Kinetic study of reactions of C2H5O2 with NO at 298 K and 0.55 – 2 torr

The kinetics of C₂H₅O₂ and C₂H₅O₂ radicals with NO have been studied at 298 K using the discharge flow technique coupled to laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and mass spectrometry analysis. The temporal profiles of C₂H₅O were monitored by LIF. The rate constant for C₂H₅O + NO → Products (2), measured in the presence of helium, has been found to be pressure dependent: k₂ = (1.25±0.04) × 10^?11, (1.66±0.06) × 10^?11, (1.81±0.06) × 10^?11 at P (He) = 0.55, 1 and 2 torr, respectively (units are cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). The Lindemann-Hinshelwood analysis of these rate constant data and previous high pressure measurements indicates competition between association and disproportionation channels: C₂H₅O + NO + M → C₂H₅ONO + M (2a), C₂H₅O + NO → CH₃CHO + HNO (2b). The following calculated average values were obtained for the low and high pressure limits of k_2a and for k_2b : k = (2.6±1.0) × 10^?28 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1, k = (3.1±0.8) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k_2b ca. 8 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The present value of k, obtained with He as the third body, is significantly lower than the value (2.0±1.0) × 10^?27 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 recommended in air. The rate constant for the reaction C₂H₅O₂ + NO → C₂H₅O + NO₂ (3) has been measured at 1 torr of He from the simulation of experimental C₂H₅O profiles. The value obtained for k₃ = (8.2±1.6) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 is in good agreement with previous studies using complementary methods. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of CH3O with NO

The kinetics of the reaction of CH₃O with NO and the branching ratio for HCHO product formation, obtained as Γ_HCHO = (Rate of HCHO formation) / (Rate of CH₃O decay), have been studied using a discharge flow reactor. Laser induced fluorescence has been used to monitor the decay of the CH₃O radical and the build-up of the HCHO product. Overall rate constants and product branching ratios were measured at room temperature over the pressure range of 0.72–8.5 torr He. Three reaction mechanisms were considered which differed in the routes of HCHO formation: (i) direct disproportionation; (ii) via an energized collision complex; or (iii) both reaction routes. It has been shown that data on the pressure dependence of the overall rate constant are not sufficient to distinguish between these mechanisms. In addition, an accurate value of Γ is required. Analysis of the available experimental data provided 0.0 and about 0.1 as the lower and upper limit for Γ, respectively. Since the rate constants derived for CH₃ONO formation were not sensitive to the value assumed for Γ, k = (1.69 ± 0.69) × 10^?29 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 and k = (2.45 ± 0.31) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 could be derived. The rate constant obtained for formaldehyde formation when extrapolated to zero pressure is k = (3.15 ± 0.92) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Inorganic reactions of iodine(III) in acidic solutions and free energy of iodous acid formation

An analysis of the former works devoted to the reactions of I(III) in acidic nonbuffered solutions gives new thermodynamic and kinetic information. At low iodide concentrations, the rate law of the reaction IO + I^? + 2H⁺ ? IO₂H + IOH is k_+B [IO][I^?][H⁺]² – k_?B [IO₂H][IOH] with k_+B = 4.5 × 10³ M^?3s^?1 and k_?B = 240 M^?1s^?1 at 25°C and zero ionic strength. The rate law of the reaction IO₂H + I^? + H⁺ ? 2IOH is k_+C [IO₂H][I^?][H⁺] – k_?C [IOH]² with k_+C = 1.9 × 10¹⁰ M^?2s^?1 and k_?C = 25 M^?1s^?1. These values lead to a Gibbs free energy of IO₂H formation of ?95 kJ mol^?1. The pK_a of iodous acid should be about 6, leading to a Gibbs free energy of IO formation of about ?61 kJ mol^?1. Estimations of the four rate constants at 50°C give, respectively, 1.2 × 10⁴ M^?3s^?1, 590 M^?1s^?1, 2 × 10⁹ M^?2s^?1, and 20 M^?1 s^?1. Mechanisms of these reactions involving the protonation IO₂H + H⁺ ? IO₂H and an explanation of the decrease of the last two rate constants when the temperature increases, are proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 647–652, 2008     

