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     

A smog chamber and modeling study of the gas phase NOx–air photooxidation of toluene and the cresols

An experimental and modeling study of irradiated toluene–NO_x–air, toluene–benzaldehyde–NO_x–air, and cresol–NO_x–air mixtures at part-per-million concentrations has been carried out. These mixtures were irradiated at 303 ± 1 K in a 5800-liter Teflon-lined, evacuable environmental chamber, with temperature, humidity, light intensity, spectral distribution, and the concentrations of O₃, NO, NO₂, toluene, PAN, formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, o-cresol, m-nitrotoluene, and methyl nitrate beingmonitored as a function of time. For the toluene and toluene–benzaldehyde–NO_x–air runs a variety of initial reactant concentrations were investigated. Cresol–NO_x–air runs were observed to be much less reactive in terms of O₃ formation and NO to NO₂ conversion rates than toluene–NO_x–air runs, with the relative reactivity of the cresol isomers being in the order meta » ortho > para. The addition of benzaldehyde to toluene–NO_x–air mixtures decreased the reactivity, in agreement with previous studies. Alternative mechanistic pathways for the NO_x photooxidations of aromaticsystems in general are discussed, and the effects of varying these mechanistic alternatives on the model predictions for the toluene and o-cresol–NO_x–air systems are examined. Fits of the calculations to most of the experimental concentration–time profiles could be obtained to within the experimental uncertainty for two of the mechanistic options considered. In both cases it is assumed that (1) O₂ adds to the OH–toluene adduct ～75% of the time forming, after a further addition of O₂, a C₇ bicyclic peroxy radical, and (2) this C₇ bicyclic peroxy radical reacts with NO ～75% of the time to ultimately form α-dicarbonyls and conjugated γ-dicarbonyls (e.g., methylglyoxal + 2-butene-1,4-dial) and ～25% of the time to form organic nitrates. The major uncertainties in the mechanisms concern (1) the structure of the bicyclicperoxy intermediate, and (2) the γ-dicarbonyl photooxidation mechanism. Good fits to the o-cresol concentration–time profiles in the toluene–NO_x runs are obtained if it is assumed that o7-cresol reacts rapidly with NO₃ radicals. However, it is observed that the model underpredicts nitrotoluene yields by a factor of ～10, but this is in any case a minor product. It is concluded that further experimental work will be required toadequately validate the assumptions incorporated in the aromatic photooxidation mechanisms presented here.     

Mechanism of the OH–propene–O2 reaction: An ab initio study

The reaction of OH radicals with olefins is known to be important in atmospheric chemistry. From experimental data a global mechanism has been proposed, but the regioselectivity of the products is uncertain. In this work, the OH–propene–O₂ reaction has been studied with ab initio molecular orbital techniques. Reactants, transition structures, intermediate species and products are optimized at the UMP2/6‐31G** level for the two possible addition paths. In the first step, OH adducts are obtained with the OH radical linked to either the terminal or the central C atoms. Consideration of the second step, the addition of O₂, is required to explain the observed experimental data. The selectivity of the total reaction is found to be temperature and pressure dependent, but independent of the preferred site for the OH attack. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 31: 29–36, 1999     

The Atmospheric Oxidation Mechanism of Benzyl Alcohol Initiated by OH Radicals: The Addition Channels

Benzyl alcohol (BA) is present in indoor atmospheres, where it reacts with OH radicals and undergoes further oxidation. A theoretical study is carried out to elucidate the reaction mechanism and to identify the main products of the oxidation of BA that is initiated by OH radicals. The reaction is found to proceed by H‐abstraction from the CH₂ group (25 %) and addition to the ipso (60 %) and ortho (15 %) positions of the aromatic ring. The BA–OH adducts react further with O₂ via the bicyclic radical intermediates—the same way as for benzene—forming mainly 3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxopropanal and butenedial. If NO_x is low, the bicyclic peroxy radicals undergo intramolecular H‐migration, forming products containing OH, OOH, and CH₂OH/CHO functional groups, and contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation.     

