Flame structure of laminar premixed anisole flames investigated by photoionization mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy

Two laminar, premixed, fuel-rich flames fueled by anisole-oxygen-argon mixtures with the same cold gas velocity and pressure were investigated by molecular-beam mass spectrometry at two synchrotron sources where tunable vacuum-ultraviolet radiation enables isomer-resolved photoionization. Decomposition of the very weak O–CH₃ bond in anisole (C₆H₅OCH₃) by unimolecular decomposition yields the resonantly-stabilized phenoxy radical (C₆H₅O). This key intermediate species opens reaction routes to five-membered ring species, such as cyclopentadiene (C₅H₆) and cyclopentadienyl radicals (C₅H₅). Anisole is often discussed as model compound for lignin to study the phenolic-carbon structure in this natural polymer. Measured temperature profiles and mole fractions of many combustion intermediates give detailed information on the flame structure. A very comprehensive reaction mechanism from the literature which includes a sub-scheme for anisole combustion is used for species modeling. Species with the highest measured mole fractions (on the order of 10^?3–10^?2) are CH₃, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CH₂O, C₅H₅ (cyclopentadienyl radical), C₅H₆ (cyclopentadiene), C₆H₆ (benzene), C₆H₅OH (phenol), and C₆H₅CHO (benzaldehyde). Some are formed in the first destruction steps of anisole, e.g., phenol and benzaldehyde, and their formation will be discussed and with regard to the modeling results. There are three major routes for the fuel destruction: (1) formation of benzaldehyde (C₆H₅CHO), (2) formation of phenol (C₆H₅OH), and (3) unimolecular decomposition of anisole to phenoxy (C₆H₅O) and CH₃ radicals. In the experiment, the phenoxy radical could be measured directly. The phenoxy radical decomposes via a bicyclic structure into the soot precursor C₅H₅ and CO. Formation of larger oxygenated species was observed in both flames. One of them is guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), which decomposes into fulvenone. The presented speciation data, which contain more than 60 species mole fraction profiles of each flame, give insights into the combustion kinetics of anisole.     

Pyrolysis of diethyl carbonate: Shock-tube and flow-reactor measurements and modeling

Shock-tube and flow-reactor experiments were used to study the thermal decomposition of diethyl carbonate (C₂H₅OC(O)OC₂H₅; DEC). The formation of CO₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₅OH was measured with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-repetition-rate time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRR-TOF-MS) behind reflected shock waves. The same products were also detected by GC/MS in flow reactor experiments. All experiments combined span a temperature range of 663–1203 K at pressures between 1.0 and 2.0 bar. Time-resolved species concentration profiles from HRR-TOF-MS and product compositions from GC/MS measurements were simulated applying a detailed reaction mechanism for DEC combustion. A master-equation analysis was conducted based on computed energies from G4 calculations. Quantum chemical calculations confirm that DEC primarily decomposes by six-center elimination, C₂H₅OC(O)OC₂H₅ → C₂H₄ + C₂H₅OC(O)OH (1a), followed by rapid decomposition of the alkoxy acid, C₂H₅OC(O)OH → C₂H₅OH + CO₂ (1b). Measured DEC decomposition rate constants k(T) at p ≈ 1.5 bar can be represented by the Arrhenius equation k(T) = 10^13.64±0.12 exp(?204.24±1.95 kJ/mol/RT) s ^{? 1}. Theoretical predictions for k_1a were in good agreement with experimentally derived values. The theoretical analysis also included dipropyl carbonate (C₃H₇OC(O)OC₃H₇; DPC) decomposition and the reactivities of DEC and DPC are compared and discussed in the context of reactivity of dialkyl carbonates under pyrolytic conditions.     

