Effects of nitric oxide on the thermal decomposition of methyl nitrite: Overall kinetics and rate constants for the HNO + HNO and HNO + 2NO reactions

The effects of NO on the decomposition of CH₃ONO have been investigated in the temperature range 450–520 K at a constant pressure of 710 torr using He as buffer gas. The measured time-dependent concentration profiles of CH₃ONO, NO, N₂O, and CH₂O can be quantitatively accounted for with a general mechanism consisting of various reactions of CH₃O, HNO, and (HNO)₂. The results of kinetic modeling with sensitivity analyses indicate that the disappearance rate of CH₃ONO is weakly affected by NO addition, whereas that of the HNO intermediate strongly altered by the added NO. In the presence of low NO concentrations, the modeling of N₂O yields leads to the rate constant for the bimolecular reaction, HNO + HNO → N₂O + H₂O (25): In the presence of high NO concentrations (P_NO > 50 torr), the modeling of CH₂O yields gives the rate constant for the termolecular radical formation channel, HNO + 2NO → HN₂O + NO₂ (35): Discussion on the mechanisms for reactions (25) and (35), and the alkyl homolog of (35), RNO + 2NO, is presented herein. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Long path-FTIR studies of some atmospheric reactions involving CF3OO and CF3O radicals

In attempts to obtain kinetic and mechanistic data required for an assessment of atmospheric fate of alternative halocarbons containing a CF₃ group, reactions of the key free radical intermediates CF₃OO and CF₃O with several atmospheric compounds (i.e., NO, NO₂, alkanes and alkenes) have been studied at 297 ± 2 K in 700 torr of air. Experiments employed the long path-FTIR spectroscopic method for product analysis and the visible (400 nm) photolysis of CF₃NO → CF₃ + NO as a source for the precursor radical CF₃. Numerous labile and stable F-containing molecular products have been characterized based on kinetic and spectroscopic data obtained at sufficiently short photolysis time (≤1 min) to minimize heterogeneous decay on the reactor walls. Major new findings have been made for the reactions involving CF₃O radicals. The behavior of CF₃O radicals has been shown to be markedly different from that of CH₃O radicals, i.e., (1) O₂-reaction: no evidence for the F-atom transfer reaction CF₃O + O₂ → CF₂ O + FOO; (2) NO-reaction: addition reaction CH₃O + NO (+M) → CH₃ONO (+M), but F-transfer reaction CF₃O + NO → CF₂O + FNO; (3) NO₂-reaction: addition reaction for both radicals, but F-transfer reaction CF₃ + NO₂ → CF₂O + FNO₂ to a minor extent; (4) alkane-reaction: much faster H-abstraction by CF₃O, comparable to HO; (5) alkene-reaction: much faster addition reaction of CF₃O, comparable to HO. These results are summarized in this paper.     

Kinetics of the reactions of isopropoxy radicals with NO,NO2, and O2

A fluorescence excitation spectrum of (CH₃)₂CHO (isopropoxy radical) is reported following photolysis of isopropyl nitrite at 355 nm. Rate constants for the reaction of isopropoxy with NO, NO₂, and O₂ have been measured as a function of pressure (1–50 Torr) and temperature (25–110°C) by monitoring isopropoxy radical concentrations using laser-induced fluorescence. We have obtained the following Arrhenius expressions for the reaction of isopropoxy with NO and O₂ respectively: (1.22±0.28)×10^?11 exp[(+0.62±0.14 kcal)/RT]cm²/s and (1.51±0.70)×10^?14 exp[(?0.39±0.28)kcal/RT]cm³/s where the uncertainties represent 2σ. The results with NO₂ are more complex, but indicate that reaction with NO₂ proceeds more rapidly than with NO contrary to previous reports. The pressure dependence of the thermal decomposition of the isopropoxy radical was studied at 104 and 133°C over a 300 Torr range using nitrogen as a buffer gas. The reaction is in the fall-off region over the entire range. Upper limits for the reaction of isopropoxy with acetaldehyde, isobutane, ethylene, and trimethyl ethylene are reported.We have performed the first LIF study of the isopropoxy radical. Arrhenius parameters were measured for the reaction of i-PrO with O₂, NO, NO₂, using direct radical measurement techniques. All reactions are in their high-pressure limits at a few Torr of pressure. The rate constant for the reactions of i-PrO with NO and NO₂ reactions exhibit a small negative activation energy. Studies of the i-PrO + NO₂ reaction produce data which indicate that O(³P) reacts rapidly with i-PrO. Unimolecular decomposition studies of i-PrO indicate that the reaction is in the fall-off region between 1 and 300 Torr of N₂ and the high-pressure limit is above 1 atmosphere of N₂.     

