Laboratory studies of the ·OH‐initiated photooxidation of ethyl‐n‐butyl ether and di‐n‐butyl ether

Oxygenated compounds such as ethers and alcohols are used as gasoline additives and industrial solvents. However, despite their widespread use, the atmospheric reaction mechanisms of some of these compounds are unknown. This study examines the ^·OH‐initiated gas‐phase removal mechanisms of ethyl‐n‐butyl ether (ENBE) and di‐n‐butyl ether (DNBE) utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry techniques. The primary products and molar yields from the hydroxyl‐radical–initiated photooxidation of ENBE in the presence of nitric oxide were acetaldehyde (0.173 ± 0.012), ethyl formate (0.219 ± 0.033), butyraldehyde (0.076 ± 0.004), butyl formate (0.241 ± 0.009), butyl acetate (0.032 ± 0.001), and ethyl butyrate (0.0044 ± 0.0006). From the calculated molar yields, approximately 45.5% of the reacted carbon were recovered. The primary products and molar yields from the DNBE and hydroxyl radical reaction in the presence of nitric oxide were propionaldehyde (0.379 ± 0.022), butyraldehyde (0.119 ± 0.003), butyl formate (0.410 ± 0.009), and butyl butyrate (0.019 ± 0.001). Approximately 47.7% of the reacted DNBE were recovered. The chemical mechanisms are presented to explain the formation of these products. In addition, the importance of the isomerization and nitrate/nitrite formation pathways in the reactions of large ethers are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 328–341, 2001     

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     

Theoretical investigation on the detailed mechanism of the OH‐initiated atmospheric photooxidation of o‐xylene

The reaction mechanism for o‐xylene with OH radical and O₂ was studied by density functional theory (DFT) method. The geometries of the reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products were optimized at B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level. The corresponding vibration frequencies were calculated at the same level. The single‐point calculations for all the stationary points were carried out at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(2df,2pd) level using the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) optimized geometries. Reaction energies for the formation of the aromatic intermediate radicals have been obtained to determine their relative stability and reversibility, and their activation barriers have been analyzed to assess the energetically favorable pathways to propagate the o‐xylene oxidation. The results of the theoretical study indicate that OH addition to o‐xylene forms ipso, meta, and para isomers of o‐xylene‐OH adducts, and the ipso o‐xylene adduct is the most stable among these isomers. Oxygen is expected to add to the o‐xylene‐OH adducts forming o‐xylene peroxy radicals. And subsequent ring closure of the peroxyl radicals to form bicyclic radicals. With relatively low barriers, isomerization of the o‐xylene bicyclic radicals to more stable epoxide radicals likely occurs, competing with O₂ addition to form bicyclic peroxy radicals. The study provides thermochemical data for assessment of the photochemical production potential of ozone and formation of toxic products and secondary organic aerosol from o‐xylene photooxidation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

9,9‐Di‐n‐octyl‐9H‐fluorene

The title compound, C₂₉H₄₂, crystallizes from the melt as a triclinic crystal. The unit cell contains three crystallographically independent mol­ecules. The three fluorene ring systems are oriented such that two non‐equivalent ring systems related by a roto‐translation are separated by a third ring system oriented orthogonally to them. The octyl chains of all three mol­ecules are perpendicular to the fluorene ring system and force a 7.4 Å separation between the two coplanar mol­ecules, thereby preventing mol­ecular π‐stacking.     

The fate of the hydroxyalkoxy radical in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene

Rate constants for several intermediate steps in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene were determined using laser‐photolysis/laser‐induced fluorescence of OH radicals at total pressures between 3 and 4 Torr at 295 K. The rate constant for decomposition of the hydroxyalkoxy radical was determined to be (3.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁴ s^?1 in this pressure range, which is in fair agreement with previous work. The presence of a prompt alkoxy decomposition pathway was also investigated and found to contribute less than 10% to the total hydroxyalkoxy radical decomposition. The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyperoxy radical with NO was determined to be (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which is moderately higher than previously reported. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 255–261, 2002     

Kinetics and mechanisms of OH‐initiated oxidation of small unsaturated alcohols

Smog chamber relative rate techniques were used to measure rate coefficients of (5.00 ± 0.54) × 10^?11, (5.87 ± 0.63) × 10^?11, and (6.49 ± 0.82) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in 700 Torr air at 296 ± 1 K for reactions of OH radicals with allyl alcohol, 1‐buten‐3‐ol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol, respectively; the quoted uncertainties encompass the extremes of determinations using two different reference compounds. The OH‐initiated oxidation of allyl alcohol in the presence of NO_x gives glycolaldehyde in a molar yield of 0.85 ± 0.08; the quoted uncertainty is two standard deviations. Oxidation of 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol gives acetone and glycolaldehyde in molar yields of 0.66 ± 0.06 and 0.56 ± 0.05, respectively. The reaction of OH radicals with allyl alcohol, 1‐buten‐3‐ol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol proceeds predominately via addition to the >C?CH₂ double bond with most of the addition occurring to the terminal carbon. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 151–158, 2010     

Di‐n‐butyltin aminoarylcarboxylates: structure,properties and in vitro antitumor activity

The properties and structures of the tetranuclear dibutyltin complexes [Sn₄(µ₃‐O)₂(C₄H₉‐n)₈­{OOCC₆H₃(NH₂)₂‐3,4}₄] (1), [Sn₄(µ₃‐O)₂(C₄H₉‐n)₈{OOCC₆H₃(NH₂)₂‐3,5}₄] (2), [Sn₄(µ₃‐O)₂(C₄H₉‐n)₈­{OOC‐2‐C₆H₄N?NC₆H₄N(CH₃)₂‐4}₄] (3) are described. Complex 3 adopts a structure with a tetranuclear Sn₄(µ₃‐O)₂ core. All tin atoms are five‐coordinate and form bonds with three oxygen atoms and two butyl ligands. Two carboxylates are bridging and two are terminal ligands. IR and NMR spectra indicate that the same structure is adopted by complexes 1 and 2. The molecular and electronic structures of complex 1 of C _i symmetry have been studied using the semi‐empirical PM3 formalism. The calculated structure and bond distances agree with X‐ray data. All complexes are effective antitumor agents. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Living cationic polymerization of n‐butyl propenyl ether

Cationic polymerization of n‐butyl propenyl ether (BuPE; CH₃CH CHOBu, cis/trans = 64/36) was examined with the HCl–IBVE (isobutyl vinyl ether) adduct/ZnCl₂ initiating system at −15 ∼ −78 °C in nonpolar (hexane, toluene) and polar (dichloromethane) solvents, specifically focusing on the feasibility of its living polymerization. In contrast to alkyl vinyl ethers, the living nature of the growing species in the BuPE polymerization was sensitive to polymerization temperature and solvent. For example, living cationic polymerization of IBVE can be achieved even at 0 °C with HCl–IBVE/ZnCl₂, whereas for BuPE whose β‐methyl group may cause steric hindrance ideal living polymerization occurred only at −78 °C. Another interesting feature of this polymerization is that the polymerization rate in hexane is as large as in dichloromethane, much larger than in toluene. A new method in determining the ratio of the living growing ends to the deactivated ones was developed with a devised monomer‐addition experiments, in which IBVE that can be polymerized in a living fashion below 0 °C was added to the almost completely polymerized solution of BuPE. The amount of the deactivated chain ends became small in hexane even at −40 °C in contrast to other solvents. Thus hexane turned out an excellent solvent for living cationic polymerization of BuPE. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 229–236, 2000     

Measurements of the kinetics of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein

The mechanisms of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein have been studied at 300 K and 100 Torr total pressure, using a turbulent flow technique coupled with laser‐induced fluorescence detection of the OH radical. The rate constants for the OH + methyl vinyl ketone and OH + methacrolein reactions were measured to be (1.78 ± 0.08) × 10^?11 and (3.22 ± 0.10) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, and were found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies. In the presence of O₂ and NO, the OH radical propagation and the loss of OH through radical termination resulting from the production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates were measured at 100 Torr total pressure and compared to the simulations of the kinetics of these reaction systems. The results of these experiments are consistent with an overall rate constant of (2.0 ± 1.3) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for both the methyl vinyl ketone‐based peroxy radical + NO and methacrolein‐based peroxy radical + NO reactions, each with branching ratios of 0.90 ± 0.10 for the bimolecular channel (oxidation of NO to NO₂) and 0.10 ± 0.10 for the termolecular channel (production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 12–25, 2003     

Synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymer by metal‐free ring‐opening oligomerization of glycidyl phenyl ether initiated with tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether

Metal‐free ring‐opening oligomerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) initiated with tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (n‐Bu₄NF) (5.0 mol %) was performed in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (PEGM) (5.0, 10, 20 mol %) as a chain transfer agent, by which the resulting polymers having narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.2) were obtained in 80–84% yield. Solubility of the obtained polymers in water increased with the increase of amount of PEGM, owing to an increase of number of PEGM‐block‐oligo(GPE) molecules compared to that of oligo(GPE) molecules having FCH₂– group at the initiating end as well as a decrease in degree of oligomerization of oligo(GPE). The PEGM‐block‐oligo(GPE) was isolated by filtration of the polymer aqueous solution, whose number‐average molecular weights determined by NMR spectroscopic analysis were almost consistent to the theoretical values. The PEGM‐block‐oligo(GPE) formed micelles in aqueous media, whose average particle diameter was 58 and 140 nm for the copolymers having a composition of PEGM:GPE = 62:38 and 53:47, respectively. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4451–4458     

Controlled polymerization of epoxides: Metal‐free ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether initiated by tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride in the presence of protic compounds

Metal‐free controlled ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) was achieved using tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (Bu₄NF) as an initiator in the presence of water and ethanol as chain transfer agents (CTAs). Number‐averaged molecular weight of poly(GPE) increased with an increase of [GPE]₀/([Bu₄NF]₀ + [CTA]₀) values, showing relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. NMR spectroscopic analysis exhibited a formation of ethoxy groups as well as FCH₂ at the initiating polymer chain‐end when ethanol was used as the CTA in the polymerization. These results indicate that Bu₄NF acts as a catalyst as well as the initiator for this polymerization system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thermochemical properties for n‐propyl,iso‐propyl,and tert‐butyl nitroalkanes,alkyl nitrites,and their carbon‐centered radicals

Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations are performed on a series of alkyl nitrites and nitroalkanes representing large‐scale primary, secondary, and tertiary nitro compounds and their radicals resulting from the loss of their skeletal hydrogen atoms. Geometries, vibration frequencies, and thermochemical properties [S°(T) and C°_p(T) (10 K ? T ? 5000 K)] are calculated at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) DFT level. Δ_fH°₂₉₈ values are from B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐31+G(2d,2p), and the composite CBS‐QB3 levels. Potential energy barriers for the internal rotations have been computed at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory, and the lower barrier contributions are incorporated into entropy and heat capacity data. The standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K are evaluated using isodesmic reaction schemes with several work reactions for each species. Recommended values derived from the most stable conformers of respective nitro‐ and nitrite isomers include ?30.57 and ?28.44 kcal mol^?1 for n‐propane‐, ?33.89 and ?32.32 kcal mol^?1 for iso‐propane‐, ?42.78 and ?41.36 kcal mol^?1 for tert‐butane‐nitro compounds and nitrites, respectively. Entropy and heat capacity values are also reported for the lower homologues: nitromethane, nitroethane, and corresponding nitrites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 181–199, 2010     

