Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry Measurements of Kinetics and Product Formation in the Allyl Radical (H2CCHCH2) Self-Reaction

Radical-Radical Reactions in Molecular Weight Growth: The Phenyl + Propargyl Reaction

The mechanism for hydrocarbon ring growth in sooting environments is still the subject of considerable debate. The reaction of phenyl radical (C₆H₅) with propargyl radical (H₂CCCH) provides an important prototype for radical-radical ring-growth pathways. We studied this reaction experimentally over the temperature range of 300-1000 K and pressure range of 4-10 Torr using time-resolved multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry. We detect both the C₉H₈ and C₉H₇ + H product channels and report experimental isomer-resolved product branching fractions for the C₉H₈ product. We compare these experiments to theoretical kinetics predictions from a recently published study augmented by new calculations. These ab initio transition state theory-based master equation calculations employ high-quality potential energy surfaces, conventional transition state theory for the tight transition states, and direct CASPT2-based variable reaction coordinate transition state theory (VRC-TST) for the barrierless channels. At 300 K only the direct adducts from radical-radical addition are observed, with good agreement between experimental and theoretical branching fractions, supporting the VRC-TST calculations of the barrierless entrance channel. As the temperature is increased to 1000 K we observe two additional isomers, including indene, a two-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and a small amount of bimolecular products C₉H₇ + H. Our calculated branching fractions for the phenyl + propargyl reaction predict significantly less indene than observed experimentally. We present further calculations and experimental evidence that the most likely cause of this discrepancy is the contribution of H atom reactions, both H + indenyl (C₉H₇) recombination to indene and H-assisted isomerization that converts less stable C₉H₈ isomers into indene. Especially at low pressures typical of laboratory investigations, H-atom-assisted isomerization needs to be considered. Regardless, the experimental observation of indene demonstrates that the title reaction leads, either directly or indirectly, to the formation of the second ring in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Kinetics of 1- and 2-methylallyl + O2 reaction, investigated by photoionisation using synchrotron radiation

The reaction kinetics of the isomers of the methylallyl radical with molecular oxygen has been studied in a flow tube reactor at the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) beamline of the Swiss Light Source storage ring. The radicals were generated by direct photodissociation of bromides or iodides at 213 nm. Experiments were conducted at room temperature and low pressures between 1 and 3 mbar using He as the buffer gas. Oxygen was employed in excess to maintain near pseudo-first-order reaction conditions. Concentration-time profiles of the radical were monitored by photoionisation. For the oxidation of 2-methylallyl (2-MA) and with k(2-MA + O2) = (5.1 ± 1.0) × 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1, the rate constant was found to be in the high-pressure limit already at 1 mbar. In contrast, 1-methylallyl exists in two isomers, E- and Z-1-methylallyl. We selectively detected the E-conformer as well as a mixture of both isomers and observed almost identical rate constants within the uncertainty of the experiment. A small pressure dependence is observed with the rate constant increasing from k(1-MA + O2) = (3.5 ± 0.7) × 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1 at 1 mbar to k(1-MA + O2) = (4.6 ± 0.9) × 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1 at 3 mbar. While for 2-methylallyl + O2 no previous experimental data are available, the rate constants for 1-methylallyl are in agreement with previous work. A comparison is drawn for the trends of the high-pressure limiting rate constants and pressure dependences observed for the O2 recombination of allylic radicals with the corresponding reactions of alkyl radicals.

A Bridging Peroxide Complex of Platinum(IV)

The photolysis of the allylplatinum(IV) complex [PtBr(C₃H₅)(4-MeC₆H₄)₂(bipy)], 1, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, in air yielded [{PtBr(4-MeC₆H₄)₂(bipy)}₂(μ-O₂)], 2, the first diplatinum(IV) complex containing a single bridging peroxide ligand. The PtO-OPt bond distance in 2 is 1.481(3) Å. Complex 2 is thought to be formed by homolysis of the allyl-platinum bond of 1, followed by reaction of the platinum(III) intermediate [PtBr(4-MeC₆H₄)₂(bipy)] with oxygen.

Kinetics of the a-C3H5 + O2 reaction, investigated by photoionization using synchrotron radiation

The kinetics of the combustion-relevant reaction of the allyl radical, a-C3H5, with molecular oxygen has been studied in a flow tube reactor at the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) beamline of the Swiss Light Source storage ring, using the CRF-PEPICO (Combustion Reactions Followed by Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy) setup. The ability to measure threshold photoelectron spectra enables a background-free detection of reactive species as well as an isomer-specific analysis of reaction products. Allyl was generated by direct photodissociation of allyl iodide at 266 nm and 213 nm and indirectly by the reaction of propene with Cl atoms, which were generated by photolysis from oxalyl chloride at 266 nm. Experiments were conducted at room temperature at low pressures between 0.8 and 3 mbar using Ar as the buffer gas and with excess O2 to maintain nearly pseudo-first-order reaction conditions. Whereas allyl was detected by photoionisation using synchrotron radiation, the main reaction product allyl peroxy was not observed due to dissociative ionisation of this weakly bound species. From the concentration-time profiles of the allyl signal, second-order rate constants between 1.35 × 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1 at 0.8 mbar and 1.75 × 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1 at 3 mbar were determined. The rates obtained for the different allyl radical generation schemes agree well with each other, but are about a factor of 2 higher than the ones reported previously using He as a buffer gas. The discrepancy is partly attributed to the higher collision efficiency of Ar causing a varying fall-off behavior. When allyl is produced by the reaction of propene with Cl atom, an unexpected product is observed at m/z = 68, which was identified as 1,3-butadienal in the threshold photoelectron spectrum. It is formed in a secondary reaction of allyl with the OCCl radical, which is generated in the 266 nm photolysis of oxalyl chloride.

