[FeFe]‐Hydrogenase Mimetic Metallopolymers with Enhanced Catalytic Activity for Hydrogen Production in Water

Electrocatalytic [FeFe]‐hydrogenase mimics for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) generally suffer from low activity, high overpotential, aggregation, oxygen sensitivity, and low solubility in water. By using atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a new class of [FeFe]‐metallopolymers with precise molar mass, defined composition, and low polydispersity, has been prepared. The synthetic methodology introduced here allows facile variation of polymer composition to optimize the [FeFe] solubility, activity, and long‐term chemical and aerobic stability. Water soluble functional metallopolymers facilitate electrocatalytic hydrogen production in neutral water with loadings as low as 2 ppm and operate at rates an order of magnitude faster than hydrogenases (2.5×10⁵ s^?1), and with low overpotential requirement. Furthermore, unlike the hydrogenases, these systems are insensitive to oxygen during catalysis, with turnover numbers on the order of 40 000 under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions.     

A laser flash photolysis kinetic study of reactions of the Cl2− radical anion with oxygenated hydrocarbons in aqueous solution

A laser photolysis–long path laser absorption (LP‐LPLA) experiment has been used to determine the rate constants for H‐atom abstraction reactions of the dichloride radical anion (Cl₂⁻) in aqueous solution. From direct measurements of the decay of Cl₂⁻ in the presence of different reactants at pH = 4 and I = 0.1 M the following rate constants at T = 298 K were derived: methanol, (5.1 ± 0.3)·10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; ethanol, (1.2 ± 0.2)·10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; 1‐propanol, (1.01 ± 0.07)·10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; 2‐propanol, (1.9 ± 0.3)·10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; tert.‐butanol, (2.6 ± 0.5)·10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; formaldehyde, (3.6 ± 0.5)·10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; diethylether, (4.0 ± 0.2)·10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; methyl‐tert.‐butylether, (7 ± 1)·10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; tetrahydrofuran, (4.8 ± 0.6)·10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; acetone, (1.41 ± 0.09)·10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. For the reactions of Cl₂⁻ with formic acid and acetic acid rate constants of (8.0 ± 1.4)·10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ (pH = 0, I = 1.1 M and T = 298 K) and (1.5 ± 0.8) · 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ (pH = 0.42, I = 0.48 M and T = 298 K), respectively, were derived. A correlation between the rate constants at T = 298 K for all oxygenated hydrocarbons and the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the weakest C‐H‐bond of log k_2nd = (32.9 ± 8.9) − (0.073 ± 0.022)·BDE/kJ mol⁻¹ is derived. From temperature‐dependent measurements the following Arrhenius expressions were derived: k (Cl₂⁻ + HCOOH) = (2.00 ± 0.05)·10¹⁰·exp(−(4500 ± 200) K/T) M⁻¹ s⁻¹, E_a = (37 ± 2) kJ mol⁻¹ k (Cl₂⁻ + CH₃COOH) = (2.7 ± 0.5)·10¹⁰·exp(−(4900 ± 1300) K/T) M⁻¹ s⁻¹, E_a = (41 ± 11) kJ mol⁻¹ k (Cl₂⁻ + CH₃OH) = (5.1 ± 0.9)·10¹²·exp(−(5500 ± 1500) K/T) M⁻¹ s⁻¹, E_a = (46 ± 13) kJ mol⁻¹ k (Cl₂⁻ + CH₂(OH)₂) = (7.9 ± 0.7)·10¹⁰·exp(−(4400 ± 700) K/T) M⁻¹ s⁻¹, E_a = (36 ± 5) kJ mol⁻¹ Finally, in measurements at different ionic strengths (I) a decrease of the rate constant with increasing I has been observed in the reactions of Cl₂⁻ with methanol and hydrated formaldehyde. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 169–181, 1999     

Study of the reactions of OH with HCl,HBr, and HI between 298 K and 460 K

The reactions between OH radicals and hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr, HI) have been studied between 298 and 460 K by using a discharge flow-electron paramagnetic resonance technique. The rate constants were found to be k_HCl(298 K) = (7.9 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ with a weak positive temperature dependence, k_HBr (298-460 K) = (1.04 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_HI(298 K) = (3.0 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The homogeneous nature of these reactions has been experimentally tested.     

