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The thermal dissociation reactions of C2F4 and C2F6 were studied in shock waves over the temperature range 1000-4000 K using UV absorption spectroscopy. Absorption cross sections of C2F4, CF2, CF, and C2 were derived and related to quantum-chemically modeled oscillator strengths. After confirming earlier results for the dissociation rates of C2F4, CF3, and CF2, the kinetics of secondary reactions were investigated. For example, the reaction CF2 + CF2 → CF + CF3 was identified. Its rate constant of 1010 cm3 mol-1 s-1 near 2400 K is markedly larger than the limiting high-pressure rate constant of the dimerization CF2 + CF2 → C2F4, suggesting that the reaction follows a different path. When the measurements of the thermal dissociation CF2 (+Ar) → CF + F (+Ar) are extended to temperatures above 2500 K, the formation of C2 radicals was shown to involve the reaction CF + CF → C2F + F (modeled rate constant 8.0 × 1012 (T/3500 K)1.0 exp(-4400 K/T) cm3 mol-1 s-1) and the subsequent dissociation C2F (+Ar) → C2 + F + (Ar) (modeled limiting low-pressure rate constant 3.0 × 1016 (T/3500 K)-4.0 exp(-56880 K/T) cm3 mol-1 s-1). This mechanism was validated by monitoring the dissociation of C2 at temperatures close to 4000 K. Temperature- and pressure-dependences of rate constants of reactions involved in the system were modeled by quantum-chemistry based rate theory.

The reactions of anionic metal clusters Mn– with O2 (M = V (n = 1–15), Cr (n = 1–15), Co (n = 1–12), and Ni (n = 1–14)) are investigated from 300 to 600 K using a selected-ion flow tube. All rate c...

The thermal dissociation of Si(CH3)2F2 was studied in shock waves between 1400 and 1900 K. UV absorption-time profiles of its dissociation products SiF2 and CH3 were monitored. The reaction proceeds as a unimolecular process not far from the high-pressure limit. Comparing modelled and experimental results, an asymmetric representation of the falloff curves was shown to be most realistic. Modelled limiting high-pressure rate constants agreed well with the experimental data. The UV absorption spectrum of SiF2 was shown to be quasi-continuous, with a maximum near 222 nm and a wavelength-integrated absorption cross section of 4.3 (±1) × 10−23 cm3 (between 195 and 255 nm, base e), the latter being consistent with radiative lifetimes from the literature. Experiments over the range 1900–3200 K showed that SiF2 was not consumed by a simple bond fission SiF2 →SiF + F, but by a bimolecular reaction SiF2 + SiF2 → SiF + SiF3 (rate constant in the range 1011–1012 cm3 mol−1 s−1), followed by the unimolecular dissociation SiF3 → SiF2 + F such that the reaction becomes catalyzed by the reactant SiF2. The analogy to a pathway CF2 + CF2 → CF + CF3, followed by CF3 → CF2 + F, in high-temperature fluorocarbon chemistry is stressed. Besides the high-temperature absorption cross sections of SiF2, analogous data for SiF are also reported.

The thermal dissociation of C2F5I was studied in shock waves monitoring UV absorption signals from the reactant C2F5I and later formed reaction products such as CF, CF2, and C2F4. Temperatures of 950–1500 K, bath gas concentrations of [Ar] = 3 × 10−5–2 × 10−4 mol cm−3, and reactant concentrations of 100–500 ppm C2F5I in Ar were employed. Absorption-time profiles were recorded at selected wavelengths in the range 200–280 nm. It was found that the dissociation of C2F5I → C2F5 + I was followed by the dissociation C2F5 → CF2 + CF3, before the dimerization reactions 2CF2 → C2F4 and 2CF3 → C2F6 and a reaction CF2 + CF3 → CF + CF4 set in. The combination of iodine atoms with C2F5 and CF3 had also to be considered. The rate constant of the primary dissociation of C2F5I was analyzed in the framework of statistical unimolecular rate theory accompanied by a quantum-chemical characterization of molecular parameters. Rates of secondary reactions were modelled as well. Experimental rate constants for the dissociations of C2F5I and C2F5 agreed well with the modelling results. The comparably slow dimerization 2CF2 → C2F4 could be followed both by monitoring reactant CF2 and product C2F4 absorption signals, while CF3 dimerization was too fast to be detected. A competition between the dimerization reactions of CF2 and CF3, the recombination of CF2 and CF3 forming C2F5, and CF-forming processes like CF2 + CF3 → CF + CF4 finally was discussed.

