Experimental and theoretical studies of rate coefficients for the reaction O(3P)+CH3OH at high temperatures

Rate coefficients of the reaction O((3)P) + CH(3)OH in the temperature range of 835-1777 K were determined using a diaphragmless shock tube. O atoms were generated by photolysis of SO(2) with a KrF excimer laser at 248 nm or an ArF excimer laser at 193 nm; their concentrations were monitored via atomic resonance absorption excited by emission from a microwave-discharged mixture of O(2) and He. The rate coefficients determined for the temperature range can be represented by the Arrhenius equation, k(T) = (2.29 +/- 0.18) x 10(-10) exp[-(4210 +/- 100)T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1); unless otherwise noted, all the listed errors represent one standard deviation in fitting. Combination of these and previous data at lower temperature shows a non-Arrhenius behavior described as the three-parameter equation, k(T) = (2.74 +/- 0.07) x 10(-18)T(2.25 +/- 0.13) exp[-(1500 +/- 90)T] cm(3)molecule(-1) s(-1). Theoretical calculations at the Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP)6-311 + G(3df,2p) level locate three transition states. Based on the energies computed with coupled clusters singles, doubles (triples) [CCSD(T)]/6-311 + G(3df,2p)B3LYP6-311 + G(3df,2p), the rate coefficients predicted with canonical variational transition state theory with small curvature tunneling corrections agree satisfactorily with the experimental observations. The branching ratios of two accessible reaction channels forming OH + CH(2)OH (1a) and OH + CH(3)O (1b) are predicted to vary strongly with temperature. At 300 K, reaction (1a) dominates, whereas reaction (1b) becomes more important than reaction (1a) above 1700 K.     

Thermal decomposition of ethanol. III. A computational study of the kinetics and mechanism for the CH3+C2H5OH reaction

The mechanism for the CH3+C2H5OH reaction has been investigated by the modified Gaussian-2 method based on the geometric parameters of the stationary points optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. Five transition states have been identified for the production of CH4+CH3CHOH (TS1), CH4+CH3CH2O (TS2), CH4+CH2CH2OH (TS3), CH3OH+CH3CH2 (TS4), and CH3CH2OCH3+H (TS5) with the corresponding barriers 12.0, 13.2, 16.0, 44.7, and 49.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The predicted rate constants and branching ratios for the three lower-energy H-abstraction reactions were calculated using the conventional and variational transition state theory with quantum-mechanical tunneling corrections for the temperature range 300-3000 K. The predicted total rate constant, kt=8.36 x 10(-76) T(20.00) exp(5258/T) cm3 mol(-1) s(-1) (300-600 K) and 6.10 x 10(-25) T(4.10)exp(-4058/T) cm3 mol(-1) s(-1) (600-3000 K), agrees closely with existing experimental data in the temperature range 403-523 K. Similarly, the predicted rate constants for CH3+CH3CD2OH and CD3+C2H5OD are also in reasonable agreement with available low temperature kinetic data.     

Unimolecular decomposition of ethyl hydroperoxide: ab initio/Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theoretical prediction of rate constants

Alkyl hydroperoxides are found to be important intermediates in the combustion and oxidation processes of hydrocarbons. However, studies of ethyl hydroperoxide (CH(3)CH(2)OOH) are limited. In this work, kinetics and mechanisms for unimolecular decomposition of CH(3)CH(2)OOH have been investigated. The potential energy surface of decomposition reactions have first been predicted at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level. The results show that the formation of CH(3)CH(2)O + OH via O-O direct bond dissociation is dominant, the branching ratio of which is over 99% in the whole temperature range from 300 to 1000 K, and its rate constant can be expressed as k1 = 9.26 × 10(52)T(-11.91)exp(-26879/T) s(-1) at 1 atm. The rate constants of the reaction CH(3)CH(2)OOH → CH(3)CH(2)O + OH at different temperatures and pressures have been calculated, which can help us to comprehend the reactions of CH(3)CH(2)OOH at experimental conditions.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the OH+HNCN reaction