Variable-Temperature and Variable-Pressure Kinetic and Equilibrium studies of formation and dissociation of [V(H2O)5NCS]2+

The kinetics of formation and dissociation of [V(H₂O)₅NCS]²⁺ have been studied, as a function of excess metal-ion concentration, temperature, and pressure, by the stopped-flow technique. The thermodynamic stability of the complex was also determined spectrophotometrically. The kinetic and equilibrium data were submitted to a combined analysis. The rate constants and activation parameters for the formation (f) and dissociation (r) of the complex are: k/M ^?1 · S^?1 = 126.4, k/s^?1 = 0.82; ΔH /kJ · mol^?1 = 49.1, ΔH/kJ · mol^?1 = 60.6; ΔS/ J·K^?1·mol^?1= ?39.8, ΔSJ·K^?1·mol^?1 = ?43.4; ΔV/cm³·mol^?1 = ?9.4, and ΔV/cm³ · mol^?1 =?17.9. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the monoisothiocynato complex is K²⁹⁸/M ^?1 = 152.9, and the enthalpy and entropy of reaction are ΔH⁰/kJ · mol^?1 = ? 11.4 and ΔS⁰/J. K^?1mol^?1 = +3.6. The reaction volume is ΔV⁰/cm³· mol^?1 = +8.5. The activation parameters for the complex-formation step are similar to those for the water exchange on [V(H₂O)₆]³⁺ obtained previously by NMR techniques. The activation volumes for the two processes are consistent with an associative interchange, I_a, mechanism.     

Studies on the composition and kinetics of chromium(III)-alanine system

Kinetics of the complex formation of chromium(III) with alanine in aqueous medium has been studied at 45, 50, and 55°C, pH 3.3–4.4, and μ = 1 M (KNO₃). Under pseudo first-order conditions the observed rate constant (k_obs) was found to follow the rate equation: Values of the rate parameters (k_an, k, K_IP, and K) were calculated. Activation parameters for anation rate constants, ΔH^≠(k_an) = 25 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, ΔH^≠(k) = 91 ± 3 kJ mol^?1, and ΔS^≠(k_an) = ?244 ± 3 JK^?1 mol^?1, ΔS^≠(k) = ?30 ± 10 JK^?1 mol^?1 are indicative of an (I_a) mechanism for k_an and (I_d) mechanism for k routes (‥substrate Cr(H₂O) is involved in the k route whereas Cr(H₂O)₅OH²⁺ is involved in k′ route). Thermodynamic parameters for ion-pair formation constants are found to be ΔH°(K_IP) = 12 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, ΔH°(K) = ?13 ± 3 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS°(K_IP) = 47 ± 2 JK^?1 mol^?1, and ΔS°(K) = 20 ± 9 JK^?1 mol^?1.     

Temperature and pressure effects on the kinetics of the Bromate ion-iodide ion-L-ascorbic acid clock reaction