Reaction kinetics and thermochemistry of the chemically activated and stabilized primary ethyl radical of methyl ethyl sulfide,CH3SCH2CH2•, with O2 to CH3SCH2CH2OO•

Oxidation of methyl ethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₂CH₃, methylthioethane, MES) under atmospheric and combustion conditions is initiated by hydroxyl radicals, MES radicals, generated after loss of a H atom via OH abstraction, will further react with O₂ to form chemically activated and stabilized peroxyl radical adducts. The kinetics of the chemically activated reaction between the CH₃SCH₂CH₂• radical and molecular oxygen are analyzed using quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory for k(E) with master equation analysis and a modified strong-collision approach to account for further reactions and collisional deactivation. Thermodynamic properties of reactants, products, and transition states are determined by the B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p), M062X/6-311+G(2d,p), ωB97XD/6-311+G(2d,p) density functional theory, and CBS-QB3, G3MP2B3, and G4 composite methods. The reaction of CH₃SCH₂CH₂• with O₂ forms an energized peroxy adduct CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• with a calculated well depth of 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Thermochemical properties of reactants, transition states, and products obtained under CBS-QB3 level are used for calculation of kinetic parameters. Reaction enthalpies are compared between the methods. The temperature and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for both the chemically activated reactions of the energized adduct and the thermally activated reactions of the stabilized adducts are presented. Stabilization and isomerization of the CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• adduct are important under high pressure and low temperature. At higher temperatures and atmospheric pressure, the chemically activated peroxy adduct reacts to new products before stabilization. Addition of the peroxyl oxygen radical to the sulfur atom followed by sulfur-oxygen double bond formation and elimination of the methyl radical to form S(= O)CCO• + CH₃ (branching) is a potentially important new pathway for other alkyl-sulfide peroxy radical systems under thermal or combustion conditions.     

Theoretical study on the reaction of the phenoxy radical with O2, OH,and NO2

Unlike the chemistry underlying the self‐coupling of phenoxy (C₆H₅O) radicals, there are very limited kinetics data at elevated temperatures for the reaction of the phenoxy radical with other species. In this study, we investigate the addition reactions of O_2, OH, and NO₂ to the phenoxy radical. The formation of a phenoxy‐peroxy is found to be very slow with a rate constant fitted to k = 1.31 × 10^?20T^2.49 exp (?9300/T) cm³/mol/s in the temperature range of (298–2,000 K) where the addition occurs predominantly at the ortho site. Our rate constant is in line with the consensus of opinions in the literature pointing to the observation of no discernible reaction between the oxygen molecule and the resonance‐stabilized phenoxy radical. Addition of OH at the ortho and para sites of the phenoxy radical is found to afford adducts with sizable well depths of 59.8 and 56.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The phenoxy‐NO₂ bonds are found to be among the weakest known phenoxy‐radical bonds (1.7–8.7 kcal/mol). OH‐ and O₂‐initiated mechanisms for the degradation of atmospheric phenoxy appear to be negligible and the fate of atmospheric phenoxy is found to be controlled by its reaction with NO₂. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Mechanistic Studies of TiO2 Photocatalysis and Fenton Degradation of Hydrophobic Aromatic Pollutants in Water

HO–adduct radicals have been investigated and confirmed as the common initial intermediates in TiO₂ photocatalysis and Fenton degradations of water‐insoluble aromatics. However, the evolution of HO–adduct radicals to phenols has not been completely clarified. When 4‐d‐toluene and p‐xylene were degraded by TiO₂ photocatalysis and Fenton reactions, respectively, a portion of the 4‐deuterium or 4‐CH₃ group (18–100 %) at the attacked ipso position shifted to the adjacent position of the ring in the formed phenols (NIH shift; NIH is short for the National Institutes of Health, to honor the place where this phenomenon was first discovered). The results, combined with the observation of a key dienyl cationic intermediate by in situ attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, indicate that, for the evolution of HO–adduct radicals, a mixed mechanism of both the carbocation intermediate pathway and O₂‐capturing pathway occurs in both aqueous TiO₂ photocatalysis and aqueous Fenton reactions.     

Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Mechanistic Insight into Lipoxygenase

A proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) process plays an important role in the initial step of lipoxygenases to produce lipid radicals which can be oxygenated by reaction with O₂ to yield the hydroperoxides stereoselectively. The EPR spectroscopic detection of free lipid radicals and the oxygenated radicals (peroxyl radicals) together with the analysis of the EPR spectra has revealed the origin of the stereo‐ and regiochemistry of the reaction between O₂ and linoleyl (= (2Z)‐10‐carboxy‐1‐[(1Z)‐hept‐1‐enyl]dec‐2‐enyl) radical in lipoxygenases. The direct determination of the absolute rates of H‐atom‐transfer reactions from a series of unsaturated fatty acids to the cumylperoxyl (= (1‐methyl‐1‐phenylethyl)dioxy) radical by use of time‐resolved EPR at low temperatures together with detailed kinetic investigations on both photoinduced and thermal electron‐transfer oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids provides the solid energetic basis for the postulated PCET process in lipoxygenases. A strong interaction between linoleic acid (= (9Z,12Z)‐octadeca‐9,12‐dienoic acid) and the reactive center of the lipoxygenases (Fe^III? OH) is suggested to be involved to make a PCET process to occur efficiently, when an inner‐sphere electron transfer from linoleic acid to the Fe^III state is strongly coupled with the proton transfer to the OH group.     

Gas‐phase radical–radical recombination reactions of nitroxides with substituted phenyl radicals

Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to examine gas‐phase reactions of four different nitroxide free radicals with eight positively charged pyridyl and phenyl radicals (some containing a Cl, F, or CF₃ substituent). All the radicals reacted rapidly (near collision rate) with nitroxides by radical–radical recombination. However, some of the radicals were also able to abstract a hydrogen atom from the nitroxide. The results establish that the efficiency (k_reaction/k_collision) of hydrogen atom abstraction varies with the electrophilicity of the radical, and hence is attributable to polar effects (a lowering of the transition‐state energy by an increase in its polar character). The efficiency of the recombination reaction is not sensitive to substituents, presumably due to a very low reaction barrier. Even so, after radical–radical recombination has occurred, the nitroxide adduct was found to fragment in different ways depending on the structure of the radical. For example, a cationic fragment was eliminated from the adducts of the more electrophilic radicals via oxygen anion abstraction by the radical (i.e., the nitroxide adduct cleaves heterolytically), whereas adducts of the less electrophilic radicals predominantly fragmented via homolytic cleavage (oxygen atom abstraction). Therefore, differences in the product branching ratios were found to be attributable to polar factors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 216–229 2004     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethyl tert‐Butyl Ether in Aqueous Solution Mediated by TiO2 Suspensions: Parameter and Reaction Pathway Investigations

Degradation of ethyl tert‐butyl ether (ETBE) with UV/TiO₂ was studied by solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The complete removal of 0.1 g L^?1 of ETBE was achieved after 20 h of treatment. Factors such as pH of the system, catalyst and substrate concentration, and the presence of anions influenced the degradation rate. Establishment of the degradation pathway was made possible by a thorough analysis of the reaction mixture, which identified the main intermediate products generated. The possible degradation pathways were proposed and discussed in this research. The attack on the C–H bond in ETBE by ·OH forms an alkyl radical, which consequently produces a peroxyl radical upon reaction with oxygen. Peroxyl radicals react with one another and produce an alkoxy radical. The β‐bond fragmentation of the alkoxy radical produces different intermediates.     