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of the cyanomidyl radical (HNCN) with the hydroxyl radical (OH) have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constants prediction. The single and triplet potential energy surfaces of this reaction have been calculated by single-point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p) level based on geometries optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) and CCSD/6-311++G(d,p) levels. The rate constants for various product channels in the temperature range of 300-3000 K are predicted by variational transition-state and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theories. The predicted total rate constants can be represented by the expressions ktotal=2.66 x 10(+2)xT-4.50 exp(-239/T) in which T=300-1000 K and 1.38x10(-20)xT2.78 exp(1578/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) where T=1000-3000 K. The branching ratios of primary channels are predicted: k1 for forming singlet HON(H)CN accounts for 0.32-0.28, and k4 for forming singlet HONCNH accounts for 0.68-0.17 in the temperature range of 300-800 K. k2+k7 for producing H2O+NCN accounts for 0.55-0.99 in the high-temperature range of 800-3000 K. The branching ratios of k3 for producing HCN+HNO, k6 for producing H2N+NCO, k8 for forming 3HN(OH)CN, k9 for producing CNOH+3NH, and k5+k10 for producing NH2+NCO are negligible. The rate constants for key individual product channels are provided in a table for different temperature and pressure conditions.     

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal, and (E)-2-heptenal

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with (E)-2-pentenal (CH(3)CH(2)CH[double bond]CHCHO), (E)-2-hexenal (CH(3)(CH(2))(2)CH[double bond]CHCHO), and (E)-2-heptenal (CH(3)(CH(2))(3)CH[double bond]CHCHO), a series of unsaturated aldehydes, over the temperature range 244-374 K at pressures between 23 and 150 Torr (He, N(2)) are reported. Rate coefficients were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions in OH with OH radicals produced via pulsed laser photolysis of HNO(3) or H(2)O(2) at 248 nm and detected by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficients were independent of pressure and the room temperature rate coefficients and Arrhenius expressions obtained are (cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) units): k(1)(297 K)=(4.3 +/- 0.6)x 10(-11), k(1)(T)=(7.9 +/- 1.2)x 10(-12) exp[(510 +/- 20)/T]; k(2)(297 K)=(4.4 +/- 0.5)x 10(-11), k(2)(T)=(7.5 +/- 1.1)x 10(-12) exp[(520 +/- 30)/T]; and k(3)(297 K)=(4.4 +/- 0.7)x 10(-11), k(3)(T)=(9.7 +/- 1.5)x 10(-12) exp[(450 +/- 20)/T] for (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-heptenal, respectively. The quoted uncertainties are 2sigma(95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors. Rate coefficients are compared with previously published room temperature values and the discrepancies are discussed. The atmospheric degradation of unsaturated aldehydes is also discussed.     

Theoretical studies on the unimolecular decomposition of ethylene glycol

The unimolecular decomposition processes of ethylene glycol have been investigated with the QCISD(T) method with geometries optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. Among the decomposition channels identified, the H(2)O-elimination channels have the lowest barriers, and the C-C bond dissociation is the lowest-energy dissociation channel among the barrierless reactions (the direct bond cleavage reactions). The temperature and pressure dependent rate constant calculations show that the H(2)O-elimination reactions are predominant at low temperature, whereas at high temperature, the direct C-C bond dissociation reaction is dominant. At 1 atm, in the temperature range 500-2000 K, the calculated rate constant is expressed to be 7.63 × 10(47)T(-10.38) exp(-42262/T) for the channel CH(2)OHCH(2)OH → CH(2)CHOH + H(2)O, and 2.48 × 10(51)T(-11.58) exp(-43593/T) for the channel CH(2)OHCH(2)OH → CH(3)CHO + H(2)O, whereas for the direct bond dissociation reaction CH(2)OHCH(2)OH → CH(2)OH + CH(2)OH the rate constant expression is 1.04 × 10(71)T(-16.16) exp(-52414/T).     

