Refined analysis of the thermal dissociation of formaldehyde

New experimental results for the thermal dissociation of formaldehyde to radical and molecular products (Proc. Combust. Inst. 2007, 31, in press) form the basis of the present analysis of the respective low-pressure rate coefficients k(Rad,0) and k(Mol,0) of the reaction. The article supersedes an earlier analysis (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 8320) which used less accurate and more preliminary input information. In addition, refined rotational factors F(rot) are determined and specific energy and angular momentum dependent branching ratios from a more detailed analysis of photolysis quantum yields (J. Phys. Chem. A 2007, 111, 3868) are employed as well. It is emphasized again that pyrolysis and photolysis are intimately related and should be analyzed in an internally consistent manner. The combination of the new with earlier experimental results for pyrolysis rates allows one to fit the height of the energy barrier for the molecular elimination channel with improved precision. A value of E0,1 = 81.7(+/-0.5) kcal mol(-1) is obtained. In addition, employing anharmonicity factors F(anh) from the earlier work, a total average energy transferred per collision of -DeltaE/hc = 100(+/-20) cm(-1) is fitted from the experiments in the bath gas Ar. This value is consistent with the value -DeltaE/hc = 80(+/-40) cm(-1) for the bath gas N(2) such as fitted from photolysis quenching experiments (using the same molecular parameters as for the pyrolysis). Rate coefficients for the temperature range 1200-3500 K are represented in the form k(Mol,0)/[Ar] = 7.3 x 10(14) T -6.1 exp(-47300 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(Rad,0)/[Ar] = 2.1 x 10(12) T -5.5 exp(-47300 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) (accuracy +/-25%) and recommended for use in combustion chemistry.     

High-temperature rate constants for CH3OH + Kr --> products, OH + CH3OH --> products, OH + (CH3)(2)CO --> CH2COCH3 + H2O, and OH + CH3 --> CH) + H2O

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH radicals at 308 nm (corresponding to a total path length of approximately 4.9 m) has been used to study the dissociation of methanol between 1591 and 2865 K. Rate constants for two product channels [CH3OH + Kr --> CH3 + OH + Kr (1) and CH3OH + Kr --> 1CH2 + H2O + Kr (2)] were determined. During the course of the study, it was necessary to determine several other rate constants that contributed to the profile fits. These include OH + CH3OH --> products, OH + (CH3)2CO --> CH2COCH3 + H2O, and OH + CH3 --> 1,3CH2 + H2O. The derived expressions, in units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), are k(1) = 9.33 x 10(-9) exp(-30857 K/T) for 1591-2287 K, k(2) = 3.27 x 10(-10) exp(-25946 K/T) for 1734-2287 K, kOH+CH3OH = 2.96 x 10-16T1.4434 exp(-57 K/T) for 210-1710 K, k(OH+(CH3)(2)CO) = (7.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(-12) for 1178-1299 K and k(OH+CH3) = (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-11) for 1000-1200 K. With these values along with other well-established rate constants, a mechanism was used to obtain profile fits that agreed with experiment to within <+/-10%. The values obtained for reactions 1 and 2 are compared with earlier determinations and also with new theoretical calculations that are presented in the preceding article in this issue. These new calculations are in good agreement with the present data for both (1) and (2) and also for OH + CH3 --> products.     

Room temperature and shock tube study of the reaction HCO+O2 using the photolysis of glyoxal as an efficient HCO source

The rate of the reaction 1, HCO+O2-->HO2+CO, has been determined (i) at room temperature using a slow flow reactor setup (20 mbarH2+HCO+CO, into additional HCO radicals. The rate constants of reaction 4 were determined from unperturbed photolysis experiments to be k4(295 K)=(3.6+/-0.3)x10(10) cm3 mol-1 s-1 and k4(769-1107 K)=5.4x10(13)exp(-18 kJ mol-1/RT) cm3 mol-1 s-1(Delta log k4=+/-0.12).     

