Adam J. Trevitt

Products of the benzene + O(3P) reaction.

The gas-phase reaction of benzene with O((3)P) is of considerable interest for modeling of aromatic oxidation, and also because there exist fundamental questions concerning the prominence of intersystem crossing in the reaction. While its overall rate constant has been studied extensively, there are still significant uncertainties in the product distribution. The reaction proceeds mainly through the addition of the O atom to benzene, forming an initial triplet diradical adduct, which can either dissociate to form the phenoxy radical and H atom or undergo intersystem crossing onto a singlet surface, followed by a multiplicity of internal isomerizations, leading to several possible reaction products. In this work, we examined the product branching ratios of the reaction between benzene and O((3)P) over the temperature range 300-1000 K and pressure range 1-10 Torr. The reactions were initiated by pulsed-laser photolysis of NO(2) in the presence of benzene and helium buffer in a slow-flow reactor, and reaction products were identified by using the multiplexed chemical kinetics photoionization mass spectrometer operating at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Phenol and phenoxy radical were detected and quantified. Cyclopentadiene and cyclopentadienyl radical were directly identified for the first time. Finally, ab initio calculations and master equation/RRKM modeling were used to reproduce the experimental branching ratios, yielding pressure-dependent rate expressions for the reaction channels, including phenoxy + H, phenol, cyclopentadiene + CO, which are proposed for kinetic modeling of benzene oxidation.

Differentiation of Complex Lipid Isomers by Radical-Directed Dissociation Mass Spectrometry

Contemporary lipidomics protocols are dependent on conventional tandem mass spectrometry for lipid identification. This approach is extremely powerful for determining lipid class and identifying the number of carbons and the degree of unsaturation of any acyl-chain substituents. Such analyses are however, blind to isomeric variants arising from different carbon-carbon bonding motifs within these chains including double bond position, chain branching, and cyclic structures. This limitation arises from the fact that conventional, low energy collision-induced dissociation of even-electron lipid ions does not give rise to product ions from intrachain fragmentation of the fatty acyl moieties. To overcome this limitation, we have applied radical-directed dissociation (RDD) to the study of lipids for the first time. In this approach, bifunctional molecules that contain a photocaged radical initiator and a lipid-adducting group, such as 4-iodoaniline and 4-iodobenzoic acid, are used to form noncovalent complexes (i.e., adduct ions) with a lipid during electrospray ionization. Laser irradiation of these complexes at UV wavelengths (266 nm) cleaves the carbon-iodine bond to liberate a highly reactive phenyl radical. Subsequent activation of the nascent radical ions results in RDD with significant intrachain fragmentation of acyl moieties. This approach provides diagnostic fragments that are associated with the double bond position and the positions of chain-branching in glycerophospholipids, sphingomyelins and triacylglycerols and thus can be used to differentiate isomeric lipids differing only in such motifs. RDD is demonstrated for well-defined lipid standards and also reveals lipid structural diversity in olive oil and human very-low density lipoprotein.

Cyclic Versus Linear Isomers Produced by Reaction of the Methylidyne Radical (CH) with Small Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

