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The kinetics of electron attachment to pyruvic acid (CH

While the dissociative recombination (DR) of ground-state molecular ions with low-energy free electrons is generally known to be exothermic, it has been predicted to be endothermic for a class of transition-metal oxide ions. To understand this unusual case, the electron recombination of titanium oxide ions (TiO+) with electrons has been experimentally investigated using the Cryogenic Storage Ring. In its low radiation field, the TiO+ ions relax internally to low rotational excitation (≲100 K). Under controlled collision energies down to [Formula: see text] meV within the merged electron and ion beam configuration, fragment imaging has been applied to determine the kinetic energy released to Ti and O neutral reaction products. Detailed analysis of the fragment imaging data considering the reactant and product excitation channels reveals an endothermicity for the TiO+ dissociative electron recombination of (+4 ± 10) meV. This result improves the accuracy of the energy balance by a factor of 7 compared to that found indirectly from hitherto known molecular properties. Conversely, the present endothermicity yields improved dissociation energy values for D0(TiO) = (6.824 ± 0.010) eV and D0(TiO+) = (6.832 ± 0.010) eV. All thermochemistry values were compared to new coupled-cluster calculations and found to be in good agreement. Moreover, absolute rate coefficients for the electron recombination of rotationally relaxed ions have been measured, yielding an upper limit of 1 × 10−7 cm3 s−1 for typical conditions of cold astrophysical media. Strong variation of the DR rate with the TiO+ internal excitation is predicted. Furthermore, potential energy curves for TiO+ and TiO have been calculated using a multi-reference configuration interaction method to constrain quantum-dynamical paths driving the observed TiO+ electron recombination.

The kinetics of successive reactions of acetylene (C2H2) initiated on either vanadium or iron atomic cations have been investigated under thermal conditions using the variable-ion source and temperature-adjustable selected-ion flow tube apparatus. Consistent with the literature results, the reaction of Fe+ + C2H2 primarily yields Fe+(m/z = (C2H2)3); however, analysis via quantum chemical calculations and statistical modeling shows that the mechanism does not form benzene upon the third acetylene addition. The kinetics are more consistent with successive addition of three acetylene molecules, yielding Fe+(C2H2)3, followed by an addition of a fourth acetylene molecule, initiating cyclotrimerization, yielding either Fe+(C2H2) + neutral benzene or Fe+(Bz) + acetylene, where Bz is a benzene ligand. In contrast, the reaction of V+ + C2H2 yields products via successive associations V+(m/z = (C2H2)n) either with or without a bimolecular step involving loss of one H2 and V+C2(m/z = (C2H2)m), where n and m extend at least up to 11 under conditions of 0.32 Torr at 300 K. Stabilized V+(Bz) is not a significant intermediate in the association mechanism. We propose a plausible mechanism for the generation of neutral benzene in this reaction and compare with the Fe+ results. The reaction steps that produce benzene result in turnover of the single-atom catalyst, and the large hydrocarbons produced that remain associated to the catalyst are proposed to be polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

We show how the powerful combination of temperature-dependent kinetics coupled with detailed statistical modeling can be used to derive dynamical information about transition state barrier heights, the importance of multiple entrance channel complexes, crossings between spin surfaces, energetics, product states, and other information for metal-ion reactions. The methods are not new, but with improved computers, ion sources, ion transport, and better detection techniques, the ability to derive such parameters from the combination of methods has improved greatly. Temperature-dependent kinetics is very sensitive to the above list of parameters because the energy is varied in a controlled way that can be easily modeled. The present measurements, performed in our variable-ion source temperature-adjustable selected-ion flow tube (VISTA-SIFT), have been enabled by advances in ion transport and injection improvements so that dim sources can be used. Replacing the quadrupole mass spectrometer detector with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer solved additional problems. Quantum chemical calculations have improved greatly and provide details about the surfaces, as well as frequencies, to use as starting points for the statistical modeling. For ion-molecule reactions, incorporation of both energy and angular momentum effects are important and we have developed an in-house computer program, based on the work of Juergen Troe, to rapidly compare statistical modeling predictions to the experimental data. As we show, modeling the kinetics data can often determine the most important parameters controlling the reactivity and deriving them is much simpler and usually more accurate than detailed ab initio calculations or dynamical modeling. Additionally, we show that even without statistical modeling, temperature-dependent rate constants as a function of metal anion cluster size can be used to show that such species react by the same mechanism as surfaces. In this review, we discuss reactions of metallic atomic ions, small metal oxide ions, mixed metal oxide ions, and a series of metallic anionic cluster reactions with small molecules such as CO, O2, CO2, N2O, CH4, and several other species. Particular attention was paid to reactions involving bond activation pertinent to catalysis.

