Photolysis of Matrix Isolated HONO/SO2 System. Identification and Infrared Spectra of Nitrososulfonic Acid HO(NO)SO2 and Hydroxysulfonyl HOSO2 Radical

Probing the dynamics and bottleneck of the key atmospheric SO2 oxidation reaction by the hydroxyl radical

SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) is the major precursor to the production of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), contributing to acid rain and atmospheric aerosols. Sulfuric acid formed from SO2 generates light-reflecting sulfate aerosol particles in the atmosphere. This property has prompted recent geoengineering proposals to inject sulfuric acid or its precursors into the Earth's atmosphere to increase the planetary albedo to counteract global warming. SO2 oxidation in the atmosphere by the hydroxyl radical HO to form HOSO2 is a key rate-limiting step in the mechanism for forming acid rain. However, the dynamics of the HO + SO2 → HOSO2 reaction and its slow rate in the atmosphere are poorly understood to date. Herein, we use photoelectron spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled HOSO2- anion to access the neutral HOSO2 radical near the transition state of the HO + SO2 reaction. Spectroscopic and dynamic calculations are conducted on the first ab initio-based full-dimensional potential energy surface to interpret the photoelectron spectra of HOSO2- and to probe the dynamics of the HO + SO2 reaction. In addition to the finding of a unique pre-reaction complex (HO⋯SO2) directly connected to the transition state, dynamic calculations reveal that the accessible phase space for the HO + SO2 → HOSO2 reaction is extremely narrow, forming a key reaction bottleneck and slowing the reaction rate in the atmosphere, despite the low reaction barrier. This study underlines the importance of understanding the full multidimensional potential energy surface to elucidate the dynamics of complex bimolecular reactions involving polyatomic reactants.

Spectroscopic detection of gas-phase HOSO2

The HOSO₂ radical was detected by microwave spectroscopy in a discharge plasma of a SO₂/H₂O gas mixture. The observed spectrum shows tunneling splittings due to the OH torsional motion. A least-squares analysis considering interactions between the two torsional sublevels of the ground vibronic state, 0⁺ and 0^-, reproduces the observed transition frequencies with a standard deviation of ca. 3 kHz. The splitting between the two torsional sublevels is accurately determined to be 24.3 MHz for HOSO₂ and 0.08 MHz for DOSO₂. The potential barrier for the OH torsional motion is estimated to be 1150 cm^-1 from a one-dimensional hindered rotor model.

Structure and IR Spectroscopic Properties of HNCO Complexes with SO2 Isolated in Solid Argon

FTIR spectroscopy was combined with the matrix isolation technique and quantum chemical calculations with the aim of studying complexes of isocyanic acid with sulfur dioxide. The structures of the HNCO⋯SO₂ complexes of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 stoichiometry were optimized at the MP2, B3LYPD3, B2PLYPD3 levels of theory with the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. Five stable 1:1 HNCO⋯SO₂ complexes were found. Three of them contain a weak N-H⋯O hydrogen bond, whereas two other structures are stabilized by van der Waals interactions. The analysis of the HNCO/SO₂/Ar spectra after deposition indicates that mostly the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complexes are present in argon matrices, with a small amount of the van der Waals structures. Upon annealing, complexes of the 1:2 stoichiometry were detected, as well.

VUV photochemistry of the H2O⋯CO complex in noble-gas matrices: formation of the OH⋯CO complex and the HOCO radical

VUV photolysis of the H₂O⋯CO complexes leads to the formation of the OH⋯CO radical–molecule complexes and trans-HOCO radicals.

Theoretical Studies of the Reaction Channels on the SO2/OH/NO Singlet Potential Energy Surface

Ab initio MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) investigation of the SO2/OH/NO singlet potential energy surface (PES) has been performed with the aim to localize and describe the existing minima and transition states linking them. The systematic studies have revealed seven minima, with the trans-HONO-SO2 complex (1t) being the global minimum. Eight transition states between minima or between minima and the relevant reactant species have been described. Several available izomerization and dissociation routes have been identified and discussed. The most favorable association of HOSO2 and NO was found to be a barrierless process forming nitrososulfonic acids. Isomerizations between trans-, cis-, and gauche- nitrososulfonic acids (2t, 2c, and 2g) are possible with low-energy barriers. The HOSO2 and NO species can also react via another channels involving high-energy transition states to produce the HOSO-NO2 (3) and HNO-SO3 (4) complexes.

Reactions of OH and NO radicals with 1,1-dichloroethylene in argon matrices. FTIR and theoretical studies

HONO/1,1-dichloroethylene/Ar matrices were subjected to UV radiation (lambda > 340 nm) from a medium pressure mercury lamp. The products of the photolysis were studied experimentally by means of FTIR spectroscopy and theoretically using the ab initio MP2 method. Two conformers of 2-nitroso-2,2-dichloroethanol molecule have been identified as the final products of the double addition reaction of the OH, NO radicals to 1,1-dichloroethylene. The additional reactive species observed in the matrix is tentatively identified as an 1,1-dichloro-2-hydroxyethyl radical, an intermediate formed by single addition of OH to 1,1-dichloroethylene. The three photoproducts have been identified and observed for the first time. The identities of the products have been justified by comparison with the experiments with deuterated DONO and by performing concentration and annealing studies as well as by reference to the spectral data of related molecules. The results of the quantum mechanical calculations confirmed both the assignment of the new molecules and mechanism of the reaction observed in our experiment.