An experimental and theoretical study of the reactions OIO+NO and OIO+OH

The kinetics of the reaction OIO+NO were studied by pulsed laser photolysis/time-resolved cavity ring-down spectroscopy, yielding k(235-320 K)=7.6(+4.0)(-3.1) x 10(-13) exp[(607+/-128)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Quantum calculations on the OIO+NO potential-energy surface show that the reactants form a weakly bound OIONO intermediate, which then dissociates to the products IO+NO2. Rice-Ramsberger-Kassel-Markus (RRKM) calculations on this surface are in good accord with the experimental result. The most stable potential product, IONO2, cannot form because of the significant rearrangement of OIONO that would be required. The reaction OIO+OH was then investigated by quantum calculations of the relevant stationary points on its potential-energy surface. The very stable HOIO2 molecule can form by direct recombination, but the bimolecular reaction channels to HO2+IO and HOI+O2 are closed because of significant energy barriers. RRKM calculations of the HOIO2 recombination rate coefficient yield krec,0=1.5x10(-27) (T/300 K)(-3.93) cm6 molecule-2 s-1, krec,infinity=5.5x10(-10) exp(46/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, and Fc=0.30. The rate coefficients of both reactions are fast enough around 290 K and 1 atm pressure for these reactions to play a potentially important role in the gas phase and aerosol chemistry in the marine boundary layer of the atmosphere.     

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     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of Cl atoms with a series of ethers

The laser photolysis–resonance fluorescence technique has been used to determine the absolute rate coefficient for the Cl atom reaction with a series of ethers, at room temperature (298 ± 2) K and in the pressure range 15–60 Torr. The rate coefficients obtained (in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) are dimethyl ether (1.3 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, diethyl ether (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐n‐propyl ether (3.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐n‐butyl ether (4.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁰, di‐isopropyl ether (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, methyl tert‐butyl ether (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰, and ethyl tert‐butyl ether (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰. The results are discussed in terms of structure–reactivity relationship. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 105–110, 2000     

Theoretical study of the gas‐phase SN2 reactions of X− with CH3OY (X,Y = Cl,Br, I)

The gas‐phase nucleophilic substitution reactions at saturated oxygen X^? + CH₃OY (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) have been investigated at the level of CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(2df,p). The calculated results indicate that X^? preferably attacks oxygen atom of CH₃OY via a S_N2 pathway. The central barriers and overall barriers are respectively in good agreement with both the predictions of Marcus equation and its modification, respectively. Central barrier heights (ΔH and ΔH) correlate well with the charges (Q) of the leaving groups (Y), Wiberg bond orders (BO) and the elongation of the bonds (O? Y and O? X) in the transition structures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Temperature‐dependent kinetics study of the gas‐phase reactions of atomic chlorine with acetone, 2‐butanone,and 3‐pentanone

A laser flash photolysis–resonance fluorescence technique has been employed to study the kinetics of the reactions of atomic chlorine with acetone (CH₃C(O)CH₃; k₁), 2‐butanone (C₂H₅C(O)CH₃; k₂), and 3‐pentanone (C₂H₅C(O)C₂H₅; k₃) as a function of temperature (210–440 K) and pressure (30–300 Torr N₂). No significant pressure dependence is observed for any of the reactions studied. Arrhenius expressions (units are 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) obtained from the data are k₁(T) = (1.53 ± 0.19) exp[(?594 ± 33)/T], k₂(T) = (2.77 ± 0.33) exp[(+76 ± 33)/T], and k₃(T) = (5.66 ± 0.41) exp[(+87 ± 22)/T], where uncertainties are 2σ and represent precision only. The accuracy of reported rate coefficients is estimated to be ±15% over the entire range of pressure and temperature investigated. The room temperature rate coefficients reported in this study are in good agreement with a majority of literature values. However, the activation energies reported in this study are in poor agreement with the literature values, particularly for 2‐butanone and 3‐pentanone. Possible explanations for discrepancies in published kinetic parameters are proposed, and the potential role of Cl + ketone reactions in atmospheric chemistry is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 259–267, 2008     

Study of gas‐phase reactions of NO2+ with aromatic compounds using proton transfer reaction time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