Ab initio and DFT Study of the Structural Properties and Thermochemistry of CH3S(O)2OONO2 Atmospheric Molecule and CH3S(O)2OO· Radical

The conformational properties of methanesulfonyl peroxynitrate, CH₃S(O)₂OONO₂ (MSPN), and its radical decomposition products CH₃S(O)₂OO· and CH₃S(O)₂O· were studied by ab initio and density functional methods. The dihedral angle around the S–O and the O–O single bond are calculated to be ?70.5° and ?97.8° (B3LYP/6‐311++G(3df,3pd)), respectively. The principal unimolecular dissociation pathways for MSPN were studied using complete basis set (CBS) methods. The reaction enthalpies for the channels CH₃S(O)₂OONO₂→ CH₃S(O)₂OO·+NO₂ and CH₃S(O)₂OONO₂→CH₃S(O)₂O·+NO₃ were computed to be 111.0 and 140.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The enthalpies of formation at 298 K for MSPN and CH₃S(O)₂OO radical were predicted to be ?358.2 and ?281.3 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Theoretical analysis of the initial stages of the thermal decomposition of trinitromethane

The hybrid method B3LYP/6-311G* of density functional theory is used to optimize the geometries of nitroform and some intermediates of its decomposition (CH(NO₂)₂, CH(NO₂)₂ONO, CH(NO₂), and HC(O)NO) and to locate the transition states of the dissociation and isomerization reactions involving these species. The heat of formation of nitroform and of the intermediates of its decomposition and the Gibbs energies of activation of the reactions examined are calculated using the modern ab initio multilevel procedures G2M(CC5) and G2. The high-pressure limits of the rate constants of these reactions in the temperature range 300–2000 K are calculated using transition state theory or its variational analogue.     

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

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

An FTIR study of the mechanism for the reaction HO + CH3SCH3

Product studies were made using the Fourier transform infrared method in the uv (300–400-nm) photolysis of mixtures containing CH₃SCH₃, C₂H₅ONO, and NO in ppm concentrations in 700 torr of O₂–N₂ diluent. Methyl thionitrite, CH₃SNO, arising from the reaction CH₃S + NO, was detected as an intermediate product. In addition, the yields of the major sulfur-containing products SO₂ and CH₃SO₃H coincided with those of the oxidation of the CH₃S radicals generated directly by the photodissociation of CH₃SNO. The formation of CH₃S in the HO-initiated oxidation of CH₃SCH₃ in the presence of NO suggests a reaction scheme involving the H-abstraction reaction HO + CH₃SCH₃ → CH₃SCH₂ + H₂O as the primary step.     

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.     

Experimental and kinetic modeling study of the effect of sulfur dioxide on the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of nitric oxide and methane

New experimental results were obtained for the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of NO and methane in a fused silica jet‐stirred reactor operating at 10⁵ Pa, over the temperature range 800–1150 K. The effect of the addition of sulfur dioxide was studied. Probe sampling followed by online FTIR analyses and off‐line GC‐TCD/FID analyses allowed the measurement of concentration profiles for the reactants, stable intermediates, and final products. A detailed chemical kinetic modeling of the present experiments was performed. An overall reasonable agreement between the present data and modeling was obtained. According to the present modeling, the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of methane and NO proceeds via the NO to NO₂ conversion by HO₂ and CH₃O₂. The conversion of NO to NO₂ by CH₃O₂ is more important at low temperatures (800 K) than at higher temperatures (850–900 K) where the production of NO₂ is mostly due to the reaction of NO with HO₂. The NO to NO₂ conversion is favored by the production of the HO₂ and CH₃O₂ radicals yielded from the oxidation of the fuel. The production of OH resulting from the oxidation of NO accelerates the oxidation of the fuel: NO + HO₂ → OH+ NO₂ followed by OH + CH₄→ CH₃. In the lower temperature range of this study, the reaction further proceeds via CH₃ + O₂→ CH₃O₂; CH₃O₂+ NO → CH₃O + NO₂. At higher temperatures, the production of CH₃O involves NO₂: CH₃+ NO₂→ CH₃O. This sequence of reactions is followed by CH₃O → CH₂O + H; CH₂O +OH → HCO; HCO + O₂ → HO₂ and H + O₂ → HO₂ → CH₂O + H; CH₂O +OH → HCO; HCO + O₂ → HO₂ and H + O₂ → HO₂. The data and the modeling show that unexpectedly, SO₂ has no measurable effect on the kinetics of the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of NO and methane in the present conditions, whereas it frequently acts as an inhibitor in combustion. This result was rationalized via a detailed kinetic analysis indicating that the inhibiting effect of SO₂ via the sequence of reactions SO₂+H → HOSO, HOSO+O₂ → SO₂+HO₂, equivalent to H+O₂?HO₂, is balanced by the reaction promoting step NO+HO₂ → NO₂+OH. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 406–413, 2005     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of CH2SH + NO2

