Bridget A. O'Donnell

Infrared Spectrum and Stability of the H2O-HO Complex: Experiment and Theory

Infrared action spectroscopy is utilized to characterize the gas-phase, hydrogen-bonded H(2)O-HO complex, a primary interaction in the hydration of the hydroxyl radical. The OH radical stretch of the H(2)O-HO complex is identified at 3490 cm(-1), shifted 78 cm(-1) to lower frequency of the OH monomer transition. The stability of the complex, D(0) < or = 5.14 kcal mol(-1), is derived from the highest observed OH product channel in the associated product state distribution. The assignment is supported by high level ab initio calculations of the spectral shift of the binary complex from free OH and its dissociation energy, D(e)(CBS-infinity) = 5.6 kcal mol(-1). A second weaker feature, appearing 15 cm(-1) to lower frequency at 3475 cm(-1), is attributed to a hot band, the OH radical stretch originating from an out-of-plane H(2)O bending state, based on two-dimensional calculations of frequencies and strengths of transitions involving the coupled vibrational modes.

Spectroscopic identification and stability of the intermediate in the OH + HONO2 reaction

The reaction of nitric acid with the hydroxyl radical influences the residence time of HONO2 in the lower atmosphere. Prior studies [Brown SS, Burkholder JB, Talukdar RK, Ravishankara AR (2001) J Phys Chem A 105:1605–1614] have revealed unusual kinetic behavior for this reaction, including a negative temperature dependence, a complex pressure dependence, and an overall reaction rate strongly affected by isotopic substitution. This behavior suggested that the reaction occurs through an intermediate, theoretically predicted to be a hydrogen-bonded OH–HONO2 complex in a six-membered ring-like configuration. In this study, the intermediate is generated directly by the association of photolytically generated OH radicals with HONO2 and stabilized in a pulsed supersonic expansion. Infrared action spectroscopy is used to identify the intermediate by the OH radical stretch (ν1) and OH stretch of nitric acid (ν2) in the OH–HONO2 complex. Two vibrational features are attributed to OH–HONO2: a rotationally structured ν1 band at 3516.8 cm−1 and an extensively broadened ν2 feature at 3260 cm−1, both shifted from their respective monomers. These same transitions are identified for OD–DONO2. Assignments of the features are based on their vibrational frequencies, analysis of rotational band structure, and comparison with complementary high level ab initio calculations. In addition, the OH (v = 0) product state distributions resulting from ν1 and ν2 excitation are used to determine the binding energy of OH–HONO2, D0 ≤ 5.3 kcal·mol−1, which is in good accord with ab initio predictions.

Experimental characterization of the CN X 2Σ+ + Ar and H2 potentials via infrared-ultraviolet double resonance spectroscopy

The hindered internal rotor states (n(K) = 0(0), 1(1), and 1(0)) of the CN-Ar complex with two quanta of CN stretch (v(CN) = 2), along with its ground state (v(CN) = 0), have been characterized by IR-UV double resonance and UV spectroscopy. Analysis of rotationally structured bands enable n(K) assignments and reveal perturbations due to Coriolis coupling between two closely spaced hindered rotor states, n(K) = 1(1) and 1(0). A deperturbation analysis is carried out to derive accurate rotational constants and their associated CN center-of-mass to Ar bond lengths as well as the magnitude of the coupling. The energetic ordering and spacings of the CN-Ar hindered rotor states provide a direct experimental probe of the angular dependence of the CN X (2)Σ(+) + Ar potential and permit radially averaged anisotropy parameters (V(10) = 5.2 cm(-1) and V(20) = 3.2 cm(-1)) to be determined. This analysis indicates a relatively flat potential about a linear N≡C-Ar configuration with a barrier to CN internal rotation of only ~12 cm(-1). The angular potentials determined from experiment and ab initio theory are in good accord, although theory predicts a higher barrier to CN internal rotation. A similar approach yields the infrared spectrum of H(2)-CN in the CN overtone region, which exhibits a rotationally resolved Σ ← Σ parallel band that is consistent with theoretical predictions for ortho-H(2)-CN.

Experimental characterization of the weakly anisotropic CN X2Σ+ + Ne potential from IR-UV double resonance studies of the CN-Ne complex

IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy has been used to characterize hindered internal rotor states (n(K) = 0(0), 1(1), and 1(0)) of the CN-Ne complex in its ground electronic state with various degrees of CN stretch (ν(CN)) excitation. Rotationally resolved infrared overtone spectra of the CN-Ne complex exhibit perturbations arising from Coriolis coupling between the closely spaced hindered rotor states (1(1) and 1(0)) with two quanta of CN stretch (ν(CN) = 2). A deperturbation analysis is used to obtain accurate rotational constants and associated average CN center-of-mass to Ne separation distances as well as the coupling strength. The energetic ordering and spacings of the hindered internal rotor states provide a direct reflection of the weakly anisotropic intermolecular potential between CN X (2)Σ(+) and Ne, with only an 8 cm(-1) barrier to CN internal rotation, from which radially averaged anisotropy parameters (V(10) and V(20)) are extracted that are consistent for ν(CN) = 0-3. Complementary ab initio calculation of the CN X (2)Σ(+) + Ne potential using MRCI+Q extrapolated to the complete one-electron basis set limit is compared with the experimentally derived anisotropy by optimizing the radial potential at each angle. Experiment and theory are in excellent accord, both indicating a bent minimum energy configuration and nearly free rotor behavior. Analogous experimental and theoretical studies of the CN-Ne complex upon electronic excitation to the CN B (2)Σ(+) state indicate a slightly more anisotropic potential with a linear CN-Ne minimum energy configuration. The results from these IR-UV double resonance studies are compared with prior electronic spectroscopy and theoretical studies of the CN-Ne system.

Insights on the CN B 2Σ+ + Ar potential from ultraviolet fluorescence excitation and infrared depletion studies of the CN–Ar complex

UV laser-induced fluorescence and IR-UV fluorescence depletion studies have been used to characterize the intermolecular levels of the CN-Ar complex in the excited state correlating with CN B (2)Σ(+) + Ar. Additional CN-Ar features are identified to lower wavenumber than reported previously. Fluorescence depletion spectra are recorded to confirm that these CN-Ar features and other higher energy features in the B-X spectrum originate from a common ground state level. The UV depletion is induced by IR excitation of CN-Ar from the ground state zero-point level to a hindered internal rotor state (n(K) = 1(1)) in the CN overtone region. The lowest energy feature in the B-X spectrum at 25,714.1 cm(-1) is assigned as a transition to the zero-point level of the B state and also yields its binding energy, D(0) = 186(2) cm(-1), which is in excellent accord with theoretical predictions. The next feature approximately 40 cm(-1) higher is attributed to overlapping transitions to intermolecular levels with bend (v(b)(K)=1(1)) or stretch (v(s) = 1) excitation. Yet higher features (previously reported) are also assigned, based on their transition type and wavenumber, which are consistent with the intermolecular energy level pattern computed theoretically. Finally, the intensity profile of the lowest energy features in the B-X spectrum reflects the predicted change in the CN (B (2)Σ(+), X (2)Σ(+)) + Ar potentials upon electronic excitation from a weakly anisotropic potential about the linear N≡C-Ar configuration in the ground state to a more strongly bound linear C≡N-Ar structure in the excited B electronic state.