Uncatalyzed reactions in the classical Belousov-Zhabotinsky system. 2. The malonic acid-bromate reaction in acidic media

The title reaction was studied with various techniques in 1 M sulfuric acid, a usual medium for the oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. It was found to be a more complex process than the bromomalonic acid (BrMA)-BrO3- reaction studied previously in the first part of this work. Malonic acid (MA) can react with acidic bromate by two parallel mechanisms. The main aim of the present research was to determine the mechanisms, the rate laws, and the rate constants for these parallel channels. In one reaction channel the first molecular products are glyoxalic acid (GOA) and CO2 while in the other channel mesoxalic acid (MOA) is the first molecular intermediate, that is, no CO2 is formed in this step. To prove these two independent routes specific colorimetric techniques were developed to determine GOA and MOA selectively. The rate of the GOA channel was determined by following the rate of the carbon dioxide evolution characteristic for this reaction route. In this step, regarding it as an overall process, one MA is oxidized to GOA and CO2 and one BrO3- is reduced to HOBr, which forms BrMA with another MA. The initial rate of the GOA channel is a bilinear function of the initial MA and BrO3- concentrations with a second-order rate constant k(GOA)= 2.4 x 10(-7) M(-1) s(-1). The rate of the other channel was calculated from the rate of the BrO3- consumption measured in separate experiments, assuming that the measured depletion is a sum of two separate terms reflecting the consumptions due to the two independent channels. In the MOA channel one MA is oxidized to MOA and one BrO3- is consumed while another MA is brominated as in the GOA channel. It was found that the initial rate of the MOA channel is also a bilinear function of the MA and BrO3- concentrations with a second-order rate constant k(MOA)= 2.46 x 10(-6) M(-1) s(-1). Separate chemical mechanisms are suggested for both channels. In all of the various bromate-substrate reactions of these mechanisms oxygen atom transfer from the bromate to the substrate occurs generating bromous acid intermediate. This can be of high importance in BZ systems as bromous acid is the autocatalytic intermediate there. GOA and MOA also can be oxidized by acidic bromate but a study of these reactions will be published later.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of bromine chloride reactions with bromite and chlorite ions

Chloride ion catalyzes the reactions of HOBr with bromite and chlorite ions in phosphate buffer (p[H(+)] 5 to 7). Bromine chloride is generated in situ in small equilibrium concentrations by the addition of excess Cl(-) to HOBr. In the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) reaction, where ClO(2)(-) is in excess, a first-order rate of formation of ClO(2) is observed that depends on the HOBr concentration. The rate dependencies on ClO(2)(-), Cl(-), H(+), and buffer concentrations are determined. In the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction where BrCl is in pre-equilibrium with the excess species, HOBr, the loss of absorbance due to BrO(2)(-) is followed. The dependencies on Cl(-), HOBr, H(+), and HPO(4)(2)(-) concentrations are determined for the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction. In the proposed mechanisms, the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) and BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reactions proceed by Br(+) transfer to form steady-state levels of BrOClO and BrOBrO, respectively. The rate constant for the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) reaction [k(Cl)(2)]is 5.2 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and for the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction [k(Br)(2)]is 1.9 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). In the BrCl/ClO(2)(-) case, BrOClO reacts with ClO(2)(-) to form two ClO(2) radicals and Br(-). However, the hydrolysis of BrOBrO in the BrCl/BrO(2)(-) reaction leads to the formation of BrO(3)(-) and Br(-).     