The reactions of the methylidyne radical (CH) with ethylene, acetylene, allene, and methylacetylene are studied at room temperature using tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization and time-resolved mass spectrometry. The CH radicals are prepared by 248 nm multiphoton photolysis of CHBr(3) at 298 K and react with the selected hydrocarbon in a helium gas flow. Analysis of photoionization efficiency versus VUV photon wavelength permits isomer-specific detection of the reaction products and allows estimation of the reaction product branching ratios. The reactions proceed by either CH insertion or addition followed by H atom elimination from the intermediate adduct. In the CH + C(2)H(4) reaction the C(3)H(5) intermediate decays by H atom loss to yield 70(+/-8)% allene, 30(+/-8)% methylacetylene, and less than 10% cyclopropene, in agreement with previous RRKM results. In the CH + acetylene reaction, detection of mainly the cyclic C(3)H(2) isomer is contrary to a previous RRKM calculations that predicted linear triplet propargylene to be 90% of the total H-atom coproducts. High-level CBS-APNO quantum calculations and RRKM calculations for the CH + C(2)H(2) reaction presented in this manuscript predict a higher contribution of the cyclic C(3)H(2) (27.0%) versus triplet propargylene (63.5%) than earlier predictions. Extensive calculations on the C(3)H(3) and C(3)H(2)D system combined with experimental isotope ratios for the CD + C(2)H(2) reaction indicate that H-atom-assisted isomerization in the present experiments is responsible for the remaining discrepancy between the new RRKM calculations and the experimental results. Cyclic isomers are also found to represent 30(+/-6)% of the detected products in the case of CH + methylacetylene, together with 33(+/-6)% 1,2,3-butatriene and 37(+/-6)% vinylacetylene. The CH + allene reaction gives 23(+/-5)% 1,2,3-butatriene and 77(+/-5)% vinylacetylene, whereas cyclic isomers are produced below the detection limit in this reaction. The reaction exit channels deduced by comparing the product distributions for the aforementioned reactions are discussed in detail.

Reaction of the C2H Radical with 1-Butyne (C4H6): Low-Temperature Kinetics and Isomer-Specific Product Detection†

The rate coefficient for the reaction of the ethynyl radical (C(2)H) with 1-butyne (H-C[triple bond]C-CH(2)-CH(3)) is measured in a pulsed Laval nozzle apparatus. Ethynyl radicals are formed by laser photolysis of acetylene (C(2)H(2)) at 193 nm and detected via chemiluminescence (C(2)H + O(2) --> CH (A(2)Delta) + CO(2)). The rate coefficients are measured over the temperature range of 74-295 K. The C(2)H + 1-butyne reaction exhibits no barrier and occurs with rate constants close to the collision limit. The temperature-dependent rate coefficients can be fit within experimental uncertainties by the expression k = (2.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(-10)(T/295 K)(-(0.04+/-0.03)) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Reaction products are detected at room temperature (295 K) and 533 Pa using a multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometer (MPIMS) coupled to the tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation from the Advanced Light Source at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Two product channels are identified for this reaction: m/z = 64 (C(5)H(4)) and m/z = 78 (C(6)H(6)) corresponding to the CH(3)-loss and H-loss channels, respectively. Photoionization efficiency (PIE) curves are used to analyze the isomeric composition of both product channels. The C(5)H(4) products are found to be exclusively linear isomers composed of ethynylallene and methyldiacetylene in a 4:1 ratio. In contrast, the C(6)H(6) product channel includes two cyclic isomers, fulvene 18(+/-5)% and 3,4-dimethylenecyclobut-1-ene (DMCB) 32(+/-8)%, as well as three linear isomers, 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene 8(+/-5)%, 3,4-hexadiene-1-yne 28(+/-8)%, and 1,3-hexadiyne 14(+/-5)%. Within experimental uncertainties, we do not see appreciable amounts of benzene and an upper limit of 10% is estimated. Diacetylene (C(4)H(2)) formation via the C(2)H(5)-loss channel is also thermodynamically possible but cannot be observed due to experimental limitations. The implications of these results for modeling of planetary atmospheres, especially of Saturns largest moon Titan and the relationships to combustion reactions, are discussed.

