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Hrodmarsson HR, Garcia GA, Bourehil L, Nahon L, Gans B, Boyé-Péronne S, Guillemin JC, Loison JC. The isomer distribution of C 6H 6 products from the propargyl radical gas-phase recombination investigated by threshold-photoelectron spectroscopy. Commun Chem 2024; 7:156. [PMID: 38997498 PMCID: PMC11245511 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01239-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The resonance-stabilization of the propargyl radical (C3H3) makes it among the most important reactive intermediates in extreme environments and grants it a long enough lifetime to recombine in both terrestrial combustion media and cold molecular clouds in space. This makes the propargyl self-reaction a pivotal step in the formation of benzene, the first aromatic ring, to eventually lead to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a variety of environments. In this work, by producing propargyl radicals in a flow tube where propyne reacted with F atoms and probing the reaction products by mass-selected threshold-photoelectron spectroscopy (TPES), we identified eight C6H6 products in total, including benzene. On top of providing the first comprehensive measurements of the branching ratios of the eight identified C6H6 isomers in the propargyl self reaction products (4 mbar, 298 K conditions), this study also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using isomer-selective TPES to identify and quantify reaction products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helgi Rafn Hrodmarsson
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, St. Aubin, F-91192, Gif sur Yvette, France.
- Univ Paris Est Créteil and Université Paris Cité, CNRS, LISA UMR 7583, 94010, Créteil, France.
| | - Gustavo A Garcia
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, St. Aubin, F-91192, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Lyna Bourehil
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, St. Aubin, F-91192, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Laurent Nahon
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, St. Aubin, F-91192, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Bérenger Gans
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Séverine Boyé-Péronne
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Jean-Claude Guillemin
- Univ Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR - UMR6226, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Loison
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, F-33400, Talence, France.
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2
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Karir G, Mendez-Vega E, Portela-Gonzalez A, Saraswat M, Sander W, Hemberger P. The elusive phenylethynyl radical and its cation: synthesis, electronic structure, and reactivity. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:18256-18265. [PMID: 38904382 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp02129k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Alkynyl radicals and cations are crucial reactive intermediates in chemistry, but often evade direct detection. Herein, we report the direct observation of the phenylethynyl radical (C6H5CC˙) and its cation (C6H5CC+), which are two of the most reactive intermediates in organic chemistry. The radical is generated via pyrolysis of (bromoethynyl)benzene at temperatures above 1500 K and is characterized by photoion mass-selected threshold photoelectron spectroscopy (ms-TPES). Photoionization of the phenylethynyl radical yields the phenylethynyl cation, which has never been synthesized due to its extreme electrophilicity. Vibrationally-resolved ms-TPES assisted by ab initio calculations unveiled the complex electronic structure of the phenylethynyl cation, which appears at an adiabatic ionization energy (AIE) of 8.90 ± 0.05 eV and exhibits an uncommon triplet (3B1) ground state, while the closed-shell singlet (1A1) state lies just 2.8 kcal mol-1 (0.12 eV) higher in energy. The reactive phenylethynyl radical abstracts hydrogen to form ethynylbenzene (C6H5CCH) but also isomerizes via H-shift to the o-, m-, and p-ethynylphenyl isomers (C6H4CCH). These radicals are very reactive and undergo ring-opening followed by H-loss to form a mixture of C8H4 triynes, along with low yields of cyclic 3- and 4-ethynylbenzynes (C6H3CCH). At higher temperatures, dehydrogenation from the unbranched C8H4 triynes forms the linear tetraacetylene (C8H2), an astrochemically relevant polyyne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginny Karir
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.
| | - Enrique Mendez-Vega
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.
| | | | - Mayank Saraswat
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.
| | - Wolfram Sander
- Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.
| | - Patrick Hemberger
- Laboratory for Synchrotron Radiation and Femtochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland.
