constants found by extrapolation of experimental values into the potential range mentioned (taking into account the transfer coefficient change), the change of the Gibbs free energy in the reaction H₃O⁺+e_Me^?→H_ads+H₂O was calculated and found to be 0.87–0.99 eV at the potential of the normal hydrogen electrode. Adsorption energy of the hydrogen atom from the gas phase on a mercury electrode is 1.55±0.10 eV.The volt-ampere dependence of the hydrogen ion discharge current in the range ?0.25 to ?2.25 V corresponding to the current change by 18 orders of magnitude, agrees with the theoretically determined values (maximum deviation in the current is less than a factor of 3) for the medium reorganization energy E_r=1.75 eV. Despite constancy of the transfer coefficients of the elementary stages, in the range ?0.5 V (SCE), the effective transfer coefficient of the total hydrogen evolution processes increases from 0.5 to 1.0, as the ionization rate of the adsorbed hydrogen atoms becomes greater than their electrochemical desorption rate.     

Effect of the substituent position at the heterocycle on proton transfer from alcohols to the excited molecules of 1,2-dihydroquinolines

A novel compound 1,2,2,3-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (1223TMDQ) was synthesized, and the products of its steady-state photolysis in water, MeOH, EtOH, trifluoroethanol (TFE), PrⁿOH, and BuiOH were analyzed by ¹H NMR and mass-spectrometry. The corresponding adducts with water and alcohols were identified. The presence of the adducts for alcohols with a number of carbon atoms n > 1 distinguishes 1223TMDQ from 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines with methyl-, alkoxy-, and hydroxy-substituents at positions 1, 6, and 8, for which the formation of adducts was observed only in the presence of water and MeOH. The results were interpreted in terms of the effect of steric hindrance caused by substituents in the heterocycle and increasing size of the alkyl group of alcohol on proton transfer from a solvent to the molecule of 1,2-dihydroquinoline, which occurs in the complex between the solvent and the dihydroquinoline molecule in the excited singlet state. It was shown that the main steric hindrance for the photoinduced proton transfer in 2,2,4-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines is the substituent at position C(4) of the heterocycle.     

The np Rydberg series of boron monohydride: l-uncoupling and its evolution for intermediate principal quantum numbers n = 4 to n = 11

Using optical-optical-optical triple-resonance spectroscopy, we assign rotational levels with N = 0-5 in the vibrationless, lower-n, p Rydberg states of (11)BH. We apply the Hill and Van Vleck formulation for energy levels with l = 1 in a Hund's case intermediate between (b) and (d) to gauge the energy separating (1)Π and (1)Σ(+) states with zero rotation for n = 4-11. This energy difference, A(l, ξ), represents the strength of the coupling, ξ, between the electron orbital angular momentum, l, and the internuclear axis, which determines the Λ-splitting constant, q(0). The np series exhibits a large q(0) that increases monotonically with n to reach a magnitude similar to the rotational constant, B(0), by n = 9. For higher principal quantum numbers, Λ ceases to be a good quantum number, and l-uncoupling becomes virtually complete for n > 10.     

KiSThelP: A program to predict thermodynamic properties and rate constants from quantum chemistry results†

Kinetic and Statistical Thermodynamical Package (KiSThelP) is a cross‐platform free open‐source program developed to estimate molecular and reaction properties from electronic structure data. To date, three computational chemistry software formats are supported (Gaussian, GAMESS, and NWChem). Some key features are: gas‐phase molecular thermodynamic properties (offering hindered rotor treatment), thermal equilibrium constants, transition state theory rate coefficients (transition state theory (TST), variational transition state theory (VTST)) including one‐dimensional (1D) tunnelling effects (Wigner, and Eckart) and Rice‐Ramsperger‐Kassel‐Marcus (RRKM) rate constants, for elementary reactions with well‐defined barriers. KiSThelP is intended as a working tool both for the general public and also for more expert users. It provides graphical front‐end capabilities designed to facilitate calculations and interpreting results. KiSThelP enables to change input data and simulation parameters directly through the graphical user interface and to visually probe how it affects results. Users can access results in the form of graphs and tables. The graphical tool offers customizing of 2D plots, exporting images and data files. These features make this program also well‐suited to support and enhance students learning and can serve as a very attractive courseware, taking the teaching content directly from results in molecular and kinetic modelling. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Semiclassical calculation of energy transfer in polyatomic molecules. XI. Cross sections and rate constants for Ar + CO2