The source of the carbon monoxide in the classical Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

CO and CO2 evolution was measured in a cerium and in a ferroin-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. These gases were stripped from the reaction mixture by a N2 carrier gas, mixed with H2, converted to methane on a Ni catalyst, and then measured by a flame ionization detector (FID). CO could be detected separately by absorbing CO2 on a soda lime column. In separate experiments it was proven that CO is produced in a reaction of BrO2* radicals with bromomalonic acid (BrMA). To this end BrO2(.-) radicals were generated in two different ways: (i) in the reaction HBrO2 + HBrO3 <--> 2 BrO2(.-) + H2O and (ii) by reducing HBrO3 to BrO2(.-) by Fe(2+). It was found that (.-)OH radicals--produced by Fenton's reagent--can also generate CO from BrMA. We propose that CO can be formed when an inorganic radical (like BrO2(.-) or (.-)OH) reacts with the enol form of BrMA producing an acyl radical which decarbonylates in the next step. Malonic acid (MA)-BrMA mixtures were prepared by a new method modifying Zaikin and Zhabotinsky's original recipe to minimize the production of dibromomalonic acid (Br2MA).     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of hypochlorous acid,chlorine, and chlorine monoxide with bromite ion

The reaction between BrO2(-) and excess HOCl (p[H+] 6-7, 25.0 degrees C) proceeds through several pathways. The primary path is a multistep oxidation of HOCl by BrO(2)(-) to form ClO(3)(-) and HOBr (85% of the initial 0.15 mM BrO(2)(-)). Another pathway produces ClO(2) and HOBr (8%), and a third pathway produces BrO(3)(-) and Cl(-) (7%). With excess HOCl concentrations, Cl(2)O also is a reactive species. In the proposed mechanism, HOCl and Cl(2)O react with BrO(2)(-) to form steady-state species, HOClOBrO(-) and ClOClOBrO(-). Acid facilitates the conversion of HOClOBrO(-) and ClOClOBrO(-) to HOBrOClO(-). These reactions require a chainlike connectivity of the intermediates with alternating halogen-oxygen bonding (i.e. HOBrOClO(-)) as opposed to Y-shaped intermediates with a direct halogen-halogen bond (i.e. HOBrCl(O)O(-)). The HOBrOClO(-) species dissociates into HOBr and ClO(2)(-) or reacts with general acids to form BrOClO. The distribution of products suggests that BrOClO exists as a BrOClO.HOCl adduct in the presence of excess HOCl. The primary products, ClO(3)(-) and HOBr, are formed from the hydrolysis of BrOClO.HOCl. A minor hydrolysis path for BrOClO.HOCl gives BrO(3)(-) and Cl(-). An induction period in the formation of ClO(2) is observed due to the buildup of ClO(2)(-), which reacts with BrOClO.HOCl to give 2 ClO(2) and Br(-). Second-order rate constants for the reactions of HOCl and Cl(2)O with BrO(2)(-) are k(1)(HOCl) = 1.6 x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) and k(1)(Cl)()2(O) = 1.8 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). When Cl(-) is added in large excess, a Cl(2) pathway exists in competition with the HOCl and Cl(2)O pathways for the loss of BrO(2)(-). The proposed Cl(2) pathway proceeds by Cl(+) transfer to form a steady-state ClOBrO species with a rate constant of k(1)(Cl2) = 8.7 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1).     

Disproportionation of Bromous Acid HOBrO by Direct O-Transfer and via Anhydrides O(BrO)(2) and BrO-BrO(2). An Ab Initio Study of the Mechanism of a Key Step of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky Oscillating Reaction

