Joseph A. Korn

Anharmonic modeling of the conformation-specific IR spectra of ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butylbenzene

Conformation-specific UV-IR double resonance spectra are presented for ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butylbenzene. With the aid of a local mode Hamiltonian that includes the effects of stretch-scissor Fermi resonance, the spectra can be accurately modeled for specific conformers. These molecules allow for further development of a first principles method for calculating alkyl stretch spectra. Across all chain lengths, certain dihedral patterns impart particular spectral motifs at the quadratic level. However, the anharmonic contributions are consistent from molecule to molecule and conformer to conformer. This transferability of anharmonicities allows for the Hamiltonian to be constructed from only a harmonic frequency calculation, reducing the cost of the model. The phenyl ring alters the frequencies of the CH2 stretches by about 15 cm(-1) compared to their n-alkane counterparts in trans configurations. Conformational changes in the chain can lead to shifts in frequency of up to 30 cm(-1).

Ground and excited state infrared spectroscopy of jet-cooled radicals: exploring the photophysics of trihydronaphthyl and inden-2-ylmethyl.

The alkyl and aromatic CH stretch infrared spectra of inden-2-ylmethyl (I2M, C10H9) and trihydronaphthyl (THN, C10H11) radicals have been recorded under jet-cooled conditions in the ground (D0) and first electronically excited (D1) states using resonant ion-dip infrared (RIDIR) spectroscopy. Previously, the vibronic spectroscopy of a series of C10H9 and C10H11 hydronaphthyl radicals were investigated and their thermochemical properties were evaluated with isomer specificity [J. A. Sebree et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 11, 6255-6262 (2010)]. We show here that one of the m/z 129 spectral carriers characterized in that work was misidentified as 2-hydronaphthyl (2-HN) radical, appearing in a discharge of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene in close proximity to 1-hydronaphthyl radical. The D0-RIDIR spectrum in the alkyl CH stretch region positively identifies the m/z 129 isomer as I2M, whose two-color resonant two-photon ionization (2C-R2PI) spectrum was recently reported by Schmidt and co-workers [T. P. Troy et al., Chem. Sci. 2, 1755-1765 (2011)]. Here, we further characterize the I2M and THN radicals by recording their gas phase IR spectra in the alkyl and aromatic CH stretch regions, and explore the spectroscopic consequences of electronic excitation on the CH stretch absorptions. A local-mode CH stretch Hamiltonian incorporating cubic stretch-bend coupling between anharmonic CH stretches and CH2 scissor modes is utilized to describe their Fermi resonance interactions. Excellent agreement between the experimental and theoretical results facilitates the interpretation of the D0- and D1-state RIDIR spectra of I2M, revealing that upon excitation the alkyl CH stretches decrease in frequency by 70 cm(-1), while the allyl-like CH stretches experience a modest blueshift. In comparison, the photophysics of THN are strikingly different in that the IR transitions that possess vibrational motion along the CβH and CδH bonds are absent in the D1-RIDIR spectrum yet are predicted to be present from the theoretical model. Several hypotheses are considered to account for the perturbations to these vibrations.

The spectroscopy and photochemistry of quinioline structural isomers: (E)- and (Z)-phenylvinylnitrile.

In Titans atmosphere, photochemical pathways that lead to nitrogen heteroaromatics may incorporate photoisomerization of their structural isomers as a final step. (E)- and (Z)-phenylvinylnitrile ((E)- and (Z)-PVN, C6H5-CH=CHCN) are structural isomers of quinoline that themselves possess extensive absorptions in the ultraviolet, and thus may engage in such photoisomerization pathways. The present study explores the vibronic spectroscopy and photo-induced isomerization of gas-phase (E)- and (Z)-PVN in the 33,600-35,850 cm(-1) region under jet-cooled conditions. The S0-S1 origins for (E)- and (Z)-PVN have been identified at 33 827 cm(-1) and 33 707 cm(-1), respectively. Isomer-specific UV-UV hole-burning and UV depletion spectra reveal sharp vibronic structure that extends over almost 2000 cm(-1), with thresholds for fast non-radiative decay identified by a comparison between hole-burning and UV depletion spectra. Dispersed fluorescence spectra of the two isomers enable the assignment of many low frequency transitions in both molecules, aided by harmonic frequency calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) and a comparison with the established spectroscopy of phenylvinylacetylene, the ethynyl counterpart to PVN. Both isomers are proven to be planar in both the S0 ground and S1 electronic excited states. (E)-PVN exhibits extensive Duschinsky mixing involving out-of-plane modes whose frequencies and character change significantly in the ππ* transition, which modulates the degree of single- and double-bond character along the vinylnitrile substituent. This same mixing is much less evident in (Z)-PVN. The spectroscopic characterization of (E)- and (Z)-PVN served as the basis for photoisomerization experiments using ultraviolet hole-filling spectroscopy carried out in a reaction tube affixed to the pulsed valve. Successful interconversion between (E) and (Z)-PVN was demonstrated via ultraviolet hole-filling experiments. Photoexcitation of (E)- and (Z)-PVN at their respective S0-S1 origins failed to produce quinoline, a simple polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocylcle, within the detection sensitivity of our experiments. Stationary points along the potential energy surface associated with (Z)-PVN → quinoline isomerization showed a barrier of 93 kcal/mol associated with the first step in the isomerization process, slowing the interconversion process at the excitation energies used (96 kcal/mol) to timescales beyond those probed in the present experiment.