On the formation of cyclopentadiene in the C3H5˙ + C2H2 reaction

The reaction between the allyl radical (C3H5˙) and acetylene (C2H2) in a heated microtubular reactor has been studied at the VUV beamline of the Swiss Light Source. The reaction products are sampled from the reactor and identified by their photoion mass-selected threshold photoelectron spectra (ms-TPES) by means of imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy. Cyclopentadiene is identified as the sole reaction product by comparison of the measured photoelectron spectrum with that of cyclopentadiene. With the help of quantum-chemical computations of the C5H7 potential energy surface, the C2H2 + C3H5˙ association reaction is confirmed to be the rate determining step, after which H-elimination to form C5H6 is prompt in the absence of re-thermalization at low pressures. The formation of cyclopentadiene as the sole product from the allyl + acetylene reaction offers a direct path to the formation of cyclic hydrocarbons under combustion relevant conditions. Subsequent reactions of cyclopentadiene may lead to the formation of the smallest polycyclic aromatic molecule, naphthalene.

Reactions of allylic radicals that impact molecular weight growth kinetics

The reactions of allylic radicals have the potential to play a critical role in molecular weight growth (MWG) kinetics during hydrocarbon oxidation and/or pyrolysis.

Flow tube studies of the C(3P) reactions with ethylene and propylene

Product detection studies of C(³P) atom reactions with ethylene, C₂H₄(X¹A_g) and propylene, C₃H₆(X¹A′) are carried out in a flow tube reactor at 332 K and 4 Torr (553.3 Pa) under multiple collision conditions.

Pressure dependent product formation in the photochemically initiated allyl + allyl reaction

Photochemically driven reactions involving unsaturated radicals produce a thick global layer of organic haze on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The allyl radical self-reaction is an example for this type of chemistry and was examined at room temperature from an experimental and kinetic modelling perspective. The experiments were performed in a static reactor with a volume of 5 L under wall free conditions. The allyl radicals were produced from laser flash photolysis of three different precursors allyl bromide (C3H5Br), allyl chloride (C3H5Cl), and 1,5-hexadiene (CH2CH(CH2)2CHCH2) at 193 nm. Stable products were identified by their characteristic vibrational modes and quantified using FTIR spectroscopy. In addition to the (re-) combination pathway C3H5+C3H5 → C6H10 we found at low pressures around 1 mbar the highest final product yields for allene and propene for the precursor C3H5Br. A kinetic analysis indicates that the end product formation is influenced by specific reaction kinetics of photochemically activated allyl radicals. Above 10 mbar the (re-) combination pathway becomes dominant. These findings exemplify the specificities of reaction kinetics involving chemically activated species, which for certain conditions cannot be simply deduced from combustion kinetics or atmospheric chemistry on Earth.

Kinetic (T = 201-298 K) and equilibrium (T = 320-420 K) measurements of the C3H5 + O2 ⇆ C3H5O2 reaction

The kinetics and equilibrium of the allyl radical reaction with molecular oxygen have been studied in direct measurements using temperature-controlled tubular flow reactor coupled to a laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectrometer. In low-temperature experiments (T = 201-298 K), association kinetics were observed, and the measured time-resolved C(3)H(5) radical signals decayed exponentially to the signal background. In this range, the determined rate coefficients exhibited a negative temperature dependence and were observed to depend on the carrier-gas (He) pressure {p = 0.4-36 Torr, [He] = (1.7-118.0) × 10(16) cm(-3)}. The bimolecular rate coefficients obtained vary in the range (0.88-11.6) × 10(-13) cm(3) s(-1). In higher-temperature experiments (T = 320-420 K), the C(3)H(5) radical signal did not decay to the signal background, indicating equilibration of the reaction. By measuring the radical decay rate under these conditions as a function of temperature and following typical second- and third-law procedures, plotting the resulting ln K(p) values versus 1/T in a modified van't Hoff plot, the thermochemical parameters of the reaction were extracted. The second-law treatment resulted in values of ΔH(298)° = -78.3 ± 1.1 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(298)° = -129.9 ± 3.1 J mol(-1) K(-1), with the uncertainties given as one standard error. When results from a previous investigation were taken into account and the third-law method was applied, the reaction enthalpy was determined as ΔH(298)° = -75.6 ± 2.3 kJ mol(-1).

