Infrared Laser Absorption Measurements of the Kinetics of Propargyl Radical Self-Reaction and the 193 nm Photolysis of Propyne

Probing the Reaction of Propargyl Radical with Molecular Oxygen by Synchrotron VUV Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

Self-reaction of propargyl (C3H3) radical is the main pathway to benzene, the formation of which is the rate-controlling step toward the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot. Oxidation of C3H3 is a promising strategy to inhibit the formation of hazardous PAHs and soot. In the present study, we studied the C3H3 + O2 reaction from 650 to 1100 K in a laminar flow reactor and identified the intermediates and products by synchrotron VUV photoionization mass spectrometry. 2-Propynal, ethenone, formaldehyde, CO, CO2, C2H2, C2H4, and C3O2 were identified. Among them, 2-propynal, ethenone, and formaldehyde provided direct evidence for the branching reaction of C3H3 + O2 → HCCCHO + OH, C3H3 + O2 → H2CCO + CHO, and C3H3 + O2 → H2CO + CHCO, respectively. Potential energy surface calculation and mechanistic analysis of the C3O2 formations implied that C3H3 + O2 → CCCHO + H2O and C3H3 + O2 → HCCCO + H2O could occur, despite lacking direct observations of CCCHO and HCCCO radicals. The formation of ethenone and CO suggested the occurrence of the two CO elimination channels. We incorporated these validated reactions and the corresponding rate coefficients in the kinetic model of NUIGMech1.3, and the simulation showed obvious improvements toward the measured mole fractions of C3H3 and H2CCO, suggesting that the new C3H3 + O2 reaction channels were crucial in the overall combustion modeling of the important intermediate propyne (C3H4).

The Composition and Chemistry of Titan's Atmosphere

In this review I summarize the current state of knowledge about the composition of Titan's atmosphere and our current understanding of the suggested chemistry that leads to that observed composition. I begin with our present knowledge of the atmospheric composition, garnered from a variety of measurements including Cassini-Huygens, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and other ground- and space-based telescopes. This review focuses on the typical vertical profiles of gases at low latitudes rather than global and temporal variations. The main body of the review presents a chemical description of how complex molecules are believed to arise from simpler species, considering all known "stable" molecules-those that have been uniquely identified in the neutral atmosphere. The last section of the review is devoted to the gaps in our present knowledge of Titan's chemical composition and how further work may fill those gaps.

Gas-phase synthesis of benzene via the propargyl radical self-reaction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been invoked in fundamental molecular mass growth processes in our galaxy. We provide compelling evidence of the formation of the very first ringed aromatic and building block of PAHs-benzene-via the self-recombination of two resonantly stabilized propargyl (C₃H₃) radicals in dilute environments using isomer-selective synchrotron-based mass spectrometry coupled to theoretical calculations. Along with benzene, three other structural isomers (1,5-hexadiyne, fulvene, and 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene) and o-benzyne are detected, and their branching ratios are quantified experimentally and verified with the aid of computational fluid dynamics and kinetic simulations. These results uncover molecular growth pathways not only in interstellar, circumstellar, and solar systems environments but also in combustion systems, which help us gain a better understanding of the hydrocarbon chemistry of our universe.

Combination Reactions of Propargyl Radical with Hydroxyl Radical and the Isomerization and Dissociation of trans-Propenal

