Mechanism of the OH-initiated oxidation of hydroxyacetone over the temperature range 236-298 K

The mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with hydroxyacetone (CH3C(O)CH2OH) was studied at 200 Torr over the temperature range 236-298 K in a turbulent flow reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass-spectrometer. The product yields and kinetics were measured in the presence of O2 to simulate the atmospheric conditions. The major stable product at all temperatures is methylglyoxal. However, its yield decreases from 82% at 298 K to 49% at 236 K. Conversely, the yields of formic and acetic acids increase from about 8% to about 20%. Other observed products were formaldehyde, CO2 and peroxy radicals HO2 and CH3C(O)O2. A partial re-formation of OH radicals (by approximately 10% at 298 K) was found in the OH + hydroxyacetone + O2 chemical system along with a noticeable inverse secondary kinetic isotope effect (k(OH)/k(OD) = 0.78 +/- 0.10 at 298 K). The observed product yields are explained by the increasing role of the complex formed between the primary radical CH3C(O)CHOH and O2 at low temperature. The rate constant of the reaction CH3C(O)CHOH + O2 --> CH3C(O)CHO + HO2 at 298 K, (3.0 +/- 0.6) x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), was estimated by computer simulation of the concentration-time profiles of the CH3C(O)CHO product. The detailed mechanism of the OH-initiated oxidation of hydroxyacetone can help to better describe the atmospheric oxidation of isoprene, in particular, in the upper troposphere.     

Direct measurements of the high temperature rate constants of the reactions NCN + O, NCN + NCN, and NCN + M

The rate constant of the reaction NCN + O has been directly measured for the first time. According to the revised Fenimore mechanism, which is initiated by the NCN forming reaction CH + N(2)→ NCN + H, this reaction plays a key role for prompt NO(x) formation in flames. NCN radicals and O atoms have been quantitatively generated by the pyrolysis of NCN(3) and N(2)O, respectively. NCN concentration-time profiles have been monitored behind shock waves using narrow-bandwidth laser absorption at a wavelength of λ = 329.1302 nm. Whereas no pressure dependence was discernible at pressures between 709 mbar < p < 1861 mbar, a barely significant temperature dependence corresponding to an activation energy of 5.8 ± 6.0 kJ mol(-1) was found. Overall, at temperatures of 1826 K < T < 2783 K, the rate constant can be expressed as k(NCN + O) = 9.6 × 10(13)× exp(-5.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) (±40%). As a requirement for accurate high temperature rate constant measurements, a consistent NCN background mechanism has been derived from pyrolysis experiments of pure NCN(3)/Ar gas mixtures, beforehand. Presumably, the bimolecular secondary reaction NCN + NCN yields CN radicals hence triggering a chain reaction cycle that efficiently removes NCN. A temperature independent value of k(NCN + NCN) = (3.7 ± 1.5) × 10(12) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) has been determined from measurements at pressures ranging from 143 mbar to 1884 mbar and temperatures ranging from 966 K to 1900 K. At higher temperatures, the unimolecular decomposition of NCN, NCN + M → C + N(2) + M, prevails. Measurements at temperatures of 2012 K < T < 3248 K and at total pressures of 703 mbar < p < 2204 mbar reveal a unimolecular decomposition close to its low pressure limit. The corresponding rate constants can be expressed as k(NCN + M) = 8.9 × 10(14)× exp(-260 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)(±20%).     

Preparation and characterization of manganese(IV) in aqueous acetic acid

Mn(IV) acetate was generated in acetic acid solutions and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and chemical reactivity. All of the data are consistent with a mononuclear manganese(IV) species. Oxidation of several substrates was studied in glacial acetic acid (HOAc) and in 95:5 HOAc-H(2)O. The reaction with excess Mn(OAc)(2) produces Mn(OAc)(3) quantitatively with mixed second-order kinetics, k (25.0 °C) = 110 ± 4 M(-1) s(-1) in glacial acetic acid, and 149 ± 3 M(-1) s(-1) in 95% AcOH, ΔH(?) = 55.0 ± 1.2 kJ mol(-1), ΔS(?) = -18.9 ± 4.1 J mol(-1) K(-1). Sodium bromide is oxidized to bromine with mixed second order kinetics in glacial acetic acid, k = 220 ± 3 M(-1) s(-1) at 25 °C. In 95% HOAc, saturation kinetics were observed.     

