The kinetics and mechanisms of the gas phase elimination of 4-(methylthio)-1-butyl acetate and 1-chloro-4-(methylthio)-butane

The gas phase elimination of 4-(methylthio)-1-butyl acetate and 1-chloro-4-(methylthio)-butane has been investigated in a seasoned, static reaction vessel over the temperature range of 310–410°C and the pressure range of 46–193 Torr. The presence of the inhibitors propene, cyclohexene, and/or toluene had no effect on the rates. The reactions are homogeneous, unimolecular, and obey a first-order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 4-(methylthio)-1-butyl acetate, log k₁(s^?1) = (12.32 ± 0.29) ? (192.1 ± 3.6) kJ/mol/2.303RT; for 1-chloro-4-(methylthio)-butane, log k₁(s^?1) = (12.23 ± 0.59) ? (175.7 ± 6.8) kJ/mol/2.303RT. The CH₃S substituent in 1-chloro-4-(methylthio)-butane has been found to participate in the elimination reaction, where tetrahydrothiophene and methyl chloride formation may result from an intimate ion-pair type of mechanism. The yield of a cyclic product in gas phase reactions provides additional evidence of an intimate ion pair mechanism through neighboring group participation in gas phase elimination of special types of organic halides.     

Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of alkanes and alkenes at 299 ± 2 K

Using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of hydroxyl radicals, relative rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of alkanes and alkenes have been determined at 299 ± 2 K. The rate constant ratios obtained are: relative to n-hexane = 1.00, neopentane 0.135 ± 0.007, n-butane 0.453 ± 0.007, cyclohexane 1.32 ± 0.04; relative to cyclohexane = 1.00, n-butane 0.341 ± 0.002, cyclopentane 0.704 ± 0.007, 2,3-dimethylbutane 0.827 ± 0.004, ethene 1.12 ± 0.05; relative to propene = 1.00, 2-methyl-2-butene 3.43 ± 0.13, isoprene 3.81 ± 0.17, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene 4.28 ± 0.21. These relative rate constants are placed on an absolute basis using previous absolute rate constant data and are compared and discussed with literature data.     

Smog chamber study of H2O2 formation in ethene?NOx and propene?NOx mixtures

Hydrogen peroxide formation in the photooxidation of CO? NO_x, ethene? NO_x, and propene? NO_x mixtures has been determined in the TVA 31 cubic meter smog chamber under the following conditions: [NO_x] ca. 22–46 ppb; ethene = 0.22–1.1 ppm, [propene] = 0.12–0.97 ppm; [H₂O] ca. 8 × 10^?3 ppm. Ethene, propene, NO, NO_x, PAN, HCHO, and CH₃CHO were also monitored. Computer modeling was performed using the gas phase ethene and propene mechanism of the Regional Acid Deposition Model. There is good agreement between the model predicted and observed H₂O₂ concentrations. However, to successfully model all the propene? NO_x experimental results, organic nitrate formation from the reaction of peroxy radicals with NO must be included in the mechanism.     

An outdoor smog chamber and modeling study of toluene–NOx photooxidation

An experimental investigation of the gas-phase photooxidation of toluene–NO_x–air mixtures at part-per-million concentrations has been carried out in a 65-m³, outdoor smog chamber to assess our understanding of the atmospheric chemistry of toluene. In addition, six CO? NO_x–air irradiations were conducted to characterize the chamber with regard to any wall radical sources. Measured parameters in the toluene–NO_x experiments included O₃, NO, NO₂, HNO₃, peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), CO, toluene, benzaldehyde, o-cresol, m-nitrotoluene, peroxybenzoyl nitrate (PBZN), temperature, relative humidity, aerosol size distributions, and particulate organic carbon. Predictions of the reaction mechanism of Leone and Seinfeld [7] are found to be in good agreement with the data under a variety of initial conditions. Additional simulations are used to investigate various mechanistic pathways in areas where our understanding of toluene chemistry is still incomplete.     

Background reactivity in smog chambers

Data from several smog chamber reaction vessels have been analyzed in an attempt to elucidate the chemical species which are responsible for chamber specific background phenomena, and the nature of the processes which determine the heterogeneous interactions of those species. There is good evidence for the emission of a compound which yields both NO_x, and free radicals (probably HONO) and emissions of reactive organics (e.g. HCHO) may also be deduced. Total integrated chamber emission of these compounds may be as high as 20 to 60 ppb during a typical smog chamber experiment. In addition to the direct emission of these contaminants, the surface reaction of NO2 and H2O to HONO is examined. In some cases this reaction may have as great an effect on a smog chamber experiment as the emission of trace contaminants. Overall chamber perturbations to gas phase chemistry have been estimated for several experiments and were found to be less than 20 percent in the majority of cases, although higher perturbations were found in experiments involving compounds of low reactivity such as butane.     