Ab initio investigation for the ground-electronic potential energy surface (PES) of the CH₂CCH + OH combination and the trans-CH₂CHCHO isomerization and decomposition has been performed at the UCCSD(T)/CBS(TQ5)//M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Thermal and microcanonical rate constants, as well as branching ratios in the 300-2000 K temperature range have been predicted based on optimized structures and vibrational frequencies of species involved using statistical theoretical VRC-TST and RRKM master equation computations. The calculated results are in good agreement with the prior reported data, particularly as an accurate scaling of the energy barriers was carried out. Based on the view of PES and kinetic-predicted values, the reaction paths leading to C₂H₂ + CO + H₂, CH₃CH + CO, C₂H₄ + CO, C₂H₃ + HCO, and C₃H₃O + H are the prevailing product channels for the C₃H₃ + OH bimolecular reaction under the considered 300-2000 K temperature range. Among those products, CH₃CH + CO is the most dominant one in the low-temperature condition; however, C₂H₂ + CO + H₂ becomes the most favorable product in the high-temperature region. Alternatively, the C₃H₄O dissociation processes leading to C₂H₂ + CO + H₂, C₂H₃ + HCO, C₂H₄ + CO, and CH₂C + CH₂O constitute the major paths, in which, C₂H₂ + CO + H₂ is the most critical one with the ∼62% and ∼59% branching ratios at E = 148 and 182 kcal/mol, respectively. The overall second-order rate constants of the bimolecular reaction C₃H₃ + OH → products obtained at the pressure 760 Torr (Ar) can be illustrated by the modified Arrhenius expression of k(T) = 1.36 × 10^-13T^1.26 exp[(-1.12 ± 0.43 kcal mol^-1)/RT] and/or k(T) = 3.77 × 10¹⁷T^-7.58 exp[(-18.82 ± 0.20 kcal mol^-1)/RT] cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1, covering the temperature range of 300-1300 and/or 1300-2000 K, respectively. The total high-pressure limit rate constant for the C₃H₃ + OH → CH₂CCHOH barrierless processes is in good agreement with the k(T) = 8.30 × 10^-10 T^-0.1 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 literature data. Moreover, microcanonical rate constants for the C₃H₄O isomerization and dissociation are in excellent accordance with the previously predicted values given by Chin and Lee. The present study supplies a thorough insight into the mechanisms and kinetics of the C₃H₃ + OH combination as well as the C₃H₄O multistep isomerization/dissociation pathways.

On-Surface Photochemistry of Pre-Ordered 1-Methyl-2-phenyl-acetylenes: C-H Bond Activation and Intermolecular Coupling on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite

In this contribution we report on light-induced metal-free coupling of propynylbenzene molecular units on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The reaction occurs within the self-assembled monolayer and leads to the generation of covalently coupled 1,5-hexadiyne and para-terphenyl derivatives under topological control. Such photochemical uncatalysed pathway represents an original approach in the field of topological C-C coupling at the solid/liquid interface and provides new insight into the low temperature formation of aromatic compounds at the surface of carbonaceous supports.

Chemistry of energetically activated cumulenes - from allene (H2CCCH2) to hexapentaene (H2CCCCCCH2)

During the last decade, experimental and theoretical studies on the unimolecular decomposition of cumulenes (H(2)C(n)H(2)) from propadiene (H(2)CCCH(2)) to hexapentaene (H(2)CCCCCCH(2)) have received considerable attention due to the importance of these carbon-bearing molecules in combustion flames, chemical vapor deposition processes, atmospheric chemistry, and the chemistry of the interstellar medium. Cumulenes and their substituted counterparts also have significant technical potential as elements for molecular machines (nanomechanics), molecular wires (nano-electronics), nonlinear optics, and molecular sensors. In this review, we present a systematic overview of the stability, formation, and unimolecular decomposition of chemically, photo-chemically, and thermally activated small to medium-sized cumulenes in extreme environments. By concentrating on reactions under gas phase thermal conditions (pyrolysis) and on molecular beam experiments conducted under single-collision conditions (crossed beam and photodissociation studies), a comprehensive picture on the unimolecular decomposition dynamics of cumulenes transpires.

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.