The kinetics of the bromate ion-iodide ion-L-ascorbic acid clock reaction was investigated as a function of temperature and pressure using stopped-flow techniques. Kinetic results were obtained for the uncatalyzed as well as for the Mo(VI) and V(V) catalyzed reactions. While molybdenum catalyzes the BrO-I^? reaction, vanadium catalyzes the direct oxidation of ascorbic acid by bromate ion. The corresponding rate laws and kinetic parameters are as follows. Uncatalyzed reaction: r₂ = k₂[BrO] [I^?][H⁺]², k₂ = 38.6 ± 2.0 dm⁹ mol^?3 s^?1, ΔH? = 41.3 ± 4.2 kJmol^?1, ΔS? = ?75.9 ± 11.4 Jmol^?1 K^?1, ΔV? = ?14.2 ± 2.9 cm³ mol^?1. Molybdenum-catalyzed reaction: r′₂ = k₂[BrO] [I^?] [H⁺]² + k_Mo[BrO] [I^?] [ H⁺]²[M₀(VI)], k_Mo = (2.9 ± 0.3)10⁶ dm¹² mol^?4 s^?1, ΔH? = 27.2 ± 2.5 kJmol^?1, ΔS? = ?30.1 ± 4.5 Jmol^?1K^?1, ΔV? = 14.2 ± 2.1 cm³ mol^?1. Vanadium-catalyzed reaction: r′₁ = k_V[BrO] [V(V)], k_V = 9.1 ± 0.6 dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, ΔH? = 61.4 ± 5.4 kJmol^?1, ΔS? = ?20.7 ± 3.1 Jmol^?1K^?1, ΔV? = 5.2 ± 1.5 cm³ mol^?1. On the basis of the results, mechanistic details of the BrO-I^? reaction and the catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by BrO are elaborated. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase β‐myrcene + OH and isoprene + OH reactions as a function of temperature

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of the hydroxyl radical with the biogenic hydrocarbons, β‐myrcene and isoprene, were measured using the relative rate technique over the temperature range 313–413 K and at ～1 atm total pressure. OH was produced by the photolysis of H₂O₂, and helium was the diluent gas. The reactants were detected by online mass spectrometry, which resulted in high time resolution allowing for large amounts of data to be collected and used in the determination of the Arrhenius parameters. Many experiments were performed over the temperature range of interest, leading to more accurate parameters than previous investigations. The following Arrhenius expression has been determined for these reactions (in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): for isoprene k = (3.14) × 10^?11 exp [(338 ± 19)/T] and for β‐myrcene k = (9.19) × 10^?12 exp[(1071 ± 82)/T]. The Arrhenius plot for the isoprene + OH reaction indicates curvature in this relationship and is given by k = (3.47 ± 0.14) × 10^?17 T² exp [(1036 ± 14)/T]. Our measured rate constant for the β‐myrcene + OH reaction at 298 K is higher, but not significantly, than current literature values. This is the first report of β‐myrcene's rate constant with OH as a function of temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 407–413, 2009     

Cuprous complexes and dioxygen. VIII. Steric factors controlling one- or two-electron reduction of O2 by cuprous complexes with substituted imidazoles

In aqueous acetonitrile (AN), Cu (I) forms the complexes Cu(AN)L⁺ and CuL with a series of substituted imidazoles (L). Stability constants logK of Cu(AN)⁺ + L ? Cu(AN)L⁺ and logβ₂ were near 5 and 12, resp., log units for all ligands. The rate of autoxidation is described by ?d[O₂]/dt=[CuL]²[O₂](k_a/(1+k_b[CuL]) + (k_c[L]+k_d)/([CuL] + k_e[Cu])), implying competition between one- or two-electron reduction of O₂. The value of k_c decreases from 5500M ^?2S ^?1 for unsubstituted imidazole to about 40M ^?2S ^?1 for 2-methylimidazole or 1,2-dimethyl-imidazole and essentially zero for the corresponding 2-ethyl-derivatives. On the other hand, k_a and k_b are much less influenced by the nature of the ligands, all values being near 5 · 10⁴M ^?2S ^?1 and 10³M ^?1, respectively, for the complexes with the last four bases. Thus rather subtle sterical changes may strongly influence the relative importance of different pathways in the reduction of dioxygen by cuprous complexes.     

