Oxidation of dimethyl ether: Absolute rate constants for the self reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals,the reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals with O2, and the thermal decomposition of CH3OCH2 radicals

The rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ (reaction (1)) and the self reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals (reaction (5)) were measured using pulse radiolysis coupled with time resolved UV absorption spectroscopy. k₁ was studied at 296K over the pressure range 0.025–1 bar and in the temperature range 296–473K at 18 bar total pressure. Reaction (1) is known to proceed through the following mechanism: CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# → CH₂OCH₂O₂H^# → 2HCHO + OH (k_prod) CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# + M → CH₃OCH₂O₂ + M (k_RO2) k = k_RO2 + k_prod, where k_RO2 is the rate constant for peroxy radical production and k_prod is the rate constant for formaldehyde production. The k₁ values obtained at 296K together with the available literature values for k₁ determined at low pressures were fitted using a modified Lindemann mechanism and the following parameters were obtained: k_RO2,0 = (9.4 ± 4.2) × 10⁻³⁰ cm⁶ molecule⁻² s⁻¹, k_RO2,∞ = (1.14 ± 0.04) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_prod,0 = (6.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, where k_RO2,0 and k_RO2,∞ are the overall termolecular and bimolecular rate constants for formation of CH₃OCH₂O₂ radicals and k_prod,0 represents the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ to yield formaldehyde in the limit of low pressure. k_RO2,∞ = (1.07 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(46 ± 27)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was determined at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–473K. At 1 bar total pressure and 296K, k₅ = (4.1 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–523K, k₅ = (4.7 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. As a part of this study the decay rate of CH₃OCH₂ radicals was used to study the thermal decomposition of CH₃OCH₂ radicals in the temperature range 573–666K at 18 bar total pressure. The observed decay rates of CH₃OCH₂ radicals were consistent with the literature value of k₂ = 1.6 × 10¹³exp(−12800/T)s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of dimethyl ether as an alternative diesel fuel. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Determination of the rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of methyl butenol with OH radicals,ozone, NO3 radicals,and Cl atoms

Using a relative rate method, rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) with OH radicals, ozone, NO₃ radicals, and Cl atoms have been investigated using FTIR. The measured values for MBO at 298±2 K and 740±5 torr total pressure are: k_OH=(3.9±1.2)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_O3=(8.6±2.9)×10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k=(8.6±2.9)×10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_Cl=(4.7±1.0)×10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Atmospheric lifetimes have been estimated with respect to the reactions with OH, O₃, NO₃, and Cl. The atmospheric relevance of this compound as a precursor for acetone is, also, briefly discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 589–594, 1998     

Kinetics of the reactions of CH3O with Cl and CIO

The kinetics of the reactions CH₃O + Cl → H₂CO + HCl (1) and CH₃O + ClO → H₂CO + HOCl (2) have been studied using the discharge-flow techniques. CH₃O was monitored by laser-induced fluorescence, whereas mass spectrometry was used for the detection or titration of other species. The rate constants obtained at 298 K are: k₁ = (1.9 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₂ = (2.3 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. These data are useful to interpret the results of the studies of the reactions of CH₃O₂ with Cl and ClO which, at least partly, produce CH₃O radicals. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Study of the reactions of OH with HCl,HBr, and HI between 298 K and 460 K

The reactions between OH radicals and hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr, HI) have been studied between 298 and 460 K by using a discharge flow-electron paramagnetic resonance technique. The rate constants were found to be k_HCl(298 K) = (7.9 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ with a weak positive temperature dependence, k_HBr (298-460 K) = (1.04 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_HI(298 K) = (3.0 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The homogeneous nature of these reactions has been experimentally tested.     

Atmospheric chemistry of acetone: Kinetic study of the CH3C(O)CH2O2+NO/NO2 reactions and decomposition of CH3C(O)CH2O2NO2

Pulse radiolysis was used to study the kinetics of the reactions of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂ radicals with NO and NO₂ at 295 K. By monitoring the rate of formation and decay of NO₂ using its absorption at 400 and 450 nm the rate constants k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO)=(8±2)×10⁻¹² and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO₂)=(6.4±0.6)×10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined. Long path length Fourier transform infrared spectrometers were used to investigate the IR spectrum and thermal stability of the peroxynitrate, CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. A value of k₋₆≈3 s⁻¹ was determined for the rate of thermal decomposition of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂ in 700 torr total pressure of O₂ diluent at 295 K. When combined with lower temperature studies (250–275 K) a decomposition rate of k₋₆=1.9×10¹⁶ exp (−10830/T) s⁻¹ is determined. Density functional theory was used to calculate the IR spectrum of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. Finally, the rate constants for reactions of the CH₃C(O)CH₂ radical with NO and NO₂ were determined to be k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO)=(2.6±0.3)×10⁻¹¹ and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO₂)=(1.6±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of acetone and the long range atmospheric transport of NO_x. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 475–489, 1998     