Direct detection of polyynes formation from the reaction of ethynyl radical (C2H) with propyne (CH3–CCH) and allene (CH2CCH2)

The reactions of the ethynyl radical (C(2)H) with propyne and allene are studied at room temperature using an apparatus that combines the tunability of the vacuum ultraviolet radiation of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with time-resolved mass spectrometry. The C(2)H radical is prepared by 193-nm photolysis of CF(3)CCH and the mass spectrum of the reacting mixture is monitored in time using synchrotron-photoionization with a dual-sector mass spectrometer. Analysis using photoionization efficiency curves allows the isomer-specific detection of individual polyynes of chemical formula C(5)H(4) produced by both reactions. The product branching ratios are estimated for each isomer. The reaction of propyne with ethynyl gives 50-70% diacetylene (H-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-H) and 50-30% C(5)H(4), with a C(5)H(4)-isomer distribution of 15-20% ethynylallene (CH(2)=C=CH-C[triple bond]CH) and 85-80% methyldiacetylene (CH(3)-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]CH). The reaction of allene with ethynyl gives 35-45% ethynylallene, 20-25% methyldiacetylene and 45-30% 1,4-pentadiyne (HC[triple bond]C-CH(2)-C[triple bond]CH). Diacetylene is most likely not produced by this reaction; an upper limit of 30% on the branching fraction to diacetylene can be derived from the present experiment. The mechanisms of polyynes formation by these reactions as well as the implications for Titan's atmospheric chemistry are discussed.

Shock tube pyrolysis of 1,2,4,5-hexatetraene

1,2,4,5-Hexatetraene (1245HT) is, according to theory, a key intermediate to benzene from propargyl radicals in a variety of flames; however, it has only been experimentally observed once in previous studies of the C3H3 + C3H3 reaction. To determine if it is indeed an intermediate to benzene formation, 1245HT was synthesized, via a Grignard reaction, and pyrolysized in a single-pulse shock tube at two nominal pressures of 22 and 40 bar over a temperature range from 540 to 1180 K. At temperatures T < 700 K, 1245HT converts efficiently to 3,4-dimethylenecyclobutene (34DMCB) with a rate constant of k = 10(10.16) x exp(-23.4 kcal/RT), which is in good agreement with the one calculated by Miller and Klippenstein. At higher temperatures, various C6H6 isomers were generated, which is consistent with theory and earlier experimental studies. Thus, the current work strongly supports the theory that 1245HT plays a bridging role in forming benzene from propargyl radicals. RRKM modeling of the current data set has also been carried out with the Miller-Klippenstein potential. It was found that the theory gives reasonably good predictions of the experimental observations of 1245HT, 1,5-hexadiyne (15HD), and 34DMCB in the current study and in our earlier studies of 15HD pyrolysis and propargyl recombination; however, there is considerable discrepancy between experiment and theory for the isomerization route of 1,2-hexadien-5-yne (12HD5Y) --> 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene (2E13BD) --> fulvene.

Ultraviolet photochemistry of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane: vinyl radical (HCCH2) and allyl radical (H2CCHCH2) production in 193 nm photolysis

The absolute gas phase ultraviolet absorption spectra of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane have been measured from 191 to 220 nm. Over this region the absorption spectra of both species are broad and relatively featureless, and their cross sections increase with decreasing wavelength. The electronic transitions of trichlorovinylsilane were calculated by ab initio quantum chemical methods and the observed absorption bands assigned to the A(1)A''<-- X[combining tilde](1)A'' transition. The maximum absorption cross section in the region, at 191 nm, is sigma = (8.50 +/- 0.06) x 10(-18) cm(2) for trichlorovinylsilane and sigma = (2.10 +/- 0.02) x 10(-17) cm(2) for allyltrichlorosilane. The vinyl radical and the allyl radical are formed promptly from the 193 nm photolysis of their respective trichlorosilane precursors. By comparison of the transient visible absorption and the 1315 nm I atom absorption from 266 nm photolysis of vinyl iodide and allyl iodide, the absorption cross sections at 404 nm of vinyl radical ((2.9 +/- 0.4) x 10(-19) cm(2)) and allyl radical ((3.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(-19) cm(2)) were derived. These cross sections are in significant disagreement with literature values derived from kinetic modeling of allyl or vinyl radical self-reactions. Using these cross sections, the vinyl radical yield from trichlorovinylsilane was determined to be phi = (0.9 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed, and the allyl radical yield from allyltrichlorosilane phi = (0.7 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed.

