Rotational energy transfer within CH A 2Δ(v=0) and B 2Σ−(v=0) states by collisions with He, Ar, N2, CO, N2O, and CHBr3 using a time-resolved Fourier transform spectrometer

Vibrational and rotational energy transfers involving the CH B 2Sigma(-) v=1 vibrational level in collisions with Ar, CO, and N2O

With photolysis-probe technique, we have studied vibrational and rotational energy transfers of CH involving the B (2)Sigma(-) (v=1, 0<or=N<or=6, F) state by collisions with Ar, CO, and N(2)O. For the vibrational energy transfer (VET) measurements, the time-resolved fluorescence of the B-X(0,0) band is monitored following the (1,0) band excitation. For the rotational energy transfer (RET) measurements, the laser-induced fluorescence of the initially populated state is dispersed using a step-scan Fourier transform spectrometer. The time-resolved spectra obtained in the nanosecond regime may yield the RET information under a single pressure of the collider. The rate constants of intramolecular energy transfers are evaluated with simulation of kinetic models. The VET lies in the range of 4x10(-12) to 4x10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), with efficiency following the order of Ar<CO<N(2)O, reflecting the average over Boltzmann rotational distribution. The RET rates are more rapid by one to two orders of magnitude, comparable to the gas kinetic, with the trend of Ar<CO<N(2)O. The transfer rates decrease with increasing N and DeltaN, proceeding via the DeltaN=-1 transitions slightly larger than DeltaN=+1. With the fine-structure labels resolved up to N=6, the fine-structure-conserving collisions prevail increasingly with increasing N in DeltaN not equal 0. The rate constants for the F(2)-->F(1) transitions are larger than the reverse F(1)-->F(2) transitions in DeltaN=0 for the Ar and CO collisions. The trend of fine-structure conservation is along the order of N(2)O<CO approximately Ar. For the CH-Ar collisions, the fine-structure conservation is less pronounced as compared with the v=0 level reported previously. In general, the propensity rules obeyed in the v=0 collision with Ar are valid in v=1, but the latter case shows a weaker tendency. It might be caused by the anisotropy difference of interaction potential when vibrational excitation is considered. For the polyatomic collider, the strong long-range dipole-dipole interaction may have the chance to vary the rotational orientation to increase the fine-structure-changing transitions.

Catalytic isomerization of quadricyclane using fourier transform near-infrared absorption spectroscopy: diffusion, conversion, and temperature effect

By using Fourier transform near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy, the kinetic behaviors of quadricyclane isomerization, as catalyzed by anhydrous CuSO(4) in chloroform mixture with and without agitation, are presented. Given the acquired NIR spectra, the concentration decay of quadricyclane with the reaction time is determined with the aid of partial least-squares analysis. When the mixture is not agitated, the diffusion coefficients in chloroform are evaluated to be (3.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) at 27 degrees C and (4.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) at 39 degrees C. In the size-dependent experiments of the catalyst, the one-site and two-site coordinated conversion rate constants are further determined to be (8.5 +/- 5.9) x 10(-6) s(-1) A(-1) and (2.2 +/- 0.8) x 10(-8) s(-1) A(-2), respectively, at 27 degrees C and (1.3 +/- 0.8) x 10(-5) s(-1) A(-1) and (1.92 +/- 0.01) x 10(-6) s(-1) A(-2), respectively, at 39 degrees C. A denotes the total catalyst surface area per unit effective volume of solvent. Accordingly, the activation energies for one-site and two-site coordination are evaluated to be 24.8 and 286.2 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The reaction is dominated by one-site coordination (1:1 complex) between the reactant and the catalyst. Unless temperature increases, the two-site coordinated reaction may be ignored. In contrast, when analogous experiments are performed in the stirred solution, the diffusion factor is ignored but the conversion rate constants rise due to the increase of collision frequency. For instance, the one-site and two-site coordinated rate constants are increased to (1.7 +/- 1.4) x 10(-5) s(-1) A(-1) and (1.27 +/- 0.06) x 10(-5) s(-1) A(-2) at 39 degrees C. The two-site coordinated reaction rate is enhanced by a factor of 10. Thus, isomerization may proceed via both 1:1 and 1:2 coordination between the reactant and the catalyst. The Arrhenius plot yields the corresponding activation energies to be 24 +/- 3 and 275 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1). The activation energies remain constant, no matter whether the solution is agitated or not.

Quantum state-to-state rate constants for the rotationally inelastic collision of CH(B2Sigma(-), nu=0, N-->N') with Ar

We have calculated the state-to-state integral cross sections and rate constants for the rotationally inelastic collision of CH(B (2)Sigma(-), nu=0, N-->N') with Ar using the quantum coupled-state and close-coupling methods on an ab initio potential-energy surface constructed by Alexander et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 101, 4547 (1994)]. Overall the calculated rate constants are in good agreements with the three available experimental results. The rate constants are comparable to the usual gas kinetic and decrease with increasing N and DeltaN. For the multiquantum transition cases, the theory underestimates the experiment. We discuss some possible causes to the discrepancies among the theory and the experiments.

CH(A2Δ) Formation in Hydrocarbon Combustion: The Temperature Dependence of the Rate Constant of the Reaction C2H + O2 → CH(A2Δ) + CO2

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the chemiluminescence reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2, k1e, has been experimentally determined over the temperature range 316-837 K using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant was found to have a pronounced positive temperature dependence given by k1e(T) = AT(4.4) exp(1150 +/- 150/T), where A = 1 x 10(-27) cm(3) s(-1). The preexponential factor for k1e, A, which is known only to within an order of magnitude, is based on a revised expression for the rate constant for the C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO reaction, k2b, of (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) exp(-230 K/T) cm3 s(-1) [Devriendt, K.; Van Look, H.; Ceursters, B.; Peeters, J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 261, 450] and a k2b/k1e determination of this work of 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K. Using the temperature dependence of the rate constant k1e(T)/k1e(300 K), which is much more accurately and precisely determined than is A, we predict an increase in k(1e) of a factor 60 +/- 16 between 300 and 1500 K. The ratio of rate constants k2b/k1e is predicted to change from 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K to 40 +/- 25 at 1500 K. These results suggest that the reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2 contributes significantly to CH(A-->X) chemiluminescence in hot flames and especially under fuel-lean conditions where it probably dominates the reaction C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO.

Spectroscopic and theoretical characterization of the AΔ2-XΠ2 transition of CH–Ne

The A2delta-X2pi transition of CH-Ne was examined using laser-induced fluorescence and fluorescence depletion techniques. The spectrum was found to be particularly congested due to the large number of bound states derived from the CH(A,n=2)+Ne interaction, and the small energy spacings between these states resulting from the relatively weak anisotropy of the van der Waals bond. High-level ab initio calculations were used to generate two-dimensional potential energy surfaces for CH(X)-Ne and CH(A)-Ne. The equilibrium structures from these surfaces were bent and linear for the X and A states, respectively. Variational calculations were used to predict the bound states supported by the ab initio surfaces. Empirical modification of the potential energy surfaces for the A state was used to obtain energy-level predictions that were in good agreement with the experimental results. Transitions to all of the optically accessible internal rotor states of CH(A,n=2)-Ne were identified, indicating that CH performs hindered internal rotations in the lowest-energy levels of the A and X states. The characteristics of the potential energy surfaces for CH-Ne in the X,A,B, and C states suggest that dispersion and exchange repulsion forces dominate the van der Waals interaction.