Computation of entropy values for non-electrolyte solute molecules in solution based on semi-empirical corrections to a polarized continuum model

A simple heuristic model was developed for estimating the entropy of a solute molecule in an ideal solution based on quantum mechanical calculations with polarizable continuum models (QM/PCMs). A translational term was incorporated that included free-volume compensation for the Sackur-Tetrode equation and a rotational term was modeled based on the restricted rotation of a dipole in an electrostatic field. The configuration term for the solute at a given concentration was calculated using a simple lattice model that considered the number of configurations of the solute within the lattice. The configurational entropy was ascertained from this number based on Boltzmann's principle. Standard entropy values were determined for 41 combinations of solutes and solvents at a set concentration of 1 mol dm^-3 using the proposed model, and the computational values were compared with experimental data. QM/PCM calculations were conducted at the ωB97X-D/6-311++G(d,p)/IEF-PCM level using universal force field van der Waals radii scaled by 1.2. The proposed model accurately reproduced the entropy values reported for solutes in non-aqueous solvents within a mean absolute deviation of 9.2 J mol^-1 K^-1 for 33 solutions. This performance represents a considerable improvement relative to that obtained using the method based on the ideal gas treatment that is widely utilized in commercially available computation packages. In contrast, computations for aqueous molecules overestimated the entropies because hydrophobic effects that decrease the entropy of aqueous solutions were not included in the present model.

A simple heuristic approach to estimate the thermochemistry of condensed-phase molecules based on the polarizable continuum model

A simple model based on a quantum chemical approach with polarizable continuum models (PCMs) to provide reasonable translational and rotational entropies for liquid phase molecules was developed.

Computational Study of the Rate Coefficients for the Reactions of NO2 with CH3NHNH, CH3NNH2, and CH2NHNH2

The reactions of NO2 with cis-/trans-CH3NHNH, CH3NNH2 and CH2NHNH2 have been studied theoretically by quantum chemical calculations and steady-state unimolecular master equation analysis based on RRKM theory. The barrier heights for the roaming transition states between nitro (RNO2) and nitrite (RONO) isomerization reactions and those for the concerted HONO and HNO2 elimination reactions from RNO2 and RONO, affect the pressure dependences of the product-specific rate coefficients. At ambient temperature and pressure, the dominant product of the reactions of NO2 with cis-/trans-CH3NHNH and CH2NHNH2 would be expected to be HONO with trans-CH3NNH and CH2NNH2, respectively, whereas it is CH3N(NH2)NO2 for CH3NNH2 + NO2. The product-specific rate coefficients for the titled and related reactions on the same potential energy surfaces were proposed for kinetics modeling.

Note: Accuracy of velocity correction for impact of a laser-accelerated miniature flyer with lithium fluoride shock-compressed along the [100] axis

We performed miniature flyer impact experiments to investigate the relationship between the apparent (u(a)) and actual (u(A)) particle velocities measured by a velocity interferometer in single-crystal lithium fluoride (LiF) that was shock-compressed along the [100] axis. The miniature flyer was accelerated to velocities in the range 652.5-1937.6 m/s by a tabletop pulsed laser. An empirical relationship of u(a) = (1.2749 ± 0.0102)u(A) was obtained. The obtained relationship agreed well with the results of a previous study within the experimental errors and its uncertainty was less than ±1%. This result indicates that the present experimental technique is effective for measuring the relationship between u(a) and u(A) of shocked transparent materials with a comparable accuracy to conventional methods.

Role of methyl radicals in the growth of PAHs

The role of methyl radicals in the networking of sp(2) carbons has been explored through kinetic analysis of mass spectra of the gas-phase products of the pyrolysis of toluene and toluene/acetone mixtures. Pyrolytic reactions were performed in a flow tube reactor at temperatures of 1140-1320 K and a constant total pressure of 10.38 Torr with a residence time of 0.585 s. On addition of acetone, methyl substituted products and their derivatives were enhanced. Mass peaks were observed in several sequences at an interval of 14 mass units; these ions correspond to methyl substituted products formed as a result of hydrogen abstraction (-H) followed by methyl radical addition (+CH(3)). Each major peak was usually preceded by a peak at two mass units lower, which was likely produced through dehydrogenation/dehydrocyclization (-H(2)) of methyl substituted products. Detected species include a large number of alkyl, cyclotetrafused (CT), cyclopentafused (CP) mono-, di-, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) along with primary PAHs. The analysis showed that MAC (methyl addition/cyclization) has a unique capacity to induce the sequential growth of hexagonal networks of sp(2) carbons from all fusing sites of a PAH. Moreover, MAC was found capable of answering an important question in PAH growth, which is expansion of the CT --> CP --> hexagonal network for which other reported mechanisms are inefficient.

