A study of the Br + IO → I + BrO and the reverse reaction

IO(X2Π)-Ar cluster: ab initio potential energy surface and dynamical computations

Iodine oxide (IO) is an important tropospheric molecule. In the present paper, we mapped the potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the doubly degenerate IO(X2Π)-Ar van der Waals system using single- and double-excitation coupled cluster approaches with non-iterative perturbation treatment of triple excitations [RCCSD(T)] extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. In addition to bent local minima, we identified a linear Ar-IO complex as a global minimum. Afterwards, we performed scattering calculations on these PESs, considering the non-zero spin-orbit contribution and the Renner-Teller effect. The integral cross-sections exhibit an oscillatory structure vs. the final rotational state, as already observed for the NO(X2Π)-Ar system. Moreover, computations reveal that the Ar-IO complex is stable toward dissociation into IO and Ar. Therefore, it can be found in the atmosphere and participates in iodine compound physical chemical processes occurring there.

Metastable excited states of OBr2- and OCl2- dianions

Electronic stabilities, structures, properties, and spectroscopic constants of the halogen oxide dianions OBr2- and OCl2- and their singly charged anions which are of astrophysical and laboratory interests have been studied. The X2Σ states of OBr2- and OCl2- are metastable with PECs having smooth wells with minima located at R=1.859 Å and 1.776 Å, and Coulomb barriers of 40402.54987 cm(-1) and 43746.63462 cm(-1) heights located at RRCB=2.100 Å and 1.922 Å, respectively, both without any vibrational states. While, the B2Σ state of OBr2- and the A2Σ state of OCl2- are metastable with PECs having wells deep enough to suite several bound states, with minima located at Re=1.773 Å and 1.6430 Å, and Coulomb barriers of 191437.45813 cm(-1) and 180550.70294 cm(-1) heights located at RRCB=2.658 Å and 2.4480 Å, with De=1.26470 eV and 1.60837 eV, respectively. The OBr- and OCl- singly charged anions are stable in their ground states. Based on the calculated Frank-Condon factors, it is concluded that metastable excited state OBr2- and OCl2- dianions and ground state OBr- and OCl- singly charged anions can be formed via electron capture processes.

Determination of the Rate Coefficients for the Reactions IO + NO2 + M (Air) → IONO2 + M and O(3P) + NO2 → O2 + NO Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy via excitation of the A2pi(3/2) <-- X2pi(3/2) (2,0) band at 445 nm was used to monitor IO in the presence of NO2 following its generation in the reactions O(3P) + CF3I and O(3P) + I2. Both photolysis of O3 (248 nm) and NO2 (351 nm) were used to initiate the production of IO. The rate coefficients for the thermolecular reaction IO + NO2 + M --> IONO2 + M were measured in air, N2, and O2 over the range P = 18-760 Torr, covering typical tropospheric conditions, and were found to be in the falloff region. No dependence of k1 upon bath gas identity was observed, and in general, the results are in good agreement with recent determinations. Using a Troe broadening factor of F(B) = 0.4, the falloff parameters k0(1) = (9.5 +/- 1.6) x 10(-31) cm6 molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(infinity)(1) = (1.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) were determined at 294 K. The temporal profile of IO at elevated temperatures was used to investigate the thermal stability of the product, IONO2, but no evidence was observed for the regeneration of IO, consistent with recent calculations for the IO-NO2 bond strength being approximately 100 kJ mol(-1). Previous modeling studies of iodine chemistry in the marine boundary layer that utilize values of k1 measured in N2 are hence validated by these results conducted in air. The rate coefficient for the reaction O(3P) + NO2 --> O2 + NO at 294 K and in 100 Torr of air was determined to be k2 = (9.3 +/- 0.9) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), in good agreement with recommended values. All uncertainties are quoted at the 95% confidence limit.

Photodissociation of the BrO radical using velocity map ion imaging: Excited state dynamics and accurate D00(BrO) evaluation

We have studied the photodissociation dynamics of expansion-cooled BrO radical both above (278-281.5 nm) and below (355 nm) the A (2)Pi(3/2) state threshold using velocity map ion imaging. A recently developed late-mixing flash pyrolytic reactor source was utilized to generate an intense BrO radical molecular beam. The relative electronic product branching ratios at 355 nm and from 278 to 281.5 nm were determined. We have investigated the excited state dynamics based on both the product branching and the photofragment angular distributions. We find that above the O((1)D(2)) threshold the contribution of the direct excitation to states other than the A (2)Pi(3/2) state and the role of curve crossing is considerably larger in BrO compared to that observed for ClO, in agreement with recent theoretical studies. The measurement of low velocity photofragments resulting from photodissociation just above the O((1)D(2)) threshold provides an accurate and direct determination of the A (2)Pi(3/2) state dissociation threshold of 35418+/-35 cm(-1), leading to a ground state bond energy of D(0)(0)(BrO)=55.9+/-0.1 kcal/mol.