Matrix isolation study of the interaction of excited neon atoms with CF4. Infrared spectra of CF+3 and CF−3

Photodissociation dynamics of CF3CHO: C-C bond cleavage

The photodissociation dynamics of jet-cooled trifluoroacetaldehyde (CF₃CHO) into radical products, CF₃ + HCO, was explored using velocity mapped ion imaging over the wavelength range 297.5 nm ≤λ≤ 342.8 nm (33 613-29 172 cm^-1) covering the entire section of the absorption spectrum accessible with solar actinic wavelengths at the ground level. After initial excitation to the first excited singlet state, S₁, the radical dissociation proceeds largely via the first excited triplet state, T₁, at excitation energies above the T₁ barrier. By combining velocity-mapped ion imaging with high-level theory, we place this barrier at 368.3 ± 2.4 kJ mol^-1 (30 780 ± 200 cm^-1). After exciting to S₁ at energies below this barrier, the dissociation proceeds exclusively via the ground electronic state, S₀. The dissociation threshold is determined to be 335.7 ± 1.8 kJ mol^-1 (28 060 ± 150 cm^-1). Using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, the origin of the S₁ ← S₀ transition is assigned at 28 903 cm^-1. The S₀ dissociation channel is active at the S₁ origin, but the yield significantly increases above 29 100 cm^-1 due to enhanced intersystem crossing or internal conversion.

A mini-photofragment translational spectrometer with ion velocity map imaging using low voltage acceleration

A mini time-sliced ion velocity map imaging photofragment translational spectrometer using low voltage acceleration has been constructed. The innovation of this apparatus adopts a relative low voltage (30-150 V) to substitute the traditional high voltage (650-4000 V) to accelerate and focus the fragment ions. The overall length of the flight path is merely 12 cm. There are many advantages for this instrument, such as compact structure, less interference, and easy to operate and control. Low voltage acceleration gives a longer turn-around time to the photofragment ions forming a thicker Newton sphere, which provides sufficient time for slicing. Ion trajectory simulation has been performed for determining the structure dimensions and the operating voltages. The photodissociation and multiphoton ionization of O₂ at 224.999 nm is used to calibrate the ion images and examine the overall performance of the new spectrometer. The velocity resolution (Δν/ν) of this spectrometer from O₂ photodissociation is about 0.8%, which is better than most previous results using high acceleration voltage. For the case of CF₃I dissociation at 277.38 nm, many CF₃ vibrational states have been resolved, and the anisotropy parameter has been measured. The application of low voltage acceleration has shown its advantages on the ion velocity map imaging (VMI) apparatus. The miniaturization of the VMI instruments can be realized on the premise of high resolution.

Resolved (v1, v2 = 1) Combination Vibrational States of CF3 Fragments in the Photofragment Translational Spectra of CF3I

The photodissociation of CF₃I → CF₃(v₁,v₂) + I*/I has been investigated at 248, 266, and 277 nm with our high resolution mini-TOF photofragment translational spectrometer. Based on the theoretical calculations of Clary and of Bowman et al., now in this manuscript, we assign 701 cm^-1 to the CF symmetric stretch (breathing) ν₁ mode, and 1086 cm^-1 to the umbrella ν₂ mode of the CF₃ fragment. In the obtained TOF spectra of I⁺ from the I* channel, situated in the 701 cm^-1 gaps between the original series of (v₁, 0) vibrational peaks, a new series of weaker (v₁, 1) vibrational peaks are partially resolved. These observed new peaks with 1086 cm^-1 ν₂ mode excitation have never been reported in previous literature. In the TOF spectra of I⁺ from the I channel, the new series of (v₁, 1) peaks are also partially resolved. However, these spectra of I channel are less satisfactory, because for higher E_avl and higher E_T, the higher resolution of PTS is required. The potential energy at the curve crossing point and the excitation of CF₃ (v₁, 2) and (v₁, 3) vibrational states have been also analyzed.

Calculations of the active mode and energetic barrier to electron attachment to CF3 and comparison with kinetic modeling of experimental results

To provide a deeper understanding of the kinetics of electron attachment to CF₃, the six-dimensional potential energy surfaces of both CF₃ and CF₃^- were developed by fitting ∼3000 ab initio points per surface at the AE-CCSD(T)-F12a/AVTZ level using the permutation invariant polynomial-neural network (PIP-NN) approach. The fitted potential energy surfaces for CF₃ and CF₃^- had root mean square fitting errors relative to the ab initio calculations of 1.2 and 1.8 cm^-1, respectively. The main active mode for the crossing between the two potential energy surfaces was identified as the umbrella bending mode of CF₃ in C_3v symmetry. The lowest energy crossing point is located at R_CF = 1.306 Å and θ_FCF = 113.6° with the energy of 0.051 eV above the minimum of the CF₃ electronic surface. This value is only slightly larger than the experimental data 0.026 ± 0.01 eV determined by kinetic modeling of electron attachment to CF₃. The small discrepancy between the theoretical and experimentally measured values is analyzed.