Line strength and collisional broadening coefficients of H2O at 2.7 μm for natural gas quality assurance applications

We employed tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy to measure the line strength, the methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆) and the propane (C₃H₈) broadening coefficients for the 523–422 H₂O transition at 3619.61 cm^?1. Water amount fractions generated by a stable and accurate humidity transfer standard, traceable to the SI units via the German national humidity standard, were used to calibrate the spectroscopic line strength measurements. We focus on the traceability of the measured line data to the SI and on uncertainty assessments following the guidelines of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. We determined the line strength to be (8.42 ± 0.07)×10^?20 cm^?1/(cm^?2 molecule) corresponding to a relative uncertainty of ±0.8%. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first methane, ethane and propane broadening coefficients of (8.037 ± 0.056)×10^?5 cm^?1/hPa, (9.077 ± 0.064)×10^?5 cm^?1/hPa and (10.469 ± 0.073)×10^?5 cm^?1/hPa for the 523–422 H₂O transition at 3619.61 cm^?1, respectively. The relative combined uncertainties of the stated CH₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ broadening coefficients are in the ±0.7% range.     

Interaction of acetylene and ethylene with an Fe(111) surface

The chemisorption of C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ on a clean or partly C- or O-covered Fe(111) surface was investigated with AES, TDS and HREELS. On the clean surface, both molecules adsorb under strong rehybridization close to sp³. Above 230 K, C₂H₂ reacts to form CH and presumably CH₂ as the main products, which on further heating decompose to yield H₂ desorption maxima at 580 and 490 K, leaving two carbon species on the surface which correspond to two loss peaks at 400 and 1290 cm^?1 in the HREELS spectrum. C₂H₄ undergoes very rapid decomposition above 250 K; no intermediates have been detected. The presence of coadsorbed oxygen or carbon atoms only reduced the maximum uptake of C₂H₂, but led to the appearance of new molecular adsorption states of C₂H₄ and inhibited C₂H₄ decomposition.     

Structures and stabilities of endo- and exohedral Si20H20 derivatives: X@Si20H20 and XSi20H20, X = H + , H,N, P,C − , and Si −

Geometries, relative energies, and stabilities of endo- and exohedral complexes, X@Si₂₀H₂₀ and XSi₂₀H₂₀, (X = H⁺, H, N, P, C^?, and Si^?) are calculated at B3LYP/6-31G* level. The energy minimum structure of Si₂₀H₂₁ ⁺ shows that the proton cannot be positioned in the Si₂₀H₂₀ centre, but prefers attach to Si₂₀H₂₀ exohedrally with C_2v symmetry. Most investigated I_h endohedral complexes X@Si₂₀H₂₀ (X = H, N, P, C^?, and Si^?) are local minima, except for ²N@Si₂₀H₂₀, which is a high-order saddle point. Inclusions energies of the endohedral complexes are calculated, and it reveals that energy penalties caused by encapsulation are rather small. Exohedral complexes XSi₂₀H₂₀ (X = H, N, P, C^?, and Si^?) have C_2v or C_s local minima, and most of them are more stable than their endohedral isomers with the exception of C_2v ⁴PSi₂₀H₂₀ and ⁴Si^?Si₂₀H₂₀.     

Single-pulse shock-tube study on the pyrolysis of small esters (ethyl and propyl propanoate,isopropyl acetate) and methyl isopropyl carbonate

Single-pulse shock-tube experiments were used to study the thermal decomposition of selected oxygenated hydrocarbons: Ethyl propanoate (C₂H₅OC(O)C₂H₅; EP), propyl propanoate (C₃H₇OC(O)C₂H₅; PP), isopropyl acetate ((CH₃)₂HCOC(O)CH₃; IPA), and methyl isopropyl carbonate ((CH₃)₂HCOC(O)OCH₃; MIC) The consumption of reactants and the formation of stable products such as C₂H₄ and C₃H₆ were measured with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Depending on the considered reactant, the temperatures range from 716–1102 K at pressures between 1.5 and 2.0 bar. Rate-coefficient data were obtained from first-order analysis. All reactants primarily decompose by six-center eliminations: EP → C₂H₄ + C₂H₅COOH (propionic acid); PP → C₃H₆ + C₂H₅COOH; IPA → C₃H₆ + CH₃COOH (acetic acid); MIC → C₃H₆ + CH₃OC(O)OH (methoxy formic acid). Experimental rate-coefficient data can be well represented by the following Arrhenius expressions: k(EP → products) = 10^13.49±0.16 exp(−214.95±3.25 kJ/mol/RT) s⁻¹; k(PP → products) = 10^12.21±0.16 exp(–191.21±2.79 kJ/mol/RT) s⁻¹; k(IPA → products) = 10^13.10±0.31 exp(–186.38±5.10 kJ/mol/RT) s⁻¹; k(MIC → products) = 10^12.43±0.29 exp(–165.25±4.46 kJ/mol/RT) s⁻¹. The determination of rate coefficients was based on the amount of C₂H₄ or C₃H₆ formed. The potential energy surface (PES) of the thermal decomposition of these four reactants was determined with the G4 composite method. A master-equation analysis was conducted based on energies and molecular properties from the G4 computations. The results indicate that the length of a linear alkyl substituent does not significantly influence the rate of six-center eliminations, whereas the change from a linear to a branched alkyl substituent results in a significant reactivity increase. The comparison between rate-coefficient data also shows that alkyl carbonates have higher reactivity towards decomposition by six-center elimination than esters. The results are discussed in in the context of reactivity patterns of carbonyl compounds.     