The mechanisms of CH₂SH with NO₂ reaction were investigated on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES) at the BMC-CCSD//B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) level. The result shows that the title reaction is more favourable on the singlet PES thermodynamically, and it is less competitive on the triplet PES. On the singlet PES, the initial addition of CH₂SH with NO₂ leads to HSCH₂NO₂ (IM2) without any transition state, followed by a concerted step involving C–N fission and shift of H atom from S to O giving out CH₂S + trans-HONO, which is the major products of the title reaction. With higher barrier height, the minor products are CH₂S + HNO₂, formed by a similar concerted step from the initial adduct HSCH₂ONO (IM1). The direct abstraction route of H atom in SH group abstracted by O atom might be of some importance. It starts from the addition of the reactants to form a weak interaction molecular complex (MC3), subsequently, surmounts a low barrier height leading to another complex (MC2), which gives out CH₂S + trans-HONO finally. Other direct hydrogen abstraction channels could be negligible with higher barrier heights and less stable products.     

Ab initio study of the potential energy surface and product branching ratios for the reaction of O(D) with CH3CH2F

The potential energy surface of O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction has been studied using QCISD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) method. The calculations reveal an insertion–elimination reaction mechanism of the title reaction. The insertion process has two possibilities: one is the O(¹D) atom inserting into C–F bond of CH₃CH₂F produces one energy-rich intermediate CH₃CH₂OF and another is the O(¹D) atom inserting into one of the C–H bonds of CH₃CH₂F produces two energy-rich intermediates, IM1 and IM2. The three intermediates subsequently decompose to various products. The calculations of the branching ratios of various products formed though the three intermediates have been carried out using RRKM theory at the collision energies of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kcal/mol. CH₃CH₂O is the main decomposition product of CH₃CH₂OF. HF and CH₃ are the main decomposition products for IM1; CH₂OH is the main decomposition product for IM2. Since IM1 is more stable and more likely to form than CH₃CH₂OF and IM2, HF and CH₃ are probably the main products of the O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂F reaction. Our computational results can give insight to reaction mechanism and provide probable explanations for future experiments.     

Ab initio study of the potential energy surface and product branching ratios for the reaction of O(1D) with CH3CH2Br

The potential energy surface of O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂Br reaction has been studied using QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p)//MP2/6‐311G(d,p) method. The calculations reveal an insertion‐elimination reaction mechanism of the title reaction. The insertion process has two possibilities: one is the O(¹D) inserting into C? Br bond of CH₃CH₂Br producing one energy‐rich intermediate CH₃CH₂OBr and another is the O(¹D) inserting into one of the C? H bonds of CH₃CH₂Br producing two energy‐rich intermediates, IM1 and IM2. The three intermediates subsequently decompose to various products. The calculations of the branching ratios of various products formed though the three intermediates have been carried out using RRKM theory at the collision energies of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 kcal/mol. CH₃CH₂O + Br are the main decomposition products of CH₃CH₂OBr. CH₃COH + HBr and CH₂CHOH + HBr are the main decomposition products for IM1; CH₂CHOH + HBr are the main decomposition products for IM2. As IM1 is more stable and more likely to form than CH₃CH₂OBr and IM2, CH₃COH + HBr and CH₂CHOH + HBr are probably the main products of the O(¹D) + CH₃CH₂Br reaction. Our computational results can give insight into reaction mechanism and provide probable explanations for future experiments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Rate constants for the reaction of ground-state oxygen atoms with methanol from 297 to 544 K

