Mechanism of the ultraviolet photodissociation of chloroethylenes determined from the Doppler profiles, spatial anisotropy, and power dependence of the photofragments

Ultraviolet photodissociation of vinyl iodide: understanding the halogen dependence of photodissociation mechanisms in vinyl halides

The photodissociation of vinyl iodide has been investigated at several wavelengths between 193 and 266 nm using three techniques: time-resolved Fourier transform emission spectroscopy, multiple pass laser absorption spectroscopy, and velocity-mapped ion imaging. The only dissociation channel observed is C-I bond cleavage to produce C2H3 (nu, N) + I (2P(J)) at all wavelengths investigated. Unlike photodissociation of other vinyl halides (C2H3X, X = F, Cl, Br), in which the HX product channel is significant, no HI elimination is observed. The angular and translational energy distributions of I atoms indicate that atomic products arise solely from dissociation on excited states with negligible contribution from internal conversion to the ground state. We derive an upper limit on the C-I bond strength of D0(C2H3-I) < or = 65 kcal mol(-1). The ground-state potential-energy surface of vinyl iodide is explored by ab initio calculations. We present a model in which the highest occupied molecular orbital in vinyl halides has increasing X(np) non-bonding character with increasing halogen mass. This change leads to reduced torsional force around the C-C bond in the excited state. Because the ground-state energy is highest when the CH2 plane is perpendicular to the CHX plane, a reduced torsional force in the excited state correlates with a lower rate for internal conversion compared to excited-state C-X bond fission. This model explains the gradual change in photodissociation mechanisms of vinyl halides from the dominance of internal conversion in vinyl fluoride to the dominance of excited-state dissociation in vinyl iodide.

Contribution of the Gouy phase to two-pathway coherent control of the photoionization and photodissociation of vinyl chloride

The electric field of a light wave accumulates a pi phase shift as it passes through a focus. We show here how this effect, known as the Gouy phase, may be used to control the branching ratio of a unimolecular reaction when the products are formed with different numbers of photons. We demonstrate this control method for the ionization and dissociation of vinyl chloride, using absorption of 177 and 532 nm photons to induce a pair of interfering paths. Excellent agreement between the observed and calculated phase shift as a function of the axial coordinate of the laser focus indicates that fragmentation occurs via a ladder switching mechanism. The axial dependence of the modulation depth is evidence of loss of coherence at higher internal temperatures of the molecule.

The photodissociation mechanisms of acrylonitrile: Ab initio calculations on reaction channels and surface intersections

The dissociations of CH(2)CHCN into CH(2)CH+CN and CH(2)C+HCN in the S(0), T(1), and (1)pi(2)pi(C[triple bond]N) ( *) (definitions of pi orbitals can refer to computational details) states, have been explored at the complete active space self-consistent field level of theory employing the Dunning correlation consistent triple-zeta basis set. The lowest energy points of the surface crossing seams have been searched. Two conical intersections, from (1)pi(C[triple bond]N)pi(1) ( *) to (1)pi(2)pi(1) ( *) (CI(1)) and from (1)pi(2)pi(1) ( *) to S(0) (CI(2)), and one intersystem crossing point (T(1)/S(0)) have been located. The energies of all critical points have been recomputed with the multiconfigurational second-order perturbation method. At each conical intersection, derivative coupling and unscaled gradient difference vectors have been analyzed to determine the relaxation channels that the molecule may evolve in after nonradiative decay. Once the molecule is photoexcited to the (1)pi(2)pi(1) ( *) or (1)pi(C[triple bond]N)pi(1) ( *) state, it would relax along the similar pathway: funneling through CI(1) and then CI(2), and finally populate the ground state. Our results show that upon 193 nm photoexcitation, the most probable reaction channel is the ground-state HCN elimination following radiationless decays from excited states through surface crossings, which consists with experimental results J. Chem. Phys. 108, 5784 (1998). The investigated dissociation channels on the (1)pi(2)pi(C[triple bond]N) ( *) surface, which are inaccessible upon 193 nm photoexcitation, may provide information for reactions induced by higher energy excitations.

