木质素二聚体模型化合物热解机理的量子化学研究

β-O-4连接是木质素主体结构单元之间的主要联结方式。采用密度泛函理论方法B3LYP,在6-31G (d, p)基组水平上,对β-O-4型木质素二聚体模型化合物(1-愈创木基-2-(2-甲氧基苯氧基)-1,3丙二醇)的热解反应机理进行了研究。提出了三种热解反应途径:C_β-O键均裂的后续反应、C_α-C_β键均裂的后续反应以及协同反应。对各种反应的反应物、产物、中间体和过渡态的结构进行了能量梯度全优化,计算了各热解反应途径的标准动力学参数。分析了各种主要热解产物的形成演化机理以及热解过程中温度对热解机理的影响。计算结果表明,C_β-O键的均裂反应和协同反应路径(1)和(3)是木质素二聚体热解过程中主要的反应路径,而C_α-C_β键的均裂反应和协同反应路径(2)和(5)是主要的竞争反应路径;热解的主要产物是酚类化合物如愈创木酚、1-愈创木基-3-羟基丙酮、3-愈创木基-3-羟基丙醛、愈创木基甲醛和乙烯等。在热解低温阶段协同反应是热解过程中的主要反应形式,而在高温阶段自由基均裂反应是热解过程的主要反应形式。     

Carbohydrate pyrolysis mechanisms from isotopic labeling: Part 2. The pyrolysis of d-glucose: General disconnective analysis and the formation of C1 and C2 carbonyl compounds by electrocyclic fragmentation mechanisms

The flash pyrolysis of d-glucose was investigated by the use of isotopic labeling with ¹³C, in conjunction with GC/MS. Co-pyrolysis of uniformly labeled and unlabeled d-glucose established the extent of unimolecular formation of each of the pyrolysis products. A complete set of singly labeled d-glucose isotopologs was used to determine the origin of specific carbons within each of the pyrolysis products. The Cyclic Grob 1,3-diol fragmentation and the tandem alkaline pinacol rearrangement/retro-aldol fragmentation (TAPRRAF) discovered from the pyrolysis of glycerin were applied to the analysis of pyrolytic fragmentation pathways for d-glucose. These mechanisms provide means of initial carbon–carbon bond breakage, and are consistent with the high proportion of carbon-unimolecularity observed for many of the volatile low-molecular weight products of the reaction. These and other reactions, including the retro-aldol fragmentation, carbonyl migration, dehydration, ene-reaction, retro-Claisen cleavage, hydrolysis, or alcoholysis were applied conceptually to the initial fragments resulting from either mechanism to ascertain the ultimate fate of the carbons of d-glucose. The “predicted” results were then compared with labeling patterns observed by experiment. The most promising rationalizations provided by this exercise are presented herein, for the formation of five C₁ and C₂ carbonyl-containing pyrolysis products: formaldehyde, formic acid, acetaldehyde, glycolaldehyde and acetic acid.     

Isomerization and decomposition reactions in the pyrolysis of branched hydrocarbons: 4-methyl-1-pentyl radical

The kinetics of the decomposition of 4-methyl-1-pentyl radicals have been studied from 927-1068 K at pressures of 1.78-2.44 bar using a single pulse shock tube with product analysis. The reactant radicals were formed from the thermal C-I bond fission of 1-iodo-4-methylpentane, and a radical inhibitor was used to prevent interference from bimolecular reactions. 4-Methyl-1-pentyl radicals undergo competing decomposition and isomerization reactions via beta-bond scission and 1, x-hydrogen migrations (x = 4, 5), respectively, to form short-chain radicals and alkenes. Major alkene products, in decreasing order of concentration, were propene, ethene, isobutene, and 1-pentene. The observed products are used to validate a RRKM/master equation (ME) chemical kinetics model of the pyrolysis. The presence of the branched methyl moiety has a significant impact on the observed reaction rates relative to analogous reaction rates in straight-chain radical systems. Systems that result in the formation of substituted radical or alkene products are found to be faster than reactions that form primary radical and alkene species. Pressure-dependent reaction rate constants from the RRKM/ME analysis are provided for all four H-transfer isomers at 500-1900 K and 0.1-1000 bar pressure for all of the decomposition and isomerization reactions in this system.     

