Low energy electron attachment by bromoalkanes

Abstract

Thermal electron attachment processes in the mixtures of CH3CH2CH2Br, CH3CHBrCH3, CH2BrCH2Br, CH2FCH2Br and CF3CH2Br with carbon dioxide have been investigated using an electron swarm method. It has been found that all the investigated compounds attach electrons only in a two-body process. Corresponding rate constants have been determined to be equal to 1.1×10−11, 1.4×10−12, 1.8×10−8, 5×10−11 and 1.4×10−9cm3molecule−1s−1, respectively. The dependence of the electron capture rate constants on electronic polarizability of the accepting center of the molecule has been demonstrated. The average rate constant for CH3Br, CH3CH2Br and CH3CH2CH2Br equal to (6±2)×10−12cm3molecule−1s−1 is recommended.