The results are reported of an ab initio study of the thermochemistry and of the kinetics of the HOBrO disproportionation reaction 2HOBrO (2) ? HOBr (1) + HBrO(3) (3), reaction ( R4' ), in gas phase (MP2(full)/6-311G*) and aqueous solution (SMD(MP2(full)/6-311G*)). The reaction energy of bromous acid disproportionation is discussed in the context of the coupled reaction system R2-R4 of the FKN mechanism of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction and considering the acidities of HBr and HOBrO(2). The structures were determined of ten dimeric aggregates 4 of bromous acid, (HOBrO)(2), of eight mixed aggregates 5 formed between the products of disproportionation, (HOBr)(HOBrO(2)), and of four transition states structures 6 for disproportionation by direct O-transfer. It was found that the condensation of two HOBrO molecules provides facile access to bromous acid anhydride 7, O(BrO)(2). A discussion of the potential energy surface of Br(2)O(3) shows that O(BrO)(2) is prone to isomerization to the mixed anhydride 8, BrO-BrO(2), and to dissociation to 9, BrO, and 10, BrO(2), and their radical pair 11. Hence, three possible paths from O(BrO)(2) to the products of disproportionation, HOBr and HOBrO(2), are discussed: (1) hydrolysis of O(BrO)(2) along a path that differs from its formation, (2) isomerization of O(BrO)(2) to BrO-BrO(2) followed by hydrolysis, and (3) O(BrO)(2) dissociation to BrO and BrO(2) and their reactions with water. The results of the potential energy surface analysis show that the rate-limiting step in the disproportionation of HOBrO consists of the formation of the hydrate 12a of bromous acid anhydride 7 via transition state structure 14a. The computed activation free enthalpy ΔG(act)(SMD) = 13.6 kcal/mol for the process 2·2a → [14a](?) → 12a corresponds to the reaction rate constant k(4) = 667.5 M(-1) s(-1) and is in very good agreement with experimental measurements. The potential energy surface analysis further shows that anhydride 7 is kinetically and thermodynamically unstable with regard to hydrolysis to HOBr and HOBrO(2) via transition state structure 14b. The transition state structure 14b is much more stable than 14a, and, hence, the formation of the "symmetrical anhydride" from bromous acid becomes an irreversible reaction for all practical purposes because 7 will instead be hydrolyzed as a "mixed anhydride" to afford HOBr and HOBrO(2). The mixed anhydride 8, BrO-BrO(2), does not play a significant role in bromous acid disproportionation.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the ozone/bromite and ozone/chlorite reactions

Ozone reactions with XO(2)(-) (X = Cl or Br) are studied by stopped-flow spectroscopy under pseudo-first-order conditions with excess XO(2)(-). The O(3)/XO(2)(-) reactions are first-order in [O(3)] and [XO(2)(-)], with rate constants k(1)(Cl) = 8.2(4) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and k(1)(Br) = 8.9(3) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) at 25.0 degrees C and mu = 1.0 M. The proposed rate-determining step is an electron transfer from XO(2)(-) to O(3) to form XO(2) and O(3)(-). Subsequent rapid reactions of O(3)(-) with general acids produce O(2) and OH. The OH radical reacts rapidly with XO(2)(-) to form a second XO(2) and OH(-). In the O(3)/ClO(2)(-) reaction, ClO(2) and ClO(3)(-) are the final products due to competition between the OH/ClO(2)(-) reaction to form ClO(2) and the OH/ClO(2) reaction to form ClO(3)(-). Unlike ClO(2), BrO(2) is not a stable product due to its rapid disproportionation to form BrO(2)(-) and BrO(3)(-). However, kinetic spectra show that small but observable concentrations of BrO(2) form within the dead time of the stopped-flow instrument. Bromine dioxide is a transitory intermediate, and its observed rate of decay is equal to half the rate of the O(3)/BrO(2)(-) reaction. Ion chromatographic analysis shows that O(3) and BrO(2)(-) react in a 1/1 ratio to form BrO(3)(-) as the final product. Variation of k(1)(X) values with temperature gives Delta H(++)(Cl) = 29(2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(++)(Cl) = -14.6(7) J mol(-1) K(-1), Delta H(++)(Br) = 54.9(8) kJ mol(-1), and Delta S(++)(Br) = 34(3) J mol(-1) K(-1). The positive Delta S(++)(Br) value is attributed to the loss of coordinated H(2)O from BrO(2)(-) upon formation of an [O(3)BrO(2)(-)](++) activated complex.     