Photooxidation of 1,3-butadiene containing systems: Rate constant determination for the reaction of acrolein with ⋅OH radicals

The photooxidation of the 1,3-butadiene–NO–air system at 298 ± 2 K was investigated in an environmental chamber under simulated atmospheric conditions. The irradiation gave rise to the formation of acrolein in a 55% yield, based on 1,3-butadiene initial concentration for all the experimental runs. The rate of formation of acrolein was the same as that of 1,3-butadiene consumption, indicating that acrolein is the major product of the 1,3-butadiene oxidation in air. The dependence of acrolein concentration on irradiation time showed thata secondary process, identified as an oxidation of acrolein by ^?OH radicals, was occurring during the photochemical runs. The rate constant of this secondary process was determined by measuring the relative rates of disappearance of acrolein and n-butane during the irradiation of acrolein-n-butane-NO-air mixtures. The so obtained relative rate constant value was placed on an absolute basis using a reported rate constant for the n-butane + ^?OH reaction; a value of (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ M^?1 sec^?1 was obtained.     

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.     

Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of alkenes and dialkenes at 295 ± 1 K

Using a relative rate technique, rate constants for the gas phase reactions of the OH radical with n-butane, n-hexane, and a series of alkenes and dialkenes, relative to that for propene, have been determined in one atmosphere of air at 295 ± 1 K. The rate constant ratios obtained were (propene = 1.00): ethene, 0.323 ± 0.014; 1-butene, 1.19 ± 0.06; 1-pentene, 1.19 ± 0.05; 1-hexene, 1.40 ± 0.04; 1-heptene, 1.51 ± 0.06; 3-methyl-1-butene, 1.21 ± 0.04; isobutene, 1.95 ± 0.09; cis-2-butene, 2.13 ± 0.05; trans-2-butene, 2.43 ± 0.05; 2-methyl-2-butene, 3.30 ± 0.13; 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, 4.17 ± 0.18; propadiene, 0.367 ± 0.036; 1,3-butadiene, 2.53 ± 0.08; 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 3.81 ± 0.15; n-butane, 0.101 ± 0.012; and n-hexane, 0.198 ± 0.017. From a least-squares fit of these relative rate data to the most reliable literature absolute flash photolysis rate constants, these relative rate constants can be placed on an absolute basis using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with propene of 2.63 × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The resulting rate constant data, together with previous relative rate data from these and other laboratories, lead to a self-consistent data set for the reactions of OH radicals with a large number of organics at room temperature.     

Products of the gas-phase reaction of methyl tert-butyl ether with the OH radical in the presence of NOx

The products of the reaction of the hydroxyl (OH) radical with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in NO_x-air systems were identified and measured by Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The products observed, and their yields, were as follows: t-butyl formate, 76 ± 7%; formaldehyde, 37%; methyl acetate, 17 ± 2%, and acetone, 2.1 ± 0.9%, where the stated error limits represent both random (two standard deviations) and estimated systematic uncertainties. These products account for ca. 95% of the MTBE carbon reacted. Infrared absorption bands which may be due to small amounts of organic nitrate formation were observed, but organic nitrate yields could not be quantified. These data allow a chemical mechanism for the reaction of MTBE with the OH radical in the presence of NO_x to be formulated.     

Kinetics of the reaction of O3 with selected benzenediols

The kinetics of the reaction of O₃ with the aromatic vicinal diols 1,2‐benzenediol, 3‐methyl‐1,2‐benzenediol, and 4‐methyl‐1,2‐benzenediol have been investigated using a relative rate technique. The rate coefficients were determined in a 1080‐L smog chamber at 298 K and 1 atm total pressure of synthetic air using propene and 1,3‐butadiene as reference compounds. The following O₃ reaction rate coefficients (in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) have been obtained: k(1,2‐benzenediol) = (9.60 ± 1.12) × 10^?18, k(3‐methyl‐1,2‐benzenediol) = (2.81 ± 0.23) × 10^?17, k(4‐methyl‐1,2‐benzenediol) = (2.63 ± 0.34) × 10^?17. Absolute measurements of the O₃ rate coefficient have also been carried out by measuring the decay of the dihydroxy compound in an excess of O₃. The results from these experiments are in good agreement with the relative determinations. Atmospheric implications are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 223–230, 2003     

