Reaction of the ethynyl radical, C2H, with methylacetylene, CH3CCH, under single collision conditions: Implications for astrochemistry

Spiers Memorial Lecture: New directions in molecular scattering

The field of molecular scattering is reviewed as it pertains to gas-gas as well as gas-surface chemical reaction dynamics. We emphasize the importance of collaboration of experiment and theory, from which new directions of research are being pursued on increasingly complex problems. We review both experimental and theoretical advances that provide the modern toolbox available to molecular-scattering studies. We distinguish between two classes of work. The first involves simple systems and uses experiment to validate theory so that from the validated theory, one may learn far more than could ever be measured in the laboratory. The second class involves problems of great complexity that would be difficult or impossible to understand without a partnership of experiment and theory. Key topics covered in this review include crossed-beams reactive scattering and scattering at extremely low energies, where quantum effects dominate. They also include scattering from surfaces, reactive scattering and kinetics at surfaces, and scattering work done at liquid surfaces. The review closes with thoughts on future promising directions of research.

Gas-Phase Study of the Elementary Reaction of the D1-Ethynyl Radical (C2D; X2Σ+) with Propylene (C3H6; X1A') under Single-Collision Conditions

The bimolecular gas-phase reactions of the D1-ethynyl radical (C₂D; X²Σ⁺) with propylene (C₃H₆; X¹A') and partially substituted D3-3,3,3-propylene (C₂H₃CD₃; X¹A') were studied under single collision conditions utilizing the crossed molecular beams technique. Combining our laboratory data with electronic structure and statistical calculations, the D1-ethynyl radical is found to add without barrier to the C1 and C2 carbons of the propylene reactant, resulting in doublet C₅H₆D intermediate(s) with lifetime(s) longer than their rotational period(s). These intermediates undergo isomerization and unimolecular decomposition via atomic hydrogen loss through tight exit transition states forming predominantly cis/trans-3-penten-1-yne ((HCC)CH═CH(CH₃)) and, to a minor amount, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-yne ((HCC)C(CH₃)═CH₂) via overall exoergic reactions. Although the title reaction does not lead to the cyclopentadiene molecule (c-C₅H₆, X¹A₁), high-temperature environments can convert the identified acyclic C₅H₆ isomers through hydrogen atom assisted isomerization to cyclopentadiene (c-C₅H₆, X¹A₁). Since both the ethynyl radical and propylene reactants have been observed in cold interstellar environments such as TMC-1 and the reaction is exoergic and all barriers lie below the energy of the separated reactants, these C₅H₆ product isomers are predicted to form in those low-temperature regions.

Directed gas phase preparation of ethynylallene (H2CCCHCCH; X1A′) via the crossed molecular beam reaction of the methylidyne radical (CH; X2Π) with vinylacetylene (H2CCHCCH; X1A′)

The elementary reaction of the methylidyne radical with vinylacetylene leading to the predominant formation of ethynylallene and atomic hydrogen via indirect scattering dynamics.

Directed gas-phase preparation of the elusive phosphinosilylidyne (SiPH2, X2A'') and cis/trans phosphinidenesilyl (HSiPH; X2A') radicals under single-collision conditions

The reaction of the D1-silylidyne radical (SiD; X²Π) with phosphine (PH₃; X¹A₁) was conducted in a crossed molecular beams machine under single collision conditions. Merging of the experimental results with ab initio electronic structure and statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations indicates that the reaction is initiated by the barrierless formation of a van der Waals complex (i0) as well as intermediate (i1) formed via the barrierless addition of the SiD radical with its silicon atom to the non-bonding electron pair of phosphorus of the phosphine. Hydrogen shifts from the phosphorous atom to the adjacent silicon atom yield intermediates i2a, i2b, i3; unimolecular decomposition of these intermediates leads eventually to the formation of trans/cis-phosphinidenesilyl (HSiPH, p2/p4) and phosphinosilylidyne (SiPH₂, p3) via hydrogen deuteride (HD) loss (experiment: 80 ± 11%, RRKM: 68.7%) and d-trans/cis-phosphinidenesilyl (DSiPH, p2'/p4') plus molecular hydrogen (H₂) (experiment: 20 ± 7%, RRKM: 31.3%) through indirect scattering dynamics via tight exit transition states. Overall, the study reveals branching ratios of p2/p4/p2'/p4' (trans/cis HSiPH/DSiPH) to p3 (SiPH₂) of close to 4 : 1. The present study sheds light on the complex reaction dynamics of the silicon and phosphorous systems involving multiple atomic hydrogen migrations and tight exit transition states, thus opening up a versatile path to access the previously elusive phosphinidenesilyl and phosphinosilylidyne doublet radicals, which represent potential targets of future astronomical searches toward cold molecular clouds (TMC-1), star forming regions (Sgr(B2)), and circumstellar envelopes of carbon rich stars (IRC + 10216).

