Low-energy electron attachment by chloroalkanes

Thermal electron attachment rate constants for 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1- and 2-chloropropanes, and 1,1-, 1,2-, 2,2-, and 1,3-dichloropropanes have been measured using an electron swarm method. It has been found that all the investigated compounds attach electrons only in a two-body process. Corresponding rate constants are equal to 1.4 x 10(-10), 3.2 x 10(-8), 2.7 x 10(-13), 3.8 x 10(-12), 5.7 x 10(-11), 8.1 x 10(-12), 6.3 x 10(-12), and 1.2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. The dependence of the electron capture rate constants on the electronic polarizability of the accepting center of the molecule and the vertical attachment energy has been demonstrated.