Identification of alkyl dinitrates in ambient air of Central Europe

Bifunctional organic nitrates – organic esters of nitric acid – are part of the pool of components of odd nitrogen (NO_Y) in the atmosphere. In this paper, we report the identification of dinitrates in ambient air of Central Europe (Ulm, Germany). The organic nitrates were sampled by adsorptive high volume sampling of 100 m³ of air with 100 g precleaned silica. Sample preparation and group separation was performed by NP-HPLC. Separation and detection was done by HRGC/EI-MSD. We have extended the identification of dinitrates in ambient air to a number of 30, of which only five have been reported by other authors before. To our knowledge, this is the first time that 13 non-vicinal dinitrates and two branched dinitrates have been identified in ambient air. Four organic nitrates have never been reported before: the non-vicinal 1,3-dinitrooxy-pentane (1,3C5), the two branched 2-methyl-1,2-dinitrooxy-propane (2M1,2C3) and 2-methyl-2,3-dinitrooxy-butane (2M2,3C4), and one diastereomer of 3,4-dinitrooxy-hexane (RR/SS-3,4C6). We are also assigning the configuration of the two diastereomers of 2,4-dinitrooxy-pentane (2,4C5) found in air before using reference standards obtained by enantioselective synthesis. Received: 8 June 1998 / Revised: 7 September 1998 / Accepted: 14 September 1998     

Separation, detection and occurrence of (C2–C8)-alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates as trace compounds in clean and polluted air

Nitric acid, HNO₃, and nitrous acid, HNO₂, are forming stable esters with alcohols, the alkyl nitrates and alkyl nitrites. Both groups of compounds are used as fuel additives, explosives and pharmaceuticals. Alkyl nitrates are also formed as complex mixtures during incomplete combustion and the abiotic transformation of alkanes, alkenes and aldehydes in air. Organic nitrates can be assigned to anthropogenic and natural sources alike. Here the synthesis of reference mixtures of alkyl nitrates is described starting with alcohols, alkyl bromides, alkyl iodides or alkanes, respectively, sampling techniques in air analysis, and the separation of alkyl nitrates and alkyl dinitrates by high resolution capillary gas chromatography using various stationary phases and electron capture (HRGC/ECD) as well as mass spectrometric detection (HRGC/MSD). A highly selective detection mode for alkyl nitrates and alkyl di- and trinitrates — in general in the presence of other organic trace compounds — is the single ion monitoring of 46 amu in GC/MS. The separation and occurrence of alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates in polluted air is reported using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and ion trap MS detection. The reaction of alkanes with nitric acid at room temperature simulates in a good approximation the pattern of alkyl nitrates formed in air chemistry.     

C4-C14-alkyl nitrates as organic trace compounds in air

The long chain alkyl nitrates (C _n >5) form a complex spectrum of natural and anthropogenic organic trace compounds in air. HRGC/ECD and HRGC/MSD using 56 amu as the signal reveal a standard pattern of isomeric n-alkyl nitrates in semi-rural air. This is regulated by the input of the corresponding alkanes, their rate constants for the reaction with OH, the rate constant of the alkylperoxy radicals for the reaction to alkyl nitrates, the atmospheric concentrations of NO/NO₂ and by the rate constants of the alkyl nitrates for the reaction with OH radicals as the major removal reaction. The complex pattern of signals given by the ECD in the retention index range between 700 and 2000 has been observed before but this is the first time that it has been assigned to a defined group of chemical compounds.The environmental impact of the occurrence of the different groups of alkyl nitrates has yet to be evaluated. Their general property as organic stabilizers for NO/NO₂ and therefore as precursors of NO ₃ ^- ions in rain and their biological potentials are also known. The long chain alkyl nitrates act as lipophilic carriers for nitric acid.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with alkyl nitrates at 299 ± 2 K

Relative rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of alkyl nitrates have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10^?12 cm³/molec·s, the rate constants obtained are (× 10¹² cm³/molec·s): 2-propyl nitrate, 0.18 ± 0.05; 1-butyl nitrate, 1.42 ± 0.11; 2-butyl nitrate, 0.69 ± 0.10; 2-pentyl nitrate, 1.87 ± 0.12; 3-pentyl nitrate, 1.13 ± 0.20; 2-hexyl nitrate, 3.19 ± 0.16; 3-hexyl nitrate, 2.72 ± 0.22; 3-heptyl nitrate, 3.72 ± 0.43; and 3-octyl nitrate, 3.91 ± 0.80. These rate constants, which are the first reported for the alkyl nitrates, are significantly lower than those for the parent alkanes, and a formula, based on the numbers of the various types of C? H bonds in the alkyl nitrates, is derived for rate constant estimation purposes.     

