title: Mechanistic studies on the formation of trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride, SF5CF3--a greenhouse gas.
abstract: The formation of SF5CF3(X1A'), through the radical-radical recombination of SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1), was observed for the first time in low-temperature sulfur hexafluoride-carbon tetrafluoride matrices at 12 K via infrared spectroscopy upon irradiation of the ices with energetic electrons. The nu1 fundamentals of the SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1) radicals were monitored at 857 and 1110 cm-1, respectively; the newly formed trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride molecule, SF5CF3(X1A'), was detected via its absorptions at 846 and 1160 cm-1. This formation mechanism suggests that a source for this potentially dangerous greenhouse gas might be the recombination of SF5(X2A1) and CF3(X2A1) radicals on aerosol particles in the terrestrial atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.forename: Corey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Ralf I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000737:chemistry; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005609:Free Radicals; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C516032:SF5CF3; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon