The production of organic nitrates from various anthropogenic volatile organic compounds

Production of organic nitrates from OH reaction with cyclohexane, cyclohexene, n‐butane, 1‐bromopropane, and p‐xylene in the presence of NO was studied. The total organic nitrate yields for cyclohexane and n‐butane were determined to be 17 ± 4 and 7 ± 2% respectively, which is in good agreement with previous determinations. Total yields for cyclohexene, 1‐bromopropane, and p‐xylene were 2.5 ± 0.5, 1.2 ± 0.3, and 3.2 ± 0.7 respectively. The yield for cyclohexene was five times smaller than that for cyclohexane. The 1‐bromopropane yield is three times smaller that that for n‐propane, but similar to that for propene, indicating that the effect of Br substitution in the reactant may be similar to that for OH substitution. The only nitrooxy product detected for p‐xylene was 4‐methylbenzylnitrate, which was formed following H abstraction from either methyl group. No organic nitrate was detected for peroxy radicals produced from OH addition to the ring, which accounts for 90% of the OH oxidation of p‐xylene. The calculated k_3b/k₃ value for p‐methyl benzyl peroxy radicals (0.32) was slightly smaller than for n‐octyl peroxy radicals (0.39). These data imply that substituent inductive effects impact the k_3b/k₃ ratios. We found no significant difference in the k_3b/k₃ ratios for primary vs. secondary peroxy radicals of the same carbon chain. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 675–685, 2005     

Formation of alkyl nitrates from the reaction of branched and cyclic alkyl peroxy radicals with NO

The yields of C₅ and C₆ alkyl nitrates from neopentane, 2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, and cyclohexane have been measured in irradiated CH₃ONONO-alkane-air mixtures at 298 ± 2 K and 735-torr total pressure. Additionally, OH radical rate constants for neopentyl nitrate, 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, and cyclohexyl nitrate, relative to that for n-butane, have been determined at 298 ± 2 K. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with n-butane of 2.58 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, these OH radical rate constants are (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): neopentyl nitrate, 0.87 ± 0.21; cyclohexyl nitrate, 3.35 ± 0.36; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 1.75 ± 0.06; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 1.75 ± 0.22; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 3.07 ± 0.08. After accounting for consumption of the alkyl nitrates by OH radical reaction and for the yields of the individual alkyl peroxy radicals formed in the reaction of OH radicals with the alkanes studied, the alkyl nitrate yields (which reflect the fraction of the individual RO₂ radicals reacting with NO to form RONO₂) determined were: neopentyl nitrate, 0.0513 ± 0.0053; cyclohexyl nitrate, 0.160 ± 0.015; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 0.109 ± 0.003; 2-nitro-2methylbutane, 0.0533 ± 0.0022; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.0350 ± 0.0096; 3- + 4-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.165 ± 0.016; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 0.140 ± 0.014. These results are discussed and compared with previous literature values for the alkyl nitrates formed from primary and secondary alkyl peroxy radicals generated from a series of n-alkanes.     

Kinetics of OH radical reactions with a series of ethers

The rate constants for the reactions of OH with dimethyl ether (k₁), diethyl ether (k₂), di-n-propyl ether (k₃), di-isopropyl ether (k₄), and di-n-butyl ether (k₅) have been measured over the temperature range 230–372 K using the pulsed laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence (PLP-LIF) technique. The temperature dependence of k₁,k₄, can be expressed in the Arrhenius plots form: k₁ = (6.30 ± 0.10) × 10^?12 exp[?(234 ± 34)/T] and k₄ = (4.13 ± 0.10) × 10^?12 exp[(274 ± 26)/T]. The Arrhenius plots for k₂,k₃, and k₅, were curved and they were fitted to the three parameter expressions: k₂ = (1.02 ± 0.08) × 10^?17 T² exp[(797 ± 24)/T], k₃ = (1.84 ± 0.23) × 10^?17T² exp[(767 ± 34)/T], and k₅ = (6.29 ± 0.74) × 10^?18T² exp[(1164 ± 34)/T]. The values at 298 K are (2.82 ± 0.21) × 10^?12, (1.36 ± 0.11) × 10^?11,(2.17 ± 0.16) × 10^?11, (1.02 ± 0.10) × 10^?11, and (2.69 ± 0.22) × 10^?11 for k₁, k₂, k₃, k₄, and k₅, respectively, (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). These results are compared to the literature data. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pulse radiolysis and fourier transform infrared study of neopentyl peroxy radicals in the gas phase at 297 K