Thermochemistry and kinetics of the 2-butanone-4-yl CH3C(=O)CH2CH2• + O2 reaction system

Thermochemistry and kinetic pathways on the 2-butanone-4-yl (CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂•) + O₂ reaction system are determined. Standard enthalpies, entropies, and heat capacities are evaluated using the G3MP2B3, G3, G3MP3, CBS-QB3 ab initio methods, and the B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) density functional calculation method. The CH₃C(=O)CH₂CH₂• radical + O₂ association reaction forms a chemically activated peroxy radical with 35 kcal mol⁻¹ excess of energy. The chemically activated adduct can undergo RO−O bond dissociation, rearrangement via intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions to form hydroperoxide-alkyl radicals, or eliminate HO₂ and OH. The hydroperoxide-alkyl radical intermediates can undergo further reactions forming ketones, cyclic ethers, OH radicals, ketene, formaldehyde, or oxiranes. A relatively new path showing a low barrier and resulting in reactive product sets involves peroxy radical attack on a carbonyl carbon atom in a cyclic transition state structure. It is shown to be important in ketones when the cyclic transition state has five or more central atoms.     

Photoinduced Oxidation Reaction of Benzotrifluoride with OH Radical by the Laser Flash Method

The optical transient and kinetics characterizations of the transients formed in the reaction of OH with benzotrifluoride (BTF) were performed by a laser flash photolysis technique. The results indicated that the formation of π‐type adduct of C₆H₅(OH)CF₃ was the major reaction channel, and the δ‐type adduct of C₆H₅CF₃OH formation was an additional minor process in the oxidation reaction of BTF attacked by OH radicals yielded from the photolysis of H₂O₂. Addition of OH to the CF₃ group led to the fluoride ion elimination to yield α,α‐difluorophenylcarbinol (C₆H₅CF₂OH). Trifluoromethylphenol (HOC₆H₄CF₃) of meta‐, para‐ and ortho‐substituted isomers resulted from the addition of OH to the BTF aromatic ring.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bond in the hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radicals

The hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radicals (HO? C₆H₆? O₂) produced from the reaction of OH‐benzene adduct with O₂ were studied with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to determine their characteristics. The optimized geometries, vibrational frequencies, and total energies of 2‐hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radical II_s and 4‐hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radical III_s were calculated at the following theoretical levels, B3LYP/6‐31G(d), B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p), and B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p). Both were shown to contain a red‐shifted intramolecular hydrogen bond (O? H … O? H bond). According to atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) analysis, the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the 2‐hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radical II_s is stronger than that one in 4‐hydroxycyclohexadienyl peroxy radical III_s, and the former is the most stable conformation among its isomers. Generally speaking, hydrogen bonding in these radicals plays an important role to make them more stable. Based on natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, the stabilization energy between orbitals is the main factor to produce red‐shifted intramolecular hydrogen bond within these peroxy radicals. The hyperconjugative interactions can promote the transfer of some electron density to the O? H antibonding orbital, while the increased electron density in the O? H antibonding orbital leads to the elongation of the O? H bond and the red shift of the O? H stretching frequency. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Gas‐Phase Reaction of Monomethylhydrazine with Ozone: Kinetics and OH Radical Formation

The gas‐phase reaction of monomethylhydrazine (CH₃NH? NH₂; MMH) with ozone was investigated in a flow tube at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 295 ± 2 K using N₂/O₂ mixtures (3–30 vol% O₂) as the carrier gas. Proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS) and long‐path FT‐IR spectroscopy served as the main analytical techniques. The kinetics of the title reaction was investigated with a relative rate technique yielding k_MMH+O3 = (4.3 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Methyldiazene (CH₃N?NH; MeDia) has been identified as the main product in this reaction system as a result of PTR‐MS analysis. The reactivity of MeDia toward ozone was estimated relative to the reaction of MMH with ozone resulting in k_MeDia+O3 = (2.7 ± 1.6) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. OH radicals were followed indirectly by phenol formation from the reaction of OH radicals with benzene. Increasing OH radical yields with increasing MMH conversion have been observed pointing to the importance of secondary processes for OH radical generation. Generally, the detected OH radical yields were definitely smaller than thought so far. The results of this study do not support the mechanism of OH radical formation from the reaction of MMH with ozone as proposed in the literature.     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of cyclo‐CF2CFXCHXCHX – (X = H,F, Cl) with OH radicals at 253–328 K