A study of the self reaction of CH2ClO2 and CHCl2O2 radicals at 298 K

A low‐pressure discharge‐flow system equipped with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of NO₂ and resonance‐fluorescence detection of OH has been employed to study the self reactions CH₂ClO₂ + CH₂ClO₂ → products (1) and CHCl₂O₂ + CHCl₂O₂ → products (2), at T = 298 K and P = 1–3 Torr. Possible secondary reactions involving alkoxy radicals are identified. We report the phenomenological rate constants (k_obs) k_1obs = (4.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_2obs = (8.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the rate constants derived from modelling the decay profiles for both peroxy radical systems, which takes into account the proposed secondary chemistry involving alkoxy radicals k₁ = (3.3 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₂ = (7.0 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ A possible mechanism for these self reactions is proposed and QRRK calculations are performed for reactions (1), (2) and the self‐reaction of CH₃O₂, CH₃O₂ + CH₃O₂ → products (3). These calculations, although only semiquantitative, go some way to explaining why both k₁ and k₂ are a factor of ten larger than k₃ and why, as suggested by the products of reaction (1) and (2), it seems that the favored reaction pathway is different from that followed by reaction (3). The atmospheric fate of the chlorinated peroxy species, and hence the impact of their precursors (CH₃Cl and CH₂Cl₂), in the troposphere are briefly discussed. HC(O)Cl is identified as a potentially important reservoir species produced from the photooxidation of these precursors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 433–444, 1999     

An ftir study of the reaction between nitrogen dioxide and alcohols

The reaction 2NO₂ + ROH = RONO + HNO₃ (R = CH₃ or C₂H₅) has been studied using the FTIR method at reactant pressures from 0.1 to 1.0 torr at 25°C. The termolecular rate constant for the forward reaction was determined to be (5.7 ± 0.6) × 10^?37 cm⁶/molec²·s for CH₃OH and (5.7 ± 0.8) × 10^?37 cm⁶/molec²·s for C₂H₅OH, that is, d[RONO]/dt = k[NO₂]²[ROH]. The corresponding equilibrium constants were measured as 1.36 ± 0.06 and 0.550 ± 0.025 torr^?1, respectively. These results are consistent with those of a previous study based on the NO₂ decay measurements at reactant pressures from 1 to 10 torr.     

Temperature-dependent kinetics studies of the reactions of C2H5O2 and n-C3H7O2 radicals with NO

The rate coefficients for the gas-phase reactions of C₂H₅O₂ and n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals with NO have been measured over the temperature range of (201–403) K using chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection of the peroxy radical. The alkyl peroxy radicals were generated by reacting alkyl radicals with O₂, where the alkyl radicals were produced through the pyrolysis of a larger alkyl nitrite. In some cases C₂H₅ radicals were generated through the dissociation of iodoethane in a low-power radio frequency discharge. The discharge source was also tested for the i-C₃H₇O₂ + NO reaction, yielding k_{298 K} = (9.1 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in excellent agreement with our previous determination. The temperature dependent rate coefficients were found to be k(T) = (2.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp{(380 ± 70)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k(T) = (2.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² exp{(350 ± 60)/T} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the reactions of C₂H₅O₂ and n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals with NO, respectively. The rate coefficients at 298 K derived from these Arrhenius expressions are k = (9.3 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for C₂H₅O₂ radicals and k = (9.4 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for n-C₃H₇O₂ radicals. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Reaction of H with C2N2 at pressures near 1 torr

The rate of disappearance of C₂N₂ in the presence of a large excess of H atoms has been measured in a discharge-flow system at pressures near 1 torr and temperatures in the range of 282–338 K. Under these conditions the reaction has a small negative temperature coefficient. A transition from second-order to third-order kinetics with decreasing pressure occurs at pressures near 1 torr. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanism where k₇ = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^–15 cm³/molec¹·sec is found for the forward rate of reaction (7). The results also give k₇k₈/k_?7 = 3.7 × 10^?31 cm⁶/molec²·sec and k₇k₉/k_?7 = 3.0 × 10^?32 cm⁶/molec²·sec, the first being probably an upper limit and the second probably a lower limit; hence k₈/k₉ = 12 is found as an upper limit.     