Solution behavior of iron(III) and iron(II) porphyrins in DMSO and reaction with superoxide. Effect of neighboring positive charge on thermodynamics, kinetics and nature of iron-(su)peroxo product

The solution behavior of iron(III) and iron(II) complexes of 5(4),10(4),15(4),20(4)-tetra-tert-butyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (H(2)tBuTPP) and the reaction with superoxide (KO(2)) in DMSO have been studied in detail. Applying temperature and pressure dependent NMR studies, the thermodynamics of the low-spin/high-spin equilibrium between bis- and mono-DMSO Fe(II) forms have been quantified (K(DMSO) = 0.082 ± 0.002 at 298.2 K, ΔH° = +36 ± 1 kJ mol(-1), ΔS° = +101 ± 4 J K(-1) mol(-1), ΔV° = +16 ± 2 cm(3) mol(-1)). This is a key activation step for substitution and inner-sphere electron transfer. The superoxide binding constant to the iron(II) form of the studied porphyrin complex was found to be (9 ± 0.5) × 10(3) M(-1), and does not change significantly in the presence of the externally added crown ether in DMSO (11 ± 4) × 10(3) M(-1). The rate constants for the superoxide binding (k(on) = (1.30 ± 0.01) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)) and release (k(off) = 11.6 ± 0.7 s(-1)) are not affected by the presence of the external crown ether in solution. The resulting iron(II)-superoxide adduct has been characterized (mass spectrometry, EPR, high-pressure UV/Vis spectroscopy) and upon controlled addition of a proton source it regenerates the starting iron(II) complex. Based on DFT calculations, the reaction product without neighboring positive charge has iron(II)-superoxo character in both high-spin side-on and low-spin end-on forms. The results are compared to those obtained for the analogous complex with covalently attached crown ether, and more general conclusions regarding the spin-state equilibrium of iron(II) porphyrins, their reaction with superoxide and the electronic structure of the product species are drawn.     

Kinetic study of the thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase in the presence of denaturant and stabilizer by means of bioelectrocatalysis method

The thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase (GOD) in aqueous solution has been studied by the electrochemical method to follow the bioelectrocatalytic current due to the oxidation of glucose by GOD. Exponential time-dependent decrease in bioelectrocatalytic current, that is, the decrease in the enzymatic activity of GOD, was observed at given temperatures to determine the rate constant (k) of a simple inactivation process: GOD (active) → GOD (inactive). The ln[k] vs. T(-1) plots gave straight lines with all solution conditions tested, so that the resulting Arrhenius activation parameters including ΔH(?) and ΔS(?) can be compared with each other. In the 50 mmol/L phosphate buffer at 70°C, k was determined to be (6.6 ± 1.6)× 10(-4) s(-1), and ΔH(?) and ΔS(?) were calculated to be 202 ± 13 kJ mol(-1) and 282 ± 39 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively. By addition of 3 mol/L guanidine hydrochloride, the k was increased to (4.7 ± 0.6)× 10(-3) s(-1), indicating that the denaturant accelerates the thermal inactivation. In this case, ΔH(?) was significantly reduced. By addition of 1 g/L ε-poly-L-lysine, which may adsorb onto the GOD surface to reduce the local disorder, k was decreased to (1.8 ± 0.6)× 10(-4) s(-1). In this case, ΔS(?) was reduced but ΔH(?) was not decreased much. This can be used as an important indication for selection of the enzyme stabilizer in solution.     

An experimental and computational study of the reaction of ground-state sulfur atoms with carbon disulfide

The pulsed laser photolysis/resonance fluorescence technique was used to study the reaction of S((3)P(J)) with CS(2) in an Ar bath gas. Over 290-770 K pressure-dependent kinetics were observed and low- and high-pressure limiting rate constants were derived as k(0) = (11.5-0.0133 T/K) × 10(-31) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) (error limits ± 20%) and k(∞) = (2.2 ± 0.6) × 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Equilibration observed at 690-770 K yields a CS(2)-S bond dissociation enthalpy of 131.7 ± 4.0 kJ mol(-1) at 298 K. This agrees with computed thermochemistry for a spin-forbidden C(2V) adduct, estimated at the coupled-cluster single double triple level extrapolated to the infinite basis set limit. A pressure-independent pathway, assigned to abstraction, was observed from 690 to 1040 K and can be summarized as 1.14 × 10(-10) exp(-37.0 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) with error limits of ± 40%. The results are rationalized in terms of a computed potential energy surface and transition state theory and Troe's unimolecular formalism.     

