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J C Guillemin

Publications and source records attributed to J C Guillemin.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Structural and conformational properties of 2-propynylphosphine (propargylphosphine) as studied by microwave spectroscopy supplemented by quantum chemical calculations.

The microwave spectrum of 2-propynylphosphine (propargylphosphine), H-C triple bond C-CH2-PH2, has been investigated in the 18-26.5 and 32-48 GHz spectral regions at about -50 degrees C. Two conformers with different orientation of the phosphino group, denoted conformer I and conformer II, respectively, were assigned. Conformer I has a symmetry plane (Cs symmetry) with both hydrogen atoms of the phosphino group pointing toward the triple bond (C-C-P-H dihedral angles approximately 47 degrees from syn-periplanar (0 degrees )). The C-C-P-H dihedral angles are 73 and 167 degrees, respectively, from syn-periplanar in conformer II. Only one of the hydrogen atoms of the phosphino group points toward the triple bond in this rotamer. Conformer I is 1.5(20) kJ/mol more stable than II. The dipole moment of II was determined to be (in units of 10(-30) C m) mu(a) = 0 (assumed), mu(b) = 3.05(7), mu(c) = 1.60(9), and mu(tot) = 3.44(9) [mu(tot) = 1.03(3) D]. Two vibrationally excited states were assigned for each of the two rotamers I and II. Their frequencies were determined by relative intensity measurements. Many of the transitions of conformer II were split into two components presumably because of tunneling of the phosphino group. The tunneling frequency was determined to be 0.814(42) MHz for the ground vibrational state and 11.49(18) MHz for the first excited state of the C-P torsional vibration. Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory using the 6-311++G(3df,2pd) basis set reproduced experimental rotational constants, quartic centrifugal distortion constants, and dipole moment components within a few percent. The energy difference between the two conformers was calculated using the Gaussian-2 theory, and conformer I was found to be more stable than conformer II by 2.1 kJ/mol.

Journal Article↗

Acidity trends in alpha,beta-unsaturated alkanes, silanes, germanes, and stannanes.

The gas-phase acidity of ethyl-, vinyl-, ethynyl-, and phenyl-substituted silanes, germanes, and stannanes has been measured by means of FT-ICR techniques. The effect of unsaturation on the intrinsic acidity of these compounds and the corresponding hydrocarbons was analyzed through the use of G2 ab initio and DFT calculations. In this way, it was possible to get a general picture of the acidity trends within group 14. As expected, the acid strength increases down the group, although the acidity differences between germanium and tin derivatives are already rather small. As has been found before for amines, phosphines, and arsines, the carbon, silicon, germanium, and tin alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds are stronger acids( )than their saturated analogues. The acidifying effect of unsaturation is much larger for carbon than for Si-, Ge-, and Sn-containing compounds. The allyl anion is better stabilized by resonance than its Si, Ge, and Sn analogues, [CH(2)(-)(delta)--CH(+)(delta)(') --CH(2)(-)(delta)](-) vs [CH(2)(-)(delta)()II = CH(-)(delta)()III - XH(2)(-)(delta)()IV](-) (X = Si, Ge, Sn). The enhanced acid strength of unsaturated compounds is essentially due to a greater stabilization of the anion with respect to the neutral, because the electronegativity of the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbon group increases with its degree of unsaturation. The phenyl derivatives are systematically weaker acids than the corresponding ethynyl derivatives by 15-20 kJ mol(-)(1). Experimentally, toluene acidity is very close to that of propyne, because the deprotonation of propyne takes place preferentially at the =CH group rather than at the -CH(3) group.

Journal Article↗

Partial pressures and nature of products. Application to the photolysis of PH3 and NH3 in the atmosphere of Jupiter and Saturn.

The photolysis of mixtures of gases containing NH3 or PH3 presents important differences mainly due to the strength of the X-H bond. On some examples, these differences are evidenced and the consequences for mixtures of gases containing these two compounds are shown: the photolysis of ammonia and ethylene mainly gives ethyl-, butyl- and hexylamine whereas the photolysis of phosphine and ethylene leads to ethyl- and vinylphosphine. When gaseous mixtures of NH3, PH3 and ethylene are photolyzed together, the presence of phosphine dramatically decreases the formation of nitrogen derivatives. The relevance of such lab studies to the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is discussed.

Amines↗

Regioselectivity of the photochemical addition of phosphine to unsaturated hydrocarbons in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn.

Phosphine (PH3) has been observed in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. We have studied the regioselectivity in the gaseous phase of the photochemical addition of PH3 to propene 1, propadiene 2, propyne 3, 1,3-butadiene 4 and 1,3-butadiyne 5. The photolysis were performed at 185 and 254 nm. The volatile products formed in these reactions were characterized by 1H and 31P NMR. The n-propylphosphine 6 and the isopropylphosphine 7 were the major products observed in the photolysis of PH3 with propene. The allylphosphine 8 was obtained when most of the light was absorbed by propene. This allylphosphine was the main product formed in the photolysis of PH3 in the presence of propadiene; the methylvinylphosphine 10 being not detected in these experiments, the reaction presents a very high regioselectivity. When most of the light was absorbed by propadiene, the propargylphosphine 9 was also observed. The photolysis of PH3 in the presence of propyne led to the E- and Z-1-propenylphosphines 12a,b and small amounts of methylvinylphosphine 10. Even when most of the light was absorbed by propyne, the propargylphosphine 9 was not observed. The Z-1-butene-3-ynylphosphine 13a and a mixture of primary phosphines containing the E-and Z-2-butenylphosphines 14a,b were obtained as major products when 1,3-butadiyne and 1,3-butadiene respectively where photolyzed with PH3. A high regioselectivity was thus observed in the photolysis of PH3 with an alkyne or an allene but alkenes led to mixtures of products.

