Unimolecular Reaction Rate Research Articles

Thermochemistry and Kinetics of the Thermal Decomposition of 1‐Chlorohexane

ABSTRACTA theoretical kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of 1‐chlorohexane in gas phase between 600 and 1000 K was performed. Transition‐state theory and unimolecular reaction rate theory were combined with molecular information provided by quantum chemical calculations. Particularly, the B3LYP, BMK, M05–2X, and M06–2X formulations of the density functional theory (DFT) and the high‐level ab initio methods G3B3 and G4 were employed. The possible reaction channels for the thermal decomposition of 1‐chlorohexane were investigated, and the reaction takes place through the elimination of HCl with the formation of 1‐hexene. The derived high‐pressure limit rate coefficients are k∞(600–1000 K) = (8 ± 5) × 1013 exp[‐((56.7 ± 0.4) kcal mol−1/RT)] s−1. The pressure effect over the reaction was analyzed from the calculation of the low‐pressure limit rate coefficients and the falloff curves. In addition, the standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K of −46.9 ± 1.5 kcal mol−1 for 1‐chlorohexane and 5.8 ± 1.5 kcal mol−1 for C6H13 radical were derived from isodesmic and isogiric reactions at high levels of theory.

Importance of tunneling in H-abstraction reactions by OH radicals

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study focussing on the quantum tunneling of atoms in the reaction between CH4 and OH. The importance of this reaction pathway is derived by investigating isotope substituted analogs. Quantitative reaction rates needed for astrochemical models at low temperature are currently unavailable both in the solid state and in the gas phase. Here, we study tunneling effects upon hydrogen abstraction in CH4 + OH by focusing on two reactions: CH4 + OD -> CH3 + HDO and CD4 + OH -> CD3 + HDO. The experimental study shows that the solid-state reaction rate R(CH4 + OD) is higher than R(CD4 + OH) at 15 K. Experimental results are accompanied by calculations of the corresponding unimolecular and bimolecular reaction rate constants using instanton theory taking into account surface effects. From the work presented here, the unimolecular reactions are particularly interesting as these provide insight into reactions following a Langmuir-Hinshelwood process. The resulting ratio of the rate constants shows that the H abstraction (k(CH4 + OD)) is approximately ten times faster than D-abstraction (k(CD4 + OH)) at 65 K. We conclude that tunneling is involved at low temperatures in the abstraction reactions studied here. The unimolecular rate constants can be used by the modeling community as a first approach to describe OH-mediated abstraction reactions in the solid phase. For this reason we provide fits of our calculated rate constants that allow the inclusion of these reactions in models in a straightforward fashion.

How does substitution affect the unimolecular reaction rates of Criegee intermediates?

To gain an understanding of the substitution effect on the unimolecular reaction rate coefficients for Criegee intermediates (CIs), we performed ab initio calculations for CH2OO, CH3CHOO, (CH3)2COO, CH3CH2CHOO, CH2CHCHOO and CHCCHOO. The energies of the CIs, products and transition states were calculated with QCISD(T)/CBS//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p), while the rate coefficients were calculated with anharmonic vibrational correction by using second order vibrational perturbation theory. It was found that for single bonded substitutions, the hydrogen transfer reaction dominates for the syn-conformers, while the OO bending reaction dominates for the anti-conformers. However once a double bond or a triple bond is added, the OO bending reaction dominates for both syn and anti-conformers. The rate coefficients for OO bending reaction show a significant increase when adding a methyl group or ethyl group. On the other hand, the addition of unsaturated vinyl and acetylene groups usually results in a slower thermal decomposition compared to the substitution with saturated carbon groups. Interestingly, for syn_Syn-CH2CHCHOO, a special five member ring closure reaction forming dioxole was calculated to have an extremely fast rate coefficient of 9312 s-1 at room temperature.

Thermal Decomposition of 3-Bromopropene. A Theoretical Kinetic Investigation.