Density functional theory investigation of competitive free-radical processes during the thermal cracking of methylated polyaromatics: estimation of kinetic parameters

Density functional B3LYP and BH&HLYP calculations with the 6-31G** basis set have been performed to investigate elementary reactions playing an important role in the pyrolysis of 1-methylnaphthalene. The pathways describing the destiny of the main radicals, H, methyl, hydromethylnaphthyl and methylnaphthyl, have been studied. At low temperature, addition of H atoms on the aromatic ring is favored over hydrogen abstraction. Except at low temperature (below 400 K), the hydromethylnaphthyl radical undergoes preferentially a loss of hydrogen rather than a bimolecular hydrogen transfer with methylnaphthalene or addition reaction on methylnaphthalene forming a hydrogenated dimer. In the range 400-750 K, the formation of methane by hydrogen abstraction of methyl radical on methylnaphthalene is predominant compared to the formation of hydrodimethylnaphthalenes by addition reaction. Rate constants of reactions describing the formation of heavy products like methyldinaphthylmethanes or dimethylbinaphthalenes have been calculated and discussed. They are also compared to recombination reactions from the literature. Rate constants of these reactions have been computed using transition state theory and can be integrated in kinetic radical schemes of methylated polyaromatic compounds pyrolysis from geological to laboratory conditions.     

Preparation and characterization of the enol of acetamide: 1-aminoethenol,a high-energy prebiotic molecule

Amide tautomers, which constitute the higher-energy amide bond linkage, not only are key for a variety of biological but also prebiotic processes. In this work, we present the gas-phase synthesis of 1-aminoethenol, the higher-energy tautomer of acetamide, that has not been spectroscopically identified to date. The title compound was prepared by flash vacuum pyrolysis of malonamic acid and was characterized employing matrix isolation infrared as well as ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. Coupled-cluster computations at the AE-CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of theory support the spectroscopic assignments. Upon photolysis at λ > 270 nm, the enol rearranges to acetamide as well as ketene and ammonia. As the latter two are even higher in energy, they constitute viable starting materials for formation of the title compound.

Amide tautomers, which constitute the higher-energy amide bond linkage, not only are key for a variety of biological but also prebiotic processes.     

O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖热解反应机理的理论研究

为了从微观上理解半纤维素热解过程及其主要产物的形成演变机理,采用密度泛函理论方法B3LYP/6-31G++(d,p),对O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖的热解反应机理进行了量子化学理论研究。在热解过程中,O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖中的O-乙酰基首先脱出,形成乙酸和中间体IM₁,该步反应能垒为269.4 kJ/mol。IM₁进一步发生开环反应形成IM₂,开环反应能垒较低,为181.8 kJ/mol。对中间体IM₂设计了四种可能的热解反应途径,对各种反应的反应物、产物、中间体和过渡态的结构进行了能量梯度全优化,计算了各热解反应途径的热力学和动力学参数。计算结果表明,反应路径(4)和反应路径(2)是O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖热解的主要反应通道,乙酸、乙醛、乙醇醛、丙酮、CO、CO₂、CH₄等小分子产物是热解的主要产物。这与相关实验结果分析是一致的。     

Pyrolysis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). 2. Theoretical study of decomposition pathways