The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the neopentyl peroxy radical (CH₃)₃CCH₂O₂, and the kinetics and products of its self reaction have been studied in the gas phase at 298 K. Absorption cross sections were quantified over the wavelength range 230–290 nm. The measured cross section at 250 nm was; Errors represent statistical (2σ) together with our estimate of potential systematic errors(15%). The kinetics of the decay of the UV absorption following the generation of the neopentyl peroxy radicals was complicated by the rapid decomposition of the (CH₃)₃CCH₂O radicals formed in channel (4a). By measuring the yield of t-butyl peroxy radicals, the branching ratio k_4a/(k_4a + k_4b) was determined to be 0.39 ± 0.03. The rate constant for the self reaction of neopentyl peroxy radicals was k₄ = (1.07 ± 0.22) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Quoted errors represent 2σ. These results are discussed with respect to the available literature data. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate constants for reactions of OH radicals with a series of asymmetrical ethers and tert-Butyl alcohol

Absolute rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with butyl ethyl ether (k₁), methyl tert-butyl ether (k₂), ethyl tert-butyl ether (k₃) tert-amyl methyl ether (k₄) and tert-butyl alcohol (k₅) have been measured over the temperature range 230–372 K using a pulsed laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence (PLP-LIF) technique. The temperature dependence of k₁ − k₅ when expressed in Arrhenius form gave: k₁ = (6.59 ± 0.66) × 10 ⁻¹² exp|(362 ± 60)/T|, k₂ = (5.03 ± 0.27) × 10⁻¹² exp|&minus(133 ± 30)/T|, k₃ = (4.40 ± 0.24) × 10⁻¹² exp|(210 ± 37)/T|,k⁴ = (4.7 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² exp|(82 ± 85)/T|, and k₅ = (2.66 ± 0.48) × 10⁻¹² exp| −(270 ± 130)/T|. However, the Arrhenius plots for k₁–k₅, were slightly curved and are best fitted by the three parameter fits which are given in the article. The room temperature values of k₁, k₂, k₃, k₄, and k₅ are (2.08 ± 0.23) × 10⁻¹¹, (3.13 ± 0.36) × 10⁻¹², (8.80 ± 0.50) × 10⁻¹², (6.28 ± 0.45) × 10⁻¹², and (1.08 ± 0.10) × 10⁻¹², respectively, in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

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.     

2–Butoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol reactions with the nitrate radical: Rate coefficients and gas‐phase products

The bimolecular rate coefficients k and k were measured using the relative rate technique at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Values of (2.7 ± 0.7) and (4.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were observed for k and k, respectively. In addition, the products of 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? gas‐phase reactions were investigated. Derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine and N, O‐bis (trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to identify the reaction products. For 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? reaction: hydroxyacetaldehyde, 3‐hydroxypropanal, 4‐hydroxybutanal, butoxyacetaldehyde, and 4‐(2‐oxoethoxy)butan‐2‐yl nitrate were the derivatized products observed. For the benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction: benzaldehyde ((C₆H₅)C(?O)H) was the only derivatized product observed. Negative chemical ionization was used to identify the following nitrate products: [(2‐butoxyethoxy)(oxido)amino]oxidanide and benzyl nitrate, for 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^?, respectively. The elucidation of these products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with a plausible 2‐butoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound + NO₃^? gas‐phase mechanisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 778–788, 2012     