Kinetic study of the reactions of Br2 with OH and OD

The kinetics of the reactions OH + Br₂ → HOBr + Br (1) and OD + Br₂ → DOBr + Br (3) have been studied in the temperature range 230–360 K and at total pressure of 1 Torr of helium using the discharge‐flow mass spectrometric method. The following Arrhenius expressions were obtained either from the kinetics of product formation (HOBr, DOBr) in excess of Br₂ over OH and OD or from the kinetics of Br₂ consumption in excess of OH and OD: k₁ = (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp [(235 ± 50)/T] and k₃ = (1.9 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp [(220 ± 25)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. For the reaction channels of the title reactions: OH + Br₂ → BrO + HBr and OD + Br₂ → BrO + DBr, the upper limits of the branching ratios were found to be 0.03 and 0.02 at T = 320 K, respectively. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 698–704, 1999     

Malonic acid concentration as a control parameter in the kinetic analysis of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction under batch conditions

The influence of the initial malonic acid concentration [MA]0 (8.00 x 10(-3) < or = [MA]0 < or = 4.30 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3)) in the presence of bromate (6.20 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3)), bromide (1.50 x 10(-5) mol dm(-3)), sulfuric acid (1.00 mol dm(-3)) and cerium sulfate (2.50 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3)) on the dynamics and the kinetics of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reactions was examined under batch conditions at 30.0 degrees C. The kinetics of the BZ reaction was analyzed by the earlier proposed method convenient for the examinations of the oscillatory reactions. In the defined region of parameters where oscillograms with only large-amplitude relaxation oscillations appeared, the pseudo-first order of the overall malonic acid decomposition with a corresponding rate constant of 2.14 x 10(-2) min(-1) was established. The numerical results on the dynamics and kinetics of the BZ reaction, carried out by the known skeleton model including the Br2O species, were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The already found saddle node infinite period (SNIPER) bifurcation point in transition from a stable quasi-steady state to periodic orbits and vice versa is confirmed by both experimental and numerical investigations of the system under consideration. Namely, the large-amplitude relaxation oscillations with increasing periods between oscillations in approaching the bifurcation points at the beginning and the end of the oscillatory domain, together with excitability of the stable quasi-steady states in their vicinity are obtained.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of N, N'-dimethylaminoiminomethanesulfinic acid by acidic bromate

The major metabolites of the physiologically active compound dimethylthiourea (DMTU), dimethylaminoiminomethansesulfinic acid (DMAIMSA), and dimethylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid (DMAIMSOA) were synthesized, and their kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation by acidic bromate and aqueous bromine was determined. The oxidation of DMAIMSA is much more facile and rapid as compared to a comparable oxidation by the same reagents of the parent compound, DMTU. The stoichiometry of the bromate-DMAIMSA reaction was determined to be 2BrO 3 (-) + 3NHCH 3(NCH 3)CSO 2H + 3H 2O --> 3SO 4 (2) (-) + 2Br (-) + 3CO(NHCH 3) 2 + 6H (+), with quantitative formation of sulfate. In excess bromate conditions, the stoichiometry was 4BrO 3 (-) + 5NHCH 3(NCH 3)CSO 2H + 3H 2O --> 5SO 4 (2) (-) + 2Br 2 + 5CO(NHCH 3) 2 + 6H (+). The direct bromine-DMAIMSA reaction gave an expected stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 with no further oxidation of product dimethylurea (DMU) by aqueous bromine. The bromine-DMAIMSA reaction was so fast that it was close to diffusion-controlled. Excess bromate conditions delivered a clock reaction behavior with the formation of bromine after an initial quiescent period. DMAIMSOA, on the other hand, was extremely inert to further oxidation in the acidic conditions used for this study. Rate of consumption of DMAIMSA showed a sigmoidal autocatalytic decay. The postulated mechanism involves an initial autocatalytic build-up of bromide that fuels the formation of the reactive oxidizing species HBrO 2 and HOBr through standard oxybromine reactions. The long and weak C-S bond in DMAIMSA ensures that its oxidation goes directly to DMU and sulfate, bypassing inert DMAIMSOA.     