Formation of alkyl nitrates from the reaction of branched and cyclic alkyl peroxy radicals with NO

The yields of C₅ and C₆ alkyl nitrates from neopentane, 2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, and cyclohexane have been measured in irradiated CH₃ONONO-alkane-air mixtures at 298 ± 2 K and 735-torr total pressure. Additionally, OH radical rate constants for neopentyl nitrate, 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, and cyclohexyl nitrate, relative to that for n-butane, have been determined at 298 ± 2 K. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with n-butane of 2.58 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, these OH radical rate constants are (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): neopentyl nitrate, 0.87 ± 0.21; cyclohexyl nitrate, 3.35 ± 0.36; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 1.75 ± 0.06; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 1.75 ± 0.22; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 3.07 ± 0.08. After accounting for consumption of the alkyl nitrates by OH radical reaction and for the yields of the individual alkyl peroxy radicals formed in the reaction of OH radicals with the alkanes studied, the alkyl nitrate yields (which reflect the fraction of the individual RO₂ radicals reacting with NO to form RONO₂) determined were: neopentyl nitrate, 0.0513 ± 0.0053; cyclohexyl nitrate, 0.160 ± 0.015; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 0.109 ± 0.003; 2-nitro-2methylbutane, 0.0533 ± 0.0022; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.0350 ± 0.0096; 3- + 4-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.165 ± 0.016; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 0.140 ± 0.014. These results are discussed and compared with previous literature values for the alkyl nitrates formed from primary and secondary alkyl peroxy radicals generated from a series of n-alkanes.     

Measurement of the reactivity of OH with methyl nitrate: Implications for prediction of alkyl nitrate-OH reaction rates

The rate of the gas phase reaction of hydroxyl radical with methyl nitrate has been measured to be (3.4 ± 0.4) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 298 K using flow discharge/ resonance fluorescence techniques. By means of correlation methods, this rate determination is used to predict a vertical ionization potential of 12.6 eV, a bond dissociation energy for H? CH₂ONO₂ of 101 kcal mol^?1, and a rate for O(³P) reaction with methyl nitrate of ca. 9 × 10^?17 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. In conjunction with previously derived relative data for reaction of alkyl nitrates with OH radical in the gas phase, a priori estimated reactivities for 1-, 2-, and 3-positionally substituted straight chain alkyl nitrates have been reexamined. Revised reactivities for OH abstraction of specific hydrogens substituted on straight chain alkyl nitrates are presented and discussed, and an atmospheric lifetime of ca. 2 yrs is estimated for methyl nitrate removal due to OH.     

Relative rates of nucleophilic reactions of benzyl carbocation formed in photolysis of benzyl chloride and benzyl acetate in aqueous solution

Benzyl chloride and benzyl acetate were photolyzed in 30% methanol–water mixtures (V/V) at 0°C. The photolysis produces benzyl carbocations that react with nucleophiles. The reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography or liquid chromatography. From the amounts of products the relative values of rate constants of reactions of benzyl carbocation with nucleophiles N and water k(N)/k(H₂O) were calculated. Benzyl carbocation reacts with I^?, Br^?, Cl^?, and Ac^? ions with approximately diffusion-controlled rate. A value of 2.4 × 10⁷ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the rate constant k(H₂O) and a lifetime of 0.7 ns were estimated for benzyl carbocation in the aqueous solution.     

Half-sandwich dibenzyl complexes of scandium: Synthesis, structure, and styrene polymerization activity

Half-sandwich dibenzyl complexes of scandium have been prepared by stepwise treatment of scandium trichloride with lithium derivatives of silyl-functionalized tetramethylcyclopentadienes (C₅Me₄H)SiMe₂R (R = Me, Ph) and benzyl magnesium chloride. The resulting complexes [Sc(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₃)(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] and [Sc(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂Ph)(CH₂Ph)₂(1,4-dioxane)] show structure related to that of the corresponding bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) compounds [Sc(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₂R)(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)]. The four-coordinate complexes display η¹-coordinated benzyl ligands without significant interaction of the ipso-carbon of the phenyl moiety. Conversion of [Sc(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₃)(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] into the cationic species by treatment with triphenylborane in THF led to the formation of a stable charge separated complex [Sc(η⁵-C₅Me₄SiMe₃)(CH₂Ph)(THF)_x][BPh₃(CH₂Ph)]. Benzyl cation formed using [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] in toluene resulted in a moderately active syndiospecific styrene polymerization catalyst.     