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Pan Z, Puente-Urbina A, Batool SR, Bodi A, Wu X, Zhang Z, van Bokhoven JA, Hemberger P. Tuning the zeolite acidity enables selectivity control by suppressing ketene formation in lignin catalytic pyrolysis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4512. [PMID: 37500623 PMCID: PMC10374901 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40179-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Unveiling catalytic mechanisms at a molecular level aids rational catalyst design and selectivity control for process optimization. In this study, we find that the Brønsted acid site density of the zeolite catalyst efficiently controls the guaiacol catalytic pyrolysis mechanism. Guaiacol demethylation to catechol initiates the reaction, as evidenced by the detected methyl radicals. The mechanism branches to form either fulvenone (c-C5H4 = C = O), a reactive ketene intermediate, by catechol dehydration, or phenol by acid-catalyzed dehydroxylation. At high Brønsted acid site density, fulvenone formation is inhibited due to surface coordination configuration of its precursor, catechol. By quantifying reactive intermediates and products utilizing operando photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy, we find evidence that ketene suppression is responsible for the fivefold phenol selectivity increase. Complementary fulvenone reaction pathway calculations, along with 29Si NMR-MAS spectroscopy results corroborate the mechanism. The proposed, flexible operando approach is applicable to a broad variety of heterogeneous catalytic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyou Pan
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Allen Puente-Urbina
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Syeda Rabia Batool
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andras Bodi
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Xiangkun Wu
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Zihao Zhang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen A van Bokhoven
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Patrick Hemberger
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
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Selby TM, Goulay F, Soorkia S, Ray A, Jasper AW, Klippenstein SJ, Morozov AN, Mebel AM, Savee JD, Taatjes CA, Osborn DL. Radical-Radical Reactions in Molecular Weight Growth: The Phenyl + Propargyl Reaction. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:2577-2590. [PMID: 36905386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c08121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talitha M Selby
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, West Bend, Wisconsin 53095, United States
| | - Fabien Goulay
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Satchin Soorkia
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Amelia Ray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53144, United States
| | - Ahren W Jasper
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Stephen J Klippenstein
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Alexander N Morozov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Alexander M Mebel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - John D Savee
- KLA Corporation, Milpitas, California 95035, United States
| | - Craig A Taatjes
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Mail Stop 9055, Livermore, California 94551, United States
| | - David L Osborn
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Mail Stop 9055, Livermore, California 94551, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
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5
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Zádor J, Martí C, Van de Vijver R, Johansen SL, Yang Y, Michelsen HA, Najm HN. Automated Reaction Kinetics of Gas-Phase Organic Species over Multiwell Potential Energy Surfaces. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:565-588. [PMID: 36607817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c06558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Automation of rate-coefficient calculations for gas-phase organic species became possible in recent years and has transformed how we explore these complicated systems computationally. Kinetics workflow tools bring rigor and speed and eliminate a large fraction of manual labor and related error sources. In this paper we give an overview of this quickly evolving field and illustrate, through five detailed examples, the capabilities of our own automated tool, KinBot. We bring examples from combustion and atmospheric chemistry of C-, H-, O-, and N-atom-containing species that are relevant to molecular weight growth and autoxidation processes. The examples shed light on the capabilities of automation and also highlight particular challenges associated with the various chemical systems that need to be addressed in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Zádor
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore94550, California, United States
| | - Carles Martí
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore94550, California, United States
| | | | - Sommer L Johansen
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore94550, California, United States
| | - Yoona Yang
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore94550, California, United States
| | - Hope A Michelsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Habib N Najm
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore94550, California, United States
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6
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Pan Z, Bodi A, van Bokhoven JA, Hemberger P. Operando PEPICO unveils the catalytic fast pyrolysis mechanism of the three methoxyphenol isomers. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:21786-21793. [PMID: 36082786 PMCID: PMC9491049 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02741k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The development of lignin valorization processes such as catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) to produce fine chemicals and fuels leads to a more sustainable future. The implementation of CFP is enabled by understanding the chemistry of lignin constituents, which, however, requires thorough mechanistic investigations by detecting reactive species. In this contribution, we investigate the CFP of the three methoxyphenol (MP) isomers over H-ZSM-5 utilizing vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation and operando photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy. All isomers demethylate at first to yield benzenediols, from which dehydroxylation reactions proceed to produce phenol and benzene. Additional pathways to form benzene proceed over cyclopentadiene, methylcyclopentadiene, and fulvene intermediates. The detection of trace amounts of methanol in the product stream suggests a demethoxylation reaction to yield phenol. Guaiacol (2- or ortho-MP) exhibits slightly higher reactivity compared to 3-MP and 4-MP, due to the formation of the fulvenone ketene, which opens additional routes to benzene and phenol. When compared to benzenediol catalytic pyrolysis, the additional methyl group in MP leads to high conversion at lower reactor temperatures, which is mostly owed to the lower H3C–O vs. H–O bond energy and the possibility to demethoxylate to produce phenol. Demethylation, demethoxylation and fulvenone ketene formation determine the reactivity of methoxyphenols over H-ZSM-5 to yield phenols, benzene and toluene. Intermediates are isomer-selectively detected utilizing threshold photoelectron spectroscopy.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyou Pan
- Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. .,Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andras Bodi
- Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
| | - Jeroen A van Bokhoven
- Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. .,Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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