The study of ion chemistry involving the NO₂⁺ is currently the focus of considerable fundamental interest and is relevant in diverse fields ranging from mechanistic organic chemistry to atmospheric chemistry. A very intense source of NO₂⁺ was generated by injecting the products from the dielectric barrier discharge of a nitrogen and oxygen mixture upstream into the drift tube of a proton transfer reaction time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (PTR‐TOF‐MS) apparatus with H₃O⁺ as the reagent ion. The NO₂⁺ intensity is controllable and related to the dielectric barrier discharge operation conditions and ratio of oxygen to nitrogen. The purity of NO₂⁺ can reach more than 99% after optimization. Using NO₂⁺ as the chemical reagent ion, the gas‐phase reactions of NO₂⁺ with 11 aromatic compounds were studied by PTR‐TOF‐MS. The reaction rate coefficients for these reactions were measured, and the product ions and their formation mechanisms were analyzed. All the samples reacted with NO₂⁺ rapidly with reaction rate coefficients being close to the corresponding capture ones. In addition to electron transfer producing [M]⁺, oxygen ion transfer forming [MO]⁺, and 3‐body association forming [M·NO₂]⁺, a new product ion [M−C]⁺ was also formed owing to the loss of C═O from [MO]⁺.This work not only developed a new chemical reagent ion NO₂⁺ based on PTR‐MS but also provided significant interesting fundamental data on reactions involving aromatic compounds, which will probably broaden the applications of PTR‐MS to measure these compounds in the atmosphere in real time.     

Theoretical study of the gas‐phase ion pairs SN2 reactions of LiX with CH3SY (X,Y = F,Cl, Br,I)

The gas‐phase ion pair S_N2 reactions at saturated sulfur LiX + CH₃SY → CH₃SX + LiY (X, Y = F, Cl, Br, I) are investigated using the CCSD(T) calculations. The calculated results show that the reactions LiX + CH₃SY are exothermic only when the nucleophile is a heavier lithium halide. Central barrier heights are found to depend primarily on the identity of nucleophile LiX, decreasing in the order LiF > LiCl > LiBr > LiI. Another interesting feature of the ion pair reactions at sulfur is the good correlation between the reaction barriers with geometrical looseness of Li? X and S? Y bonds in the transition state structures. The data for the reaction barriers show good agreement with the prediction of the Marcus equation and its modification. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Gas‐phase reactions of Cl atoms with propane,n‐butane,and isobutane

Using the relative kinetic method, rate coefficients have been determined for the gas‐phase reactions of chlorine atoms with propane, n‐butane, and isobutane at total pressure of 100 Torr and the temperature range of 295–469 K. The Cl₂ photolysis (λ = 420 nm) was used to generate Cl atoms in the presence of ethane as the reference compound. The experiments have been carried out using GC product analysis and the following rate constant expressions (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) have been derived: (7.4 ± 0.2) × 10^?11 exp [‐(70 ± 11)/ T], Cl + C₃H₈ → HCl + CH₃CH₂CH₂; (5.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?11 exp [(104 ± 32)/ T], Cl + C₃H₈ → HCl + CH₃CHCH₃; (7.3 ± 0.2) × 10^?11 exp[?(68 ± 10)/ T], Cl + n‐C₄H₁₀ → HCl + CH₃ CH₂CH₂CH₂; (9.9 ± 2.2) × 10^?11 exp[(106 ± 75)/ T], Cl + n‐C₄H₁₀ → HCl + CH₃CH₂CHCH₃; (13.0 ± 1.8) × 10^?11 exp[?(104 ± 50)/ T], Cl + i‐C₄H₁₀ → HCl + CH₃CHCH₃CH₂; (2.9 ± 0.5) × 10^?11 exp[(155 ± 58)/ T], Cl + i‐C₄H₁₀ → HCl + CH₃CCH₃CH₃ (all error bars are ± 2σ precision). These studies provide a set of reaction rate constants allowing to determine the contribution of competing hydrogen abstractions from primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon atom in alkane molecule. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 651–658, 2002     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of nitrate radicals with geraniol,citronellol, and dihydromyrcenol

Terpenes and terpene alcohols are prevalent compounds found in a wide variety of consumer products including soaps, flavorings, perfumes, and air fresheners used in the indoor environment. Knowing the reaction rate of these chemicals with the nitrate radical is an important factor in determining their fate indoors. In this study, the bimolecular rate constants of k (16.6 ± 4.2) × 10^?12, k (12.1 ± 3) × 10^?12, and k (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the nitrate radical (NO₃?) with 2,6‐dimethyl‐2,6‐octadien‐8‐ol (geraniol), 3,7‐dimethyl‐6‐octen‐1‐ol (citronellol), and 2,6‐dimethyl‐7‐octen‐2‐ol (dihydromyrcenol) at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Using the geraniol, citronellol, or dihydromyrcenol + NO₃? rate constants reported here, pseudo‐first‐order rate lifetimes (k′) of 1.5, 1.1, and 0.002 h^?1 were determined, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 669–675, 2010     