Kinetic study of gas-phase reactions of pinonaldehyde and structurally related compounds

Rate constants for the reactions of OH, NO₃, and O₃ with pinonaldehyde and the structurally related compounds 3-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutan-2-one, cyclobutyl-methylketone, and 2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclobutyl-1-ethanone have been measured at 300±5 K using on-line Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The rate constants obtained for the reactions with pinonaldehyde were: k_OH=(9.1±1.8)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_NO3=(5.4±1.8)×10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_O3=(8.9±1.4)×10⁻²⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results obtained indicate a chemical lifetime of pinonaldehyde in the troposphere of about two hours under typical daytime conditions, [OH]=1.6×10⁶ molecule cm⁻³. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 527–533, 1997.     

Tweaking Nickel with Minimal Silver in a Heterogeneous Alloy of Decahedral Geometry to Deliver Platinum-like Hydrogen Evolution Activity

Five-fold intertwined Ag_xNi_1−x (x=0.01–0.25) heterogeneous alloy nanocrystal (NC) catalysts, prepared through unique reagent combinations, are presented. With only ca. 5 at % Ag (AgNi-5), Pt-like activity has been achieved at pH 14. To reach a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² the extremely stable AgNi-5 requires an overpotential of 24.0±1.2 mV as compared to 20.1±0.8 mV for 20 % Pt/C, both with equal catalyst loading of 1.32 mg cm⁻². The turnover frequency (TOF) is as high as 2.1 H₂ s⁻¹ at 50 mV (vs. RHE). Site-specific elemental analyses show the Ag:Ni compositional variation, where the apex and edges of the decahedra are Ag-rich, thereby exposing Ni onto the faces to achieve maximum charge transport for an exceptional pH universal HER activity. DFT calculations elucidate the relative H-atom adsorption capability of the Ni centers as a function of their proximity to Ag atom.     

Kinetic study of the ligand substitution on the trimethylplatinum(iv) complexes with unidentate ligands

Ligand substitution kinetics for the reaction [Pt^IVMe₃(X)(NN)]+NaY=[Pt^IVMe₃(Y)(NN)]+NaX, where NN=bipy or phen, X=MeO⁻, CH₃COO⁻, or HCOO⁻, and Y=SCN⁻ or N₃⁻, has been studied in methanol at various temperatures. The kinetic parameters for the reaction are as follows. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OMe)(phen)] with NaSCN: k₁=36.1±10.0 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=65.9±14.2 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=6±47 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.0355±0.0034 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=63.8±1.1 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−58.8±3.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=148±19. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OAc)(bipy)] with NaN₃: k₁=26.2±0.1 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=60.5±6.6 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−14±22 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.134±0.081 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=74.1±24.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−10±82 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=0.479±0.012. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OAc)(bipy)] with NaSCN: k₁=26.4±0.3 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=59.6±6.7 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−17±23 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.174±0.200 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=62.7±10.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−48±35 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=1.01±0.08. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OOCH)(bipy)] with NaN₃: k₁=36.8±0.3 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=66.4±4.7 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=7±16 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.164±0.076 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=47.0±18.1 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−101±61 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=5.90±0.18. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OOCH)(bipy)] with NaSCN: k₁ =33.5±0.2 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=58.0±0.4 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−20.5±1.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.222±0.083 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=54.9±6.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−73.0±21.3 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=12.0±0.3. Conditional pseudo-first-order rate constant k₀ increased linearly with the concentration of NaY, while it decreased drastically with the concentration of NaX. Some plausible mechanisms were examined, and the following mechanism was proposed. [Note to reader: Please see article pdf to view this scheme.] © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 523–532, 1998     

