The role of isovalency in the reactions of the cyano (CN), boron monoxide (BO), silicon nitride (SiN), and ethynyl (C2H) radicals with unsaturated hydrocarbons acetylene (C2H2) and ethylene (C2H4)

Abstract

The classification of chemical reactions based on shared characteristics is at the heart of the chemical sciences, and is well exemplified by Langmuir's concept of isovalency, in which ‘two molecular entities with the same number of valence electrons have similar chemistries’. Within this account we further investigate the ramifications of the isovalency of four radicals with the same X²Σ⁺ electronic structure – cyano (CN), boron monoxide (BO), silicon nitride (SiN), and ethynyl (C₂H), and their reactions with simple prototype hydrocarbons acetylene (C₂H₂) and ethylene (C₂H₄). The fact that these four reactants own the same X²Σ⁺ electronic ground state should dictate the outcome of their reactions with prototypical hydrocarbons holding a carbon–carbon triple and double bond. However, we find that other factors come into play, namely, atomic radii, bonding orbital overlaps, and preferential location of the radical site. These doublet radical reactions with simple hydrocarbons play significant roles in extreme environments such as the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres (CN, SiN and C₂H), and combustion flames (C₂H, BO).