J-aggregates of pseudoisocyanine with long alkyl substituents in thin films: Synthesis, spectral properties, and thermal stability

The formation and properties of J-aggregates in thin solid films of pseudoisocyanines with long N-alkyl groups, obtained by centrifuging from solutions in organic solvents, were studied. It is shown for the first time that nonsymmetric cyanine dyes, containing a C₂H₅ group at one nitrogen atom and a C₁₀H₂₁, C₁₅H₃₁, or C₁₈H₃₇ group at another nitrogen atom, spontaneously form J-aggregates stable at room temperature and pressing a narrow absorption band with a half-width at half maximum of 200 cm^?1. The thermal stability of J-aggregates in thin films of pseudoisocyanines with alkyl substituents decreases in the following order: C₂H₅-C₂H₅> C₂H₅-C₆H₁₃>C₂H₅-C₁₈H₃₇>C₂H₅-C₁₀H₂₁>C₂H₅-C₁₅H₃₁. By introducing 1-octadecyl-2-methylquinolinium iodide in the film, it was found that the J-aggregates studied consist of a small number (2–4) of dye molecules.     

Steric effects on the mechanism of reaction of nucleophilic substitution of β‐substituted alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones with four secondary amines

The kinetics of the reaction of β‐substituted β‐alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones R¹O‐CR²?CH‐COCF₃ ( 1a – e ) [( 1a ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?H; ( 1b ), R¹?R²?CH₃; ( 1c ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C₆H₅; ( 1d ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?V^?pNO₂C₆H₄; ( 1e ), R¹?C₂H₅, R²?C(CH₃)₃] with four aliphatic amines ( 2a – d ) [( 2a ), (C₂H₅)₂NH; ( 2b ), (i‐C₃H₇)₂NH; ( 2c ), (CH₂)₅NH; ( 2d ), O(CH₂CH₂)₂NH] was studied in two aprotic solvents, hexane and acetonitrile. The least reactive stereoisomeric form of ( 1a – d ) was the most populated ( E‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) form, whereas in ( 1e ), the more reactive form ( Z‐s‐Z‐o‐Z ) dominated. The reactions studied proceeded via common transition state formation whose decomposition occurred by ‘uncatalyzed’ and/or ‘catalyzed’ route. Shielding of the reaction centre by bulky β‐substituents lowered abruptly both k′ (‘uncatalyzed’ rate constant) and k″ (‘catalyzed’ rate constant) of this reaction. Bulky amines reduced k″ to a greater extent than k′ as a result of an additional steric retardation to the approach of the bulky amine to its ammonium ion in the transition state. An increase in the electron‐withdrawing ability of the β‐substituent increased ‘uncatalyzed’ k′ due to the acceleration of the initial nucleophile attack (k₁) and ‘uncatalyzed’ decomposition of transition state (k₂) via promoting electrophilic assistance (through transition state 8 ). The amine basicity determined the route of the reaction: the higher amine basicity, the higher k₃/k₂ ratio (a measure of the ‘catalyzed’ route contribution as compared to the ‘uncatalyzed’ process) was. ‘Uncatalyzed’ route predominated for all reactions; however in polar acetonitrile the contribution of the ‘catalyzed’ route was significant for amines with high pK_a and small bulk. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

正庚烷热裂解的反应分子动力学模拟

研究表明正庚烷热裂解的主产物是C₂H₄, H₂, CH₄以及C₃H₆,模拟结果和实验吻合很好. 温度对产物分布具有明显的影响,当温度上升,目标产物乙烯的量会迅速增加. 正庚烷转化率以及主产物的摩尔分数分别通过反应分子动力学和化学动力学模拟计算得到,两种方法模拟结果相吻合. 我们还通过动力学分析研究了正庚烷热裂解反应的动力学参数,反应活化能为47.32 kcal/mol,指前因子为1.78×10¹⁴ s^-1.     