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 mutual neutralisation of O+ with O- has been studied in a double ion-beam storage ring with combined merged-beams, imaging and timing techniques. Branching ratios were measured at the collision energies of 55, 75 and 170 (+/- 15) meV, and found to be in good agreement with previous single-pass merged-beams experimental results at 7 meV collision energy. Several previously unidentified spectral features were found to correspond to mutual neutralisation channels of the first metastable state of the cation (O+(D-2(o)), tau approximate to 3.6 hours), while no contributions from the second metastable state (O+(P-2(o)), tau approximate to 5 seconds) were observed. Theoretical calculations were performed using the multi-channel Landau-Zener model combined with the anion centered asymptotic method, and gave good agreement with several experimentally observed channels, but could not describe well observed contributions from the O+(D-2(o)) metastable state as well as channels involving the O(3s S-5(o)) state.

The catalytic oxidation of CO by N2O promoted by Co+ was studied as a function of temperature in a variable-ion source temperature-adjustable selected-ion flow tube (VISTA-SIFT). Each step of the c...

The reactions of Al2O2+ + N2O and Al2O3+ + CO, forming a catalytic cycle oxidizing CO by N2O, have been investigated from 300 to 600 K in a variable ion source, temperature adjustable, selected-ion...

The kinetics of AlO+ + CH4 are studied from 300-500 K using a selected-ion flow tube. At all temperatures the reaction proceeds near the Langevin-Gioumousis-Stevenson collision rate with two product channels: hydrogen atom abstraction (AlOH+ + CH3, 86 ± 5%) and methanol formation (Al+ + CH3OH, 14 ± 5%). Density functional calculations show the key Al-CH3OH+ intermediate is formed barrierlessly via a mechanism unique to aluminum, avoiding the rate-limiting step common to other MO+. The reaction of Al2O3+ + CH4 follows a similar mechanism to that for AlO+ through to the key intermediate; however, the conversion to methanol occurs only for AlO+ due to favorable energetics attributed to a weaker Al+-CH3OH bond. Importantly, that bond strength may be tuned independent of competing product channels by altering the acidity of the Al with electron-withdrawing or donating groups, indicating a key design criteria to develop a real world Al-atom catalyst.

The direct formation of

The SmO

The mutual neutralisation of O

The kinetics of successive reactions of acetylene (C

Electronically excited NdO is a possible product of the chemistry associated with the release of Nd into the ionosphere, and emission from these states may contribute to the observations following such experiments. To better characterize the energetics and spectroscopy of NdO, we report a combined experimental and theoretical study using slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled NdO− anions (cryo-SEVI) supplemented by wave function-based quantum-chemical calculations. Using cryo-SEVI, we measure the electron affinity of NdO to be 1.0091(7) eV and resolve numerous transitions to low-lying electronic and vibrational states of NdO that are assigned with the aid of the electronic structure calculations. Additionally, temperature-dependent data suggest contributions from the (2)4.5 state of NdO− residing 2350 cm−1 above the ground anion state. Photodetachment to higher-lying excited states of NdO is also reported, which may help to clarify observations from prior release experiments.

New insights into aluminum anion cluster reactivity with O2 were obtained through temperature-dependent kinetics measurements. Overall reactivity is controlled by a barrier at an avoided crossing w...

The kinetics of V+ + N2O and VO+ + N2O are studied using a selected-ion flow tube from 300-600 K at pressures of 0.25-0.70 Torr helium. V+ + N2O yields VO+ (k = 4.9 ± 1.0 (T/300 K)-0.3±0.2 × 10-10 cm3 s-1) in both ground and excited states. The secondary reaction VO+ + N2O → VO2+ + N2 proceeds near the collision rate at >10-10 cm3 s-1, whereas thermalized VO+ + N2O studied as a primary reaction proceeds more than 100× more slowly (k = 4.2 ± 1.0 (T/300 K)-1.4±0.2 × 10-12 cm3 s-1). The results are best explained by contributions of competing pathways in V+ + N2O: a spin crossing to the lower energy 3VO+ in the exit well and a spin-conserved reaction yielding an electronically excited 5VO+. The intersystem crossing occurs in 35 ± 20% and 37 ± 15% of reactive interactions at 300 and 600 K, respectively. Statistical modeling of relevant reaction coordinates supports the lack of a temperature dependence, indicates an intersystem crossing rate constant of 1011 s-1, and yields derived bond and transition state energies.