Reaction Dynamics Study of the Molecular Hydrogen Loss Channel in the Elementary Reactions of Ground-State Silicon Atoms (Si(3P)) With 1- and 2-Methyl-1,3-Butadiene (C5H8)

The bimolecular gas-phase reactions involving ground-state atomic silicon (Si; ³P) and 1- and 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene were studied via crossed molecular beam experiments. Our data revealed indirect scattering dynamics through long-lived SiC₅H₈ collision complex(es) along with molecular hydrogen loss pathways, leading to facile formation of SiC₅H₆ isomer(s). We propose that the reactions of silicon with 1- and 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene possess reaction dynamics in an analogy to the silicon-1,3-butadiene system. This leads to cyclic methyl-substituted 2-methylene-1-silacyclobutene isomers via nonadiabatic reaction dynamics through intersystem crossing (ISC) from the triplet to the singlet surface in overall exoergic reactions through tight exit transition states and molecular hydrogen loss. Our study also suggests that the methyl group-although a spectator from the chemical viewpoint-can influence the disposal of the angular momentum into the rotational excitation of the final product.

Directed Gas Phase Formation of the Elusive Silylgermylidyne Radical (H3 SiGe, X2 A'')

The previously unknown silylgermylidyne radical (H₃ SiGe; X² A'') was prepared via the bimolecular gas phase reaction of ground state silylidyne radicals (SiH; X² Π) with germane (GeH₄ ; X¹ A₁ ) under single collision conditions in crossed molecular beams experiments. This reaction begins with the formation of a van der Waals complex followed by insertion of silylidyne into a germanium-hydrogen bond forming the germylsilyl radical (H₃ GeSiH₂ ). A hydrogen migration isomerizes this intermediate to the silylgermyl radical (H₂ GeSiH₃ ), which undergoes a hydrogen shift to an exotic, hydrogen-bridged germylidynesilane intermediate (H₃ Si(μ-H)GeH); this species emits molecular hydrogen forming the silylgermylidyne radical (H₃ SiGe). Our study offers a remarkable glance at the complex reaction dynamics and inherent isomerization processes of the silicon-germanium system, which are quite distinct from those of the isovalent hydrocarbon system (ethyl radical; C₂ H₅ ) eventually affording detailed insights into an exotic chemistry and intriguing chemical bonding of silicon-germanium species at the microscopic level exploiting crossed molecular beams.

Gas-Phase Formation of C5H6 Isomers via the Crossed Molecular Beam Reaction of the Methylidyne Radical (CH; X2Π) with 1,2-Butadiene (CH3CHCCH2; X1A')

The bimolecular gas-phase reaction of the methylidyne radical (CH; X²Π) with 1,2-butadiene (CH₂CCHCH₃; X¹A') was investigated at a collision energy of 20.6 kJ mol^-1 under single collision conditions. Combining our laboratory data with high-level electronic structure calculations, we reveal that this bimolecular reaction proceeds through the barrierless addition of the methylidyne radical to the carbon-carbon double bonds of 1,2-butadiene leading to doublet C₅H₇ intermediates. These collision adducts undergo a nonstatistical unimolecular decomposition through atomic hydrogen elimination to at least the cyclic 1-vinyl-cyclopropene (p5/p26), 1-methyl-3-methylenecyclopropene (p28), and 1,2-bis(methylene)cyclopropane (p29) in overall exoergic reactions. The barrierless nature of this bimolecular reaction suggests that these cyclic C₅H₆ isomers might be viable targets to be searched for in cold molecular clouds like TMC-1.

