Sébastien D. Le Picard

Kinetics and Dynamics of the S(1D2) + H2 → SH + H Reaction at Very Low Temperatures and Collision Energies

We report combined studies on the prototypical S(1D2) + H2 insertion reaction. Kinetics and crossed-beam experiments are performed in experimental conditions approaching the cold energy regime, yielding absolute rate coefficients down to 5.8 K and relative integral cross sections to collision energies as low as 0.68 meV. They are supported by quantum calculations on a potential energy surface treating long-range interactions accurately. All results are consistent and the excitation function behavior is explained in terms of the cumulative contribution of various partial waves.

The thermodynamics of the elusive HO3 radical.

The Weakness of HO3 OH radicals play a critical role in the chemistry of Earths atmosphere. Understanding atmospheric reaction networks thus requires an accurate knowledge of OH sources and sinks. One vexing question has been whether or not a significant pool of OH binds temporarily with oxygen to form HO3. Le Picard et al. (p. 1258) have succeeded in measuring the equilibrium constant for this reaction using sensitive fluorescent tracking of OH in a laboratory apparatus. This measurement was then used to quantify the strength of the O2–OH bond, which was found to be too weak for the complexation to play a major role in the atmosphere. Molecular kinetics shows that hydrogen superoxide is too unstable to play a major role in atmospheric chemistry. The role of HO3 as a temporary reservoir of atmospheric OH radicals remains an open question largely because of the considerable uncertainty in the value of the dissociation energy of the HO−O2 bond (D0) or, equivalently, the standard enthalpy of formation of HO3 (ΔfH° ). Using a supersonic flow apparatus, we have observed by means of laser-induced fluorescence the decay of OH radicals in the presence of O2 at temperatures between 55.7 and 110.8 kelvin (K). Between 87.4 and 99.8 K, the OH concentration approached a nonzero value at long times, allowing equilibrium constants for the reaction with O2 to be calculated. Using expressions for the equilibrium constant from classical and statistical thermodynamics, and values of partition functions and standard entropies calculated from spectroscopic data, we derived values of D0 = (12.3 ± 0.3) kilojoules per mole and ΔfH° (298 K) = (19.3 ± 0.5) kilojoules per mole. The atmospheric implications of HO3 formation are therefore very slight.

CRITICAL REVIEW OF N, N+, N-2(+), N++, And N-2(++) MAIN PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND REACTIONS OF RELEVANCE TO TITAN'S ATMOSPHERE

This paper is a detailed critical review of the production processes and reactions of N, N+, N+ 2, N++, and N++ 2 of relevance to Titans atmosphere. The review includes neutral, ion-molecule, and recombination reactions. The review covers all possible active nitrogen species under Titans atmospheric conditions, specifically N2 (A3Σ+ u), N (4 S), N (2 D), N (2 P), N+ 2, N+ (3 P), N+ (1 D), N++ 2, and N++ species, and includes a critical survey of the reactions of N, N+, N+ 2, N++, and N++ 2 with N2, H2, D2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, C3H8 and the deuterated hydrocarbon analogs, as well as the recombination reactions of N+ 2, N+, N++ 2, and N++. Production processes, lifetimes, and quenching by collisions with N2 of all reactant species are reviewed. The N (4 S) state is reactive with radicals and its reactions with CH2, CH3, C2H3, and C2H5 are reviewed. Metastable states N2(A3Σ+u), N (2 D), and N (2 P) are either reactive or quenched by collisions with the target molecules reviewed. The reactions of N+ (1 D) have similar rate constants as N+ (3 P), but the product branching ratios differ significantly. Temperature effects and the role of the kinetic energy content of reactants are investigated. In all cases, experimental uncertainties of laboratory data are reported or estimated. Recommended values with uncertainties, or estimated values when no data are available, are given for rate constants and product branching ratios at 300 K and at the atmospheric temperature range of Titan (150-200 K for neutral reactions and 150 K for ion reactions).

Crossed-beam universal-detection reactive scattering of radical beams characterized by laser-induced-fluorescence: the case of C2 and CN

Continuous supersonic beams of dicarbon (C2) and cyano (CN) radicals have been generated by a high-pressure radio-frequency discharge beam source starting from dilute mixtures in rare gases of suitable precursor molecules. Their internal quantum state distributions have been characterized by laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) in a new crossed molecular beam-laser apparatus. These supersonic beams have been used to study the reactive scattering of C2 and CN radicals with unsaturated hydrocarbons. This paper reports here on the C2 and CN radical beam characterization by LIF and on dynamics studies of the reactions CN + C2H2 (acetylene) and CN + CH3CCH (methylacetylene) by the crossed molecular beam scattering technique with universal mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight analysis. The role of CN rovibrational excitation on the dynamics of the CN + C2H2 reaction is discussed with reference to previous dynamics and kinetics studies. These reactions are of interest in the chemistry of planetary atmospheres (Titan) and the interstellar medium as well as in combustion.

