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

Theoretical Calculations of the 242 nm Absorption of Propargyl Radical

The propargyl radical, the most stable isomer of neutral C₃H₃, is important in combustion reactions, and a number of spectroscopic and reaction dynamics studies have been performed over the years. However, theoretical calculations have never been able to find a state that can generate strong absorption around 242 nm as seen in experiments. In this study, we calculated the low-lying electronic energy levels of the propargyl radical using the highly accurate multireference configuration interaction singles and doubles method with triples and quadruples treated perturbatively [denoted as MRCISD(TQ)]. Calculations indicate that this absorption can be attributed to a Franck-Condon-allowed electronic transition from the ground ²B₁ state to the Rydberg-like excited state 1²A₁. Further insight into the behavior of the multireference perturbative theory methods, GVVPT2 and GVVPT3, on a very challenging system are also obtained.

Low Temperature Synthesis and Phosphorescence of Methylcyanotriacetylene

This paper reports on UV-stimulated synthesis of methylcyanotriacetylene carried out in cryogenic rare gas matrixes via coupling of smaller precursors: propyne and cyanodiacetylene. The detection was possible due to the strong visible ã ³A' → X̃ ¹A₁ phosphorescence of CH₃C₇N, discovered in the course of this work. The ensuing measurements of electronic spectroscopy revealed the formally forbidden B̃ ¹E-X̃ ¹A₁ system, as well as the allowed one Ẽ ¹A₁-X̃ ¹A₁, with origins at approximately 3.32 and 5.4 eV, respectively. It was also possible to revisit the spectroscopic characterization of cyanotriacetylene, HC₇N, formed in parallel to the title photoproduct. Spectral assignments were assisted with a density functional theory study.

Pressure-selected reactivity between 2-butyne and water induced by two-photon excitation

High-pressure photochemistry between 2-butyne (H3CC≡CCH3) and trace amount of H2O was investigated at room temperature using multiline UV radiation at λ ≈ 350 nm and monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. Instead of the expected polymerization of 2-butyne, the IR spectral analysis suggests the formation of cis- and trans-2-butene, as well as 2-butanone, as the primary products. The possible reaction mechanisms and production pathways of these products were examined, where the dissociation of water molecule as the other reactant is believed as the essential step of the photochemical reaction. We further found that initial loading pressure of the mixture can not only substantially influence the reaction kinetics, but also regulate the accessibilities to some reaction channels, which was evidenced by quantitative analysis of the characteristic IR bands of 2-butene and 2-butanone. The relative abundance of two products is found to be highly dependent on pressure and radiation time. This study provides attractive physical routes in the absence of solvents, catalysts, and radical initiators, to synthesis the relevant products with a great selectivity and feasibility.

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.

Slow electron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of the 1-propynyl radical

High resolution photoelectron spectra of the 1-propynyl and 1-propynyl-d(3) anions acquired with slow electron velocity-map imaging are presented. The electron affinity is determined to be 2.7355+/-0.0010 eV for the 1-propynyl radical and 2.7300+/-0.0010 eV for 1-propynyl-d(3). Several vibronic transitions are observed and assigned using the isotopic shifts and results from ab initio calculations. Good agreement between experimental spectra and calculations suggests a C(3v) geometry for the 1-propynyl radical. No evidence is found for strong vibronic coupling between the ground electronic state and the low-lying first excited state.

Calculation of the Vibrationally Resolved Electronic Absorption Spectrum of the Propargyl Radical (H2CCCH)

The absorption spectrum of the propargyl radical in the region from 180 to 400 nm is investigated in detail by means of theory. Vertical excitation energies and potential energy surfaces are determined by highly accurate multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations. The vibrational dynamics of several electronic states is studied, and line intensities and positions are calculated with respect to the electronic and vibrational ground state. Four electronic states absorb in the region of interest: 1 2B2, 2 2B1, 2 2B2, and 3 2B1. However, electronic excitations into the 2B2 states are dipole-forbidden from the X 2B1 ground state and corresponding vibronically allowed transitions are shown to be weak. The spectrum is dominated by the strong 2 2B1 <-- 1 2B1 band which is computed in overall good agreement with available experiments. A strong absorption at 242 nm, which has been assigned to propargyl, is not confirmed by the calculations, and only very weak absorptions are found at wavelengths shorter than 280 nm. The present results strongly suggest that the 242 nm feature must be due to a different species.