Anilinolysis of reactive aryl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl carbonates: Kinetics and mechanism

The reactions of a series of anilines with phenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl ( 1 ), 4‐nitrophenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl ( 2 ), and bis(2,4‐dinitrophenyl) ( 3 ) carbonates are subjected to a kinetic investigation in 44 wt% ethanol–water, at 25.0 ± 0.1°C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M. Under amine excess pseudo‐first‐order rate coefficients (k_obs) are obtained. Plots of k_obs against free amine concentration at constant pH are linear, with slopes k_N. The Brønsted plots (log k_N vs. anilinium pK_a) for the anilinolysis of 1 – 3 are linear, with slope (β) values of 0.52, 0.61, and 0.63, respectively. The values of these slopes and other considerations suggest that these reactions are ruled by a concerted mechanism. For these reactions, the k_N values follow the reactivity sequence: 3 > 2 > 1 . Namely, the reactivity increases as the number of nitro groups attached to the nonleaving group increases. Comparison of the reactions of this work with the stepwise pyridinolysis of carbonates 1 – 3 indicates that the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T^±) formed in the pyridinolysis reactions is destabilized by the change of its pyridino moiety by an isobasic anilino group. This is attributed to the superior leaving ability from the T^± intermediate of anilines, relative to isobasic pyridines, which destabilize kinetically this intermediate. The k_N values for the anilinolysis of carbonates 1 – 3 are similar to those found in the reactions of these carbonates with secondary alicyclic amines. With the kinetic data for the anilinolysis of the title substrates and 4‐methylphenyl and 4‐chlorophenyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl carbonates, a multiparametric equation is derived for log k_N as a function of the pK_a of the conjugate acids of anilines and nonleaving groups. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 191–197, 2011     

Phenolysis and aminolysis of 4‐nitrophenyl and 2,4‐dinitrophenyl S‐methyl thiocarbonates in aqueous ethanol

The reactions of S‐methyl O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) thiocarbonate ( 1 ) and S‐methyl O‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl) thiocarbonate ( 2 ) with a series of secondary alicyclic (SA) amines and phenols are subjected to a kinetic investigation. Under nucleophile excess, pseudo‐first‐order rate coefficients (k_obs) are obtained. Plots of k_obs against the free nucleophile concentration at constant pH are linear with slopes k_N. The Brønsted plots (log k_N vs. nucleophile pK_a) for the reactions are linear with slope (β) values in the 0.5–0.7 range, in accordance with concerted mechanisms. Comparison of the SA aminolysis of 1 with the same one carried out in water shows that the change of solvent from water to aqueous ethanol destabilizes the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, changing the mechanism from stepwise to concerted. This destabilization is greater than that due to the change from SA amines to quinuclidines. For the phenolysis reactions, the k_N values in aqueous ethanol are smaller than those for the same reactions in water. Considering that the nucleophile is an anion, this result is unexpected because the anion should be more stabilized in the more polar solvent. This result is explained by the facts that the phenoxide reactant has a negative charge that is delocalized in the aromatic ring and the transition state is highly polar. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 353–358, 2011     

Kinetics and mechanism of tertiary amine‐catalyzed cleavage of N′‐morpholino‐N‐(2′‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamide: Kinetic evidence for the presence of a reactive intermediate on the reaction path

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for tertiary amine (DABCO and Me₃N) buffer‐catalyzed cyclization of N′‐morpholino‐N‐(2′‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamide ( 1 ) to N‐(2′‐methoxyphenyl)phthalimide ( 2 ) reveal saturation (nonlinear) plots of k_obs versus [Buf]_T (total tertiary amine buffer concentration) at a constant pH. Such plots at different pH have been attributed to the presence of a reactive intermediate (T^?) formed by tertiary amine buffer‐catalyzed intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the secondary amide nitrogen to the carbonyl carbon of the tertiary amide group of 1 . © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 263–272, 2010     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of Cl atom with selected C2–C5 unsaturated hydrocarbons at 283 < T < 323 K