In Situ Direct Sampling Mass Spectrometric Study on Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Toluene Pyrolysis

The gas-phase reaction products of toluene pyrolysis with and without acetylene addition produced in a flow tube reactor at pressures of 8.15-15.11 Torr and temperatures of 1136-1507 K with constant residence time (0.56 s) have been detected in an in situ direct sampling mass spectrometric study by using a vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique. Those products range from methyl radical to large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of mass 522 amu (C(42)H(18)) including smaller species, radicals, polyynes, and PAHs, together with ethynyl, methyl, and phenyl PAHs. On the basis of observed mass spectra, the chemical kinetic mechanisms of the formation of products are discussed. Especially, acetylene is mixed with toluene to understand the effect of the hydrogen abstraction and acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism on the formation pathways of products in toluene pyrolysis. The most prominent outputs of this work are the direct detection of large PAHs and new reaction pathways for the formation of PAHs with the major role of cyclopenta-fused radicals. The basis of this new reaction route is the appearance of different sequences of mass spectra that well explain the major role of aromatic radicals mainly cyclopenta fused radicals of PAHs resulting from their corresponding methyl PAHs, with active participation of c-C(5)H(5), C(6)H(5), C(6)H(5)CH(2) ,and C(9)H(7) in the formation of large PAHs. The role of the HACA only seemed important for the formation of stable condensed PAHs from unstable primary PAHs with zigzag structure (having triple fusing sites) in one step by ring growth with two carbon atoms.

Water dependence of the HO2 self reaction: kinetics of the HO2-H2O complex

Transient absorption spectra and decay profiles of HO2 have been measured using cw near-IR two-tone frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy at 297 K and 50 Torr in diluent of N2 in the presence of water. From the depletion of the HO2 absorption peak area following the addition of water, the equilibrium constant of the reaction HO2 + H2O <--> HO2-H2O was determined to be K2 = (5.2 +/- 3.2) x 10(-19) cm3 molecule(-1) at 297 K. Substituting K2 into the water dependence of the HO2 decay rate, the rate coefficient of the reaction HO2 + HO2-H2O was estimated to be (1.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 297 K and 50 Torr with N2 as the diluent. This reaction is much faster than the HO2 self-reaction without water. It is suggested that the apparent rate of the HO2 self-reaction is enhanced by the formation of the HO2-H2O complex and its subsequent reaction. Results are discussed with respect to the kinetics and atmospheric chemistry of the HO2-H2O complex. At 297 K and 50% humidity, the concentration ratio of [HO2-H2O]/[HO2] was estimated from the value of K2 to be 0.19 +/- 0.11.

Analysis of HO2 and OH Formation Mechanisms Using FM and UV Spectroscopy in Dimethyl Ether Oxidation

Product formation pathways in the photolytically initiated oxidation of CH3OCH3 have been investigated as a function of temperature (298-600 K) and pressure (20-90 Torr) through the detection of HO2 and OH using Near-infrared frequency modulation spectroscopy, as well as the detection of CH3OCH2O2 using UV absorption spectroscopy. The reaction was initiated by pulsed photolysis with a mixture of Cl2, O2, and CH3OCH3. The HO2 and OH yield is obtained by comparison with an established reference mixture, including CH3OH. The CH3OCH2O2 yield is also obtained through the procedure of estimating the CH3OCH2O2/HO2 ratio from their UV absorption. A notable finding is that the OH yield is 1 order of magnitude larger than those known in C2 and C3 alkanes, increasing from 10% to 40% with increasing temperature. The HO2 yield increases gradually until 500 K and sharply up to 40% over 500 K. The CH3OCH2O2 profile has a prompt rise, followed by a gradual decay whose time constant is consistent with slow HO2 formation. To predict species profiles and yields, simple chlorine-initiated oxidation model of DME under low-pressure condition was constructed based on the existing model and the new reaction pathways, which were derived from this study. To model rapid OH formation, OH direct formation from CH3OCH2 + O2 was required. We have also proposed that a new HCO formation pathway via QOOH isomerization to HOQO species and OH + CH3OCH2O2 --> HO2 + CH3OCH2O are to be considered, to account for the fast and slow HO2 formations, as well as the total yield. The constructed model including these new pathways has successfully predicted experimental results throughout the entire temperature and pressure ranges investigated. It was revealed that the HO2 formation mechanism changes at 500 K, i.e., HCO + O2 via HCHO + OH and the above proposed direct HCO formation dominates over 500 K, while a series of reactions following CH3OCH2O2 self-reaction and OH + CH3OCH2O2 reaction mainly contribute below 500 K. The pressure dependent rate constant of the CH3OCH2 thermal decomposition reaction has been separately measured since it has large negative sensitivity for HO2 formation and is essential to eliminate the ambiguity in the CH3OCH2 + O2 mechanism at higher temperature.