Rate constants were determined for the reactions of OH radicals with halogenated cyclobutanes cyclo‐CF₂CF₂CHFCH₂? (k₁), trans‐cyclo‐CF₂CF₂CHClCHF? (k₂), cyclo‐CF₂CFClCH₂CH₂? (k₃), trans‐cyclo‐CF₂CFClCHClCH₂? (k₄), and cis‐cyclo‐CF₂CFClCHClCH₂? (k₅) by using a relative rate method. OH radicals were prepared by photolysis of ozone at a UV wavelength (254 nm) in 200 Torr of a sample reference H₂O? O₃? O₂? He gas mixture in an 11.5‐dm³ temperature‐controlled reaction chamber. Rate constants of k₁ = (5.52 ± 1.32) × 10^?13 exp[–(1050 ± 70)/T], k₂ = (3.37 ± 0.88) × 10^?13 exp[–(850 ± 80)/T], k₃ = (9.54 ± 4.34) × 10^?13 exp[–(1000 ± 140)/T], k₄ = (5.47 ± 0.90) × 10^?13 exp[–(720 ± 50)/T], and k₅ = (5.21 ± 0.88) × 10^?13 exp[–(630 ± 50)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained at 253–328 K. The errors reported are ± 2 standard deviations, and represent precision only. Potential systematic errors associated with uncertainties in the reference rate constants could add an additional 10%–15% uncertainty to the uncertainty of k₁–k₅. The reactivity trends of these OH radical reactions were analyzed by using a collision theory–based kinetic equation. The rate constants k₁–k₅ as well as those of related halogenated cyclobutane analogues were found to be strongly correlated with their C? H bond dissociation enthalpies. We consider the dominant tropospheric loss process for the halogenated cyclobutanes studied here to be by reaction with the OH radicals, and atmospheric lifetimes of 3.2, 2.5, 1.5, 0.9, and 0.7 years are calculated for cyclo‐CF₂CF₂CHFCH₂? , trans‐cyclo‐CF₂CF₂CHClCHF? , cyclo‐CF₂CFClCH₂CH₂? , trans‐cyclo‐CF₂CFClCHClCH₂? , and cis‐cyclo‐CF₂CFClCHClCH₂? , respectively, by scaling from the lifetime of CH₃CCl₃. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 532–542, 2009     

Structure–reactivity relationships for the self‐ reactions of linear secondary alkylperoxy radicals: An experimental investigation

