Collinear triatomic reactions described by polar Delves coordinates

Spiers Memorial Lecture : Introductory lecture: quantum dynamics of chemical reactions

This Spiers Memorial Lecture discusses quantum effects that can be calculated and observed in the chemical reactions of small molecules.

Isotope effects of reactions in quantum solids initiated by IR + UV lasers: quantum model simulations for Cl((2)P(3/2)) + X(2)(ν) → XCl + X in X(2) matrices (X = H, D)

Six isotope effects (i)-(vi) are discovered for the reactions Cl + H(2)(ν) → HCl + H in solid para-H(2) ( 1 ) versus Cl + D(2)(ν) → DCl + D in ortho-D(2) ( 2 ), by means of quantum reaction dynamics simulations, within the frame of our simple model ( J. Phys. Chem. A 2009 , 113 , 7630 . ). Experimentally, the reactions may be initiated for ν = 0 and ν ≥ 1, by means of "UV only" photodissociation of the matrix-isolated precursor, Cl(2), or by "IR + UV" coirradiation ( Kettwich , S. C. , Raston , P. L. , and Anderson , D. T. J. Phys. Chem. A 2009 , 113 , 7621 . ), respectively. Specifically, (i) various shape and Feshbach reaction resonances correlate with vibrational thresholds of reactants and products, due to the near-thermoneutrality and low barrier of the system. The energetic density of resonances increases as the square root of mass, from M(X) = M(H) to M(D). (ii) The state selective reaction ( 1 ), ν = 1, is supported by a shape resonance, whereas this type of resonance is absent in ( 2 ), ν = 1. As a consequence, time-resolved measurements should monitor different three-step versus direct error-function type evolutions of the formation of the products. (iii) The effective barrier is lower for reaction 1 , ν = 0, enhancing the tunneling rate, as compared to that for reaction 2 , ν = 0. (iv) For reference, the reaction probabilities P versus total energy E(tot) in the gas exhibit sharp resonance peaks or zigzag behaviors of the reaction probability P versus total energy, near the levels of resonances ( Persky , A. and Baer , M. J. Chem. Phys . 1974 , 60 , 133 . ). These features tend to be washed out and broadened for reaction 1 , and even more so for reaction 2 . For comparison, they disappear for reactions in classical solids. (v) The slopes of P versus E(tot) below the potential barrier increase more steeply for reaction 1 , ν = 0, than for reaction 2 , ν = 0. This enhances the tunneling rate of the heavier isotopomer, reaction 2 , ν = 0, compared to that for reaction 1 . (vi) For a given value of the UV frequency, the translational energy E(trans) increases with mass M(X). Again, this effect supports tunneling of the heavier isotopomer. The isotope effects (i)-(iii), (iv)-(v), and (vi) may be classified as energetic, translational amplitude, and kinematic, respectively. Specifically, the effects (iv)-(v) are due to a systematic decrease of the amplitudes of translational motions of the reactant molecules, from quasi infinite in the gas via still rather large values of para-H(2)(ν) and smaller values for ortho-D(2)(ν) to very small values in classical solids. These isotope effects are special phenomena in quantum solids, which do not occur, neither in the gas phase nor in classical solids. Quantitative predictions, e.g., for the effects of increasing UV frequency on the ratio of reactions probabilities for the UV only versus IR + UV experiments, must account for the interplay of various isotope effects, e.g., (vi) combined with the antagonistic effects (iii) versus (iv) and (v).