Atmosphere↗

Photolysis of phosphine in the presence of acetylene and propyne, gas mixtures of planetary interest.

Phosphine (PH3) 1 has been observed in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. We have studied the photochemical reactions of this compound with acetylene (C2H2), an alkyne also detected in these atmospheres. The volatile products formed in these reactions were characterized by H, 31P and 13C NMR. The ethenylphosphine 2 is the first product formed in the photolysis of PH3 in the presence Of C2H2. Photolysis of PH3 in the presence of propyne (C3H4) led to the formation of the Z- and E-prop-1-enylphosphines and traces of 1-methylethenylphosphine. A reaction pathway is proposed. The initial step is the dissociation of PH3 to hydrogen and PH2 radicals. Addition of the phosphinyl radical on alkyne occurs as the next step. Vinylphosphines are then formed by radical combination. This proposed reaction pathway takes into account the nature of the products and studies devoted to the photolysis of germane (GeH4) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the presence of alkyne. Attempts to detect the methylidynephosphine HC triple bond P (the isoelectronic compound of HC triple bond N), in the photolysis products of PH3-C2H2 mixtures were unsuccessful. The application of these findings to Jovian and Saturn atmospheric chemistry is discussed.

Acetylene↗

Organic chemistry in Titan's atmosphere: new data from laboratory simulations at low temperature.

Many experiments have already been carried out to simulate organic chemistry on Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn. They can provide fruitful information on the nature of minor organic constituents likely to be present in Titan's atmosphere, both in gas and aerosol phases. Indeed, all the organic compounds but one already detected in Titan's atmosphere have been identified in simulation experiments. The exception, C4N2, as well as other compounds expected in Titan from theoretical modeling, such as other N-organics, and polyynes, first of all C6H2, have never been detected in experimental simulation thus far. All these compounds are thermally unstable, and the temperature conditions used during the simulation experiments were not appropriate. We have recently started a new program of simulation experiments with temperature conditions close to that of Titan's environment. It also uses dedicated analytical techniques and procedures compatible with the analysis of organics only stable at low temperatures, as well solid products of low stability in the presence of O2 and H2O. Spark discharge of N2-CH4 gas mixtures was carried out at low temperature in the range 100-150 K. Products were analysed by FTIR, GC and GC-MS techniques. GC-peaks were identified by their mass spectrum, and, in most cases, by comparison of the retention time and mass spectrum with standard ones. We report here the first detection in Titan simulation experiments of C6H2 and HC5N. Their abundance is a few percent relative to C4H2 and HC3N, respectively. Preliminary data on the solid products indicate an elemental composition corresponding to (H11C11N)n. These results open new prospects in the modeling of Titan's haze making.

Acetylene↗

The photolysis of NH3 in the presence of substituted acetylenes: a possible source of oligomers and HCN on Jupiter.

Photolysis of NH3 in the presence of propyne yields dimethylketazine (4) as the main product along with dimethylketimine, isopropylamine, and propioazine (7). Dimethylketazine and isopropylamine are the principal reaction products when the photolysis is performed at 198 K. The conversion to dimethylketazine is about 35 times greater at 198 K because it is not volatile and condenses on the wall of the photolysis cell out of the UV flux. Photolysis of dimethylketazine at 185 nm yields acetonitrile and small amounts of N-methyldimethylketimine (8). Photolysis of 8 gives acetonitrile. Photolysis of NH3 in the presence of 2-butyne gives the cis and trans isomers of 2-butene as the principal products along with the corresponding azine (9). Photolysis of azine 9 yields acetonitrile and propionitrile. Photolysis of hydrazine in the presence of propyne yields acetonitrile and isopropylamine but no azines were detected as reaction products. Quantum yields and percentage conversion to products are reported. These studies show that acetylenic hydrocarbons formed by the photolysis of methane in the stratosphere of Jupiter may react with radicals formed by NH3 photolysis to give nonvolatile yellow-brown polymers, dialkylazines, alkylnitriles, and eventually HCN. This scenario accounts for the observation of both HCN and chromophores on Jupiter.

Acetonitriles↗

Photochemical cycloaddition reactions of cyanoacetylene and dicyanoacetylene.

