Rate constants of the reactions of O(3P) atoms with Br2 and NO2 over the temperature range 220-950 K

The kinetics of the reactions of Br₂ and NO₂ with ground state oxygen atoms have been studied over a wide temperature range, T = 220-950 K, using a low-pressure flow tube reactor coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer: O + NO₂ → NO + O₂ (1) and O + Br₂ → Br + BrO (2). The rate constant of reaction (1) was determined under pseudo–first-order conditions, either monitoring the kinetics of O-atom or NO₂ consumption in excess of NO₂ or of the oxygen atoms, respectively: k₁ = (6.1 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp((155 ± 18)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (where the uncertainties represent precision at the 2σ level, the estimated total uncertainty on k₁ being 15% at all temperatures). The temperature dependence of k₁, found to be in excellent agreement with multiple previous low-temperature data, was extended to 950 K. The rate constant of reaction (2) determined under pseudo–first-order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of Br₂ consumption in excess of O-atoms, showed upward curvature at low and high temperatures of the study and was fitted with the following three-parameter expression: k₂ = 9.85 × 10⁻¹⁶ T^1.41 exp(543/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = (220-950) K, which is recommended from the present study with an independent of temperature conservative uncertainty of 15% on k₂.     

Temperature-dependent rate constants for the reactions of chlorine atom with methanol and Br2

Kinetics of the reaction of Cl atoms with methanol has been investigated at 2 Torr total pressure of helium and over a wide temperature range 225-950 K, using a discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction Cl + CH₃OH → products (1) was determined using both absolute measurements under pseudo-first order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of Cl-atom consumption in excess of methanol and relative rate method, k₁ = (5.1 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and was found to be temperature independent over the range T = 225-950 K. The rate constant of the reaction Cl + Br₂ → BrCl + Br (3) was measured in an absolute way monitoring Cl-atom decays in excess of Br₂: k₃ = 1.64 × 10⁻¹⁰ exp(34/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = 225-960 K (with conservative 15% uncertainty). The experimental data for k₃ can also be adequately represented by the temperature independent value of k₃ = (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The kinetic data from the present study are compared with previous measurements.     

Temperature-dependent rate constant for the reaction of F atoms with HNO3

The kinetics of the reaction of F atom with HNO₃, source of NO₃ radicals widely used in laboratory studies, has been investigated at nearly 2.7 mbar total pressure of helium over a wide temperature range, T = 220-700 K, using a low-pressure discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction F + HNO₃ → NO₃ + HF (1) was determined using both relative rate method and absolute measurements under pseudo–first-order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of F-atom consumption in excess of HNO₃, k₁ = (8.2 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp((315 ± 15)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (where the uncertainties represent precision at the 2σ level, the estimated total uncertainty on k₁ being 15% at all temperatures). The reaction rate constant was found to be in excellent agreement with the only previous temperature-dependent study. Experiments on detection of the reaction product, HF, have shown that NO₃ and HF forming channel of the title reaction is the dominant, if not unique, on the whole temperature range of the study.     

Experimental study of the kinetics of reaction of chlorine atoms with tetrahydrofuran and fully deuterated tetrahydrofuran

The overall rate constants for H-abstraction (k_H) from tetrahydrofuran and D-abstraction (k_D) from fully deuterated tetrahydrofuran by chlorine atoms in the temperature range of 298-547 K were determined. In both cases, very weak negative temperature dependences of the overall rate constants were observed, described by the expressions: k_H = (1.55 ± 0.13) × 10⁻¹⁰ exp(52 ± 28/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k_D = (1.27 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹⁰exp(55 ± 62/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The experimental results show that the value of the kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D), amounting to 1.21 ± 0.10, is temperature independent at 298-547 K.     

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.     

Shock tube study of monomethylamine thermal decomposition and NH2 high temperature absorption coefficient

CH₃NH₂ thermal decomposition is shown to provide a suitable NH₂ radical source for spectroscopic and kinetic shock tube studies. Using this precursor, the absorption coefficient of the NH₂ radical at a detection wavelength of 16739.90 cm⁻¹ has been determined. In the temperature range 1600–2000K the low‐pressure absorption coefficient is described by the polynominal equation: k_NH2=3.953×10¹⁰/T ³+7.295×10⁵/T ²−1.549×10³/T [atm⁻¹ cm⁻¹] The uncertainty of the determined absorption coefficient is estimated to be ±10%. The rate of the thermal decomposition reaction CH₃NH₂+M → CH₃+NH₂+M is determined over the temperature range 1550–1900 K and at pressures near 1.6 atm. The rate coefficient was found to be: k₁=2.51×10¹⁶ exp(−28430/T) [cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹] The uncertainty of the determined rate coefficients is estimated to be ±20%. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 323–330, 1999     