Mass-selected aluminum anion clusters, Aln–, were reacted with O2. Rate constants (300 K) for 2 < n < 30 and product branching fractions for 2 < n < 17 are reported. Reactivity is strongly anticorrelated to Aln– electron binding energy (EBE). Al13– reacts more slowly than predicted by EBE but notably is not inert, reacting at a measurable 0.05% efficiency (2.5 ± 1.5 × 10–13 cm3 s–1). Al6– is also an outlier, reacting more slowly than expected after accounting for other factors, suggesting that high symmetry increases stability. Implications of observed Al13– reactivity, contributions of both electronic shell-closing and geometric homogeneity to Aln– resistance to O2 etching, and future directions to more fully unravel the reaction mechanisms are discussed.

The kinetics of V nO m+ + CCl4 ( n, m = 2, 5; 3, 6-8; 4, 9-11; 5, 12-13) have been measured under thermal conditions using a selected-ion flow tube equipped with a laser vaporization ion source. All reactions proceed at approximately the capture rate limit, yielding three dominant categories of products: CCl3+ + V nO mCl (i.e., chloride transfer), COCl2 (phosgene) formation, and CO2 formation. Both CO2 and COCl2 are products of CCl4 reaction on a bulk vanadium oxide surface, while chloride (or chlorine) transfer is not observed. The product branching fraction of CCl3+ approaches 100% for small (V2) reactants and generally decreases with increasing cluster size down to

The temperature dependent kinetics and product branching fractions of first-row transition metal oxide cation MnO+ with CH4 and CD4 at temperatures between 200 and 600 K are measured using a selected-ion flow tube apparatus. Likely reaction mechanisms are determined by comparison of temperature dependent kinetics to statistical modeling along calculated reaction coordinates. The data is well-modeled with the reaction proceeding over a rate limiting four-centered transition state leading to an insertion intermediate, similar to reactions of NiO+ and FeO+, and showing characteristics of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). However, a more direct pathway traversing a transition state of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) character to a hydroxyl intermediate is found to possibly be competitive, especially with increasing temperature. While uncertainties in calculated energetics limit quantitative assessment of the role of HAT at thermal energies, it is clear that this mechanism becomes increasingly prevalent in higher energy regimes.

The temperature dependencies of the reactions MnO+ + H2/D2 from 150 to 600 K are measured in a selected- ion flow tube apparatus. The reactions are approximately 15% efficient at room temperature with rate constants (k = 2.7 ± 0.7 × 10−10 cm3 s-1 for H2 and 1.5 ± 0.4 × 10−10 cm3 s-1 for D2 at 300 K) that vary as T-1.1±0.2 and T-1.3±0.2, respectively. Both Mn+ and MnOH+/D+ products are observed, with Mn+ being the minority product in the H2 reaction, but the majority product in the D2 reaction. Reaction coordinates are explored using a variety of density functional methods, with quantitative but not qualitative differences in the results. Unlike the analogous FeO+ + H2 reaction, no evidence for spin inversion prior to the rate-limiting transition state is found. A crossing between septet and quintet potential energy surfaces in the product well exists, and the possibility of spin inversion on the way to products is discussed. The reaction coordinates inform a statistical treatment of the reaction, which well reproduces all kinetic results, including the product branching inversion observed due to isotope substitution.

The previously reported conversion of methane to ethene catalyzed by Au2+ at thermal energies, at odds with established thermodynamics, is investigated through a combination of experiments under both single-collision conditions using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer (GIBMS) apparatus and at higher pressures using a selected-ion flow tube (SIFT) apparatus, as well as through density functional calculations. Production of Au2(C2H4)+ (or m/z 422) or Au2(C2D4)+ (or m/z 426) is significantly lower in the higher pressure SIFT experiments relative to previously reported results. The amount observed is consistent with a pathway initiating from a small fraction of a reactive species, potentially electronically excited Au2+* or Au2O+, isobaric with Au2(CH4)+. Extensive theoretical exploration of the potential energy surface for Au2(CH4)+ + CH4 shows no low-energy pathway that is consistent with ethene formation, with prohibitive barriers of 1–2 eV calculated along all identified reaction coordinates, consistent with previous calculations. GIBMS data do show the production of m/z 422 in the reaction of Au2(CH4)+ + CH4, consistent with the proposed key intermediate, but also provide evidence that this observed species is Au2(CO)+ arising from Au2O+, not Au2(C2H4)+ arising from Au2(CH4)+. The present results are consistent with the established thermochemistry for methane-to-ethene conversion, which unambiguously demonstrates that such conversion cannot proceed at thermal energies regardless of the presence of Au2+.