Rate coefficients and equilibrium constant for the CH2CHO + O2 reaction system

The kinetics of the CH2CHO + O2 reaction was experimentally studied in two quasi-static reactors and a discharge flow-reactor at temperatures ranging from 298 to 660 K and pressures between 1 mbar and 46 bar with helium as the bath gas. The CH2CHO radicals were produced by the laser-flash photolysis of ethyl vinyl ether at 193 nm and by the reaction F + CH3CHO, respectively. Laser-induced fluorescence excited at 337 or 347.4 nm was used to monitor the CH2CHO concentration. The reaction proceeded via reversible complex formation with subsequent isomerization and fast decomposition: CH2CHO + O2 <= => O2CH2CHO --> HO2CH2CO --> products. The rate coefficients for the first and second steps were determined (k1, k-1, k2) and analyzed by a master equation with specific rate coefficients from the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. Molecular and transition-state parameters were obtained from quantum chemical calculations. A third-law analysis led to the following thermodynamic parameters for the first step: Delta(R)S degrees 300K(1) = -144 J K(-1) mol(-1) (1 bar) and Delta(R)H degrees 300K(1) = (-101 +/- 4) kJ mol(-1). From the falloff analysis, the following temperature dependencies for the low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients were obtained: k1(0) = 5.14 x 10(-14) exp(210 K/T) cm(-3) s(-1); k1(infinity) = 1.7 x 10(-12) exp(-520 K/T) cm(-3) s(-1); and k2(infinity) = 1.3 x 10(12) exp[-(82 +/- 4) kJ mol(-1)/RT] s(-1). Readily applicable analytical representations for the pressure and temperature dependence of k1 were derived to be used in kinetic modeling.     

CH(A2Delta) Formation in hydrocarbon combustion: the temperature dependence of the rate constant of the reaction C2H + O2--> CH(A2Delta) + CO2

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the chemiluminescence reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2, k1e, has been experimentally determined over the temperature range 316-837 K using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant was found to have a pronounced positive temperature dependence given by k1e(T) = AT(4.4) exp(1150 +/- 150/T), where A = 1 x 10(-27) cm(3) s(-1). The preexponential factor for k1e, A, which is known only to within an order of magnitude, is based on a revised expression for the rate constant for the C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO reaction, k2b, of (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) exp(-230 K/T) cm3 s(-1) [Devriendt, K.; Van Look, H.; Ceursters, B.; Peeters, J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 261, 450] and a k2b/k1e determination of this work of 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K. Using the temperature dependence of the rate constant k1e(T)/k1e(300 K), which is much more accurately and precisely determined than is A, we predict an increase in k(1e) of a factor 60 +/- 16 between 300 and 1500 K. The ratio of rate constants k2b/k1e is predicted to change from 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K to 40 +/- 25 at 1500 K. These results suggest that the reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2 contributes significantly to CH(A-->X) chemiluminescence in hot flames and especially under fuel-lean conditions where it probably dominates the reaction C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO.     

On the thermal unimolecular decomposition of the cyclohexoxy radical--an experimental and theoretical study

The kinetics of the thermal unimolecular decomposition of the cyclohexoxy radical (c-C(6)H(11)O) was experimentally studied, and the results were analyzed in terms of statistical rate theory with molecular and transition state data from quantum chemical calculations. Laser flash photolysis of cyclohexylnitrite at 351 nm was used to produce c-C(6)H(11)O radicals, and their concentration was monitored by laser-induced fluorescence after excitation at 356.2 or 365.2 nm. The experiments were performed at temperatures ranging from 293 to 341 K and pressures between 5 and 55 bar with helium as the bath gas. Over the whole temperature range, biexponential profiles were observed, which is an indication of a consecutive reaction with a pre-equilibrium. From our quantum chemical calculations, it follows that this pre-equilibrium corresponds to the reversible ring-opening via beta-C-C bond fission to form the 6-oxo-1-hexyl radical (l-C(6)H(11)O), c-C(6)H(11)O <--> l-C(6)H(11)O (1,-1). The following temperature-dependent rate coefficients were deduced with an estimated uncertainty of +/-30%: k(1)(T) = 3.80 x 10(13) exp(-50.1 kJ mol(-1)/RT) s(-1) and k(-1)(T) = 3.02 x 10(8) exp(-23.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) s(-1); a pressure dependence was not observed. In our theoretical analysis, the different conformers of c-C(6)H(11)O were explicitly taken into account, and the C-C torsional motions in l-C(6)H(11)O were treated as hindered internal rotators using a recently suggested approach. This explicit consideration of the hindered internal rotators significantly improved the agreement between the experimentally determined rate coefficients and the results from the quantum chemical computations.     

