Reactions Of CN Radicals Research Articles

Ultrafast dynamics of CN radical reactions with chloroform solvent under vibrational strong coupling.

Polariton chemistry may provide a new means to control molecular reactivity, permitting remote, reversible modification of reaction energetics, kinetics, and product yields. A considerable body of experimental and theoretical work has already demonstrated that strong coupling between a molecular vibrational mode and the confined electromagnetic field of an optical cavity can alter chemical reactivity without external illumination. However, the mechanisms underlying cavity-altered chemistry remain unclear in large part because the experimental systems examined previously are too complex for detailed analysis of their reaction dynamics. Here, we experimentally investigate photolysis-induced reactions of cyanide radicals with strongly-coupled chloroform (CHCl3) solvent molecules and examine the intracavity rates of photofragment recombination, solvent complexation, and hydrogen abstraction. We use a microfluidic optical cavity fitted with dichroic mirrors to facilitate vibrational strong coupling (VSC) of the C-H stretching mode of CHCl3 while simultaneously permitting optical access at visible wavelengths. Ultrafast transient absorption experiments performed with cavities tuned on- and off-resonance reveal that VSC of the CHCl3 C-H stretching transition does not significantly modify any measured rate constants, including those associated with the hydrogen abstraction reaction. This work represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental study of an elementary bimolecular reaction under VSC. We discuss how the conspicuous absence of cavity-altered effects in this system may provide insights into the mechanisms of modified ground state reactivity under VSC and help bridge the divide between experimental results and theoretical predictions in vibrational polariton chemistry.

Ab-Initio and DFT study of HCN: Role of temperature for the formation of HCN molecule in the interstellar medium

In the recent studies it is observed that not only ion/radical-molecule gas-phase reactions, but also solid-state reactions on icy dust grains play an important role for the formation of new species. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is the most abundant molecule in the interstellar medium (ISM) in gas phase and it has been assumed to exist in solid state or as coating on grains. The work is mainly focused on the hydrogenation of CN radical in interstellar ice analogs for astronomically relevant temperatures. The solid H2 can act as a hydrogenation agent, reacting with CN radicals to form HCN. Hydrogenation reactions of CN radical have been studied by Hartree-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods. We have discussed that, how molecules form when CN containing ices are exposed to thermal hydrogen atoms. The present work deals with possibility of the formation of HCN by hydrogenation via radical molecule reactions in gas phase as well as in PCM and the effect of temperature on thermodynamical parameter.

Training Neural Nets To Learn Reactive Potential Energy Surfaces Using Interactive Quantum Chemistry in Virtual Reality.

While the primary bottleneck to a number of computational workflows was not so long ago limited by processing power, the rise of machine learning technologies has resulted in an interesting paradigm shift, which places increasing value on issues related to data curation-that is, data size, quality, bias, format, and coverage. Increasingly, data-related issues are equally as important as the algorithmic methods used to process and learn from the data. Here we introduce an open-source graphics processing unit-accelerated neural network (NN) framework for learning reactive potential energy surfaces (PESs). To obtain training data for this NN framework, we investigate the use of real-time interactive ab initio molecular dynamics in virtual reality (iMD-VR) as a new data curation strategy that enables human users to rapidly sample geometries along reaction pathways. Focusing on hydrogen abstraction reactions of CN radical with isopentane, we compare the performance of NNs trained using iMD-VR data versus NNs trained using a more traditional method, namely, molecular dynamics (MD) constrained to sample a predefined grid of points along the hydrogen abstraction reaction coordinate. Both the NN trained using iMD-VR data and the NN trained using the constrained MD data reproduce important qualitative features of the reactive PESs, such as a low and early barrier to abstraction. Quantitative analysis shows that NN learning is sensitive to the data set used for training. Our results show that user-sampled structures obtained with the quantum chemical iMD-VR machinery enable excellent sampling in the vicinity of the minimum energy path (MEP). As a result, the NN trained on the iMD-VR data does very well predicting energies that are close to the MEP but less well predicting energies for "off-path" structures. The NN trained on the constrained MD data does better predicting high-energy off-path structures, given that it included a number of such structures in its training set.

Recombination, Solvation and Reaction of CN Radicals Following Ultraviolet Photolysis of ICN in Organic Solvents.