The reaction of Cl atoms with a series of C₂–C₅ unsaturated hydrocarbons has been investigated at atmospheric pressure of 760 Torr over the temperature range 283–323 K in air and N₂ diluents. The decay of the hydrocarbons was followed using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID), and the kinetic constants were determined using a relative rate technique with n‐hexane as a reference compound. The Cl atoms were generated by UV photolysis (λ ≥ 300 nm) of Cl₂ molecules. The following absolute rate constants (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, with errors representing ±2σ) for the reaction at 295 ± 2 K have been derived from the relative rate constants combined to the value 34.5 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the Cl + n‐hexane reaction: ethene (9.3 ± 0.6), propyne (22.1 ± 0.3), propene (27.6 ± 0.6), 1‐butene (35.2 ± 0.7), and 1‐pentene (48.3 ± 0.8). The temperature dependence of the reactions can be expressed as simple Arrhenius expressions (in units of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k_ethene = (0.39 ± 0.22) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(226 ± 42)/T}, k_propyne = (4.1 ± 2.5) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(118 ± 45)/T}, k_propene = (1.6 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(203 ± 79)/T}, k_1‐butene = (1.1 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(245 ± 90)/T}, and k_1‐pentene = (4.0 ± 2.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp{(423 ± 68)/T}. The applicability of our results to tropospheric chemistry is discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 478–484, 2000     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of O-ethyl S-phenyl dithiocarbonate in aqueous ethanol

The reactions of secondary alicyclic amines with the title substrate (PDTC) are subjected to a kinetic study in 44 wt.% aqueous ethanol, 25.0°C, ionic strength 0.2 M (KCl). Pseudo-first-order rate coefficients (k_obs) are found under amine excess. Linear plots of [N]/k_obs against 1/[N], where N is the free amine, are obtained for the reactions with piperidine, piperazine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, and morpholine. The reaction with 1-formylpiperazine exhibits a linear plot of k_obs against [N]². These results are interpreted through a mechanism consisting of two tetrahedral intermediates: a zwitterionic ( T ^±) and an anionic ( T ^?), where the amine catalyzed proton transfer from T ^± to T ^? is partially rate determining for the four former reactions and is fully rate determining for the reaction of 1-formylpiperazine. The rate microcoefficients involved in the reaction scheme are either determined experimentally or estimated. Comparison with the corresponding microcoefficients reported for the same reactions in water reveals that the rate coefficient for formation of T ^± from reactants (k₁) is smaller and that for the reversal of this (k_?1) is larger in aqueous ethanol compared to water, in agreement with the expected structure of the corresponding transition state. Bronsted-type plots are obtained for k₁, k_?1, and K₁ (=k₁/k_?1) with slopes ca. 0.4, ?0.6, and 1.0, respectively. Comparison of the present stepwise reactions with the concerted ones found in the same aminolysis of O-ethyl 2,4,6,-(trinitrophenyl) dithiocarbonate indicates that T ^± is so destabilized by the change of PhS by the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenethio group that T ^± no longer exists and becomes a transition state. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A study of the self reaction of CH2ClO2 and CHCl2O2 radicals at 298 K

A low‐pressure discharge‐flow system equipped with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of NO₂ and resonance‐fluorescence detection of OH has been employed to study the self reactions CH₂ClO₂ + CH₂ClO₂ → products (1) and CHCl₂O₂ + CHCl₂O₂ → products (2), at T = 298 K and P = 1–3 Torr. Possible secondary reactions involving alkoxy radicals are identified. We report the phenomenological rate constants (k_obs) k_1obs = (4.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_2obs = (8.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the rate constants derived from modelling the decay profiles for both peroxy radical systems, which takes into account the proposed secondary chemistry involving alkoxy radicals k₁ = (3.3 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₂ = (7.0 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ A possible mechanism for these self reactions is proposed and QRRK calculations are performed for reactions (1), (2) and the self‐reaction of CH₃O₂, CH₃O₂ + CH₃O₂ → products (3). These calculations, although only semiquantitative, go some way to explaining why both k₁ and k₂ are a factor of ten larger than k₃ and why, as suggested by the products of reaction (1) and (2), it seems that the favored reaction pathway is different from that followed by reaction (3). The atmospheric fate of the chlorinated peroxy species, and hence the impact of their precursors (CH₃Cl and CH₂Cl₂), in the troposphere are briefly discussed. HC(O)Cl is identified as a potentially important reservoir species produced from the photooxidation of these precursors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 433–444, 1999     