Rate coefficients for reactions of OH radicals with CH3D,CH2D2, CHD3, and CD4

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) smog chamber techniques were used to investigate the atmospheric chemistry of the isotopologues of methane. Relative rate measurements were performed to determine the kinetics of the reaction of the isotopologues of methane with OH radicals in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units: k(CH₃D + OH) = (5.19 ± 0.90) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CH₂D₂ + OH) = (4.11 ± 0.74) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CHD₃ + OH) = (2.14 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁵, and k(CD₄ + OH) = (1.17 ± 0.19) × 10⁻¹⁵ in 700 Torr of air diluent at 296 ± 2 K. Using the determined OH rate coefficients, the atmospheric lifetimes for CH_4–xD_x (x = 1–4) were estimated to be 6.1, 7.7, 14.8, and 27.0 years, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to previous measurements of these rate coefficients.     

A computational study of the reaction kinetics of methyl radicals with trifluorohalomethanes

Ab initio calculations have been used to characterize the transition states for halogen abstraction by CH₃ in reactions with CF₄, CF₃Cl, CF₃Br, and CF₃I (1–4). Geometries and frequencies were obtained at the HF/6-31G(d) and MP2=full/6-31G(d) levels of theory. Energy barriers were computed via the Gaussian-2 methodology, and the results were employed in transition state theory analyses to obtain the rate constants over 298–2500 K. There is good accord with literature measurements in the approximate temperature range 360–500 K for reactions (2–4), and the computed activation energies are accurate to within ±6 kJ mol⁻¹. Recommended rate constant expressions for use in combustion modeling are k;₁=1.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.41 exp(−13150 K/T), k₂=8.4×10⁻²⁰(T/K)^2.34 exp(−5000 K/T), k₃=4.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.05 exp(−3990 K/T), and k₄=8.3×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.18 exp(−1870 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of flame suppression chemistry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 179–184, 1998.     

Rate constant of OH + OCS reaction over the temperature range 255–483 K

The rate constant of the reaction between OH and OCS in helium over the temperature range 255–483 K has been determined using the discharge flow-resonance fluorescence technique. The OCS has been carefully purified to avoid interference from H₂S and CO impurities. An FTIR with a multireflection cell was used to determine the impurity concentrations and the purified sample was found to contain less than 0.005% of H₂S. At 300 K, the rate constant was determined to be (2.0 ±^0.4_0.8) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Although the rate constants showed slight positive deviation at lower temperatures, thev can be satisfactorily fitted by the Arrhenius equation, k = 1.13 × 10^?13 exp(?1200/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. No pressure dependence was observed at all temperatures, nor was O₂ enhancement observed under our experimental conditions.     

Experimental Study of the Reactions of OH Radicals with Propane,n‐Pentane,and n‐Heptane over a Wide Temperature Range

The kinetics of the reactions of propane, n‐pentane, and n‐heptane with OH radicals has been studied using a low‐pressure flow tube reactor (P = 1 Torr) coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constants of the title reactions were determined under pseudo–first‐order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of OH radical consumption in excess of the alkanes. A newly developed high‐temperature flow reactor was validated by the study of the OH + propane reaction, where the reaction rate constant, k₁ = 5.1 × 10^?17T^1.85exp(–160/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (uncertainty of 20%), measured in a wide temperature range, 230–898 K, was found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies and current recommendations. The experimental data for the rate constants of the reactions of OH with n‐pentane and n‐heptane can be represented as three parameter expressions (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, uncertainty of 20%): k₂ = 5.8 × 10^?18T^2.2exp(260/T) at T= 248–900 K and k₃ = 2.7 × 10^?16T^1.7exp(138/T) at T= 248–896 K, respectively. A combination of the present data with those from previous studies leads to the following expressions: k₁ = 2.64 × 10^?17T^1.93exp(–114/T), k₂ = 9.0 × 10^?17T^1.8 exp(120/T), and k₃ = 3.75 × 10^?16 T^1.65 exp(101/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which can be recommended for k₁, k₂, and k₃ (with uncertainty of 20%) in the temperature ranges 190–1300, 240–1300, and 220–1300 K, respectively.     