The fates of CN radicals produced by ultraviolet (UV) photolysis of ICN in various organic solvents have been examined by transient electronic and vibrational absorption spectroscopy (TEAS and TVAS). Near-UV and visible bands in the TEAS measurement enable direct observation of the CN radicals and their complexes with the solvent molecules. Complementary TVAS measurements probe the products of CN-radical reactions. Geminate recombination to form ICN and INC is a minor pathway on the 150 fs -1300 ps time scales of our experiments in the chosen organic solvents; nonetheless, large infrared transition dipole moments permit direct observation of INC that is vibrationally excited in the C≡N stretching mode. The time constants for INC vibrational cooling range from 30 ps in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to 1400 ps in more weakly interacting solvents such as chloroform. The major channel for CN removal in the organic solvents is reaction with solvent molecules, as revealed by depletion of solvent absorption bands and growth of product bands in the TVA spectra. HCN is a reaction product of hydrogen atom abstraction in most of the photoexcited solutions, and forms with vibrational excitation in both the C-H and C≡N stretching modes. The vibrational cooling rate of the C≡N stretch in HCN depends on the solvent, and follows the same trend as the cooling rate of the C≡N stretch in INC. However, in acetonitrile solution an additional reaction pathway produces C3H3N2(•) radicals, which release HCN on a much longer time scale.

Vibrational Excitation of Both Products of the Reaction of CN Radicals with Acetone in Solution.

Transient electronic and vibrational absorption spectroscopy unravel the mechanisms and dynamics of bimolecular reactions of CN radicals with acetone in deuterated chloroform solutions. The CN radicals are produced by ultrafast ultraviolet photolysis of dissolved ICN. Two reactive forms of CN radicals are distinguished by their electronic absorption bands: “free” (uncomplexed) CN radicals, and “solvated” CN radicals that are complexed with solvent molecules. The lifetimes of the free CN radicals are limited to a few picoseconds following their photolytic production because of geminate recombination to ICN and INC, complexation with CDCl3 molecules, and reaction with acetone. The acetone reaction occurs with a rate coefficient of (8.0 ± 0.5) × 1010 M–1 s–1 and transient vibrational spectra in the C=N and C=O stretching regions reveal that both the nascent HCN and 2-oxopropyl (CH3C(O)CH2) radical products are vibrationally excited. The rate coefficient for the reaction of solvated CN with acetone is 40 times slower than for free CN, with a rate coefficient of (2.0 ± 0.9) × 109 M–1 s–1 obtained from the rise in the HCN product v1(C=N stretch) IR absorption band. Evidence is also presented for CN complexes with acetone that are more strongly bound than the CN–CDCl3 complexes because of CN interactions with the carbonyl group. The rates of reactions of these more strongly associated radicals are slower still.

Dynamics of bimolecular reactions in solution.

Mechanisms of bimolecular chemical reactions in solution are amenable to study on picosecond timescales, both by transient absorption spectroscopy and by computer simulation. The dynamics of exothermic reactions of CN radicals and of Cl and F atoms with organic solutes in commonly used solvents are contrasted with the corresponding dynamics in the gas phase. Many characteristics of the gas-phase reaction dynamics persist in solution, such as efficient energy release to specific vibrational modes of the products. However, additional complexities associated with the presence of the solvent are open to investigation. These features of liquid-phase reactions include the role of solvent-solute complexes, solvent caging, coupling of the product motions to the solvent bath, thermalization of internally excited reaction products, incipient hydrogen bond formation, and involvement of charge-separated states that arise from proton transfer.

Reaction kinetics of the CN radical with primary alcohols

The kinetics of the reactions of CN radicals with several small primary alcohol molecules were studied by transient infrared laser absorption spectroscopy. Direct time-resolved detection of CN was used to determine total rate constants. In addition, HCN and DCN products were detected in order to estimate the branching ratios of the CN+CH3OH reaction. We find that abstraction of an alkyl hydrogen atom dominates the CN+CH3OH reaction, but a small, ∼8% yield of hydroxyl hydrogen abstraction is also observed.