Role of the gouy phase in the coherent phase control of the photoionization and photodissociation of vinyl chloride

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the Gouy phase of a focused laser beam may be used to control the photoinduced reactions of a polyatomic molecule. Quantum mechanical interference between one- and three-photon excitation of vinyl chloride produces a small phase lag between the dissociation and ionization channels on the axis of the molecular beam. Away from the axis, the Gouy phase introduces a much larger phase lag that agrees quantitatively with theory without any adjustable parameters.

Photodissociation dynamics of allyl bromide at 234, 265, and 267 nm

The photodissociation dynamics of allyl bromide was investigated at 234, 265, and 267 nm. A two-dimensional photofragment ion velocity imaging technique coupled with a [2+1] resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization scheme was utilized to obtain the angular and translational energy distributions of the nascent Br* (2P1/2) and Br (2P3/2) atoms. The Br fragments show a bimodal translational energy distribution, while the Br* fragments reveal one translational energy distribution. The vertical excited energies and the mixed electronic character of excited states were calculated at ab initio configuration interaction method. It is presumed that the high kinetic energy bromine atoms are attributed to the predissociation from 1(pipi*) or 1(pisigma*) state to the repulsive 1(nsigma*) state, and to the direct dissociation from 3(nsigma*) and 3(pisigma*) states, while the low kinetic energy bromine atoms stem from internal conversion from the lowest 3(pipi*) state to 3(pisigma*) state.

Photodissociation dynamics of vinyl fluoride (CH2CHF) at 157 and 193nm: Distributions of kinetic energy and branching ratios

Using photofragment translational spectroscopy and tunable vacuum-ultraviolet ionization, we measured the time-of-flight spectra of fragments upon photodissociation of vinyl fluoride (CH2CHF) at 157 and 193 nm. Four primary dissociation pathways--elimination of atomic F, atomic H, molecular HF, and molecular H2--are identified at 157 nm. Dissociation to C2H3 + F is first observed in the present work. Decomposition of internally hot C2H3 and C2H2F occurs spontaneously. The barrier heights of CH2CH --> CHCH + H and cis-CHCHF --> CHCH + F are evaluated to be 40+/-2 and 44+/-2 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The photoionization yield spectra indicate that the C2H3 and C2H2F radicals have ionization energies of 8.4+/-0.1 and 8.8+/-0.1 eV, respectively. Universal detection of photoproducts allowed us to determine the total branching ratios, distributions of kinetic energy, average kinetic energies, and fractions of translational energy release for all dissociation pathways of vinyl fluoride. In contrast, on optical excitation at 193 nm the C2H2 + HF channel dominates whereas the C2H3 + F channel is inactive. This reaction C2H3F --> C2H2 + HF occurs on the ground surface of potential energy after excitation at both wavelengths of 193 and 157 nm, indicating that internal conversion from the photoexcited state to the electronic ground state of vinyl fluoride is efficient. We computed the electronic energies of products and the ionization energies of fluorovinyl radicals.

Electronic spectra and photodissociation of vinyl chloride: A symmetry-adapted cluster configuration interaction study

The vertical absorption spectrum and photodissociation mechanism of vinyl chloride (VC) were studied by using symmetry-adapted cluster configuration interaction theory. The important vertical pi --> pi* excitation was intensively examined with various basis sets up to aug-cc-pVTZ augmented with appropriate Rydberg functions. The excitation energy for pi --> pi* transition obtained in the present study, 6.96 eV, agrees well with the experimental value, 6.7-6.9 eV. Calculated excitation energies along with the oscillator strengths clarify that the main excitation in VC is the pi --> pi* excitation. Contrary to the earlier theoretical reports, the results obtained here support that the C-Cl bond dissociation takes place through the n(Cl-)sigma(C-Cl)* state.