The reaction N + OH → NO + H involves the intermediate formation of NOH adducts which in part rearrange to HNO conformers. A statistical treatment of the process is developed in which an initial adiabatic channel capture of the reactants is accompanied by partial primary redissociation of the N⋯OH collision pairs. A criterion for the extent of this primary redissociation in competition to the formation of randomized, long-lived, complex of NOH is proposed. The NOH adducts then may decompose to NO + H, rearrange in a unimolecular process to HNO, or undergo secondary redissociation back to the reactants N + OH, while HNO may also decompose to NO + H. As the reactants N(4S) + OH(2Π) have open electronic shells, non-Born–Oppenheimer effects have to be considered. Their influence on thermal rate constants of the reaction at low temperatures is illustrated and compared with such effects in other reactions such as C(3P) + OH(2Π).

This article, the seventh in the series, presents kinetic and photochemical data sheets evaluated by the IUPAC Task Group on Atmospheric Chemical Kinetic Data Evaluation. It covers an extension of the gas-phase and photochemical reactions related to Criegee intermediates previously published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP) in 2006 and implemented on the IUPAC website up to 2020. The article consists of an introduction, description of laboratory measurements, a discussion of rate coefficients for reactions of O3 with alkenes producing Criegee intermediates, rate coefficients of unimolecular and bimolecular reactions and photochemical data for reactions of Criegee intermediates, and an overview of the atmospheric chemistry of Criegee intermediates. Summary tables of the recommended kinetic and mechanistic parameters for the evaluated reactions are provided. Data sheets summarizing information upon which the recommendations are based are given in two files, provided as a Supplement to this article.

The reaction of CF2 with H2 was studied in shock waves by monitoring UV absorption signals. CF2 was prepared by thermal dissociation of C2F4 (or of c-C3F6). The rate constant of the reaction CF2 + H2 → CHF + HF near 2000 K was found to be close to 1011 cm3 mol-1 s-1, consistent with earlier information on the reverse reaction CHF + HF → CF2 + H2 and a modeled equilibrium constant. The kinetic studies were accompanied by spectroscopic investigations. Absorption cross sections of C2F4 between 190 and 220 nm were measured near 1000 K and compared with room temperature values from the literature. Likewise, absorption cross sections of CF2 near 2000 K were measured between 210 and 300 nm and compared with room temperature data. Additional, superimposed, absorption signals were recorded during the reaction and identified by their time-dependence and by quantum-chemical calculations employing time-dependent density functional theory. A previously unknown absorption spectrum of CHF radicals near 200 nm was identi...

The unimolecular dissociation of CH2F2 leading to CF2 + H2, CHF + HF, or CHF2 + H is investigated by quantum-chemical calculations and unimolecular rate theory. Modeling of the rate constants is accompanied by shock wave experiments over the range of 1400–1800 K, monitoring the formation of CF2. It is shown that the energetically most favorable dissociation channel leading to CF2 + H2 has a higher threshold energy than the energetically less favorable one leading to CHF + HF. Falloff curves of the dissociations are modeled. Under the conditions of the described experiments, the primary dissociation CH2F2 → CHF + HF is followed by the reaction CHF + HF → CF2 + H2. The experimental value of the rate constant for the latter reaction indicates that it does not proceed by an addition–elimination process involving CH2F2* intermediates, as assumed before.

