Detection of Nitrogen-Protonated Nitrous Oxide (HNNO+) by Rotational Spectroscopy

Detection and structural characterization of nitrosamide H2NNO: A central intermediate in deNOx processes

The structure and bonding of H₂NNO, the simplest N-nitrosamine, and a key intermediate in deNO_x processes, have been precisely characterized using a combination of rotational spectroscopy of its more abundant isotopic species and high-level quantum chemical calculations. Isotopic spectroscopy provides compelling evidence that this species is formed promptly in our discharge expansion via the NH₂ + NO reaction and is collisionally cooled prior to subsequent unimolecular rearrangement. H₂NNO is found to possess an essentially planar geometry, an NNO angle of 113.67(5)°, and a N-N bond length of 1.342(3) Å; in combination with the derived nitrogen quadrupole coupling constants, its bonding is best described as an admixture of uncharged dipolar (H₂N-N=O, single bond) and zwitterion (H₂N⁺=N-O^-, double bond) structures. At the CCSD(T) level, and extrapolating to the complete basis set limit, the planar geometry appears to represent the minimum of the potential surface, although the torsional potential of this molecule is extremely flat.

The rovibrational nature of cis- and trans-HNNS: A possible nitrogen molecule progenitor

The HNNS radical has been promoted recently as a viable intermediate in the interstellar creation of the spectroscopically elusive nitrogen molecule. Any confirmation of this pathway or utilizing HNNS as a tracer of N₂ depends upon the ability to observe the radical intermediate whether in the laboratory or in the interstellar medium. Established and accurate quantum chemical procedures are employed here to produce spectroscopic constants, fundamental vibrational frequencies, and intensities that can be utilized for any possible detection of HNNS. While trans-HNNS is confirmed here to be 3.0 kcal/mol lower in energy than cis-HNNS, the latter will be more readily observed rotationally due to its significantly larger dipole moment. The N-N bond in cis-HNNS is stronger than in trans-HNNS, and earlier work has suggested that cis-HNNS is more useful in the creation of N₂ from NH and NS. Hence, the detection of cis-HNNS may be of greater value anyway. Furthermore, the N-N stretch in either conformer is also exceptionally bright and will occur in the mid-infrared with nearly 30 cm^-1 separating the fundamentals of the two conformers. Finally, the low isomerization barrier can be affected significantly upon deuteration also making ND an interesting consideration as a starting material in the interstellar formation of N₂.

Protonation of N2O and NO2 in a solid phase

Adsorption of gaseous N₂O or NO₂ on the acidic surface Brønsted centers of the strongest known solid acid, H(CHB₁₁F₁₁), results in formation of Brønsted and Lewis cationic superacids, NN–OH⁺ and NN⁺–OH.

Microwave spectral taxonomy: A semi-automated combination of chirped-pulse and cavity Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy

Because of its structural specificity, rotational spectroscopy has great potential as an analytical tool for characterizing the chemical composition of complex gas mixtures. However, disentangling the individual molecular constituents of a rotational spectrum, especially if many of the lines are entirely new or unknown, remains challenging. In this paper, we describe an empirical approach that combines the complementary strengths of two techniques, broadband chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and narrowband cavity Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, to characterize and assign lines. This procedure, called microwave spectral taxonomy, involves acquiring a broadband rotational spectrum of a rich mixture, categorizing individual lines based on their relative intensities under series of assays, and finally, linking rotational transitions of individual chemical compounds within each category using double resonance techniques. The power of this procedure is demonstrated for two test cases: a stable molecule with a rich spectrum, 3,4-difluorobenzaldehyde, and products formed in an electrical discharge through a dilute mixture of C2H2 and CS2, in which spectral taxonomy has enabled the identification of propynethial, HC(S)CCH.

Reaction between HN and SN: a possible channel for the interstellar formation of N2 and SH in the cold interstellar clouds

Using computational calculations the potential energy surface (PES) of the reaction between NH and NS has been analysed. The PES of the reaction shows the formation of two very stable species, HNSN and HNNS. Out of these two, HNNS which has the signature N-N linkage was found to be the most stable species in the PES. In view of the highly exothermic nature of the reaction surface, it has been proposed that these two species can possibly be detected in the interstellar space. For the first time it has also been shown that the reaction between the NH and NS can lead to the possible formation of N2via the isomer HNNS, and how the effect of tunnelling can make this reaction very much feasible, even under the extremely low temperature conditions prevailing in the interstellar medium. Based on the already reported results, a similar kind of behaviour for the NH + NO reaction surface has also been proposed. These dissociation reactions leading to the formation of N2 can be considered as potential secondary contributing channels while accounting for the total estimates of N2 in the interstellar medium, and thus HNNS as well as HNNO can be considered as stable reservoir molecules for interstellar N2. Besides the formation of N2, the formation of another astronomically important radical, SH in the cold interstellar clouds, has also been proposed.