7Li NMR studies on complexation reactions of lithium ion with cryptand C211 in ionic liquids: comparison with corresponding reactions in nonaqueous solvents

(7)Li NMR spectra of DEME-TFSA [DEME=N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium; TFSA=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide], EMI-TFSA (EMI=1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium), MPP-TFSA (MPP = N-methyl-N-propylpyridinium), DEME-PFSA [PFSA=bis(pentafluoroethanesulfonyl)amide], and DEME-HFSA [HFSA=bis(heptafluoropropanesulfonyl)amide] ionic liquid (IL) solutions containing LiX (X=TFSA, PFSA, or HFSA) and C211 (4,7,13,18-tetraoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.5.5]eicosane) were measured at various temperatures. As a result, it was found that the uncomplexed Li(I) species existing as [Li(X)(2)](-) in the present ILs exchange with the complexed Li(I) ([Li·C211](+)) and that the exchange reactions proceed through the bimolecular mechanism, [Li·C211](+) + [*Li(X)(2)](-)=[*Li·C211](+) + [Li(X)(2)](-). Kinetic parameters [k(s)/(kg m(-1) s(-1)) at 25 °C, ΔH(++)/(kJ mol(-1)), ΔS(++)/(J K(-1) mol(-1))] are as follows: 5.57×10(-2), 69.8 ± 0.4, and -34.9 ± 1.0 for the DEME-TFSA system; 5.77×10(-2), 70.6 ± 0.2, and -31.9 ± 0.6 for the EMI-TFSA system, 6.13×10(-2), 69.0 ± 0.3, and -36.7 ± 0.7 for the MPP-TFSA system; 1.35 × 10(-1), 65.2 ± 0.5, and -43.1 ± 1.4 for the DEME-PFSA system; 1.14×10(-1), 64.4 ± 0.3, and -47.1 ± 0.6 for the DEME-HFSA system. To compare these kinetic data with those in conventional nonaqueous solvents, the exchange reactions of Li(I) between [Li·C211](+) and solvated Li(I) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were also examined. These Li(I) exchange reactions were found to be independent of the concentrations of the solvated Li(I) and hence proposed to proceed through the dissociative mechanism. Kinetic parameters [k(s)/s(-1) at 25 °C, ΔH(++)/(kJ mol(-1)), ΔS(++)/(J K(-1) mol(-1))] are as follows: 1.10 × 10(-2), 68.9 ± 0.2, and -51.3 ± 0.4 for the DMF system; 1.13×10(-2), 76.3 ± 0.3, and -26.3 ± 0.8 for the DMSO system. The differences in reactivities between ILs and nonaqueous solvents were proposed to be attributed to those in the chemical forms of the uncomplexed Li(I) species, i.e., the negatively charged species ([Li(X)(2)](-)) in ILs, and the positively charged ones ([Li(solvent)(n)](+)) in nonaqueous solvents.     

Direct measurements of the rate constants of the reactions NCN + NO and NCN + NO2 behind shock waves

The high-temperature rate constants of the reactions NCN + NO and NCN + NO(2) have been directly measured behind shock waves under pseudo-first-order conditions. NCN has been generated by the pyrolysis of cyanogen azide (NCN(3)) and quantitatively detected by sensitive difference amplification laser absorption spectroscopy at a wavelength of 329.1302 nm. The NCN(3) decomposition initially yields electronically excited (1)NCN radicals, which are subsequently transformed to the triplet ground state by collision-induced intersystem crossing (CIISC). CIISC efficiencies were found to increase in the order of Ar < NO(2) < NO as the collision gases. The rate constants of the NCN + NO/NO(2) reactions can be expressed as k(NCN+NO)/(cm(3) mol(-1)s(-1)) = 1.9 × 10(12) exp[-26.3 (kJ/mol)/RT] (±7%,ΔE(a) = ± 1.6 kJ/mol, 764 K < T < 1944 K) and k(NCN+NO(2))/(cm(3) mol(-1)s(-1)) = 4.7 × 10(12) exp[-38.0(kJ/mol)/RT] (±19%,ΔE(a) = ± 3.8 kJ/mol, 704 K < T < 1659 K). In striking contrast to reported low-temperature measurements, which are dominated by recombination processes, both reaction rates show a positive temperature dependence and are independent of the total density (1.7 × 10(-6) mol/cm(3) < ρ < 7.6 × 10(-6) mol/cm(3)). For both reactions, the minima of the total rate constants occur at temperatures below 700 K, showing that, at combustion-relevant temperatures, the overall reactions are dominated by direct or indirect abstraction pathways according to NCN + NO → CN + N(2)O and NCN + NO(2) → NCNO + NO.     