Shock tube and theoretical studies on the thermal decomposition of propane: evidence for a roaming radical channel

The thermal decomposition of propane has been studied using both shock tube experiments and ab initio transition state theory-based master equation calculations. Dissociation rate constants for propane have been measured at high temperatures behind reflected shock waves using high-sensitivity H-ARAS detection and CH(3) optical absorption. The two major dissociation channels at high temperature are C(3)H(8) → CH(3) + C(2)H(5) (eq 1a) and C(3)H(8) → CH(4) + C(2)H(4) (eq 1b). Ultra high-sensitivity ARAS detection of H-atoms produced from the decomposition of the product, C(2)H(5), in (1a), allowed measurements of both the total decomposition rate constants, k(total), and the branching to radical products, k(1a)/k(total). Theoretical analyses indicate that the molecular products are formed exclusively through the roaming radical mechanism and that radical products are formed exclusively through channel 1a. The experiments were performed over the temperature range 1417-1819 K and gave a minor contribution of (10 ± 8%) due to roaming. A multipass CH(3) absorption diagnostic using a Zn resonance lamp was also developed and characterized in this work using the thermal decomposition of CH(3)I as a reference reaction. The measured rate constants for CH(3)I decomposition agreed with earlier determinations from this laboratory that were based on I-atom ARAS measurements. This CH(3) diagnostic was then used to detect radicals from channel 1a allowing lower temperature (1202-1543 K) measurements of k(1a) to be determined. Variable reaction coordinate-transition state theory was used to predict the high pressure limits for channel (1a) and other bond fission reactions in C(3)H(8). Conventional transition state theory calculations were also used to estimate rate constants for other tight transition state processes. These calculations predict a negligible contribution (<1%) from all other bond fission and tight transition state processes, indicating that the bond fission channel (1a) and the roaming channel (1b) are indeed the only active channels at the temperature and pressure ranges of the present experiments. The predicted reaction exo- and endothermicities are in excellent agreement with the current version of the Active Thermochemical Tables. Master equation calculations incorporating these transition state theory results yield predictions for the temperature and pressure dependence of the dissociation rate constants for channel 1a. The final theoretical results reliably reproduce the measured dissociation rate constants that are reported here and in the literature. The experimental data are well reproduced over the 500-2500 K and 1 × 10(-4) to 100 bar range (errors of ～15% or less) by the following Troe parameters for Ar as the bath gas: k(∞) = 1.55 × 10(24)T(-2.034) exp(-45?490/T) s(-1), k(0) = 7.92 × 10(53)T(-16.67) exp(-50?380/T) cm(3) s(-1), and F(c) = 0.190 exp(-T/3091) + 0.810 exp(-T/128) + exp(-8829/T).     

Kinetics of the unimolecular decomposition of the 2-chloroallyl radical

The thermal decomposition of the 2-chloroallyl radical, CH(2)CClCH(2) --> CH(2)CCH(2) + Cl (1), was studied using the laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectrometry technique. Rate constants were determined in time-resolved experiments as a function of temperature (720-840 K) and bath gas density ([He] = (3-12) x 10(16), [N(2)] = 6 x 10(16) molecule cm(-3)). C(3)H(4) was observed as a primary product of reaction 1. The rate constants of reaction 1 are in the falloff, close to the low-pressure limit, under the conditions of the experiments. The potential energy surface (PES) of reaction 1 was studied using a variety of quantum chemical methods. The results of the study indicate that the minimum energy path of the CH(2)CClCH(2) dissociation proceeds through a PES plateau corresponding to a weakly bound Cl-C(3)H(4) complex; a PES saddle point exists between the equilibrium CH(2)CClCH(2) structure and the Cl-C(3)H(4) complex. The results of quantum chemical calculations, the rate constant values obtained in the experimental study, and literature data on the reverse reaction of addition of Cl to allene were used to create a model of reactions 1 and -1. The experimental dependences of the rate constants on temperature and pressure were reproduced in RRKM/master equation calculations. The reaction model provides expressions for the temperature dependences of the high-pressure-limit and the low-pressure-limit rate constants and the falloff broadening factors (at T = 300-1600 K): k(infinity)(1) = 1.45 x 10(20)T(-1.75) exp(-19609 K/T) s(-1), k(infinity)(-)(1) = 8.94 x 10(-10)T(-0.40) exp(481 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(1)(0)(He) = 5.01 x 10(-32)T(-12.02) exp(-22788 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(1)(0)(N(2)) = 2.50 x 10(-32)T(-11.92) exp(-22756 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(cent)(He) = 0.46 exp(-T/1001 K) + 0.54 exp(-T/996 K) + exp(-4008 K/T), and F(cent)(N(2)) = 0.37 exp(-T/2017 K) + 0.63 exp(-T/142 K) + exp(-4812 K/T). The experimental data are not sufficient to specify all the parameters of the model; consequently, some of the model parameters were obtained from quantum chemical calculations and from analogy with other reactions of radical decomposition. Thus, the parametrization is most reliable under conditions close to those used in the experiments.     