Ab initio study on the oxidation of NCN by O (3P): prediction of the total rate constant and product branching ratios

The reaction of NCN with O is relevant to the formation of prompt NO according to the new mechanism, CH+N2-->cyclic-C(H)NN- -->HNCN-->H+NCN. The reaction has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital and transition state theory calculations. The mechanisms for formation of possible product channels involved in the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces have been predicted at the highest level of the modified GAUSSIAN-2 (G2M) method, G2M (CC1). The barrierless association/dissociation processes on the singlet surface were also examined with the third-order Rayleigh-Schr?dinger perturbation (CASPT3) and the multireference configuration interaction methods including Davidson's correction for higher excitations (MRCI+Q) at the CASPT3(6,6)/6-311+G(3df)//UB3LYP/6-311G(d) and MRCI+Q(6,6)/6-311+G(3df)//UB3LYP/6-311G(d) levels. The rate constants for the low-energy channels producing CO+N2, CN+NO, and N(4S)+NCO have been calculated in the temperature range of 200-3000 K. The results show that the formation of CN+NO is dominant and its branching ratio is over 99% in the whole temperature range; no pressure dependence was noted at pressures below 100 atm. The total rate constant can be expressed by: kt=4.23x10(-11) T0.15 exp(17/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1).     

Thermal decomposition of ethanol. 4. Ab initio chemical kinetics for reactions of H atoms with CH3CH2O and CH3CHOH radicals

The potential energy surfaces of H-atom reactions with CH(3)CH(2)O and CH(3)CHOH, two major radicals in the decomposition and oxidation of ethanol, have been studied at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p) level of theory with geometric optimization carried out at the BH&HLYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. The direct hydrogen abstraction channels and the indirect association/decomposition channels from the chemically activated ethanol molecule have been considered for both reactions. The rate constants for both reactions have been calculated at 100-3000 K and 10(-4) Torr to 10(3) atm Ar pressure by microcanonical VTST/RRKM theory with master equation solution for all accessible product channels. The results show that the major product channel of the CH(3)CH(2)O + H reaction is CH(3) + CH(2)OH under atmospheric pressure conditions. Only at high pressure and low temperature, the rate constant for CH(3)CH(2)OH formation by collisonal deactivation becomes dominant. For CH(3)CHOH + H, there are three major product channels; at high temperatures, CH(3)+CH(2)OH production predominates at low pressures (P < 100 Torr), while the formation of CH(3)CH(2)OH by collisional deactivation becomes competitive at high pressures and low temperatures (T < 500 K). At high temperatures, the direct hydrogen abstraction reaction producing CH(2)CHOH + H(2) becomes dominant. Rate constants for all accessible product channels in both systems have been predicted and tabulated for modeling applications. The predicted value for CH(3)CHOH + H at 295 K and 1 Torr pressure agrees closely with available experimental data. For practical modeling applications, the rate constants for the thermal unimolecular decomposition of ethanol giving key accessible products have been predicted; those for the two major product channels taking place by dehydration and C-C breaking agree closely with available literature data.     

Atmospheric chemistry of (Z)-CF3CH═CHCF3: OH radical reaction rate coefficient and global warming potential

Rate coefficients, k, for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) (cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene) were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions in OH using pulsed laser photolysis (PLP) to produce OH and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to detect it. Rate coefficients were measured over a range of temperatures (212-374 K) and bath gas pressures (20-200 Torr; He, N(2)) and found to be independent of pressure over this range of conditions. The rate coefficient has a non-Arrhenius behavior that is well-described by the expression k(1)(T) = (5.73 ± 0.60) × 10(-19) × T(2) × exp[(678 ± 10)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) where k(1)(296 K) was measured to be (4.91 ± 0.50) × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and the uncertainties are at the 2σ level and include estimated systematic errors. Rate coefficients for the analogous OD radical reaction were determined over a range of temperatures (262-374 K) at 100 Torr (He) to be k(2)(T) = (4.81 ± 0.20) × 10(-19) × T(2) × exp[(776 ± 15)/T], with k(2)(296 K) = (5.73 ± 0.50) × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). OH radical rate coefficients were also measured at 296, 345, and 375 K using a relative rate technique and found to be in good agreement with the PLP-LIF results. A room-temperature rate coefficient for the O(3) + (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) reaction was measured using an absolute method with O(3) in excess to be <6 × 10(-21) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The atmospheric lifetime of (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) due to loss by OH reaction was estimated to be ~20 days. Infrared absorption spectra of (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) measured in this work were used to determine a (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) global warming potential (GWP) of ~9 for the 100 year time horizon. A comparison of the OH reactivity of (Z)-CF(3)CH═CHCF(3) with other unsaturated fluorinated compounds is presented.     