Low-temperature combustion chemistry of biofuels: pathways in the initial low-temperature (550 K-750 K) oxidation chemistry of isopentanol

The branched C(5) alcohol isopentanol (3-methylbutan-1-ol) has shown promise as a potential biofuel both because of new advanced biochemical routes for its production and because of its combustion characteristics, in particular as a fuel for homogeneous-charge compression ignition (HCCI) or related strategies. In the present work, the fundamental autoignition chemistry of isopentanol is investigated by using the technique of pulsed-photolytic Cl-initiated oxidation and by analyzing the reacting mixture by time-resolved tunable synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry in low-pressure (8 Torr) experiments in the 550-750 K temperature range. The mass-spectrometric experiments reveal a rich chemistry for the initial steps of isopentanol oxidation and give new insight into the low-temperature oxidation mechanism of medium-chain alcohols. Formation of isopentanal (3-methylbutanal) and unsaturated alcohols (including enols) associated with HO(2) production was observed. Cyclic ether channels are not observed, although such channels dominate OH formation in alkane oxidation. Rather, products are observed that correspond to formation of OH viaβ-C-C bond fission pathways of QOOH species derived from β- and γ-hydroxyisopentylperoxy (RO(2)) radicals. In these pathways, internal hydrogen abstraction in the RO(2)⇄ QOOH isomerization reaction takes place from either the -OH group or the C-H bond in α-position to the -OH group. These pathways should be broadly characteristic for longer-chain alcohol oxidation. Isomer-resolved branching ratios are deduced, showing evolution of the main products from 550 to 750 K, which can be qualitatively explained by the dominance of RO(2) chemistry at lower temperature and hydroxyisopentyl decomposition at higher temperature.

Probing the dynamics of polyatomic multichannel elementary reactions by crossed molecular beam experiments with soft electron-ionization mass spectrometric detection

In this Perspective we highlight developments in the field of chemical reaction dynamics. Focus is on the advances recently made in the investigation of the dynamics of elementary multichannel radical-molecule and radical-radical reactions, as they have become possible using an improved crossed molecular beam scattering apparatus with universal electron-ionization mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight analysis. These improvements consist in the implementation of (a) soft ionization detection by tunable low-energy electrons which has permitted us to reduce interfering signals originating from dissociative ionization processes, usually representing a major complication, (b) different beam crossing-angle set-ups which have permitted us to extend the range of collision energies over which a reaction can be studied, from very low (a few kJ mol(-1), as of interest in astrochemistry or planetary atmospheric chemistry) to quite high energies (several tens of kJ mol(-1), as of interest in high temperature combustion systems), and (c) continuous supersonic sources for producing a wide variety of atomic and molecular radical reactant beams. Exploiting these new features it has become possible to tackle the dynamics of a variety of polyatomic multichannel reactions, such as those occurring in many environments ranging from combustion and plasmas to terrestrial/planetary atmospheres and interstellar clouds. By measuring product angular and velocity distributions, after having suppressed or mitigated, when needed, the problem of dissociative ionization of interfering species (reactants, products, background gases) by soft ionization detection, essentially all primary reaction products can be identified, the dynamics of each reaction channel characterized, and the branching ratios determined as a function of collision energy. In general this information, besides being of fundamental relevance, is required for a predictive description of the chemistry of these environments via computer models. Examples are taken from recent on-going work (partly published) on the reactions of atomic oxygen with acetylene, ethylene and allyl radical, of great importance in combustion. A reaction of relevance in interstellar chemistry, as that of atomic carbon with acetylene, is also discussed briefly. Comparison with theoretical results is made wherever possible, both at the level of electronic structure calculations of the potential energy surfaces and dynamical computations. Recent complementary CMB work as well as kinetic work exploiting soft photo-ionization with synchrotron radiation are noted. The examples illustrated in this article demonstrate that the type of dynamical results now obtainable on polyatomic multichannel radical-molecule and radical-radical reactions might well complement reaction kinetics experiments and hence contribute to bridging the gap between microscopic reaction dynamics and thermal reaction kinetics, enhancing significantly our basic knowledge of chemical reactivity and understanding of the elementary reactions which occur in real-world environments.

The multiplexed chemical kinetic photoionization mass spectrometer: a new approach to isomer-resolved chemical kinetics

We have developed a multiplexed time- and photon-energy-resolved photoionization mass spectrometer for the study of the kinetics and isomeric product branching of gas phase, neutral chemical reactions. The instrument utilizes a side-sampled flow tube reactor, continuously tunable synchrotron radiation for photoionization, a multimass double-focusing mass spectrometer with 100% duty cycle, and a time- and position-sensitive detector for single ion counting. This approach enables multiplexed, universal detection of molecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. In addition to measurement of rate coefficients as a function of temperature and pressure, different structural isomers can be distinguished based on their photoionization efficiency curves, providing a more detailed probe of reaction mechanisms. The multiplexed three-dimensional data structure (intensity as a function of molecular mass, reaction time, and photoionization energy) provides insights that might not be available in serial acquisition, as well as additional constraints on data interpretation.