Absolute rate coefficient of the OH + CH(3)C(O)OH reaction at T = 287-802 K. The two faces of pre-reactive H-bonding

The rate constants for the reaction OH + CH3C(O)OH --> products (1) were determined over the temperature range 287-802 K at 50 and 100 Torr of Ar or N2 bath gas using pulsed laser photolysis generation of OH by CH3C(O)OH photolysis at 193 nm coupled with OH detection by pulsed laser-induced fluorescence. The rate coefficient displays a complex temperature dependence with a sharp minimum at 530 K, indicating the competition between a reaction proceeding through a pre-reactive H-bonded complex to form CH3C(O)O + H2O, expected to prevail at low temperatures, and a direct methyl-H abstraction channel leading to CH2C(O)OH + H2O, which should dominate at high temperatures. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be described adequately by k1(287-802 K) = 2.9 x 10(-9) exp{-6030 K/T} + 1.50 x 10(-13) exp{515 K/T} cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1), with a value of (8.5 +/- 0.9) x 10-13 cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1) at 298 K. The steep increase in rate constant in the range 550-800 K, which is reported for the first time, implies that direct abstraction of a methyl-H becomes the dominant pathway at temperatures greater than 550 K. However, the data indicates that up to about 800 K direct methyl-H abstraction remains adversely affected by the long-range H-bonding attraction between the approaching OH radical and the carboxyl -C(O)OH functionality.     

Analysis of quantum yields for the photolysis of formaldehyde at lambda > 310 nm

Experimental quantum yields of the photolysis of formaldehyde at lambda > 310 nm are combined with absolute and relative rate calculations for the molecular elimination H2CO --> H2 + CO (1), the bond fission H2CO --> H + HCO (2), and the intramolecular hydrogen abstraction H2CO --> H ... HCO --> H2 + CO (3) taking place in the electronic ground state. Temperature and pressure dependencies of the quantum yields are analyzed with the goal to achieve consistency between experiment and modeling. Two wavelength ranges with considerably different properties are considered: 340-360 nm, where channel 1 competes with collisional deactivation of excited molecules, and 310-340 nm, which is dominated by the competition between the formation of radical and molecular products. The close relation between photolysis and pyrolysis of formaldehyde, such as analyzed for the pyrolysis in the companion paper, is documented and an internally consistent treatment of the two reaction systems is provided. The quantum yields are modeled and represented in analytical form such that values outside the available experimental range can be predicted to some extent.     

A kinetic study of Ca-containing ions reacting with O, O2, CO2 and H2O: implications for calcium ion chemistry in the upper atmosphere