1,1,1,3,3,-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc): atmospheric degradation and contribution to radiative forcing

The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc) has been determined over the temperature range 278–323K using a relative rate technique. The results provide a value of k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=2.0×10⁻¹²exp(−1750±400/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ based on k(OH+CH₃CCl₃)=1.8×10⁻¹² exp (−1550±150/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the rate constant of the reference reaction. Assuming the major atmospheric removal process is via reaction with OH in the troposphere, the rate constant data from this work gives an estimate of 10.8 years for the tropospheric lifetime of HFC-365mfc. The overall atmospheric lifetime obtained by taking into account a minor contribution from degradation in the stratosphere, is estimated to be 10.2 years. The rate constant for the reaction of Cl atoms with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane was also determined at 298±2 K using the relative rate method, k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=(1.1±0.3)×10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The chlorine initiated photooxidation of CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ was investigated from 273–330 K and as a function of O₂ pressure at 1 atmosphere total pressure using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Under all conditions the major carbon-containing products were CF₂O and CO₂, with smaller amounts of CF₃O₃CF₃. In order to ascertain the relative importance of hydrogen abstraction from the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND) and (SINGLE BOND)CH₃ groups in CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals and Cl atoms with the structurally similar compounds CF₃CH₂CCl₂F and CF₃CH₂CF₃ were also determined at 298 K k(OH+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(8±3)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₃)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹]; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₃)<1×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results indicate that the most probable site for H-atom abstraction from CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ is the methyl group and that the formation of carbonyl compounds containing more than a single carbon atom will be negligible under atmospheric conditions, carbonyl difluoride and carbon dioxide being the main degradation products. Finally, accurate infrared absorption cross-sections have been measured for CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, and jointly used with the calculated overall atmospheric lifetime of 10.2 years, in the NCAR chemical-radiative model, to determine the radiative forcing of climate by this CFC alternative. The steady-state Halocarbon Global Warming Potential, relative to CFC-11, is 0.17. The Global Warming Potentials relative to CO₂ are found to be 2210, 790, and 250, for integration time-horizons of 20, 100, and 500 years, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the Cl + CO reaction in air

Long-path FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of Cl atoms with CO in air. The relative rate constants at 298 K and 760 torr for the forward direction of the reaction of Cl with ¹³CO and the reaction of Cl¹³CO with O₂ were k₁ = (3.4 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₂ = (4.3 ± 3.2) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively (all uncertainty limits are 2σ). The rate constant for the net loss of ¹³CO due to reaction with Cl in 1 atm of air at 298 K was k_Cl+COobs = (3.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The only observed carbon-containing product of the Cl + ¹²CO reaction was ¹²CO₂, with a yield of 109 ± 18%. Our results are in good agreement with extrapolations from previous studies. The reaction mechanism and the implications for laboratory studies and tropospheric chemistry are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetic study of the reaction of BrO radicals with dimethylsulfide

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of BrO with dimethylsulfide (DMS) have been studied by the mass spectrometric discharge-flow method in the temperature range (233–320) K and at a total pressure around 1 torr. The temperature dependence of the reaction rate constant k₁ = (1.5 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁴ exp [(845 ± 175)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ has been determined under pseudo-first-order conditions in excess of DMS over BrO radicals. Mass spectrometric calibration of the reaction product dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) allowed for a determination of the branching ratio of (0.94 ± 0.11) for the DMSO forming channel. These data indicate that the reaction is likely to proceed through a channel involving a long-lived intermediate: BrO + CH₃SCH₃ →[CH₃S(OBr)CH₃]* → CH₃S(O)CH₃ + Br. The atmospheric application of the data is briefly discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of chlorine atoms with ethane,propane, and n-butane