Far-infrared rotational spectra of some freons; chlorotrifluoromethane,dichlorodifluoromethane, and trichlorofluoromethane

The far-infrared rotational spectra of chlorotrifluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, and trichlorofluoromethane have been observed with an interferometric (Fourier transform) spectrometer in the region 10–40 cm^?1 at a resolution of 0.07 cm^?1. CCl₂F₂ exhibits a continuum spectrum at this resolution, but symmetric top rotational fine structure is observed for CClF₃ and CCl₃F. Isotope splitting is also observed in CClF₃, and analysis yields the rotational constants for C³⁵ClF₃ of B₀ = 0.11112 cm^?1, D_J = 1.6 × 10^?8cm^?1; and for C³⁷ClF₃, B₀ = 0.10835 cm^?1, D_J = 1.5 · 10^?8cm^?1. Isotopic shifts can be allowed for in CCl₃F to yield constants for C³⁵Cl₃F of B₀ = 0.0821 cm^?1, D_J = 1 × 10^?8cm^?1. These values are all in agreement with those deduced from microwave studies of the low J transitions apart from B₀ for C³⁵ClF₃, where the difference is outside the expected experimental error.     

On the Plasma Chemistry of an RF Discharge Containing Aluminium Tri‐Isopropoxide Studied by FTIR Spectroscopy

In Ar and Ar/N₂ radio frequency (RF) discharges with admixtures of aluminium tri‐isopropoxide (ATI) the fragmentation of this metal‐organic precursor was studied by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy using an optical long path cell providing an optical length of l = 17.2 m. The experiments were performed in an asymmetric capacitively coupled process plasma at a frequency of f = 13.56 MHz and at pres‐sure values in the range of p = 1–10.5 Pa. The discharge power was chosen between P = 10–100 W. Using FTIR spectroscopy the evolution of the concentrations of ATI and of six stable molecules, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CO and HCN, was monitored under flowing conditions at gas flows of Φ_total = 0.5–14.5 sccm in the discharge. The concentrations of the reaction products were measured tobe between 2 x 10¹² molecules cm^–3 as e.g. found for C₂H₄and C₂H₆, and 5 x 10¹³ molecules cm^–3, as e.g. in the case of CO. In the plasma a complete dissociation of the precursor ATI was found at a power value of about P = 80 W independent on the admixture of Ar or N₂. The fragmentation efficiency (F_E) of the reaction products which originate from the ATI molecules ranges between 0.2 and 4 x 10¹⁶ molecules J^–1 while the fragmentation rate (F_R) reached up to 2.5 x 10¹⁸ molecules s^–1. The multi component detection ability of the spectrometer served to analyse the carbon balance of the by‐product formation. For all experiments, the carbon balance never exceeded 25%. Therefore, in the plasmas the majority of the provided carbon is most likely deposited at the reactor walls or forms dust particles or higher molecular C_xH_y. The conversion efficiencies (C_E) of the produced molecular species ranges between 0.1 x 10¹⁵ molecules J^–1 for C₂H₄ and 5 x 10¹⁵ molecules J^–1 for C₂H₆ depending on the discharge conditions of the RF plasma. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Low temperature decomposition of ethylene over Ni(100): Evidence for vinyl formation

Thermal programmed desorption (TPD), high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and time-resolved laser-induced desorption (LID) have been used to study the chemisorption and decomposition of ethylene over Ni(100). Ethylene adsorbs molecularly on this surface at temperatures below 150 K. The molecule is π bonded in this state, showing very little rehybridization. At coverages below half saturation, decomposition to vinyl plus a hydrogen atom occurs unimolecularly with a rate constant of (8.0 ± 2.0) × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at 170 K. A strong kinetic isotope effect was observed; vinyl formation from C₂D₄ does not occur until about 200 K. The proposal of vinyl as the intermediate is supported by studies with C₂H₄, 1,1− and 1,2−C₂D₂H₂, and C₂D₄. The reaction is slower at saturation coverages, where molecular desorption is still seen above 200 K. Vinyl decomposes further at 230 K to form an acetylenic fragment.     