Isomeric Product Distributions from the Self-Reaction of Propargyl Radicals

We have investigated the isomeric C6H6 product distributions of the self-reaction of propargyl (C3H3) radicals at two nominal pressures of 25 and 50 bar over the temperature range 720-1350 K. Experiments were performed using propargyl iodide as the radical precursor in a high-pressure single-pulse shock tube with a residence time of 1.6-2.0 ms. The relative yields of the C6H6 products are strongly temperature dependent, and the main products are 1,5-hexadiyne (15HD), 1,2-hexadiene-5-yne (12HD5Y), 3,4-dimethylenecyclobutene (34DMCB), 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene (2E13BD), fulvene, and benzene, with the minor products being cis- and trans-1,3-hexadiene-5-yne (13HD5Y). 1,2,4,5-Hexatetraene (1245HT) was observed below 750 K but the concentrations were too low to be quantified. The experimentally determined entry branching ratios are: 44% 15HD, 38% 12HD5Y, and 18% 1245HT, which is efficiently converted to 34DMCB. Following the initial recombination step, various C6H6 isomers are formed by thermal rearrangement. The experimentally observed concentrations for the C6H6 species are in good agreement with earlier experiments on 15HD thermal rearrangement.

Determining the vibrational pattern via overtone cold spectra: C-H methyl stretches of propyne

Vibrationally mediated photodissociation and photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy were employed for studying the intramolecular dynamics of propyne initially excited to the first through fourth overtone of methyl C-H stretching modes. Room-temperature PA and jet-cooled action spectra, monitoring the absorption of the parent and the yield of the ensuing H photofragments, respectively, were obtained. The PA spectra exhibit mainly broad features, while the action spectra, due to inhomogeneous structure reduction, expose multiple peaks of recognizable shapes in the differing overtone manifolds. Symmetric rotor simulations of the band contours of the action spectra allowed retrieving of band origins and linewidths. The linewidths of the bands in each manifold enabled estimates for energy redistribution times out of the corresponding states to the bath states, the times ranging from 18+/-6 ps for two quanta of C-H excitation to subpicosecond for five quanta. The data were also analyzed in terms of a normal-mode model and a joint local-/normal-mode model. These models enabled determination of harmonic frequencies, anharmonicities, and interaction parameters reproducing the observed data in all monitored regions and provided spectral assignments. The measured Doppler profiles were well fitted by Gaussians with widths suggesting low average translational energies for the released H photofragments. These low energies and their similarities to those for dissociation of propyne isotopomers preexcited to acetylenic C-H stretches were ascribed to an indirect dissociation process occurring after internal conversion to the ground electronic state and isomerization to allene.

UV-Absorption Spectra of the Radical Transients Generated from the 193-nm Photolysis of Allene, Propyne, and 2-Butyne