Equilibrium and Kinetics of Bromine Hydrolysis

Equilibrium constants for bromine hydrolysis, K(1) = [HOBr][H(+)][Br(-)]/[Br(2)(aq)], are determined as a function of ionic strength (&mgr;) at 25.0 degrees C and as a function of temperature at &mgr; approximately 0 M. At &mgr; approximately 0 M and 25.0 degrees C, K(1) = (3.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(-)(9) M(2) and DeltaH degrees = 62 +/- 1 kJ mol(-)(1). At &mgr; = 0.50 M and 25.0 degrees C, K(1) = (6.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(-)(9) M(2) and the rate constant (k(-)(1)) for the reverse reaction of HOBr + H(+) + Br(-) equals (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(10) M(-)(2) s(-)(1). This reaction is general-acid-assisted with a Br?nsted alpha value of 0.2. The corresponding Br(2)(aq) hydrolysis rate constant, k(1), equals 97 s(-)(1), and the reaction is general-base-assisted (beta = 0.8).     

Kinetics and mechanisms of S(IV) reductions of bromite and chlorite ions

The reaction of bromite with aqueous S(IV) is first order in both reactants and is general-acid catalyzed. The reaction half-lives vary from 5 ms (p[H+] 5.9) to 210 s (p[H+] 13.1) for 0.7 mM excess S(IV) at 25 degrees C. The proposed mechanism includes a rapid reaction (k(1) = 3.0 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)) between BrO(2)(-) and SO(3)(2-) to form a steady-state intermediate, (O(2)BrSO(3))(3-). General acids assist the removal of an oxide ion from (O(2)BrSO(3))(3-) to form OBrSO(3)(-), which hydrolyzes rapidly to give OBr(-) and SO(4)(2-). Subsequent fast reactions between HOBr/OBr(-) and SO(3)(2-) give Br(-) and SO(4)(2-) as final products. In contrast, the chlorite reactions with S(IV) are 5-6 orders of magnitude slower. These reactions are specific-acid, not general-acid, catalyzed. In the proposed mechanism, ClO(2)(-) and SO(3)H(-)/SO(2) react to form (OClOSO(3)H)(2)(-) and (OClOSO(2))(-) intermediates which decompose to form OCl(-) and SO(4)(2-). Subsequent fast reactions between HOCl/OCl(-) and S(IV) give Cl- and SO(4)(2-) as final products. SO(2) is 6 orders of magnitude more reactive than SO(3)H-, where k(5)(SO(2)/ClO(2)(-)) = 6.26 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and k(6)(SO(3)H(-)/ClO(2)(-)) = 5.5 M(-1) s(-1). Direct reaction between ClO(2)(-) and SO(3)(2-) is not observed. The presence or absence of general-acid catalysis leads to the proposal of different connectivities for the initial reactive intermediates, where a Br-S bond forms with BrO(2)(-) and SO(3)(2-), while an O-S bond forms with ClO(2)(-) and SO(3)H-.     

Kinetic Study of the Ce(III)‐, Mn(II)‐, or Ferroin‐Catalyzed Belousov‐Zhabotinsky Reaction with Allylmalonic Acid