Diethard Bohme has had a long career covering many topics in ion-molecule reactivity. In this review, we describe the work done at the Air Force Research Laboratory (and its variously named preceding organizations) that was inspired by his studies. These fall into two main areas: nucleophilic displacement (SN 2) and metal cation chemistry. In SN 2 chemistry, we revisited many of the reactions Diethard pioneered and studied them in more detail. We found nonstatistical behavior, both competition and noncompetition between multiple channels. New channels were found as hydration occurred, with more solution-like behavior occurring as only a few ligands were added. Temperature-dependent studies revealed details that were not observable at room temperature. These and other highlights will be discussed. In metal cation reactions, Diethard's use of an inductively coupled ion source allowed him to systematically study the periodic table of elements with a number of simple neutrals. We have taken the most interesting of these and studied them in greater detail. In doing so, we were able to identify curve crossing rates, in a few instances information about product states, and the importance of multiple entrance channels.

The catalytic oxidation of CO by N

Rate constants for dissociative electron attachment to N

The kinetics of MgO+ + CH4 was studied experimentally using the variable ion source, temperature adjustable selected ion flow tube (VISTA-SIFT) apparatus from 300-600 K and computationally by running and analyzing reactive atomistic simulations. Rate coefficients and product branching fractions were determined as a function of temperature. The reaction proceeded with a rate of k = 5.9 ± 1.5 × 10-10(T/300 K)-0.5±0.2 cm3 s-1. MgOH+ was the dominant product at all temperatures, but Mg+, the co-product of oxygen-atom transfer to form methanol, was observed with a product branching fraction of 0.08 ± 0.03(T/300 K)-0.8±0.7. Reactive molecular dynamics simulations using a reactive force field, as well as a neural network trained on thousands of structures yield rate coefficients about one order of magnitude lower. This underestimation of the rates is traced back to the multireference character of the transition state [MgOCH4]+. Statistical modeling of the temperature-dependent kinetics provides further insight into the reactive potential surface. The rate limiting step was found to be consistent with a four-centered activation of the C-H bond, in agreement with previous calculations. The product branching was modeled as a competition between dissociation of an insertion intermediate directly after the rate-limiting transition state, and traversing a transition state corresponding to a methyl migration leading to a Mg-CH3OH+ complex, though only if this transition state is stabilized significantly relative to the dissociated MgOH+ + CH3 product channel. An alternative, non-statistical mechanism is discussed, whereby a post-transition state bifurcation in the potential surface could allow the reaction to proceed directly from the four-centered TS to the Mg-CH3OH+ complex thereby allowing a more robust competition between the product channels.

New flowing afterglow/Langmuir probe investigations of electronic attachment to SF

The bond dissociation energies at 0 K (BDE) of Au2+-CH4 and Au2CH4+-CH4 have been determined using two separate experimental methods. Analyses of collision-induced dissociation cross sections for Au2CH4+ + Xe and Au2(CH4)2+ + Xe measured using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer (GIBMS) yield BDEs of 0.71 ± 0.05 and 0.57 ± 0.07 eV, respectively. Statistical modeling of association kinetics of Au2(CH4)0-2+ + CH4 + He measured from 200 to 400 K and at 0.3-0.9 Torr using a selected-ion flow tube (SIFT) apparatus yields slightly higher values of 0.81 ± 0.21 and 0.75 ± 0.25 eV. The SIFT data also place a lower limit on the BDE of Au2C2H8+-CH4 of 0.35 eV, likely an activated isomer, not Au2(CH4)2+-CH4. Particular emphasis is placed on determining the uncertainty in the derivation from association kinetics measurements, including uncertainties in collisional energy transfer, calculated harmonic frequencies, and possible contribution of isomerization of the association complexes. This evaluation indicates that an uncertainty of ±0.2 eV should be expected and that an uncertainty of better than ±0.1 eV is unlikely to be reasonable.