Data from electron gas calculation on the short-range potential and theoretical van der Waals coefficients C_n (n = 6, 8) have been used to construct a potential surface for the Ar+CO₂ system. The surface has been used to calculate: second virial coefficient, viscosity and diffusion coefficient, rotational relaxation rates, rate constants for vibrational transitions in CO₂ and high-enery/small-angle differential cross sections.     

Bonding and properties of superatoms. Analogs to atoms and molecules and related concepts from superatomic clusters

Expanding the versatility of well-defined clusters is a fundamental issue in the design of functional nanostructures. In this sense, the concept of super atoms allows us to gain a deeper understanding and rationalization of the different properties of metallic clusters by invoking more familiar aspects. Recently, the super atoms appear to be intimately connected to other relevant tools of great chemical significance which enhance a rational design of superatomic clusters mimicking more complex structures and networks. Here, we expect to account for the research efforts from Latin American groups in the field, highlighting their valuable contribution to superatomic and related clusters.     

Gas phase kinetic and quantum chemical studies of the reactions of silylene with the methylsilanes. Absolute rate constants, temperature dependences, RRKM modelling and potential energy surfaces

Time resolved studies of silylene, SiH2, generated by the 193 nm laser flash photolysis of phenylsilane, have been carried out to obtain rate coefficients for its bimolecular reactions with methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-silanes in the gas phase. The reactions were studied over the pressure range 3-100 Torr with SF6 as bath gas and at five temperatures in the range 300-625 K. Only slight pressure dependences were found for SiH2+MeSiH3(485 and 602 K) and for SiH2+Me2SiH2(600 K). The high pressure rate constants gave the following Arrhenius parameters: [TABLE: SEE TEXT]. These are consistent with fast, near to collision-controlled, association processes. RRKM modelling calculations are consistent with the observed pressure dependences (and also the lack of them for SiH2+Me3SiH). Ab initio calculations at both second order perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) levels, showed the presence of weakly-bound complexes along the reaction pathways. In the case of SiH2+MeSiH3 two complexes, with different geometries, were obtained consistent with earlier studies of SiH2+SiH4. These complexes were stabilised by methyl substitution in the substrate silane, but all had exceedingly low barriers to rearrangement to product disilanes. Although methyl groups in the substrate silane enhance the intrinsic SiH2 insertion rates, it is doubtful whether the intermediate complexes have a significant effect on the kinetics. A further calculation on the reaction MeSiH+SiH4 shows that the methyl substitution in the silylene should have a much more significant kinetic effect (as observed in other studies).     

Rotational state dependence of rate constants for the reaction of ions with asymmetric top molecules at very low temperatures: application to the N+/H2O system

The adiabatic rotational state method is applied to the study of reactions between ions and polar asymmetric top molecules at very low temperatures. Detailed results of the calculated rate coefficients for the reaction of N⁺ with H₂O are presented. A strong dependence of the rate coefficients on the initial rotational state is observed at low temperatures. In the case of a thermal distribution of rotational states, where the rate constants are summed over a Boltzman distribution, the replacement of the asymmetric top by an average symmetric top, which leads to a considerable simplification of the calculations, appears to be satisfactory. On the other hand, for a non thermal distribution, no such simplifying assumption can be made. In particular, the rate coefficient for a specific initial rotational state is quite sensitive to the orientation of the dipole moment.     

Electron transfer from state-selected Rydberg atoms to (N2O) m and (CF3Cl) m clusters

Electron transfer from state-selected Ar** (ns, nd) Rydberg atoms to neutral (N₂O) _m and (CF₃Cl) _m clusters has been studied for principal quantum numbersn between 10 and 45. The dominant product ions are (N₂O) _q ·O^? and, dependent on stagnation pressure, (CF₃Cl) _q ·Cl^? or (CF₃Cl) _q ·FCl^?, respectively. In both cases we observe a strongn-dependence of the negative cluster ion spectra. While for lown, broad ion distributions are observed, much narrower distributions are found for highn, especially for N₂O negative cluster ions around the dominant species (N₂O)₆·O^?, corresponding to a remarkably size-selective process. Possible reasons for this behaviour are briefly discussed.     