The photooxidation of methyl tertiary butyl ether

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been proposed and is being used as an additive to increase the octane of gasoline without the use of tetraethyl lead and alkylbenzenes. The present experiments have been performed to examine the kinetics and mechanisms of the atmospheric removal of MTBE. The kinetics of the reaction of OH with MTBE was examined by using a relative rate technique in which photolysis of methyl nitrite was used as the source of OH. With n-butane as the reference compound a value of (2.99 ± 0.12) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at a temperature of 298 K was obtained for the rate constant. The products (and product yields) for the OH reaction with MTBE in the presence of NO_x were also determined and found to be t-butyl formate (0.68 ± 0.05), methyl acetate (0.14 ± 0.02), acetone (0.026 ± 0.003), t-butanol (0.062 ± 0.009), and formaldehyde (0.48 ± 0.05) in mols/mol MTBE converted. The OH rate constant for the major product formed, t-butyl formate was also measured and found to be (7.37 ± 0.05) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Mechanisms to rationalize the formation of the products are presented.     

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

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

The production of organic nitrates from various anthropogenic volatile organic compounds

Production of organic nitrates from OH reaction with cyclohexane, cyclohexene, n‐butane, 1‐bromopropane, and p‐xylene in the presence of NO was studied. The total organic nitrate yields for cyclohexane and n‐butane were determined to be 17 ± 4 and 7 ± 2% respectively, which is in good agreement with previous determinations. Total yields for cyclohexene, 1‐bromopropane, and p‐xylene were 2.5 ± 0.5, 1.2 ± 0.3, and 3.2 ± 0.7 respectively. The yield for cyclohexene was five times smaller than that for cyclohexane. The 1‐bromopropane yield is three times smaller that that for n‐propane, but similar to that for propene, indicating that the effect of Br substitution in the reactant may be similar to that for OH substitution. The only nitrooxy product detected for p‐xylene was 4‐methylbenzylnitrate, which was formed following H abstraction from either methyl group. No organic nitrate was detected for peroxy radicals produced from OH addition to the ring, which accounts for 90% of the OH oxidation of p‐xylene. The calculated k_3b/k₃ value for p‐methyl benzyl peroxy radicals (0.32) was slightly smaller than for n‐octyl peroxy radicals (0.39). These data imply that substituent inductive effects impact the k_3b/k₃ ratios. We found no significant difference in the k_3b/k₃ ratios for primary vs. secondary peroxy radicals of the same carbon chain. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 675–685, 2005     

Formation of nitrous acid and nitric oxide in the heterogeneous dark reaction of nitrogen dioxide and water vapor in a smog chamber

The dark reaction of NO_x and H₂O vapor in 1 atm of air was studied for the purpose of elucidating the recently discussed unknown radical source in smog chambers. Nitrous acid and nitric oxide were found to be formed by the reaction of NO₂ and H₂O in an evacuable and bakable smog chamber. No nitric acid was observed in the gas phase. The reaction is not stoichiometric and is thought to be a heterogeneous wall reaction. The reaction rate is first order with respect to NO₂ and H₂O, and the concentrations of HONO and NO initially increase linearly with time. The same reaction proceeds with a different rate constant in a quartz cell, and the reaction of NO₂ and H₂¹⁸O gave H¹⁸ONO exclusively. Taking into consideration the heterogeneous reaction of NO₂ and H₂O, the upper limit of the rate constant of the third-order reaction NO + NO₂ + H₂O → 2HONO was deduced to be (3.0 ± 1.4) × 10^?10 ppm^?2-min^?1, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the previously reported value. Nitrous acid formed by the heterogeneous dark reaction of NO₂ and H₂O should contribute significantly to both an initially present HONO and a continuous supply of OH radicals by photolysis in smog chamber experiments.     

Origin of the [C4H9O]+ ions in the mass spectrum of n-butyl ethyl ether

The mechanisms of formation of m/z 73 ions in the mass spectrum of the ionized title compound were investigated by deuterium substitution and by examining the decompositions of metastable ions. Two routes to the [C₄H₉O]⁺ ions were found in the normal spectrum. The ethyl lost by the major pathway contains the α- and β-hydrogens and a γ-hydrogen from the butyl group. The minor route involves the loss of ethylene from the [M? H]⁺ ion. There were metastable peaks for losses of ethyl, ethanol and methyl from the molecular ion. The ethyl contains the α- and β-methylenes and a γ-hydrogen, while the methyl is the δ-methyl of the butyl group. The labeling data rule out a previous mechanistic proposal for the loss of ethyl and support a mechanism involving stepwise isomerization to the sec-butyl ethyl ether molecular ion. However, the metastable ion chemistries of the molecular ions from the n- and sec-butyl ethyl ethers are highly dissimilar, perhaps due to decompositions from different electronic states. The n-pentyl methyl ether ions loses both ethyl and propyl, apparently following rearrangements to the 3-pentyl and 2-pentyl ether ions. Di n-butyl and n-butyl methyl ethers also give metastable peaks for loss of methyl, ethyl and the shorter chain alcohol.     