The thermal decomposition pathways of MTBE have been investigated using the G3B3 method. On the basis of the experimental observation and theoretical calculation, the pyrolysis channels are provided, especially for primary pyrolysis reactions. The primary decomposition pathways include formation of methanol and isobutene, CH4 elimination, H2 elimination and C-H, C-C, C-O bond cleavage reactions. Among them, the formation channel of methanol and isobutene is the lowest energy pathway, which is in accordance with experimental observation. Furthermore, the secondary pyrolysis pathways have been calculated as well, including decomposition of tert-butyl radical, isobutene, methanol and acetone. The radicals play an important role in the formation of pyrolysis products, for example, tert-butyl radical and allyl radical are major precursors for the formation of allene and propyne. Although some isomers (isobutene and 1-butene, allene and propyne, acetone and propanal) are identified in our experiment, these isomerization reaction pathways occur merely at the high temperature due to their high activation energies. The theoretical calculation can explain the experimental results reported in part 1 and shed further light on the thermal decomposition pathways.     

Thermal decomposition of poly(butylene terephthalate)

Detailed results of the overall thermal degradation of poly(butylene terephthalate) are reported. Laser microprobe analysis and dynamic mass spectrometric techniques were used to identify the primary volatile degradation products and initial pyrolysis reactions that control polymer degradation. A complex multistage decomposition mechanism was observed which involves two major reaction pathways. Initial degradation occurs by an ionic decomposition process that results in the evolution of tetrahydrofuran. This is followed by concerted ester pyrolysis reactions that involve an intermediate cyclic transition state and yield 1,3-butadiene. Simultaneous decarboxylation reactions occur in both decomposition regimes. Finally, the latter stages of polymer decomposition were characterized by evolution of CO and complex aromatic species such as toluene, benzoic acid, and terephthalic acid. Activation energies of formation for the main pyrolysis products were determined from the dynamic measurements of the major ion species and indicate values of E = 27.9 kcal/mole for the production of tetrahydrofuran and E = 49.7 kcal/mole for the production of butadiene.     

A density functional theory study on the decomposition of aliphatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes during coal pyrolysis in hydrogen plasma

To get deep understanding of the reaction mechanism of coal pyrolysis in hydrogen plasma, the decomposition reaction pathways of aliphatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes, which are two main components in volatiles from coal, were investigated. Methane and cyclohexane were chosen as the model compounds. Density functional theory was employed, and many reaction pathways were involved. Calculations were carried out in Gaussian 09 at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of the theory. The results indicate that the main pyrolysis products of methane and cyclohexane in hydrogen plasma are both hydrogen and acetylene, and the participation of active hydrogen atoms makes dehydrogenation reactions more favorable. H2 mainly comes from dehydrogenation process, while many reaction pathways are responsible for acetylene formation. During coal pyrolysis in hydrogen plasma, three main components in volatiles like aliphatic hydrocarbons, cycloalkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons lead to the formation of hydrogen and acetylene, but their contributions to products distribution are different.     

Pyrolysis of tert-butyl tert-butanethiosulfinate, t-BuS(O)St-Bu: a computational perspective of the decomposition pathways

A systematic theoretical study has been performed on the low pressure thermal decomposition pathways of t-BuS(O)St-Bu using the CCSD(T)/cc-pV(D+d)Z//B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p), CCSD(T)/cc-pV(D+d)Z//PBEPBE/6-311++G(2d,2p), and G3B3 level of theories. Rate constants for the unimolecular decomposition pathways are calculated using Rice?Ramsperger?Kassel?Marcus (RRKM) theory. On the basis of the experimental observation and theoretical predictions, the pyrolysis channels are considered as primary and secondary pyrolysis reactions. The primary decomposition via a five-membered transition state leads to the formation of tert-butanethiosulfoxylic acid (t-BuSSOH) and 2-methylpropene (C4H8) almost exclusively having low-pressure limit rate constant k(1)(0) = 4.67 × 10(?6)T(?4.67) exp(?11.64 kcal mol(?1)/RT) cm3 mol(?1) s(?1) (T = 500?800 K). The primary decomposition via a six-membered transition state is also identified, and that leads to the tert-butanethiosulfinic acid t-BuS(OH)S, which is the branched chain isomer of t-BuSSOH. The formation of t-BuSSOH is thermodynamically as well as kinetically favorable over t-BuS(OH)S formation, and therefore the second product could not be found experimentally. Furthermore, calculation on secondary pyrolysis pathways involving the decomposition of t-BuSSOH leads to the formation of 1-oxatrisulfane (trans-HSSOH and cis-HSSOH) and their branched isomer S(SH)OH. These three secondary product formation rates are competitive, but thermodynamics do not favor the formation of the branched isomer. Among the secondary pyrolysis products, trans-HSSOH is the most stable one, and its formation rate constant at low pressure is calculated to be k(3)(0) = 5.49 × 10(28)T(?10.70) exp(?36.22 kcal mol(?1)/RT) cm3 mol(?1) s(?1) (T = 800?1500 K). Finally, the secondary pyrolysis pathway from less stable product t-BuS(OH)S is also predicted, and that leads to trans-HSSOH and cis-HSSOH products with almost equal rates. A bond-order analysis using Wiberg bond indexes obtained by natural bond orbital (NBO) calculation predicts that the primary and secondary pyrolysis of t-BuS(O)St-Bu occur via E1-like mechanism.     

Thermal decomposition of methyl butanoate: ab initio study of a biodiesel fuel surrogate

In this paper, we report a detailed analysis of the breakdown kinetic mechanism for methyl butanoate (MB) using theoretical approaches. Electronic structures and structure-related molecular properties of reactants, intermediates, products, and transition states were explored at the BH&HLYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Rate constants for the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions in the temperature range of 300-2500 K were calculated using Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus and transition state theories, respectively. Thirteen pathways were identified leading to the formation of small compounds such as CH(3), C(2)H(3), CO, CO(2), and H(2)CO. For the initial formation of MB radicals, H, CH(3), and OH were considered as reactive radicals participating in hydrogen abstraction reactions. Kinetic simulation results for a high temperature pyrolysis environment show that MB radicals are mainly produced through hydrogen abstraction reactions by H atoms. In addition, the C(O)OCH(3) = CO + CH(3)O reaction is found to be the main source of CO formation. The newly computed kinetic sub-model for MB breakdown is recommended as a core component to study the combustion of oxygenated species.     

A systematically generated, pressure-dependent mechanism for high-conversion ethane pyrolysis. 1. Pathways to the minor products

The deposition of carbon during hydrocarbon pyrolysis is part of many industrial processes. The rate and nature of deposition depend, in part, on the gas-phase chemistry of the minor pyrolysis products, which serve as deposition precursors. But the specific reaction pathways governing the formation and destruction of these minor gas-phase products are only partially known. We apply an updated version of our automated mechanism generation tool XMG-PDep to the high-conversion, pyrocarbon-depositing ethane pyrolysis system of Glasier and Pacey, to systematically uncover the likely reaction pathways governing the observed minor products acetylene, propylene, 1,3-butadiene, and benzene. Thorough examination by means of sensitivity, equilibrium, and reaction-pathway analyses reveals an extremely complex, intertwined set of reaction pathways controlling these deposition precursors, some of which are not often considered in the wider pyrolysis literature. Large, aggregated sets of disproportionation reactions, for example, appear to play an important role in the formation of benzene. The analyses motivate a companion paper (following paper in this issue) which explores in greater depth the effects of large groups of radical disproportionation reactions, omitted reaction families, and the possibility that pressure changes in the reactor could alter the distribution of the deposition precursors.     

