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Fullerenes (C60, C70) detected in planetary nebulae and carbonaceous chondrites have been implicated to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium. However, the formation mechanism of even their simplest molecular building block—the corannulene molecule (C20H10)—has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate via a combined molecular beams and ab initio investigation that corannulene can be synthesized in the gas phase through the reactions of 7-fluoranthenyl (C16H9˙) and benzo[ghi]fluoranthen-5-yl (C18H9˙) radicals with acetylene (C2H2) mimicking conditions in carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes. This reaction sequence reveals a reaction class in which a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) radical undergoes ring expansion while simultaneously forming an out-of-plane carbon backbone central to 3D nanostructures such as buckybowls and buckyballs. These fundamental reaction mechanisms are critical in facilitating an intimate understanding of the origin and evolution of the molecular universe and, in particular, of carbon in our galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoionization efficiency spectra of 14N2, 15N14N, and 15N2 from 15.5 to 18.9 eV were measured using synchrotron radiation at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with a resolution of 6 meV, and significant changes in peak energies and intensities upon isotopic substitution were observed. Previously, we reported the isotope shifts and their applications to Titan's atmosphere. Here, we report more extensive experimental details and tabulate the isotope shifts of many transitions in the N2 spectrum, including those for 15N14N, which have not been previously reported. The isotope shifts are used to address several long-standing ambiguities in spectral peak assignments just above the ionization threshold of N2. The feature at 15.677 eV (the so-called second "cathedral" peak) is of particular interest in this respect. The measured isotope shifts for this peak relative to 14N2 are 0.015 ± 0.001 eV for 15N2 and 0.008 ± 0.001 eV for 15N14N, which match most closely with the isotope shifts predicted for transitions to the (A 2Πu v' = 2)4sσg 1Πu state using Herzberg equations for the isotopic differences in harmonic oscillator energy levels plus the first anharmonic correction of 0.0143 eV for 15N2 and 0.0071 eV for 15N14N. More generally, the isotope shifts measured for both 15N2 and 15N14N relative to 14N2 provide new benchmarks for theoretical calculations of interferences between direct and indirect autoionization states which can interact to produce intricate resonant structures in molecular photoionization spectra in regions near ionization thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silicon carbide microtubular reactor has been used to measure branching ratios in the thermal decomposition of furan, C4H4O. The pyrolysis experiments are carried out by passing a dilute mixture of furan (approximately 0.01%) entrained in a stream of helium through the heated reactor. The SiC reactor (0.66 mm i.d., 2 mm o.d., 2.5 cm long) operates with continuous flow. Experiments were performed with a reactor inlet pressure of 100-300 Torr and a wall temperature between 1200 and 1600 K; characteristic residence times in the reactor are 60-150 μs. The unimolecular decomposition pathway of furan is confirmed to be: furan (+ M) <=> α-carbene or β-carbene. The α-carbene fragments to CH2=C=O + HC≡CH while the β-carbene isomerizes to CH2=C=CHCHO. The formyl allene can isomerize to CO + CH3C≡CH or it can fragment to H + CO + HCCCH2. Tunable synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry is used to monitor the products and to measure the branching ratio of the two carbenes as well as the ratio of [HCCCH2]/[CH3C≡CH]. The results of these pyrolysis experiments demonstrate a preference for 80%-90% of furan decomposition to occur via the β-carbene. For reactor temperatures of 1200-1400 K, no propargyl radicals are formed. As the temperature rises to 1500-1600 K, at most 10% of the decomposition of CH2=C=CHCHO produces H + CO + HCCCH2 radicals. Thermodynamic conditions in the reactor have been modeled by computational fluid dynamics and the experimental results are compared to the predictions of three furan pyrolysis mechanisms. Uncertainty in the pressure-dependency of the initiation reaction rates is a possible a source of discrepancy between experimental results and theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the last few decades, the Hydrogen-Abstraction/aCetylene-Addition (HACA) mechanism has been fundamental in aiding our understanding of the source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion processes and in circumstellar envelopes of carbon rich stars. However, the reaction mechanisms driving high temperature molecular mass growth beyond triphenylene (C18H12) along with the link between PAHs and graphene-type nanostructures as identified in carbonaceous meteorites such as in Murchison and Allende has remained elusive. By exploring the reaction of the 1-naphthyl radical (C10H7˙) with methylacetylene (CH3CCH) and allene (H2CCCH2) under conditions prevalent in carbon-rich circumstellar environments and combustion systems, we provide compelling evidence on a facile formation of 1H-phenalene (C13H10) – the central molecular building block of graphene-type nanostructures. Beyond PAHs, molecular mass growth processes from 1H-phenalene via ring-annulation through C3 molecular building blocks may ultimately lead to two-dimensional structures such as graphene nano flakes and after condensation of multiple layers to graphitized carbon. These fundamental reaction mechanisms are of