Infrared-induced reaction of Cl atoms trapped in solid parahydrogen

Hydrogen-atom-assisted processes on thioacetamide in para-H2 matrix - formation of thiol tautomers

TA has been isolated in low-temperature para-H2 matrices and it has been exposed to H atoms. In accordance with previous experimental results, TA exclusively exists in its more stable thione tautomeric form in the freshly deposited matrix. However, upon H atom generation, the bands belonging to the precursor start decreasing with the simultaneous appearance of new bands. By comparing the position of these new peaks with earlier results obtained in para-H2, they can be undoubtedly attributed to the presence of the higher-energy thiol tautomeric forms of TA. No other products could be observed, except for NH3. Quantum-chemical computations have been invoked to understand the mechanism behind the observed thione-thiol tautomerization assisted by H atoms. Accordingly, tautomerization starts with barrierless H-atom addition on the S atom of the thione resulting in the formation of the intermediate 1-amino-1-mercapto-ethyl radical (H3C-Ċ(-SH)-NH2), which has been detected tentatively for the first time. The second step is a barrierless H-atom induced H-abstraction from the -NH2 moiety of the H3C-Ċ(-SH)-NH2 radical. A comprehensive mechanism for tautomerization is proposed based on the experimental and theoretical results. Although earlier studies showed the possibility of TA thione-thiol tautomerization in cryogenic matrices achieved by energetic UV irradiation, the present study points out that this can also take place through a barrierless pathway by simply exposing the TA molecules to H atoms. As such, this is the first evidence for the occurrence of such a reaction in a matrix-isolated environment. The current results also help us better understand the mystery behind thione-thiol tautomerization in low-temperature environments.

Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of Oxygen Atom Quantum Diffusion in Solid Parahydrogen

The thermally induced diffusion of atomic species in noble gas matrices was studied extensively in the 1990s to investigate low-temperature solid-state reactions and to synthesize reactive intermediates. In contrast, much less is known about the diffusion of atomic species in quantum solids such as solid parahydrogen (p-H₂). While hydrogen atoms were shown to diffuse in normal-hydrogen solids at 4.2 K as early as 1989, the diffusion of other atomic species in solid p-H₂ has not been reported in the literature. The in situ photogeneration of atomic oxygen, by ArF laser irradiation of an O₂-doped p-H₂ solid at 193 nm, is studied here to investigate the diffusion of O(³P) atoms in a quantum solid. The O(³P) atom mobility is detected by measuring the kinetics of the O(³P) + O₂ → O₃ reaction after photolysis via infrared spectroscopy of the O₃ reaction product. This reaction is barrierless and is thus assumed to be diffusion-controlled under these conditions such that the reaction rate constant can be used to estimate the oxygen atom diffusion coefficient. The O₃ growth curves are well fit by single exponential expressions allowing the pseudo-first-order rate constant for the O(³P) + O₂ → O₃ reaction to be extracted. The reaction rates are affected strongly by the p-H₂ crystal morphology and display a non-Arrhenius-type temperature dependence consistent with quantum diffusion of the O(³P) atom. The experimental results are compared to H(²S) atom reaction studies in p-H₂, analogous studies in noble gas matrices, and laboratory studies of atomic diffusion in astronomical ices and surfaces.

VIZSLA-Versatile Ice Zigzag Sublimation Setup for Laboratory Astrochemistry

In this article, a new multi-functional high-vacuum astrophysical ice setup, VIZSLA (Versatile Ice Zigzag Sublimation Setup for Laboratory Astrochemistry), is introduced. The instrument allows for the investigation of astrophysical processes both in a low-temperature para-H₂ matrix and in astrophysical analog ices. In the para-H₂ matrix, the reaction of astrochemical molecules with H atoms and H⁺ ions can be studied effectively. For the investigation of astrophysical analog ices, the setup is equipped with various irradiation and particle sources: an electron gun for modeling cosmic rays, an H atom beam source, a microwave H atom lamp for generating H Lyman-α radiation, and a tunable (213-2800 nm) laser source. For analysis, an FT-IR (and a UV-visible) spectrometer and a quadrupole mass analyzer are available. The setup has two cryostats, offering novel features for analysis. Upon the so-called temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), the molecules, desorbing from the substrate of the first cryogenic head, can be mixed with Ar and can be deposited onto the substrate of the other cryogenic head. The efficiency of the redeposition was measured to be between 8% and 20% depending on the sample and the redeposition conditions. The well-resolved spectrum of the molecules isolated in an Ar matrix serves a unique opportunity to identify the desorbing products of a processed ice. Some examples are provided to show how the para-H₂ matrix experiments and the TPD-matrix-isolation recondensation experiments can help understand astrophysically important chemical processes at low temperatures. It is also discussed how these experiments can complement the studies carried out by using similar astrophysical ice setups.

