Joseph M. Beames

Infrared-driven unimolecular reaction of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products

Breaking down a Criegee intermediate Ozones damaging role in the upper atmosphere is well known, but ozone is also quite active closer down to where we live. In particular, ozones run-ins with airborne unsaturated hydrocarbons, from natural or anthropogenic sources, produce even more-reactive OH radicals. Liu et al. used vibrational spectroscopy to study how OH emerges from a so-called Criegee intermediate formed when ozone attacks 2-butene. The results suggest that OH production is easier than current theory predicts. Science, this issue p. 1596 Spectroscopy in the laboratory elucidates key steps in ozone’s atmospheric reaction with unsaturated hydrocarbons. Ozonolysis of alkenes, an important nonphotolytic source of hydroxyl (OH) radicals in the troposphere, proceeds through energized Criegee intermediates that undergo unimolecular decay to produce OH radicals. Here, we used infrared (IR) activation of cold CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to drive hydrogen transfer from the methyl group to the terminal oxygen, followed by dissociation to OH radicals. State-selective excitation of CH3CHOO in the CH stretch overtone region combined with sensitive OH detection revealed the IR spectrum of CH3CHOO, effective barrier height for the critical hydrogen transfer step, and rapid decay dynamics to OH products. Complementary theory provides insights on the IR overtone spectrum, as well as vibrational excitations, structural changes, and energy required to move from the minimum-energy configuration of CH3CHOO to the transition state for the hydrogen transfer reaction.

Analysis of the HOOO torsional potential

Torsional levels of cis and trans HOOO and DOOO, observed previously via infrared action spectroscopy [E. L. Derro, T. D. Sechler, C. Murray, and M. I. Lester, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 244313 (2008)], have been used in conjunction with ab initio theory to obtain a torsional potential energy surface for the hydrotrioxy radical. High level electronic structure calculations based on the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method for ionized states (EOMIP-CCSD) are utilized to produce a torsional potential. Eigenvalues of the potential are computed by diagonalizing the torsional hamiltonian in a free-rotor basis. Uniform scaling of the theoretical potential by a factor of 1.35 yields vibrational frequencies in good agreement with the experiment, and allows prediction of the barrier height to isomerization of ∼340 cm(-1) and relative stability of trans-HOOO with respect to cis-HOOO of ∼70 cm(-1). Examination of the optimized nuclear coordinates with respect to the torsional angle, suggests that the central O-O bond length is strongly coupled to the torsion and is important in determining the relative stabilities of the two conformers. The scaled potential is then used to determine the torsional contribution to the partition function for atmospheric modeling of HOOO.

Quantum dynamical investigation of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO and its O-O photodissociation channels

The singlet electronic potential energy surfaces for the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO are computed over a two-dimensional reduced subspace of coordinates, and utilized to simulate the photo-initiated dynamics on the S2 (B) state leading to dissociation on multiple coupled excited electronic states. The adiabatic electronic potentials are evaluated using dynamically weighted state-averaged complete active space self-consistent field theory. Quasi-diabatic states are constructed from the adiabatic states by maximizing the charge separation between the states. The dissociation dynamics are then simulated on the diabatically coupled excited electronic states. The B ← X electronic transition with large oscillator strength was used to initiate dynamics on the S2 (B) excited singlet state. Diabatic coupling of the B state with other dissociative singlet states results in about 5% of the population evolving to the lowest spin-allowed asymptote, generating H2CO (X (1)A1) and O ((1)D) fragments. The remaining ∼95% of the population remains on repulsive B state and dissociates to H2CO (a (3)A″) and O ((3)P) products associated with a higher asymptotic limit. Due to the dissociative nature of the B state, the simulated electronic absorption spectrum is found to be broad and devoid of any vibrational structure.

Direct production of OH radicals upon CH overtone activation of (CH3)2COO Criegee intermediates

Ozonolysis of alkenes, a principle non-photolytic source of atmospheric OH radicals, proceeds through unimolecular decay of energized carbonyl oxide intermediates, known as Criegee intermediates. In this work, cold dimethyl-substituted Criegee intermediates are vibrationally activated in the CH stretch overtone region to drive the 1,4 hydrogen transfer reaction that leads to OH radical products. IR excitation of (CH3)2COO reveals the vibrational states with sufficient oscillator strength, coupling to the reaction coordinate, and energy to surmount the effective barrier (≤ 16.0 kcal mol(-1)) to reaction. Insight on the dissociation dynamics is gleaned from homogeneous broadening of the spectral features, indicative of rapid intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution and/or reaction, as well as the quantum state distribution of the OH X(2)Π (v = 0) products. The experimental results are compared with complementary electronic structure calculations, which provide the IR absorption spectrum and geometric changes along the intrinsic reaction coordinate. Additional theoretical analysis reveals the vibrational modes and couplings that permit (CH3)2COO to access to the transition state region for reaction. The experimental and theoretical results are compared with an analogous recent study of the IR activation of syn-CH3CHOO and its unimolecular decay to OH products [F. Liu, J. M. Beames, A. S. Petit, A. B. McCoy, and M. I. Lester, Science 345, 1596 (2014)].