A detailed kinetic study of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of 3-bromopropene over wide temperature and pressure ranges was performed. Quantum chemical calculations employing the density functional theory methods B3LYP, BMK, and M06-2X and the CBS-QB3 and G4 ab initio composite models provide the relevant part of the potential energy surfaces and the molecular properties of the species involved in the CH2═CH-CH2Br → CH2═C═CH2 + HBr (1) and CH2═CH-CH2Br → CH2═CH-CH2 + Br (2) reaction channels. Transition-state theory and unimolecular reaction rate theory calculations show that the simple bond fission reaction ( 2 ) is the predominant decomposition channel and that all reported experimental studies are very close to the high-pressure limit of this process. Over the 500-1400 K range a rate constant for the primary dissociation of k2,∞ = 4.8 × 10(14) exp(-55.0 kcal mol(-1)/RT) s(-1) is predicted at the G4 level. The calculated k1,∞ values lie between 50 to 260 times smaller. A value of 10.6 ± 1.5 kcal mol(-1) for the standard enthalpy of formation of 3-bromopropene at 298 K was estimated from G4 thermochemical calculations.

Predicting pressure-dependent unimolecular rate constants using variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling combined with system-specific quantum RRK theory: a definitive test for fluoroform dissociation.

Understanding the falloff in rate constants of gas-phase unimolecular reaction rate constants as the pressure is lowered is a fundamental problem in chemical kinetics, with practical importance for combustion, atmospheric chemistry, and essentially all gas-phase reaction mechanisms. In the present work, we use our recently developed system-specific quantum RRK theory, calibrated by canonical variational transition state theory with small-curvature tunneling, combined with the Lindemann-Hinshelwood mechanism, to model the dissociation reaction of fluoroform (CHF3), which provides a definitive test for falloff modeling. Our predicted pressure-dependent thermal rate constants are in excellent agreement with experimental values over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. The present validation of our methodology, which is able to include variational transition state effects, multidimensional tunneling based on the directly calculated potential energy surface along the tunneling path, and torsional and other vibrational anharmonicity, together with state-of-the-art reaction-path-based direct dynamics calculations, is important because the method is less empirical than models routinely used for generating full mechanisms, while also being simpler in key respects than full master equation treatments and the full reduced falloff curve and modified strong collision methods of Troe.

Characterization and Modeling of the Collision Induced Dissociation Patterns of Deprotonated Glycosphingolipids: Cleavage of the Glycosidic Bond.

Glycosphingolipid fragmentation behavior was investigated by combining results from analysis of a series of negative ion tandem mass spectra and molecular modeling. Fragmentation patterns extracted from 75 tandem mass spectra of mainly acidic glycosphingolipid species (gangliosides) suggest prominent cleavage of the glycosidic bonds with retention of the glycosidic oxygen atom by the species formed from the reducing end (B and Y ion formation). Dominant product ions arise from dissociation of sialic acids glycosidic bonds whereas product ions resulting from cleavage of other glycosidic bonds are less abundant. Potential energy surfaces and unimolecular reaction rates of several low-energy fragmentation pathways leading to cleavage of glycosidic bonds were estimated in order to explain observed dissociation patterns. Glycosidic bond cleavage in both neutral (unsubstituted glycosyl group) and acidic glycosphingolipids was the outcome of the charge-directed intramolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) mechanism. According to the suggested mechanism, the nucleophile in a form of carboxylate or oxyanion attacks the carbon at position one of the sugar ring, simultaneously breaking the glycosidic bond and yielding an epoxide. For gangliosides, unimolecular reaction rates suggest that dominant product ions related to the cleavage of sialic acid glycosidic bonds are formed via direct dissociation channels. On the other hand, low abundant product ions related to the dissociation of other glycosidic bonds are more likely to be the result of sequential dissociation. Although results from this study mainly contribute to the understanding of glycosphingolipid fragmentation chemistry, some mechanistic findings regarding cleavage of the glycosidic bond may be applicable to other glycoconjugates.

