State-to-state studies of intramolecular dynamics and unimolecular reactions

Bending Energetics of Tablet-Shaped Micelles: A Novel Approach to Rationalize Micellar Systems

A novel approach to rationalize micellar systems is expounded in which the structural behavior of tablet-shaped micelles is theoretically investigated as a function of the three bending elasticity constants: spontaneous curvature (H0), bending rigidity (k(c)), and saddle-splay constant (k(c)). As a result, experimentally accessible micellar properties, such as aggregation number, length-to-width ratio, and polydispersity, may be related to the different bending elasticity constants. It is demonstrated that discrete micelles or connected cylinders form when H0 > 1/4xi, where xi is the thickness of a surfactant monolayer, whereas various bilayer structures are expected to predominate when H0 < 1/4xi. Our theory predicts, in agreement with experiments, a transition from discrete globular (tablet-shaped) micelles to a phase of ordered, or disordered, connected cylinders above a critical surfactant concentration. Moreover, a novel explanation for the mechanism of growth, from small globular to long rodlike or wormlike micelles, follows as a consequence from the theory. In accordance, polydisperse elongated micelles (large length-to-width ratio) form as the bending rigidity is lowered, approaching the critical point at k(c) = 0, whereas monodisperse globular micelles (small length-to-width ratio) are expected to be present at large k(c) values. The spontaneous curvature mainly determines the width of tablet-shaped or ribbonlike micelles, or the radius of disklike micelles, whereas the saddle-splay constant primarily influences the size but not the shape of the micelles.

Unimolecular processes in CH2OH below the dissociation barrier: O–H stretch overtone excitation and dissociation

The OH-stretch overtone spectroscopy and dynamics of the hydroxymethyl radical, CH(2)OH, are reported in the region of the second and third overtones, which is above the thermochemical threshold to dissociation to H+CH(2)O (D(0)=9600 cm(-1)). The second overtone spectrum at 10 484 cm(-1) is obtained by double resonance IR-UV resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy via the 3p(z) electronic state. It is rotationally resolved with a linewidth of 0.4 cm(-1) and displays properties of local-mode vibration. No dissociation products are observed. The third overtone spectra of CH(2)OH and CD(2)OH are observed at approximately 13 600 cm(-1) by monitoring H-atom photofragments while scanning the excitation laser frequency. No double resonance REMPI spectrum is detected, and no D fragments are produced. The spectra of both isotope analogs can be simulated with a linewidth of 1.3 cm(-1), indicating dissociation via tunneling. By treating the tunneling as one dimensional and using the calculated imaginary frequency, the barrier to dissociation is estimated at about 15 200 cm(-1), in good agreement with theoretical estimations. The Birge-Sponer plot is linear for OH-stretch vibrations 1nu(1)-4nu(1), demonstrating behavior of a one-dimensional Morse oscillator. The anharmonicity parameter derived from the plot is similar to the values obtained for other small OH containing molecules. Isomerization to methoxy does not contribute to the predissociation signal and the mechanism appears to be direct O-H fission via tunneling. CH(2)OH presents a unique example in which the reaction coordinate is excited directly and leads to predissociation via tunneling while preserving the local-mode character of the stretch vibration.