Products of the gas‐phase photooxidation reactions of 1‐propanol with OH radicals

An experimental investigation of the hydroxyl radical initiated gas‐phase photooxidation of 1‐propanol in the presence of NO was carried out in a reaction chamber using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The products identified in the OH radical reactions of 1‐propanol were propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde, with corresponding formation yields of 0.719 ± 0.058 and 0.184 ± 0.030, respectively. Errors represent ±2σ. The experimental product yields were compared to predictions made using chemical mechanisms. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 810–818, 1999     

β‐Ionone reactions with the nitrate radical: Rate constant and gas‐phase products

The bimolecular rate constant of k (9.4 ± 2.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the nitrate radical (NO₃?) with 4‐(2,6,6‐trimethyl‐1‐cyclohexen‐1‐yl)‐3‐buten‐2‐one (β‐ionone) at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. In addition, the products of β‐ionone + NO₃? reaction were also investigated. The identified reaction products were glyoxal (HC(?O)C(?O)H), and methylglyoxal (CH₃C(?O)C(?O)H). Derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine and N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide were used to propose the other major reaction products: 3‐oxobutane‐1,2‐diyl nitrate, 2,6,6‐trimethylcyclohex‐1‐ene‐carbaldehyde, 2‐oxo‐1‐(2,6,6‐trimethylcyclohex‐1‐en‐1‐yl)ethyl nitrate, pentane‐2,4‐dione, 3‐oxo‐1‐(2,6,6‐trimethylcyclohex‐1‐en‐1‐yl)butane‐1,2‐diyl dinitrate, 3,3‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,2‐dione, and 4‐oxopent‐2‐enal. The elucidation of these products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with plausible β‐ionone + NO₃? reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound + NO₃? gas‐phase mechanisms. The additional gas‐phase products 5‐acetyl‐2‐ethylidene‐3‐methylcyclopentyl nitrate, 1‐(1‐hydroxy‐7,7‐dimethyl‐2,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro‐1 H‐inden‐2‐yl)ethanone, 1‐(1‐hydroxy‐3a,7‐dimethyl‐2,3,3a,4,5,6,‐hexahydro‐1 H‐inden‐2‐yl)ethanone, and 5‐acetyl‐2‐ethylidene‐3‐methylcyclopentanone are proposed to be the result of cyclization through a reaction intermediate. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. *

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

Int J Chem Kinet 41: 629–641, 2009     

Rate constants of the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal,trans‐2‐octenal,and trans‐2‐nonenal

The rate constants of the gas‐phase reaction of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal, trans‐2‐octenal, and trans‐2‐nonenal were determined at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure using the relative rate technique. Two reference compounds were selected for each rate constant determination. The relative rates of OH + trans‐2‐hexenal versus OH + 2‐methyl‐2‐butene and β‐pinene were 0.452 ± 0.054 and 0.530 ± 0.036, respectively. These results yielded an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐hexenal of (39.3 ± 1.7) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐octenal versus the OH reaction with butanal and β‐pinene were 1.65 ± 0.08 and 0.527 ± 0.032, yielding an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐octenal of (40.5 ± 2.5) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐nonenal versus OH+ butanal and OH + trans‐2‐hexenal were 1.77 ± 0.08 and 1.09 ± 0.06, resulting in an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐nonenal of (43.5 ± 3.0) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. In all cases, the errors represent 2σ (95% confidential level) and the calculated rate constants do not include the error associated with the rate constant of the OH reaction with the reference compounds. The rate constants for the hydroxyl radical reactions of a series of trans‐2‐aldehydes were compared with the values estimated using the structure activity relationship. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 483–489, 2009     

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     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reaction of Cl atoms with CF2ClCFClH at 263–313 K

Relative rate techniques were used to measure k(Cl + CF₂ClCFClH) = (1.4) × 10⁻¹¹ exp[−(2360 ± 400)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(Cl + CF₂ClCFClH) = 5.1 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 298 K. This result is discussed with respect to the available data. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 785–788, 1999     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of Cl atom with selected C2–C5 unsaturated hydrocarbons at 283 < T < 323 K

