Experimental and theoretical investigation of rate coefficients of the reaction S(3P)+OCS in the temperature range of 298-985 K.

The reaction S(3P)+OCS in Ar was investigated over the pressure range of 50-710 Torr and the temperature range of 298-985 K with the laser photolysis technique. S atoms were generated by photolysis of OCS with light at 248 nm from a KrF excimer laser; their concentration was monitored via resonance fluorescence excited by atomic emission of S produced from microwave-discharged SO2. At pressures less than 250 Torr, our measurements give k(298 K)=(2.7+/-0.5)x10(-15) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, in satisfactory agreement with a previous report by Klemm and Davis [J. Phys. Chem. 78, 1137 (1974)]. New data determined for 407-985 K connect rate coefficients reported previously for T>or=860 and T<or=478 K and show a non-Arrhenius behavior. Combining our results with data reported at high temperatures, we derived an expression k(T)=(6.1+/-0.3)x10(-18) T1.97+/-0.24 exp[-(1560+/-170)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for 298<or=TK<or=1680. At 298 K and P>or=500 Torr, the reaction rate was enhanced. Theoretical calculations at the G2M(CC2) level, using geometries optimized with the B3LYP6-311+G(3df) method, yield energies of transition states and products relative to those of the reactants. Rate coefficients predicted with multichannel Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations agree satisfactorily with experimental observations. According to our calculations, the singlet channel involving formation of SSCO followed by direct dissociation into S2(a 1Deltag)+CO dominates below 2000 K; SSCO is formed via intersystem crossing from the triplet surface. At low temperature and under high pressure the stabilization of OCS2, formed via isomerization of SSCO, becomes important; its formation and further reaction with S atoms partially account for the observed increase in the rate coefficient under such conditions.