Theoretical Kinetics Study of the Reactions Forming the ClCO Radical Cycle in the Middle Atmosphere of Venus

Abstract A quantum-chemistry and kinetics study of key chemical reactions involved in the ClCO radical cycle of the Venus atmosphere: Cl + CO + M → ClCO + M (1); ClCO + O2 + M → ClC(O)OO + M (2) and ClC(O)OO + Cl → CO2 + ClO + Cl (3) (M = CO2), has been performed at 150–300 K. Unimolecular reaction rate theories on potential energy features derived at the G4//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) ab initio composite level were employed. Limiting low pressure rate coefficients calculated for Reaction (1) are in good agreement with recommended experimental values. The present results validate rate coefficient values measured for Reaction (2) over relevant strato-mesosphere Venusian conditions. Rate coefficients calculated by the SACM/CT for Reaction (3) are given by k 3 = 2.5 × 10−11 (T/300)0.5 cm3 molecule –1 s –1. In the absence of experimental data, these values provide the first reliable prediction for k 3.

Gas-surface thermochemistry and kinetics for aluminum particle combustion

Quantum chemical calculations have been used to investigate possible reactions on aluminum surfaces in the Al/H/C/O/N system. Transition states or barrierless reaction paths have been identified for essentially all feasible adsorption/desorption reactions in this system involving atoms and homonuclear diatomic molecules. Structures, energies, and vibrational frequencies for adsorbed species in this system are presented and compared to available experimental data. Thermodynamic data (standard enthalpy of formation) and kinetic data (forward and reverse energy barriers) are presented. These results provide a basis for the estimation of reaction rate parameters for this system using transition state theory (TST) and related unimolecular reaction rate theories, and thereby constructing a reaction mechanism useful for detailed chemical kinetic modeling of aluminum particle combustion in a propellant environment. In the few cases where previous experimental or theoretical results have been published, the present work is consistent with these studies.

Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of chlorobenzene

The atmospheric oxidation mechanism of chlorobenzene (CB) initiated by the OH radicals is investigated at M06-2X/6-311++G(2df, 2p) and ROCBS-QB3 levels. The oxidation is initiated by OH addition to the ortho (∼50%), para (∼33%) and meta (∼17%) positions, forming CB-OH adducts as R2, R3, and R4; while the ipso-addition is negligible (∼0.2%). The reactions of the CB-OH adducts with the atmospheric oxygen are further investigated in detail by coupling the unimolecular reaction rate theory calculations with master-equation (RRKM-ME). The CB-OH adducts react with O2 either by irreversible H-abstraction to form chlorophenol and HO2 or by reversible additions to form CB-OH–O2 radicals, which subsequently cyclize to bicyclic radicals. RRKM-ME calculations show that the addition reactions of CB-OH and O2 at the atmospheric pressure are close to but not yet reach their high-pressure-limits. The RRKM-ME simulations predict the yields of 93%, 38%, and 74% for ortho-, meta- and para-chlorophenols from the reactions of O2 with R2, R3 and R4, being lower than their high-pressure-limit yields of 95%, 48%, an 80%, respectively. Overall, the yield of chlorophenols is determined as 72% at the atmospheric pressure.

Variational RRKM theory calculation of thermal rate constant for carbon—hydrogen bond fission reaction of nitro benzene

The present work provides quantitative results for the rate of unimolecular carbon-hydrogen bond fission reaction of benzene and nitro benzene at elevated temperatures up to 2000 K. The potential energy surface for each C-H (in the ortho, meta, and para sites) bond fission reaction of nitro benzene was investigated by ab initio calculations. The geometry and vibrational frequencies of the species involved in this process were optimized at the MP2 level of theory, using the cc-pvdz basis set. Since C-H bond fission channel is barrier less reaction, we have used variational RRKM theory to predict rate constants. By means of calculated rate constant at the different temperatures, the activation energy and exponential factor were determined. The Arrhenius expression for C-H bond fission reaction of nitro benzene on the ortho, meta and para sites are k(T) = 2.1 × 1017exp(−56575.98/T), k(T) = 2.1 × 1017exp(−57587.45/T), and k(T) = 3.3 × 1016exp(−57594.79/T) respectively. The Arrhenius expression for C-H bond fission reaction of benzene is k(T) = 2 × 1018exp(−59343.48.18/T). The effect of NO2 group, location of hydrogen atoms on the substituted benzene ring, reaction degeneracy, benzene ring resonance and tunneling effect on the rate expression have been discussed.