Unusually fast 1,6-h shifts of enolic hydrogens in peroxy radicals: formation of the first-generation C2 and C3 carbonyls in the oxidation of isoprene

In a theoretical investigation using the CBS-QB3//UB3LYP/6-31+G** method supported by higher-level computations such as CBS-QB3//UQCISD/6-31+G**, the 1,6-H shifts of the enolic hydrogen in peroxy radicals of the type Z-HO-CH═CH-CH(2)-OO(?) were found to face exceptionally low energy barriers of only about 11 kcal mol(-1)--i.e., 6-9 kcal mol(-1) lower than the barriers for similar shifts of alkane hydrogens--such that they can proceed at unequaled rates of order 10(5) to 10(6) s(-1) at ambient temperatures. The unusually low barriers for enolic 1,6-H shifts in peroxy radicals, characterized here for the first time to our knowledge, are rationalized. As cases in point, the secondary peroxy radicals Z-HO-CH═C(CH(3))-CH(OO(?))-CH(2)OH (case A) and Z-HO-CH═CH-C(CH(3))(OO(?))-CH(2)OH (case B) derived from the primary Z-δ-hydroxy-peroxy radicals in the oxidation of isoprene, are predicted to undergo 1,6-H shifts of their enolic hydrogens at TST-calculated rates in the range 270-320 K of k(T)(A) = 5.4 × 10(-4) × T(5.04) × exp(-1990/T) s(-1) and k(T)(B) = 109 × T(3.13) × exp(-3420/T) s(-1), respectively, i.e., 2.0 × 10(6) and 6.2 × 10(4) s(-1), respectively, at 298 K, far outrunning in all relevant atmospheric and laboratory conditions their reactions with NO proposed earlier as their dominant pathways (Dibble J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2199). These fast enolic-H shifts are shown to provide the explanation for the first-generation formation of methylglyoxal + glycolaldehyde, and glyoxal + hydroxyacetone in the oxidation of isoprene under high-NO conditions, recently determined by several groups. However, under moderate- and low-NO atmospheric conditions, the fast interconversion and equilibration of the various thermally labile, initial peroxy conformers/isomers from isoprene and the isomerization of the initial Z-δ-hydroxy-peroxy radicals, both recently proposed by us (Peeters et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2009, 11, 5935), are expected to substantially reduce the yields of the small carbonyls at issue.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic evaluation of the reversible N-heterocyclic carbene-isothiocyanate coupling reaction: applications in latent catalysis

Using stopped flow and other spectroscopic techniques, the thermodynamic parameters of the coupling reaction between 1,3-dimesitylimidazolylidene and phenyl isothiocyanate were determined (H(o) = -96.1 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(o) = -39.6 J mol(-1) K(-1)). On the basis of these data which indicated that the reaction was reversible (K(eq) = 5.94 × 10(14) M(-1) at 25 °C; k(f) = 252 M(-1) s(-1); k(r) = 4.24 × 10(-13) s(-1)), the adduct formed from the two aforementioned coupling partners was used as a latent catalyst to facilitate the [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization of phenyl isocyanate and the polymerization of DL-lactide.     

NMR study of ligand exchange and electron self-exchange between oxo-centered trinuclear clusters [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-O2CR)6(4-R'py)3](+/0)