Effects of CH3OH‐H2O and CH3OH solvents on rate of reaction of phthalimide with piperidine

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for the cleavage of phthalimide in the presence of piperidine (Pip) vary linearly with the total concentration of Pip ([Pip]_T) at a constant content of methanol in mixed aqueous solvents containing 2% v/v acetonitrile. Such linear variation of k_obs against [Pip]_T exists within the methanol content range 10%–∼80% v/v. The change in k_obs with the change in [Pip]_T at 98% v/v CH₃OH in mixed methanol‐acetonitrile solvent shows the relationship: k_obs = k[Pip]_T + k[Pip], where respective k and k represent apparent second‐order and third‐order rate constants for nucleophilic and general base‐catalyzed piperidinolysis of phthalimide. The values of k_obs, obtained within [Pip]_T range 0.02–0.40 M at 0.03 M NaOH and 20 as well as 50% v/v CH₃OH reveal the relationship: k_obs = k₀/(1 + {k_n[Pip]/k_OX[⁻OX]_T}), where k₀ is the pseudo‐first‐order rate constant for hydrolysis of phthalimide, k_n and k_OX represent nucleophilic second‐order rate constants for the reaction of Pip with phthalimide and for the XO⁻‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐piperidinylphthalamide to phthalimide, respectively, and [⁻OX]_T = [NaOH] + [⁻OX_re], where [⁻OX_re] = [⁻OH_re] + [CH₃O_re⁻]. The reversible reactions of Pip with H₂O and CH₃OH produce ⁻OH_re and CH₃O_re⁻ ions. The effects of mixed methanol‐water solvents on the rates of piperidinolysis of PTH reveal a nonlinear decrease in k with the increase in the content of methanol. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 29–40, 2001     

Aminolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl X-substituted benzoates and Y-substituted phenyl benzoates in MeCN: effect of the reaction medium on rate and mechanism

Second‐order rate constants (k_N) have been determined spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl X‐substituted benzoates ( 1 a – f ) and Y‐substituted phenyl benzoates ( 2 a – h ) with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in MeCN at 25.0±0.1 °C. The k_N values are only slightly larger in MeCN than in H₂O, although the amines studied are approximately 8 pK_a units more basic in the aprotic solvent than in H₂O. The Yukawa–Tsuno plot for the aminolysis of 1 a – f is linear, indicating that the electronic nature of the substituent X in the nonleaving group does not affect the rate‐determining step (RDS) or reaction mechanism. The Hammett correlation with σ^? constants also exhibits good linearity with a large slope (ρ_Y=3.54) for the reactions of 2 a – h with piperidine, implying that the leaving‐group departure occurs at the rate‐determining step. Aminolysis of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl benzoate ( 1 c ) results in a linear Brønsted‐type plot with a β_nuc value of 0.40, suggesting that bond formation between the attacking amine and the carbonyl carbon atom of 1 c is little advanced in the transition state (TS). A concerted mechanism is proposed for the aminolysis of 1 a – f in MeCN. The medium change from H₂O to MeCN appears to force the reaction to proceed concertedly by decreasing the stability of the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T^±) in aprotic solvent.     

Thermolysis of 3‐alkyl‐3‐methyl‐1,2‐dioxetanes: activation parameters and chemiexcitation yields