Switching the Spin State of Diphenylcarbene via Halogen Bonding

The interactions between diphenylcarbene DPC and the halogen bond donors CF3I and CF3Br were investigated using matrix isolation spectroscopy (IR, UV-vis, and EPR) in combination with QM and QM/MM calculations. Both halogen bond donors CF3X form very strong complexes with the singlet state of DPC, but only weakly interact with triplet DPC. This results in a switching of the spin state of DPC, the singlet complexes becoming more stable than the triplet complexes. CF3I forms a second complex (type II) with DPC that is thermodynamically slightly more stable. Calculations predict that in this second complex the DPC···I distance is shorter than the F3C···I distance, whereas in the first (type I) complex the DPC···I distance is, as expected, longer. CF3Br only forms the type I complex. Upon irradiation I or Br, respectively, are transferred to the DPC carbene center and radical pairs are formed. Finally, on annealing, the formal C-X insertion product of DPC is observed. Thus, halogen bonding is a powerful new principle to control the spin state of reactive carbenes.

Chemical Reactions Triggered Using Electrons Photodetached from "Clean" Distributions of Anions Deposited in Cryogenic Matrices via Counterion Codeposition

Application of matrix isolation spectroscopy to ionic species is typically complicated by the presence of neutral contaminants during matrix deposition. Herein we demonstrate that simultaneous deposition of balanced currents of counterions with mass-selected ions of interest generates "clean" distributions of matrix-isolated metal carbonyl anions, where the only bands appearing in the CO-stretching region of the vibrational spectrum arise from ions. (Neutrals are initially absent.) Photodetachment by mild irradiation with visible light leads to complete conversion of the anions into their corresponding neutral species. The photodetached electrons, in turn, initiate covalent chemistry, inducing C-C bond formation following electron-capture by CO van der Waals dimers to produce trans-OCCO(-). The initial clean distribution of ions enables clear connections to be drawn between the spectral changes occurring at each experimental step, thus demonstrating the potential of the counterion codeposition technique to facilitate detailed studies of chemistry involving ions and electron transfer in cryogenic matrices.

Study of interaction between NO radicals and Martin's spirosilane by means of IR spectroscopy

The matrix isolation method is used to record the IR spectrum of C18H8O2F12Si in the 4000-500 cm(-1) range. To gain an IR spectrum with a sufficient resolution, this technique was used with neon as the dilution medium at 5 K. The generated species were characterized by in situ fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Once the Martin's spirosilane 1 (C18H8O2F12Si) was characterized, its reactivity toward NO was investigated under the same experimental conditions (i.e., using neon as a dilution medium at 5 K). In this case, the use of neon at very low temperature leads to the formation of a chemically inert matrix in which the species are trapped and isolated from one another, thus hindering consecutive reactions. As a consequence, intermediates can be observed. This approach allowed us to characterize the NO adduct, leading to the formation of 1-(NO). Concentration effects as well as annealing experiments were carried out. In addition to this experimental approach, products were identified by using reference spectra. Our results proved that, in the dilute phase, the reaction between 1 and NO radicals leads to the formation of an adduct. This stable species can further react with NO to form a more stable compound: 1-(NO)2. This proves the ability of such species to trap NO.

Mass spectrometric investigation and formation mechanisms of high-mass species in the downstream region of Ar/CF(4)/O(2) plasmas

Mass analysis has been conducted on the positive ions and neutral species in the downstream region of Ar/CF(4)/O(2) plasmas. The neutral species have been ionized by Li(+) attachment before mass analysis. The CF(2)O(+), C(2)F(5)O(+) and C(n)F(2n-1)O(+) (1 <or=n<or= 6) positive ions and the C(n)F(2n)O (1 <or=n<or= 7) neutral species have been found as the species composed of C, F and O. The intensity of C(2)F(4)O observed via the Li(+)-attachment mass spectra has been exceptionally weak in comparison to the intensities of CF(2)O and C(3)F(6)O. In addition, neither C(2)F(4) nor C(3)F(6) have been observed, although C(n)F(2n) (n>or= 4) have been observed as the species composed only of C and F. These findings suggest that C(n)F(2n)O (n>or= 3) are produced mainly through the following reactions: CF(3)(CF(2))(m)CF = CF(2) + O((3)P) --> CF(2)((3)B(1)) + CF(3)(CF(2))(m)CFO (m>or= 1) and CF(3)(CF(2))(m)CF = CF(CF(2))(n)CF(3) + O((3)P) --> CF(3)(CF(2))(m)CF + CF(3)(CF(2))(n)CFO (m, n>or= 1), where the CF(3)(CF(2))(n)- group might have side chains, as in (CF(3))(2)CF(CF(2))(n-2)-. With the help of quantum chemistry calculations of reaction enthalpies and transition states, the formation mechanisms of the observed species have been discussed in detail.