Comparison of the resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectra of pyrrole and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole: Building toward an understanding of the electronic structure and photochemistry of porphyrins

The photophysical properties of porphyrins have relevance for their use as light-activated drugs in cancer treatment and sensitizers in solid-state solar cells. However, the appearance of their UV-visible spectra is usually explained inadequately by qualitative molecular-orbital theories. We intend to gain a better insight into the intense absorption bands, and excited-state dynamics, that make porphyrins appropriate for both of these applications by gradually building toward an understanding of the macrocyclic structure, starting with studies of smaller pyrrolic subunits. We have recorded the (1+1) and (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectra of pyrrole and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole between 25 600 cm(-1) (390 nm) and 48 500 cm(-1) (206 nm). We did not observe a (1+1) REMPI signal through the optically bright (1)B(2) (pipi( *)) and (1)A(1) (pipi( *)) states in pyrrole due to ultrafast deactivation via conical intersections with the dissociative (1)A(2) (pisigma( *)) and (1)B(1) (pisigma( *)) states. However, we did observe (2+1) REMPI through Rydberg states with a dominant feature at 27 432 cm(-1) (two-photon energy, 54 864 cm(-1)) assigned to a 3d<--pi transition. In contrast, 2,5-dimethylpyrrole has a broad and structured (1+1) REMPI spectrum between 36 000 and 42 500 cm(-1) as a result of vibronic transitions to the (1)B(2) (pipi( *)) state, and it does not show the 3d<--pi Rydberg transition via (2+1) REMPI. We have complemented the experimental studies by a theoretical treatment of the excited states of both molecules using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and accounted for the contrasting features in the spectra. TD-DFT modeled the photochemical activity of both the optically dark (1)pisigma( *) states (dissociative) and optically bright (1)pipi( *) states well, predicting the barrierless deactivation of the (1)B(2) (pipi( *)) state of pyrrole and the bound minimum of the (1)B(2) (pipi( *)) state in 2,5-dimethylpyrrole. However, the quantitative agreement between vibronic transition energies and the excited-state frequencies calculated by TD-DFT was hampered by inaccurate modeling of Rydberg orbital mixing with the valence states, caused by the lack of an asymptotic correction to the exchange-correlation functionals used.

1+1 ' resonant multiphoton ionisation of OH radicals via the A(2)sigma(+) state: insights from direct comparison with A-X laser-induced fluorescence detection

A 1+1′ resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation (REMPI) scheme for OH X2Π radicals is characterised for a broad range of intermediate A2Σ+ (v = 1, J, Fi) levels. The intensities of OH A-X (1,0) transitions detected by subsequent fixed-frequency VUV ionisation are compared with those obtained by near simultaneous laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements. The ratios of the 1+1′ REMPI to LIF signals are used to derive enhancement factors which reflect the VUV absorption to the OH A3Π, 3d, v = 0 Rydberg state and/or the fast autoionisation process that yields OH+ ions. The determination of the enhancement factors permits 1+1′ REMPI to be utilised as a quantitative state-specific probe of OH X2Π radicals.

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.

Temperature‐Dependence of the Rates of Reaction of Trifluoroacetic Acid with Criegee Intermediates

Abstract The rate coefficients for gas‐phase reaction of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with two Criegee intermediates, formaldehyde oxide and acetone oxide, decrease with increasing temperature in the range 240–340 K. The rate coefficients k(CH2OO + CF3COOH)=(3.4±0.3)×10−10 cm3 s−1 and k((CH3)2COO + CF3COOH)=(6.1±0.2)×10−10 cm3 s−1 at 294 K exceed estimates for collision‐limited values, suggesting rate enhancement by capture mechanisms because of the large permanent dipole moments of the two reactants. The observed temperature dependence is attributed to competitive stabilization of a pre‐reactive complex. Fits to a model incorporating this complex formation give k [cm3 s−1]=(3.8±2.6)×10−18 T2 exp((1620±180)/T) + 2.5×10−10 and k [cm3 s−1]=(4.9±4.1)×10−18 T2 exp((1620±230)/T) + 5.2×10−10 for the CH2OO + CF3COOH and (CH3)2COO + CF3COOH reactions, respectively. The consequences are explored for removal of TFA from the atmosphere by reaction with biogenic Criegee intermediates.

Double-resonance spectroscopy of the jet-cooled free base and Cu(II) complex of protoporphyrin IX

The excited-state dynamics of porphyrins, and related compounds, impact on their applications as photosensitizers for tumor-targeting drugs and solar cells. Many researchers have examined the influence of non-planar distortions in the ground-state geometry on the properties of photoexcited states. We have identified the added importance of conformational changes in the excited state, relative to the initial geometry, on the resulting decay pathways. The ground-state structure and photodynamics of free-base and Cu(ii) complexes of protoporphyrin IX, laser desorbed into a cold supersonic expansion, have been investigated using infrared ion-dip spectroscopy combined with density-functional theory calculations. The vibrational bands associated with the N-H stretching mode of the free base are broader in the first electronically excited state, accessed via the Q band of protoporphyrin IX, than the corresponding bands in the ground-electronic state. This is attributed to rapid intersystem crossing in the excited state promoted by extension of the N-H bonds. Our calculations show that the stretching modes are highly anharmonic, which suggests the likelihood that other conformational changes are also taking place in the excited state.

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.