Synthesis of cobalt A2B triaryl corroles bearing methoxy or hydroxyl groups and their activity in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Four A₂B cobalt corrole complexes 1 – 4 appending two methoxy or hydroxyl groups on the 10-meso phenyl group had been synthesized. Four cobalt corroles showed high electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the organic phase and in the aqueous phase. The hydrogen evolution pathway was EECEC when using acetic acid as proton source. When trifluoroacetic acid was used as proton source, the hydrogen evolution route via EECEC or EECC depending on the concentration of trifluoroacetic acid. Cobalt corrole 4 showed the best HER performance with the k_obs of 122.68 s⁻¹ in organic phase and the TOF of 832.2 h⁻¹ in aqueous phase respectively. The results suggested the phenyl hydroxyl group at the cobalt corrole peripheral may act as the proton relay group in HER and the o-hydroxyl of phenyl was better than m- hydroxyl for proton relay.     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of hydrogen atoms with 1-bromopropane, 2-bromopropane, 1-bromobutane,and 2-bromobutane

The rate coefficients for the reactions of hydrogen atoms with n-C₃H₇Br, s-C₃H₇Br, n-C₄H₉Br, and s-C₄H₉Br were determined in a discharge flow-reactor at 298 K and a pressure of 4 mbar. Molecular-beam sampling and subsequent mass-spectrometric detection with electron-impact ionisation was used for the measurement of the bromo-hydrocarbon concentration. The rate coefficients obtained are (in 10¹⁰ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹): 2.3±1.2 for n-C₃H₇Br, 2.3±1.2 for s-C₃H₇Br, 2.4±1.2 for n-C₄H₉Br, and 2.8±1.4 for s-C₄H₉Br. The results are compared with predictions from bond-energy bond-order (BEBO) calculations, where a reasonable agreement is found. Furthermore, also by BEBO calculations, the relative importance of bromine abstraction as compared to hydrogen abstraction is estimated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 721–727, 1998     

Underevaluated Solvent Effects in Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction by FeIII Chloride Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

Fe^III chloride tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin ( 1 ) is known to have poor electrocatalytic activity for the CO₂-to-CO conversion in dimethylformamide. In this work, we re-examined Fe porphyrin 1 as a CO₂ reduction catalyst in various solvents. Our results show that 1 displays fairly high electrocatalytic CO₂-to-CO activity in acetonitrile with a turnover frequency (TOF) up to 4.2×10⁴ s⁻¹. On the other hand, 1 shows a modest activity in propylene carbonate, and is inefficient to catalyze CO₂ reduction in benzonitrile, dimethylformamide, and tetrahydrofuran. Several solvent effects were considered, but none of these effects alone can explain the observed large activity difference of 1 for CO₂ reduction in these solvents. Based on the results, it is suggested that more care should be paid when comparing different CO₂ reduction catalysts because solvent effects are significant and are underevaluated.     

Kinetic study of the reaction OH + HI by laser photolysis-resonance fluorescence

The gas phase reaction of OH radicals with hydrogen iodide (HI) has been studied using a Laser Photolysis-Resonance Fluorescence (LP-RF) apparatus, recently developed in our group. The measured rate constant at 298 K was (2.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. This rate constant is compared with the ones of the reactions OH + HCl and OH + HBr. The role of the reaction OH + HI in marine tropospheric chemistry is discussed. In addition, the LP-RF apparatus was tested and validated by measuring the following rate constants (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units): 𝓀(OH + HNO₃) = (1.31 ± 0.06) × 10⁻¹³ at p = 27 and 50 Torr of argon and 𝓀(OH + C₃H₈) = (1.22 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹². These rate constants are in very good agreement with the literature data.     

Cavity ring‐down spectroscopic study of the kinetics of the reactions of FCO radicals with O2 and NO at 295 K

Cavity ring‐down UV absorption spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of the recombination reaction of FCO radicals and the reactions with O₂ and NO in 4.0–15.5 Torr total pressure of N₂ diluent at 295 K. k(FCO + FCO) is (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The pressure dependence of the reactions with O₂ and NO in air at 295 K is described using a broadening factor of Fc = 0.6 and the following low (k₀) and high (k_∞) pressure limit rate constants: k₀(FCO + O₂) = (8.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻³¹ cm⁶ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_∞(FCO + O₂) = (1.2 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, k₀(FCO + NO) = (2.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻³⁰ cm⁶ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_∞ (FCO + NO) = (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The uncertainties are two standard deviations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 130–135, 2001     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with butanols from 298 K to temperatures relevant for low-temperature combustion