Mechanistic Studies on the Formation of Trifluoromethyl Sulfur Pentafluoride, SF5CF3a Greenhouse Gas

The formation of SF5CF3(X1A'), through the radical-radical recombination of SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1), was observed for the first time in low-temperature sulfur hexafluoride-carbon tetrafluoride matrices at 12 K via infrared spectroscopy upon irradiation of the ices with energetic electrons. The nu1 fundamentals of the SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1) radicals were monitored at 857 and 1110 cm-1, respectively; the newly formed trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride molecule, SF5CF3(X1A'), was detected via its absorptions at 846 and 1160 cm-1. This formation mechanism suggests that a source for this potentially dangerous greenhouse gas might be the recombination of SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1) radicals on aerosol particles in the terrestrial atmosphere.

Quasiclassical trajectory study of energy transfer and collision-induced dissociation in hyperthermal Ar + CH4 and Ar + CF4 collisions

We present a study of energy transfer in collisions of Ar with methane and perfluoromethane at hyperthermal energies (E(coll) = 4-10 eV). Quasiclassical trajectory calculations of Ar + CX(4) (X = H, F) collisions indicate that energy transfer from reagents' translation to internal modes of the alkane molecule is greatly enhanced by fluorination. The reasons for the enhancement of energy transfer upon fluorination are shown to emerge from a decrease in the hydrocarbon vibrational frequencies of the CX(4) molecule with increasing the mass of the X atom, and to an increase of the steepness of the Ar-CX(4) intermolecular potential. At high collision energies, we find that the cross section of Ar + CF(4) collisions in which the amount of energy transfer is larger than needed to break a C-F bond is at least 1 order of magnitude larger than the cross sections of Ar + CH(4) collisions producing CH(4) with energy above the dissociation limit. In addition, collision-induced dissociation is detected in short time scales in the case of the fluorinated species at E(coll) = 10 eV. These results suggest that the cross section for degradation of fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers under the action of nonreactive hyperthermal gas-phase species might be significantly larger than that of hydrogenated hydrocarbon polymers. We also illustrate a practical way to derive intramolecular potential energy surfaces for bond-breaking collisions by improving semiempirical Hamiltonians based on grids of high-quality ab initio calculations.

The Syntheses of Carbocations by Use of the Noble-Gas Oxidant, [XeOTeF5][Sb(OTeF5)6]: The Syntheses and Characterization of the CX3+ (X = Cl, Br, OTeF5) and CBr(OTeF5)2+ Cations and Theoretical Studies of CX3+ and BX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I, OTeF5)

The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations have been synthesized by oxidation of a halide ligand of CCl(4) and CBr(4) at -78 degrees C in SO(2)ClF solvent by use of [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)]. The CBr(3)(+) cation reacts further with BrOTeF(5) to give CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(2). The [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)] salt was also found to react with BrOTeF(5) in SO(2)ClF solvent at -78 degrees C to give the Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cation. The CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cations and C(OTeF(5))(4) have been characterized in SO(2)ClF solution by (13)C and/or (19)F NMR spectroscopy at -78 degrees C. The X-ray crystal structures of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations have been determined in [CCl(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)], [CBr(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].SO(2)ClF, and [C(OTeF(5))(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].3SO(2)ClF at -173 degrees C. The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) salts were stable at room temperature, whereas the CBr(n)(OTeF(5))(3-n)(+) salts were stable at 0 degrees C for several hours. The cations were found to be trigonal planar about carbon, with the CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations showing no significant interactions between their carbon atoms and the fluorine atoms of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) anions. In contrast, the C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cation interacts with an oxygen of each of two SO(2)ClF molecules by coordination along the three-fold axis of the cation. The solid-state Raman spectra of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) salts of CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) have been obtained and assigned with the aid of electronic structure calculations. The CCl(3)(+) cation displays a well-resolved (35)Cl/(37)Cl isotopic pattern for the symmetric CCl(3) stretch. The energy-minimized geometries, natural charges, and natural bond orders of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CI(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations and of the presently unknown CF(3)(+) cation have been calculated using HF and MP2 methods have been compared with those of the isoelectronic BX(3) molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, I, and OTeF(5)). The (13)C and (11)B chemical shifts for CX(3)(+) (X = Cl, Br, I) and BX(3) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) were calculated by the GIAO method, and their trends were assessed in terms of paramagnetic contributions and spin-orbit coupling.