Kinetic study on effect of novel cationic dimeric surfactants for the cleavage of carboxylate ester

Kinetic study has been performed to understand the reactivity of novel cationic gemini surfactants viz. alkanediyl‐α,ω‐bis(hydroxyethylmethylhexadecylammonium bromide) C₁₆‐s‐C₁₆ MEA, 2Br^? (where s = 4, 6) in the cleavage of p‐nitrophenyl benzoate (PNPB). Novel cationic gemini C₁₆‐s‐C₁₆ MEA, 2Br^? surfactants are efficient in promoting PNPB cleavage in presence of butane 2,3‐dione monoximate and N‐phenylbenzohydroxamate ions. Model calculation revealed that the higher catalytic effect of ethanol moiety of gemini surfactants (C₁₆H₃₃N⁺ C₂H₄OH CH₃ (CH₂)_S N⁺ C₂H₄OH CH₃C₁₆H₃₃, 2Br^?, s = 4, 6) is due to their higher binding capacity toward substrate. This is in line with finding that binding constants for novel series of cationic gemini surfactants are higher than conventional cationic gemini (C₁₆H₃₃N⁺(CH₃)₂(CH₂)_SN⁺(CH₃)₂C₁₆H₃₃, 2Br^?, s = 10, 12), cetyldimethylethanolammonium bromide and zwitterionic surfactants, i.e. C_nH_2n+1N⁺Me₂ (CH₂)₃ SO₃^? (n = 10; SB3‐10). The fitting of kinetic data was analyzed by the pseudophase model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The absorption cross sections of N2, O2, CO,NO, CO2, N2O,CH4, C2H4, C2H6 and C4H10 from 180 to 700Å

The absorption cross sections of N₂, O₂, CO, NO, CO₂, N₂O, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₄H₁₀ have been measured photoelectrically in the 180–700 Å region using synchrotron radiation. The absorption cross sections in the region λ ≥ 500 Å was found to be structureless and to increase monotonically with wavelength for all gases. The positions of the structure observed in the 520–720 Å region for N₂, O₂, CO₂ and N₂O are consistent with the various Rydberg series reported by previous authors.     

The thermal decomposition of mono-, di-, and tripotassium salts of trinitrophloroglucinol

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of mono-, di-, and tripotassium salts of trinitrophloroglucinol (TNPG) was studied in the solid phase by the manometric method at m/V from 1 × 10^?4 to 15 × 10^?4 g/cm³ over the temperature ranges 125–150°C (K₁TNPG), 200–230°C (K₂ TNPG), and 200–250°C (K₃ TNPG). All the compounds decomposed according to the topochemical mechanism: there was an induction period, after which the rate of gas release was maximum. This rate then gradually decreased. The second decomposition stage was observed for K₁TNPG as the temperature increased to 200–250°C. The special features of changes in the rate of the process during transformation and the influence of the degree of vessel filling with a substance, particle size, and temperature on the kinetics of decomposition were studied. The kinetic results and composition of gaseous products and some condensed decomposition products lead to certain conclusions concerning the mechanism of the chemical transformations.     

Vibration-rotation analysis of the jet-cooled v12, v7 + v8 and v6 + v10 absorption bands of 12C2H4

A Fourier transform interferometer was used to record the slit-jet cooled absorption spectrum of ¹²C₂H₄ between 700 and 2400 cm^?1I, at a spectral resolution of 0.005 cm^?1. Three bands, v₁₂ at 1442.442 70(1)cm^?1, v₇ + v₈ at 1888.978 23(3)cm^?1 and v₆ + v₁₀ at 2047.775832(2)cm^?1, were rotationally analysed. In the case of 7¹8¹, a known Coriolis perturbation mechanism involving the nearby 4¹8¹ (1958.264cm^?1) and 8¹10¹ (1766.391 cm^?1) states was accounted for in the analysis. The latter fitting procedure included 12 levels from the 4¹8¹ state which are observed because lines from v₄ + v₈ borrow intensity from v₇ + v₈. Compared to the literature, significantly improved vibration-rotation constants were obtained for all upper states reported in the present study.     