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with methylbutenols at 298 K

The relative‐rate method has been used to determine the rate coefficients for the reactions of OH radicals with three C₅ biogenic alcohols, 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol (k₁), 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol (k₂), and 3‐methyl‐2‐buten‐1‐ol (k₃), in the gas phase. OH radicals were produced by the photolysis of CH₃ONO in the presence of NO. Di‐n‐butyl ether and propene were used as the reference compounds. The absolute rate coefficients obtained with the two reference compounds agreed well with each other. The O₃ and O‐atom reactions with the target alcohols were confirmed to have a negligible contribution to their total losses by using two kinds of light sources with different relative rates of CH₃ONO and NO₂ photolysis. The absolute rate coefficients were obtained as the weighted mean values for the two reference compound systems and were k₁ = (6.6 ± 0.5) × 10^?11, k₂ = (9.7 ± 0.7) × 10^?11, and k₃ = (1.5 ± 0.1) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 298 ± 2 K and 760 torr of air. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 379–385 2004     

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with Di‐n‐Propyl ether and Di‐n‐Butyl ether and their deuterated analogs

Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with di‐n‐propyl ether, di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, di‐n‐butyl ether and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈ have been measured at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants obtained (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units) were: OH radical reactions, di‐n‐propyl ether, (2.18 ± 0.17) × 10⁻¹¹; di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, (1.13 ± 0.06) × 10⁻¹¹; di‐n‐butyl ether, (3.30 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹¹; and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈, (1.49 ± 0.12) × 10⁻¹¹; Cl atom reactions, di‐n‐propyl ether, (3.83 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹⁰; di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, (2.84 ± 0.31) × 10⁻¹⁰; di‐n‐butyl ether, (5.15 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹⁰; and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈, (4.03 ± 0.06) × 10⁻¹⁰. The rate constants for the di‐n‐propyl ether and di‐n‐butyl ether reactions are in agreement with literature data, and the deuterium isotope effects are consistent with H‐atom abstraction being the rate‐determining steps for both the OH radical and Cl atom reactions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 425–431, 1999     

Kinetics and mechanism of the autoxidation of pentaerythrityl tetraheptanoate at 180–220°C

A kinetic and mechanistic study of the autoxidation of liquid pentaerythrityl tetraheptanoate (PETH) at 180–220°C has been carried out utilizing a stirred-flow reactor. The results are consistent with the occurrence of a chain reaction scheme similar to that proposed for n-hexadecane autoxidation, namely, the formation of monohydroperoxides by the intermolecular abstraction reaction (3), the formation of α,γ- and α,δ-dihydroperoxides and α,γ- and α,δ-hydroperoxyketones by intramolecular peroxy radical abstraction reactions (4) and (4*), the bimolecular termination of peroxy radicals, reaction (6), and the rapid conversion of α,γ-hydroperoxyketones to the corresponding cleavage acids and methyl ketones, reaction (7). Comparisons of various rate parameters for the n-hexadecane and PETH systems reveal that the values of k₇ and (k₃/H atom)/(2 k₆)^1/2 are within experimental uncertainties identical for the two systems at 180°C. The proposed reaction scheme includes the concurrent formation of hydroxy radicals and hydroperoxyketone species. The results of kinetic analysis and the experimentally observed isomer distributions of primary and secondary monohydroperoxide products at high and low oxygen pressures suggest that ≈60% of the hydrogen abstractions from PETH at high oxygen pressures occur by hydroxy radicals.     