The thermal dissociation reaction CF

The thermal dissociation reaction CF3 (+ Ar) → CF2 + F (+ Ar) was studied in incident and reflected shock waves by monitoring UV absorption signals of the primary dissociation product CF2. CF3 radicals were produced by thermal decomposition of CF3I. Accounting for secondary reactions of F atoms, rate constants for the unimolecular dissociation were derived. Experimental parts of the falloff curves were obtained over the ranges 1544 - 2106 K and 1.0×〖10〗^(-5)≤["Ar" ]≤9.3×〖10〗^(-5 ) "mol " 〖"cm" 〗^"-3" . Theoretical modelling allowed for a construction of the full falloff curves connecting the limiting low pressure rate constants k_0=["Ar" ] 2.5×〖10〗^18 (T⁄(2000 "K" ))^(-5.1) " exp" ((-42450 "K" )⁄T) 〖"cm" 〗^"3" 〖"mol" 〗^(-1) "s" ^(-1) with the limiting high pressure rate constants k_∞= 1.6×〖10〗^16 (T⁄(2000 "K" ))^(-1.3) "exp" ((-43250 "K" )⁄T) "s" ^(-1) (center broadening factors of F_cent= 0.25, 0.22, and 0.20 at 1500, 2000, and 2500 K, respectively, were used). The influence of simplifications of falloff expressions and of limiting rate constants on the representation of experimental data is discussed.

The falloff curves of the unimolecular dissociation CF3I (+Ar) - CF3 + I (+Ar) are modelled by combining quantum-chemical characterizations of the potential energy surface for the reaction, standard unimolecular rate theory, and experimental information on the average energy transferred per collision between excited CF3I and Ar. The (essentially) parameter-free theoretical modelling gives results in satisfactory agreement with data deduced from earlier shock wave experiments employing a variety of reactant concentrations (between a few ppm and a few percent in the bath gas Ar). New experiments recording absorption–time signals of CF3I, I2, CF2 and (possibly) IF at 450–500 and 200–300 nm are reported. By analysing the decomposition mechanism, besides the unimolecular dissociation of CF3I, these provide insight into the influence of secondary reactions on the experimental observations. Fil: Cobos, Carlos Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina Fil: Sölter, L.. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Tellbach, E.. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Troe, J.. Universität Göttingen; Alemania. Institut Max Planck fuer Bioanorganische Chemie; Alemania

The thermal decomposition of perfluorotriethylamine, (C2F5)3N, was investigated in shock waves by monitoring the formation of CF2. Experiments were performed over the temperature range of 1120-1450 K with reactant concentrations between 100 and 1000 ppm of (C2F5)3N in the bath gas Ar and with [Ar] in the range of (0.7-5.5) × 10-5 mol cm-3. The experiments were accompanied by quantum-chemical calculations of the energies of various dissociation paths and by rate calculations, in particular for the dissociation of C2F5via C2F5 → CF3 + CF2. The overall reaction can proceed in different ways, either by a sequence of successive C-N bond ruptures followed by fast C2F5 decompositions, or by a sequence of alternating C-C and C-N bond ruptures. A cross-over between the two pathways can also take place. At temperatures below about 1300 K, yields of less than one CF2 per (C2F5)3N decomposed were observed. On the other hand, at temperatures around 2000 K, when besides the parent molecule, CF3 also dissociates, yields of six CF2 per (C2F5)3N decomposed were measured. The rate-delaying steps of the dissociation mechanism at intermediate temperatures were suggested to be the processes (C2F5)NCF2 → (C2F5)N + CF2 and (CF2)N → N + CF2. The reduction of the CF2 yields at low temperatures was tentatively attributed to a branching of the mechanism at the level of (C2F5)2NCF2, from where the cyclic final product perfluoro-N-methylpyrrolidine, (C4F8)NCF3, is formed which was identified in earlier work from the literature., Universidad Nacional de La Plata

The role of collisional energy transfer in ion-molecule association reactions is analyzed. Rate constants for the formation of adducts between HCl and NO3−(HNO3)x (H2SO4)y or HSO4−(HNO3)x (H2SO4)y (with x = 0–2 and y = 0–2) in the buffer gases H2, He, and N2 and at temperatures between 150 and 300 K are considered. Quantum-chemical calculations of molecular parameters and statistical unimolecular rate theory are combined to model low-pressure rate constants whereas ion-molecule capture theory provides high-pressure rate constants. The comparison with experimental results indicates that energy transfer is dominated by overall collision numbers while weak-collision effects are only of minor importance. On the other hand, often neglected falloff effects between termolecular and bimolecular reaction behavior have to be taken into account.