Gas-Phase Formation of 1-Methylcyclopropene and 3-Methylcyclopropene via the Reaction of the Methylidyne Radical (CH; X2Π) with Propylene (CH3CHCH2; X1A')

The crossed molecular beam reactions of the methylidyne radical (CH; X²Π) with propylene (CH₃CHCH₂; X¹A') along with (partially) substituted reactants were conducted at collision energies of 19.3 kJ mol^-1. Combining our experimental data with ab initio electronic structure and statistical calculations, the methylidyne radical is revealed to add barrierlessly to the carbon-carbon double bond of propylene reactant resulting in a cyclic doublet C₄H₇ intermediate with a lifetime longer than its rotation period. These adducts undergo a nonstatistical unimolecular decomposition via atomic hydrogen loss through tight exit transition states forming the cyclic products 1-methylcyclopropene and 3-methylcyclopropene with overall reaction exoergicities of 168 ± 25 kJ mol^-1. These C₄H₆ isomers are predicted to exist even in low-temperature environments such as cold molecular clouds like TMC-1, since the reaction is barrierless and exoergic, all transition states are below the energy of the separated reactants, and both the methylidyne radical (CH; X²Π) and propylene reactant were detected in cold molecular clouds such as TMC-1.

A Barrierless Pathway Accessing the C9H9 and C9H8 Potential Energy Surfaces via the Elementary Reaction of Benzene with 1-Propynyl

The crossed molecular beams reactions of the 1-propynyl radical (CH₃CC; X²A₁) with benzene (C₆H₆; X¹A_1g) and D6-benzene (C₆D₆; X¹A_1g) were conducted to explore the formation of C₉H₈ isomers under single-collision conditions. The underlying reaction mechanisms were unravelled through the combination of the experimental data with electronic structure and statistical RRKM calculations. These data suggest the formation of 1-phenyl-1-propyne (C₆H₅CCCH₃) via the barrierless addition of 1-propynyl to benzene forming a low-lying doublet C₉H₉ intermediate that dissociates by hydrogen atom emission via a tight transition state. In accordance with our experiments, RRKM calculations predict that the thermodynamically most stable isomer – the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) indene – is not formed via this reaction. With all barriers lying below the energy of the reactants, this reaction is viable in the cold interstellar medium where several methyl-substituted molecules have been detected. Its underlying mechanism therefore advances our understanding of how methyl-substituted hydrocarbons can be formed under extreme conditions such as those found in the molecular cloud TMC-1. Implications for the chemistry of the 1-propynyl radical in astrophysical environments are also discussed.

A combined experimental and computational study on the reaction dynamics of the 1-propynyl radical (CH3CC; X2A1) with ethylene (H2CCH2; X1A1g) and the formation of 1-penten-3-yne (CH2CHCCCH3; X1A')

The crossed molecular beam reactions of the 1-propynyl radical (CH₃CC; X²A₁) with ethylene (H₂CCH₂; X¹A_1g) and ethylene-d₄ (D₂CCD₂; X¹A_1g) were performed at collision energies of 31 kJ mol^-1 under single collision conditions. Combining our laboratory data with ab initio electronic structure and statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations, we reveal that the reaction is initiated by the barrierless addition of the 1-propynyl radical to the π-electron density of the unsaturated hydrocarbon of ethylene leading to a doublet C₅H₇ intermediate(s) with a life time(s) longer than the rotation period(s). The reaction eventually produces 1-penten-3-yne (p1) plus a hydrogen atom with an overall reaction exoergicity of 111 ± 16 kJ mol^-1. About 35% of p1 originates from the initial collision complex followed by C-H bond rupture via a tight exit transition state located 22 kJ mol^-1 above the separated products. The collision complex (i1) can also undergo a [1,2] hydrogen atom shift to the CH₃CHCCCH₃ intermediate (i2) prior to a hydrogen atom release; RRKM calculations suggest that this pathway contributes to about 65% of p1. In higher density environments such as in combustion flames and circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars close to the central star, 1-penten-3-yne (p1) may eventually form the cyclopentadiene (c-C₅H₆) isomer via hydrogen atom assisted isomerization followed by hydrogen abstraction to the cyclopentadienyl radical (c-C₅H₅) as an important pathway to key precursors to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to carbonaceous nanoparticles.

Are Nonadiabatic Reaction Dynamics the Key to Novel Organosilicon Molecules? The Silicon (Si(3P))-Dimethylacetylene (C4H6(X1A1g)) System as a Case Study

The bimolecular gas phase reaction of ground-state silicon (Si; ³P) with dimethylacetylene (C₄H₆; X¹A_1g) was investigated under single collision conditions in a crossed molecular beams machine. Merged with electronic structure calculations, the data propose nonadiabatic reaction dynamics leading to the formation of singlet SiC₄H₄ isomer(s) and molecular hydrogen (H₂) via indirect scattering dynamics along with intersystem crossing (ISC) from the triplet to the singlet surface. The reaction may lead to distinct energetically accessible singlet SiC₄H₄ isomers (¹p8-¹p24) in overall exoergic reaction(s) (-107_-20⁺¹² kJ mol^-1). All feasible reaction products are either cyclic, carry carbene analogous silylene moieties, or carry C-Si-H or C-Si-C bonds that would require extensive isomerization from the initial collision complex(es) to the fragmenting singlet intermediate(s). The present study demonstrates the first successful crossed beams study of an exoergic reaction channel arising from bimolecular collisions of silicon, Si(³P), with a hydrocarbon molecule.