Non-energetic, Low-Temperature Formation of Cα-Glycyl Radical, a Potential Interstellar Precursor of Natural Amino Acids

The reaction of H atoms with glycine was investigated at 3.1 K in para-H₂, a quantum-solid host. The reaction was followed by IR spectroscopy, with the spectral analysis aided by quantum chemical computations. Comparison of the experimental IR spectrum with computed anharmonic frequencies and intensities proved that, regardless of the reactant glycine conformation, C_α-glycyl radical is formed in an H-atom-abstraction process with great selectivity. The product of the second H-atom abstraction, iminoacetic acid, was also observed in a smaller amount. The C_α-glycyl radical is sensitive to UV light and decomposes to iminoacetic acid and H atom upon 280 nm radiation. Since the reactive radical center is located on the C_α-atom, it is suggested that natural α-amino acids can be formed from glycine via the C_α-glycyl radical by non-energetic mechanisms in the solid phase of the interstellar medium.

VUV photochemistry and nuclear spin conversion of water and water-orthohydrogen complexes in parahydrogen crystals at 4 K

Samples of H2O, HDO, and D2O were isolated in solid parahydrogen (pH2) matrices and irradiated by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation at 147 nm. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed a clear depletion of D2O and an enrichment of both HDO and H2O by 147 nm irradiation. These irradiation-dependent changes are attributed to the production of OH and/or OD radicals through photodissociations of H2O, HDO, and D2O. The radicals subsequently react with the hydrogen matrix, leading to the observed enrichment of H2O. No trace of isolated OH or OD was detected in the FTIR spectra, indicating that the OH/OD radicals react with the surrounding matrix hydrogen molecules via quantum tunneling within our experimental timescale. The observed temporal changes in concentrations, especially the increase of HDO concentration during VUV irradiation, can be interpreted by a model with a rapid conversion from orthohydrogen (oH2) to pH2 in water-oH2 complexes upon VUV photodissociation, indicating either the acceleration of the nuclear spin conversion (NSC) of H2 due to the magnetic moment of the intermediate OH/OD radical, or the preferential reaction of the OH/OD radical with a nearby oH2 molecule over other pH2 molecules. We have also identified and quantified an anomalously slow NSC of H2O and D2O complexed with oH2 in solid pH2.

Hydrogen atom quantum diffusion in solid parahydrogen: The H + N2O → cis-HNNO → trans-HNNO reaction

The diffusion and reactivity of hydrogen atoms in solid parahydrogen at temperatures between 1.5 K and 4.3 K are investigated by high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. Hydrogen atoms are produced within solid parahydrogen as the by-products of the 193 nm in situ photolysis of N₂O, which induces a two-step tunneling reaction, H + N₂O → cis-HNNO → trans-HNNO. The second-order rate constant for the first step to form cis-HNNO is found to be inversely proportional to the N₂O concentration after photolysis, indicating that the hydrogen atoms move through solid parahydrogen via quantum diffusion. This reaction only readily occurs at temperatures below 2.8 K, not due to an increased rate constant for the first reaction step at low temperatures but rather due to an increased selectivity to the reaction. The rate constant for the second step of the reaction mechanism involving unimolecular isomerization is shown to be independent of the N₂O concentration as expected. The inverse concentration dependence of the rate constant for the reaction step that involves the hydrogen atom demonstrates clearly that quantum diffusion influences the reactivity of the hydrogen atoms in solid parahydrogen, which does not have an analogy in classical reaction kinetics.

On the correlation of the abundances of HNCO and NH2CHO: Advantages of solid para-H2 to study astrochemical H-atom addition and abstraction reactions

In dense interstellar clouds that are shielded from high-energy radiation (e.g., UV photons or cosmic rays), H-atom addition and abstraction reactions that take place on grain surfaces play principal roles in the synthesis or decomposition of complex organic molecules (COMs). These reactions are extensively investigated with laboratory experiments by bombarding astrophysical analogue ices with a beam of low-temperature H atoms. Here we demonstrate that, although 2-4 K solid para-H2 does not represent a typical environment of the surface of interstellar grains, para-H2 matrix isolation combined with IR spectroscopy is a complementary tool to sensitively detect astrochemical hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes.