Perspective: Bimolecular chemical reaction dynamics in liquids

Bimolecular reactions in the gas phase exhibit rich and varied dynamical behaviour, but whether a profound knowledge of the mechanisms of isolated reactive collisions can usefully inform our understanding of reactions in liquid solutions remains an open question. The fluctuating environment in a liquid may significantly alter the motions of the reacting particles and the flow of energy into the reaction products after a transition state has been crossed. Recent experimental and computational studies of exothermic reactions of CN radicals with organic molecules indicate that many features of the gas-phase dynamics are retained in solution. However, observed differences may also provide information on the ways in which a solvent modifies fundamental chemical mechanisms. This perspective examines progress in the use of time-resolved infra-red spectroscopy to study reaction dynamics in liquids, discusses how existing theories can guide the interpretation of experimental data, and suggests future challenges for this field of research.

Low Temperature Rate Coefficients for the Reaction CN + HC3N

The reaction of CN radicals with HC3N is of interest for interstellar and circumstellar chemistry as well as for the chemistry of Titan's atmosphere, as part of a general scheme for cyanopolyyne synthesis within these low temperature environments. Here, we present the first experimental measurements of its rate coefficient below room temperature down to 22 K, employing the CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme or Reaction Kinetics in Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique coupled with pulsed laser photolysis-laser-induced fluorescence. A novel pulsed version of the CRESU technique employing a new spinning disk valve was used for some of the kinetics measurements. The measurements were in excellent agreement with the only previous determination at room temperature and show a marked increase in the rate coefficient as the temperature is lowered, with the results being well represented by the equation k(T) = 1.79 × 10(-11)(T/300 K)(-0.67) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), with a root-mean-square (statistical) error of 0.61 × 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), to which should be added 10% estimated likely systematic error. High accuracy ab initio quantum chemical calculations coupled with variational two-transition state theory calculations were also performed and demonstrate excellent agreement within the combined experimental and predicted theoretical uncertainties. The theoretical rate coefficients, adjusted within expected uncertainties, can be accurately reproduced over the 5 to 400 K temperature range by the expression [(1.97 × 10(-8)) T (-1.51) exp(-3.24/T) + (4.85 × 10(-13)) T (0.563) exp (17.6/T)] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where T is in K. The new measurements are likely to be of interest to astrochemical and planetary atmospheric modelers.

Product Channels of the CN + HCNO Reaction

The kinetics of the reaction of CN radical with fulminic acid (HCNO) was studied by transient infrared absorption spectroscopy with the primary goal of resolving whether the dominant product channel is NO + HCCN (1a) or HCN + NCO (1b). HCN, HCCN, and NO reaction products were directly detected. In some experiments, (15)N(18)O reagent was included in the reaction mixtures in order to suppress possible secondary chemistry due to NCO radicals. Several other possible secondary reactions were also investigated and found to be very slow. The resulting product branching fractions of φ(1a) = 0.98 ± 0.07 for NO + HCCN and φ(1b) ≤ 0.07 for HCN + NCO, respectively, were obtained at 298 K. The potential energy surface (PES) of the reaction was calculated by ab initio methods at several levels of coupled-cluster theory. The calculations show pathways to channels (1a) and (1b) with nearly identical energetics and a substantial dependence on the level of theory used, suggesting that multireference calculations are needed to accurately predict the experimental results.

Reaction dynamics of CN radicals with tetrahydrofuran in liquid solutions

Transient, broadband infra-red absorption spectroscopy with picosecond time resolution has been used to study the dynamics of reactions of CN radicals with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and d(8)-THF in liquid solutions ranging from neat THF to 0.5 M THF in chlorinated solvents (CDCl(3) and CD(2)Cl(2)). HCN and DCN products were monitored via their v(1) (C≡N stretching) and v(3) (C-H(D) stretching) vibrational absorption bands. Transient spectral features indicate formation of vibrationally excited HCN and DCN, and the onsets of absorption via the fundamental bands of HCN and DCN show short (5-15 ps) delays consistent with vibrational relaxation within the nascent reaction products. This interpretation is confirmed by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations employing a newly derived analytic potential energy surface for the reaction in explicit THF solvent. The rate coefficient for reactive formation of HCN (as determined from measurements on both the 1(1)(0) and 3(1)(0) fundamental bands) decreases with increasing dilution of the THF in CDCl(3) or CD(2)Cl(2), showing pseudo-first order kinetic behaviour for THF concentrations in the range 0.5-4.5 M, and a bimolecular rate coefficient of (1.57 ± 0.12) × 10(10) M(-1) s(-1) is derived. Simultaneous analysis of time-dependent HCN 1(1)(0) and 3(1)(0) band intensities following reaction of CN with THF (3.0 M) in CD(2)Cl(2) suggests that C-H stretching mode excitation is favoured, and this deduction is supported by the computer simulations. The results extend our recent demonstration of nascent vibrational excitation of the products of bimolecular reactions in liquid solution to a different, and more strongly interacting class of organic solvents. They serve to reinforce the finding that dynamics (and thus the topology of the reactive potential energy surface) play an important role in determining the nascent product state distributions in condensed phase reactions.