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with n, s, and iso-butanol have been measured over the temperature range 298 to ∼650 K. The rate coefficients display significant curvature over this temperature range and bridge the gap between previous low-temperature measurements with a negative temperature dependence and higher temperature shock tube measurements that have a positive temperature dependence. In combination with literature data, the following parameterizations are recommended: k_{1,OH + n-butanol}(T) = (3.8 ± 10.4) × 10⁻¹⁹T^{2.48 ± 0.37}exp ((840 ± 161)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{2,OH + s-butanol}(T) = (3.5 ± 3.0) × 10⁻²⁰T^{2.76 ± 0.12}exp ((1085 ± 55)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{3,OH + i-butanol}(T) = (5.1 ± 5.3) × 10⁻²⁰T^{2.72 ± 0.14}exp ((1059 ± 66)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_{4,OH + t-butanol}(T) = (8.8 ± 10.4) × 10⁻²²T^{3.24 ± 0.15}exp ((711 ± 83)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Comparison of the current data with the higher shock tube measurements suggests that at temperatures of ∼1000 K, the OH yields, primarily from decomposition of β-hydroxyperoxy radicals, are ∼0.3 (n-butanol), ∼0.3 (s-butanol) and ∼0.2 (iso-butanol) with β-hydroxyperoxy decompositions generating OH, and a butene as the main products. The data suggest that decomposition of β-hydroxyperoxy radicals predominantly occurs via OH elimination.     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of chlorine atoms with methanol and acetaldehyde

Rate coefficients have been measured for the reactions of Cl atoms with methanol (k₁) and acetaldehyde (k₂) using both absolute (laser photolysis with resonance fluorescence) and relative rate methods at 295 ± 2 K. The measured rate coefficients were (units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): absolute method, k₁ = (5.1 ± 0.4), k₂ = (7.3 ± 0.7); relative method k₁ = (5.6 ± 0.6), k₂ = (8.4 ± 1.0). Based on a critical evaluation of the literature data, the following rate coefficients are recommended: k₁ = (5.4 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹¹ and k₂ = (7.8 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (95% confidence limits). The results significantly improve the confidence in the database for reactions of Cl atoms with these oxygenated organics. Rate coefficients were also measured for the reactions of Cl₂ with CH₂OH, k₅ = (2.9 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ and CH₃CO, k₆ = (4.3 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, by observing the regeneration of Cl atoms in the absence of O₂. Based on these results and those from a previous relative rate study, the rate coefficient for CH₃CO + O₂ at the high pressure limit is estimated to be (5.7 ± 1.9) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 776–784, 1999     

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of OH radicals with selected dihydroxybenzenes and benzoquinones

Rate coefficients have been determined for the gas‐phase reaction of the hydroxyl (OH) radical with the aromatic dihydroxy compounds 1,2‐dihydroxybenzene, 1,2‐dihydroxy‐3‐methylbenzene and 1,2‐dihydroxy‐4‐methylbenzene as well as the two benzoquinone derivatives 1,4‐benzoquinone and methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. The measurements were performed in a large‐volume photoreactor at (300 ± 5) K in 760 Torr of synthetic air using the relative kinetic technique. The rate coefficients obtained using isoprene, 1,3‐butadiene, and E‐2‐butene as reference hydrocarbons are k_OH(1,2‐dihydroxybenzene) = (1.04 ± 0.21) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹, k_OH(1,2‐dihydroxy‐3‐methylbenzene) = (2.05 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹, k_OH(1,2‐dihydroxy‐4‐methylbenzene) = (1.56 ± 0.33) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹, k_OH(1,4‐benzoquinone) = (4.6 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹² cm³ s⁻¹, k_OH(methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone) = (2.35 ± 0.47) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ s⁻¹. This study represents the first determination of OH radical reaction‐rate coefficients for these compounds. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 696–702, 2000     