Ab initio calculations of triplet excited states and potential-energy surfaces of vinyl chloride: insights into spectroscopy and photodissociation dynamics

The equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of three low-lying triplet excited states of vinyl chloride have been calculated using the state-averaged complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set and an active space of four electrons distributed in 13 orbitals. Both adiabatic and vertical excitation energies have been obtained using the state-averaged CASSCF and the multireference configuration-interaction methods. The potential-energy surfaces of six low-lying singlet states have also been calculated. While the 3(pi, pi*) state has a nonplanar equilibrium structure, the 3(pi, 3s) and 3(pi, sigma*) states are planar. The calculated vertical excitation energy of the 3(pi, pi*) state is in agreement with the experiment. The singlet excited states are found to be multiconfigurational, in particular, the first excited state is of (pi, 3s) character at the planar equilibrium structure, of (pi, sigma*) as the C-Cl bond elongates, and of (pi, pi*) for highly twisted geometries. Avoided crossings are observed between the potential-energy surfaces of the first three singlet excited states. The absorption spectra of vinyl chloride at 5.5-6.5 eV can be unambiguously assigned to the transitions from the ground state to the first singlet excited state. The dissociation of Cl atoms following 193-nm excitation is concluded to take place via two pathways: one is through (pi, sigma*) at planar or nearly planar structures leading to fast Cl atoms and the other through (pi, pi*) at twisted geometries from which internal conversion to the ground state and subsequent dissociation produces slow Cl atoms.

The dynamics of Br(2Pj) formation in the photodissociation of vinyl and perfluorovinyl bromides

The photodissociation dynamics of vinyl bromide and perfluorovinyl bromide have been investigated at 234 nm using a photofragment ion imaging technique coupled with a state-selective [2+1] resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization scheme. The nascent Br atoms stem from the primary C-Br bond dissociation leading to the formation of C2H3(X) and Br(2Pj;j=1/2,3/2). The obtained translational energy distributions have been well fitted by a single Boltzmann and three Gaussian functions. Boltzmann component has not been observed in the perfluorovinyl bromide. The repulsive 3A'(n,sigma *) state has been considered as the origin of the highest Gaussian components. Middle translational energy components with Gaussian shapes are produced from the 1A"(pi,sigma*) and/or 3A"(pi,sigma*) which are very close in energy. Low-energy Gaussian components are produced via predissociation from the 3A'(pi,pi*) state. The assignments have also been supported by the recoil anisotropy corresponding to the individual components. It is suggested that intersystem crossing from the triplet states to the ground state has been attributed to the Boltzmann component and the fluorination reduces the probability of this electronic relaxation process.

Chemical reaction dynamics beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

To predict the branching between energetically allowed product channels, chemists often rely on statistical transition state theories or exact quantum scattering calculations on a single adiabatic potential energy surface. The potential energy surface gives the energetic barriers to each chemical reaction and allows prediction of the reaction rates. Yet, chemical reactions evolve on a single potential energy surface only if, in simple terms, the electronic wavefunction can evolve from the reactant electronic configuration to the product electronic configuration on a time scale that is fast compared to the nuclear dynamics through the transition state. The experiments reviewed here investigate how the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation at a barrier along an adiabatic reaction coordinate can alter the dynamics of and the expected branching between molecular dissociation pathways. The work reviewed focuses on three questions that have come to the forefront with recent theory and experiments: Which classes of chemical reactions evidence dramatic nonadiabatic behavior that influences the branching between energetically allowed reaction pathways? How do the intramolecular distance and orientation between the electronic orbitals involved influence the nonadiabaticity in the reaction? How can the detailed nuclear dynamics mediate the effective nonadiabatic coupling encountered in a chemical reaction?

Disturbance of laser-induced-fluorescence measurements of NO in methane-air flames containing chlorinated species by photochemical effects induced by 225-nm-laser excitation

Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of NO in CH(4)-air flames seeded with CH(3)Cl and CH(2)Cl(2) are described. The measurements are perturbed by strong photochemical effects characterized by UV emissions. The contribution of these background emissions is taken into account on the basis of an on-line-off-line resonance procedure. First results indicate an important increase of NO in the presence of chlorinated species. Background emissions observed in the range 220-260 nm and at 278 nm are ascribed, respectively, to electronically excited HCl and CCl photofragments. It is shown that C(2)H(3)Cl and CHCl(2) species are responsible for the formation of HCl and CCl, respectively, and a photolytic mechanism for formation of the photofragments is proposed.