A series of gas-phase reactions involving molecular Ca-containing ions was studied by the pulsed laser ablation of a calcite target to produce Ca(+) in a fast flow of He, followed by the addition of reagents downstream and detection of ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Most of the reactions that were studied are important for describing the chemistry of meteor-ablated calcium in the earth's upper atmosphere. The following rate coefficients were measured: k(CaO(+) + O --> Ca(+) + O(2)) = (4.2 +/- 2.8) x 10(-11) at 197 K and (6.3 +/- 3.0) x 10(-11) at 294 K; k(CaO(+) + CO --> Ca(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (2.8 +/- 1.5) x 10(-10); k(Ca(+).CO(2) + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (1.2 +/- 0.5) x10(-10); k(Ca(+).CO(2) + H(2)O --> Ca(+).H(2)O + CO(2)) = (13.0 +/- 4.0) x 10(-10); and k(Ca(+).H(2)O + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+) + H(2)O, 294 K) = (4.0 +/- 2.5) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The quoted uncertainties are a combination of the 1sigma standard errors in the kinetic data and the systematic errors in the models used to extract the rate coefficients. Rate coefficients were also obtained for the following recombination (also termed association) reactions in He bath gas: k(Ca(+).CO(2) + CO(2) --> Ca(+).(CO(2))(2), 294 K) = (2.6 +/- 1.0) x 10(-29); k(Ca(+).H(2)O + H(2)O --> Ca(+).(H(2)O)(2)) = (1.6 +/- 1.1) x 10(-27); and k(CaO(2)(+) + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+).O(2)) < 1 x 10(-31) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1). These recombination rate coefficients, as well as those for the ligand-switching reactions listed above, were then interpreted using a combination of high level quantum chemistry calculations and RRKM theory using an inverse Laplace transform solution of the master equation. The surprisingly slow reaction between CaO(+) and O was explained using quantum chemistry calculations on the lowest (2)A', (2)A' and (4)A' potential energy surfaces. These calculations indicate that reaction mostly occurs on the (2)A' surface, leading to production of Ca(+)((2)S) + O(2)((1)Delta(g)). The importance of this reaction for controlling the lifetime of Ca(+) in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere is then discussed.     

Pressure dependence for the CO quantum yield in the photolysis of acetone at 248 nm: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The quantum yield of CO in the laser pulse photolysis of acetone at 248 nm and at 298 K in the pressure range 20-900 mbar (N2) has been measured directly using quantitative infrared diode laser absorption of CO. It is found that the quantum yield of CO shows a significant dependence on total pressure with Phi(CO) decreasing with pressure from around 0.45 at 20 mbar to approximately 0.25 at 900 mbar. From a combination of ab initio quantum chemical calculations on the molecular properties of the acetyl (CH3CO) radical and its unimolecular fragmentation as well as the application of statistical (RRKM) and dynamical calculations we show that CO production results from prompt secondary fragmentation (via(2a)) of the internally excited primary CH3CO* photolysis product with an excess energy of approximately 62.8 kJ mol(-1). Hence, our findings are consistent with a consecutive photochemically induced decomposition model, viz. step (1): CH3COCH3+hv--> CH3CO*+ CH3, step (2a): CH3CO*--> CH3+ CO or step (2b) CH3CO*-(+M)--> CH3CO. Formation of CO via a direct and/or concerted channel CH3COCH3+hv--> 2CH(3)+ CO (1') is considered to be unimportant.     

Reaction of hydrogen atoms with propyne at high temperatures: an experimental and theoretical study

The kinetics of the reaction of hydrogen atoms with propyne (pC3H4) was experimentally studied in a shock tube at temperatures ranging from 1200 to 1400 K and pressures between 1.3 and 4.0 bar with Ar as the bath gas. The hydrogen atoms (initial mole fraction 0.5-2.0 ppm) were produced by pyrolysis of C2H5I and monitored by atomic resonance absorption spectrometry under pseudo-first-order conditions with respect to propyne (initial mole fraction 5-20 ppm). From the hydrogen atom time profiles, overall rate coefficients k(ov) identical with -([pC3H4][H])(-1) x d[H]/dt for the reaction H + pC3H4 --> products ( not equal H) were deduced; the following temperature dependence was obtained: kov = 1.2 x 10(-10) exp(-2270 K/T) cm(3) s(-1) with an estimated uncertainty of +/-20%. A pressure dependence was not observed. The results are analyzed in terms of statistical rate theory with molecular and transition state data from quantum chemical calculations. Geometries were optimized using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, and single-point energies were computed at the QCISD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of theory. It is confirmed that the reaction proceeds via an addition-elimination mechanism to yield C2H2 + CH3 and via a parallel direct abstraction to give C3H3 + H2. Furthermore, it is shown that a hydrogen atom catalyzed isomerization channel to allene (aC3H4), H + pC3H4 --> aC3H4 + H, is also important. Kinetic parameters to describe the channel branching of these reactions are deduced.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of OH with HCl