Gas-phase reactions of aryl radicals with 2-butyne: experimental and theoretical investigation employing the N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl radical cation

Aromatic radicals form in a variety of reacting gas-phase systems, where their molecular weight growth reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons are of considerable importance. We have investigated the ion-molecule reaction of the aromatic distonic N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl (NMP) radical cation with 2-butyne (CH(3)C≡CCH(3)) using ion trap mass spectrometry. Comparison is made to high-level ab initio energy surfaces for the reaction of NMP and for the neutral phenyl radical system. The NMP radical cation reacts rapidly with 2-butyne at ambient temperature, due to the apparent absence of any barrier. The activated vinyl radical adduct predominantly dissociates via loss of a H atom, with lesser amounts of CH(3) loss. High-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry allows us to identify small quantities of the collisionally deactivated reaction adduct. Statistical reaction rate theory calculations (master equation/RRKM theory) on the NMP+2-butyne system support our experimental findings, and indicate a mechanism that predominantly involves an allylic resonance-stabilized radical formed via H atom shuttling between the aromatic ring and the C(4) side-chain, followed by cyclization and/or low-energy H atom β-scission reactions. A similar mechanism is demonstrated for the neutral phenyl radical (Ph˙)+2-butyne reaction, forming products that include 3-methylindene. The collisionally deactivated reaction adduct is predicted to be quenched in the form of a resonance-stabilized methylphenylallyl radical. Experiments using a 2,5-dichloro substituted methyl-pyridiniumyl radical cation revealed that in this case CH(3) loss from the 2-butyne adduct is favoured over H atom loss, verifying the key role of ortho H atoms, and the shuttling mechanism, in the reactions of aromatic radicals with alkynes. As well as being useful phenyl radical analogues, pyridiniumyl radical cations may form in the ionosphere of Titan, where they could undergo rapid molecular weight growth reactions to yield polycyclic aromatic nitrogen hydrocarbons (PANHs).

Direct detection of pyridine formation by the reaction of CH (CD) with pyrrole: a ring expansion reaction

The reaction of the ground state methylidyne radical CH (X(2)Pi) with pyrrole (C(4)H(5)N) has been studied in a slow flow tube reactor using Multiplexed Photoionization Mass Spectrometry coupled to quasi-continuous tunable VUV synchrotron radiation at room temperature (295 K) and 363 K, at 4 Torr (533 Pa). Laser photolysis of bromoform (CHBr(3)) at 248 nm (KrF excimer laser) is used to produce CH radicals that are free to react with pyrrole molecules in the gaseous mixture. A signal at m/z = 79 (C(5)H(5)N) is identified as the product of the reaction and resolved from (79)Br atoms, and the result is consistent with CH addition to pyrrole followed by H-elimination. The photoionization efficiency curve unambiguously identifies m/z = 79 as pyridine. With deuterated methylidyne radicals (CD), the product mass peak is shifted by +1 mass unit, consistent with the formation of C(5)H(4)DN and identified as deuterated pyridine (d-pyridine). Within detection limits, there is no evidence that the addition intermediate complex undergoes hydrogen scrambling. The results are consistent with a reaction mechanism that proceeds via the direct CH (CD) cycloaddition or insertion into the five-member pyrrole ring, giving rise to ring expansion, followed by H atom elimination from the nitrogen atom in the intermediate to form the resonance stabilized pyridine (d-pyridine) molecule. Implications to interstellar chemistry and planetary atmospheres, in particular Titan, as well as gas-phase combustion processes, are discussed.

Isomer-Specific Product Detection of Gas-Phase Xylyl Radical Rearrangement and Decomposition Using VUV Synchrotron Photoionization

Xylyl radicals are intermediates in combustion processes since their parent molecules, xylenes, are present as fuel additives. In this study we report on the photoelectron spectra of the three isomeric xylyl radicals and the subsequent decomposition reactions of the o-xylyl radical, generated in a tubular reactor and probed by mass selected threshold photoelectron spectroscopy and VUV synchrotron radiation. Franck-Condon simulations are applied to augment the assignment of elusive species. Below 1000 K, o-xylyl radicals decompose by hydrogen atom loss to form closed-shell o-xylylene, which equilibrates with benzocyclobutene. At higher temperatures relevant to combustion engines, o-xylylene generates styrene in a multistep rearrangement, whereas the p-xylylene isomer is thermally stable, a key point of difference in the combustion of these two isomeric fuels. Another striking result is that all three xylyl isomers can generate p-xylylene upon decomposition. In addition to C8H8 isomers, phenylacetylene and traces of benzocyclobutadiene are observed and identified as further reaction products of o-xylylene, while there is also some preliminary evidence for benzene and benzyne formation. The experimental results reported here are complemented by a comprehensive theoretical C8H8 potential energy surface, which together with the spectroscopic assignments can explain the complex high-temperature chemistry of o-xylyl radicals.