Limiting high pressure rate constants for the association of H with C6H5+ and of CH3, C2H5, and n-C3H7 radicals with C7H7+ molecular ions are analyzed in terms of “rigidity factors” arising from the anisotropy of the interaction potentials and “collision rate constants” in the absence of anisotropy (the latter corresponding to phase space theory, PST). Model calculations based on ab initio potential energy surfaces show that the PST rate constants kPST(T) exceed collision rate constants from conventional ion-molecule capture theory (in this case given by Langevin rate constants kL). They can be represented by kPST(T) = kL + kh.sph. where kh.sph. denotes hard-sphere collision numbers with collision radii r0. The r0 derived from the modelled kPST(T) are related to properties of the interaction potentials. Applications to other ion-molecule reactions are proposed.

The temperature and pressure dependence of partial and total rate constants of complex-forming bimolecular reactions are investigated with the goal to obtain simplified and compact rate constant expressions suitable for data compilations. The transition of the reactions from low pressure chemical activation to high pressure association character is analyzed. The two processes are modeled separately first by solving master equations, leading to "inverse" and "normal" falloff curves, respectively, and allowing for a compact representation of the separated rate constants. It is shown that broadening factors of the two falloff curves are different, and those of chemical activation often approaching unity. Coupling of the two separate processes then is modeled in a simplified manner. Finally, thermal redissociation of the adducts formed by association is accounted for.

Experimental data for the unimolecular decomposition of CS2 from the literature are analyzed by unimolecular rate theory with the goal of obtaining rate constants for the reverse reaction S + CS (+M) → CS2 (+M) over wide temperature and pressure ranges. The results constitute an important input for the kinetic modeling of CS2 oxidation. CS2 dissociation proceeds as a spin-forbidden process whose detailed properties are still not well understood. The role of the singlet-triplet transition involved is discussed.

The thermal unimolecular dissociation of CH3F was studied in shock waves by monitoring the UV absorption of a dissociation product identified as CH2F. It is concluded that, under conditions applied, the formation of this species corresponds to a minor, spin-allowed, dissociation channel of about 3% yield. Near to the low-pressure limit of the reaction, on the other hand, the energetically more favourable dissociation leads to 3CH2 + HF on a dominant, spin-forbidden, pathway. By considering the multichannel character of the reaction, it is shown that, in contrast to the low-pressure range, the high-pressure range of the reaction should be dominated by CH2F formation. The channel-switching probably takes place at pressures higher than those applied in the present work. In addition to the two dissociation channels of CH3F producing 3CH2 + HF and CH2F + H, a third, spin-allowed, dissociation channel leading to 1CHF + H2 was also considered and estimated to proceed with a yield smaller than 0.5%. Besides the dissociation of CH3F, the dissociation of CH2F was studied by monitoring the UV spectrum of CH2F. Details of this spectrum were investigated. Similar to CH3F, the dissociation of CH2F can proceed on several dissociation channels, under the present conditions either to CHF + H or to CF + H2. After modelling single-channel falloff curves for all reaction pathways, coupling effects of multichannel dissociations were interpreted in the framework of multichannel unimolecular rate theory.

The thermal dissociation of CH2F2 and the reaction of CF2 with H2 was studied in shock waves over the temperature range 1800–2200 K, monitoring the absorption–time profiles at 248 nm. Besides contributions from CF2, the signals showed strong absorptions from secondary reaction products, probably mostly CH2F formed by the reaction CHF + H2 → CH2F + H. Rate constants of a series of possible secondary reactions were modeled, including falloff curves for the thermal dissociations of CHF, CHF2, and CH2F and rate constants of the reactions CHF + CH2F2 → CHF2 + CH2F, CHF + H2 → CH2F + H, H + CH2F2 → CHF2 + H2, H + CF2 → CF + HF, and H + CF → C + HF. On this basis, concentration–time profiles were simulated and compared with experimental absorption–time profiles.