A DFT study on a mutipathways,one product reaction: Initially divergent radical reactions reconverge to form a single product

The mechanism for initially divergent radical reactions reconverging to form a single product is studied using density functional theory calculations. The calculation results suggest that there are six possible pathways from reactants to products. The free energy barriers of the rate‐determining steps of each pathway are almost equal. Thus, different from usual reaction, the selectivity of this reaction is determined by the relative value of free energy barriers of the two competitive reactions, that is, cyclization and bimolecular trapping, rather than that of rate‐determining steps. In all reaction pathways, cyclization reaction is more competitive than bimolecular trapping reaction due to its low free energy barrier. In addition, the free energy barriers of bimolecular trapping reaction between Bu₃SnH and reactants are all lower than that of NC? C₆H₁₁. However, Bu₃SnH is not always suitable due to its large steric repulsion. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mass spectrometry of onium compounds—II. Carnitine and O-acyl derivatives

Carnitine and its O-acyl derivatives undergo two major pyrolytic reactions in the mass spectrometer. Firstly elimination of water from carnitine or acid from acylcarnitine takes place followed by intramolecular displacement and formation of crotonyl lactone and trimethylamine. Secondly intramolecular displacement occurs with formation of a substituted γ-lactone and trimethylamine. For the lower acid derivatives only the elimination pathway is important. For carnitine and higher derivatives both processes are important. The electron induced fragmentations of the major pyrolysis products are relatively simple. The most important pathways for the major components are discussed. The pyrolytic composition and mode of fragmentation are characteristic and can be used for identification purposes.     

Detailed mechanistic modeling of high-density polyethylene pyrolysis: Low molecular weight product evolution

A detailed, mechanistic model for high-density polyethylene pyrolysis was created based on the modeling framework developed in our previous work and was used to study the time evolution of low molecular weight products formed. Specifically, the role that unzipping, backbiting, and random scission reaction pathways play in the evolution of low molecular weight species was probed. The model tracked 151 species and included over 11,000 reactions. Rate parameters were adapted from our previous work, literature values, and regression against experimental data. The model results were found to be in excellent agreement with experimental data for the evolution of condensable low molecular weight products. The time evolution curves of specific low molecular weight products indicated that the random scission pathway was important for all species, while the backbiting pathway played a complementary role. Net rate analysis was used to further elucidate the competition between the pathways. Net rate analysis of end-chain radicals showed that the unzipping pathway was not competitive with the other pathways, as expected based on experimental yields of ethylene. The random scission pathway was found to be controlling, with the backbiting pathway playing a more minor role for product formation. By comparing the net rates for formation of specific mid-chain radicals via intramolecular hydrogen shift reactions, the contribution of the backbiting pathway was shown to vary, with radicals formed via the most facile x,x + 4-intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions being favored.     

Investigation of thermal decomposition of phosphonic acids

The paper compares building and decomposition pathways of two phosphonic acids, amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP) and 1-hydroxy ethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP).The theoretical formation reactions were composed using elementary reactions and compared to reaction routes published in literature. As result, summary reaction pathways for both phosphonic acids are proposed which only vary in the number of reaction steps required. These reaction steps include carbonyl reactions, S_N2-reactions, and ionic reactions. The synthesis of ATMP proceeds in three reaction steps, whereas HEDP is formed in one reaction. The thermal decomposition of both phosphonic acids in solid state was examined by combination of thermogravimetry coupled with infrared spectroscopy as well as pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Decomposition mechanisms were deduced and compared to the theoretical findings resulting in the conclusion that the decomposition processes of ATMP and HEDP follows the formation mechanism.Thus, the suitability of theoretical considerations for the understanding of thermal decomposition processes is shown.     

Bimolecular homolytic substitution (S(H)2) reactions with hydrogen atoms. time-resolved electron spin resonance detection in the pulse radiolysis of alpha-(methylthio)acetamide

Pulse radiolysis of aqueous solutions of alpha-(methylthio)acetamide produced unexpectedly large quantities of acetamide radicals that were identified by time-resolved electron spin resonance (TRESR) spectroscopy. The pH dependence of the TRESR-measured radical yields, results from selective scavenging reactions, and density functional theory predictions of the reaction thermochemistry prove that bimolecular homolytic substitution, S(H)2, of the acetamide radical fragment by a H atom is the most likely formation pathway.     