The reaction of Cl atoms with a series of C₂–C₅ unsaturated hydrocarbons has been investigated at atmospheric pressure of 760 Torr over the temperature range 283–323 K in air and N₂ diluents. The decay of the hydrocarbons was followed using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID), and the kinetic constants were determined using a relative rate technique with n‐hexane as a reference compound. The Cl atoms were generated by UV photolysis (λ ≥ 300 nm) of Cl₂ molecules. The following absolute rate constants (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with errors representing ±2σ) for the reaction at 295 ± 2 K have been derived from the relative rate constants combined to the value 34.5 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the Cl + n‐hexane reaction: ethene (9.3 ± 0.6), propyne (22.1 ± 0.3), propene (27.6 ± 0.6), 1‐butene (35.2 ± 0.7), and 1‐pentene (48.3 ± 0.8). The temperature dependence of the reactions can be expressed as simple Arrhenius expressions (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k_ethene = (0.39 ± 0.22) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(226 ± 42)/T}, k_propyne = (4.1 ± 2.5) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(118 ± 45)/T}, k_propene = (1.6 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(203 ± 79)/T}, k_1‐butene = (1.1 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(245 ± 90)/T}, and k_1‐pentene = (4.0 ± 2.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(423 ± 68)/T}. The applicability of our results to tropospheric chemistry is discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 478–484, 2000     

A kinetics study of the reaction of Cl with NO2

The third order rate coefficients for the addition reaction of Cl with NO₂, Cl + NO₂ + M → ClNO₂ (ClONO) + M; k₁, were measured to be k₁(He) = (7.5 ± 1.1) × 10^?31 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 and k₁(N₂) = (16.6 ± 3.0) × 10^?31 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 at 298 K using the flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence method. The pressure range of the study was 15 to 500 torr He and 19 to 200 torr N₂. The temperature dependence of the third order rate coefficients were also measured between 240 and 350 K. The 298 K results are compared with those from previous low pressure studies.     

2–Butoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol reactions with the nitrate radical: Rate coefficients and gas‐phase products

The bimolecular rate coefficients k and k were measured using the relative rate technique at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Values of (2.7 ± 0.7) and (4.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were observed for k and k, respectively. In addition, the products of 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? gas‐phase reactions were investigated. Derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine and N, O‐bis (trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to identify the reaction products. For 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? reaction: hydroxyacetaldehyde, 3‐hydroxypropanal, 4‐hydroxybutanal, butoxyacetaldehyde, and 4‐(2‐oxoethoxy)butan‐2‐yl nitrate were the derivatized products observed. For the benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction: benzaldehyde ((C₆H₅)C(?O)H) was the only derivatized product observed. Negative chemical ionization was used to identify the following nitrate products: [(2‐butoxyethoxy)(oxido)amino]oxidanide and benzyl nitrate, for 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^?, respectively. The elucidation of these products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with a plausible 2‐butoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound + NO₃^? gas‐phase mechanisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 778–788, 2012     

Experimental and theoretical study of the homogeneous,unimolecular gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐furoic acid

The kinetics of the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of CO₂ from furoic acid was determined in a static system over the temperature range 415–455°C and pressure range 20–50 Torr. The products are furan and carbon dioxide. The reaction, which is carried out in vessels seasoned with allyl bromide and in the presence of the free‐radical suppressor toluene and/or propene, is homogeneous, unimolecular, and follows a first‐order rate law. The observed rate coefficient is expressed by the following Arrhenius equation: log k₁(s^?1) = (13.28 ± 0.16) ? (220.5 ± 2.1) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Theoretical studies carried out at the B3LYP/6‐31++G** computational level suggest two possible mechanisms according to the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters calculated compared with experimental values. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 298–306, 2007     

Mechanistic dichotomy in the gas‐phase addition of NO3 to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Theoretical study

The gas‐phase addition mechanism of the NO₃ radical (an important tropospheric nocturnal oxidizing species) to some selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), important pollutants of the troposphere, has been computationally analysed. Purpose of this work is to verify whether the reaction can take place through a mechanism different from the simple radical addition to the π aromatic system. This mechanism could consist in an Electron Transfer (ET) from the aromatics to NO₃, thus generating an aromatic radical‐cation and a nitrate anion at long C O distances. The coulomb attraction should finally bind the two species and generate the radical adduct without any electronic energy barrier. The CASPT2 results show that, while benzene and naphthalene react with NO₃ through a plain radical mechanism, anthracene reacts by a mechanism with a partial ET character, and pentacene reacts with a sort of inner‐sphere ET pathway. These results concur to explain the high reactivity of NO₃ with larger PAHs whose ionization energy is below 7 eV and could be important in studies of environmental PAH oxidative degradation.