Infrared Spectra of Monohydrogenated Aniline, ortho- and para-HC6H5NH2, Generated in Solid para-Hydrogen

The isomers of monohydrogenated aniline (HC₆H₅NH₂) are regarded as important intermediates in reduction reactions of aniline, but their spectral identification has been limited to electron paramagnetic resonance in an adamantane matrix. We report here infrared (IR) spectra of two least-energy isomers of HC₆H₅NH₂, produced on electron bombardment during the deposition of a matrix of aniline and para-hydrogen at 3.2 K. The intensities of IR lines of HC₆H₅NH₂ increased during maintenance of the electron-bombarded matrix in darkness for a prolonged period because of the neutralization of protonated aniline, H⁺C₆H₅NH₂, by trapped electrons and further reactions between aniline and the unreacted hydrogen atoms that were produced during electron bombardment. The observed lines were grouped according to their behaviors on secondary photolysis with light at 520, 465, and 375 nm. On comparison of experimental spectra with quantum chemically predicted spectra for four possible isomers of HC₆H₅NH₂, lines in one group were assigned to the most stable ortho-HC₆H₅NH₂ and those in the other group were assigned to the secondmost stable para-HC₆H₅NH₂. Their photolytic behaviors at varied wavelengths are consistent with predicted ultraviolet absorption bands. The mechanisms of formation of these isomers are discussed according to semiquantitative analysis.

Hydrogen abstraction in astrochemistry: formation of ˙CH2CONH2 in the reaction of H atom with acetamide (CH3CONH2) and photolysis of ˙CH2CONH2 to form ketene (CH2CO) in solid para-hydrogen

The amide bond of acetamide is unaffected by hydrogen exposure, but the hydrogen abstraction on its methyl site activates this molecule to react with other species to extend its size as a first step to form interstellar complex organic molecules.

Infrared spectrum of hydrogenated corannulene rim-HC20H10 isolated in solid para-hydrogen

Hydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been proposed to be carriers of the interstellar unidentified infrared (UIR) emission bands and the catalysts for formation of H₂; spectral characterizations of these species are hence important. We report the infrared (IR) spectrum of mono-hydrogenated corannulene (HC₂₀H₁₀) in solid para-hydrogen (p-H₂). In experiments of electron bombardment of a mixture of corannulene and p-H₂ during deposition of a matrix at 3.2 K, two groups of spectral lines increased with time during maintenance of the matrix in darkness after deposition. Lines in one group were assigned to the most stable isomer of hydrogenated corannulene, rim-HC₂₀H₁₀, according to the expected chemistry and a comparison with scaled harmonic vibrational wavenumbers and IR intensities predicted with the B3PW91/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. The lines in the other group do not agree with predicted spectra of other HC₂₀H₁₀ isomers and remain unassigned. Alternative hydrogenation was achieved with H atoms produced photochemically in the infrared-induced reaction Cl + H₂ (v = 1) → H + HCl in a Cl₂/C₂₀H₁₀/p-H₂ matrix. With this method, only lines attributable to rim-HC₂₀H₁₀ were observed, indicating that hydrogenation via a quantum-mechanical tunneling mechanism produces preferably the least-energy rim-HC₂₀H₁₀ regardless of similar barrier heights and widths for the formation of rim-HC₂₀H₁₀ and hub-HC₂₀H₁₀. The mechanisms of formation in both experiments are discussed. The bands near 3.3 and 3.4 µm of rim-HC₂₀H₁₀ agree with the UIR emission bands in position and relative intensity, but other bands do not match satisfactorily with the UIR bands.

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of atomic bromine in solid parahydrogen and orthodeuterium

This work extends our earlier investigation of the near-infrared absorption spectroscopy of atomic bromine (Br) trapped in solid parahydrogen (pH2) and orthodeuterium (oD2) [S. C. Kettwich, L. O. Paulson, P. L. Raston, and D. T. Anderson, J. Phys. Chem. A 112, 11153 (2008)]. We report new spectroscopic observations on a series of double transitions involving excitation of the weak Br-atom spin-orbit (SO) transition ((2)P(1/2) ← (2)P(3/2)) in concert with phonon, rotational, vibrational, and rovibrational excitation of the solid molecular hydrogen host. Further, we utilize the rapid vapor deposition technique to produce pH2 crystals with a non-equilibrium mixture of face centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal closed packed (hcp) crystal domains in the freshly deposited solid. Gentle annealing (T = 4.3 K) of the pH2 sample irreversibly converts the higher energy fcc crystal domains to the slightly more stable hcp structure. We follow the extent of this conversion process using the intensity of the U1(0) transition of solid pH2 and correlate crystal structure changes with changes in the integrated intensity of Br-atom absorption features. Annealing the pH2 solid causes the integrated intensity of the zero-phonon Br SO transition to increase approximately 45% to a value that is 8 times larger than the gas phase value. We show that the magnitude of the increase is strongly correlated to the fraction of hcp crystal domains within the solid. Theoretical calculations presented in Paper II show that these intensity differences are caused by the different symmetries of single substitution sites for these two crystal structures. For fully annealed Br-atom doped pH2 solids, where the crystal structure is nearly pure hcp, the Br-atom SO transition sharpens considerably and shows evidence for resolved hyperfine structure.