Experimental and kinetic modeling study of 2-butanol pyrolysis and combustion

2-Butanol (sC4H9OH) pyrolysis has been studied in a flow reactor with the synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry combined with the molecular-beam sampling technique. The pyrolysis species were identified and their mole fractions were determined. Four pressures of 5, 30, 150 and 760Torr were selected to study the pressure dependence of 2-butanol pyrolysis chemistry. The temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants of unimolecular reactions of 2-butanol were calculated with the RRKM/Master Equation method. With the help of theoretical calculations, a detailed kinetic model consisting of 160 species and 1038 reactions was developed to simulate the 2-butanol pyrolysis. It is concluded that the mole fractions of pyrolysis species are very sensitive to the 2-butanol unimolecular reaction rates. To enhance the accuracy, the model is further validated by the species profiles in shock tube pyrolysis, a rich laminar premixed flame, oxidation data from jet-stirred reactor, ignition delay times, and laminar flame speed. Good agreements between the predicted and measured results were obtained.

Estimation of Activation Energy from the Survival Yields: Fragmentation Study of Leucine Enkephalin and Polyethers by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A simple collision model for multiple collisions occurring in quadrupole type mass spectrometers was derived and tested with leucine enkaphalin a common mass spectrometric standard with well-characterized properties. Implementation of the collision model and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) algorithm into a spreadsheet software allowed a good fitting of the calculated data to the experimental survival yield (SY) versus collision energy curve. In addition, fitting also ensured to estimate the efficiencies of the kinetic to internal energy conversion for Leucine enkephalin in quadrupole-time-of-flight and triple quadrupole instruments. It was observed that the experimental SY versus collision energy curves for the leucine enkephalin can be described by the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel (RRK) formalism by reducing the total degrees of freedom (DOF) to about one-fifth. Furthermore, this collision model with the RRK formalism was used to estimate the critical energy (E(o)) of lithiated polyethers, including polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), and polytetrahydrofurane (PTHF) with degrees of freedom similar to that of leucine enkephalin. Applying polyethers with similar DOF provided the elimination of the effect of DOF on the unimolecular reaction rate constant. The estimated value of E(o) for PEG showed a relatively good agreement with the value calculated by high-level quantum chemical calculations reported in the literature. Interestingly, it was also found that the E(o) values for the studied polyethers were similar.

Mass-selected photodissociation studies of AlPbn+clusters (n =7–16): Evidence for the extraordinary stability of AlPb10+and AlPb12+

We report fragmentation pathways and dissociation energies of AlPb${}_{n}^{+}$ ($n=7$--16) clusters. The clusters are produced with pulsed laser vaporization and studied in a supersonic molecular beam setup. They are mass selected and photodissociated with 532 and 355 nm laser light. Photofragments are thereafter mass separated in a tandem reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Bare Pb${}_{n}^{+}$ ($n$ $=$ 8--16) clusters preferentially evaporate Pb atoms, with the exception of Pb${}_{15}^{+}$ that fragments by loss of a Pb${}_{2}$ dimer to form the stable Pb${}_{13}^{+}$ cluster. The smallest AlPb${}_{n}^{+}$ ($n$ $=$ 7--11) clusters also show mainly atomic Pb evaporation, whereas the favored fragmentation pathway of the larger clusters ($n$ $=$ 12--16) involves Pb${}_{2}$ and Pb${}_{3}$ fragments. AlPb${}_{10}^{+}$ and AlPb${}_{12}^{+}$ are the most intense fragments of several larger cluster sizes, demonstrating the high stability of these two sizes. Dissociation energies corresponding to the most facile fragmentation channel of AlPb${}_{n}^{+}$ ($n$ $=$ 11--15) are bracketed from the measured laser fluence dependencies of the fragment intensities using constraints imposed by unimolecular reaction rates.