Rate coefficients for the OH + HC(O)C(O)H (glyoxal) reaction between 210 and 390 K

Rate coefficients, k1(T), over the temperature range of 210-390 K are reported for the gas-phase reaction OH + HC(O)C(O)H (glyoxal) --> products at pressures between 45 and 300 Torr (He, N2). Rate coefficients were determined under pseudo-first-order conditions in OH using pulsed laser photolysis production of OH radicals coupled with OH detection by laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficients obtained were independent of pressure and bath gas. The room-temperature rate coefficient, k1(296 K), was determined to be (9.15 +/- 0.8) x 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. k1(T) shows a negative temperature dependence with a slight deviation from Arrhenius behavior that is reproduced over the temperature range included in this study by k1(T) = [(6.6 +/- 0.6) x 10-18]T2[exp([820 +/- 30]/T)] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. For atmospheric modeling purposes, a fit to an Arrhenius expression over the temperature range included in this study that is most relevant to the atmosphere, 210-296 K, yields k1(T) = (2.8 +/- 0.7) x 10-12 exp[(340 +/- 50)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and reproduces the rate coefficient data very well. The quoted uncertainties in k1(T) are at the 95% confidence level (2sigma) and include estimated systematic errors. Comparison of the present results with the single previous determination of k1(296 K) and a discussion of the reaction mechanism and non-Arrhenius temperature dependence are presented.     

Reflected shock tube studies of high-temperature rate constants for OH + CH4 --> CH3 + H2O and CH3 + NO2 --> CH3O + NO

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH radicals at 308 nm has been used to study the reactions OH + CH(4) --> CH(3) + H(2)O and CH(3) + NO(2) --> CH(3)O + NO. Over the temperature range 840-2025 K, the rate constants for the first reaction can be represented by the Arrhenius expression k = (9.52 +/- 1.62) x 10(-11) exp[(-4134 +/- 222 K)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Since this reaction is important in both combustion and atmospheric chemistry, there have been many prior investigations with a variety of techniques. The present results extend the temperature range by 500 K and have been combined with the most accurate earlier studies to derive an evaluation over the extended temperature range 195-2025 K. A three-parameter expression describes the rate behavior over this temperature range, k = (1.66 x 10(-18))T(2.182) exp[(-1231 K)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Previous theoretical studies are discussed, and the present evaluation is compared to earlier theoretical estimates. Since CH(3) radicals are a product of the reaction and could cause secondary perturbations in rate constant determinations, the second reaction was studied by OH radical production from the fast reactions CH(3)O --> CH(2)O + H and H + NO(2) --> OH + NO. The measured rate constant is 2.26 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and is not dependent on temperature from 233 to 1700 K within experimental error.     

Theoretical study on the OH + CH3NHCOOCH3 reaction

The multiple-channel reactions OH + CH3NHC(O)OCH3 --> products are investigated by direct dynamics method. The optimized geometries, frequencies, and minimum energy path are all obtained at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level, and energetic information is further refined by the BMC-CCSD (single-point) method. The rate constants for every reaction channels, R1, R2, R3, and R4, are calculated by canonical variational transition state theory with small-curvature tunneling correction over the temperature range 200-1000 K. The total rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental data and the two-parameter expression k(T) = 3.95 x 10(-12) exp(15.41/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) over the temperature range 200-1000 K is given. Our calculations indicate that hydrogen abstraction channels R1 and R2 are the major channels due to the smaller barrier height among four channels considered, and the other two channels to yield CH3NC(O)OCH3 + H2O and CH3NHC(O)(OH)OCH3 + H2O are minor channels over the whole temperature range.     

