Validation of a thermal decomposition mechanism of formaldehyde by detection of CH2O and HCO behind shock waves

The thermal decomposition of formaldehyde was investigated behind shock waves at temperatures between 1675 and 2080 K. Quantitative concentration time profiles of formaldehyde and formyl radicals were measured by means of sensitive 174 nm VUV absorption (CH₂O) and 614 nm FM spectroscopy (HCO), respectively. The rate constant of the radical forming channel (1a), CH₂O + M → HCO + H + M, of the unimolecular decomposition of formaldehyde in argon was measured at temperatures from 1675 to 2080 K at an average total pressure of 1.2 bar, k_1a = 5.0 × 10¹⁵ exp(‐308 kJ mol^?1/RT) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The pressure dependence, the rate of the competing molecular channel (1b), CH₂O + M → H₂ + CO + M, and the branching fraction β = k_1a/(kA_1a + k_1b) was characterized by a two‐channel RRKM/master equation analysis. With channel (1b) being the main channel at low pressures, the branching fraction was found to switch from channel (1b) to channel (1a) at moderate pressures of 1–50 bar. Taking advantage of the results of two preceding publications, a decomposition mechanism with six reactions is recommended, which was validated by measured formyl radical profiles and numerous literature experimental observations. The mechanism is capable of a reliable prediction of almost all formaldehyde pyrolysis literature data, including CH₂O, CO, and H atom measurements at temperatures of 1200–3200 K, with mixtures of 7 ppm to 5% formaldehyde, and pressures up to 15 bar. Some evidence was found for a self‐reaction of two CH₂O molecules. At high initial CH₂O mole fractions the reverse of reaction (6), CH₂OH + HCO ? CH₂O + CH₂O becomes noticeable. The rate of the forward reaction was roughly measured to be k₆ = 1.5 × 10¹³ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 157–169 2004     

Photochlorination of tetramethylsilane and hexamethyldisilane in the gas phase

Preliminary studies of the reaction of chlorine with tetramethylsilane and hexamethyldisilane in the gas phase show that the photochlorination of tetramethylsilane is complex, giving different products from the corresponding reaction in solution and having an explosion boundary. At pressures below the explosion boundary the main products are ethylene, hydrogen chloride, dimethylchlorosilane, and more highly chlorinated methylsilanes. Above the explosion boundary main products after explosion are methane, acetylene, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, and silicon tetrachloride. Hexamethyldisilane reacts rapidly with chlorine in the dark, as it does in solution, forming mainly trimethylchlorosilane along with similar products to those found with tetramethylsilane. Subsequent photochlorination of trimethylchlorosilane follows a similar course to that of tetramethylsilane in the gas phase. Tentative mechanisms involving “hot” molecules are suggested.     

Theoretical investigations of Fe porphyrins. V. Low-lying electronic states of bisammineporphinatoiron(III)

Ab initio CI calculations are reported on the lowest doublet, quartet, and sextet states of [Fe^III(P)(NH₃)₂]⁺. The low-spin ground state is calculated as (d_xy² (d_π)³ with d_xy(d_π)⁴ higher by 0.15 eV. The near-ir bands at ～1 eV observed in low-spin ferriheme proteins are attributed to (π → d_π) transitions. The lowest high-spin state is ⁶A_1g, and the near-ir transitions of the high-spin ferriheme proteins observed at ～1.2 eV are attributed to higher ⁶[tripsextet] excited states [i.e., ring triplet, metal sextet]. The 30-ps “triplet” transient populated with low quantum yield observed in laser-flash studies on Fe^III(TPP)CI [TPP = tetrapbenylporphyrin] may be an ¹[tripsextet] state.     

Matrix elements for spin-adapted configurations

It is shown that the turn-over rule which is used to simplify matrix elements between spin-projected Slater determinants may also be used to simplify formation of matrix elements between any orthonormal set of spin-coupled Slater determinants. The coefficients for the spin-coupling may then be chosen freely to reduce the number of important configurations in the secular equation.     

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silicon Dioxide by Direct-Current Corona Discharges in Dry Air Containing Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane Vapor: Measurement of the Deposition Rate

Experiments in a positive-polarity, wire/plate electrode establish the effects of the concentration of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (150–1100 ppm) and the operating current (0.5–2.55 μA/cm length of wire) on the rate of deposition of silicon dioxide on the high voltage wire. The wire is 100 μm radius tungsten and the wire-to-plate spacing is 1.5 cm. Analyses of the deposit with X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that it is amorphous silicon dioxide. The deposition rate increases linearly with increasing silicone concentration and corona current. For the concentrations of silicone likely to present in indoor air, the gas-phase processes limit the rate of deposition.     

Wannier-Stark effect on surface states

A recursive Green-function (RGF) technique is used to study the surface states of an electrified solid. The concatenating nature of the method leads to a continued-fraction form of the RGF, which can be expressed as a ratio of Bessel functions. The surface density of states (SDOS), derived from the RGF, reveals a quasi-Stark-ladder distribution of the energy levels at the surface atom. The dependence of the SDOS on the applied field and surface perturbation parameters is discussed.     

The vibrational spectrum of (trimethylenemethane)iron tricarbonyl

A vibrational assignment for the trimethylenemethane molecule, in [C(CH₂)₃]Fe(CO)₃, has been proposed for the first time. CC₃ stretches were found at 1348 (E) and 918 cm⁻¹ (A₁), with skeletal deformations at 802 cm⁻¹ (A₁, out-of-plane), and 471 cm⁻¹ (E, in plane). The Fe(CO)₃ vibrations were closely similar to those in analogous complexes.