The reaction of CF

The unimolecular dissociation of CH

The thermal dissociation of C3F6 was studied between 1330 and 2210 K in shock waves monitoring the UV absorption of CF2. CF2 yields of about 2.6 per parent C3F6 were obtained at reactant concentrations of 500-1000 ppm in the bath gas Ar. These yields dropped to about 1.8 when reactant concentrations were lowered to 60 ppm. The increase of the CF2 yield with increasing concentration was attributed to bimolecular reactions between primary and secondary dissociation products. Quantum-chemical and kinetic modeling calculations helped to estimate the contributions from the various primary dissociation steps. It was shown that the measurements correspond to unimolecular reactions in their falloff range. Falloff representations of the rate constants are given, leading to an overall high pressure rate constant k∞ = 2.0 × 10(17)(-104 kcal mol(-1)/RT) s(-1) and a relative rate of about 2/3:1/3 for the reactions C3F6 → CF3CF + CF2 versus C3F6 → C2F3 + CF3. Fil: Cobos, Carlos Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina Fil: Sölter, L.. Universitat of Gottingen; Alemania Fil: Tellbach, E.. Universitat of Gottingen; Alemania Fil: Troe, J.. Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie; Alemania. Universitat of Gottingen; Alemania

Approximate analytical expressions are derived for the low-energy rate coefficients of capture of two identical dipolar polarizable rigid rotors in their lowest nonresonant (j(1) = 0 and j(2) = 0) and resonant (j(1) = 0,1 and j(2) = 1,0) states. The considered range extends from the quantum, ultralow energy regime, characterized by s-wave capture, to the classical regime described within fly wheel and adiabatic channel approaches, respectively. This is illustrated by the table of contents graphic (available on the Web) that shows the scaled rate coefficients for the mutual capture of rotors in the resonant state versus the reduced wave vector between the Bethe zero-energy (left arrows) and classical high-energy (right arrow) limits for different ratios δ of the dipole-dipole to dispersion interaction.

Limiting low- and high-pressure rate coefficients as well as full falloff curves have been modeled by unimolecular rate theory for the recombination reaction 2CF(3) (+ M) --C(2)F(6) (+ M) and the reverse dissociation of C(2)F(6). The results are compared with experimental data from the literature. Although there are considerable discrepancies (up to a factor of 5) between various experimental data near 300 K and the database for high temperatures is still limited, we try to conclude on the temperature dependence of the high-pressure rate coefficient. We suggest that there is only a small and probably positive temperature coefficient of the latter quantity. The present theoretical modeling seems to be in agreement with this experimental result, but it is in disagreement with conclusions from earlier theoretical work. The difference is attributed to different empirical assumptions about the anisotropy of the potential. It is shown that nearly all previous experiments (except high-temperature shock wave and very low pressure pyrolysis/photolysis experiments) correspond to nearly limiting high-pressure conditions.

The capture of rotationally state-selected and unselected asymmetric top polar molecules by ions is investigated. Analytical expressions (for all rotational states up to j = 2) of capture rate constants in the perturbed-rotor second-order limit are derived for application to low temperature conditions. Approximate analytical representations over wider temperature ranges are also given for rotationally unselected molecules. The capture of H 2 O, D 2 O, and HDO by arbitrary ions is chosen for demonstration of the approach. Capture rate constants for the about 60 reactions of H 2 O with ions listed in the UMIST 2006 data base for astrochemistry are calculated, compared with experimental data, and represented in the format k cap ( T ) ≈ c 1 + c 2 ( T /300 K) −1/2 . The parameters c 1 and c 2 can be predicted in a very simple way. The approach allows one to identify capture-controlled mechanisms and/or to trace experimental artifacts. The approach applies equally well to the capture of symmetric top and linear dipole molecules by arbitrary ions.

This article, in historical retrospective, describes the development of the celebrated Landau-Teller (LT) model of 1936 for vibrational-translational energy exchange in collisions of an atom with a diatomic molecule. We discuss semiclassical generalizations of the classical LT model and generalizations of the collinear LT model to account for the effects of rotation of the diatom on the vibrational relaxation rate. The former is based on the recovery of the Landau semiclassical exponent from the classical LT encounter time, and the latter on the definition of a 1-D driving mode within the manifold of the translational and rotational degrees of freedom of the colliding partners. The utility of generalized LT models is illustrated by three case studies that exemplify weak and strong effects of the rotation as well as the efficiencies of different driving modes in the vibrational relaxation of highly asymmetric diatoms.