Absolute rate coefficient of the OH + CH(3)C(O)OH reaction at T = 287-802 K. The two faces of pre-reactive H-bonding

The rate constants for the reaction OH + CH3C(O)OH --> products (1) were determined over the temperature range 287-802 K at 50 and 100 Torr of Ar or N2 bath gas using pulsed laser photolysis generation of OH by CH3C(O)OH photolysis at 193 nm coupled with OH detection by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficient displays a complex temperature dependence with a sharp minimum at 530 K, indicating the competition between a reaction proceeding through a pre-reactive H-bonded complex to form CH3C(O)O + H2O, expected to prevail at low temperatures, and a direct methyl-H abstraction channel leading to CH2C(O)OH + H2O, which should dominate at high temperatures. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be described adequately by k1(287-802 K) = 2.9 x 10(-9) exp{-6030 K/T} + 1.50 x 10(-13) exp{515 K/T} cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1), with a value of (8.5 +/- 0.9) x 10-13 cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1) at 298 K. The steep increase in rate constant in the range 550-800 K, which is reported for the first time, implies that direct abstraction of a methyl-H becomes the dominant pathway at temperatures greater than 550 K. However, the data indicates that up to about 800 K direct methyl-H abstraction remains adversely affected by the long-range H-bonding attraction between the approaching OH radical and the carboxyl -C(O)OH functionality.     

Low-energy paths for the unimolecular decomposition of CH3OH: a G2M/statistical theory study

The potential energy surface (PES) of the CH3OH system has been characterized by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations at the G2M level of theory. The mechanisms for the decomposition of CH3OH and the related bimolecular reactions, CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O, have been elucidated. The rate constants for these processes have been calculated using variational RRKM theory and compared with available experimental data. The total decomposition rate constants of CH3OH at the high- and low-pressure limits can be represented by k infinity = 1.56 x 10(16) exp(-44,310/T) s-1 and kAr0 = 1.60 x 10(36) T-12.2 exp(-48,140/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, covering the temperature range 1000-3000 K, in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Our results indicate that the product branching ratios are strongly pressure dependent, with the production of CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O dominant under high (P > 10(3) Torr) and low (P < 1 atm) pressures, respectively. For the bimolecular reaction of CH3 and OH, the total rate constant and the yields of 1CH2 + H2O and H2 + HCOH at lower pressures (P < 5 Torr) could be reasonably accounted for by the theory. For the reaction of 1CH2 with H2O, both the yield of CH3 + OH and the total rate constant could also be satisfactorily predicted theoretically. The production of 3CH2 + H2O by the singlet to triplet surface crossing, predicted to occur at 4.3 kcal mol-1 above the H2C...OH2 van der Waals complex (which lies 82.7 kcal mol-1 above CH3OH), was neglected in our calculations.     

A computational study on the kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene

The kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)NO(2)) have been studied computationally at the G2M(RCC, MP2)//B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level of theory in conjunction with rate constant predictions with RRKM and TST calculations. The results of the calculations reveal 10 decomposition channels for o-nitrotoluene and its six isomeric intermediates, among them four channels give major products: CH(3)C(6)H(4) + NO(2), C(6)H(4)C(H)ON (anthranil) + H(2)O, CH(3)C(6)H(4)O (o-methyl phenoxy) + NO, and C(6)H(4)C(H(2))NO + OH. The predicted rate constants in the 500-2000 K temperature range indicate that anthranil production, taking place initially by intramolecular H-abstraction from the CH(3) group by NO(2) followed by five-membered ring formation and dehydration, dominates at temperatures below 1000 K, whereas NO(2) elimination becomes predominant above 1100 K and CH(3)C(6)H(4)O formation by the nitro-nitrite isomerization/decomposition process accounts for only 5-11% of the total product yield in the middle temperature range 800-1300 K. The branching ratio for CH(2)C(6)H(4)NO formation by the decomposition process of CH(2)C(6)H(4)N(O)OH is negligible. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants with the rate expression of 4.10 x 10(17) exp[-37000/T] s(-1) for the NO(2) elimination channel and 9.09 x 10(12) exp[-25800/T] s(-1) for the H(2)O elimination channel generally agree reasonably with available experimental data. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants for the NO and OH elimination channels are represented as 1.49 x 10(14) exp[-30000/T] and 1.31 x 10(15) exp[-38000/T] s(-1), respectively.     