The rate constant for the reaction of ground-state oxygen atoms with methanol has been determined between 297 and 544 K by a phase-shift technique using mercury photosensitized decomposition of N₂O to generate oxygen atoms. The relative oxygen atom concentration was monitored by the chemiluminescence from the reaction of oxygen atoms with nitric oxide. The results are accommodated by the Arrhenius expression k₁ = (9.79 ± 2.71) × 10¹² exp[(?2267 ± 111)/T]cm³/mol·s, where the indicated uncertainties are 95% confidence limits for 10 degrees of freedom. As an incidental part of this work, the third-body efficiency of CH₃OH relative to N₂O for the reaction O + NO + M → NO₂ + M (M = CH₃OH) was determined to be 3.1 at 298 K.     

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     

The pyrolysis of acetaldehyde in the presence of nitric oxide

The kinetics of the acetaldehyde pyrolysis have been studied at temperatures from 450° to 525°C, at an acetaldehyde pressure of 176 torr and at 0 to 40 torr of added nitric oxide. The following products were identified and their rates of formation measured: CH₄, H₂, CO, CO₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, H₂O, C₃H₆, C₂H₅CHO, CH₃COCH₃, CH₃COOCH?CH₂, N₂, N₂O, HCN, CH₃NCO, and C₂H₅NCO. Acetaldehyde vapor was found to react with nitric oxide slowly in the dark at room temperature, the products being H₂O, CH₃COOCH₃, CO, CO₂, N₂, NO₂, HCN, CH₃NO₂, and CH₃ONO₂. The rates of formation of N₂ and C₂H₅NCO depend on how long the CH₃CHO-NO mixture is kept at room temperature before pyrolysis; the rates of formation of the other products depend only slightly on the mixing period. The pyrolysis of “clean” CH₃CHO–NO mixtures (i.e., the results extrapolated to zero mixing time, which are independent of products formed in the cold reaction) are interpreted as follows: (1) There are two chain carriers, CH₃ and CH₂CHO, their concentrations being interdependent and influenced by NO in different ways: the CH₃ radical is both generated and removed by reactions directly involving NO, whereas CH₂CHO is generated only indirectly from CH₃ but is also removed by direct reaction with NO. (2) An important mode of initiation by NO is its addition to the carbonyl group with the formation of which is converted into ; this splits off OH with the formation of CH₃NCO or CH₃ + OCN. (3) Important modes of termination are The steady-state equations derived from the mechanism are shown to give a good fit to the experimental rate versus [NO] curves and, in particular, explain why there is enhancement of rate by NO at higher CH₃CHO pressures and, at lower CH₃CHO pressures, inhibition at low [NO] followed by enhancement at higher [NO]. The cold reaction is explained in terms of chain-propagating and chain-branching steps resulting from the addition of several NO molecules to CH₃CHO and the CH₃CO radical. In the “unclean” reaction it is found that the rates of N₂ and C₂N₅NCO formation are increased by CH₃NO₂, CH₃ONO, and CH₃ONO₂ formed during the cold reaction. A mechanism is proposed, involving the participation of α-nitrosoethyl nitrite, CH₃CH(NO)ONO. It is suggested that there are two modes of behavior in pyrolyses in the presence of NO: (1) In the paraffins, ethers, and ketones, the effects are attributed to the addition of NO to a radical with the formation of an oxime-like compound. (2) In the aldehydes and alkenes, where there is a hydrogen atom attached to a double-bonded carbon atom, the behavior is explained in terms of addition of NO to the double bond followed by the formation of an oxime-like species.     