Modelling of the gas-phase phosphate group loss and rearrangement in phosphorylated peptides

The gas-phase dissociation of phosphorylated peptides was modelled using a combination of quantum mechanics and the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory. Potential energy surfaces and unimolecular reaction rates for several low-energy fragmentation and rearrangement pathways were estimated, and a general mechanism was proposed. The neutral loss of the phosphoric acid was mainly an outcome of the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution mechanism. The mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack of the phosphorylated amino acid N-terminal carbonyl oxygen on β-carbon, yielding a cyclic five-membered oxazoline product ion. Regardless of the proton mobility, the pathway was charge directed either by a mobile proton or by a positively charged side chain of some basic residue. Although the mechanistic aspects of the phosphate loss are not influenced by the proton mobility environment, it does affect ion abundances. Results suggest that under the mobile proton environment, the interplay between phosphoric acid neutral loss product ion and backbone cleavage fragments should occur. On the other hand, when proton mobility is limited, neutral loss product ion may predominate. The fragmentation dynamics of phosphoserine versus phosphothreonine containing peptides suggests that H(3)PO(4) neutral loss from phosphothreonine containing peptides is less abundant than that from their phosphoserine containing analogs. During the low-energy CID of phosphorylated peptides in the millisecond time range, typical for ion trap instruments, a phosphate group rearrangement may happen, resulting in an interchange between the phosphorylated and the hydroxylated residues. Unimolecular dissociation rate constants imply the low abundance of such scrambled product ions.

Micellar rate effects-assumptions and approximations

Surfactants with ionic or polar head groups and extended apolar groups form micelles in water with hydrocarbon-like interiors and ionic or polar groups at the surface and bind ionic and nonionic solutes. They act as reaction regions, i.e., as pseudophases distinct from the bulk solvent, and can accelerate or inhibit reactions, depending on rate constants and reactant concentrations in the two regions. Theoretical treatments and experimental evidence of reactant partitioning between water and micelles allow estimation of rate constants in the micellar pseudophase for both uni-and bimolecular reactions, provided that they are slower than reactant transfers between water and micelles, but some treatments apply only to dilute electrolyte. Competition between reactive and inert ions inhibits bimolecular ionic reactions and is treated by ion-exchange equations and some local ionic concentrations can be estimated by dediazonization trapping or physical methods. Ionic micelles affect rates of unimolecular and bimolecular watercatalyzed reactions because the reaction region at the micelle-water interface is less polar than water. Zwitterionic micelles have no net charge but they interact with ions, although ion-binding is weaker than with ionic micelles and there are limitations in the use of the theoretical treatments applied to ionic micelles. Micelles can control product composition, but product isolation limits use of surfactants in some reactions

A fitting formula for the falloff curves of unimolecular reactions, II: Tunneling effects

AbstractBy taking into account effects of tunneling on the shape of the falloff curves of unimolecular reaction rate constants based on Troe's weak collision integral, a fitting formula for these curves is developed and then examined for several tunneling‐affected reactions. It is demonstrated that, compared to the widely used Troe's formula, the present expression not only substantially enhances the accuracy in fitting for tunneling‐affected reactions, but it is also computationally more efficient in its evaluation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 31–42, 2011