Copper Catalysed Oxygenation of Bis (2-pyridyl) methane and 6-Methyl-bis (2-pyridyl)methane to the Corresponding Ketones

The ligands (L) bis (2-pyridyl) methane (BPM) and 6-methyl-bis (2-pyridyl)methane (MBPM) form the three complexes CuL²⁺, CuL, and Cu₂L₂H with Cu²⁺. Stability constants are log K₁ = 6.23 ± 0.06, log K₂ = 4.83 ± 0.01, and log K (Cu₂L₂H + 2H²⁺ ? 2 CuL²⁺) = ?10.99 ± 0.03 for BPM and 4.56 ± 0.02, 2.64 ± 0.02, and ?11.17 ± 0.03 for MBPM, respectively. In the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu²⁺, the ligands are oxygenated to the corresponding ketones at room temperature and neutral pH. With BPM and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (TMP) as the substrate and the buffer base, respectively, the kinetics of the oxygenation can be described by the rate law with k₁ = (5.9 ± 0.2) · 10^?13 mol l^?1 s^?1, k₂ = (4.0 ± 0.6) · 10^?4 mol^?1 ls^?1, k₃ = (1.1 ± 0.1) · 10^?12 mol l^?1 s^?1, and k₄ = (9 ± 2) · 10^?14 mol l^?1 s^?1.     

Rate constants and conversion ratios for aqueous‐phase reactions of SO with CnF2n+1C(O)O− (n = 4–7) at 298 K

Kinetic data for aqueous‐phase reactions of sulfate anion radicals (SO) with perfluorocarboxylates (C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^?) are needed to evaluate removal and transformation processes of C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? species in the environment, but rate constants for the reactions of SO with C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? (k_n) have been reported only for short‐chain C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? species (n = 1–3). Since C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? reacted with SO to form C_mF_2m+1C(O)O^? (m < n), we determined relative rates k_n?1/k_n for the reactions of SO with C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? (n = 4–7), along with conversion ratios for conversion of C_nF_2n+1C(O)O^? into C_n?1F_2n?1C(O)O^? (α_n) and into C_n?2F_2n?3C(O)O^? (β_n) at 298 K. SO was photolytically generated from S₂O by use of sunlamps (λ ≈ 310 nm). Even if k_n and k_n?1 change with increasing ionic strength, k_n?1/k_n can be determined when k_n?1/k_n and α_n remain almost constant during the reaction. The values of k_n/k₁ for n = 4–7 were nearly equal, and their average was 0.82 ± 0.04 (2σ). Conversion ratios of α_n and β_n were mostly independent of n for n = 4–7, and their averages were 0.77 ± 0.07 (2σ) and 0.13 ± 0.08, respectively. Branching ratios of reactions of a possible intermediate (C_nF_2n+1O^?), reaction of C_nF_2n+1O^? with H₂O, and fission of the C? C bond of C_nF_2n+1O^?, seemed to determine α_n and β_n. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 735–747, 2009     

Thermal decomposition of benzotrifluoride. The C?C bond strength and the heat of formation of the phenyl radical

The kinetics of the decomposition of benzotrifluoride was studied from 720°c to 859°c in a flow system with and without carrier gas. Consideration of the product distribution made possible the study of the decomposition into CF₃ and C₆H₅ radicals, which appeared to be truly homogeneous in character. The first-order rate constant of the C? C bond fission, log k (sec^?1) = (17.9 ± 0.5) (99.7 ± 2.5)/θ, did not change with change of initial concentration, pressure of the carrier gas, or contact time. The Arrhenius parameters have been related to the appropriate thermodynamic data. Assumption of 0 kcal/mole for the activation energy of the reverse combination reaction yielded DH(C₆H₅? CF₃) = 103.6 ± 2.5 kcal/mole and ΔH(C₆H₅) = 77.1 ± 3.0 kcal/mole. Applicability of the simple first-order formula to calculation of the rate constant has been also dealt with.     