The reaction of hydroxyl radicals with hydrogen chloride (reaction 1) has been studied experimentally using a pulsed-laser photolysis/pulsed-laser-induced fluorescence technique over a wide range of temperatures, 298-1015 K, and at pressures between 5.33 and 26.48 kPa. The bimolecular rate coefficient data set obtained for reaction 1 demonstrates no dependence on pressure and exhibits positive temperature dependence that can be represented with modified three-parameter Arrhenius expression within the experimental temperature range: k1 = 3.20 x 10(-15)T0.99 exp(-62 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The potential-energy surface has been studied using quantum chemical methods, and a transition-state theory model has been developed for the reaction 1 on the basis of calculations and experimental data. The model results in modified three-parameter Arrhenius expressions: k1 = 8.81 x 10(-16)T1.16 exp(58 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for the temperature range 200-1015 K and k1 = 6.84 x 10(-19)T2.12 exp(646 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for the temperature dependence of the reaction 1 rate coefficient extrapolation to high temperatures (500-3000 K). A temperature dependence of the rate coefficient of the Cl + H2O --> HCl + OH reaction has been derived on the basis of the experimental data, modeling, and thermochemical information.     

Quantum chemical study of the mechanism of reaction between NH (X 3sigma-) and H2, H2O, and CO2 under combustion conditions

Reactions of ground-state NH (3sigma-) radicals with H2, H2O, and CO2 have been investigated quantum chemically, whereby the stationary points of the appropriate reaction potential energy surfaces, that is, reactants, products, intermediates, and transition states, have been identified at the G3//B3LYP level of theory. Reaction between NH and H2 takes place via a simple abstraction transition state, and the rate coefficient for this reaction as derived from the quantum chemical calculations, k(NH + H2) = (1.1 x 10(14)) exp(-20.9 kcal mol(-1)/RT) cm3 mol(-1) s(-1) between 1000 and 2000 K, is found to be in good agreement with experiment. For reaction between triplet NH and H2O, no stable intermediates were located on the triplet reaction surface although several stable species were found on the singlet surface. No intersystem crossing seam between triplet NH + H2O and singlet HNO + H2 (the products of lowest energy) was found; hence there is no evidence to support the existence of a low-energy pathway to these products. A rate coefficient of k(NH + H2O) = (6.1 x 10(13)) exp(-32.8 kcal mol(-1)/RT) cm3 mol(-1) s(-1) between 1000 and 2000 K for the reaction NH (3sigma-) + H2O --> NH2 (2B) + OH (2pi) was derived from the quantum chemical results. The reverse rate coefficient, calculated via the equilibrium constant, is in agreement with values used in modeling the thermal de-NO(x) process. For the reaction between triplet NH and CO2, several stable intermediates on both triplet and singlet reaction surfaces were located. Although a pathway from triplet NH + CO2 to singlet HNO + CO involving intersystem crossing in an HN-CO2 adduct was discovered, no pathway of sufficiently low activation energy was discovered to compare with that found in an earlier experiment [Rohrig, M.; Wagner, H. G. Proc. Combust. Inst. 1994, 25, 993.].     

Shock-tube study of the thermal decomposition of CH3CHO and CH3CHO + H reaction

The thermal decomposition of acetaldehyde, CH3CHO + M --> CH3 + HCO + M (eq 1), and the reaction CH3CHO + H --> products (eq 6) have been studied behind reflected shock waves with argon as the bath gas and using H-atom resonance absorption spectrometry as the detection technique. To suppress consecutive bimolecular reactions, the initial concentrations were kept low (approximately 10(13) cm(-3)). Reaction was investigated at temperatures ranging from 1250 to 1650 K at pressures between 1 and 5 bar. The rate coefficients were determined from the initial slope of the hydrogen profile via k1 = [CH3CHO]0(-1) x d[H]/dt, and the temperature dependences observed can be expressed by the following Arrhenius equations: k1(T, 1.4 bar) = 2.9 x 10(14) exp(-38 120 K/T) s(-1), k1(T, 2.9 bar) = 2.8 x 10(14) exp(-37 170 K/T) s(-1), and k1(T, 4.5 bar) = 1.1 x 10(14) exp(-35 150 K/T) s(-1). Reaction was studied with C2H5I as the H-atom precursor under pseudo-first-order conditions with respect to CH3CHO in the temperature range 1040-1240 K at a pressure of 1.4 bar. For the temperature dependence of the rate coefficient the following Arrhenius equation was obtained: k6(T) = 2.6 x 10(-10) exp(-3470 K/T) cm(3) s(-1). Combining our results with low-temperature data published by other authors, we recommend the following expression for the temperature range 300-2000 K: k6(T) = 6.6 x 10(-18) (T/K) (2.15) exp(-800 K/T) cm(3) s(-1). The uncertainties of the rate coefficients k1 and k6 were estimated to be +/-30%.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of CF3CHFOCH3, CF3CHFOC(O)H, and FC(O)OCH3 reactions with OH radicals