Determination of the isomerization rate constant HOCH2CH2CH2CH(OO·)CH3 →HOC·HCH2CH2CH(OOH)CH3. Importance of intramolecular hydroperoxy isomerization in tropospheric chemistry

The rate constant of the title reaction is determined during thermal decomposition of di-n-pentyl peroxide C₅H₁₁O( )OC₅H₁₁ in oxygen over the temperature range 463–523 K. The pyrolysis of di-n-pentyl peroxide in O₂/N₂ mixtures is studied at atmospheric pressure in passivated quartz vessels. The reaction products are sampled through a micro-probe, collected on a liquid-nitrogen trap and solubilized in liquid acetonitrile. Analysis of the main compound, peroxide C₅H₁₀O₃, was carried out by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS [electron impact EI and NH₃ chemical ionization CI conditions]. After micro-preparative GC separation of this peroxide, the structure of two cyclic isomers (3S*,6S*)3α-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,2-dioxane and (3R*,6S*)3α-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,2-dioxane was determined from ¹H NMR spectra. The hydroperoxy-pentanal OHC( )(CH₂)₂( )CH(OOH)( )CH₃ is formed in the gas phase and is in equilibrium with these two cyclic epimers, which are predominant in the liquid phase at room temperature. This peroxide is produced by successive reactions of the n-pentoxy radical: a first one generates the CH₃C·H(CH₂)₃OH radical which reacts with O₂ to form CH₃CH(OO·)(CH₂)₃OH; this hydroxyperoxy radical isomerizes and forms the hydroperoxy HOC·H(CH₂)₂CH(OOH)CH₃ radical. This last species leads to the pentanal-hydroperoxide (also called oxo-hydroperoxide, or carbonyl-hydroperoxide, or hydroperoxypentanal), by the reaction HOC·H(CH₂)₂CH(OOH)CH₃+O₂→O()CH(CH₂)₂CH(OOH)CH₃+HO₂. The isomerization rate constant HOCH₂CH₂CH₂CH(OO·)CH₃→HOC·HCH₂CH₂CH(OOH)CH₃ (k₃) has been determined by comparison to the competing well-known reaction RO₂+NO→RO+NO₂ (k₇). By adding small amounts of NO (0–1.6×10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻³) to the di-n-pentyl peroxide/O₂/N₂ mixtures, the pentanal-hydroperoxide concentration was decreased, due to the consumption of RO₂ radicals by reaction (7). The pentanal-hydroperoxide concentration was measured vs. NO concentration at ten temperatures (463–523 K). The isomerization rate constant involving the H atoms of the CH₂( )OH group was deduced: or per H atom: The comparison of this rate constant to thermokinetics estimations leads to the conclusion that the strain energy barrier of a seven-member ring transition state is low and near that of a six-member ring. Intramolecular hydroperoxy isomerization reactions produce carbonyl-hydroperoxides which (through atmospheric decomposition) increase concentration of radicals and consequently increase atmospheric pollution, especially tropospheric ozone, during summer anticyclonic periods. Therefore, hydrocarbons used in summer should contain only short chains (<C₄) hydrocarbons or totally branched hydrocarbons, for which isomerization reactions are unlikely. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 875–887, 1998     

Reactions of the nitrate radical with a series of reduced organic sulphur compounds in air

A 480 L evacuable reaction chamber, equipped with FT-IR spectroscopy on-line and ion chromatography off-line, has been used to study the gas phase reaction between the nitrate radical, NO₃, and the reduced organic sulphur compounds CH₃CH₂SH, (CH₃CH₂)₂S, (CH₃CH₂)₂S₂, and CH₃CH₂SCH₃ in air. The products CH₃CH₂SO₃H, SO₂, H₂SO₄, CH₃CHO, and CH₃CH₂ONO₂ were identified and quantified in the reactions of the first three compounds, CH₃CH₂SH, (CH₃CH₂)₂S, and (CH₃CH₂)₂S₂. The reaction products were CH₃CH₂SO₃H, CH₃SO₃H, SO₂, H₂SO₄, CH₃CHO, and CH₂O in the reaction of CH₃CH₂SCH₃. On the basis of identified reaction products and intermediates observed in the infrared spectra, mechanisms are proposed for the reactions between the NO₃ radical and the four reduced organic sulphur compounds. The results of this study, together with those from previous experiments performed in this laboratory on CH₃SCH₃, CH₃SH, and CH₃SSCH₃ lead to the conclusion that all these species, in the reaction with the NO₃ radical, follow a similar degradation mechanism producing SO₂, H₂SO₄, R? SO₃H, R? CHO, and R? CH₂ONO₂, as the main reaction products. The inital step of the reaction of NO₃ with R? S? R and R? S? H type (R = CH₃, CH₂CH₃) reduced organic sulphur compounds was found to be H-atom abstraction, probably after the formation of an initial adduct. For the reaction between NO₃ and R? S? S? R type compounds, evidence for an addition-decomposition reaction, as the initial steps, was obtained. R? S·, R? S(O)·, and R? S(O)₂· appear to be formed as intermediates in all the reactions. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal Decomposition of CF3C(O)O2NO2, CClF2C(O)O2NO2, CCl2FC(O)O2NO2, and CCl3C(O)O2NO2