The self‐reactions of the linear pentylperoxy (C₅H₁₁O₂) and decylperoxy (C₁₀H₂₁O₂) radicals have been studied at room temperature. The technique of excimer laser flash photolysis was used to generate pentylperoxy radicals, while conventional flash photolysis was used for decylperoxy radicals. For the former, the recombination rate coefficients were estimated for the primary 1‐pentylperoxy isomer (n‐C₅H₁₁O₂) and for the secondary 2‐ and 3‐pentylperoxy isomers combined (“sec‐C₅H₁₁O₂”) by creating primary and secondary radicals in different ratios of initial concentrations and simulating experimental decay traces using a simplified chemical mechanism. The values obtained at 298 K were: k(n‐C₅H₁₁O₂+n‐C₅H₁₁O₂→Products)=(3.9±0.9)×10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(sec‐C₅H₁₁O₂+sec‐C₅H₁₁O₂→Products)=(3.3±1.2)×10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Quoted errors are 1σ, whereas the total relative combined uncertainties correspond to an estimated uncertainty factor around 1.65. For decylperoxy radicals, the kinetics of all the types of secondary peroxy isomers reacting with each other were considered equivalent and grouped as sec‐C₁₀H₂₁O₂ (as for sec‐C₅H₁₁O₂). The UV absorption spectrum of these secondary radicals was measured, and the combined self‐reaction rate coefficients then derived as: k(sec‐C₁₀H₂₁O₂+sec‐C₁₀H₂₁O₂)=(9.4±1.3)×10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 298 K. Again, quoted errors are 1σ and the total uncertainty factor corresponds to a value around 1.75. The sec‐dodecylperoxy radical was also investigated using the same procedure, but only an estimate of the rate coefficient could be obtained, due to aerosol formation in the reaction cell: k(sec‐C₁₂H₂₅O₂+sec‐C₁₂H₂₅O₂)≡1.4×10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with an uncertainty factor of about 2. Despite the fairly high uncertainty factors, a relationship has been identified between the room‐temperature rate coefficient for the self‐reaction and the number of carbon atoms, n, in the linear secondary radical, suggesting: log(k(sec‐RO₂+sec‐RO₂)/cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹)=−13.0–3.2×exp(−0.64×(n‐2.3)). Concerning primary linear alkylperoxy radicals, no real trend in the self‐reaction rate coefficient can be identified, and an average value of 3.5×10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ is proposed for all radicals. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 31: 37–46, 1999     

Spectral,kinetics, and redox properties of the transients formed on one‐electron oxidation of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol: A pulse radiolysis study

The transient absorption bands (λ_max = 330, 525 nm, k_f = 5 × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) obtained on pulse radiolysis of N₂O‐saturated neutral aqueous solution of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol (TDPH) are due to the reaction of TDPH with ^·OH radicals and are assigned to phenoxyl radical formed on fast deprotonation of the solute radical cation. The reaction of specific one‐electron oxidants (Cl₂^·−, Br₂^·−, N₃^·, TI²⁺, CCl₃OO^·) with TDPH also produced similar transient absorption bands. The phenoxyl radicals are also produced on pulse radiolysis of N₂‐saturated solution of TDPH in 1,2‐dichloroethane. The nature of transient absorption spectrum obtained on reaction of ^·OH radicals with TDPH is not affected in acidic solutions, showing that OH‐adduct is not formed in neutral solutions. The oxidation potential for the formation of phenoxyl radical is determined to be 0.98 V. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 603–610, 1999     

A theoretical study of α-substituted cyclopropyl and isopropyl radicals

The structures of α-X-cyclopropyl and α-X-isopropyl radicals (X = H, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, CN, and NC) are reported at the RHF 3-21G level of theory. The isopropyl radicals are pyramidal with out-of-plane angles varying from 12° (X = CN) to 39° (X = NH₂), and barriers to inversion ranging from 0.4 kcal/mol (X = H) to 4.0 kcal/mol (X = NH₂). The cyclopropyl radicals have larger out-of-plane angles, from 39.9° (X = CN) to 49.4° (X = NH₂), and their barriers to inversion, which increase with the inclusion of polarization functions, vary from 5.5 kcal/mol (X = H) to 16.7 kcal/mol (X = F). In both types of radicals the amino group is the most stabilizing substituent, while the α-fluoro has little effect. The β-fluoro group is weakly destabilizing in the cyclopropyl radical. The strain energies of the cyclopropyl radicals (36–43 kcal/mol) are compared with those of similarly substituted anions, cations, and cyclopropanes.     

