title: Temperature dependence of ultra-exothermic charge recombinations.
abstract: We measured the temperature dependence (from +32 to -50 degrees C) of charge-recombination rates between contact radical ion pairs in isopropyl ether. In the systems selected for this study, aromatic hydrocarbon cations are the electron acceptors and the fumaronitrile anion is the electron donor. Nearly quantitative electron transfers occur at all temperatures. The charge recombinations have excess exothermicities of -60 kcal mol(-1) and exhibit a very weak temperature dependence. Our observations emphasize the absence of solvent effects and the relevance of nuclear tunneling in charge recombinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-535 Coimbra, Portugal. serpasoa@ci.uc.pt
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serpa
authors.forename: Paulo J S
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Arnaut
authors.forename: J Seixas
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Sebastião J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Formosinho