The reactions of Al

Rate constants for the reactions of C

The kinetics of MgO + + CH 4 was studied experimentally using the variable ion source, temperature adjustable selected ion flow tube (VISTA-SIFT) apparatus from 300 − 600 K and computationally by running and analyzing reactive atomistic simula- tions. Rate coefficients and product branching fractions were determined as a function of temperature. The reaction proceeded with a rate of k = 5 . 9 ± 1 . 5 × 10 − 10 ( T/ 300 K) − 0 . 5 ± 0 . 2 cm 3 s − 1 . MgOH + was the dominant product at all temperatures, but Mg + , the co-product of oxygen-atom transfer to form methanol, was observed with a product branching fraction of 0 . 08 ± 0 . 03( T/ 300 K) − 0 . 8 ± 0 . 7 . Reactive molecular dynamics simulations using a reactive force field, as well as a neural network trained on thousands of structures yield rate coefficients about one order of magnitude lower. This underestimation of the rates is traced back to the multireference character of the transition state [MgOCH 4 ] + . Statistical modeling of the temperature-dependent kinetics provides further insight into the reactive potential surface. The rate limiting step was found to be consistent with a four-centered activation of the C-H bond, consistent with previous calculations. The product branching was modeled as a competition between dissociation of an insertion intermediate directly after the rate- limiting transition state, and traversing a transition state corresponding to a methyl migration leading to a Mg-CH 3 OH + complex, though only if this transition state is stabilized significantly relative to the dissociated MgOH + + CH 3 product channel. An alternative non-statistical mechanism is discussed, whereby a post-transition state bifurcation in the potential surface could allow the reaction to proceed directly from the four-centered TS to the Mg-CH 3 OH + complex thereby allowing a more robust competition between the product channels .

The mechanisms involved in catalytic oxidation of CO by N2 O promoted by the AlVO3+ and AlVO4+ ions are evaluated using temperature-dependent rate constants and statistical modeling. Reactions were studied from 300-600 K using a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) apparatus, and the data compared to statistical modeling of proposed mechanisms previously identified by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Reduction of N2 O by AlVO3+ was found to take place only by complexation to the Al site; however, attack on the V site also occurred and led to stable association complexes, reducing the overall efficiency of the reaction. As the AlVO3+ (N2 O) complex resulted from approach on the V site, it did not block the reactive Al site and was observed to further react with N2 O to form AlVO4+ (N2 O). The oxidation of CO by AlVO4+ was found to proceed solely by activation on the Al-O site; however, isomerization of complexes formed with CO initially complexed to the V site were found to add to the reactivity, especially at lower temperatures.

The temperature-dependent kinetics for reactions of V+, Fe+, and Co+ with OCS are measured using a selected ion flow tube apparatus heated to 300–600 K. All three reactions proceed solely by C–S activation at thermal energies, resulting in metal sulfide cation formation. Previously calculated reaction pathways were employed to inform statistical modeling of these reactions for comparison to the data. As surmised previously, all three reactions at thermal energies require spin crossing, with the Fe+ reaction crossing once circumventing a prohibitive transition state, before crossing again to form ground state products. The Fe+ and Co+ reaction efficiencies increase with energy. For the Co+ reaction, and to a lesser extent the Fe+ reaction, the apparent activation energies are less than the reaction endothermicities, possibly indicating increasing diabatic behavior of the spin crossings with energy. The V+ reaction was well modeled assuming an entirely adiabatic spin crossing, such that the resultant avoide...

The SmO+ bond energy has been measured by monitoring the threshold for photodissociation of the cryogenically cooled ion. The action spectrum features a very sharp onset, indicating a bond energy of 5.596 ± 0.004 eV. This value, when combined with the literature value of the samarium ionization energy, indicates that the chemi-ionization reaction of atomic Sm with atomic oxygen is endothermic by 0.048 ± 0.004 eV, which has important implications on the reactivity of Sm atoms released into the upper atmosphere. The SmO+ ion was prepared by electrospray ionization followed by collisional breakup of two different precursors and characterized by the vibrational spectrum of the He-tagged ion. The UV photodissociation threshold is similar for the 10 K bare ion and the He tagged ion, which rules out the possible role of metastable electronically excited states. Reanalysis and remeasurement of previous reaction kinetics experiments that are dependent on D0(SmO+) are included, bringing all experimental results in accord.