Gas‐phase rate coefficients for a series of alkyl cyclohexanes with OH radicals and Cl atoms

The rate coefficients of the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with three alkylcyclohexanes compounds, methylcyclohexane (MCH), trans‐1,4‐dimethylcyclohexane (DCH), and ethylcyclohexane (ECH) have been investigated at (293 ± 1) K and 1000 mbar of air using relative rate methods. A majority of the experiments were performed in the Highly Instrumented Reactor for Atmospheric Chemistry (HIRAC), a stainless steel chamber using in situ FTIR analysis and online gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) detection to monitor the decay of the alkylcyclohexanes and the reference compounds. The studies were undertaken to provide kinetic data for calibrations of radical detection techniques in HIRAC. The following rate coefficients (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) were obtained for Cl reactions: k_(Cl+MCH) = (3.51 ± 0.37) × 10^–10, k_(Cl+DCH) = (3.63 ± 0.38) × 10⁻¹⁰, k_(Cl+ECH) = (3.88 ± 0.41) × 10⁻¹⁰, and for the reactions with OH radicals: k_(OH+MCH) = (9.5 ± 1.3) × 10^–12, k_(OH+DCH) = (12.1 ± 2.2) × 10⁻¹², k_(OH+ECH) = (11.8 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹². Errors are a combination of statistical errors in the relative rate ratio (2σ) and the error in the reference rate coefficient. Checks for possible systematic errors were made by the use of two reference compounds, two different measurement techniques, and also three different sources of OH were employed in this study: photolysis of CH₃ONO with black lamps, photolysis of H₂O₂ at 254 nm, and nonphotolytic trans‐2‐butene ozonolysis. For DCH, some direct laser flash photolysis studies were also undertaken, producing results in good agreement with the relative rate measurements. Additionally, temperature‐dependent rate coefficient investigations were performed for the reaction of methylcyclohexane with the OH radical over the range 273‐343 K using the relative rate method; the resulting recommended Arrhenius expression is k_{(OH + MCH)} = (1.85 ± 0.27) × 10^–11 exp((–1.62 ± 0.16) kJ mol⁻¹/RT) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of OH and Cl reactivity trends, and comparisons are made with the existing literature values and with rate coefficients from structure‐activity relationship methods. This is the first study on the rate coefficient determination of the reaction of ECH with OH radicals and chlorine atoms, respectively.     

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase OH + furan (C4H4O) reaction between 273 and 353 K

Rate coefficients, k₁, for the gas-phase OH radical reaction with the heterocyclic ether C₄H₄O (1,4-epoxybuta-1,3-diene, furan) were measured over the temperature range 273–353 K at 760 Torr (syn. air). Experiments were performed using: (i) the photochemical smog chamber THALAMOS (thermally regulated atmospheric simulation chamber, IMT NE, Douai-France) equipped with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) detection methods and (ii) a photochemical reactor coupled with FTIR spectroscopy (PCR, University of Crete, Greece). k₁(273–353 K) was measured using a relative rate (RR) method, in which the loss of furan was measured relative to the loss of reference compounds with well-established OH reaction rate coefficients. k₁(273–353 K) was found to be well represented by the Arrhenius expression (1.30 ± 0.12) × 10⁻¹¹ exp[(336 ± 20)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with k₁(296 K) measured to be (4.07 ± 0.32) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The k₁(296 K) and pre-exponential quoted error limits are 2σ and include estimated systematic errors in the reference rate coefficients. The observed negative temperature dependence is consistent with a reaction mechanism involving the OH radical association to a furan double bond. Quantum mechanical molecular calculations show that OH addition to the α-carbon (ΔH_r(296 K) = −121.5 kJ mol⁻¹) is thermochemically favored over the β-carbon (ΔH_r(296 K) = −52.9 kJ mol⁻¹) addition. The OH-furan adduct was found to be stable over the temperature range of the present measurements. Maleic anhydride (C₄H₂O₃) was identified as a minor reaction product, 3% lower-limit yield, demonstrating a non-ring-opening active reaction channel. The present results are critically compared with results from previous studies of the OH + furan reaction rate coefficient. The infrared spectrum of furan was measured as part of this study and its estimated climate metrics are reported.     

Kinetics and mechanism of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) digestion by the UV/O3 process

In this study, the kinetics and mechanism of UV/O₃ synergistic oxidative digestion of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were investigated, focusing on the ozone direct oxidation and hydroxyl radical oxidation parts of glufosinate and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). The p-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) was selected as the probe compound, and two kinds of reaction kinetic models were proposed by competitive kinetic method with R_ct according to the different scale of rate constants of hydroxyl radical oxidation. Under the condition of weakly alkaline (pH = 9.0) and weakly acidic environment (pH = 5.0), the second-order rate constants of glufosinate and TPhP was determined indirectly to be ko_{3/glufosinate} = (2.903 ± 0.247)M⁻¹s⁻¹ and ko_3/TPhP = (3.307 ± 0.204) M⁻¹s⁻¹ by ozone direct oxidation, and k_{·OH/glufosinate} = (1.257 ± 1.031) × 10⁹ M⁻¹s⁻¹ and k_·OH/TPhP = (7.120 × 10⁸ ± 0.963) M⁻¹s⁻¹ by hydroxyl radical oxidation, respectively. The comparison of the contribution levels of the two parts to the digestion process showed that the contribution levels in the digestion of glufosinate and TPhP processes both the contribution of ·OH were higher than those of ozone, 86.3% and 72.6%, respectively.     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with butanols from 298 K to temperatures relevant for low-temperature combustion