Photolysis of cyanoacetylene with 185- or 206-nm light yields 1,3,5-tricyanobenzene while 254-nm radiation yields a mixture of tetracyanocyclooctatetraenes, 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-tricyanobenzene. A polymer of cyanoacetylene is the major photoproduct. 1,3,5-Tricarbomethoxybenzene was the only photoproduct identified from the irradiation of methyl propiolate at 254 nm. Mono-, di-, and tricyanobenzenes are formed by irradiation of mixtures of acetylene and cyanoacetylene at 185, 206, and 254 nm along with trace amounts of cyclooctatetraenes. No photoadducts were detected on photolysis of mixtures of cyanoacetylene and CO or HCN. The tetracyanocyclooctatetraene structures were established by UV, MS, and NMR analyses. The 1H NMR of the product mixture exhibited a singlet at delta 7.028 consistent with either 1 or 2 and two singlets at delta 6.85 and 6.91 assigned to 3. Photolysis of mixtures of dicyanoacetylene and acetylene with either 185- or 206-nm light yielded 1,2-dicyanobenzene and (E,Z)-1-buten-3-yne-1,4-dicarbonitrile. These products were also obtained using 254-nm light along with a mixture of tetracyanocyclooctatetraenes. The same three singlets were observed in this product mixture as were observed in the tetracyanocyclooctatetraenes obtained from cyanoacetylene. From this observation it was concluded that the delta 7.02 signal is due to 2 and not 1. The photolysis of cyanoacetylene and dicyanoacetylene in the presence of ethylene with 185-nm light yields 1-cyanocylobutene and 1,2-dicyanocyclobutene, respectively. 2-Cyanobutadiene and 2,3-dicyanobutadiene are the photoproducts with 254-nm light. Reaction pathways are proposed to explain these findings.

Acetonitriles↗

Experimental simulation of Titan's organic chemistry at low temperature.

A wide range of experiments has already been carried out to simulate the chemical evolution of Titan. Such experiments can provide useful information on the possible nature of minor constituents, mostly organic, likely to be present in Titan's atmosphere. Indeed, all but one of the organic compounds already detected in Titan's atmosphere have been identified in simulation experiments. The exception, C4N2, as well as other compounds expected in Titan from theoretical modeling, such as other N-organics, mainly CH2N2, and polyynes, namely C6H2, have never been detected in experimental simulation. It turned out that these compounds were thermally unstable, and the temperature conditions used during the simulation experiments (including conditions used for chemical analysis) were not appropriate. We have recently started a new program of simulation experiments using temperature conditions close to those of Titan's environment, more compatible with the build-up and detection of organics only stable at low temperature. Spark discharge of N2-CH4 gas mixtures was carried out at low temperature in the range of 100-150 K. The analysis of the obtained products was performed through FTIR, GC and GC-MS techniques. GC-peak identification was done owing to its mass spectrum and, in most cases, by comparison of the retention time and of the mass spectrum with standards. We report here the first detection in Titan's simulation experiments of C6H2. Its abundance is a few 10(-2) relative to C4H2. We also report a tentative identification of HC5N (to be confirmed by use of standard) with an abundance of a few 10(-2) relative to HC3N. The possible presence of HC5N suggested by our work provides the occurrence of very novel pathways in the formation of Titan's organic aerosols, involving not only C and H but also N atoms.

Acetylene↗

Absolute absorption coefficient of C6H2 in the mid-UV range at low temperature; implications for the interpretation of Titan atmospheric spectra.

The interpretation of mid-UV albedo spectra of planetary atmospheres, especially that of Titan, is the main goal of the SIPAT (Spectroscopie uv d'Interet Prebiologique dans l'Atmosphere de Titan) research program. This laboratory experiment has been developed in order to systematically determine the absorption coefficients of molecular compounds which are potential absorbers of scattered sunlight in planetary atmospheres, with high spectral resolution, and at various temperatures below room temperature. From photochemical modelling and experimental simulations, we may expect triacetylene (C6H2) to be present in the atmosphere of Titan, even though it has not yet been detected. We present here the first determination of the absolute absorption coefficient of that compound in the 200-300 nm range and at two temperatures (296 K and 233 K). The temperature dependence of the C6H2 absorption coefficient in that wavelength range is compared to that previously observed in the case of cyanoacetylene (HC3N). We then discuss the implications of the present results for the interpretation of Titan UV spectra, where it appears that large uncertainities can be introduced either by the presence of trace impurities in laboratory samples or by the variations of absorption coefficients with temperature.

Acetylene↗

Germane photochemistry. Photolysis of gas mixtures of planetary interest.

Photolysis of germane (GeH4) in the presence of acetylene (C2H2), propyne (C3H4) or phosphine (PH3) with a 185 nm mercury lamp has been studied. The volatile products formed in these reactions are characterized by 1H, 31P and 13C NMR. Vinylgermanes are the first reaction products formed in the photolysis of GeH4 with alkynes. A reaction pathway is proposed. The initial step is the dissociation of germane 1 to hydrogen and GeH3 radicals. Addition of the germyl radical on alkyne is proposed as the next step. Vinyl-germanes are then formed by radical combination. Photolysis of ethenylgermane 2 gives diethenylgermane 3 in the presence of acetylene and digermaethane 4 in the presence of GeH4. The application of these findings to Jovian and Saturn atmospheric chemistry is discussed.

Acetylene↗