Products of the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with n‐butyl methyl ether and 2‐isopropoxyethanol: Reactions of ROC(Ȯ) < radicals

The products of the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with n‐butyl methyl ether and 2‐isopropoxyethanol in the presence of NO have been investigated at 298 ± 2 K and 740 Torr total pressure of air by gas chromatography and in situ atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The products observed from n‐butyl methyl ether were methyl formate, propanal, butanal, methyl butyrate, and CH₃C(O)CH₂CH₂OCH₃ and/or CH₃CH₂C(O)CH₂OCH₃, with molar formation yields of 0.51 ± 0.11, 0.43 ± 0.06, 0.045 ± 0.010, ∼0.016, and 0.19 ± 0.04, respectively. Additional products of molecular weight 118, 149 and 165 were observed by API‐MS/MS analyses, with those of molecular weight 149 and 165 being identified as organic nitrates. The products observed and quantified from 2‐isopropoxyethanol were isopropyl formate and 2‐hydroxyethyl acetate, with molar formation yields of 0.57 ± 0.05 and 0.44 ± 0.05, respectively. For both compounds, the majority of the reaction products and reaction pathways are accounted for, and detailed reaction mechanisms are presented. The results of this product study are combined with previous literature product data to investigate the tropospheric reactions of R₁R₂C(Ȯ)OR radicals formed from ethers and glycol ethers, leading to a revised estimation method for the calculation of reaction rates of alkoxy radicals. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 501–513, 1999     

Rates of reaction between the nitrate radical and some aliphatic ethers

Rate coefficients for the reaction of NO₃ with dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) have been determined. Absolute rates were measured at temperatures between 258 and 373 K using the fast flow-discharge technique. Relative rate experiments were also made at 295 K in a reactor equipped with White optics and using FTIR spectroscopy to follow the reactions. The measured rate coefficients (in units of 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) at 295 K are: 0.26 ± 0.11, 2.80 ± 0.23, 6.49 ± 0.65, and 0.64 ± 0.06 for dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, and methyl t-butyl ether, respectively. The corresponding activation energies are 21.0 ± 5.0, 17.2 ± 4.0, 15.5 ± 2.1, and 20.1 ± 1.7 kJ mole^?1. The error limits correspond to the 95%-confidence interval. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Direct Observation of Aliphatic Peroxy Radical Autoxidation and Water Effects: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

The autoxidation of organic peroxy radicals (RO₂) into hydroperoxy‐alkyl radicals (QOOH), then hydroperoxy‐peroxy radicals (HOOQO₂) is now considered to be important in the Earth's atmosphere. To avoid mechanistic uncertainties these reactions are best studied by monitoring the radicals. But for the volatile and aliphatic RO₂ radicals playing key roles in the atmosphere this has long been an instrumental challenge. This work reports the first study of the autoxidation of aliphatic RO₂ radicals and is based on monitoring RO₂ and HOOQO₂ radicals. The rate coefficients, k_iso (s^?1), were determined both experimentally and theoretically using MC‐TST kinetic theory based on CCSD(T)//M06‐2X quantum chemical methodologies. The results were in excellent agreement and confirmed that the first H‐migration is strongly rate‐limiting in the oxidation of non‐oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). At higher relative humidity (2–30 %) water complexes were evidenced for HOOQO₂ radicals, which could be an important fate for HOO‐substituted RO₂ radicals in the atmosphere.     

A laser flash photolysis/IR diode laser absorption study of the reaction of chlorine atoms with selected alkanes

A high‐resolution IR diode laser in conjunction with a Herriot multiple reflection flow‐cell has been used to directly determine the rate coefficients for simple alkanes with Cl atoms at room temperature (298 K). The following results were obtained: k(Cl + n‐butane) = (1.91 ± 0.10) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k(Cl + n‐pentane) = (2.46 ± 0.12) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k(Cl + iso‐pentane) = (1.94 ± 0.10) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k(Cl + neopentane) = (1.01 ± 0.05) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k(Cl + n‐hexane) = (3.44 ± 0.17) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 where the error limits are ±1σ. These values have been used in conjunction with our own previous measurements on Cl + ethane and literature values on Cl + propane and Cl + iso‐butane to generate a structure activity relationship (SAR) for Cl atom abstraction reactions based on direct measurements. The resulting best fit parameters are k_p = (2.61 ± 0.12) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k_s = (8.40 ± 0.60) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k_t = (5.90 ± 0.30) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, with f( ? CH₂^? ) = f (? CH₂^? ) = f (?C?) = f = 0.85 ± 0.06. Tests were carried out to investigate the potential interference from production of excited state HCl(v = 1) in the Cl + alkane reactions. There is some evidence for HCl(v = 1) production in the reaction of Cl with shape n‐hexane. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 86–94, 2002     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of Cl atoms with a series of ethers