Absolute (flash photolysis) and relative (FTIR-smog chamber and GC) rate techniques were used to study the gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms with C₂H₆ (k₁), C₃H₈ (k₃), and n-C₄H₁₀ (k₂). At 297 ± 1 K the results from the two relative rate techniques can be combined to give k₂/k₁ = (3.76 ± 0.20) and k₃/k₁ = (2.42 ± 0.10). Experiments performed at 298–540 K give k₂/k₁ = (2.0 ± 0.1)exp((183 ± 20)/T). At 296 K the reaction of Cl atoms with C₃H₈ produces yields of 43 ± 3% 1-propyl and 57 ± 3% 2-propyl radicals, while the reaction of Cl atoms with n-C₄H₁₀ produces 29 ± 2% 1-butyl and 71 ± 2% 2-butyl radicals. At 298 K and 10–700 torr of N₂ diluent, 1- and 2-butyl radicals were found to react with Cl₂ with rate coefficients which are 3.1 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 0.1 times greater than the corresponding reactions with O₂. A flash-photolysis technique was used to measure k₁ = (5.75 ± 0.45) × 10⁻¹¹ and k₂ = (2.15 ± 0.15) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 298 K, giving a rate coefficient ratio k₂/k₁ = 3.74 ± 0.40, in excellent agreement with the relative rate studies. The present results are used to put other, relative rate measurements of the reactions of chlorine atoms with alkanes on an absolute basis. It is found that the rate of hydrogen abstraction from a methyl group is not influenced by neighboring groups. The results are used to refine empirical approaches to predicting the reactivity of Cl atoms towards hydrocarbons. Finally, relative rate methods were used to measure rate coefficients at 298 K for the reaction of Cl atoms with 1- and 2-chloropropane and 1- and 2-chlorobutane of (4.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹, (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁰, (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, and (7.0 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 43–55, 1997.     

A flash photolysis–resonance fluorescence kinetics study of ground-state sulfur atoms. II. Rate parameters for reaction of S(3P) with C2H4

Absolute rate constants for the reaction of S(³P) with ethylene were measured over an ethylene concentration range of 7, a total pressure of 50 to 400 torr, and a flash intensity range of 10. At 298°K, the bimolecular rate constant was found to be invariant over this range of variables and had a measured value of 4.96 × 10^?13 cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. Over the temperature range of 218° to 442°K, the rate data could be fit to a simple Arrhenius equation of the form Units are cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. The dependence of the measured value of k₁ on the concentration of the reaction product ethylene episulfide is discussed.     

Temperature-dependent kinetics of the simplest Criegee intermediate reaction with dimethyl sulfoxide

Criegee intermediates are thought to play roles in atmospheric chemistry, including OH radical formation, oxidation of SO₂, NO₂, etc. CH₂OO is the simplest Criegee intermediate, of which the reactivity has been a hot topic. Here we investigated the kinetics of CH₂OO reaction with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) under 278–349 K and 10–150 Torr. DMSO is an important species formed in the oxidation of dimethyl sulfide in the biogenic sulfur cycle. The concentration of CH₂OO was monitored in real-time via its mid-infrared absorption band at about 1,286 cm⁻¹ (Q branch of the ν₄ band) with a high-resolution quantum cascade laser spectrometer. The 298 K bimolecular rate coefficient was determined to be k₂₉₈ = (2.3 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹² cm³/s at 30 Torr with an Arrhenius activation energy of −3.9 ± 0.2 kcal/mol and a weak pressure dependence for pressures higher than 30 Torr (k₂₉₈ = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹² cm³/s at 100 Torr). The reaction is speculated to undergo a five-membered ring intermediate, analogous to that of CH₂OO with SO₂. The negative activation energy indicates that the rate-determining transition state is submerged. The magnitude of the reaction rate coefficient lies in between those of CH₂OO reactions with (CH₃)₂CO and with SO₂.     

Kinetic study of the reaction of chlorine atoms with CF3I and the reactions of CF3 radicals with O2, Cl2 and NO at 296 K

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of Cl atoms with CF₃I have been studied relative to the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₄ over the temperature range 271–363 K. Using k(Cl + CH₄) = 9.6 × 10^?12 exp(?2680/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, we derive k(Cl + CF₃I) = 6.25 × 10^?11 exp(?2970/RT) in which E_a has units of cal mol^?1. CF₃ radicals are produced from the reaction of Cl with CF₃I in a yield which was indistinguishable from 100%. Other relative rate constant ratios measured at 296 K during these experiments were k(Cl + C₂F₅I)/k(Cl + CF₃I) = 11.0 ± 0.6 and k(Cl + C₂F₅I)/k(Cl + C₂H₅Cl) = 0.49 ± 0.02. The reaction of CF₃ radicals with Cl₂ was studied relative to that with O₂ at pressures from 4 to 700 torr of N₂ diluent. By using the published absolute rate constants for k(CF₃ + O₂) at 1–10 torr to calibrate the pressure dependence of these relative rate constants, values of the low- and high-pressure limiting rate constants have been determined at 296 K using a Troe expression: k₀(CF₃ + O₂) = (4.8 ± 1.2) × 10^?29 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1; k_∞(CF₃ + O₂) = (3.95 ± 0.25) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1; F_c = 0.46. The value of the rate constant k(CF₃ + Cl₂) was determined to be (3.5 ± 0.4) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 296 K. The reaction of Cl atoms with CF₃I is a convenient way to prepare CF₃ radicals for laboratory study. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for the reaction of chlorine atoms with chloromethanes

