Translationally cold trapped CCl+ reactions with acetylene (C2H2)

Abstract

Ion-neutral chemical reactions are important in several areas of chemistry, including in some regions of the interstellar medium, planetary atmospheres, and comets. Reactions of CCl + with C 2 H 2 are measured and the main products include c-C 3 H 2 + and l -C 3 H + , both relevant in extraterrestrial environments. Accurate branching ratios are obtained, which favor formation of c-C 3 H 2 + over l -C 3 H + by a factor of four.Measured rate constants are on the order of Langevin and complementary electronic structure calculations are used to aid in the interpretation of experimental results.