A combined crossed molecular beams and computational study on the formation of distinct resonantly stabilized C5H3 radicals via chemically activated C5H4 and C6H6 intermediates

The crossed molecular beams technique was utilized to explore the formation of three isomers of resonantly stabilized (C5H3) radicals along with their d2-substituted counterparts via the bimolecular reactions of singlet/triplet dicarbon [C2(X1Σ+g/a3Πu)] with methylacetylene [CH3CCH(X1A1)], d3-methylacetylene [CD3CCH(X1A1)], and 1-butyne [C2H5CCH(X1A')] at collision energies up to 26 kJ mol-1via chemically activated singlet/triplet C5H4/C5D3H and C6H6 intermediates. These studies exploit a newly developed supersonic dicarbon [C2(X1Σ+g/a3Πu)] beam generated via photolysis of tetrachloroethylene [C2Cl4(X1Ag)] by excluding interference from carbon atoms, which represent the dominating (interfering) species in ablation-based dicarbon sources. We evaluated the performance of the dicarbon [C2(X1Σ+g/a3Πu)] beam in reactions with methylacetylene [CH3CCH(X1A1)] and d3-methylacetylene [CD3CCH(X1A1)]; the investigations demonstrate that the reaction dynamics match previous studies in our laboratory utilizing ablation-based dicarbon sources involving the synthesis of 1,4-pentadiynyl-3 [HCCCHCCH(X2B1)] and 2,4-pentadiynyl-1 [H2CCCCCH(X2B1)] radicals via hydrogen (deuterium) atom elimination. Considering the C2(X1Σ+g/a3Πu)-1-butyne [C2H5CCH(X1A')] reaction, the hitherto elusive methyl-loss pathway was detected. This channel forms the previously unknown resonantly stabilized penta-1-yn-3,4-dienyl-1 [H2CCCHCC(X2A)] radical along with the methyl radical [CH3(X2A2'')] and is open exclusively on the triplet surface with an overall reaction energy of -86 ± 10 kJ mol-1. The preferred reaction pathways proceed first by barrierless addition of triplet dicarbon to the π-electronic system of 1-butyne, either to both acetylenic carbon atoms or to the sterically more accessible carbon atom, to form the methyl-bearing triplet C6H6 intermediates [i41b] and [i81b], respectively, with the latter decomposing via a tight exit transition state to penta-1-yn-3,4-dienyl-1 [(H2CCCHCC(X2A)] plus the methyl radical [CH3(X2A2'')]. The successful unraveling of this methyl-loss channel - through collaborative experimental and computational efforts - underscores the viability of the photolytically generated dicarbon beam as an unprecedented tool to access reaction dynamics underlying the formation of resonantly stabilized free radicals (RSFR) that are vital to molecular mass growth processes that ultimately lead to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

On the formation of nitrogen-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in circumstellar and interstellar environments

The chemical evolution of extraterrestrial environments leads to the formation of nitrogen substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) via gas phase radical mediated aromatization reactions.

Elementary reactions and their role in gas-phase prebiotic chemistry

The formation of complex organic molecules in a reactor filled with gaseous mixtures possibly reproducing the primitive terrestrial atmosphere and ocean demonstrated more than 50 years ago that inorganic synthesis of prebiotic molecules is possible, provided that some form of energy is provided to the system. After that groundbreaking experiment, gas-phase prebiotic molecules have been observed in a wide variety of extraterrestrial objects (including interstellar clouds, comets and planetary atmospheres) where the physical conditions vary widely. A thorough characterization of the chemical evolution of those objects relies on a multi-disciplinary approach: 1) observations allow us to identify the molecules and their number densities as they are nowadays; 2) the chemistry which lies behind their formation starting from atoms and simple molecules is accounted for by complex reaction networks; 3) for a realistic modeling of such networks, a number of experimental parameters are needed and, therefore, the relevant molecular processes should be fully characterized in laboratory experiments. A survey of the available literature reveals, however, that much information is still lacking if it is true that only a small percentage of the elementary reactions considered in the models have been characterized in laboratory experiments. New experimental approaches to characterize the relevant elementary reactions in laboratory are presented and the implications of the results are discussed.