Rate Coefficients for the Reactions of C2(a3Πu) and C2(X1Σg+) with Various Hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, and C3H8): A Gas-Phase Experimental Study over the Temperature Range 24−300 K†

The kinetics of reactions of C2(a(3)Pi(u)) and C2(X(1)Sigma(g)(+)) with various hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, and C3H8) have been studied in a uniform supersonic flow expansion over the temperature range 24-300 K. Rate coefficients have been obtained by using the pulsed laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique, where both radicals were produced at the same time but detected separately. The reactivity of the triplet state was found to be significantly lower than that of the singlet ground state for all reactants over the whole temperature range of the study. Whereas C2(X(1)Sigma(g)(+)) reacts with a rate coefficient close to the gas kinetic limit with all hydrocarbons studied apart from CH4, C2(a(3)Pi(u)) appears to be more sensitive to the molecular and electronic structure of the reactant partners. The latter reacts at least one order of magnitude faster with unsaturated hydrocarbons than with alkanes, and the rate coefficients increase very significantly with the size of the alkane. Results are briefly discussed in terms of their potential astrophysical impact.

A CROSSED MOLECULAR BEAM, LOW-TEMPERATURE KINETICS, AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION OF THE CYANO RADICAL (CN) WITH 1,3-BUTADIENE (C4H6). A ROUTE TO COMPLEX NITROGEN-BEARING MOLECULES IN LOW-TEMPERATURE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS

We present a joint crossed molecular beam and kinetics investigation combined with electronic structure and statistical calculations on the reaction of the ground-state cyano radical, CN(X 2Σ+), with the 1,3-butadiene molecule, H2CCHCHCH2(X 1 A g), and its partially deuterated counterparts, H2CCDCDCH2(X 1 A g) and D2CCHCHCD2(X 1 A g). The crossed beam studies indicate that the reaction proceeds via a long-lived C5H6N complex, yielding C5H5N isomer(s) plus atomic hydrogen under single collision conditions as the nascent product(s). Experiments with the partially deuterated 1,3-butadienes indicate that the atomic hydrogen loss originates from one of the terminal carbon atoms of 1,3-butadiene. A combination of the experimental data with electronic structure calculations suggests that the thermodynamically less favorable 1-cyano-1,3-butadiene isomer represents the dominant reaction product; possible minor contributions of less than a few percent from the aromatic pyridine molecule might be feasible. Low-temperature kinetics studies demonstrate that the overall reaction is very fast from room temperature down to 23 K with rate coefficients close to the gas kinetic limit. This finding, combined with theoretical calculations, indicates that the reaction proceeds on an entrance barrier-less potential energy surface (PES). This combined experimental and theoretical approach represents an important step toward a systematic understanding of the formation of complex, nitrogen-bearing molecules--here on the C5H6N PES--in low-temperature extraterrestrial environments. These results are compared to the reaction dynamics of D1-ethynyl radicals (C2D; X 2Σ+) with 1,3-butadiene accessing the isoelectronic C6H7 surface as tackled earlier in our laboratories.

Crossed-beam dynamics, low-temperature kinetics, and theoretical studies of the reaction S(1D) + C2H4.

The reaction between sulfur atoms in the first electronically excited state, S((1)D), and ethene (C(2)H(4)) has been investigated in a complementary fashion in (a) crossed-beam dynamic experiments with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight (TOF) analysis at two collision energies (37.0 and 45.0 kJ mol(-1)), (b) low temperature kinetics experiments ranging from 298 K down to 23 K, and (c) electronic structure calculations of stationary points and product energetics on the C(2)H(4)S singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces. The rate coefficients for total loss of S((1)D) are found to be very large (ca. 4 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) down to very low temperatures indicating that the overall reaction is barrierless. From laboratory angular and TOF distributions at different product masses, three competing reaction channels leading to H + CH(2)CHS (thiovinoxy), H(2) + CH(2)CS (thioketene), and CH(3) + HCS (thioformyl) have been unambiguously identified and their dynamics characterized. Product branching ratios have also been estimated. Interpretation of the experimental results on the reaction kinetics and dynamics is assisted by high-level theoretical calculations on the C(2)H(4)S singlet potential energy surface. RRKM (Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus) estimates of the product branching ratios using the newly developed singlet potential energy surface have also been performed and compared with the experimental determinations.