Isotope effects of reactions in quantum solids initiated by IR + UV lasers: quantum model simulations for Cl((2)P(3/2)) + X(2)(ν) → XCl + X in X(2) matrices (X = H, D)

Six isotope effects (i)-(vi) are discovered for the reactions Cl + H(2)(ν) → HCl + H in solid para-H(2) ( 1 ) versus Cl + D(2)(ν) → DCl + D in ortho-D(2) ( 2 ), by means of quantum reaction dynamics simulations, within the frame of our simple model ( J. Phys. Chem. A 2009 , 113 , 7630 . ). Experimentally, the reactions may be initiated for ν = 0 and ν ≥ 1, by means of "UV only" photodissociation of the matrix-isolated precursor, Cl(2), or by "IR + UV" coirradiation ( Kettwich , S. C. , Raston , P. L. , and Anderson , D. T. J. Phys. Chem. A 2009 , 113 , 7621 . ), respectively. Specifically, (i) various shape and Feshbach reaction resonances correlate with vibrational thresholds of reactants and products, due to the near-thermoneutrality and low barrier of the system. The energetic density of resonances increases as the square root of mass, from M(X) = M(H) to M(D). (ii) The state selective reaction ( 1 ), ν = 1, is supported by a shape resonance, whereas this type of resonance is absent in ( 2 ), ν = 1. As a consequence, time-resolved measurements should monitor different three-step versus direct error-function type evolutions of the formation of the products. (iii) The effective barrier is lower for reaction 1 , ν = 0, enhancing the tunneling rate, as compared to that for reaction 2 , ν = 0. (iv) For reference, the reaction probabilities P versus total energy E(tot) in the gas exhibit sharp resonance peaks or zigzag behaviors of the reaction probability P versus total energy, near the levels of resonances ( Persky , A. and Baer , M. J. Chem. Phys . 1974 , 60 , 133 . ). These features tend to be washed out and broadened for reaction 1 , and even more so for reaction 2 . For comparison, they disappear for reactions in classical solids. (v) The slopes of P versus E(tot) below the potential barrier increase more steeply for reaction 1 , ν = 0, than for reaction 2 , ν = 0. This enhances the tunneling rate of the heavier isotopomer, reaction 2 , ν = 0, compared to that for reaction 1 . (vi) For a given value of the UV frequency, the translational energy E(trans) increases with mass M(X). Again, this effect supports tunneling of the heavier isotopomer. The isotope effects (i)-(iii), (iv)-(v), and (vi) may be classified as energetic, translational amplitude, and kinematic, respectively. Specifically, the effects (iv)-(v) are due to a systematic decrease of the amplitudes of translational motions of the reactant molecules, from quasi infinite in the gas via still rather large values of para-H(2)(ν) and smaller values for ortho-D(2)(ν) to very small values in classical solids. These isotope effects are special phenomena in quantum solids, which do not occur, neither in the gas phase nor in classical solids. Quantitative predictions, e.g., for the effects of increasing UV frequency on the ratio of reactions probabilities for the UV only versus IR + UV experiments, must account for the interplay of various isotope effects, e.g., (vi) combined with the antagonistic effects (iii) versus (iv) and (v).

Quantum effects of translational motions in solid para-hydrogen and ortho-deuterium: anharmonic extension of the Einstein model

An anharmonic extension of the Einstein model is developed in order to describe the effect of translational zero point motion on structural and thermodynamic properties of para-H(2) and ortho-D(2) crystals in the zero temperature limit. Accordingly, the molecules carry out large amplitude translational motions in their matrix cage, which are formed by the frozen environment of all other molecules. These translations lead from the molecular equilibrium positions via the harmonic to the anharmonic domain of the potential energy surface. The resulting translational distributions are roughly isotropic, and they have approximately Gaussian shapes, with rather broad full widths at half-maximum, FWHM(para-H(2)/ortho-D(2)) = 1.36/1.02 Å. The translational zero point energies induce expansions of the crystals, in nearly quantitative agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, they make significant contributions to the sublimation energies and zero pressure bulk moduli. These quantum effects decrease with heavier molecular masses. The corresponding isotope effects for ortho-D(2) compared to para-H(2) are confirmed by application of the model to Ar crystals. The results imply consequences for laser induced reaction dynamics of dopants with their host crystals.

