The Study of Radicals Using a Pulsed Beam Fourier Transform Microwave Spectrometer

在化学系物理化学项目中，卫斯理大学化学系的斯图尔特·诺维克教授将使用卫斯理大学建造的一台新仪器，利用脉冲喷射法布里-珀罗傅里叶变换微波光谱分析方法，对瞬时自由基的结构进行一系列研究。在将要研究的物种中，既有化学方面的，也有天文化学方面的。一些含有自由基的范德华络合物也将被研究。自由基可定义为气相中的反应性瞬时分子物种。更传统的定义是具有一个或多个未配对电子的分子或分子片段。这些物种活性很强，难以捉摸，很难生产，通常也很难研究。然而，这些自由基是极其重要的，无论是作为化学反应的中间体，还是作为一个物种本身。射电天文学发现的许多星际分子实际上都是自由基。在实验室条件下可以产生的其他自由基在有机化学反应中起中间体的作用，例如，在商业沉积金属薄膜中起中间体的作用。本项目的研究将提供有关一组重要自由基的结构和基态电子性质的信息，从而为它们在化学过程中的可能用途提供更好的理解。

In this project in the Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Stewart Novick of the Chemistry Department of Wesleyan University will conduct a series of investigations on the structures of transient free radicals by means of pulsed-jet Fabry-Perot Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy using a new instrument constructed at Wesleyan University. Among the species to be studied are those of chemical as well as astro-chemical interest. Some radical-containing van der Waals complexes will also be investigated. A free radical may defined as a reactive transient molecular species in the gas phase. A more conventional definition is that of a molecule, or molecular fragment, with one or more unpaired electrons. These species are highly reactive, elusive, hard to produce, and usually difficult to study. However, these radicals are extremely important, both as intermediates in chemical reactions and as a species in their own right. Many of the interstellar molecules that have been discovered by radio astronomy are, in fact, radicals. Other radicals which can be produced under laboratory conditions play a role as intermediates in organic chemical reactions or, for example, as intermediates in commercial deposition of thin metallic films. The research conducted in this project will provide information on the structure and ground state electronic properties of an important group of radicals and thus provide better understanding for their possible use in chemical processes.