Concerted HO2 Elimination from α-Aminoalkylperoxyl Free Radicals: Experimental and Theoretical Evidence from the Gas-Phase NH2•CHCO2– + O2 Reaction

We have investigated the gas-phase reaction of the α-aminoacetate (glycyl) radical anion (NH2(•)CHCO2(-)) with O2 using ion trap mass spectrometry, quantum chemistry, and statistical reaction rate theory. This radical is found to undergo a remarkably rapid reaction with O2 to form the hydroperoxyl radical (HO2(•)) and an even-electron imine (NHCHCO2(-)), with experiments and master equation simulations revealing that reaction proceeds at the ion-molecule collision rate. This reaction is facilitated by a low-energy concerted HO2(•) elimination mechanism in the NH2CH(OO(•))CO2(-) peroxyl radical. These findings can explain the widely observed free-radical-mediated oxidation of simple amino acids to amides plus α-keto acids (their imine hydrolysis products). This work also suggests that imines will be the main intermediates in the atmospheric oxidation of primary and secondary amines, including amine carbon capture solvents such as 2-aminoethanol (commonly known as monoethanolamine, or MEA), in a process that avoids the ozone-promoting conversion of (•)NO to (•)NO2 commonly encountered in peroxyl radical chemistry.

Ultraviolet action spectroscopy of iodine labeled peptides and proteins in the gas phase.

Structural investigations of large biomolecules in the gas phase are challenging. Herein, it is reported that action spectroscopy taking advantage of facile carbon-iodine bond dissociation can be used to examine the structures of large molecules, including whole proteins. Iodotyrosine serves as the active chromophore, which yields distinctive spectra depending on the solvation of the side chain by the remainder of the molecule. Isolation of the chromophore yields a double featured peak at ~290 nm, which becomes a single peak with increasing solvation. Deprotonation of the side chain also leads to reduced apparent intensity and broadening of the action spectrum. The method can be successfully applied to both negatively and positively charged ions in various charge states, although electron detachment becomes a competitive channel for multiply charged anions. In all other cases, loss of iodine is by far the dominant channel which leads to high sensitivity and simple data analysis. The action spectra for iodotyrosine, the iodinated peptides KGYDAKA, DAYLDAG, and the small protein ubiquitin are reported in various charge states.

UV photodissociation action spectroscopy of haloanilinium ions in a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

AbstractUV–vis photodissociation action spectroscopy is becoming increasingly prevalent because of advances in, and commercial availability of, ion trapping technologies and tunable laser sources. This study outlines in detail an instrumental arrangement, combining a commercial ion-trap mass spectrometer and tunable nanosecond pulsed laser source, for performing fully automated photodissociation action spectroscopy on gas-phase ions. The components of the instrumentation are outlined, including the optical and electronic interfacing, in addition to the control software for automating the experiment and performing online analysis of the spectra. To demonstrate the utility of this ensemble, the photodissociation action spectra of 4-chloroanilinium, 4-bromoanilinium, and 4-iodoanilinium cations are presented and discussed. Multiple photoproducts are detected in each case and the photoproduct yields are followed as a function of laser wavelength. It is shown that the wavelength-dependent partitioning of the halide loss, H loss, and NH3 loss channels can be broadly rationalized in terms of the relative carbon-halide bond dissociation energies and processes of energy redistribution. The photodissociation action spectrum of (phenyl)Ag2+ is compared with a literature spectrum as a further benchmark. Figureᅟ