Stability,Formation and Dissociation Kinetics of the Pentacoordinate Ni2+ and CO2+ Complexes with 1,5-Diazacyclooctane-N,N′-diacetic Acid

The stability constants of the Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ complexes with 1,5-diazacyclooctane-N,N′-diacetic acid (H₂DACODA) have been determined potentiometrically in 0.5M KNO₃ at 25°. Only M(DACODA) and M(DACODA)OH^? were observed. In addition the formation and dissociation kinetics of the pentacoordinate complexes M(DACODA) has been studied in aqueous solution using a stopped-flow technique. Formation follows the rate law v_f = k_f [M²⁺] [HDACODA^?]/[H⁺], which can be interpreted as a bimolecular process either between M²⁺ and DACODA^2? (k) or between MOH⁺ and HDACODA^? (k). The second order rate constants k are much higher than those expected from water exchange and can only be explained by a strong internal conjugate base effect. In the limiting case, however, this is equivalent to the second possible explanation, which assumes MOH⁺ and HDACODA^? as reactive species. The dissociation rate is given by v_d = (k^ML + k [H⁺]) · [M(DACODA)].     

Magnesium chloride supported high mileage catalysts for olefin polymerization. XII. Polymerization of ethylene

Polymerizations of ethylene by the MgCl₂/ethylbenzoate/p-cresol/AlEt₃ TiCl₄-AlEt₃/methyl-p-toluate (CW-catalyst) have been studied. The initially formed active site concentration, [Ti] has a maximum value of 50% of total titanium at 50°C and lower values at other temperatures. The Ti decays rapidly to Ti sites with conc. ca. 10 mol %/mol Ti. The rate constants for four chain transfer processes have been obtained at 50°C: for transfer with AlEt₃, k = 2.1 × 10^?4 s^?1 and k = 4.8 × 10^?4 s^?1; for transfer with monomer, k = 3.6 × 10^?3 (M s)^?1 and K = 8.3 × 10^?3 (M s)^?1; for β-hydride transfer, k = 7.2 × 10^?4 s^?1 and k = 4.9 × 10^?4 s^?1; and transfer with hydrogen, k = 4.0 × 10^?3 torr^1/2 s^? and k = 5.1 × 10^?3 torr^1/2 s^?1. The rate constants for the termination assisted by hydrogen is k = 1.7 (M^1/2 torr^1/2 S)^?1. If monomer is assisting termination as was observed for propylene polymerization, then k = 7.8 (M^3/2 s)^?1. Values of all the rate constants can be higher or lower at other temperatures. Detailed comparisons were made with the results of propylene polymerizations. There are more than four times as many Ti active sites for ethylene polymerization than there are for stereospecific polymerization of propylene; the difference is more than a factor of two for the Ti sites. Certain rate constants are nearly the same for both monomers while others are markedly different. Some of the differences can be explained by stereoelectronic effects.     

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene. II. Monocyclopentadienyltributoxy titanium/methylaluminoxane catalyst

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene was catalyzed by monocyclopentadienyltributoxy titanium/methylaluminoxane [CpTi (OBu)₃/MAO]. The atactic and syndiotactic polystyrenes were separated by extracting the former with refluxing 2-butanone. The activity and syndiospecificity of the catalyst were affected by changes in catalyst concentration and composition, polymerization temperature, and monomer concentration. Extremely high activity of 5 × 10⁷ g PS (mol Ti mol S h)^?1 with 99% yield of the syndiotactic product were achieved. The concentration of active species, [C^*], has been determined by radiolabeling. The amount of the syndiospecific and nonspecific catalytic species, [C] and [C] respectively, correspond to 79 and 13% of the CpTi(OBu)₃. The rate constants of propagation for C and C at 45°C are 10.8 and 2.0 (M s)^?1, respectively, the corresponding rate constants for chain transfer to MAO are 6.2 × 10^?4 and 4.3 × 10^?4s^?1. There was no deactivation of the catalytic species during a batch polymerization. The rate constant of chain transfer with monomer is 6.7 × 10^?2 (M s)^?1; the spontaneous β-hydride transfer rate constant is 4.7 × 10^?2 s^?1. The polymerization activity and stereospecificity of the catalyst are highest at 45°C, both decreasing with either higher or lower temperature. The stereoregular polymer have broad MW distributions, M?_w/M?_n = 2.8–5.7, and up to three crystalline modifications. The T_m of the s-PS polymerized at 0–90°C decreased from 261.8 to 241°C indicating thermally activated monomer insertion errors. The styrene polymerization behaviors were essentially insensitive to the dielectric constant of the medium.     