3‐Methyl‐3‐(3‐pentyl)‐1,2‐dioxetane 1 and 3‐methyl‐3‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐1‐propyl)‐1,2‐dioxetane 2 were synthesized in low yield by the α‐bromohydroperoxide method. The activation parameters were determined by the chemiluminescence method (for 1 ΔH‡ = 25.0 ± 0.3 kcal/mol, ΔS‡ = −1.0 entropy unit (e.u.), ΔG‡ = 25.3 kcal/mol, k₁ (60°C) = 4.6 × 10⁻⁴s⁻¹; for 2 ΔH‡ = 24.2 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, ΔS‡ = −2.0 e.u., ΔG‡ = 24.9 kcal/mol, k₁ (60°C) = 9.2 × 10⁻⁴s⁻¹. Thermolysis of 1–2 produced excited carbonyl fragments (direct production of high yields of triplets relative to excited singlets) (chemiexcitation yields for 1: ϕ^T = 0.02, ϕ^S ≤ 0.0005; for 2: ϕ^T = 0.02, ϕ^S ≤ 0.0004). The results are discussed in relation to a diradical‐like mechanism. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 12:176–179, 2001     

Kinetic study on acid‐base catalyzed hydrolysis of azimsulfuron,a sulfonylurea herbicide

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for hydrolysis of a sulfonylurea herbicide, azimsulfuron, AZIM®, {N‐[[(4,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐pyrimidinyl)amino]carbony]‐1‐methyl‐4‐(2‐methyl‐2H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐5‐sulfonamide} (AZS) follow an empirical relationship: k_obs =α₁ + α₂[⁻OH] + α₃[⁻OH]² within the [NaOH] range of 0.1–2.0 M at different temperatures ranging from 40 to 55°C. The contribution of α₃[⁻OH]² term is small compared with α₂[⁻OH] term and this turns out to be zero at 60°C. Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for hydrolysis of AZS within the [H⁺] range from 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.4 M follow the relationship: k_obs = (α₁K _a + B₁[H⁺] + B₂[H⁺]²)/([H⁺] + K_a) where pK_a = 4.37 at 50°C. The value of B₁ is nearly 25 times larger than that of α₁. The rate of alkaline hydrolysis of AZIM is weakly sensitive to ionic strength. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Int J Chem Kinet 31: 253–260, 1999     

Kinetics and Mechanism Study of the Substitution Reactions of the Chloride Ligand in Dichloro(5,10,15,20)‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphinato)tin(IV) by Organic Bases in Dimethylformamide Solvent

Substitution reactions of a Cl⁻ ligand in [SnCl₂(tpp)] (tpp=5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphinato(2−)) by five organic bases i.e., butylamine (BuNH₂), sec‐butylamine (^sBuNH₂), tert‐butylamine (^tBuNH₂), dibutylamine (Bu₂NH), and tributylamine (Bu₃N), as entering nucleophile in dimethylformamide at I=0.1M (NaNO₃) and 30–55° were studied. The second‐order rate constants for the substitution of a Cl⁻ ligand were found to be (36.86±1.14)⋅10⁻³, (32.91±0.79)⋅10⁻³, (22.21±0.58)⋅10⁻³, (19.09±0.66)⋅10⁻³, and (1.36±0.08)⋅10⁻³ M ⁻¹s⁻¹ at 40° for BuNH₂, ^tBuNH₂, ^sBuNH₂, Bu₂NH, and Bu₃N, respectively. In a temperature‐dependence study, the activation parameters ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ for the reaction of [SnCl₂(tpp)] with the organic bases were determined as 38.61±4.79 kJ mol⁻¹ and −150.40±15.46 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for BuNH₂, 40.95±4.79 kJ mol⁻¹ and −143.75±15.46 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for ^tBuNH₂, 30.88±2.43 kJ mol⁻¹ and −179.00±7.82 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for ^sBuNH₂, 26.56±2.97 kJ mol⁻¹ and −194.05±9.39 J K⁻¹mol⁻¹ for Bu₂NH, and 39.37±2.25 kJ mol⁻¹ and −174.68±7.07 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Bu₃N. From the linear rate dependence on the concentration of the bases, the span of k₂ values, and the large negative values of the activation entropy, an associative (A) mechanism is deduced for the ligand substitution.     