Reversible intramolecular hydrogen transfer between cysteine thiyl radicals and glycine and alanine in model peptides: absolute rate constants derived from pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis

The intramolecular reaction of cysteine thiyl radicals with peptide and protein alphaC-H bonds represents a potential mechanism for irreversible protein oxidation. Here, we have measured absolute rate constants for these reversible hydrogen transfer reactions by means of pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis of model peptides. For N-Ac-CysGly6 and N-Ac-CysGly2AspGly3, Cys thiyl radicals abstract hydrogen atoms from Gly with k(f) = (1.0-1.1 x 10(5) s(-1), generating carbon-centered radicals, while the reverse reaction proceeds with k(r) = (8.0-8.9) x 10(5) s(-1). The forward reaction shows a normal kinetic isotope effect of k(H)/k(D) = 6.9, while the reverse reaction shows a significantly higher normal kinetic isotope effect of 17.6, suggesting a contribution of tunneling. For N-Ac-CysAla2AspAla3, cysteine thiyl radicals abstract hydrogen atoms from Ala with k(f) = (0.9-1.0) x 10(4) s(-1), while the reverse reaction proceeds with k(r) = 1.0 x 10(5) s(-1). The order of reactivity, Gly > Ala, is in accord with previous studies on intermolecular reactions of thiyl radicals with these amino acids. The fact that k(f) < k(r) suggests some secondary structure of the model peptides, which prevents the adoption of extended conformations, for which calculations of homolytic bond dissociation energies would have predicted k(f) > k(r). Despite k(f) < k(r), model calculations show that intramolecular hydrogen abstraction by Cys thiyl radicals can lead to significant oxidation of other amino acids in the presence of physiologic oxygen concentrations.     

Environmental photochemistry: Electron transfer from excited humic acid to TiO2 colloids and semiconductor mediated reduction of oxazine dyes by humic acid

The ability of naturally occurring Suwanee River Humic acid to sensitize a large bandgap semiconductor such as colloidal TiO₂ has been investigated by fluorescence emission. The charge injected from the humic acid sensitizer into the semiconductor was used to reduce a series of oxazine dyes viz:, N,N,N’,N’-tetraethyloxonine and Nile Blue A. The mechanism of such a sensitized reduction process was elucidated by laser flash photolysis methods. The quantum yield for such a reduction calculated from these transient absorption techniques was 0.005.     

Ab initio rate constants from hyperspherical quantum scattering: application to H+C2H6 and H+CH3OH

The dynamics and kinetics of the abstraction reactions of H atoms with ethane and methanol have been studied using a quantum mechanical procedure. Bonds being broken and formed are treated with explicit hyperspherical quantum dynamics. The ab initio potential energy surfaces for these reactions have been developed from a minimal number of grid points (average of 48 points) and are given by analytical functionals. All the degrees of freedom except the breaking and forming bonds are optimized using the second order perturbation theory method with a correlation consistent polarized valence triple zeta basis set. Single point energies are calculated on the optimized geometries with the coupled cluster theory and the same basis set. The reaction of H with C2H6 is endothermic by 1.5 kcal/mol and has a vibrationally adiabatic barrier of 12 kcal/mol. The reaction of H with CH3OH presents two reactive channels: the methoxy and the hydroxymethyl channels. The former is endothermic by 0.24 kcal/mol and has a vibrationally adiabatic barrier of 13.29 kcal/mol, the latter reaction is exothermic by 7.87 kcal/mol and has a vibrationally adiabatic barrier of 8.56 kcal/mol. We report state-to-state and state-selected cross sections together with state-to-state rate constants for the title reactions. Thermal rate constants for these reactions exhibit large quantum tunneling effects when compared to conventional transition state theory results. For H+CH3OH, it is found that the CH2OH product is the dominant channel, and that the CH3O channel contributes just 2% at 500 K. For both reactions, rate constants are in good agreement with some measurements.     