The Cl + H2 --> HCl + H reaction induced by IR + UV irradiation of Cl2 in solid para-H2: quantum model simulation

Recent experimental investigations by the group of D. T. Anderson (Kettwich, S. C.; Raston, P. L.; Anderson, D. T. J. Phys. Chem. A 2009, 113, DOI 10.1021/jp811206a) show that the reaction Cl + H(2) --> HCl + H in the para-H(2) crystal can be induced by infrared (IR) + ultraviolet (UV) coirradiations causing vibrational pre-excitation of the molecular reactant, H(2)(v=1), and generation of the atomic reactant, Cl((2)P(3/2)), by near-resonant photodissociation of a matrix-isolated Cl(2) molecule in the C (1)Pi(u) state, respectively. The corresponding reaction probability P(v=1) for the reactants Cl + H(2)(v=1) is approximately 0.15; this is approximately 25 times larger than P(v=0) for Cl + H(2)(v=0) (as initiated by pure UV irradiation). We present a simple three-step quantum model which accounts for some important parts of the experimental results and allows predictions for other scenarios, for example, UV photodissociation of the Cl(2) molecule by a laser pulse. The first step, vibrational pre-excitation of H(2), yields the molecular initial state which is described using the Einstein model of the para-H(2) crystal. The second step, photodissociation of Cl(2), generates the Cl((2)P(3/2)) atom approaching H(2)(v=1). In the third step, Cl reacts with H(2)(v=1) much more efficiently than with H(2)(v=0) close to threshold. The ultrashort time domains (approximately 100 fs) of steps 2 plus 3 support one- and then two-dimensional models of photodissociation of Cl(2) by short laser pulses and of the subsequent reaction of the system Cl-H-H embedded in frozen environments. The widths of the corresponding wave function describing the translational motion of the reactants is revealed as a significant parameter which is determined not only by the duration of the laser pulse but, even more importantly, by the width of the Gaussian-type distribution of the center of mass of the H(2) molecule in its Einstein cell. As a consequence, the resulting P(v) are quite robust versus variations of the UV pulse durations, allowing extrapolations to continuous wave irradiation. Quantum dynamics simulations of the reaction reveal that the experimental results are due to energetic and dynamical effects.

Infrared spectra of N2O–(ortho-D2)N and N2O–(HD)N clusters trapped in bulk solid parahydrogen

High-resolution infrared spectra of the clusters N2O-(ortho-D2)N and N2O-(HD)N, N=1-4, isolated in bulk solid parahydrogen at liquid helium temperatures are studied in the 2225 cm-1 region of the nu3 antisymmetric stretch of N2O. The clusters form during vapor deposition of separate gas streams of a precooled hydrogen mixture (ortho-D2para-H2 or HDpara-H2) and N2O onto a BaF2 optical substrate held at approximately 2.5 K in a sample-in-vacuum liquid helium cryostat. The cluster spectra reveal the N2O nu3 vibrational frequency shifts to higher energy as a function of N, and the shifts are larger for ortho-D2 compared to HD. These vibrational shifts result from the reduced translational zero-point energy for N2O solvated by the heavier hydrogen isotopomers. These spectra allow the N=0 peak at 2221.634 cm-1, corresponding to the nu3 vibrational frequency of N2O isolated in pure solid parahydrogen, to be assigned. The intensity of the N=0 absorption feature displays a strong temperature dependence, suggesting that significant structural changes occur in the parahydrogen solvation environment of N2O in the 1.8-4.9 K temperature range studied.

The spin-orbit transition of atomic chlorine in solid H2, HD, and D2

Essential to understanding the reaction dynamics of spin-orbit (SO) excited atomic chlorine (2P1/2) with molecular hydrogen is experimental measurements of the SO splitting of Cl in the van der Waals region of the entrance channel to reaction. Here we report high-resolution direct absorption studies of the SO transition (2P1/2<--2P3/2) of atomic chlorine isolated in solid molecular hydrogen (H2, HD, and D2).