Rate coefficients for the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₃Cl (k₁), CH₂Cl₂ (k₂), and CHCl₃ (k₃) have been determined over the temperature range 222–298 K using standard relative rate techniques. These data, when combined with evaluated data from previous studies, lead to the following Arrhenius expressions (all in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k₁ = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1200 ± 150/T); k₂ = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1100 ± 150/T); k₃ = (0.48 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1050 ± 150/T). Values for k₁ are in substantial agreement with previous measurements. However, while the room temperature values for k₂ and k₃ agree with most previous data, the activation energies for these rate coefficients are substantially lower than previously recommended values. In addition, the mechanism of the oxidation of CH₂Cl₂ has been studied. The dominant fate of the CHCl₂O radical is decomposition via Cl‐atom elimination, even at the lowest temperatures studied in this work (218 K). However, a small fraction of the CHCl₂O radicals are shown to react with O₂ at low temperatures. Using an estimated value for the rate coefficient of the reaction of CHCl₂O with O₂ (1 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹), the decomposition rate coefficient for CHCl₂O is found to be about 4 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ at 218 K, with the barrier to its decomposition estimated at 6 kcal/mole. As part of this work, the rate coefficient for Cl atoms with HCOCl was also been determined, k₇ = 1.4 × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−885/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in agreement with previous determinations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 515–524, 1999     

Kinetics of the reactions of CH3O with Br and BrO at 298 K

A discharge flow reactor coupled to a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detector and a mass spectrometer was used to study the kinetics of the reactions CH₃O+Br→products (1) and CH₃O+BrO→products (2). From the kinetic analysis of CH₃O by LIF in the presence of an excess of Br or BrO, the following rate constants were obtained at 298 K: k₁=(7.0±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₂=(3.8±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The data obtained are useful for the interpretation of other laboratory studies of the reactions of CH₃O₂ with Br and BrO. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 249–255, 1998.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of Cl atoms with CH2 CO (Ketene)

The kinetics and mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO have been studied with a FTIR spectrometer/smog chamber apparatus. Using relative rate methods the rate of reaction of Cl atoms with ketene was found to be independent of total pressure over the range 1–700 torr of air diluent with a rate constant of (2.7 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 295 K. The reaction proceeds via an addition mechanism to give a chloroacetyl radical (CH₂ClCO) which has a high degree of internal excitation and undergoes rapid unimolecular decomposition to give a CH₂Cl radical and CO. Chloroacetyl radicals were also produced by the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂ClCHO; no decomposition was observed in this case. The rates of addition reactions are usually pressure dependent with the rate increasing with pressure reflecting increased collisional stabilization of the adduct. The absence of such behavior in the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO combined with the fact that the reaction rate is close to the gas kinetic limit is attributed to preferential decomposition of excited CH₂ClCO radicals to CH₂Cl radicals and CO as products as opposed to decomposition to reform the reactants. As part of this work ab initio quantum mechanical calculations (MP2/6-31G(d,p)) were used to derive Δ_fH₂₉₈(CH₂ClCO) = −(5.4 ± 4.0) kcal mol⁻¹. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetic measurements of the gas phase HO2+CH3O2 cross-disproportionation reaction at 298 K

Flash photolysis kinetic absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the gas phase reaction between hydroperoxy (HO₂) and methylperoxy (CH₃O₂) radicals at 298 K. Due to the large difference between the self-reactivities of the two radicals, first- or second-order kinetic conditions could not be maintained for either species. Thus, the rate constant for the cross reaction was determined from computer-modeled fits of the radical absorption decay curves, at wavelengths between 215 and 280 nm. This procedure yielded k = 2.9 × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ independent of total pressure (using N₂) between 25 and 600 Torr, and of the partial pressure of water vapor (up to 11.6 Torr). There was also no effect of water vapor on the rate constant for the self-reaction of methylperoxy radicals.