This article, the third in the series, presents kinetic and photochemical data evaluated by the IUPAC Subcommittee on Gas Kinetic Data Evaluation for Atmospheric Chemistry. It covers the gas phase and photochemical reactions of inorganic halogen species, which were last published in J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, in 2000 (Atkinson et al., 2000), were updated on the IUPAC website in 2003 and are updated again in the present evaluation. The article consists of a summary sheet, containing the recommended kinetic parameters for the evaluated reactions, and five appendices containing the data sheets, which provide information upon which the recommendations were made.

There has been considerable speculation about the role of water and water complexes in chemical gas-phase reactions, including the conjecture that water may act as a molecular catalyst through its ability to form hydrogen bonds. Here, we present kinetic studies in which the effect of water on the rate of the reaction between hydroxyl radicals and acetaldehyde has been measured directly in Laval nozzle expansions at low temperatures. An increasing enhancement of the reaction rate by added water was found with decreasing temperatures between 300 and 60 kelvin. Quantum chemical calculations and statistical rate theory support our conclusions that this observation is due to the reduction of an intrinsic reaction barrier caused by specific water aggregation. The results suggest that even single water molecules can act as catalysts in radical-molecule reactions.

The reaction C2H5 + O-2 (+ M) --> C2H5O2 (+ M) was studied at 298 K at pressures of the bath gas M = Ar between 100 and 1000 bar. The transition from the falloff curve of an energy transfer mechanism to a high pressure range with contributions from the radical complex mechanism was observed. Further experiments were done between 188 and 298 K in the bath gas M = He at pressures in the range 0.7-2.0 Torr. The available data are analyzed in terms of unimolecular rate theory. An improved analytical representation of the temperature and pressure dependence of the rate constant is given for conditions where the chemical activation process C2H5 + O-2 (+ M) --> C2H4 + HO2 (+ M) is only of minor importance.

Tunneling corrections to Landau-Zener rate coefficients for the vibrational relaxation NO(X(2)Π, v = 1) + Ar → NO(X(2)Π, v = 0) + Ar between 300 and 2000 K are determined employing ab initio potential energy surfaces calculated by the code provided by Alexander [J. Chem. Phys. 111, 7426 (1999)]. The calculations use a reaction coordinate approach and lead to vibronically nonadiabatic transition probabilities within the generalized Airy approximation as extended to the WKB underbarrier Landau-Lifshitz limit. The calculations confirm experimental evidence for an onset of major tunneling contributions to the relaxation rate at temperatures below about 900 K and rationalize large tunneling contributions at 300 K. These effects increase the rate coefficients by several orders of magnitude over the uncorrected Landau-Zener values and remove the large gap between the latter and experimental results.

This article, the second in the series, presents kinetic and photochemical data evaluated by the IUPAC Subcommittee on Gas Kinetic Data Evaluation for Atmospheric Chemistry. It covers the gas phase and photochemical reactions of Organic species, which were last published in 1999, and were updated on the IUPAC website in late 2002, and subsequently during the preparation of this article. The article consists of a summary table of the recommended rate coefficients, containing the recommended kinetic parameters for the evaluated reactions, and eight appendices containing the data sheets, which provide information upon which the recommendations are made.

Branching ratios for the reactions of O 2 + with all three xylene isomers have been measured as a function of temperature over a wide range (300–900 K) at a fixed number density (1.45 × 10 16 molecule cm −3 of helium) and for m -xylene over an extended buffer gas pressure (50–250 Torr of nitrogen) and temperature (473–623 K) range. Rate constants measured under selected conditions indicate that the reactions proceed at the collisional rate. Two main products were observed in each reaction: the stabilized parent ion, C 8 H 10 + (S) and a dissociative charge transfer product, C 7 H 7 + (D). The ratio of S/D was found to vary significantly with both temperature and pressure. At high pressure very little dissociation occurred. Results of statistical modeling similar to that used in our studies of n -alkylbenzenes represent the data well.

The general quasi-classical treatment for collision-induced vibrational transitions in diatomic molecules, under near-adiabatic conditions, is used to derive quantum corrections for probabilities, calculated in the external field approximation originally used by Landau and Teller. The quantum corrections are expressed through the Landau-Teller classical collision time. The first-order correction to the classical exponent restores detailed balance for up- and down-transitions and does not depend on the properties of the bath except for its temperature. The limits of applicability of the first-order correction are discussed.