Kinetics and Rate Constants of the Reaction CH2OH + O2 → CH2O + HO2 in the Temperature Range of 236−600 K

The kinetics and absolute rate constants of the gas-phase reaction of the hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH) with molecular oxygen have been studied using laser photolysis/near-IR absorption spectroscopy. The reaction was tracked by monitoring the time-dependent changes in the production of the hydroperoxy radical (HO2) concentration. For sensitive detection of HO2, two-tone frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy was used in combination with a Herriott-type optical multipass absorption cell. Rate constants were determined as a function of temperature (236 K<T<600 K) at 50 Torr of N2. The experimental results exhibit a slight negative temperature dependence in the measured temperature region. Microcanonical variational transition state theory was used to estimate the rate constants of the investigated reaction. The results of the theoretical calculations also suggest a negative temperature dependence of the reaction rate constant in the measured temperature region.

Rate coefficients of H-atom abstraction from ethers and isomerization of alkoxyalkylperoxy radicals

Group rate expressions for the hydrogen(H)-atom abstraction reactions from ethers by hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl(OH) radicals and the intramolecular hydrogen-transfer isomerization reactions of alkoxyalkylperoxy radicals, which result from the H-abstraction from ethers followed by the addition of O(2), have been evaluated based on the quantum chemical calculations and experimental data. With the relative method proposed in the present study, it was shown that the rate coefficients of the reactions, for which only poor experimental information is available, can be reliably evaluated by calculating and extracting the difference from the well-established reactions of alkane hydrocarbons. The major features on the H-abstraction reactions from O-adjacent sites of ethers compared to those from alkanes were the suppression of the activation energy due to the decrease of the C-H bond dissociation energy and non-next neighbor substituent effect from the alkyl group on the counter side of -O-. For the hydrogen transfer isomerization reactions, similar suppression of the activation energy as well as the change in the ring strain energy was found as a major feature.

Crystal Structure of the High-Pressure Phase of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (γ-RDX)

The crystal structure of the high-pressure phase of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (gamma-RDX), which is stable above 4 GPa at room temperature, was investigated by using infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction measurements followed by Rietveld refinements using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Although gamma and alpha phases were found to belong to the same space group Pbca, they exhibited a different crystal packing. The molecular structure of the gamma phase exhibited the same conformation as that of the alpha phase; however, the torsion angles of N-NO2 changed marginally.

Hot filament-dissociation of (CH3)3SiH and (CH3)4Si, probed by vacuum ultra violet laser time of flight mass spectroscopy

The decomposition of trimethylsilane and tetramethylsilane has been investigated for the first time, using hot wire (catalytic) at various temperatures. Trimethylsilane is catalytic-dissociated in these species SiH(2), CH(3)SiH, CH(3), CH(2)Si. Time of flight mass spectroscopy signal of these species are linearly increasing with increasing catalytic-temperature. Time of flight mass spectroscopy (TOFMS) signals of (CH(3))(3)SiH and photodissociated into (CH(3))(2)SiH are decreasing with increasing hot filament temperature. TOFMS signal of (CH(3))(4)Si is decreasing with increasing hot wire temperature, but (CH(3))(3)Si signal is almost constant with increasing the temperature. We calculated activation energies of dissociated species of the parental molecules for fundamental information of reaction kinetics for the first time. Catalytic-dissociation of trimethylsilane, and tetramethylsilane single source time of flight coupled single photon VUV (118 nm) photoionization collisionless radicals at temperature range of tungsten filament 800-2360 K. The study is focused to understand the fundamental information on reaction kinetics of these molecules at hot wire temperature, and processes of catalytic-chemical vapour deposition (Cat-CVD) technique which could be implemented in amorphous and crystalline SiC semiconductors thin films.