基于季戊四醇的三代硅碳烷液晶树状物研究

用发散法合成了季戊四醇-四烯丙基醚为核、周边含硝基偶氮苯介晶基元(M-NO₂)端基的新型三代硅碳烷液晶树状物PCSi-3G-NO₂, 并利用元素分析、红外光谱(IR)、核磁共振(NMR)、偏光显微镜(POM)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和X射线衍射(XRD)进行表征. PCSi-3G-NO₂显示胆甾相和近晶S_E相, 其液晶相行为是K57S_E115I100Ch80S_E53K. 而对应的介晶基元M-NO₂显示向列相, 二者在熔点、清亮点和液晶态温区等方面差别较大.     

Bifunctional alkyl nitrates – trace constituents of the atmosphere

Mono- and multifunctional esters of nitric acid (alkyl nitrates or organonitrates) form very complex mixtures of organic trace constituents in air. An analytical method was developed which combines selectivity in separation and detection in order to simplify this complexity in analytical terms. Mononitrates, dinitrates, keto nitrates, hydroxy nitrates of alkanes and alkenes, respecitvely, and bifunctional terpene nitrates were synthesized as reference substances. A specially developed new HPLC stationary phase (organonitrate phase) allows a group separation of mono-, di-, and hydroxy nitrates. After the HPLC preseparation the single components were finally separated by capillary HRGC-ECD and HRGC-MSD on polar and non-polar stationary phases. Mass spectrometric detection in the selected-ion-mode using the highly selective NO₂ ⁺ fragment (m/z = 46 amu) led to very good selectivities for the nitric acid ester moiety. The analysis of a 100 m³ ambient air sample using this new analytical protocol allowed the identification of seven hydroxy nitrates and 24 dinitrates ranging from C2 to C7, 22 of them for the first time ever.     

Gas-phase thermal decomposition of peroxy-N-butyryl nitrate

The gas-phase thermal decomposition rate of peroxy-n-butyryl nitrate (n-C₃H₇C(O)OONO₂, PnBN) has been measured at ambient temperature (296 K) and 1 atm of air relative to that of peroxyacetyl nitrate (CH₃C(O)OONO₂, PAN) using mixtures of PAN (14–19 ppb), PnBN (22–46 ppb), and nitric oxide (1.35–1.90 ppm). The PnBN/PAN decomposition rate ratio was 0.773 ± 0.030. This ratio, together with a literature value of 3.0 × 10^?4 s^?1 for the thermal decomposition rate of PAN at 296 K, yields a PnBN thermal decomposition rate of (2.32 ± 0.09) × 10^?4 s^?1. The results are briefly discussed by comparison with data for other peroxyacyl nitrates and with respect to the atmospheric persistence of PnBN. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with NO3 and NO2

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with nitrate radicals and with nitrogen dioxide were determined. A Teflon collapsible chamber with solid phase micro extraction (SPME) for sampling and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and a glass reactor with long‐path FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the NO₃ radical reaction using the relative rate technique with trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol (crotyl alcohol) as reference compounds. The rate coefficients obtained are k(isoprene + NO₃) = (5.3 ± 0.2) × 10^?13 and k(isoprene + NO₃) = (7.3 ± 0.9) × 10^?13 for the reference compounds trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol, respectively. The NO₂ reaction was studied using the glass reactor and FTIR spectroscopy under pseudo‐first‐order reaction conditions with both isoprene and NO₂ in excess over the other reactant. The obtained rate coefficient was k(isoprene + NO₂) = (1.15 ± 0.08) × 10^?19. The apparent rate coefficient for the isoprene and NO₂ reaction in air when NO₂ decay was followed was (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^?19. The discrepancy is explained by the fast formation of peroxy nitrates. Nitro‐ and nitrito‐substituted isoprene and isoprene‐peroxynitrate were tentatively identified products from this reaction. All experiments were conducted at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure in nitrogen or synthetic air. All rate coefficients are in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and the errors are three standard deviations from a linear least square analyses of the experimental data. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 57–65, 2005     

Hydrogenation of Diaryl and Arylalkyl Ketones by Sodium Borohydride and Aluminum Chloride

Diaryl and arylalkyl ketones such as acetophe-none, p-methylacetophenone, propiophenone, and benzophe-none as well as diaryl and arylalkyl secondary alcohols such as 1-phenylethanol and benzhydrol were effectively hydrogenated to hydrocarbons (methylene) by NaBH₄, in combination with A1C1₃.     