Low temperature rate coefficients for reactions of the butadiynyl radical, C4H, with various hydrocarbons. Part II: reactions with alkenes (ethylene, propene, 1-butene), dienes (allene, 1,3-butadiene) and alkynes (acetylene, propyne and 1-butyne)

The kinetics of the reactions of the linear butadiynyl radical, C4H (CCCCH), with a variety of unsaturated hydrocarbons have been studied over the temperature range of 39-300 K using a CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme, or reaction kinetics in uniform supersonic flow) apparatus combined with the pulsed laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique. The rate coefficients for all the reactions studied are found to all be in excess of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over the entire temperature range. They can be fitted with the following expressions (valid from 39 K to 300 K, with RMS deviations of the experimental points from the predicted values shown, to which should be added 10% possible systematic error) for reaction of C4H with alkenes: k(C2H4) = (1.95 +/- 0.17) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-0.40) exp(9.4 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(C3H6) = (3.25 +/- 0.12) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-0.84) exp(-48.9 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(1-C4H8) = (6.30 +/- 0.35) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-0.61) exp(-65.0 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), for reaction of C4H with dienes: k(C3H4) = (3.70 +/- 0.34) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.18) exp(-91.1 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(1,3-C4H6) = (5.37 +/- 0.30) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.25) exp(-116.8 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), and for reaction of C4H with alkynes: k(C2H2) = (1.82 +/- 0.19) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.06) exp(-65.9 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(C3H4) = (3.20 +/- 0.08) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-0.82) exp(-47.5 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(1-C4H6) = (3.48 +/- 0.14) x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-0.65) exp(-58.4 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Possible reaction mechanisms and product channels are discussed in detail for each of these reactions. Potential implications of these results for models of low temperature chemical environments, in particular cold interstellar clouds and star-forming regions, are considered.

Low temperature rate coefficients for reactions of the butadiynyl radical, C4H, with various hydrocarbons. Part I: reactions with alkanes (CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C4H10)

The kinetics of the reactions of the linear butadiynyl radical, C4H (CCCCH), with methane, ethane, propane and butane have been studied over the temperature range of 39-300 K using a CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme or Reaction Kinetics in Uniform Supersonic Flow) apparatus combined with the pulsed laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique. The rate coefficients, except for the reaction with methane, show a negative temperature dependence and can be fitted with the following expressions over the temperature range of this study: k(C2H6) = 0.289 x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.23) exp(-24.8 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(C3H8) = 1.06 x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.36) exp(-56.9 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1); k(C4H10) = 2.93 x 10(-10) (T/298 K)(-1.30) exp(-90.1 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The rate coefficients for the reaction with methane were measured only at 200 K and 300 K yielding a positive temperature dependence: k(CH4) = 1.63 x 10(-11) exp(-610 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Possible reaction mechanisms and product channels are discussed in detail for each of these reactions. Potential implications of these results for models of low temperature chemical environments, in particular cold interstellar clouds and planetary atmospheres such as that of Titan, are considered.

Low temperature kinetics: the association of OH radicals with O2

We report the first measurements of rate constants for the reaction in which OH radicals associate with O(2) to form HO(3). Our recent measurements (Science, 2010, 328, 1258) have shown that the HO-O(2) bond dissociation energy is only (12.3 ± 0.3) kJ mol(-1). Consequently, above ca. 90 K under attainable experimental conditions, the rate of the reverse dissociation of HO(3) becomes comparable to, and then greater than, the rate of the forward association reaction. We have used the CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme) method to access low temperatures and have explored the kinetics of OH + O(2) + M → HO(3) + M in two series of experiments. At temperatures between 55.9 and 79.2 K, the OH radicals, created by pulsed laser photolysis of H(2)O(2) and observed by laser-induced fluorescence, decayed by pseudo-first-order kinetics to effectively zero concentration at longer times. The third-order rate constants derived from these experiments fit the expression: k(3rd)(o) (T) = (4.2 ± 1.9) × 10(-34) (T/298 K)(-(3.5 ± 0.3)) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1). At temperatures between 87.4 and 99.8 K, rate constants for the association reaction were determined allowing for the significant occurrence of the reverse dissociation reaction. The values of the derived rate constants are consistent with those obtained in the lower temperature range, though the errors are larger. The experimental values of k(3rd)(o) (T) are compared with (a) those for other association reactions involving species of similar complexity, and (b) values of k(3rd)(o) (T) estimated according to both the energy transfer (ET) and the radical-complex (RC) mechanisms. We conclude that the RC mechanism probably makes the major contribution to the association of OH + O(2) at the low temperatures of our experiments.