The syntheses, single crystal X-ray structures, and magnetic properties of the homometallic μ?-oxo trinuclear clusters [Fe?(μ?-O)(μ-O?CCH?)?(4-Phpy)?](ClO?) (1) and [Fe?(μ?-O)(μ-O?CAd)?(4-Mepy)?](NO?) (2) are reported (Ad = adamantane). The persistence of the trinuclear structure within 1 and 2 in CD?Cl? and C?D?Cl? solutions in the temperature range 190-390 K is demonstrated by 1H NMR. An equilibrium between the mixed pyridine clusters [Fe?(μ?-O)(μ-O?CAd)?(4-Mepy)(3-x)(4-Phpy)(x)](NO?) (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) with a close to statistical distribution of these species is observed in CD?Cl? solutions. Variable-temperature NMR line-broadening made it possible to quantify the coordinated/free 4-Rpy exchanges at the iron centers of 1 and 2: k(ex)2?? = 6.5 ± 1.3 × 10?1 s?1, ΔH(?) = 89.47 ± 2 kJ mol?1, and ΔS(?) = +51.8 ± 6 J K?1 mol?1 for 1 and k(ex)2?? = 3.4 ± 0.5 × 10?1 s?1, ΔH(?) = 91.13 ± 2 kJ mol?1, and ΔS(?) = +51.9 ± 5 J K?1 mol?1 for 2. A limiting D mechanism is assigned for these ligand exchange reactions on the basis of first-order rate laws and positive and large entropies of activation. The exchange rates are 4 orders of magnitude slower than those observed for the ligand exchange on the reduced heterovalent cluster [Fe(III)?Fe(II)(μ?-O)(μ-O?CCH?)?(4-Phpy)?] (3). In 3, the intramolecular Fe(III)/Fe(II) electron exchange is too fast to be observed. At low temperatures, the 1/3 intermolecular second-order electron self-exchange reaction is faster than the 4-Phpy ligand exchange reactions on these two clusters, suggesting an outer-sphere mechanism: k?2?? = 72.4 ± 1.0 × 103 M?1 s?1, ΔH(?) = 18.18 ± 0.3 kJ mol?1, and ΔS(?) = -90.88 ± 1.0 J K?1 mol?1. The [Fe?(μ?-O)(μ-O?CCH?)?(4-Phpy)?](+/0) electron self-exchange reaction is compared with the more than 3 orders of magnitude faster [Ru?(μ?-O)(μ-O?CCH?)?(py)?](+/0) self-exchange reaction (ΔΔG(exptl)(?298) = 18.2 kJ mol?1). The theoretical estimated self-exchange rate constants for both processes compare reasonably well with the experimental values. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the precursor to the electron-transfer and the free energy of activation contribution for the solvent reorganization to reach the electron transfer step are taken to be the same for both redox couples. The larger ΔG(exptl)(?298) for the 1/3 iron self-exchange is attributed to the larger (11.1 kJ mol?1) inner-sphere reorganization energy of the 1 and 3 iron clusters in addition to a supplementary energy (6.1 kJ mol?1) which arises as a result of the fact that each encounter is not electron-transfer spin-allowed for the iron redox couple.     

Rates of water exchange on the [Fe4(OH)2(hpdta)2(H2O)4]0 molecule and its implications for geochemistry

The ammonium salt of [Fe(4)O(OH)(hpdta)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](-) is soluble and makes a monospecific solution of [Fe(4)(OH)(2)(hpdta)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](0)(aq) in acidic solutions (hpdta = 2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diamino-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate). This tetramer is a diprotic acid with pK(a)(1) estimated at 5.7 ± 0.2 and pK(a)(2) = 8.8(5) ± 0.2. In the pH region below pK(a)(1), the molecule is stable in solution and (17)O NMR line widths can be interpreted using the Swift-Connick equations to acquire rates of ligand substitution at the four isolated bound water sites. Averaging five measurements at pH < 5, where contribution from the less-reactive conjugate base are minimal, we estimate: k(ex)(298) = 8.1 (±2.6) × 10(5) s(-1), ΔH(++) = 46 (±4.6) kJ mol(-1), ΔS(++) = 22 (±18) J mol(-1) K(-1), and ΔV(++) = +1.85 (±0.2) cm(3) mol(-1) for waters bound to the fully protonated, neutral molecule. Regressing the experimental rate coefficients versus 1/[H(+)] to account for the small pH variation in rate yields a similar value of k(ex)(298) = 8.3 (±0.8) × 10(5) s(-1). These rates are ～10(4) times faster than those of the [Fe(OH(2))(6)](3+) ion (k(ex)(298) = 1.6 × 10(2) s(-1)) but are about an order of magnitude slower than other studied aminocarboxylate complexes, although these complexes have seven-coordinated Fe(III), not six as in the [Fe(4)(OH)(2)(hpdta)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](0)(aq) molecule. As pH approaches pK(a1), the rates decrease and a compensatory relation is evident between the experimental ΔH(++) and ΔS(++) values. Such variation cannot be caused by enthalpy from the deprotonation reaction and is not well understood. A correlation between bond lengths and the logarithm of k(ex)(298) is geochemically important because it could be used to estimate rate coefficients for geochemical materials for which only DFT calculations are possible. This molecule is the only neutral, oxo-bridged Fe(III) multimer for which rate data are available.     

