The rate of the F + H2 reaction at very low temperatures.

The prototypical F + H2 â†’ HF + H reaction possesses a substantial energetic barrier (~800 K) and might therefore be expected to slow to a negligible rate at low temperatures. It is, however, the only source of interstellar HF, which has been detected in a wide range of cold (10-100 K) environments. In fact, the reaction does take place efficiently at low temperatures due to quantum-mechanical tunnelling. Rate constant measurements at such temperatures have essentially been limited to fast barrierless reactions, such as those between two radicals. Using uniform supersonic hydrogen flows we can now report direct experimental measurements of the rate of this reaction down to a temperature of 11 K, in remarkable agreement with state-of-the-art quantum reactive scattering calculations. The results will allow a stronger link to be made between observations of interstellar HF and the abundance of the most common interstellar molecule, H2, and hence a more accurate estimation of the total mass of astronomical objects.

Low temperature kinetics, crossed beam dynamics and theoretical studies of the reaction S((1)D) + CH4 and low temperature kinetics of S((1)D) + C2H2.

The reaction between sulfur atoms in the first electronically excited state, S((1)D), and methane (CH(4)), has been investigated in a complementary fashion in (a) crossed-beam dynamics experiments with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight (TOF) analysis at two collision energies (30.4 and 33.6 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 CH(4)S singlet potential energy surface. The rate coefficients for total loss of S((1)D) are found to be very large (ca. 2 × 10(-10) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1)) down to very low temperatures indicating that the overall reaction is barrier-less. Similar measurements are also performed for S((1)D) + C(2)H(2), and also for this system the rate coefficients are found to be very large (ca. 3 × 10(-10) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1)) down to very low temperatures. From laboratory angular and TOF distributions at different product masses for the reaction S((1)D) + CH(4), it is found that the only open reaction channel at the investigated collision energies is that leading to SH + CH(3). The product angular, T(θ), and translational energy, P(E'(T)), distributions in the center-of-mass frame are derived. The reaction dynamics are discussed in terms of two different micromechanisms: a dominant long-lived complex mechanism at small and intermediate impact parameters with a strongly polarized T(θ), and a direct pickup-type (stripping) mechanism occurring at large impact parameters with a strongly forward peaked T(θ). Interpretation of the experimental results on the S((1)D) + CH(4) reaction kinetics and dynamics is assisted by high-level theoretical calculations on the CH(4)S singlet potential energy surface. The dynamics of the SH + CH(3) forming channel are compared with those of the corresponding channel (leading to OH + CH(3)) in the related O((1)D) + CH(4) reaction, previously investigated in crossed-beams in other laboratories at comparable collision energies. The possible astrophysical relevance of S((1)D) reactions with hydrocarbons, especially in the chemistry of cometary comae, is discussed.

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.

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.

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.

Observation of organosulfur products (thiovinoxy, thioketene and thioformyl) in crossed-beam experiments and low temperature rate coefficients for the reaction S(1D) + C2H4.

The reaction between excited sulfur atoms, S((1)D), and the simplest alkene molecule, ethene, has been investigated in a complementary fashion in (a) crossed-beam dynamic experiments with mass spectrometric detection and time-of-flight (TOF) analysis at a collision energy of 37.0 kJ mol(-1), (b) low temperature kinetic experiments ranging from room temperature down to 23 K, and (c) electronic structure calculations of stationary points and product energetics on the C(2)H(4)S singlet potential energy surface. 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 temperature indicating that the overall reaction is barrier-less. 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. Branching ratios have also been estimated. These studies, which exploit the capability of producing intense supersonic beams of sulfur S((3)P,(1)D) atoms and measuring rate coefficients down to very low temperature, offer considerable promise for further dynamical investigations of other sulfur atom reactions of particular relevance to combustion and atmospheric chemistry.