Strong-field laser induced H$_{\mathrm{2}}$ roaming reactions and the formation of H$_{\mathrm{3}}^{\mathrm{+}}$ from organic molecules

ORAL

Abstract

Roaming chemical reactions are a novel chapter in our understanding of certain exotic reactions relevant to molecular physics, photochemistry, and combustion chemistry. A recent finding indicating the involvement of H$_{\mathrm{2}}$ roaming for the formation of H$_{\mathrm{3}}^{\mathrm{+}}$ under strong-field photodissociation [Ekanayake, N. \textit{et al}. \textit{Sci. Rep.} \textbf{7}, 4703 (2017)] inspired a series of experiments aimed at elucidating aspects of its mechanisms of formation. In the present study, site-specific details and femtosecond time-resolved dynamics of H$_{\mathrm{3}}^{\mathrm{+}}$ formation were obtained through a combination of strong-field laser excitation studies and \textit{ab initio} calculations on a series of alcohols. Our findings confirm the mechanisms of this intriguing chemical process involving the cleavage and formation of three chemical bonds and reveal that H$_{\mathrm{3}}^{\mathrm{+}}$ yields decrease as the alkane chain length increases. This new understanding will aid in the prediction of expected yields and formation times of H$_{\mathrm{3}}^{\mathrm{+}}$ from different organic molecules.

*Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under grants DOE SISGR (DE-SC0002325) and DE-FG02-86ER13491.

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Authors

  • N. Ekanayake

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • M. Nairat

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • T. Severt

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • P. Feizollah

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • B. Jochim

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • B. Kaderiya

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • F. Ziaee

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • K. Borne

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • Kanaka Raju P.

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • K. D. Carnes

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • D. Rolles

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • A. Rudenko

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • I. Ben-Itzhak

    • J. R. Macdonald Laboratory, Kansas State University, USA

  • N. P. Weingartz

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • B. M. Farris

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • J. E. Jackson

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • B. G. Levine

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA

  • M. Dantus

    • Chemistry Department, Michigan State University, USA