Determination of the rate constants for the NH2(X2B1) + NH2(X2B1) and NH2(X2B1) + H Recombination reactions with collision partners CH4, C2H6, CO2, CF4, and SF6 at low pressures and 296 K. Part 2

The recombination rate constants for the reactions NH2(X2B1) + NH2(X2B1) + M → N2H4 + M and NH2(X2B1) + H + M → NH3 + M, where M was CH4, C2H6, CO2, CF4, or SF6, were measured in the same experiment over presseure ranges of 1-20 and 7-20 Torr, respectively, at 296 ± 2 K. The NH2 radical was produced by the 193 nm laser photolysis of NH3. Both NH2 and NH3 were monitored simultaneously following the photolysis laser pulse. High-resolution time-resolved absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the temporal dependence of both species: NH2 on the (1)2(21) ← (1)3(31) rotational transition of the (0,7,0)A2A1 ← (0,0,0)X2B1 electronic transition near 675 nm and NH3 in the IR on either of the inversion doublets of the qQ3(3) rotational transition of the ν1 fundamental near 2999 nm. The NH2 self-recombination clearly exhibited falloff behavior for the third-body collision partners used in this work. The pressure dependences of the NH2 self-recombination rate constants were fit using Troe’s parametrization scheme, k(inf), k(0), and F(cent), with k(inf) = 7.9 × 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), the theoretical value calculated by Klippenstein et al. (J. Phys. Chem. A113, 113, 10241). The individual Troe parameters were CH4, k(0)(CH4) = 9.4 × 10(-29) and F(cent)(CH4) = 0.61; C2H6, k(0)(C2H6) = 1.5 × 10(-28) and F(cent)(C2H6) = 0.80; CO2, k(0)(CO2) = 8.6 × 10(-29) and F(cent)(CO2) = 0.66; CF4, k(0)(CF4) = 1.1 × 10(-28) and F(cent)(CF4) = 0.55; and SF6, k(0)(SF6) = 1.9 × 10(-28) and F(cent)(SF6) = 0.52, where the units of k0 are cm6 molecule(-2) s(-1). The NH2 + H + M reaction rate constant was assumed to be in the three-body pressure regime, and the association rate constants were CH4, (6.0 ± 1.8) × 10(-30); C2H6, (1.1 ± 0.41) × 10(-29); CO2, (6.5 ± 1.8) × 10(-30); CF4, (8.3 ± 1.7) × 10(-30); and SF6, (1.4 ± 0.30) × 10(-29), with units cm6 molecule(-1) s,(-1) and the systematic and experimental errors are given at the 2σ confidence level.     

Development of a new flow reactor for kinetic studies. Application to the ozonolysis of a series of alkenes

A new flow reactor has been developed to study ozonolysis reactions at ambient pressure and room temperature (297 ± 2 K). The reaction kinetics of O(3) with 4-methyl-1-pentene (4M1P), 2-methyl-2-pentene (2M2P), 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene (tM1P), 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentene (tM2P) and α-pinene have been investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions. Absolute measurements of the rate coefficients have been carried out by recording O(3) consumption in excess of organic compound. Alkene concentrations have been determined by sampling adsorbent cartridges that were thermodesorbed and analyzed by gas-chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection. Complementary experimental data have been obtained using a 250 L Teflon smog chamber. The following ozonolysis rate coefficients can be proposed (in cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k(4M1P) = (8.23 ± 0.50) × 10(-18), k(2M2P) = (4.54 ± 0.96) × 10(-16), k(tM1P) = (1.48 ± 0.11) × 10(-17), k(tM2P) = (1.25 ± 0.10) × 10(-16), and k(α-pinene) = (1.29 ± 0.16) × 10(-16), in very good agreement with literature values. The products of tM2P ozonolysis have been investigated, and branching ratios of (21.4 ± 2.8)% and (73.9 ± 7.3)% have been determined for acetone and 2,2-dimethyl-propanal, respectively. Additionally, a new nonoxidized intermediate, 2-methyl-1-propene, has been identified and quantified. A topological SAR analysis was also performed to strengthen the consistency of the kinetic data obtained with this new flow reactor.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the chain-breaking antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid derivatives in non-aqueous media

