Kinetics of the reactions of halogenated methyl radicals (CF3, CF2Cl,CFCl2, and CCl3) with molecular chlorine

The kinetics of four gas-phase reactions involving halogenated methyl radicals (R ? CF₃, CF₂Cl, CFCI₂, and CCI₃) with molecular chlorine have been studied using a tubular reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. The radicals were homogeneously generated by the pulsed photolysis of precursor molecules at 193 nm. The subsequent decays of the radical concentration were monitored in real-time experiments as a function of Cl₂ concentration to obtain the rate constants of these R + Cl₂ reactions. Where possible, the rate constants were measured as a function of temperature to determine Arrhenius parameters. Apparent discrepancies between these measured rate constants for CF₃ and CCl₃ with Cl₂ and ones obtained in prior indirect studies are explained. The higher activation energies for these R + Cl₂ reactions compared to that of the CH₃ + Cl₂ reaction are attributed in part to the different polarities of the transition states formed.