High-temperature rate constants for CH3OH + Kr --> products, OH + CH3OH --> products, OH + (CH3)(2)CO --> CH2COCH3 + H2O, and OH + CH3 --> CH) + H2O

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH radicals at 308 nm (corresponding to a total path length of approximately 4.9 m) has been used to study the dissociation of methanol between 1591 and 2865 K. Rate constants for two product channels [CH3OH + Kr --> CH3 + OH + Kr (1) and CH3OH + Kr --> 1CH2 + H2O + Kr (2)] were determined. During the course of the study, it was necessary to determine several other rate constants that contributed to the profile fits. These include OH + CH3OH --> products, OH + (CH3)2CO --> CH2COCH3 + H2O, and OH + CH3 --> 1,3CH2 + H2O. The derived expressions, in units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), are k(1) = 9.33 x 10(-9) exp(-30857 K/T) for 1591-2287 K, k(2) = 3.27 x 10(-10) exp(-25946 K/T) for 1734-2287 K, kOH+CH3OH = 2.96 x 10-16T1.4434 exp(-57 K/T) for 210-1710 K, k(OH+(CH3)(2)CO) = (7.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(-12) for 1178-1299 K and k(OH+CH3) = (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-11) for 1000-1200 K. With these values along with other well-established rate constants, a mechanism was used to obtain profile fits that agreed with experiment to within <+/-10%. The values obtained for reactions 1 and 2 are compared with earlier determinations and also with new theoretical calculations that are presented in the preceding article in this issue. These new calculations are in good agreement with the present data for both (1) and (2) and also for OH + CH3 --> products.     

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with dimethyl sulfide: temperature and O2 partial pressure dependence

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of hydroxyl (OH) radicals with dimethyl sulfide (CH(3)SCH(3), DMS) have been determined using a relative rate technique. The experiments were performed under different conditions of temperature (250-299 K) and O(2) partial pressure (approximately 0 Torr O(2)-380 Torr O(2)), at a total pressure of 760 Torr bath gas (N(2) + O(2)), in a 336 l reaction chamber, using long path in situ Fourier transform (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy to monitor the disappearance rates of DMS and the reference compounds (ethene, propene and 2-methylpropene). OH was produced by the photolysis of H(2)O(2). The following Arrhenius expressions adequately describe the rate coefficients as a function of temperature (units are cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k = (1.56 +/- 0.20) x 10(-12) exp[(369 +/- 27)/T], for approximately 0 Torr O(2); (1.31 +/- 0.08) x 10(-14) exp[(1910 +/- 69)/T], for 155 Torr O(2); (5.18 +/- 0.71) x 10(-14) exp[(1587 +/- 24)/T], for 380 Torr O(2). The results are compared with previous investigations.     

Dual-level direct dynamics studies for the reactions of dimethyl ether with hydrogen atom and methyl radical

The dual-level direct dynamics approach is employed to study the dynamics of the CH(3)OCH(3) + H (R1) and CH(3)OCH(3) + CH(3) (R2) reactions. Low-level calculations of the potential energy surface are carried out at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. High-level energetic information is obtained at the QCISD(T) level of theory with the 6-311+G(3df,3pd) basis set. The dynamics calculations are performed using variational transition state theory (VTST) with the interpolated single-point energies (ISPE) method, and small-curvature tunneling (SCT) is included. It is shown that the reaction of CH(3)OCH(3) with H (R1) may proceed much easier and with a lower barrier height than the reaction with CH(3) radical (R2). The calculated rate constants and activation energies are in good agreement with the experimental values. The calculated rate constants are fitted to k(R1) = 1.16 x 10(-19) T(3) exp(-1922/T) and k(R2) = 1.66 x 10(-28) T(5) exp(-3086/T) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) over a temperature range 207-2100 K. Furthermore, a small variational effect and large tunneling effect in the lower temperature range are found for the two reactions.     

