Absolute reaction rate of chlorine atoms with iodomethane

Benchmark ab initio characterization of the multi-channel Cl + CH3X [X = F, Cl, Br, I] reactive potential energy surfaces

We determine benchmark geometries and relative energies for the stationary points of the Cl + CH3X [X = F, Cl, Br, I] reactions. We consider four possible reaction pathways: hydrogen abstraction, hydrogen substitution, halogen abstraction, and halogen substitution, where the substitution processes can proceed via either Walden inversion or front-side attack. We perform geometry optimizations and obtain harmonic vibrational frequencies at the explicitly-correlated UCCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory, followed by UCCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVQZ single-point computations to make finite-basis-set error negligible. To reach chemical (<1 kcal mol-1), or even subchemical (<0.5 kcal mol-1) accuracy, we include core-correlation, scalar relativistic, post-(T), spin-orbit-splitting and zero-point-energy contributions, as well, in the relative energies of all the stationary points. Our benchmark 0 K reaction enthalpies are compared to available experimental results and show good agreement. The stationary-point structures and energetics are interpreted in terms of Hammond's postulate and used to make predictions related to the dynamical behavior of these reactive systems.

Photodissociation Reaction of 1,2-Diiodoethane in Solution: A Theoretical and X-ray Diffraction Study

Various molecular species are known to form during the photoreaction of C2H4I2 in the gas phase and in solution. We have studied all species involved in this reaction by ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations: Geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies of C2H4I2, bridged C2H4I*, anti C2H4I*, C4H4, I2, I3-, and the isomer C2H4I-I were calculated. The absorption peaks and oscillator strengths of selected species along the potential energy surface (PES) were calculated using time-dependent DFT and were compared with available experimental results. The calculated PES satisfactorily describes the observed reactions of the photoexcited C2H4I2 molecule. In the gas phase, there is only one reaction pathway: the first C-I bond ruptures followed by a secondary C-I breakage in the haloethyl radical C2H4I*. In solution, by contrast, another reaction channel, which is energetically more favored over the secondary dissociation, is switched on due to a solvation effect: the bridged C2H4I* can bind to the free iodine atom to form a C2H4I-I isomer without any energy barrier. The isomer can then break into C2H4 and I2. The rotational barriers in the gas phase and in solution were also calculated and compared. To provide experimental data on the structure of C2H4I2 in solution, the ground state structure of C2H4I2 in methanol was determined from static X-ray diffraction data using 88 keV (lambda = 0.14 A) X-rays. The structural parameters are compared with those from the theoretical results.

Observation of Adducts in the Reaction of Cl Atoms with XCH2I (X = H, CH3, Cl, Br, I) Using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

The reactions of Cl atoms with XCH2I (X = H, CH3, Cl, Br, I) have been studied using cavity ring-down spectroscopy in 25-125 Torr total pressure of N2 diluent at 250 K. Formation of the XCH2I-Cl adduct is the dominant channel in all reactions. The visible absorption spectrum of the XCH2I-Cl adduct was recorded at 405-632 nm. Absorption cross-sections at 435 nm are as follows (in units of 10(-18) cm2 molecule(-1)): 12 for CH3I, 21 for CH3CH2I, 3.7 for CH2ICl, 7.1 for CH2IBr, and 3.7 for CH2I2. Rate constants for the reaction of Cl with CH3I were determined from rise profiles of the CH3I-Cl adduct. k(Cl + CH3I) increases from (0.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-11) at 25 Torr to (2.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 125 Torr of N2 diluent. There is no discernible reaction of the CH3I-Cl adduct with 5-10 Torr of O2. Evidence for the formation of an adduct following the reaction of Cl atoms with CF3I and CH3Br was sought but not found. Absorption attributable to the formation of the XCH2I-Cl adduct following the reaction of Cl atoms with XCH2I (X = H, CH3, Br, I) was measured as a function of temperature over the range 250-320 K.