In a stirred batch experiment and under aerobic conditions, ferroin (Fe(phen)₃²⁺) behaves differently from Ce(III) or Mn(II) ion as a catalyst for the Belousov‐Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction with allylmalonic acid (AMA). The effects of bromate ion, AMA, metal‐ion catalyst, and sulfuric acid on the oscillating pattern were investigated. The kinetics of the reaction of AMA with Ce(IV), Mn(III), or Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion was studied under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The order of reactivity of metal ions toward reaction with AMA is Fe(phen)₃³⁺ > Mn(III) > Ce(IV) under aerobic conditions whereas it is Mn(III) > Ce(IV) > Fe(phen)₃³⁺ under anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, the order of reactivity of RCH(CO₂H)₂ (R = H (MA), Me (MeMA), Et (EtMA), allyl (AMA), n‐Bu (BuMA), Ph (PhMA), and Br (BrMA)) is PhMA > MA > BrMA > AMA > MeMA > EtMA > BuMA toward reaction with Ce(IV) ion and it is MA > PhMA > BrMA > MeMA > AMA > EtMA > BuMA toward reaction with Mn(III) ion. Under aerobic conditions, the order of reactivity of RCH(CO₂H)₂ toward reaction with Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion is PhMA > BrMA > (MeMA, AMA) > (BuMA, EtMA) > MA. The experiment results are rationalized.     

Reduction and oxidation of hydroperoxo rhodium(III) complexes by halides and hypobromous acid

Oxygen atom transfer from trans-L(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+) [L = [14]aneN(4) (L(1)), meso-Me(6)[14]aneN(4) (L(2)), and (NH(3))(4)] to iodide takes place according to the rate law -d[L(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+)]/dt = k(I)[L(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+)][I(-)][H(+)]. At 0.10 M ionic strength and 25 degrees C, the rate constant k(I)/M(-)(2) s(-)(1) has values of 8.8 x 10(3) [L = (NH(3))(4)], 536 (L(1)), and 530 (L(2)). The final products are LRh(H(2)O)(2)(3+) and I(2)/I(3)(-). The (NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+)/Br(-) reaction also exhibits mixed third-order kinetics with k(Br) approximately 1.8 M(-)(2) s(-)(1) at high concentrations of acid (close to 1 M) and bromide (close to 0.1 M) and an ionic strength of 1.0 M. Under these conditions, Br(2)/Br(3)(-) is produced in stoichiometric amounts. As the concentrations of acid and bromide decrease, the reaction begins to generate O(2) at the expense of Br(2), until the limit at which [H(+)] 2(NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)RhOH(2+) + O(2); i.e., the reaction has turned into the bromide-catalyzed disproportionation of coordinated hydroperoxide. In the proposed mechanism, the hydrolysis of the initially formed Br(2) produces HOBr, the active oxidant for the second equivalent of (NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+). The rate constant k(HOBr) for the HOBr/(NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)RhOOH(2+) reaction is 2.9 x 10(8) M(-)(1) s(-)(1).     

Bis(dialkylamide)hydrogen dibromobromate precursors of hypobromite ion in reactions with nerve and blister agent simulants

Hypobromite ion, BrO(-), is an effective alpha-nucleophile that reacts rapidly with activated phosphorus(V) and sulfonate esters. The parent acid rapidly oxidizes organic sulfides and aryloxide ions. At pH 10-11 BrO(-) and HOBr coexist in water and are potentially useful as decontaminants of chlorosulfide blister agents and the phosphonyl nerve agents. Bis(dialkylamide)hydrogen dibromobromates are well characterized, stable, solids which rapidly form HOBr-BrO(-) in mildly alkaline water. Reactions of 4-nitrophenyl diethyl phosphate and phosphonate, which are simulants of the phosphonofluoridate nerve agents, and of 4-nitrophenyl tosylate, with BrO(-) are rapid (t(1/2) = 60-700 s) with 0.1 M BrO(-), under conditions in which oxidations of organic sulfides are too fast to be followed by conventional methods.     