CF3CF=CH2 and (Z)-CF3CF=CHF: temperature dependent OH rate coefficients and global warming potentials

Rate coefficients over the temperature range 206-380 K are reported for the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF(3)CF=CH(2)), k(1)(T), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene ((Z)-CF(3)CF=CHF), k(2)(T), which are major components in proposed substitutes for HFC-134a (CF(3)CFH(2)) in mobile air-conditioning units. Rate coefficients were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions in OH using pulsed-laser photolysis to produce OH and laser-induced fluorescence to detect it. Rate coefficients were found to be independent of pressure between 25 and 600 Torr (He, N(2)). For CF(3)CF=CH(2), the rate coefficients, within the measurement uncertainty, are given by the Arrhenius expression k(1)(T)=(1.26+/-0.11) x 10(-12) exp[(-35+/-10)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) where k(1)(296 K)=(1.12+/-0.09) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). For (Z)-CF(3)CF=CHF, the rate coefficients are given by the non-Arrhenius expression k(2)(T)=(1.6+/-0.2) x 10(-18)T(2) exp[(655+/-50)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) where k(2)(296 K)=(1.29+/-0.06) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Over the temperature range most relevant to the atmosphere, 200-300 K, the Arrhenius expression k(2)(T)=(7.30+/-0.7) x 10(-13) exp[(165+/-20)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) reproduces the measured rate coefficients very well and can be used in atmospheric model calculations. The quoted uncertainties in the rate coefficients are 2sigma (95% confidence interval) and include estimated systematic errors. The global warming potentials for CF(3)CF=CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF=CHF were calculated to be <4.4 and <3.6, respectively, for the 100 year time horizon using infrared absorption cross sections measured in this work, and atmospheric lifetimes of 12 and 10 days that are based solely on OH reactive loss.     

High-temperature shock tube measurements of methyl radical decomposition

We have studied the two-channel thermal decomposition of methyl radicals in argon, involving the reactions CH3 + Ar --> CH + H2 + Ar (1a) and CH3 + Ar --> CH2 + H + Ar (1b), in shock tube experiments over the 2253-3527 K temperature range, at pressures between 0.7 and 4.2 atm. CH was monitored by continuous-wave, narrow-line-width laser absorption at 431.1311 nm. The collision-broadening coefficient for CH in argon, 2gamma(CH-Ar), was measured via repeated single-frequency experiments in the ethane pyrolysis system behind reflected shock waves. The measured 2gamma(CH-Ar) value and updated spectroscopic and molecular parameters were used to calculate the CH absorption coefficient at 431.1311 nm (23194.80 cm(-1)), which was then used to convert raw traces of fractional transmission to quantitative CH concentration time histories in the methyl decomposition experiments. The rate coefficient of reaction 1a was measured by monitoring CH radicals generated upon shock-heating highly dilute mixtures of ethane, C2H6, or methyl iodide, CH3I, in an argon bath. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism was used to model the measured CH time histories. Within experimental uncertainty and scatter, no pressure dependence could be discerned in the rate coefficient of reaction 1a in the 0.7-4.2 atm pressure range. A least-squares, two-parameter fit of the current measurements, applicable between 2706 and 3527 K, gives k(1a) (cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) = 3.09 x 1015 exp[-40700/T (K)]. The rate coefficient of reaction 1b was determined by shock-heating dilute mixtures of C2H6 or CH3I and excess O2 in argon. During the course of reaction, OH radicals were monitored using the well-characterized R(1)(5) line of the OH A-X (0,0) band at 306.6871 nm (32606.52 cm(-1)). H atoms generated via reaction 1b rapidly react with O2, which is present in excess, forming OH. The OH traces are primarily sensitive to reaction 1b, reaction 9 (H + O2 --> OH + O) and reaction 10 (CH3 + O2 --> products), where the rate coefficients of reactions 9 and 10 are relatively well-established. No pressure dependence could be discerned for reaction 1b between 1.1 and 3.9 atm. A two-parameter, least-squares fit of the current data, valid over the 2253-2975 K temperature range, yields the rate expression k(1b) (cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) = 2.24 x 10(15) exp[-41600/T (K)]. Theoretical calculations carried out using a master equation/RRKM analysis fit the measurements reasonably well.