Hydrogen‐Atom Abstraction from Methane by Stoichiometric Vanadium–Silicon Heteronuclear Oxide Cluster Cations

Vanadium–silicon heteronuclear oxide cluster cations were prepared by laser ablation of a V/Si mixed sample in an O₂ background. Reactions of the heteronuclear oxide cations with methane in a fast‐flow reactor were studied with a time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometer to detect the cluster distribution before and after the reactions. Hydrogen abstraction reactions were identified over stoichiometric cluster cations [(V₂O₅)_n(SiO₂)_m]⁺ (n=1, m=1–4; n=2, m=1), and the estimated first‐order rate constants for the reactions were close to that of the homonuclear oxide cluster V₄O₁₀⁺ with methane. Density functional calculations were performed to study the structural, bonding, electronic, and reactivity properties of these stoichiometric oxide clusters. Terminal‐oxygen‐centered radicals (O_t ^. ) were found in all of the stable isomers. These O_t ^. radicals are active sites of the clusters in reaction with CH₄. The O_t ^. radicals in [V₂O₅(SiO₂)_1–4]⁺ clusters are bonded with Si rather than V atoms. All the hydrogen abstraction reactions are favorable both thermodynamically and kinetically. This work reveals the unique properties of metal/nonmetal heteronuclear oxide clusters, and may provide new insights into CH₄ activation on silica‐supported vanadium oxide catalysts.     

ab initio molecular orbital and density functional analysis of acetylene + O2 reactions with CHEMKIN evaluation

A number of researchers have indicated that a direct reaction of acetylene with oxygen needs to be included in detailed reaction mechanisms in order to model observed flame speeds and induction times. Four pathways for the initiation of acetylene oxidation to chain propagation are considered and the rate constants are compared with values used in the mechanisms:

• 1 ³O₂ + HCCH to triplet adduct and reaction on the triplet surface
• 2 ³O₂ + HCCH to triplet adduct, conversion of triplet adduct to singlet adduct via collision in the reaction environment, with further reaction of the singlet adduct
• 3 ¹O₂ + HCCH to singlet adduct
• 4 Isomerization of HCCH to vinylidene and then vinylidene insertion reaction with ³O₂

Elementary reaction pathways for oxidation of acetylene by addition reaction of O₂(³Σ) on the triplet surface are analyzed. ab initio molecular orbital and density functional calculations are employed to estimate the thermodynamic properties of the reactants, transition states, and products in this system. Acetylene oxidation reaction over the triplet surface is initiated by addition of molecular oxygen, O₂(³Σ), to a carbon atom, forming a triplet peroxy‐ethylene biradical. The reaction path to major products, either two formyl radicals or glyoxal radical plus hydrogen atom, involves reaction through three transition states: O₂(³Σ) addition to acetylene (TS1), peroxy radical addition at the ipso‐carbon to form a dioxirane (TS2), and cleavage of O O bond in a three‐member ring (TS3). Single‐point QCISD(T) and B3LYP calculations with large basis sets were performed to try to verify barrier heights on important transition states. A second pathway to product formation is through spin conversion of the triplet peroxy‐ethylene biradical to the singlet by collision with bath gas. Rapid ring closure of the singlet peroxy‐ethylene biradical to form a four‐member ring is followed by breaking of the peroxy bond to form glyoxal, which further dissociates to either two formyl radicals or a glyoxal radical plus hydrogen atom. The overall forward rate constant through this pathway is estimated to be k_f = 2.21 × 10⁷ T^1.46e^{−33.1(kcal/mol)/RT}. Two additional pathways from the literature, HCCH + O₂(¹Δ) and pressure‐dependent isomerization of acetylene to vinylidene and then vinylidene reaction with O₂(³Σ), are also evaluated for completeness. CHEMKIN modeling on each of the four proposed pathways is performed and concentration profiles from these reactions are evaluated at 0.013 atm and 1 atm over 35 milliseconds. Through reaction on the triplet surface is evaluated to be not important. Formation of the triplet adduct with conversion (via collision) to a singlet and the vinylidene paths show similar and lower rates than those used in mechanisms, respectively. Our implementation of the HCCH + O₂(¹Δ) pathway of Benson suggests the need to include: (i) reverse reaction, (ii) barriers to further reaction of the initial adduct plus (iii) further evaluation of the O₂(¹Δ) addition barrier. The pathways from triplet adduct with conversion to singlet and from vinylidene are both recommended for initiation of acetylene oxidation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 623–641, 2000