The laser photolysis–resonance fluorescence technique has been used to determine the absolute rate coefficient for the Cl atom reaction with a series of ethers, at room temperature (298 ± 2) K and in the pressure range 15–60 Torr. The rate coefficients obtained (in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) are dimethyl ether (1.3 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, diethyl ether (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐n‐propyl ether (3.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐n‐butyl ether (4.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐isopropyl ether (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, methyl tert‐butyl ether (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, and ethyl tert‐butyl ether (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰. The results are discussed in terms of structure–reactivity relationship. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 105–110, 2000     

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     

Laboratory studies of the OH‐initiated photooxidation of Di‐n‐propyl ether

The OH‐initiated photooxidation of di‐n‐propyl ether was investigated in this study. Di‐n‐propyl ether was mixed with nitric oxide and a hydroxyl radical precursor and irradiated using UV black lamps in a glass environmental chamber. Mass spectrometry was used as the primary analytical technique to monitor the reactants and products. FTIR spectroscopy was used to monitor formaldehyde. The products observed were propyl formate, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and propyl propionate, with molar yields relative to di‐n‐propyl ether concentration loss of 0.61 ± 0.044, 0.60 ± 0.057, 0.15 ± 0.062, and 0.043 ± 0.015, respectively. Errors represent ±2σ. Nitrates could not be quantified because of a lack of commercially available standards. However, evidence exists for nitrate formation from the photooxidation of di‐n‐propyl ether. Formaldehyde concentrations were negligible. Mechanism predictions were performed on the di‐n‐propyl ether/OH system using the Carter kinetic software. Propyl formate and acetaldehyde yields were reasonably predicted (under 11.7% error). However, propionaldehyde and propyl propionate yields were vastly underpredicted, and examination of the experimental data suggested secondary production of both propionaldehyde and propyl propionate. Reactions were proposed for the photolysis and OH‐initiated photooxidation of a primary nitrate product (1‐propoxy propyl nitrate) that resulted in the formation of propionaldehyde and propyl propionate. Basic semiempirical computational chemistry calculations at the UHF/PM3 level of theory were performed using Hyperchem® to investigate pathways for the secondary formation of propionaldehyde in particular. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 703–711, 2000     

Aging and degradation of polyolefins. I. Peroxide-initiated oxidations of atactic polypropylene

Efficiencies of polymer radical production by thermal decomposition of di-tert-butylperoxy oxalate (DBPO) have been measured in bulk atactic polypropylene (PP) at 25–55°C; they range from 1 to 26%, depending on [DBPO], temperature, and presence of oxygen. Most of the polymer radicals thus produced disproportionate in the absence of oxygen but form peroxy radicals in its presence. Most of the pairs of peroxy radicals interact by a first-order reaction in the polymer cage. The fraction that escapes gives hydroperoxide in a reaction that is half order in rate of initiation. In interactions of polymer peroxy radicals, in or out of the cage, about one-third give dialkyl peroxides and immediate chain termination, two-thirds give alkoxy radicals. About one-third of the later cleave at 45°C; the rest abstract hydrogen to give hydroxy groups and new polymer and polymer peroxy radicals. The primary peroxy radicals from cleavage account for the rest of the chain termination. Cleavage of alkoxy radicals and crosslinking of PP through dialkyl peroxides nearly compensate. Up to 70% of the oxygen absorbed has been found in hydroperoxides. The formation of these can be completely inhibited, but cage reactions are unaffected by inhibitors. Concentrations of free polymer peroxy radicals have been measured by electron spin resonance and found to be very high, about 10^?3M at 58–63°C. Comparison with results on 2,4-dimethylpentane indicate that rate constants for both chain propagation and termination in the polymer are much smaller than those for the model hydrocarbon but that the ratio, k_p/(2k_t)^½, is about the same.     