Pyrolysis and Oxidation of Methane in a RF Plasma Reactor

The chemical kinetic effects of RF plasma on the pyrolysis and oxidation of methane were studied experimentally and computationally in a laminar flow reactor at 100 Torr and 373 K with and without oxygen addition into He/CH₄ mixtures. The formation of excited species as well as intermediate species and products in the RF plasma reactor was measured with optical emission spectrometer and Gas Chromatography and the data were used to validate the kinetic model. The kinetic analysis was performed to understand the key reaction pathways. The experimental results showed that H₂, C₂ and C₃ hydrocarbon formation was the major pathways for plasma assisted pyrolysis of methane. In contrast, with oxygen addition, C₂ and C₃ formation dramatically decreased, and syngas (H₂ and CO) became the major products. The above results revealed oxygen addition significantly modified the chemistry of plasma assisted fuel pyrolysis in a RF discharge. Moreover, an increase of E/n was found to be more beneficial for the formation of higher hydrocarbons while a small amount of oxygen was presented in a He/CH₄ mixture. A reaction path flux analysis showed that in a RF plasma, the formation of active species such as CH₃, CH₂, CH, H, O and O (¹D) via the electron impact dissociation reactions played a critical role in the subsequent processes of radical chain propagating and products formation. The results showed that the electronically excitation, ionization, and dissociation processes as well as the products formation were selective and strongly dependent on the reduced electric field.     

Thermal decomposition of model compound of algal biomass

This contribution investigates thermal decomposition of leucine, as a representative model compound for amino acids in algal biomass. We map out potential energy surface for a wide array of unimolecular and self-condensation reactions operating in the decomposition of leucine. Decarboxylation and dehydration of leucine ensues by eliminating CO₂ and –OH, respectively, from the –COOH group attached to the α-carbon. The molecular channel for deamination involves cleavage of NH₂ from α-carbon of leucine. The activation energies for direct elimination of CO₂, NH₃, and H₂O from a leucine molecule lie within 20.7 kJ/mol of each other. Activation energies for these decomposition pathways reside below the bond dissociation enthalpy of H–C(α) of 323.1 kJ/mol. The decarboxylation, deamination, and dehydration pathways, via radical-prompted pathways, systematically require lower energy barriers, in reference to closed-shell reaction corridors. Detailed computations at the CBS-QB3 level provide the Arrhenius rate parameters for the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions, and standard enthalpies of formation, standard entropies, and heat capacities for all the products and intermediates. A kinetic analysis of gas-phase reactions, within the context of a plug-flow reactor model, accounts qualitatively for the formation of major products observed experimentally in the thermal degradation of the condensed-phase leucine. Among notable N-containing species, the model predicts the prevailing of NH₃ over HCN and HNCO, in addition to corresponding appreciable concentrations of amines, imines, and nitriles. Our detailed kinetic investigation illustrates a negligible contribution of the self-condensation reactions of leucine in the gas phase.     

One product, two pathways: initially divergent radical reactions reconverge to form a single product in high yield

The paper describes examples of net diastereotopic-group-selective radical processes having the unusual feature that a single product is formed even though the key reaction of the two diastereotopic radical precursors is nonselective. For example, reaction of (R)-N-(cyclohex-2-en-1-yl)-N-(2,6-diiodo-4-methylphenyl)acetamide with tributyltin hydride produces 1-((4aR,9aR)-6-methyl-2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-9(9aH)-yl)ethanone with high product selectivity and in high yield. Analysis of the concentration profiles of the closed-shell intermediates at the halfway point of the reaction shows that nonselective abstraction of diastereotopic iodides by tin radicals occurs, leading to diastereomeric aryl radicals. These isomeric intermediates evolve via two nonintersecting reaction pathways, cyclization and bimolecular trapping or vice versa, into the same final product. Origins of the selectivity are suggested on the basis of conformational analysis of the products using both X-ray crystallography and density functional theory calculations.