Rotational Spectra of the Thiosulfeno Radical, HSS and DSS, between 0.3 and 0.9 THz

Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy of the ClSO radical

Pure rotational transitions of the ClSO radical have been observed by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. a-type and b-type transitions, for both 35Cl and 37Cl isotopologues, were detected, and the observed very complicated fine and hyperfine components were assigned well. The intensities of the observed spectra of the two isotopologues correspond to the ratio of the isotope abundances of 35Cl and 37Cl. A total of 21 molecular constants were determined precisely for both 35ClSO and 37ClSO, including the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, electronic spin-rotation constants, nuclear spin-rotation constants, magnetic hyperfine constants, and quadrupole coupling constants of chlorine. The molecular constants show ClSO to have the 2A'' electronic ground state with an out-of-plane unpaired electron. The spin density of the chlorine atom is about 10.6%, which is similar to that of the fluorine atom for FSO, about 8%. Results of the ClSO radical are compared with those of other triatomic radicals with similar structures, the XSS, XSO, and XOO radicals with X = H, F, and Cl, leading to a conclusion that the ClSO radical is more like FSO, but fairly different from the FOO and ClOO radicals.

Interaction and Photodissociation of Electronic Excited States of HS2 in the Ultraviolet Region: A Theoretical Contribution

HS₂ molecules play an important role in the photochemical processes in combustion, atmosphere, and interstellar medium, yet our knowledge about the electronic excited states in the UV region is limited. In this study, we perform high-level ab initio calculations on electronic states of HS₂ using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method including the Davidson correction (icMRCI + Q) method. The vertical transition energies, oscillator strengths, electron configurations, and transitions of thirteen electronic states of HS₂ with energy up to 8 eV are calculated at the icMRCI + Q/aug-cc-pv(5 + d)Z level. Based on the calculated potential energy curves, we investigate the interaction and photodissociation mechanism of the electronic states, which should shed some light on the decomposition processes of the gas-phase HS₂ molecules in the ultraviolet region.

First Detection of Interstellar S2H

We present the first detection of gas phase S2H in the Horsehead, a moderately UV-irradiated nebula. This confirms the presence of doubly sulfuretted species in the interstellar medium and opens a new challenge for sulfur chemistry. The observed S2H abundance is ~5×10-11, only a factor 4-6 lower than that of the widespread H2S molecule. H2S and S2H are efficiently formed on the UV-irradiated icy grain mantles. We performed ice irradiation experiments to determine the H2S and S2H photodesorption yields. The obtained values are ~1.2×10-3 and <1×10-5 molecules per incident photon for H2S and S2H, respectively. Our upper limit to the S2H photodesorption yield suggests that photo-desorption is not a competitive mechanism to release the S2H molecules to the gas phase. Other desorption mechanisms such as chemical desorption, cosmic-ray desorption and grain shattering can increase the gaseous S2H abundance to some extent. Alternatively, S2H can be formed via gas phase reactions involving gaseous H2S and the abundant ions S+ and SH+. The detection of S2H in this nebula could be therefore the result of the coexistence of an active grain surface chemistry and gaseous photo-chemistry.

Low-energy photoelectron imaging of HS2 anion

Low-energy photoelectron imaging of HS2 (-) has been investigated, which provides the vibrational frequencies of the ground state as well as the first excited state of HS2. It allows us to determine more accurate electron affinity of HS2, 1.9080 ± 0.0018 eV. Combined with Frank-Condon simulation, the vibrational features have been unveiled related to S-S stretching and S-S-H bending modes for the ground state and S-S stretching, S-S-H bending, and S-H stretching modes for the first excited state. Photoelectron angular distributions are mainly characteristic of electron detachment from two different molecular orbitals (MOs) in HS2 (-). With the aid of accurate electron affinity value of HS2, corresponding thermochemical quantities can be accessed.

Sulfur atom exchange in the reaction of SH radicals with S atoms

The structural and energetic properties of the HSS-->SSH transition state are examined using the single and double coupled-cluster method. The energy change for the isomerization reaction is estimated to be 31.7+/-1 kcal mol(-1). The results suggest that the reaction between SH radicals and S atoms should isotopically exchange because the isomerization barrier is significantly less than the S-S bond dissociation energy in the HSS radical.