Phase space structure and dynamics for the Hamiltonian isokinetic thermostat

We investigate the phase space structure and dynamics of a Hamiltonian isokinetic thermostat, for which ergodic thermostat trajectories at fixed (zero) energy generate a canonical distribution in configuration space. Model potentials studied consist of a single bistable mode plus transverse harmonic modes. Interpreting the bistable mode as a reaction (isomerization) coordinate, we establish connections with the theory of unimolecular reaction rates, in particular the formulation of isomerization rates in terms of gap times. In the context of molecular reaction rates, the distribution of gap times (or associated lifetimes) for a microcanonical ensemble initiated on the dividing surface is of great dynamical significance; an exponential lifetime distribution is usually taken to be an indicator of "statistical" behavior. Moreover, comparison of the magnitude of the phase space volume swept out by reactive trajectories as they pass through the reactant region with the total phase space volume (classical density of states) for the reactant region provides a necessary condition for ergodic dynamics. We compute gap times, associated lifetime distributions, mean gap times, reactive fluxes, reactive volumes, and total reactant phase space volumes for model thermostat systems with three and four degrees of freedom at three different temperatures. At all three temperatures, the necessary condition for ergodicity is approximately satisfied. At high temperatures a nonexponential lifetime distribution is found, while at low temperatures the lifetime is more nearly exponential. The degree of exponentiality of the lifetime distribution is quantified by computing the information entropy deficit with respect to pure exponential decay. The efficacy of the Hamiltonian isokinetic thermostat is examined by computing coordinate distributions averaged over single long trajectories initiated on the dividing surface.

A fitting formula for the falloff curves of unimolecular reactions

AbstractA fitting formula is proposed to approximate the falloff curves of the pressure‐ and temperature‐dependent unimolecular reaction rate constants. Compared with the widely used Troe's formula, the present expression has the potential to substantially reduce the computation time in its evaluation because of the mathematical simplicity. Four testing reactions from the VariFlex program package were used to examine the accuracy of the present formula, showing improved performance as compared with previous expressions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 727–734, 2009

The Low-Energy Unimolecular Reaction Rate Constants for the Gas Phase, Ni+-Mediated Dissociation of the C−C σ Bond in Acetone

The time dependence of the gaseous unimolecular decomposition of the jet-cooled adduct ion, Ni+-OC(CH3)2, was monitored through selective detection of the Ni+CO fragment ion. Various resolved amounts of energy in the range 15600-18800 cm(-1) were supplied to initiate the dissociation reaction through absorption of laser photons by the title molecular complex. First-order rate constants, k(E), ranged from 113000 to 55000 s(-1) and decreased with decreasing amounts of internal excitation. The energy used to initiate the reaction is well below that required to fragment C-C sigma bonds and indicates the necessity of the Ni+ cation to induce bond activation and fragmentation. These measurements are carried out in a unique apparatus and represent the first direct kinetic study of such catalytic type reactions.

Microcanonical rates, gap times, and phase space dividing surfaces

The general approach to classical unimolecular reaction rates due to Thiele is revisited in light of recent advances in the phase space formulation of transition state theory for multidimensional systems. Key concepts, such as the phase space dividing surface separating reactants from products, the average gap time, and the volume of phase space associated with reactive trajectories, are both rigorously defined and readily computed within the phase space approach. We analyze in detail the gap time distribution and associated reactant lifetime distribution for the isomerization reaction HCN <==> CNH, previously studied using the methods of phase space transition state theory. Both algebraic (power law) and exponential decay regimes have been identified. Statistical estimates of the isomerization rate are compared with the numerically determined decay rate. Correcting the RRKM estimate to account for the measure of the reactant phase space region occupied by trapped trajectories results in a drastic overestimate of the isomerization rate. Compensating but as yet not fully understood trapping mechanisms in the reactant region serve to slow the escape rate sufficiently that the uncorrected RRKM estimate turns out to be reasonably accurate, at least at the particular energy studied. Examination of the decay properties of subensembles of trajectories that exit the HCN well through either of two available symmetry related product channels shows that the complete trajectory ensemble effectively attains the full symmetry of the system phase space on a short time scale t approximately < 0.5 ps, after which the product branching ratio is 1:1, the "statistical" value. At intermediate times, this statistical product ratio is accompanied by nonexponential (nonstatistical) decay. We point out close parallels between the dynamical behavior inferred from the gap time distribution for HCN and nonstatistical behavior recently identified in reactions of some organic molecules.