Depolymerization kinetics of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and Mark‐Houwink‐Kuhn‐Sakurada parameters of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and di‐n‐butyl itaconate

Multipulse pulsed laser polymerization coupled with size exclusion chromatography (MP‐PLP‐SEC) has been employed to study the depropagation kinetics of the sterically demanding 1,1‐disubstituted monomer di(4‐tert‐butylcyclohexyl) itaconate (DBCHI). The effective rate coefficient of propagation, k, was determined for a solution of monomer in anisole at concentrations, c, 0.72 and 0.88 mol L^?1 in the temperature range 0 ≤ T ≤ 70 °C. The resulting Arrhenius plot (i.e., ln k vs. 1/RT) displayed a subtle curvature in the higher temperature regime and was analyzed in the linear part to yield the activation parameters of the forward reaction. In the temperature region where no depropagation was observed (0 ≤ T ≤ 50 °C), the following Arrhenius parameters for k_p were obtained (DBCHI, E_p = 35.5 ± 1.2 kJ mol^?1, ln A_p = 14.8 ± 0.5 L mol^?1 s^?1). In addition, the k data was analyzed in the depropagatation regime for DBCHI, resulting in estimates for the associated entropy (?ΔS = 150 J mol^?1 K^?1) of polymerization. With decreasing monomer concentration and increasing temperature, it is increasingly more difficult to obtain well structured molecular weight distributions. The Mark Houwink Kuhn Sakurada (MHKS) parameters for di‐n‐butyl itaconate (DBI) and DBCHI were determined using a triple detection GPC system incorporating online viscometry and multi‐angle laser light scattering in THF at 40 °C. The MHKS for poly‐DBI and poly‐DBCHI in the molecular weight range 35–256 kDa and 36.5–250 kDa, respectively, were determined to be K_DBI = 24.9 (10³ mL g^?1), α_DBI = 0.58, K_DBCHI = 12.8 (10³ mL g^?1), and α_DBCHI = 0.63. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1931–1943, 2007     

The activation energy of the skeletal isomerization in the radical cations of toluene and cycloheptatriene by mass spectrometry of their 2-phenylethyl derivatives

The Unimolecular mass spectrometric fragmentations of the molecular ions of 1,3-diphenylpropane, 1-(7-cycloheptatrienyl)-2-phenylethane and the 1-phenyl-2-tolylethanes and their [d₅]phenyl analogues have been investigated by metastable ion techniques and measurements of ionization and appearance energies. By comparing the formation of [C₇H₇]⁺, [C₇H₈]⁺?, [C₈H₈]⁺? and [C₈H₉]⁺ it is shown that the molecular ions of the four diaryl isomers do not undergo ring expansion reactions of the aromatic nuclei prior to these fragmentations. Conversely, the molecular ions of the cycloheptatrienyl isomer suffer in part a contraction of the 7-membered ring. From these results and from the measured ionization and appearance energies lower limits to the activation energies of these skeletal isomerizations have been estimated yielding E > 33±5 kcal mol^?1 formonoalkylbenzene, E > 20 2±5 kc mol^?1 for 7-alkylcycloheptatriene and E > 40±5 kcal mol^?1 for dialkylvbenzene positive radical ions. Upper limits can be deduced from literature evidence yielding E < 45 kcal mol^?1 for monoalkylbenzene and E < 53 kcal 4mol^?1 for dialkylbenzene positive radical ions. The activation energy thus estimated for monoalkylbenzene is in excellent agreement with the recently calculated value(s) for the toluene ion.     