TDDFT study on electronic excitations and first hyperpolarizabilities of mixed-metal carbonyl clusters MonIr4-n(μ-CO)3(β5-Cp)n (n = 1,2,3)

A series of mixed-metal carbonyl clusters, Mo_nIr_4-n(μ-CO)₃(CO)_9-n(η⁵-Cp)_n (n?=?1, 2; Cp?=?C₅H₄Me, C₅HMe₄, C₅Me₅, C₅H₅), have been investigated using the TDDFT method. The results estimated the medium magnitude of the first static hyperpolarizabilities (β _tot ?～?2?×?10^?30esu) of these tetrahedral mixed-metal clusters, most of which originate from the intra-cluster charge transfer of the metal skeleton consisting of polar metal–metal interactions. No direct contributions of the Cp ligands to the relevant charge transfer were found, but the cooperative effect between the metal centres and Cp ligands impacts the β. Based on these studies a mixed-metal cluster Mo₃Ir(μ-CO)₃(CO)₇(η⁵-Cp)₂ was designed that exhibits enhanced first hyperpolarizability.     

Strain rate and fuel composition dependence of chemiluminescent species profiles in non-premixed counterflow flames: comparison with model results

A detailed comparison has been conducted between chemiluminescence (CL) species profiles of OH^?, CH^?, and C₂ ^?, obtained experimentally and from detailed flame kinetics modeling, respectively, of atmospheric pressure non-premixed flames formed in the forward stagnation region of a fuel flow ejected from a porous cylinder and an air counterflow. Both pure methane and mixtures of methane with hydrogen (between 10 and 30 % by volume) were used as fuels. By varying the air-flow velocities methane flames were operated at strain rates between 100 and 350 s^?1, while for methane/hydrogen flames the strain rate was fixed at 200 s^?1. Spatial profiles perpendicular to the flame front were extracted from spectrograms recorded with a spectrometer/CCD camera system and evaluating each spectral band individually. Flame kinetics modeling was accomplished with an in-house chemical mechanism including C₁–C₄ chemistry, as well as elementary steps for the formation, removal, and electronic quenching of all measured active species. In the CH₄/air flames, experiments and model results agree with respect to trends in profile peak intensity and position. For the CH₄/H₂/air flames, with increasing H₂ content in the fuel the experimental CL peak intensities decrease slightly and their peak positions shift towards the fuel side, while for the model the drop in mole fraction is much stronger and the peak positions move closer to the fuel side. For both fuel compositions the modeled profiles peak closer to the fuel side than in the experiments. The discrepancies can only partly be attributed to the limited attainable spatial resolution but may also necessitate revised reaction mechanisms for predicting CL species in this type of flame.     

Investigation of the kinetics of OH∗ and CH∗ chemiluminescence in hydrocarbon oxidation behind reflected shock waves

The temporal variation of chemiluminescence emission from OH^?(A² Σ ⁺) and CH^?(A² Δ) in reacting Ar-diluted H₂/O₂/CH₄, C₂H₂/O₂ and C₂H₂/N₂O mixtures was studied in a shock tube for a wide temperature range at atmospheric pressures and various equivalence ratios. Time-resolved emission measurements were used to evaluate the relative importance of different reaction pathways. The main formation channel for OH^? in hydrocarbon combustion was studied with CH₄ as benchmark fuel. Three reaction pathways leading to CH^? were studied with C₂H₂ as fuel. Based on well-validated ground-state chemistry models from literature, sub-mechanisms for OH^? and CH^? were developed. For the main OH^?-forming reaction CH+O₂=OH^?+CO, a rate coefficient of k ₂=(8.0±2.6)×10¹⁰ cm³?mol^?1?s^?1 was determined. For CH^? formation, best agreement was achieved when incorporating reactions C₂+OH=CH^?+CO (k ₅=2.0×10¹⁴ cm³?mol^?1?s^?1) and C₂H+O=CH^?+CO (k ₆=3.6×10¹²exp(?10.9 kJ?mol^?1/RT) cm³?mol^?1?s^?1) and neglecting the C₂H+O₂=CH^?+CO₂ reaction.