Kinetics of phenyl radical reactions with propane,n‐butane,n‐hexane,and n‐octane: Reactivity of C6H5 toward the secondary C?H bond of alkanes

The kinetics of C₆H₅ reactions with n‐C_nH_2n+2 (n = 3, 4, 6, 8) have been studied by the pulsed laser photolysis/mass spectrometric method using C₆H₅COCH₃ as the phenyl precursor at temperatures between 494 and 1051 K. The rate constants were determined by kinetic modeling of the absolute yields of C₆H₆ at each temperature. Another major product C₆H₅CH₃ formed by the recombination of C₆H₅ and CH₃ could also be quantitatively modeled using the known rate constant for the reaction. A weighted least‐squares analysis of the four sets of data gave k (C₃H₈) = (1.96 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1938 ± 56)/T], and k (n‐C₄H₁₀) = (2.65 ± 0.23) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1950 ± 55)/T] k (n‐C₆H₁₄) = (4.56 ± 0.21) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1735 ± 55)/T], and k (n?C₈H₁₈) = (4.31 ± 0.39) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1415 ± 65)T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range studied. For the butane and hexane reactions, we have also applied the CRDS technique to extend our temperature range down to 297 K; the results obtained by the decay of C₆H₅ with CRDS agree fully with those determined by absolute product yield measurements with PLP/MS. Weighted least‐squares analyses of these two sets of data gave rise to k (n?C₄H₁₀) = (2.70 ± 0.15) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1880 ± 127)/T] and k (n?C₆H₁₄) = (4.81 ± 0.30) × 10¹¹ exp[?(1780 ± 133)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the temperature range 297‐‐1046 K. From the absolute rate constants for the two larger molecular reactions (C₆H₅ + n‐C₆H₁₄ and n‐C₈H₁₈), we derived the rate constant for H‐abstraction from a secondary C? H bond, k_s?CH = (4.19 ± 0.24) × 10¹⁰ exp[?(1770 ± 48)/T] cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 49–56, 2004     

Rate coefficients and ClO radical yields in the reaction of O(1D) with CClF2CCl2F,CCl3CF3, CClF2CClF2, and CCl2FCF3

Rate coefficients, k, and ClO radical product yields, Y, for the gas‐phase reaction of O(¹D) with CClF₂CCl₂F (CFC‐113) (k₂), CCl₃CF₃ (CFC‐113a) (k₃), CClF₂CClF₂ (CFC‐114) (k₄), and CCl₂FCF₃ (CFC‐114a) (k₅) at 296 K are reported. Rate coefficients for the loss of O(¹D) were measured using a competitive reaction technique, with n‐butane (n‐C₄H₁₀) as the reference reactant, employing pulsed laser photolysis production of O(¹D) combined with laser‐induced fluorescence detection of the OH radical temporal profile. Rate coefficients were measured to be k₂ = (2.33 ± 0.40) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k₃ = (2.61 ± 0.40) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k₄ = (1.42 ± 0.25) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and k₅ = (1.62 ± 0.30) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. ClO radical product yields for reactions (2)–(5) were measured using pulsed laser photolysis combined with cavity ring‐down spectroscopy to be 0.80 ± 0.10, 0.79 ± 0.10, 0.85 ± 0.12, and 0.79 ± 0.10, respectively. The quoted errors in k and Y are at the 2σ (95% confidence) level and include estimated systematic errors. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America

Int J Chem Kinet 43: 393–401, 2011