Kinetics for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers CH2FCF2OCHF2, CHF2CF2OCH2CF3, CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF3, and CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF2CHF2 at 268–308 K

Rate constants were determined for the reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂(k₁), CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃ (k₂), CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃(k₃), and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂(k₄) by using a relative rate method. OH radicals were prepared by photolysis of ozone at UV wavelengths (>260 nm) in 100 Torr of a HFE–reference–H₂O–O₃–O₂–He gas mixture in a 1‐m³ temperature‐controlled chamber. By using CH₄, CH₃CCl₃, CHF₂Cl, and CF₃CF₂CF₂OCH₃ as the reference compounds, reaction rate constants of OH radicals of k₁ = (1.68) × 10^?12 exp[(?1710 ± 140)/T], k₂ = (1.36) × 10^?12 exp[(?1470 ± 90)/T], k₃ = (1.67) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 140)/T], and k₄ = (2.39) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 110)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained at 268–308 K. The errors reported are ± 2 SD, and represent precision only. We estimate that the potential systematic errors associated with uncertainties in the reference rate constants add a further 10% uncertainty to the values of k₁–k₄. The results are discussed in relation to the predictions of Atkinson's structure–activity relationship model. The dominant tropospheric loss process for the HFEs studied here is considered to be by the reaction with the OH radicals, with atmospheric lifetimes of 11.5, 5.9, 6.7, and 4.7 years calculated for CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂, CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃, CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃, and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂, respectively, by scaling from the lifetime of CH₃CCl₃. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 239–245, 2003     

Kinetics and mechanism of the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in solution. THF–CH2Cl2 and THF–CH2Cl2/CH3NO2 systems

Cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in CH₂Cl₂ solvent and in mixed CH₂Cl₂/CH₃NO₂ solvent was initiated with 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium cations with AsF and SbF anions. Dissociation constants of the polytetrahydrofuranium ion pairs into ions were measured (e.g., K_D = 1.5 × 10^?5M at 25°C and [THF]₀ = 7.0M; CH₂Cl₂ solvent) and were found to be more than 100 times lower than in CH₃NO₂ solvent at the same [THF]₀ and temperature. The rate constants k and k, measured for degrees of dissociation ranging from 0.03 to 0.35 in CH₂Cl₂, were the same within an experimental error of measurements (±15% of the value of k_p). Dependence of k( = k = k) on the dielectric constant was a monotonous function in three different solvents, namely, CCl₄, CH₂Cl₂, and CH₃NO₂, which covered a large range of dielectric constants of the medium (from D = 5 to D = 22) and degrees of dissociation of the macroion pairs, α (from 0.03 to more than 0.70). Thus a decrease in the dielectric constant increases the rate constant k in the whole range of studied polarities of the medium. This result confirms an earlier conclusion that the rate constant of propagation does not depend on the state of aggregation of ions and k = k.     

The Kinetics of the Anation Reaction of Aquopentaamminerhodium(III) lon by Oxalate in Aqueous Acidic Solution

The anation reaction of aquopentaamminerhodium(III) by oxalate has been studied in the temperature range 51–69°C and acidity range 0 ≤ pH ≤ 4.5 for oxalate concentrations up to 0.25 M and at ionic strength 1.0 M. The kinetic results provide evidence for the formation of an ion-pair between the complex ion and HC₂O(Q₁) and C₂O₄^2?(Q₂), where Q₁ = 2.3 M^?1 and Q₂ = 8.1 M^?1 at 60°C, but no evidence for an ion-pair with H₂C₂O₄ exists. The values of the rate constants at 60°C for anation by H₂C₂O₄, HC₂O and C₂O₄^2? are k₀ = 1.5 · 10^?4 M^?1 sec^?1, k₁ = 1.4 · 10^?4 sec^?1 and k₂ = 1.2 · 10^?4 sec^?1. The corresponding values for ΔH≠ and ΔS≠ are reported and the results discussed with reference to analogous reactions of Rh(III) and Co(III).