Flash photolytic generation and study of p-quinone methide in aqueous solution. An estimate of rate and equilibrium constants for heterolysis of the carbon-bromine bond in p-hydroxybenzyl bromide

Flash photolysis of p-hydroxybenzyl acetate in aqueous perchloric acid solution and formic acid, acetic acid, biphosphate ion, and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylammonium ion buffers produced p-quinone methide as a short-lived species that underwent hydration to p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in hydronium ion catalyzed (k(H(+)) = 5.28 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)) and uncatalyzed (k(uc) = 3.33 s(-1)) processes. The inverse nature of the solvent isotope effect on the hydronium ion-catalyzed reaction, k(H(+))/k(D(+)) = 0.41, indicates that this process occurs by rapid and reversible protonation of the quinone methide on its carbonyl carbon atom, followed by rate-determining capture of the p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation so produced by water, while the magnitude of the rate constant on the uncatalyzed process indicates that this reaction occurs by simple nucleophilic addition of water to the methylene group of the quinone methide. p-Quinone methide also underwent hydronium ion-catalyzed and uncatalyzed nucleophilic addition reactions with chloride ion, bromide ion, thiocyanate ion, and thiourea. The solvent isotope effects on the hydronium ion-catalyzed processes again indicate that these reactions occurred by preequilibrium mechanisms involving a p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation intermediate, and assignment of a diffusion-controlled value to the rate constant for reaction of this cation with thiocyanate ion led to K(SH) = 110 M as the acidity constant of oxygen-protonated p-quinone methide. In a certain perchloric acid concentration range, the bromide ion reaction became biphasic, and least-squares analysis of the kinetic data using a double-exponential function provided k(Br(-)) = 3.8 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) as the rate constant for nucleophilic capture of the p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation by bromide ion, k(ionz) = 8.5 x 10(2) s(-1) for ionization of the carbon-bromine bond of p-hydroxybenzyl bromide, and K = 4.5 x 10(5) M(-1) as the equilibrium constant for the carbocation-bromide ion combination reaction, all in aqueous solution at 25 degrees C. Comparisons are made of the reactivity of p-quinone methide with p-quinone alpha,alpha-bis(trifluoromethyl)methide as well as p-quinone methide with o-quinone methide.     

BrO-H2O 及 HOBr-H2O复合物偶合方式的理论研究

在6-311++G(d,p)水平上采用四种方法讨论了两种BrO-H₂O和三种HOBr-H₂O复合物的构型性质。在两种BrO-H₂O复合物中，结合能为11.37–13.92 J/mol的复合物2 （电子态为²A′）最稳定，该复合物是通过BrO中的Br原子和水中的O原子结合的。三种HOBr-H₂O复合物中，复合物3和4的结合能约为16.30–21.32 J/mol，三种复合物的稳定顺序为：复合物3 ≈ 复合物4 > 复合物5。     

New insights into the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction derived from EQCM measurements at a gold electrode

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance experiments were used to study the classical Belousov-Zhabotinskii (BZ) homogeneous oscillating system. This system involves 2 × 10(-3) M Ce(III), 0.28 M malonic acid and 0.063 M bromate as the main initial components in 1 M sulfuric acid solution. The gold-evaporated electrodes on a 10 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal were used for potentiometric and amperometric studies while the changes in crystal frequency provided mass data. Under open-circuit conditions, during the BZ reaction, oscillations of the gold electrode potential in the range ca. 0.8 to 1.07 V (SCE) with a period about 80 s occurred. They were accompanied by periodic 10-15 ng [i.e. ca. 45-70 ng cm(-2)] changes in the electrode mass. At more positive potentials a decrease in electrode mass occurred, while the mass increased at more negative potentials. At a constant applied electrode potential, corresponding to either the upper or the lower potential limit attained under open-circuit conditions, periodic pulses of cathodic current occurred and were accompanied by mass changes. A continuous decrease in the electrode mass occurred at 1.06 V. A detailed examination of the gold electrode behavior in the solutions containing individual components of the system using cyclic voltammetry and quartz crystal microgravimetry provided the information needed to interpret the mass changes that occur in the complete system. No significant changes in the electrode mass occurred in sulfuric acid solution in the potential range where current and mass oscillations take place in the full BZ reaction solution. The same result was found in sulfuric acid solutions containing either Ce(III) or malonic acid. Dissolution of gold occurred in a sulfuric acid solution containing bromate or bromide ions. Adsorption of bromide ions on gold electrode occurred in Br(-)-containing sulfuric acid solution at more negative potentials. In the BZ system, dissolution of gold in the presence of oxidizing (bromate) and complexing (bromide) species causes the decrease in the electrode mass that accompanies the positive potential jump under open-circuit conditions, or the current pulse that occurs at more negative applied constant potentials. Cathodic current pulses occurring at a constant electrode potential (either 0.8 or 1.06 V) are associated with the reduction of Ce(IV) formed as a result of periodic homogeneous oxidation of Ce(III) by bromate. Bromide ions formed in the course of the BZ reaction appear to play a significant role in electrode mass changes, causing a mass decrease at more positive potentials due to dissolution of gold, and a subsequent mass increase at more negative potentials due to adsorption processes.     