Unusual isotope effect in the reaction of chlorosilylene with trimethylsilane-1-d. Absolute rate studies and quantum chemical and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations provide strong evidence for the involvement of an intermediate complex

Time-resolved studies of chlorosilylene, ClSiH, generated by the 193 nm laser flash photolysis of 1-chloro-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, have been carried out to obtain rate constants for its bimolecular reaction with trimethylsilane-1-d, Me(3)SiD, in the gas phase. The reaction was studied at total pressures up to 100 Torr (with and without added SF(6)) over the temperature range of 295-407 K. The rate constants were found to be pressure independent and gave the following Arrhenius equation: log[(k/(cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1))] = (-13.22 ± 0.15) + [(13.20 ± 1.00) kJ mol(-1)]/(RT ln 10). When compared with previously published kinetic data for the reaction of ClSiH with Me(3)SiH, kinetic isotope effects, k(D)/k(H), in the range from 7.4 (297 K) to 6.4 (407 K) were obtained. These far exceed values of 0.4-0.5 estimated for a single-step insertion process. Quantum chemical calculations (G3MP2B3 level) confirm not only the involvement of an intermediate complex, but also the existence of a low-energy internal isomerization pathway which can scramble the D and H atom labels. By means of Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus modeling and a necessary (but small) refinement of the energy surface, we have shown that this mechanism can reproduce closely the experimental isotope effects. These findings provide the first experimental evidence for the isomerization pathway and thereby offer the most concrete evidence to date for the existence of intermediate complexes in the insertion reactions of silylenes.     

Two-dimensional observation of emission spectra excited from laser induced plasmas and the application to emission spectrometric analysis.

The spatial distribution analysis of emission signals from a laser-induced plasma can provide information on the excitation mechanism as well as on the optimization of the analytical conditions when it is employed as a sampling and excitation source in optical emission spectrometry. A two-dimensionally imaging spectrometer system was employed to measure spatial variations in the emission intensities of a copper sample and plasma gases when krypton, argon, or helium was employed under various pressure conditions. The emission image of the Cu I 324.75-nm line consists of a breakdown spot and a plasma plume, where the breakdown zone expands toward the surrounding gas. The shape and the intensities of the plasma plume are strongly dependent on the kind and pressure of the plasma gas, while those of the breakdown zone are less influenced by these experimental parameters. This effect can be explained by the difference in the cross-section of collisions between krypton, argon, and helium. The signal-to-background ratio of the Cu I 324.75-nm line was estimated over two-dimensional images to determine the optimum position for analytical applications.     

Kinetics of proton transfer from cationic carbon acids in water and aqueous DMSO. Effect of activating groups and solvent on intrinsic rate constants

[reaction: see text] Acidity constants and rates of reversible deprotonation of acetonyltriphenylphosphonium ion (1H+), phenacyltriphenylphosphonium ion (2H+), N-methyl-4-phenacylpyridinium ion (3H+), and N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)pyridinium ion (4H+) by amines in water, 50% DMSO-50% water (v/v), and 90% DMSO-10% water (v/v) have been determined. From the respective Br?nsted plots, log k(o) values for the intrinsic rate constants of the various proton transfers were obtained. Solvent transfer activity coefficients of the carbon acids and their respective conjugate bases were also determined which helped in understanding how the pKa values and intrinsic rate constants depend on the solvent. Some of the main conclusions are as follows: (1) The pK(a) values of 1H+, 2H+, and 3H+ are significantly higher than that of 4H+ because of a stronger resonance stabilization of the corresponding conjugate bases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. (2) The electronic effects of the PPh3+ and the N-methyl-4-pyridylium group are similar but the mix between inductive and resonance effect is different. (3) All four acids become more acidic upon addition of DMSO to the solvent. In all cases, the main factor is the stronger solvation of H3O+ in DMSO; for 1H+, 2H+, and 3H+ but not 4H+ this factor is significantly attenuated by stronger solvation of the carbon acid in DMSO. (4) The intrinsic rate constants for proton transfer are relatively high for all four carbon acids and show little solvent dependence; this contrasts with nitroalkanes which have much lower intrinsic rate constants and show a strong solvent dependence. These results can be understood by a detailed analysis of the interplay between inductive, resonance, and solvation effects.