D-isotope-labelled n-butane cations in CF3CCl3 and in CF2ClCFCl2: Structure and reactions at low temperature

Cations of n-butane, n-butane-1,4-d₆, -d₄, -d₂ and n-butane-2,3-d4 produced by X-irradiation of CF₂ClCFCl₂ and CF₃CCl₃ 3 matrices containing 1–2 mole% of solute have been investigated by ESR spectroscopy. The measurements have been performed at 77–130 K. The results confirm that the two largest couplings are assigned to two protons on the methyl groups. Smaller couplings have been resolved in CF₃CCl₃ and assigned to specific H atoms. A geometry with a non-planar carbon skeleton is proposed. Partly deuterated methyl groups give rise to rotational isomers. Thermal and photoinduced decompositions producing 2-butyl radicals and 2-butane cations have been further studied.     

The mass spectra of some methyl alkanesulphinates

Mass Spectra of the methyl esters of ethane, n-propane, isopropane, n-butane, sec-butane and tert-butane sulphinic acids have been determined. In general, the parent ions are of low abundance and the most prevalent are the hydrocarbon ions which arise by α-cleavage. Other ions that serve to characterise these compounds are those from the CH₄SO₂ and HSO₂ fragments.     

Gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical with the unsaturated peroxyacyl nitrate CH2C(CH3)C(O)OONO2

The gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical with the unsaturated peroxyacyl nitrate CH₂ ? C(CH₃)C(O)OONO₂ (MPAN) has been studied at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. The OH-MPAN reaction rate constant relative to that of OH + n-butyl nitrate is 2.08 ± 0.25. This ratio, together with a literature rate constant of 1.74 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the OH + n-butyl nitrate reaction at 298 K, yields a rate constant of (3.6 ± 0.4)× 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the OH-MPAN reaction at 298 ± 2 K. Hydroxyacetone and formaldehyde are the major carbonyl products. The yield of hydroxyacetone, 0.59 ± 0.12, is consistent with preferential addition of OH at the unsubstituted carbon atom. Atmospheric persistence and removal processes for MPAN are briefly discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rates of reaction between the nitrate radical and some aliphatic ethers

Rate coefficients for the reaction of NO₃ with dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) have been determined. Absolute rates were measured at temperatures between 258 and 373 K using the fast flow-discharge technique. Relative rate experiments were also made at 295 K in a reactor equipped with White optics and using FTIR spectroscopy to follow the reactions. The measured rate coefficients (in units of 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) at 295 K are: 0.26 ± 0.11, 2.80 ± 0.23, 6.49 ± 0.65, and 0.64 ± 0.06 for dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, and methyl t-butyl ether, respectively. The corresponding activation energies are 21.0 ± 5.0, 17.2 ± 4.0, 15.5 ± 2.1, and 20.1 ± 1.7 kJ mole^?1. The error limits correspond to the 95%-confidence interval. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New initiator system for the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates in toluene. IV. Random copolymerization of (meth)acrylates in toluene initiated by s-BuLi ligated by lithium silanolates

Copolymerization of binary mixtures of alkyl (meth)acrylates has been initiated in toluene by a mixed complex of lithium silanolate  (s-BuMe₂SiOLi) and s-BuLi (molar ratio > 21) formed in situ by reaction of s-BuLi with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃). Fully acrylate and methacrylate copolymers, i.e., poly(methyl acrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(isobornyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(isobornyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate) of a rather narrow molecular weight distribution have been synthesized. However, copolymerization of alkyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate pairs has completely failed, leading to the selective formation of homopoly(acrylate). As result of the isotactic stereoregulation of the alkyl methacrylate polymerization by the s-BuLi/s-BuMe₂SiOLi initiator, highly isotactic random and block copolymers of (alkyl) methacrylates have been prepared and their thermal behavior analyzed. The structure of isotactic poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymers has been analyzed in more detail by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2525–2535, 1999