Theoretical investigation of product channels in the CH3O2 + Br reaction

Several reaction pathways on the potential energy surface (PES) for the reaction of CH3O2 radicals with Br atoms are examined using both ab initio and density functional methods. Analysis of the PES suggests the presence of the stable intermediates CH3OOBr and CH3OBrO. CH3OOBr is calculated to be more stable than CH3OBrO by 9.7 kcal mol(-1) with a significant barrier preventing formation of CH3OBrO via isomerization of CH3OOBr. The relative importance of bi- and termolecular product channels resulting from the initially formed CH3OOBr adduct are assessed based on calculated barriers to the formation of CH2OO + HBr, CH3O + BrO, CH3Br + O2, and CH2O + HOBr.     

Kinetics and mechanism of bromate-bromide reaction catalyzed by acetate

The initial rate of the bromate-bromide reaction, BrO3- + 5Br- + 6H+ --> 3Br2 + 3H2O, has been measured at constant ionic strength, I = 3.0 mol L(-1), and at several initial concentrations of acetate, bromate, bromide, and perchloric acid. The reaction was followed at the Br2/Br3- isosbestic point (lambda = 446 nm) by the stopped-flow technique. A very complex behavior was found such that the results could be fitted only by a six term rate law, nu = k1[BrO3-][Br-][H+]2 + k2[BrO3-][Br-]2[H+]2 + k3[BrO3-][H+]2[acetate]2 + k4[BrO3-][Br-]2[H+]2[acetate] + k5[BrO3-][Br-][H+]3[acetate]2 + k6[BrO3-][Br-][H+]2[acetate], where k1 = 4.12 L3 mol(-3) s(-1), k2 = 0.810 L4 mol(-4) s(-1), k3 = 2.80 x 10(3) L4 mol(-4) s(-1), k4 = 278 L5 mol(-5) s(-1), k5 = 5.45 x 10(7) L6 mol(-6) s(-1), and k6 = 850 L4 mol(-4) s(-1). A mechanism, based on elementary steps, is proposed to explain each term of the rate law. This mechanism considers that when acetate binds to bromate it facilitates its second protonation.     

Coexistence of two bifurcation regimes in a closed ferroin-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

The ferroin-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction was studied in a batch reactor under anaerobic conditions and was found to evolve through two separated regimes of complex oscillations. Significantly, the two bifurcation regimes exhibited qualitatively different dependence on compositions of the reaction mixture, i.e., initial concentrations of bromate, sulfuric acid, malonic acid, and ferroin. The reaction temperature also showed opposite effects on the two bifurcation regimes, in which complexities of the first bifurcation regime were enhanced while oscillations in the second bifurcation regime became simpler as a result of decreasing temperature. Numerical simulations with a 12-variable model developed specifically for the ferroin-BZ system were able to reproduce transient complex oscillations observed in experiments. These calculations further illustrated that reactions such as ferroin and HOBr, ferroin and HBrO2, and ferriin and Br- were not essential in describing complex dynamics of the ferroin-BZ reaction.