Reactions of the cations Ar+, O2+, CO2+, and CF3+ with the C2 radicals C2H5, H2C2F3, C2F3, and C2F5 were investigated using the variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry technique in a flowing afterglow–Langmuir probe apparatus at room temperature. Rate coefficients for observed product channels for these 16 reactions are reported as well as rate coefficients and product branching fractions for the 16 reactions of the same cations with each of the stable neutrals used as radical precursors (the species RI, where R is the radical studied). Reactions with the stable neutrals proceed by charge transfer at or near the collisional rate coefficient where energetically allowed; where charge transfer is endothermic, bond-breaking/bond-making chemistry occurs. While also efficient, reactions with the radicals are more likely to occur at a smaller fraction of the collisional rate coefficient, and bond-breaking/bond-making chemistry occurs even in some cases where charge transfer is exotherm...

The rate constant for OH − (H 2 O) 2 + CH 3 I reaction was determined by selected ion flow tube (SIFT) experiments for temperatures in the range of 298–398 K. It is found to be an order of magnitude smaller than the collision capture rate constant, a result substantially different than found previously for the OH − + CH 3 I and OH − (H 2 O) + CH 3 I reactions. The rate constants for these reactions are only ∼25% and ∼two times smaller, respectively, than their collision capture rate constants. Only two product ions are observed experimentally, i.e. I − and I − (H 2 O), and their respective percentage yields are 90:10 and 83:17 at 298 and 348 K. The kinetics for the OH − (H 2 O) 2 + CH 3 I reaction were also studied by direct dynamics simulations using the DFT/B97-1/ECP/d electronic structure theory, the same theory used in previous direct dynamics simulations of the OH − + CH 3 I and OH − (H 2 O) + CH 3 I reactions. Simulations for OH − (H 2 O) 2 + CH 3 I at 387 K give respective percentage yields of 91:9 for I − and I − (H 2 O), in good agreement with the experimental results. For both the experiments and simulations, the microsolvated ion I − (H 2 O) 2 is not formed and the formation of I − dominates I − (H 2 O). For the OH − + CH 3 I and OH − (H 2 O) + CH 3 I reactions the experimental and direct dynamics simulation rate constants agree. However, this is not the case for OH − (H 2 O) 2 + CH 3 I, for which the simulation rate constant is 8–9 times larger than the experimental value. Comparisons of the experimental, simulation, and collision capture rate constants for the OH − (H 2 O) 2 + CH 3 I reaction indicate the height of the submerged S N 2 barrier for the reaction is an important feature of its potential energy surface. The actual barrier is expected to be higher than the value given by the DFT/B97-1 calculations. In future work it will be important to perform higher level electronic structure calculations and establish an accurate value for this barrier. Preliminary calculations reported here indicate the barrier height is sensitive to the electronic structure method.

The pressure and temperature dependences of the reactions of Fe+ with methyl halides CH3X (X = Cl, Br, I) in He were measured in a selected ion flow tube over the ranges 0.4 to 1.2 Torr and 300-600 K. FeX+ was observed for all three halides and FeCH3+ was observed for the CH3I reaction. FeCH3X+ adducts (for all X) were detected in all reactions. The results were interpreted assuming two-state reactivity with spin-inversions between sextet and quartet potentials. Kinetic modeling allowed for a quantitative representation of the experiments and for extrapolation to conditions outside the experimentally accessible range. The modeling required quantum-chemical calculations of molecular parameters and detailed accounting of angular momentum effects. The results show that the FeX+ products come via an insertion mechanism, while the FeCH3+ can be produced from either insertion or SN2 mechanisms, but the latter we conclude is unlikely at thermal energies. A statistical modeling cannot reproduce the competition between the bimolecular pathways in the CH3I reaction, indicating that some more direct process must be important.

Atomic samarium has been injected into the neutral atmosphere for production of electron clouds that modify the ionosphere. These electron clouds may be used as high-frequency radio wave reflectors or for control of the electrodynamics of the F region. A self-consistent model for the photochemical reactions of Samarium vapor cloud released into the upper atmosphere has been developed and compared with the Metal Oxide Space Cloud (MOSC) experimental observations. The release initially produces a dense plasma cloud that that is rapidly reduced by dissociative recombination and diffusive expansion. The spectral emissions from the release cover the ultraviolet to the near infrared band with contributions from solar fluorescence of the atomic, molecular, and ionized components of the artificial density cloud. Barium releases in sunlight are more efficient than Samarium releases in sunlight for production of dense ionization clouds. Samarium may be of interest for nighttime releases but the artificial electron cloud is limited by recombination with the samarium oxide ion.