Vibrationally quantum-state-specific dynamics of the reactions of CN radicals with organic molecules in solution

The dynamics of reactions of CN radicals with cyclohexane, d(12)-cyclohexane, and tetramethylsilane have been studied in solutions of chloroform, dichloromethane, and the deuterated variants of these solvents using ultraviolet photolysis of ICN to initiate a reaction. The H(D)-atom abstraction reactions produce HCN (DCN) that is probed in absorption with sub-picosecond time resolution using ∼500 cm(-1) bandwidth infrared (IR) pulses in the spectral regions corresponding to C-H (or C-D) and C≡N stretching mode fundamental and hot bands. Equivalent IR spectra were obtained for the reactions of CN radicals with the pure solvents. In all cases, the reaction products are formed at early times with a strong propensity for vibrational excitation of the C-H (or C-D) stretching (v(3)) and H-C-N (D-C-N) bending (v(2)) modes, and for DCN products there is also evidence of vibrational excitation of the v(1) mode, which involves stretching of the C≡N bond. The vibrationally excited products relax to the ground vibrational level of HCN (DCN) with time constants of ∼130-270 ps (depending on molecule and solvent), and the majority of the HCN (DCN) in this ground level is formed by vibrational relaxation, instead of directly from the chemical reaction. The time-dependence of reactive production of HCN (DCN) and vibrational relaxation is analysed using a vibrationally quantum-state specific kinetic model. The experimental outcomes are indicative of dynamics of exothermic reactions over an energy surface with an early transition state. Although the presence of the chlorinated solvent may reduce the extent of vibrational excitation of the nascent products, the early-time chemical reaction dynamics in these liquid solvents are deduced to be very similar to those for isolated collisions in the gas phase. The transient IR spectra show additional spectroscopic absorption features centered at 2037 cm(-1) and 2065 cm(-1) (in CHCl(3)) that are assigned, respectively, to CN-solvent complexes and recombination of I atoms with CN radicals to form INC molecules. These products build up rapidly, with respective time constants of 8-26 and 11-22 ps. A further, slower rise in the INC absorption signal (with time constant >500 ps) is attributed to diffusive recombination after escape from the initial solvent cage and accounts for more than 2/3 of the observed INC.

Chemical Reaction Dynamics in Liquid Solutions.

The dynamics of bimolecular chemical reactions can be examined in liquid solutions using infrared absorption spectroscopy with picosecond time resolution. On such short time scales, the transient absorption spectra reveal vibrational mode and quantum-state-specific energy disposal, followed by vibrational relaxation as the energy is dissipated to the surrounding solvent. Comparison with energy disposal measurements for gas-phase reactions under single-collision conditions offers direct insights into the modification of the energy landscape and the nuclear dynamics in the presence of the solvent. The reactions of CN radicals with organic molecules in chlorinated solvents exemplify the dynamical information that can be obtained. The potential to extend such experiments to a range of reactions and solvents is discussed.

Theoretical mechanistic study on the reaction of CN radical with HNCN

The mechanism for the reaction of the cyanogen radical (CN) with the cyanomidyl radical (HNCN) has been investigated theoretically. The electronic structure information of the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PESs) is obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level, and the single-point energies are refined at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p) level as well as by multilevel MCG3-MPWB method. The calculations show that the C atom of CN additions to middle- and end-N atoms of HNCN are two barrierless association processes leading to the energy-rich intermediates IM1 HN(CN)CN and IM2 HNCNCN, respectively, on the singlet PES. The higher barriers of the subsequent isomerization and dissociation channels from IM1 and IM2 indicate that these two intermediates, which have considerably thermodynamic and kinetic stability, are the dominant product at high pressure. While at low pressure, the most favorable product is P(2) H + NCNCN, which will be formed from both IM1 and IM2 via direct dissociation processes by the H-N bond rupture, and the secondary feasible product is P(4) HCN + (1) NCN, while P(5) HCCN + N(2) and P(6) HCNC + N(2) are the least competitive products. On the triplet PES, P(14) NCNC + HN may be a comparable competitive product at high temperature. In addition, the comparison between the mechanisms of the CN + HNCN and OH + HNCN reactions is made. The present results will enrich our understanding of the chemistry of the HNCN radical in combustion processes and interstellar space.