Haloacetyl, peroxynitrates are intermediates in the atmospheric degradation of a number of haloethanes. In this work, thermal decomposition rate constants of CF₃C(O)O₂NO₂, CClF₂C(O)O₂NO₂, CCl₂FC(O)O₂NO₂, and CCl₃C(O)O₂NO₂ have been determined in a temperature controlled 420 l reaction chamber. Peroxynitrates (RO₂NO₂) were prepared in situ by photolysis of RH/Cl₂/O₂/NO₂/N₂ mixtures (R = CF₃CO, CClF₂CO, CCl₂FCO, and CCl₃CO). Thermal decomposition was initiated by addition of NO, and relative RO₂NO₂ concentrations were measured as a function of time by long-path IR absorption using an FTIR spectrometer. First-order decomposition rate constants were determined at atmospheric pressure (M = N₂) as a function of temperature and, in the case of CF₃C(O)O₂NO₂ and CCl₃C(O)O₂NO₂, also as a function of total pressure. Extrapolation of the measured rate constants to the temperatures and pressures of the upper troposphere yields thermal lifetimes of several thousands of years for all of these peroxynitrates. Thus, the chloro(fluoro)acetyl peroxynitrates may play a role as temporary reservoirs of Cl, their lifetimes in the upper troposphere being limited by their (unknown) photolysis rates. Results on the thermal decomposition of CClF₂CH₂O₂NO₂ and CCl₂FCH₂O₂NO₂ are also reported, showing that the atmospheric lifetimes of these peroxynitrates are very short in the lower troposphere and increase to a maximum of several days close to the tropopause. The ratio of the rate constants for the reactions of CF₃C(O)O₂ radicals with NO₂ and NO was determined to be 0.64 ± 0.13 (2σ) at 315 K and a total pressure of 1000 mbar (M = N₂). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Shock-tube studies of the reactions of NO2 with NO2, SO2, and CO

The thermal decomposition of NO₂ and its atom-transfer reactions with SO₂ and CO have been studied behind incident shock waves using photometric detection methods. From the decomposition study it is possible to obtain information on the rate of the reaction 2NO₂ → antisymmetric-NO₃ + NO. The results on the reaction, NO₂ + SO₂ → NO + SO₃ extend the earlier work of Armitage and Cullis to about 2000°K. The reaction with CO [NO₂ +] [CO NO + CO₂] at shock temperatures is somewhat faster than predicted from available low-temperature data and provides a modification of the rate-constant expression that is applicable over a wide temperature range.     

CF3CH(ONO)CF3: Synthesis,IR spectrum,and use as OH radical source for kinetic and mechanistic studies

The synthesis, IR spectrum, and first‐principles characterization of CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ as well as its use as an OH radical source in kinetic and mechanistic studies are reported. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ exists in two conformers corresponding to rotation about the RCO? NO bond. The more prevalent trans conformer accounts for the prominent IR absorption features at frequencies (cm^?1) of 1766 (N?O stretch), 1302, 1210, and 1119 (C? F stretches), and 761 (O? N? O bend); the cis conformer contributes a number of distinct weaker features. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ was readily photolyzed using fluorescent blacklamps to generate CF₃C(O)CF₃ and, by implication, OH radicals in 100% yield. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ photolysis is a convenient source of OH radicals in the studies of the yields of CO, CO₂, HCHO, and HC(O)OH products which can be difficult to measure using more conventional OH radical sources (e.g., CH₃ONO photolysis). CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ photolysis was used to measure k(OH + C₂H₄)/k(OH + C₃H₆) = 0.29 ± 0.01 and to establish upper limits of 16 and 6% for the molar yields of CO and HC(O)OH from the reaction of OH radicals with benzene in 700 Torr of air at 296 K. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 159–165, 2003