Atmospheric chemistry of di-tert-butyl ether: Rates and products of the reactions with chlorine atoms,hydroxyl radicals,and nitrate radicals

The rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of di-tert-butyl ether (DTBE) with chlorine atoms, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrate radicals have been determined in relative rate experiments using FTIR spectroscopy. Values of k_(DTBE+CI) = (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰,k_(DTBE+OH) = (3.7 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹², and k_(DTBE+N03) = (2.8 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained. Tert-butyl acetate was identified as the major product of both Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation of DTBE in air in the presence of NO_x. The molar tert-butyl acetate yield was 0.85 ± 0.11 in the Cl atom experiments and 0.84 ± 0.11 in OH radical experiments. As part of this work the rate constant for reaction of Cl atoms with tert-butyl acetate at 295 K was determined to be (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The stated errors are two standard deviations (2σ). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Temperature dependence of the rate constants of the reactions of oxygen atoms with 1-pentene, 1-hexene,cis-2-pentene,and trans-2-pentene

The kinetics of the reactions of ground state oxygen atoms with 1-pentene, 1-hexene, cis-2-pentene, and trans-2-pentene was investigated in the temperature range 200 to 370 K. In this range the temperature dependences of the rate constants can be represented by k = A′ Tⁿ exp(− E′_a/RT) with A′ = (1.0 ± 0.6) · 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ s⁻¹, n = 1.13 ± 0.02, E′_a = 0.54 ± 0.05 kJ mol⁻¹ for 1-pentene: A′ = (1.3 ± 1.2) · 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ s⁻¹, n = 1.04 ± 0.08, E′_a = 0.2 ± 0.4 kJ mol⁻¹ for 1-hexene; A′ = (0.6 ± 0.6) · 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ s⁻¹, n = 1.12 ± 0.05, E′_a = − 3.8 ± 0.8 kJ mol⁻¹ for cis-2-pentene; and A′ = (0.6 ± 0.8) · 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ s⁻¹, n = 1.14 ± 0.06, E′_a = − 4.3 ± 0.5 kJ mol⁻¹ for trans-2-pentene. The atoms were generated by the H₂-laser photolysis of NO and detected by time resolved chemiluminescence in the presence of NO. The concentrations of the O(³P) atoms were kept so low that secondary reactions with products are unimportant. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Temperature-dependent rate coefficients for the gas-phase OH + furan-2,5-dione (C4H2O3, maleic anhydride) reaction

Rate coefficients, k₁(T), for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with furan-2,5-dione (maleic anhydride (MA), C₄H₂O₃), a biomass burning related compound, were measured under pseudo–first-order conditions in OH using the pulsed laser photolysis–laser-induced fluorescence method over a range of temperature (283-374 K) and bath gas pressure (50-200 Torr; He or N₂). k₁(T) was found to be independent of pressure over this range with k₁(283-374 K) = (1.55 ± 0.20) × 10⁻¹² exp[(−410 ± 44)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₁(296 K) = (3.93 ± 0.28) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, where the uncertainties are 2σ and the preexponential term includes the estimated systematic error. The atmospheric lifetime of MA with respect to OH reactive loss is estimated to be ∼15 days. The present results are compared with a previous room temperature relative rate study of the OH + MA reaction, and the significant discrepancy between the studies is discussed; the present results are approximately a factor of 4 lower. It is also noteworthy that the experimentally measured k₁(296 K) value obtained in this work is nearly a factor of 110 less than estimated by a structure activity relationship based on trends in ionization potential. Based in part on a computational evaluation, an atmospheric degradation mechanism of MA is proposed.     