OH引发的正辛烷大气反应机理的理论研究

采用量子化学密度泛函理论研究了正辛烷与OH自由基的大气氧化反应机理。在B3LYP/6-31G(d)水平上对该反应体系的反应物、中间体、过渡态及产物进行了几何构型优化和频率计算,并在B3LYP/6-311＋G(3df,2p)水平上进行了单点能计算,得出了各反应通道的势能剖面图. 计算结果表明: 羟基硝酸酯和含有羟基羰基官能团的化合物是主要的反应产物,并且它们的挥发性较低,容易形成二次有机气溶胶。另外,本文将理论计算结果与可用的实验观测结果进行了比较。     

Kinetic investigation of gas‐phase reactions between the OH‐radical and o‐, m‐, p‐ethyltoluene and n‐nonane in air

We have carried out relative rate experiments (T = 294 ± 2 K, atmospheric pressure) to investigate the OH‐oxidation of o‐, m‐, and p‐ethyltoluene and n‐nonane (k₁, k₂, k₃, and k₄ respectively). The experiments were performed in a 2‐m³ smog chamber with Teflon coated walls. The rate constants obtained are (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 with two sigma uncertainties): k₁ = (1.36 ± 0.07) × 10^?11; k₂ = (2.12 ± 0.26) × 10^?11; k₃ = (1.47 ± 0.04) × 10^?11, and k₄ = (0.95 ± 0.02) × 10^?11. The measured rate constants are in accordance with previously published data, so that a coherent group of values for the compounds studied can be established. Atmospheric implications, ozone, and particle production are discussed. In addition, we have determined the amount of o‐, m‐, and p‐ethyltoluenes in different types of gasoline. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 367–378 2004     

Crystallization studies on linear aliphatic n‐polyurethanes

A detailed crystallization study of the linear n‐polyurethane (n‐PUR) family for n ranging from 5 to 12 was carried out by DSC supported by polarizing optical microscopy. The study embraces crystallization of all the n‐PUR under both nonisothermal and isothermal conditions. The odd and even series of n‐PUR defined by the parity of the number of methylenes (n) contained in the polymer repeating unit are considered and separately analyzed. All the members of the two series showed a thermal behavior consistent with their chemical constitution. Isothermal crystallization data were analyzed by the kinetics Avrami approach which revealed that the “crystallizability” of n‐PUR increases steadily with the flexibility of the polyurethane chain. Melting and enthalpy temperatures of isothermally and nonisothermally crystallized n‐PUR were found to vary with n according to a zig‐zag plot characteristic of odd–even effect. Given the structural similitude of n‐PUR with (n + 2)‐nylons, results were referenced to those reported for this family of polyamides. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1368–1380, 2009     

Formation pathways of DMSO2 in the addition channel of the OH‐initiated DMS oxidation: A theoretical study

The production of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl sulfone (DMSO₂) in the dimethyl sulfide (DMS) degradation scheme initiated by the hydroxyl (OH) radical has been shown to be very sensitive to nitrogen oxides (NO_x) levels. In the present work we have explored the potential energy surfaces corresponding to several reaction pathways which yield DMSO₂ from the CH₃S(O)(OH)CH₃ adduct [including the formation of CH₃S(O)(OH)CH₃ from the reaction of DMSO with OH] and the reaction channels that yield DMSO or/and DMSO₂ from the CH₃S(O₂)(OH)CH₃ adduct are also studied. The formation of the CH₃S(O₂)(OH)CH₃ adduct from CH₃S(OH)CH₃ (DMS‐OH) and O₂ was analyzed in our previous work. All these pathways due to the presence of NO_x (NO and NO₂) and also due to the reactions with O₂, OH and HO₂ are compared with the objective of inferring their kinetic relevance in the laboratory experiments that measure DMSO₂ (and DMSO) formation yields. In particular, our theoretical results clearly show the existence of NO_x‐dependent pathways leading to the formation of DMSO₂, which could explain some of these experimental results in comparison with experimental measurements carried out in NO_x‐free conditions. Our results indicate that the relative importance of the addition channel in the DMS oxidation process can be dependent on the NO_x content of chamber experiments and of atmospheric conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009