The distribution of translational, rotational, and vibrational energies in the fragments (benzylium ions and ethyl radicals) of the dissociation of n-propylbenzene cations has been determined by statistical adiabatic channel model/classical trajectory (SACM/CT) calculations. The reaction was treated by CT calculations of capture processes for transitional modes, starting with specified fragment energies. A short-range valence/long-range ion-induced dipole potential model for the transitional modes was employed. The derived distributions approach the results from phase space theory (PST) at small energies and angular momenta. At larger energies and angular momenta, the shapes of the distribution functions remain similar to those from PST; however, the average translational, rotational, and vibrational energies of the fragments increasingly differ from PST predictions. The present results are consistent with separate SACM/CT calculations on the same potential of specific rate constants k(E,J) and thermally averaged rate constants k ∞(T) of the dissociation/recombination reaction.

The kinetics of the pyrolysis of the ethylbenzene cation, C 8 H 10 + , has been studied in a turbulent ion flow tube (TIFT) from 623 to 673 K and at pressures from 30 to 250 Torr. The ions were prepared by the charge transfer reaction O 2 + + C 8 H 10 → O 2 + C 8 H 10 +* followed by collisional stabilization and then by thermal decomposition in a nitrogen buffer gas. The thermal decomposition rate constants increased with temperature from about 15 to150 s −1 , but did not vary with pressure, indicating the results refer to the high pressure limit. The experimental activation energy, 157.8 kJ mol −1 , is similar to the bond energy value, 168.3 (±1.2) kJ mol −1 , needed to model the data. Modeling of the system using a statistical adiabatic channel model/classical trajectory (SACM/CT) approach provided complete falloff curves for the dissociation and recombination of ethylbenzene. Similar modeling is also presented for the previously published data on n -propylbenzene cations. The temperature and pressure dependences of the rate coefficients for dissociation and recombination in the falloff range are represented in analytical form. The chosen format corresponds to that employed in data compilations for the corresponding neutral reaction systems.

Highly vibrationally excited n-propylbenzene cations, C 9 H 1 2 + *, were prepared by the charge transfer reaction O 2 + + C 9 H 1 2 → O 2 + C 9 H 1 2 + * in a turbulent ion flow tube. The subsequent competition between fragmentation of C 9 H 1 2 + * into C 7 H 7 + + C 2 H 5 and stabilization in collisions with N 2 was studied at temperatures in the range 423-603 K and at pressures between 15 and 200 Torr. Most of the C 7 H 7 + is the aromatic benzylium isomer, while the fraction of the minor species, seven-membered-ring tropylium, increases with T, from 5 to 20%. Minor fragments are C 6 H 6 + , C 7 H 8 + , and C 8 H 9 + . Energy-transfer step sizes for collisional deactivation are obtained by combining the stabilization versus fragmentation ratios measured as a function of pressure in this study with fragmentation rates from the literature. The values are compared with related information for other excited molecular ions and are similar to those of their neutral analogues. At the highest temperatures, C 9 H 1 2 + was also observed to pyrolyze after collisional stabilization. Employing unimolecular rate theory, the derived rate constants for thermal dissociation of C 9 H 1 2 + are related to values derived from the specific rate constants k(E,J) for fragmentation. Good agreement is found between measured and predicted pyrolysis rate constants. This allows us to confirm the dissociation energy of C 9 H 1 2 + into C 7 H 7 + (benzylium) and C 2 H 5 as 166.9 (′2.2) kJ mol - 1 (at 0 K).