Adducts of coordination compounds-XIII. Nitrates,hydrogen and silver dinitrates,and polysilver nitrates of trans-dihalotetrakispyridinerhodium(III) and iridium(III) ions

The synthesis and characterization, chiefly as salts of the anions [X(ONO₂)₂]⁻ (X = H⁺ or Ag⁺) (by analysis, X-ray powder photography, vibrational spectra and thermogravimetry) of adducts of the nitrates trans-[M(L)₄X₂](NO₃) (M =Rh or Ir; L = pyridine, perdeuteriopyridine or 4-methylpyridine; X = Cl or Br) with hydrogen nitrate and silver nitrate are described.     

Organic Nitrates of Isoprene as Atmospheric Trace Compounds

The occurrence in ambient air of organic nitrates of isoprene, which can form according to Equation (1), was established for the first time. The analytical method was a combination of NP-HPLC and capillary gas chromatography with mass-selective detection by means of (methane)-NCI after high-volume sample collection (NCI=negative chemical ionization).     

Polarographic determination of nitrate in concentrated sulphuric acid solutions

The possibility of the polarographic determination of nitrates in the presence of hydroquinone in 65–95% sulphuric acid solutions was investigated. It has been found that nitrates in 95% acid have one polarographic wave without inflection point the height of which is proportional to nitrate concentration. In 85% sulphuric acid and in other acids investigated with lower concentrations, nitrates are not polarographically active. If both nitrate and hydroquinone are present in H₂SO₄, two waves are observed on the polarogram. The more negative wave is completely defined. The height of this wave is proportional to nitrate concentration in the range 5×10^?5?5×10^?3M.     

Formation and structure of diruthenium complexes Ru2(CO)6−n (PPh3) n {μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} (n=1, 2)

Ruthenium carbonyl triphenylphosphine complexes Ru₂(CO)_6−n (PPh₃) _n {μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} (n=1, 2) were obtained by the reaction of complex Ru₂(CO)₆{μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} containing the ruthenacyclopentadiene moiety with PPh₃ in refluxing toluene. The complexes were characterized by IR and by¹H,¹³C, and³¹P NMR spectroscopy, and by X-ray analysis. The monophosphine derivative is identical to the complex formed by fragmentation of the Ru₃(CO)₈(PPh₃){μ-C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)C(CH=CHPh)C(Ph)} cluster and contains the PPh₃ ligand at the ruthenium atom of the ruthenacyclopentadiene moiety. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1836–1843, September, 1998     

Heating rate effect on the thermal behavior of ammonium nitrate and its blends with limestone and dolomite

The effect of heating rate on the thermal behavior of ammonium nitrate (AN) and on the kinetic parameters of decomposition of AN and its blends with limestone and dolomite was studied on the basis of commercial fertilizer-grade AN and several Estonian limestone and dolomite samples. Experiments were carried out under dynamic heating conditions up to 900 °C at heating rates of 2, 5, 10 and 20 °C min⁻¹ in a stream of dry air using Setaram Labsys 2000 equipment. For calculation of kinetic parameters, the TG data were processed by differential isoconversional method of Friedman. The variation of the value of activation energy E along the reaction progress α showed a complex character of decomposition of AN—interaction of AN with limestone and dolomite additives with the formation of nitrates as well as decomposition of these nitrates at higher temperatures.     

Extent of H-atom abstraction from the reaction of the OH radical with 1-butene under atmospheric conditions

Products of the reaction of OH radicals with 1-butene have been investigated in the presence of NO in one atmosphere of air at room temperature using gas chromatography and in situ long pathlength Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The major product observed was propionaldehyde, with a formation yield (after allowing for its subsequent loss processes) of 0.94 ± 0.12. Minor yields of organic nitrates (RONO₂) and of peroxypropionyl nitrate, a secondary product arising from propionaldehyde, were also observed. However, none of the products expected from the reactions subsequent to H-atom abstraction from 1-butene by OH radicals were observed, allowing an upper limit of 10% for this process to be derived. These data are compared with the available literature results and the implications are discussed.     

Complexes of lanthanide nitrates with N,N-diethylantipyrine-4-carboxamide

New complexes of lanthanide nitrates with N, N-diethylantipyrine-4-carboxamide (DEAP), with the general formulae [Ln₂(DEAP)₃] [NO₃]₆ (where Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ho, Er, Yb and Y) have been isolated and characterized by chemical analysis and various physical methods such as electrolytic conductance, IR and¹³C NMR spectral data. Electrolytic conductance values and infrared spectral studies indicate that the nitrate groups are coordinated. Infrared and¹³C NMR spectral analysis show that the ligand DEAP is coordinated to the tripositive metal ion through the diethylcarboxamide carbonyl and antipyrine carbonyl oxygens in a bidentate fashion.