ChemInform Abstract: Rate Constants for the Elementary Reactions Between CN Radicals and CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2 in the Range: 295 ≤ T/K ≤ 700

Pulsed laser photolysis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence experiments have been carried out on the reactions of CN radicals with CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2. They have yielded rate constants for these five reactions at temperatures between 295 and 700 K. The data for the reactions with methane and ethane have been combined with other recent results and fitted to modified Arrhenius expressions, k(T) = A′(298) (T/298)n exp(−θ/T), yielding: for CH4, A′(298) = 7.0 × 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, n = 2.3, and θ = −16 K; and for C2H6, A′(298) = 5.6 × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, n = 1.8, and θ = −500 K. The rate constants for the reactions with C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2 all decrease monotonically with temperature and have been fitted to expressions of the form, k(T) = k(298) (T/298)n with k(298) = 2.5 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, n = −0.24 for CN + C2H4; k(298) = 3.4 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, n = −0.19 for CN + C3H6; and k(298) = 2.9 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, n = −0.53 for CN + C2H2. These reactions almost certainly proceed via addition-elimination yielding an unsaturated cyanide and an H-atom. Our kinetic results for reactions of CN are compared with those for reactions of the same hydrocarbons with other simple free radical species. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Theoretical study on the reaction of CN radicals with ClO radicals by density functional theory

The reaction mechanism of CN radicals with ClO radicals has been studied theoretically using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT). The result shows that the main reaction path is the O atom in radical ClO attacks the C atom in radical CN to compose the intermediate 1 ClOCN. Three thermodynamically accessible prodncts, P1 (CO+ClN), P3 (NO+CCl), and P4 (ClNCO), were obtained from intermediate 1 through isomerization and decomposition reactions. P4 is the primary product, and P1 and P3 are the secondary product. Compared with the singlet potential energy surface, the contribution of the triplet potential energy surface can be ignored.

Time-Resolved Studies of the Reactions of CN Radical Complexes with Alkanes, Alcohols, and Chloroalkanes

Ultrafast transient absorption experiments monitor the reaction of CN radicals with 16 different alkane, alcohol, and chloroalkane solutes in CH(2)Cl(2) and with a smaller number of representative solutes in CHCl(3) and CH(3)CCl(3). In these experiments, 267-nm photolysis generates CN radicals, and transient electronic absorption at 400 nm probes their time evolution. A crucial feature of the reactions of CN radicals is their rapid formation of two different types of complexes with the solvent that have different stabilities and reactivities. The signature of the formation of these complexes is the CN transient absorption disappearing more slowly than the infrared transient absorption of the HCN product appears. Studying both the growth of HCN and the decay of the CN-solvent complexes in the reaction of CN with pentane in CH(2)Cl(2) and CHCl(3) solutions provides the information needed to build a kinetic model that accounts for the reaction of both complexes. This model permits analysis of the reaction of each of the 16 different solutes using only the decay of the CN transient absorption. The reaction of CN-solvent complexes with alkanes and chloroalkanes is slower than the corresponding reactions of Cl. However, the reactions of alcohols with both CN and Cl occur at about the same rate, likely reflecting additional complexation of the CN radical or its ICN precursor by the alcohol. The rates for the reactions of CN with the chloroalkanes decrease with increasing Cl content of the solute, in keeping with previous observations for the reactions of Cl in both gases and liquids.