1,1,1,3,3,-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc): atmospheric degradation and contribution to radiative forcing

The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc) has been determined over the temperature range 278–323K using a relative rate technique. The results provide a value of k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=2.0×10⁻¹²exp(−1750±400/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ based on k(OH+CH₃CCl₃)=1.8×10⁻¹² exp (−1550±150/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the rate constant of the reference reaction. Assuming the major atmospheric removal process is via reaction with OH in the troposphere, the rate constant data from this work gives an estimate of 10.8 years for the tropospheric lifetime of HFC-365mfc. The overall atmospheric lifetime obtained by taking into account a minor contribution from degradation in the stratosphere, is estimated to be 10.2 years. The rate constant for the reaction of Cl atoms with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane was also determined at 298±2 K using the relative rate method, k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=(1.1±0.3)×10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The chlorine initiated photooxidation of CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ was investigated from 273–330 K and as a function of O₂ pressure at 1 atmosphere total pressure using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Under all conditions the major carbon-containing products were CF₂O and CO₂, with smaller amounts of CF₃O₃CF₃. In order to ascertain the relative importance of hydrogen abstraction from the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND) and (SINGLE BOND)CH₃ groups in CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals and Cl atoms with the structurally similar compounds CF₃CH₂CCl₂F and CF₃CH₂CF₃ were also determined at 298 K k(OH+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(8±3)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₃)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹]; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₃)<1×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results indicate that the most probable site for H-atom abstraction from CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ is the methyl group and that the formation of carbonyl compounds containing more than a single carbon atom will be negligible under atmospheric conditions, carbonyl difluoride and carbon dioxide being the main degradation products. Finally, accurate infrared absorption cross-sections have been measured for CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, and jointly used with the calculated overall atmospheric lifetime of 10.2 years, in the NCAR chemical-radiative model, to determine the radiative forcing of climate by this CFC alternative. The steady-state Halocarbon Global Warming Potential, relative to CFC-11, is 0.17. The Global Warming Potentials relative to CO₂ are found to be 2210, 790, and 250, for integration time-horizons of 20, 100, and 500 years, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Water Oxidation by In Situ Generated [RuII(OH2)(NCNHCO)(pic)2]+

A dinuclear ruthenium complex [Ru^II(NC^NHC O)(pic)₂]₂²⁺ ( 2 ) was firstly prepared and characterized spectroscopically and electrochemically. Instead of the conventional ligand exchange, complex 2 dissociates in situ to afford two single‐site Ru aqua complexes, [Ru^II(OH₂)(NC^NHC O)(pic)₂]⁺, which mediates water oxidation through proton‐coupled electron transfer events. In electrokinetic studies, complex 2 demonstrated a TOF of 150.3 s⁻¹ comparable to those state‐of‐the‐art catalysts at neutral conditions. TONs of 2173 and 217 were attained in chemical and photochemical water oxidation when 2 was used as a catalyst, exhibiting good stability. Notably, a TOF of 1.3 s⁻¹ was achieved at CAN‐driven water oxidation, which outperformed most of the reported single‐site Ru complexes, indicating that complex 2 is one of most active water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) to date. The unique coordination configuration and outstanding catalytic performance of complex 2 might shed light on the design of novel molecular WOCs.     

Temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for the reaction of chlorine atoms with chloromethanes

Rate coefficients for the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₃Cl (k₁), CH₂Cl₂ (k₂), and CHCl₃ (k₃) have been determined over the temperature range 222–298 K using standard relative rate techniques. These data, when combined with evaluated data from previous studies, lead to the following Arrhenius expressions (all in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k₁ = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1200 ± 150/T); k₂ = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1100 ± 150/T); k₃ = (0.48 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1050 ± 150/T). Values for k₁ are in substantial agreement with previous measurements. However, while the room temperature values for k₂ and k₃ agree with most previous data, the activation energies for these rate coefficients are substantially lower than previously recommended values. In addition, the mechanism of the oxidation of CH₂Cl₂ has been studied. The dominant fate of the CHCl₂O radical is decomposition via Cl‐atom elimination, even at the lowest temperatures studied in this work (218 K). However, a small fraction of the CHCl₂O radicals are shown to react with O₂ at low temperatures. Using an estimated value for the rate coefficient of the reaction of CHCl₂O with O₂ (1 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹), the decomposition rate coefficient for CHCl₂O is found to be about 4 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ at 218 K, with the barrier to its decomposition estimated at 6 kcal/mole. As part of this work, the rate coefficient for Cl atoms with HCOCl was also been determined, k₇ = 1.4 × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−885/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in agreement with previous determinations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 515–524, 1999