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of CF3CHFOCH3 was studied using an 11.5-dm3 environmental reaction chamber. OH radicals were produced by UV photolysis of an O3-H2O-He mixture at an initial pressure of 200 Torr in the chamber. The rate constant of the reaction of CF3CHFOCH3 with OH radicals (k1) was determined to be (1.77 +/- 0.69) x 10(-12) exp[(-720 +/- 110)/T] cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1) by means of a relative rate method at 253-328 K. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy at 298 K. CF3CHFOC(O)H, FC(O)OCH3, and COF2 were determined to be the major products. The branching ratio (k1a/k1b) for the reactions CF3CHFOCH3 + OH --> CF3CHFOCH2* + H2O (k1a) and CF3CHFOCH3 + OH --> CF3CF*OCH3 + H2O (k1b) was estimated to be 4.2:1 at 298 K from the yields of CF3CHFOC(O)H, FC(O)OCH3, and COF2. The rate constants of the reactions of CF3CHFOC(O)H (k2) and FC(O)OCH3 (k3) with OH radicals were determined to be (9.14 +/- 2.78) x 10(-13) exp[(-1190 +/- 90)/T] and (2.10 +/- 0.65) x 10(-13) exp[(-630 +/- 90)/T] cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1), respectively, by means of a relative rate method at 253-328 K. The rate constants at 298 K were as follows: k1 = (1.56 +/- 0.06) x 10-13, k2 = (1.67 +/- 0.05) x 10-14, and k3 = (2.53 +/- 0.07) x 10-14 cm3 molecule(-1)(s-1). The tropospheric lifetimes of CF3CHFOCH3, CF3CHFOC(O)H, and FC(O)OCH3 with respect to reaction with OH radicals were estimated to be 0.29, 3.2, and 1.8 years, respectively.     

Reflected shock tube studies of high-temperature rate constants for CH3 + O2, H2CO + O2, and OH + O2

The reflected shock tube technique with multipass absorption spectrometric detection of OH-radicals at 308 nm, corresponding to a total path length of approximately 2.8 m, has been used to study the reaction CH3 + O2 CH2O + OH. Experiments were performed between 1303 and 2272 K, using ppm quantities of CH3I (methyl source) and 5-10% O2, diluted with Kr as the bath gas at test pressures less than 1 atm. We have also reanalyzed our earlier ARAS measurements for the atomic channel (CH3 + O2 --> CH3O + O) and have compared both these results with other earlier studies to derive a rate expression of the Arrhenius form. The derived expressions, in units of cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), are k = 3.11 x 10(-13) exp(-4953 K/T) over the T-range 1237-2430 K, for the OH-channel, and k = 1.253 x 10(-11) exp(-14241 K/T) over the T-range 1250-2430 K, for the O-atom channel. Since CH2O is a major product in both reactions, reliable rates for the reaction CH2O + O2 --> HCO + HO2 could be derived from [OH]t and [O]t experiments over the T-range 1587-2109 K. The combined linear least-squares fit result, k = 1.34 x 10(-8) exp(-26883 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), and a recent VTST calculation clearly overlap within the uncertainties in both studies. Finally, a high sensitivity for the reaction OH + O2 --> HO2 + O was noted at high temperature in the O-atom data set simulations. The values for this obtained by fitting the O-atom data sets at later times (approximately 1.2 ms) again follow the Arrhenius form, k = 2.56 x 10(-10) exp(-24145 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), over the T-range, 1950-2100 K.