Ascorbic acid (vit. C) is a cofactor whose reactivity toward peroxyl and other radical species has a key-role in its biological function. At physiological pH it is dissociated to the corresponding anion. Derivatives of ascorbic acid, like ascorbyl palmitate, are widely employed in food or in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. While the aqueous chemistry of ascorbate has long been investigated, in non-aqueous media it is largely unexplored. In this work oxygen-uptake kinetics, EPR and computational methods were combined to study the reaction of peroxyl radicals with two lipid-soluble derivatives: ascorbyl palmitate and 5,6-isopropylidene-l-ascorbic acid in non-aqueous solvents. In acetonitrile at 303 K the undissociated AscH(2) form of the two derivatives trapped peroxyl radicals with k(inh) of (8.4 ± 1.0) × 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), with stoichiometric factor of ca. 1 and isotope effect k(H)/k(D) = 3.0 ± 0.6, while in the presence of bases the anionic AscH(-) form had k(inh) of (5.0 ± 3.3) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). Reactivity was also enhanced in the presence of acetic acid and the mechanism is discussed. The difference in reactivity between the AscH(2)/AscH(-) forms was paralleled by a difference in O-H bond dissociation enthalpy, which was determined by EPR equilibrations as 81.0 ± 0.4 and 72.2 ± 0.4 kcal mol(-1) respectively for AscH(2) and AscH(-) in tert-butanol at 298 K. Gas-phase calculations for the neutral/anionic forms were in good agreement yielding 80.1/69.0 kcal mol(-1) using B3LYP/6-31+g(d,p) and 79.0/67.8 kcal mol(-1) at CBS-QB3 level. EPR spectra of ascorbyl palmitate in tBuOH consisted of a doublet with HSC = 0.45 G centred at g = 2.0050 for the neutral radical AscH˙ and a doublet of triplets with HSCs of 1.85 G, 0.18 G and 0.16 G centred at g = 2.0054 for Asc˙(-) radical anion.     

A mechanistic approach to the kinetics of oxidation of uranium(IV) by hexachloroplatinate(IV) in aqueous perchlorate solutions. Evidence of the formation of a binuclear intermediate complex

The kinetics of hexachloroplatinate(IV) oxidation of uranium(IV) ion in aqueous perchloric acid solutions at a constant ionic strength of 1.0 mol dm(-3) has been investigated using the stopped-flow and conventional spectrophotometric techniques. The oxidation reaction was found to proceed through two distinct stages. The initial stage was found to be relatively fast corresponding to the formation of [(H(2)O)(n)U(IV)·Cl(6)Pt(IV)](2+) binuclear intermediate complex (with the rate constant k(1) = 1.75 × 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)s(-1), k(-1) = 6.8 s(-1), and the formation constant K = 2.6 × 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1) at [H(+)] = 1.0 mol dm(-3) and 25 °C for binuclear formation). This stage was followed by a much slower stage corresponding to the transfer of two electrons from U(IV) to Pt(IV) in the rate-determining step (with the rate constant k = 5.32 × 10(-5) s(-1) at [H(+)] = 1.0 mol dm(-3) and 25 °C). The reaction stoichiometry was found to depend on the molar ratio of the reactants concentration. The experimental results indicated the decrease of the observed first-order rate constants with increasing the [H(+)] for the decomposition of the binuclear intermediate complex through the slow-second stage, whereas no change was observed with respect to the rate of formation of the binuclear complex at the initial rapid part. A tentative reaction mechanism consistent with the kinetic results is discussed.     

Dissociation kinetics of Mn2+ complexes of NOTA and DOTA

The kinetics of transmetallation of [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-) was investigated in the presence of Zn(2+) (5-50-fold excess) at variable pH (3.5-5.6) by (1)H relaxometry. The dissociation is much faster for [Mn(nota)](-) than for [Mn(dota)](2-) under both experimental and physiologically relevant conditions (t(?) = 74 h and 1037 h for [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-), respectively, at pH 7.4, c(Zn(2+)) = 10(-5) M, 25 °C). The dissociation of the complexes proceeds mainly via spontaneous ([Mn(nota)](-)k(0) = (2.6 ± 0.5) × 10(-6) s(-1); [Mn(dota)](2-)k(0) = (1.8 ± 0.6) × 10(-7) s(-1)) and proton-assisted pathways ([Mn(nota)](-)k(1) = (7.8 ± 0.1) × 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1); [Mn(dota)](2-)k(1) = (4.0 ± 0.6) × 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1), k(2) = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 10(3) M(-2) s(-1)). The observed suppression of the reaction rates with increasing Zn(2+) concentration is explained by the formation of a dinuclear Mn(2+)-L-Zn(2+) complex which is about 20-times more stable for [Mn(dota)](2-) than for [Mn(nota)](-) (K(MnLZn) = 68 and 3.6, respectively), and which dissociates very slowly (k(3)～10(-5) M(-1) s(-1)). These data provide the first experimental proof that not all Mn(2+) complexes are kinetically labile. The absence of coordinated water makes both [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-) complexes inefficient for MRI applications. Nevertheless, the higher kinetic inertness of [Mn(dota)](2-) indicates a promising direction in designing ligands for Mn(2+) complexation.     