Infrared and Electronic Spectroscopy of the Jet-Cooled 5-Methyl-2-furanylmethyl Radical Derived from the Biofuel 2,5-Dimethylfuran

The electronic and infrared spectra of the 5-methyl-2-furanylmethyl (MFM) radical have been characterized under jet-cooled conditions in the gas phase. This resonance-stabilized radical is formed by H atom loss from one of the methyl groups of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), a promising second-generation biofuel. As a resonance-stabilized radical, it plays an important role in the flame chemistry of DMF. The D0-D1 transition was studied using two-color resonant two-photon ionization (2C-R2PI) spectroscopy. The electronic origin is in the middle of the visible spectrum (21934 cm(-1) = 455.9 nm) and is accompanied by Franck-Condon activity involving the hindered methyl rotor. The frequencies and intensities are fit to a one-dimensional methyl rotor potential, using the calculated form of the ground state potential. The methyl rotor reports sensitively on the local electronic environment and how it changes with electronic excitation, shifting from a preferred ground state orientation with one CH in-plane and anti to the furan oxygen, to an orientation in the excited state in which one CH group is axial to the plane of the furan ring. Ground and excited state alkyl CH stretch infrared spectra are recorded using resonant ion-dip infrared (RIDIR) spectroscopy, offering a complementary view of the methyl group and its response to electronic excitation. Dramatic changes in the CH stretch transitions with electronic state reflect the changing preference for the methyl group orientation.

Vibronic Spectroscopy of a Nitrile/Isonitrile Isoelectronic Pair: para-Diisocyanobenzene and para-Isocyanobenzonitrile

The ultraviolet spectroscopy of isoelectronic pair para-diisocyanobenzene (pDIB) and para-isocyanobenzonitrile (pIBN) has been studied under gas-phase, jet-cooled conditions. These molecules complete a sequence of mono and disubstituted nitrile/isonitrile benzene derivatives, enabling a comparison of the electronic effects of such substitution. Utilizing laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) spectroscopy, the S0-S1 electronic origins of pDIB and pIBN have been identified at 35,566 and 35,443 cm(-1), respectively. In pDIB, the S0-S1 origin is very weak, with b(3g) fundamentals induced by vibronic coupling to the S2 state dominating the spectrum at 501 cm(-1) (ν17, isocyano bend) and 650 cm(-1) (ν16, ring distortion). The spectrum extends over 5000 cm(-1), remaining sharp and relatively uncongested over much of this range. Dispersed fluorescence (DFL) spectra confirm the dominating role played by vibronic coupling and identify Franck-Condon active ring modes built off the vibronically-induced bands. In pDIB, the S2 state has been tentatively observed at about 6100 cm(-1) above the S0-S1 origin. In pIBN, the S0-S1 origin is considerably stronger, but vibronic coupling still plays an important role, involving fundamentals of b2 symmetry. The bending mode of the nitrile group dominates the vibronically-induced activity. Calculations carried out at the TD-DFT B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory account for the extremely weak S0-S1 oscillator strength of pDIB and the larger intensity of the S0-S1 origins of pIBN and pDCB (para-dicyanobenzene) as nitrile groups are substituted for isonitrile groups. In pDIB, a nearly perfect cancellation of transition dipoles occurs due to two one-electron transitions that contribute nearly equally to the S0-S1 transition. The spectra of both molecules show no clear evidence of charge-transfer interactions that play such an important role in some cyanobenzene derivatives.

GROWING UP RADICAL: INVESTIGATION OF BENZYL-LIKE RADICALS WITH INCREASING CHAIN LENGTHS

Combustion processes involve complex chemistry including pathways leading to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from small molecule precursors. Resonance stabilized radicals (RSRs) likely play an important role in the pathways to PAHs due to their unusual stability. Benzyl radical is a prototypical RSR that is stabilized by conjugation with the phenyl ring. Earlier work on α-methyl benzyl radical showed perturbations to the spectroscopy due to a hindered methyl rotor.a If the alkyl chain is lengthened then multiple conformations become possible. This talk will discuss the jet-cooled spectroscopy of α-ethyl benzyl radical and α-propyl benzyl radical produced from the discharge of 1-phenyl propanol and 1-phenyl butanol respectively. Electronic spectra were obtained via resonant two-photon ionization, and IR spectra were obtained by resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy.