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Targeted Studies Using Serial Block Face and Focused Ion Beam Scan Electron Microscopy
Published on: August 10, 2019
Crossed-beam studies of electron transfer to oriented trichloronitromethane, CCl(3)NO(2), molecules
Peter W Harland1, Philip R Brooks
1Department of Chemistry and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA.
Fast potassium atoms react with trichloronitromethane (CCl(3)NO(2)) to form various ions. Electron affinities and bond strengths were determined, revealing weaker C-N and N-O bonds compared to nitromethane.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Physics
- Molecular Collisions
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Understanding electron transfer reactions is crucial in chemical dynamics.
- Trichloronitromethane (CCl(3)NO(2)) is a molecule with potentially reactive bonds.
- Potassium atom collisions provide a controlled method to study molecular anions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electron transfer process between potassium atoms and CCl(3)NO(2).
- To determine the threshold energies for ion formation and estimate electron affinities of negative ions.
- To elucidate the fragmentation pathways of CCl(3)NO(2) anions.
Main Methods:
- Collision of fast potassium atoms with oriented CCl(3)NO(2) molecules.
- Measurement of threshold energies for various negative ions (O(-), Cl(-), NO(2)(-), CCl(3)(-), CCl(2)NO(2)(-), CCl(3)NO(-), CCl(3)NO(2)(-)).
- Estimation of electron affinities for specific fragment anions.
Main Results:
- Formation of multiple negative ions including parent anion CCl(3)NO(2)(-).
- Electron affinities for CCl(2)NO(2)(-), CCl(3)NO(-), and CCl(3)NO(2)(-) estimated at 2.35, 2.35, and 1.89 eV, respectively.
- Threshold energies indicate weaker C-N and N-O bonds in CCl(3)NO(2) compared to nitromethane.
Conclusions:
- Electron transfer to the pi(*)(NO) orbital is a primary pathway at lower energies.
- The parent negative ion CCl(3)NO(2)(-) is stabilized by K(+) interaction.
- Fragmentation pathways are influenced by collision energy and molecular orientation, providing insights into bond dissociation.
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