Chlorine dioxide-facilitated oxidation of the azo dye amaranth

The oxidation reaction of amaranth (trisodium 2-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo)naphthalene-3,6-disulfonate or AM(-)) by chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) in aqueous conditions was investigated in detail. The major reaction products immediately after decolorization of AM(-) were 1,2-naphthoquinone disulfonate sodium salt and 1,4-napthalenedione. The reaction had first-order dependence on both AM(-) and ClO(2). The rate-limiting step involved the reaction between AM(-) and OH(-) ions. The role of hydroxide ion as a catalyst was established. The second-order rate constant increased with pH, from (19.8 ± 0.9) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.0, (97.1 ± 2.3) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 8.0 to (132.5 ± 2.8) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 9.0. In the pH range of 6.0-7.5, the catalytic constant for OH(-) ion was 4.0 × 10(9) M(-2) s(-1). The energy and entropy of activation values for the reaction were 50.0 kJ mol(-1) and -658.7 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively. A probable reaction mechanism was elucidated and was validated by simulations.     

Predicted thermochemistry and unimolecular kinetics of nitrous sulfide

The geometry of N(2)S was obtained at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(T + d)Z level of theory and energies with coupled-cluster single double triple (CCSD(T)) and basis sets up to aug-cc-pV(6 + d)Z. After correction for anharmonic zero-point energy, core-valence correlation, correlation up to CCSDT(Q) and relativistic effects, D(0) for the N-S bond is estimated as 71.9 kJ mol(-1), and the corresponding thermochemistry for N(2)S is Δ(f)H(0)(°)=205.4 kJ mol(-1) and Δ(f)H(298)(°)=202.6 kJ mol(-1) with an uncertainty of ±2.5 kJ mol(-1). Using CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(T + d) theory the minimum energy crossing point between singlet and triplet potential energy curves is found at r(N-N) ≈ 1.105 ? and r(N-S) ≈ 2.232 ?, with an energy 72 kJ mol(-1) above N(2) + S((3)P). Application of Troe's unimolecular formalism yields the low-pressure-limiting rate constant for dissociation of N(2)S k(0) = 7.6 × 10(-10) exp(-126 kJ mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over 700-2000 K. The estimated uncertainty is a factor of 4 arising from unknown parameters for energy transfer between N(2)S and Ar or N(2) bath gas. The thermochemistry and kinetics were included in a mechanism for CO/H(2)/H(2)S oxidation and the conclusion is that little NO is produced via subsequent chemistry of NNS.     

Reactive intermediates relevant to the carbonylation of CH(3)Mn(CO)(5). Activation parameters for key dynamic processes

Reported is a time-resolved infrared and optical kinetics investigation of the transient species CH(3)C(O)Mn(CO)(4) (I(Mn)) generated by flash photolysis of the acetyl manganese pentacarbonyl complex CH(3)C(O)Mn(CO)(5) (A(Mn)) in cyclohexane and in tetrahydrofuran. Activation parameters were determined for CO trapping of I(Mn) to regenerate A(Mn) (rate = k(CO) [CO][I(Mn)]) as well as the methyl migration pathway to form methylmanganese pentacarbonyl CH(3)Mn(CO)(5) (M(Mn)) (rate = k(M)[I(Mn)]). These values were Delta H(++)(CO) = 31 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), Delta S(++)(CO) = -64 +/- 3 J mol(-1) K(-1), Delta H(++)(M) = 35 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), and Delta S(++)(M) = -111 +/- 3 J mol(-1) K(-1). Substantially different activation parameters were found for the methyl migration kinetics of I(Mn) in THF solutions where Delta H(++)(M) = 68 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1) and Delta S(++)(M) = 10 +/- 10 J mol(-1) K(-1), consistent with the earlier conclusion (Boese, W. T.; Ford, P. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 8381-8391) that the composition of I(Mn) is different in these two media. The possible isotope effect on k(M) was also evaluated by studying the intermediates generated from flash photolysis of CD(3)C(O)Mn(CO)(5) in cyclohexane, but this was found to be nearly negligible (k(M)(h)/k(M)(d) (298 K) = 0.97 +/- 0.05, Delta H(++)(M)(d) = 37 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1), and Delta S(++)(M)(d) = -104 +/- 12 J mol(-1) K(-1)). The relevance to the migratory insertion mechanism of CH(3)Mn(CO)(5), a model for catalytic carbonylations, is discussed.