crucial significance to facilitate an understanding of the origin and chemical evolution of carbon in our Galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A representative, low‐temperature gas‐phase reaction mechanism synthesizing polyacenes via ring annulation exemplified by the formation of pentacene (C22H14) along with its benzo[a]tetracene isomer (C22H14) is unraveled by probing the elementary reaction of the 2‐tetracenyl radical (C18H11.) with vinylacetylene (C4H4). The pathway to pentacene—a prototype polyacene and a fundamental molecular building block in graphenes, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes—is facilitated by a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase process thus disputing conventional hypotheses that synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) solely proceeds at elevated temperatures. This low‐temperature pathway can launch isomer‐selective routes to aromatic structures through submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and methodical ring annulation in deep space eventually changing our perception about the chemistry of carbon in our universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A unified low‐temperature reaction mechanism on the formation of acenes, phenacenes, and helicenes—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are distinct via the linear, zigzag, and ortho‐condensed arrangements of fused benzene rings—is revealed. This mechanism is mediated through a barrierless, vinylacetylene mediated gas‐phase chemistry utilizing tetracene, [4]phenacene, and [4]helicene as benchmarks contesting established ideas that molecular mass growth processes to PAHs transpire at elevated temperatures. This mechanism opens up an isomer‐selective route to aromatic structures involving submerged reaction barriers, resonantly stabilized free‐radical intermediates, and systematic ring annulation potentially yielding molecular wires along with racemic mixtures of helicenes in deep space. Connecting helicene templates to the Origins of Life ultimately changes our hypothesis on interstellar carbon chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used a heated 2 cm × 1 mm SiC microtubular (μtubular) reactor to decompose acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + Δ → products. Thermal decomposition is followed at pressures of 75-150 Torr and at temperatures up to 1675 K, conditions that correspond to residence times of roughly 50-100 μs in the μtubular reactor. The acetaldehyde decomposition products are identified by two independent techniques: vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectroscopy (PIMS) and infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy after isolation in a cryogenic matrix. Besides CH3CHO, we have studied three isotopologues, CH3CDO, CD3CHO, and CD3CDO. We have identified the thermal decomposition products CH3 (PIMS), CO (IR, PIMS), H (PIMS), H2 (PIMS), CH2CO (IR, PIMS), CH2=CHOH (IR, PIMS), H2O (IR, PIMS), and HC≡CH (IR, PIMS). Plausible evidence has been found to support the idea that there are at least three different thermal decomposition pathways for CH3CHO; namely, radical decomposition: CH3CHO + Δ → CH3 + [HCO] → CH3 + H + CO; elimination: CH3CHO + Δ → H2 + CH2=C=O; isomerization/elimination: CH3CHO + Δ → [CH2=CH-OH] → HC≡CH + H2O. An interesting result is that both PIMS and IR spectroscopy show compelling evidence for the participation of vinylidene, CH2=C:, as an intermediate in the decomposition of vinyl alcohol: CH2=CH-OH + Δ → [CH2=C:] + H2O → HC≡CH + H2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using full-dimensional EOM-IP-CCSD/aug-cc-pVTZ potential energy surfaces, the photoelectron spectrum, vibrational structure, and ionization dynamics of the water dimer radical cation, (H2O)2+, were computed. We also report an experimental photoelectron spectrum which is derived from photoionization efficiency measurements and compares favorably with the theoretical spectrum. The vibrational structure is also compared to the recent experimental work of Gardenier et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 4772 (2009)] and the recent theoretical calculations by Cheng et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 113, 13779 (2009)]. A reduced-dimensionality nuclear Hamiltonian was used to compute the ionization dynamics for both the ground state and first excited state of the cation. The dynamics show markedly different behavior and spectroscopic signatures depending on which state of the cation is accessed by the ionization. Ionization to the ground state cation surface induces a hydrogen transfer which is complete within 50 fs, whereas ionization to the first excited state results in a much slower process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental two-color photoionization dynamics study of laser-excited Br2 molecules is presented, combining pulsed visible laser excitation and tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation with photoelectron imaging. The X 1Σg+–B 3Π0+u transition in Br2 is excited at 527 nm corresponding predominantly to excitation of the v′=28 vibrational level in the B 3Π0+u state. Tunable VUV undulator radiation in the energy range of 8.40–10.15 eV is subsequently used to ionize the excited molecules to the X 2Π3/2,1/2 state of the ion, and the ionic ground state is probed by photoelectron imaging. Similar experiments are performed using single-photon synchrotron ionization in the photon energy range of 10.75–12.50 eV without any laser excitation. Photoelectron kinetic energy distributions are extracted from the photoelectron images. In the case of two-color photoionization using resonant excitation of the intermediate B 3Π0+u state, a broad distribution of photoelectron kinetic energies is observed, and in some cases even a bimodal distribution, which depends on the VUV photon energy. In contrast, for single-photon ionization, a single nearly Gaussian-shaped distribution is observed, which shifts to higher energy with photon energy. Simulated spectra based on Franck-Condon factors for the transitions Br2(X 1Σg+,v″=0)–Br2+(X 2Π1/2,3/2,v+) and Br2(B 3Π0+u,v′=28)–Br2+(X 2Π1/2,3/2,v+) are generated. Comparison of these calculated spectra with the measured images suggests that the differences in the kinetic energy distributions for the two ionization processes reflect the different extensions of the vibrational wave functions in the v″=0 electronic ground state (X 1Σg+) versus the electronically and vibrationally excited state (B 3Π0+u,v′=28). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic light scattering is reported using monochromatic vacuum-ultraviolet radiation to study free, spherical silica nanoparticles prepared by approaches from colloidal chemistry, with diameters between 100 and 240 nm. The colloidal nanoparticles of defined size are transferred from an aqueous solution into the gas phase using a particle beam experiment. After focusing of the particle beam by an aerodynamic lens, the scattered light from monochromatic synchrotron radiation is measured. Angle-resolved elastically scattered light is detected, showing a strong forward-scattering component. Additional evidence for the detection of elastically scattered light comes from plotting the scattered light intensity as a function of the dimensionless parameter qR, where q is the magnitude of the scattering wave vector and R is the particle radius. This yields different power-law regimes that are assigned to scattering from the surface and the bulk of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, there is evidence for modulations in the scattered light intensity as a function of scattering angle, which is clearly distinguished from the forward-scattering component. The experimental results are compared to Mie scattering simulations for isolated particles, yielding general agreement with the experimental results. Deviations from Mie simulations are observed for samples consisting of significant amounts of aggregates. The present results indicate that the optical properties of free nanoparticles are sensitively probed by vacuum-ultraviolet radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoionization efficiency curves were measured for gas-phase FeO and CuO using tunable vacuum-ultraviolet radiation at the Advanced Light Source. The molecules are prepared using laser ablation of a metal-oxide powder in a novel high-repetition-rate source and are thermally moderated in a supersonic expansion. These measurements provide the first directly measured ionization energy for CuO, IE(CuO)=9.41±0.01 eV. The direct measurement also gives a greatly improved ionization energy for FeO, IE(FeO)=8.56±0.01 eV. The ionization energy connects the dissociation energies of the neutral and cation, leading to a refined bond strength for the FeO cation: D0(Fe+–O)=3.52±0.02 eV. A dramatic increase in the photoionization cross section at energies of 0.36 eV above the threshold ionization energy is assigned to autoionization and direct ionization involving one or more low-lying quartet states of FeO+. The interaction between the sextet ground state and low-lying quartet states of FeO+ is key to understanding the oxidation of hydrogen and methane by FeO+, and these experiments provide the first experimental observation of the low-lying quartet states of FeO+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of electronically excited singlet methylene (1CH2) with acetylene (C2H2) was studied using the method of crossed molecular beams at a mean collision energy of 3.0 kcal/mol. The angular and velocity distributions of the propargyl radical (C3H3) products were measured using single photon ionization (9.6 eV) at the advanced light source. The measured distributions indicate that the mechanism involves formation of a long-lived C3H4 complex followed by simple C-H bond fission producing C3H3+H. This work, which is the first crossed beams study of a reaction involving an electronically excited polyatomic molecule, demonstrates the feasibility of crossed molecular beam studies of reactions involving 1CH2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first use of synchrotron radiation, continuously tunable from 8 to 15 eV, for flame-sampling photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS). Synchrotron radiation offers important advantages over the use of pulsed vacuum ultraviolet lasers for PIMS; these include superior signal-to-noise, soft ionization, and access to photon energies outside the limited tuning ranges of current VUV laser sources. Near-threshold photoionization efficiency measurements were used to determine the absolute concentrations of the allene and propyne isomers of C[sub 3]H[sub 4] in low-pressure laminar ethylene–oxygen and benzene–oxygen flames. Similar measurements of the isomeric composition of C[sub 2]H[sub 4]O species in a fuel-rich ethylene–oxygen flame revealed the presence of substantial concentrations of ethenol (vinyl alcohol) and acetaldehyde. Ethenol has not been previously detected in hydrocarbon flames. Absolute photoionization cross sections were measured for ethylene, allene, propyne, and acetaldehyde, using propene as a calibration standard. PIE curves are presented for several additional reaction intermediates prominent in hydrocarbon flames. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small carbon clusters are developed in a molecular beam by pulsed laser vaporization and analyzed with vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry.