Time-Resolved Studies of CN Radical Reactions and the Role of Complexes in Solution

Time-resolved studies using 100 fs laser pulses generate CN radicals photolytically in solution and probe their subsequent reaction with solvent molecules by monitoring both radical loss and product formation. The experiments follow the CN reactants by transient electronic spectroscopy at 400 nm and monitor the HCN products by transient vibrational spectroscopy near 3.07 microm. The observation that CN disappears more slowly than HCN appears shows that the two processes are decoupled kinetically and suggests that the CN radicals rapidly form two different types of complexes that have different reactivities. Electronic structure calculations find two bound complexes between CN and a typical solvent molecule (CH(2)Cl(2)) that are consistent with this picture. The more weakly bound complex is linear with CN bound to an H atom through the N atom, and the more strongly bound complex has a structure in which the CN bridges Cl and H atoms of the solvent. Fitting the transient absorption data with a kinetic model containing two uncoupled complexes reproduces the data for seven different chlorinated alkane solvents and yields rate constants for the reaction of each type of complex. Depending on the solvent, the linear complex reacts between 2.5 and 12 times faster than the bridging complex and is the primary source of the HCN reaction product. Increasing the Cl atom content of the solvents decreases the reaction rate for both complexes.

Isomer-specific product detection of CN radical reactions with ethene and propene by tunable VUV photoionization mass spectrometry

Product detection studies of CN reactions with ethene and propene are conducted at room temperature (4 Torr, 533.3 Pa) using multiplexed time-resolved mass spectrometry with tunable synchrotron photoionization. Photoionization efficiency curves, i.e., the ion signal as a function of photon energy, are used to determine the products and distinguish isomers. Both reactions proceed predominantly via CN addition to the π orbital of the olefin. For CN + ethene, cyanoethene (C 2H 3CN) is detected as the sole product in agreement with recent studies on this reaction. Multiple products are identified for the CN + propene reaction with 75(±15)% of the detected products in the form of cyanoethene from a CH 3 elimination channel and 25(±15)% forming different isomers of C 4H 5N via H elimination. The C 4H 5N comprises 57(±15)% 1-cyanopropene, 43(±15)% 2-cyanopropene and <15% 3-cyanopropene. No evidence of direct H abstraction or indirect HCN formation is detected for either reaction. The results have relevance to the molecular weight growth chemistry on Saturn's largest moon Titan, where the formation of small unsaturated nitriles are proposed to be key steps in the early chemical stages of haze formation.

H Atom Yields from the Reactions of CN Radicals with C2H2, C2H4, C3H6, trans-2-C4H8, and iso-C4H8

The kinetics and H atom channel yield at both 298 and 195 K have been determined for reactions of CN radicals with C2H2 (1.00+/-0.21, 0.97+/-0.20), C2H4 (0.96+/-0.032, 1.04+/-0.042), C3H6 (pressure dependent), iso-C4H8 (pressure dependent), and trans-2-C4H8 (0.039+/-0.019, 0.029+/-0.047) where the first figure in each bracket is the H atom yield at 298 K and the second is that at 195 K. The kinetics of all reactions were studied by monitoring both CN decay and H atom growth by laser-induced fluorescence at 357.7 and 121.6 nm, respectively. The results are in good agreement with previous studies where available. The rate coefficients for the reaction of CN with trans-2-butene and iso-butene have been measured at 298 and 195 K for the first time, and the rate coefficients are as follows: k298K=(2.93+/-0.23)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), k195K=(3.58+/-0.43)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) and k298K=(3.17+/-0.10)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), k195K=(4.32+/-0.35)x10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively, where the errors represent a combination of statistical uncertainty (2sigma) and an estimate of possible systematic errors. A potential energy surface for the CN+C3H6 reaction has been constructed using G3X//UB3LYP electronic structure calculations identifying a number of reaction channels leading to either H, CH3, or HCN elimination following the formation of initial addition complexes. Results from the potential energy surface calculations have been used to run master equation calculations with the ratio of primary:secondary addition, the average amount of downward energy transferred in a collision DeltaEd, and the difference in barrier heights between H atom elimination and an H atom 1, 2 migration as variable parameters. Excellent agreement is obtained with the experimental 298 K H atom yields with the following parameter values: secondary addition complex formation equal to 80%, DeltaEd=145 cm(-1), and the barrier height for H atom elimination set 5 kJ mol(-1) lower than the barrier for migration. Finally, very low temperature master equation simulations using the best fit parameters have been carried out in an increased precision environment utilizing quad-double and double-double arithmetic to predict H and CH3 yields for the CN+C3H6 reaction at temperatures and pressures relevant to Titan. The H and CH3 yields predicted by the master equation have been parametrized in a simple equation for use in modeling.