The 193-nm photochemistry of allene (H2C=C=CH2), propyne (H3C-C[triple bond]CH), and 2-butyne (H3C-C[triple bond]C-CH3) has been examined, and the UV spectral region between 220 and 350 nm has been surveyed for UV-absorption detection of transient species generated from the photolysis of these molecules. Time-resolved UV-absorption spectroscopy was used for detection of transient absorption. Gas chromatographic/mass spectroscopic (GC/MS) analysis of the photolyzed samples were employed for identification of the final photodissociation products. An emphasis of the study has been on the examination of possibilities of formation of different C3H3 isomeric radicals, that is, propargyl (H2CCCH) or propynyl (H3CCC), from the 193-nm photolysis of these molecules. Survey of the UV spectral region, following the 193-nm photolysis of dilute mixtures of allene/He resulted in detection of a strong absorption band around 230 nm and a weaker band in the 320-nm region with a relative intensity of about 8:1. The time-resolved absorption traces after the photolysis event show an instantaneous rise, followed by a simple decay. The spectral features, observed in this work, following 193-nm photolysis of allene are in good agreement with the previously reported spectrum of H2CCCH radical in the 240- and 320-nm regions and are believed to originate primarily from propargyl radicals. In comparison, the spectra obtained from the 193-nm photolysis of dilute mixtures of HCCCH3/He and CH3CCCH3/He were nearly identical, consisting of two relatively broad bands centered at about 240- and 320-nm regions with a relative intensity of about 2:1, respectively. In addition, the time-resolved absorption traces after photolysis of propyne and 2-butyne samples, both in the 240 and 320 nm regions, indicated an instant rise followed by an additional slower absorption rise. The distinct differences between the results of allene with those of propyne and 2-butyne suggest the observed absorption features following 193-nm photolysis of these molecules are likely to be composite with contributions from a number of transient species other than propargyl radicals. Propyne and 2-butyne are structurally similar. The methyl (CH3) and propynyl (CH3C[triple bond]C) radicals are likely to be among the photodissociation products of 2-butyne, and similarly, propynyl is likely to be a photodissociation product of propyne. GC/MS product analysis of photolyzed 2-butyne/He mixtures indicates the formation of C2H6 (formed from the combination of CH3 radicals), and a number of C6H6 and C4H6 isomers formed from self- and cross reactions of C3H3 and CH3 radicals, including 1,5-hexadiyne and 2,4-hexadyine, that are potential products of combination reactions of propargyl as well as propynyl radicals.

Ab Initio and Direct Dynamics Studies of the Reaction of Singlet Methylene with Acetylene and the Lifetime of the Cyclopropene Complex

The energetics of the (1)CH(2) + C(2)H(2) --> H + C(3)H(3) reaction are accurately calculated using an extrapolated coupled-cluster/complete basis set (CBS) method based on the cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, and cc-pVQZ basis sets. The reaction enthalpy (0 K) is predicted to be -20.33 kcal/mol. This reaction has no classical barrier in either the entrance or exit channel. However, there are several stable intermediates-cyclopropene (c-C(3)H(4)), allene (CH(2)CCH(2)), and propyne (CH(3)CCH)-along the minimum energy path. These intermediates with zero-point energy corrections lie below the reactants by 87.11 (c-C(3)H(4)), 109.69 (CH(2)CCH(2)), and 110.78 kcal/mol (CH(3)CCH). The vibrationally adiabatic ground-state (VAG) barrier height for c-C(3)H(4) isomerization to allene is obtained as 45.2 kcal/mol, and to propyne as 37.2 kcal/mol. In addition, the (1)CH(2) + C(2)H(2) reaction is investigated utilizing the dual-level "scaling all correlation" (SAC) ab initio method of Truhlar et al., i.e., the UCCSD(SAC)/cc-pVDZ theory. Results show that the reaction occurs via long-lived complexes. The lifetime of the cyclopropene intermediate is obtained as 3.2 +/- 0.4 ps. It is found that the intermediate propyne can be formed directly from reactants through the insertion of (1)CH(2) into a C-H bond of C(2)H(2). However, compared to the major mechanism in which the propyne is produced through a ring-opening of the cyclopropene complex, this reaction pathway is much less favorable. Finally, the theoretical thermal rate constant exhibits a negative temperature dependence, which is in excellent agreement with the previous results. The temperature dependence is consistent with the earlier RRKM results but weaker than the experimental observations at high temperatures.

Crossed beams study of the reaction 1CH2+C2H2→C3H3+H

The reaction of electronically excited singlet methylene (1CH2) with acetylene (C2H2) was studied using the method of crossed molecular beams at a mean collision energy of 3.0 kcal/mol. The angular and velocity distributions of the propargyl radical (C3H3) products were measured using single photon ionization (9.6 eV) at the advanced light source. The measured distributions indicate that the mechanism involves formation of a long-lived C3H4 complex followed by simple C-H bond fission producing C3H3+H. This work, which is the first crossed beams study of a reaction involving an electronically excited polyatomic molecule, demonstrates the feasibility of crossed molecular beam studies of reactions involving 1CH2.