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with n, s, and iso-butanol have been measured over the temperature range 298 to ∼650 K. The rate coefficients display significant curvature over this temperature range and bridge the gap between previous low-temperature measurements with a negative temperature dependence and higher temperature shock tube measurements that have a positive temperature dependence. In combination with literature data, the following parameterizations are recommended: k_{1,OH + n-butanol}(T) = (3.8 ± 10.4) × 10⁻¹⁹T^{2.48 ± 0.37}exp ((840 ± 161)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{2,OH + s-butanol}(T) = (3.5 ± 3.0) × 10⁻²⁰T^{2.76 ± 0.12}exp ((1085 ± 55)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{3,OH + i-butanol}(T) = (5.1 ± 5.3) × 10⁻²⁰T^{2.72 ± 0.14}exp ((1059 ± 66)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{4,OH + t-butanol}(T) = (8.8 ± 10.4) × 10⁻²²T^{3.24 ± 0.15}exp ((711 ± 83)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Comparison of the current data with the higher shock tube measurements suggests that at temperatures of ∼1000 K, the OH yields, primarily from decomposition of β-hydroxyperoxy radicals, are ∼0.3 (n-butanol), ∼0.3 (s-butanol) and ∼0.2 (iso-butanol) with β-hydroxyperoxy decompositions generating OH, and a butene as the main products. The data suggest that decomposition of β-hydroxyperoxy radicals predominantly occurs via OH elimination.     

Kinetics and Products of the Reactions of F2 with Br‐Atom and Br2

Reactions of F₂ molecules exhibit unusual features, manifesting in high reactivity of F₂ with respect to some closed‐shell molecules and low reactivity toward chemically active species, such as halogen and oxygen atoms. The existing data base on the reactions of F₂ being rather sparse, kinetic and mechanistic studies (preferably over a wide temperature range) are needed to better understand the nature of the specific reactivity of fluorine molecule. In the present work, reactions of F₂ with Br atoms and Br₂ have been studied for the first time in an extended temperature range using a discharge flow reactor combined with an electron impact ionization mass spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction F₂ + Br → F +BrF (1) was determined either from kinetics of the reaction product, BrF, formation or from the kinetics of Br consumption in excess of F₂: k₁ = (4.66 ± 0.93) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(4584 ± 86)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at T = 300–940 K. The rate constant of the reaction F₂ + Br₂ → products (2), k₂ = (9.23 ± 2.68) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(8373 ± 194)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, was determined in the temperature range 500–958 K by monitoring both reaction product (FBr) formation and F₂ consumption kinetics in excess of Br₂. The results of the experimental measurements of the yield of FBr (1.02 ± 0.07 at T = 960 K) combined with thermochemical calculations indicate that F+Br₂F forming channel of reaction (2) is probably the dominant one, at least, at highest temperature of the study.     

Atmospheric chemistry of n‐CH3(CH2)xCN (x = 0–3): Kinetics and mechanisms

Smog chamber/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to measure the kinetics of the reaction of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) with Cl atoms and OH radicals: k(CH₃CN + Cl) = (1.04 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + Cl) = (9.20 ± 3.95) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + Cl) = (2.03 ± 0.23) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + Cl) = (6.70 ± 0.67) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃CN + OH) = (4.07 ± 1.21) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + OH) = (1.24 ± 0.27) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + OH) = (4.63 ± 0.99) × 10⁻¹³, and k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + OH) = (1.58 ± 0.38) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at a total pressure of 700 Torr of air or N₂ diluents at 296 ± 2 K. The atmospheric oxidation of alkyl nitriles proceeds through hydrogen abstraction leading to several carbonyl containing primary oxidation products. HC(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, ClC(O)OONO₂, and HCN were identified as the main oxidation products from CH₃CN, whereas CH₃CH₂CN gives the products HC(O)CN, CH₃C(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, and HCN. The oxidation of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 2–3) leads to a range of oxygenated primary products. Based on the measured OH radical rate constants, the atmospheric lifetimes of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) were estimated to be 284, 93, 25, and 7 days for x = 0,1, 2, and 3, respectively.     