Theoretical Studies of Energy Transfer Rates of Secondary Explosives

Understanding the mechanism of shock-induced chemical reaction in secondary explosives is necessary to pursue the development and the safe use of new explosives having high performance and low sensitivity. In an effort to understand the mechanism, the energy transfer rates of such secondary explosives as PETN(I), PETN(II), delta-HMX, alpha-HMX, beta-HMX, RDX, ANTA, DMN, and NM have been evaluated based on the formula derived by Fried and Ruggiero [Fried, L. E.; Ruggiero, A. J. J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 9786]. The energy transfer rates were determined in terms of the density of vibrational states and the unharmonic vibron-phonon coupling term, which were calculated by using a flexible potential containing both intra- and intermolecular terms. For the secondary explosives, a good correlation was found between the energy transfer rates and the impact sensitivity. The energy transfer rates are several times faster for the explosives with higher sensitivity such as PETN, HMX, and RDX than those with lower sensitivity such as ANTA, DMN, and NM. The calculations presented suggest the energy transfer rate in secondary explosive crystals is a significant factor in their sensitivity and introduction of double bond, or hydrogen bonds, or caged structure into secondary explosives is expected to decrease the sensitivity.

Thermal decomposition mechanism of disilane

Thermal decomposition of disilane was investigated using time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry coupled with vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization (VUV-SPI) at a temperature range of 675-740 K and total pressure of 20-40 Torr. Si(n)H(m) species were photoionized by VUV radiation at 10.5 eV (118 nm). Concentrations of disilane and trisilane during thermal decomposition of disilane were quantitatively measured using the VUV-SPI method. Formation of Si(2)H(4) species was also examined. On the basis of pressure-dependent rate constants of disilane dissociation reported by Matsumoto et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 4911], kinetic simulation including gas-phase and surface reactions was performed to analyze thermal decomposition mechanisms of disilane. The branching ratio for (R1) Si(2)H(6) --> SiH(4) + SiH(2)/(R2) Si(2)H(6) --> H(2) + H(3)SiSiH was derived by the pressure-dependent rate constants. Temperature and reaction time dependences of disilane loss and formation of trisilane were well represented by the kinetic simulation. Comparison between the experimental results and the kinetic simulation results suggested that about 70% of consumed disilane was converted to trisilane, which was observed as one of the main reaction products under the present experimental conditions.

Channel Specific Rate Constants Relevant to the Thermal Decomposition of Disilane

Rate constants for the thermal dissociation of Si2H6 are predicted with a novel transition state model. The saddle points for dissociation on the Si2H6 potential energy surface are lower in energy than the corresponding separated products, as confirmed by high level ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. Thus, the dissociations of Si2H6 to produce SiH2 + SiH4 (R1) and H3SiSiH + H2 (R2) both proceed through tight inner transition states followed by loose outer transition states. The present "dual" transition state model couples variational phase space theory treatments of the outer transition states with ab initio based fixed harmonic vibrator treatments of the inner transition states to obtain effective numbers of states for the two transition states acting in series. It is found that, at least near room temperature, such a dual transition state model is generally required for the proper description of each of the dissociations. Only at quite high temperatures, i.e., above 2000 K for (R1) and 600 K for (R2), does a single fixed inner transition state provide an adequate description. Similarly, only at quite low temperatures (below 100 and 10 K for (R1) and (R2), respectively) does a single outer transition state provide an adequate description. Pressure dependent rate constants are obtained from solutions to the multichannel master equation. These calculations confirm that dissociation channel (R2) is negligible under conditions relevant to the thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. Rate constants for the chemical activation reactions, SiH2 + SiH4 --> Si2H6 (R-1) and SiH2 + SiH4 --> H3SiSiH + H2 (R3), are also evaluated within the dual transition state model. It is found that reaction R3 is the dominant channel for low pressures and high temperatures, i.e., below 100 Torr for temperatures above 1100 K.

Detection of chlorobenzene derivatives using vacuum ultraviolet ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (VUV-SPI-TOFMS) has been applied for the detection of chlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, and o-chlorophenol as surrogates for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxine/furans (PCDD/F). The photoionization mass spectra of these compounds appear to be fragmentation free in the ionization processes by the VUV-SPI at 10.2 eV (121.6 nm). Quantum chemical calculations support no fragmentation in the photoionization of chlorobenzene derivatives at around 10 eV. The absolute photoionization cross-sections of chlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, and o-chlorophenol were estimated at 10.2 eV. The photoionization cross-section is an important parameter in the detection of chlorobenzene derivatives by the single-photon ionization technique. The detection limit for chlorobenzene is on the order of tenth parts-per-billion volume (ppbv) in the present experimental setup.