Hyperfine resolved spectrum of the bromomethyl radical, CH2Br, by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

Photodissociation of the CH2Br radical: A theoretical study

Bromine atom (Br) reactions lead to ozone depletion in the troposphere and stratosphere. Photodegradation of bromocarbons is one of the main sources of bromine atoms in the atmosphere. Here, we use high-level ab initio methods, including spin-orbit effects, to study the photodissociation of the CH2Br radical. All possible fragmentation pathways, namely CH2Br + hν → CH2 + Br, HCBr + H, and CBr + H2, have been analyzed. Potential-energy curves of the ground and several excited electronic states along the corresponding dissociating bond distance of each pathway have been calculated. Considering the actinic fluxes of solar irradiation in the troposphere and in the stratosphere in the relevant range of frequencies, it is found that the first five excited states of CH2Br can be accessed from the ground state. Analysis of the potential curves shows that the pathways producing CH2 + Br and HCBr + H can proceed through a fast direct dissociation mechanism, while the pathway leading to CBr + H2 involves much slower dissociation mechanisms like internal conversion between electronic states, predissociation, or tunneling through exit barriers. The main implications are that the two faster channels are predicted to be dominant, and the slower pathway is expected to be less relevant. The tropospheric and stratospheric solar actinic fluxes also allow for further dissociation of the HCBr and CBr fragments, generating additional Br atoms, provided that they survive possible collisions with other atmospheric reagents. Finally, we discuss the possible effect of each of the three CH2Br dissociation pathways on the depletion of atmospheric ozone.

High-resolution sub-Doppler infrared spectroscopy of atmospherically relevant Criegee precursor CH2I radicals: CH2 stretch vibrations and "charge-sloshing" dynamics

The combination of a pulsed supersonic slit-discharge source and single-mode difference frequency direct absorption infrared spectroscopy permit first high resolution infrared study of the iodomethyl (CH₂I) radical, with the CH₂I radical species generated in a slit jet Ne/He discharge and cooled to 16 K in the supersonic expansion. Dual laser beam detection and collisional collimation in the slit expansion yield sub-Doppler linewidths (60 MHz), an absolute frequency calibration of 13 MHz, and absorbance sensitivities within a factor of two of the shot-noise limit. Fully rovibrationally resolved direct absorption spectra of the CH₂ symmetric stretch mode (ν₂) are obtained and fitted to a Watson asymmetric top Hamiltonian with electron spin-rotation coupling, providing precision rotational constants and spin-rotation tensor elements for the vibrationally excited state. Analysis of the asymmetric top rotational constants confirms a vibrationally averaged planar geometry in both the ground- and first-excited vibrational levels. Sub-Doppler resolution permits additional nuclear spin hyperfine structures to be observed, with splittings in excellent agreement with microwave measurements on the ground state. Spectroscopic data on CH₂I facilitate systematic comparison with previous studies of halogen-substituted methyl radicals, with the periodic trends strongly correlated with the electronegativity of the halogen atom. Interestingly, we do not observe any asymmetric CH₂ stretch transitions, despite S/N ≈ 25:1 on strongest lines in the corresponding symmetric CH₂ stretch manifold. This dramatic reversal of the more typical 3:1 antisymmetric/symmetric CH₂ stretch intensity ratio signals a vibrational transition moment poorly described by simple "bond-dipole" models. Instead, the data suggest that this anomalous intensity ratio arises from "charge sloshing" dynamics in the highly polar carbon-iodine bond, as supported by ab initio electron differential density plots and indeed consistent with observations in other halomethyl radicals and protonated cluster ions.