A Photoprotective Effect by Cation-π-Interaction? Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by an Indole Cation-π Model System

We investigated the effect of the cation-π interaction on the susceptibility of a tryptophan model system toward interaction with singlet oxygen, that is, type II photooxidation. The model system consists of two indole units linked to a lariat crown ether to measure the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen by the indole units in the presence of sodium cations (i.e. indole units subject to a cation-π interaction) and in the absence of this interaction. We found that the cation-π interaction significantly decreases the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen (k_T) for the model system, that is, (k_T = 2.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ without sodium cation vs (k_T = 6.9 ± 0.9) × 10⁷ m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ upon complexation of sodium cation to the crown ether. Furthermore, we found that the indole moieties undergo type I photooxidation processes with triplet excited methylene blue; this effect is also inhibited by the cation-π interaction. The chemical rate of reaction of the indole groups with singlet oxygen is also slower upon complexation of sodium cation in our model system, although we were unable to obtain an exact ratio due to differences of the chemical reaction rates of the two indole moieties.     

Thermal decomposition of CF3Br using Br-atom absorption

Br-atom atomic resonance absorption spectrometry (ARAS) has been developed and applied to measure thermal decomposition rate constants for CF₃Br (+ Kr)→CF₃+Br (+ Kr) over the temperature range, 1222–1624 K. The Br-atom curve-of-growth (145<λ<163 nm) was determined using this reaction. For [Br]≤1×10¹² molecules cm⁻³, absorbance, (ABS)=1.410×10⁻¹³ [Br], yielding σ=1.419×10⁻¹⁴ cm². The curve-of-growth was then used to convert (ABS) to Br-atom profiles which were then analyzed to give measured rate constants. These can be expressed in second-order by k₁=8.147×10⁻⁹ exp(−24488 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (±33%, 1222≤T≤1624 K). A unimolecular theoretical approach was used to rationalize the data. Theory indicates that the dissociation rates are closer to second- than to first-order, i.e., the magnitudes are 30–53% of the low-pressure-limit rate constants over 1222–1624 K and 123–757 torr. With the known, E₀=ΔH₀⁰=70.1 kcal mole⁻¹, the optimized theoretical fit to the ARAS data requires 〈ΔE〉_down=550 cm⁻¹. These conclusions are consistent with recently published data and theory from Kiefer and Sathyanarayana. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 859–867, 1998     

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with Cl2, Br2, and I2 from 235 to 354 K

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with Cl₂, (k₁), Br₂, (k₂) and I₂, (k₃), were measured under pseudo‐first‐order conditions in OH. OH was produced by pulsed laser photolysis of H₂O₂ (or HNO₃) and its temporal profile was monitored by laser‐induced fluorescence. The measured rate coefficients for k₁ (231–354 K) and k₂ (235–357 K) are: k₁ (T) = (3.77 ± 1.02) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1228 ± 140)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₂ (T) = (1.98 ± 0.51) × 10⁻¹¹ exp[(238 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₃ was independent of temperature between 240 and 348 K with an average value of (2.10 ± 0.60) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence limits, 1σ_A = Aσ_lnA) and include estimated systematic errors. Our measurements significantly im‐prove the accuracy of k₁. This is the first report of a slight negative temperature dependence for k₂ and of the temperature independence of k₃. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.* Int J Chem Kinet 31: 417–424, 1999     

Ab initio calculations and mechanism of two proton migration reactions of ethoxy radical

We present a direct ab initio and density functional theory dynamics study of the thermal rate constants of the two H-migration reactions of C₂H₅O radical. MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) methods were employed to optimize the geometries of all stationary points and to calculate the minimum energy path (MEP). The energies of all the stationary points were refined at the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. The thermal gas phase rate constants were evaluated based on the energetics from the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory using both microcanonical variational transition state theory (μVT) and canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the Eckart tunneling correction in the temperature range of 200–2500 K. The extended Arrhenius expression fitted from the μVT/Eckart rate constants of 1,2 H-shift and 1,3 H-shift reactions of C₂H₅O radical in the temperature range of 200–2500 K are k = 3.90 × 10⁻³¹T^12.4e^{(−2.13 × 103/T)} and k = 2.83 × 10⁻²⁹T^11.9e^{(−2.24 × 103/T)} s⁻¹, respectively. The two isomerization rate constants exhibited positive temperature dependence in the calculated temperature region. The variational effects for the two isomerizations of ethoxy radical are small and the tunneling effects are important in the low temperature range. The titled reactions are minor and not essential compared to the decomposition pathways of ethoxy radical.