C2H+H2CO: a new route for formaldehyde removal

The title unknown reaction is theoretically studied at various levels to probe the interaction mechanism between the ethynyl radical (HC triple bond C) and formaldehyde (H(2)C double bond O). The most feasible pathway is a barrier-free direct H-abstraction process leading to acetylene and formyl radical (C(2)H(2)+HCO) via a weakly bound complex, and then the product can take secondary dissociation to the final product C(2)H(2)+CO+H. The C-addition channel leading to propynal plus H-atom (HCCCHO+H) has the barrier of only 3.6, 2.9, and 2.1 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)MP2//6-311G(d,p)+ZPVE, CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)//QCISD/6-311G(d,p)+ZPVE, and G3//MP2 levels, respectively [CCSD(T)--coupled cluster with single, double, and triple excitations; ZPVE--zero-point vibrational energy; QCISD--quadratic configuration interaction with single and double excitations; G3//MP2-Gaussian-3 based on Moller-Plesset geometry]. The O addition also leading to propynal plus H atom needs to overcome a higher barrier of 5.3, 8.7, and 3.0 kcalmol at the three corresponding levels. The title no-barrier reaction presents a new efficient route to remove the pollutant H(2)CO, and should be included in the combustion models of hydrocarbons. It may also represent the fastest radical-H(2)CO reaction among the available theoretical data. Moreover, it could play an important role in the interstellar chemistry where the zero- or minute-barrier reactions are generally favored. Discussions are also made on the possible formation of the intriguing propynal in space via the title reaction on ice surface.

Direct detection of polyynes formation from the reaction of ethynyl radical (C2H) with propyne (CH3–CCH) and allene (CH2CCH2)

The reactions of the ethynyl radical (C(2)H) with propyne and allene are studied at room temperature using an apparatus that combines the tunability of the vacuum ultraviolet radiation of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with time-resolved mass spectrometry. The C(2)H radical is prepared by 193-nm photolysis of CF(3)CCH and the mass spectrum of the reacting mixture is monitored in time using synchrotron-photoionization with a dual-sector mass spectrometer. Analysis using photoionization efficiency curves allows the isomer-specific detection of individual polyynes of chemical formula C(5)H(4) produced by both reactions. The product branching ratios are estimated for each isomer. The reaction of propyne with ethynyl gives 50-70% diacetylene (H-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-H) and 50-30% C(5)H(4), with a C(5)H(4)-isomer distribution of 15-20% ethynylallene (CH(2)=C=CH-C[triple bond]CH) and 85-80% methyldiacetylene (CH(3)-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]CH). The reaction of allene with ethynyl gives 35-45% ethynylallene, 20-25% methyldiacetylene and 45-30% 1,4-pentadiyne (HC[triple bond]C-CH(2)-C[triple bond]CH). Diacetylene is most likely not produced by this reaction; an upper limit of 30% on the branching fraction to diacetylene can be derived from the present experiment. The mechanisms of polyynes formation by these reactions as well as the implications for Titan's atmospheric chemistry are discussed.

Radical-molecule reaction C3H+H2O: A mechanistic study

Despite the importance of the C(3)H radical in both combustion and interstellar space, the reactions of C(3)H toward stable molecules have never been studied. In this paper, we report our detailed mechanistic study on the radical-molecule reaction C(3)H+H(2)O at the Becke's three parameter Lee-Yang-Parr-B3LYP6-311G(d,p) and coupled cluster with single, double, and triple excitations-CCSD(T)6-311G(2d,p) (single-point) levels. It is shown that the C(3)H+H(2)O reaction initially favors formation of the carbene-insertion intermediates HCCCHOH (1a,1b) rather than the direct H- or OH-abstraction process. Subsequently, the isomers (1a,1b) can undergo a direct H- extrusion to form the well-known product propynal HCCCHO (P(5)). Highly competitively, (1a,1b) can take the successive 1,4- and 1,2-H-shift interconversion to isomer H(2)CCCHO(2a,2b) and then to isomer H(2)CCHCO(3a,3b), which can finally take a direct C-C bond cleavage to give product C(2)H(3) and CO (P(1)). The other products are kinetically much less feasible. With the overall entrance barrier 10.6 kcal/mol, the title reaction can be important in postburning processes. Particularly, our calculations suggest that the title reaction may play a role in the formation of the intriguing interstellar molecule, propynal HCCCHO. The calculated results will also be useful for the analogous C(3)H reactions such as with ammonia and alkanes.