Intramolecular vibrational energy flow in excited bridged azulene-anthracene compounds is investigated by time-resolved pump-probe laser spectroscopy. The bridges consist of molecular chains and are of the type (CH(2))(m) with m up to 6 as well as (CH(2)OCH(2))(n) (n=1,2) and CH(2)SCH(2). After light absorption into the azulene S(1) band and subsequent fast internal conversion, excited molecules are formed where the vibrational energy is localized at the azulene side. The vibrational energy transfer through the molecular bridge to the anthracene side and, finally, to the surrounding medium is followed by probing the red edge of the azulene S(3) absorption band at 300 nm and/or the anthracene S(1) absorption band at 400 nm. In order to separate the time scales for intramolecular and intermolecular energy transfer, most of the experiments were performed in supercritical xenon where vibrational energy transfer to the bath is comparably slow. The intramolecular equilibration proceeds in two steps. About 15%-20% of the excitation energy leaves the azulene side within a short period of 300 fs. This component accompanies the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) within the azulene chromophore and it is caused by dephasing of normal modes contributing to the initial local excitation of the azulene side and extending over large parts of the molecule. Later, IVR in the whole molecule takes place transferring vibrational energy from the azulene through the bridge to the anthracene side and thereby leading to microcanonical equilibrium. The corresponding time constants tau(IVR) for short bridges increase with the chain length. For longer bridges consisting of more than three elements, however, tau(IVR) is constant at around 4-5 ps. Comparison with molecular dynamics simulations suggests that the coupling of these chains to the two chromophores limits the rate of intramolecular vibrational energy transfer. Inside the bridges the energy transport is essentially ballistic and, therefore, tau(IVR) is independent on the length.

Benzylium versus tropylium ion yields from the fragmentation of ethylbenzene cations at various excitation energies are studied by forming excited ethylbenzene cations by charge transfer from a series of chargetransfer agents and by identifying the benzylium ion by its secondary reaction with neutral ethylbenzene. At lower excitation energies, the tropylium ion yield decreases with increasing energy from values near 16% (at an energy of 230 kJ mol -1 ) to 5% (at an energy of 500 kJ mol -1 ). At higher excitation energies, the tropylium ion yield increases again, which is attributed to secondary isomerization of the vibrationally highly excited benzylium ion arising from the primary fragmentation. It is suggested that this isomerization competes with radiative cooling of the excited benzylium ion. The experimental observations are rationalized in the framework of statistical unimolecular rate theory and electronic structure calculations.

The capture rate coefficients of homonuclear diatomic molecules (H(2) and N(2)) in the rotational state j=1 interacting with ions (Ar+ and He+) are calculated for low collision energies assuming a long-range anisotropic ion-induced dipole and ion-quadrupole interaction. A comparison of accurate quantum rates with quantum and state-specific classical adiabatic channel approximations shows that the former becomes inappropriate in the case when the cross section is dominated by few partial contributions, while the latter performs better. This unexpected result is related to the fact that the classical adiabatic channel approximation artificially simulates the quantum effects of tunneling and overbarrier reflection as well as the Coriolis coupling and it suppresses too high values of the centrifugal barriers predicted by a quantum adiabatic channel approach. For H2(j=1)+Ar+ and N(2)(j=1)+He+ capture, the rate constants at T--0 K are about 3 and 6 times higher than the corresponding values for H2(j=0)+Ar+ and N(2)(j=0)+He+ capture.

The quantum version of an axially nonadiabatic channel (ANC) approximation, introduced in an earlier article for the calculation of complex-formation cross sections and rate constants in ion-diatom collisions [Maergoiz, A. I.; Nikitin, E. E.; Troe, J.; Ushakov, V. G. J. Chem. Phys. 2002. 117, 4201-4213] is tested against accurate quantum results. Cross sections and rate constants are determined for several representative systems with the participation of a diatom in the state j = 1, assuming various long-range potentials between the collision partners, such as anisotropic ion-induced dipole, second-order charge-permanent dipole, and first-order charge-quadrupole interaction. The ANC approximation well reproduces accurate quantum results in the perturbed rotor limit, while the standard quantum adiabatic channel (AC) approximation fails at low energy due to neglect of Coriolis coupling. However, the low-energy extrapolation of classical adiabatic channel results (ACCI) provides a reasonable approximation both to accurate and quantal ANC results down to collision energies when only few partial cross sections determine the total capture cross section. This unexpected feature of the ACCI approximation is due to two effects: (a) an artificial simulation of tunneling transmission and overbarrier reflection at centrifugal barriers by introducing a continuous distribution over total angular momenta and (b) a slight effective lowering of the centrifugal barriers compared to centrifugal barriers within the AC model. Low-temperature quantum rate constants are also presented.