The new way to introduce fragile bimolecules into the gas phase through thermal vaporization of nanoparticles is described and the general utility of this technique for the study of biomolecules is demonstrated by coupling this source to tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet radiation. The results reveal how changes in internal energy affect both the photoionization mass spectrum of tryptophan and the appearance energy of the daughter ion fragments.

Photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves for C3 molecules produced by laser ablation are measured with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) undulator radiation. Jet-cooled experiments along with high level ab initio calculations help in unraveling the intricacies of the structures observed in the PIE curve of C3, which further provides an insight into the nature of the C3 electronic states involved in the photoionization process.

Photodissociation of the unsaturated trans-crotonaldehyde (CH3CHCHCHO) molecule at 193 nm is studied using photofragment translational spectroscopy (PTS) and detected by ionization with tunable synchroton ultraviolet radiation. The results reveal that the dissociation of crotonaldehyde at 193 nm yields three channels, CH3CHCHCO+H, CH3+CHCHCHO and CO+CH3CHCH2.

Reports on a resonant photoionization spectra of an energetic, metastable oxygen species produced in a dc discharge. Rotationally resolved photoionization spectra, photoelectron spectra and ab initio calculations; Potential importance of the electronic transition in oxygen in the near ultraviolet; Electronically excited van der Waals complexes.

Studies the photodissociation of the vinyl radical at 243.2 nm in a molecular beam using the technique of velocity map imaging. Primary product using the momentum conservation; Need for an out-of-plane motion of the third hydrogen atom to bring the excited states; Derivation of the heat of formation of vinylidene.

Focuses on the observation of strong orbital alignment in the ground-state oxygen atom following dissociation of NO[sub 2] at 212.8 nm using ion imaging. Analysis of the results using a rigorous quantum mechanical theory; Dominance of a strong incoherent parallel perpendicular contributions to the excitation of a polyatomic molecule.

The three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 3H-benz[e]indene (C13H10) and 1H-benz[f]indene (C13H10) along with their naphthalene-based isomers 2-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)naphthalene (C13H10), 2-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)naphthalene (C13H10), and 2-(propa-1,2-dien-1-yl)naphthalene (C13H10) were formed through a “directed synthesis”via a high temperature chemical micro reactor under combustion-like conditions (1300 ± 35 K) through the reactions of the 2-naphthyl isomer (C10H7Ṗ) with allene (C3H4) and methylacetylene (C3H4). The isomer distributions were probed utilizing tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation from the Advanced Light Source (ALS) by recording the photoionization efficiency curves at mass-to-charge of m/z = 166 (C13H10) and 167 (13CC12H10) of the products in a supersonic molecular beam. Complemented by electronic structure calculations, our study reveals critical mass growth processes via annulation of a five-membered ring from the reaction between aryl radicals and distinct C3H4 isomers at elevated temperatures as present in combustion processes and in circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars. The underlying reaction mechanisms proceed through the initial addition of the 2-naphthyl radical with its radical center to the π-electron density of the allene and methylacetylene reactants via entrance barriers between 8 and 14 kJ mol−1, followed by isomerization (hydrogen shifts, ring closure), and termination via atomic hydrogen losses accompanied by aromatization. The reaction mechanisms reflect the formation of indene – the prototype PAH carrying a single five- and a single six-membered ring – synthesized through the reaction of the phenyl radical (C6H5Ṗ) with allene and methylacetylene. This leads us to predict that aryl radicals – upon reaction with allene/methylacetylene – may undergo molecular mass growth processes via ring annulation and de facto addition of a five-membered ring to form molecular building blocks essential to transit planar PAHs out of the plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that the ultraviolet photodissociation of oxalyl chloride yields four fragments from one photon absorption. Chlorine atom translational energy distributions; Chlorine atom angular distributions; Branching fractions.