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     

Kinetics of C6H5 radical reactions with 2‐methylpropane, 2,3‐dimethylbutane and 2,3,4‐trimethylpentane

The absolute bimolecular rate constants for the reactions of C₆H₅ with 2‐methylpropane, 2,3‐dimethylbutane and 2,3,4‐trimethylpentane have been measured by cavity ringdown spectrometry at temperatures between 290 and 500 K. For 2‐methylpropane, additional measurements were performed with the pulsed laser photolysis/mass spectrometry, extending the temperature range to 972 K. The reactions were found to be dominated by the abstraction of a tertiary C H bond from the molecular reactant, resulting in the production of a tertiary alkyl radical: C₆H₅ + CH(CH₃)₃ → C₆H₆ + t‐C₄H₉ (1) (1) C₆H₅ + (CH₃)₂CHCH(CH₃)₂ → C₆H₆ + t‐C₆H₁₃ (2) (2) C₆H₅ + (CH₃)₂CHCH(CH₃)CH(CH₃)₂ → C₆H₆ + t‐C₈H₁₇ (3) (3) with the following rate constants given in units of cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹: k₁ = 10^{(11.45 ± 0.18)} e^{−(1512 ± 44)/T} k₂ = 10^{(11.72 ± 0.15)} e^{−(1007 ± 124)/T} k₃ = 10^{(11.83 ± 0.13)} e^{−(428 ± 108)/T} © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 645–653, 1999     

Temperature‐dependent rate coefficient measurements for the reaction of bromine atoms with a series of aldehydes

Relative rate coefficient data have been obtained for the reactions Br + RCHO → RCO + HBr for a series of aldehydes: HCHO, reaction (1); CH₃CHO, reaction (2); CH₃CH₂CHO, reaction (3); CH₃CH₂CH₂CHO, reaction (4). Measurements were made over the temperature range 240–300 K in an environmental chamber/FTIR spectrometer system, using standard relative rate techniques. All measured rate coefficient ratios were found to be independent of temperature over the range studied (k₂/k₁ = 3.60 ± 0.29, k₃/k₁ = 6.65 ± 0.53, k₄/k₁ = 8.62 ± 0.69, and k₃/k₂ = 1.80 ± 0.14), implying that the activation barriers for all four reactions are essentially identical with the A‐factors increasing with the size of the aldehyde. Relative rate coefficients for k₁ and k₂ agree well with currently recommended data at room temperature, but inconsistencies on the order of 20% arise at lower temperatures. The entire set of relative rate coefficient measurements is put on an absolute scale using a combination of currently recommended values for k₁ and k₂. The following expressions (all in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) are obtained: k₁ = (0.79 ± 0.10) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−580 ± 200/T), k₂ = (2.7 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−567 ± 200/T), k₃ = (5.75 ± 0.75) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−610 ± 200/T), k₄ = (5.75 ± 0.75) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−540 ± 200/T), where uncertainties quoted for the A‐factor reflect the uncertainty in the room temperature value. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 460–465, 2000     

Kinetics of phenyl radical reactions with ethane and neopentane: Reactivity of C6H5 toward the primary C‐H bond of alkanes

The kinetics of C₆H₅ reactions with C₂H₆ (1) and neo‐C₅H₁₂ (2) have been studied by the pulsed laser photolysis/mass spectrometric method using C₆H₅COCH₃ as the phenyl precursor at temperatures between 565 and 1000 K. The rate constants were determined by kinetic modeling of the absolute yields of C₆H₆ at each temperature. Another major product, C₆H₅CH₃, formed by the recombination of C₆H₅ and CH₃, could also be quantitatively modeled using the known rate constant for the reaction. A weighted least‐squares analysis of the two sets of data gave k₁ = 10^11.32±0.05 exp[−(2236 ± 91)/T] cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₂ = 10^11.37±0.03 exp[−(1925 ± 48)/T] cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the temperature range studied. The result of our sensitivity analysis clearly supports that the yields of C₆H₆ and C₆H₅CH₃ depend primarily on the abstraction reactions and C₆H₅ + CH₃, respectively. From the absolute rate constants for the two reactions we obtained the value for the H‐abstraction from a primary C‐H bond, k‐CH = 10^10.40±0.06 exp(−1790 ± 102/T) cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. This result is utilized for analysis of other kinetic data measured for C₆H₅ reactions with alkanes in solution as well as in the gas phase. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 64–69, 2001     

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     

The α‐effect in micelles: Nucleophilic substitution reaction of p‐nitrophenyl acetate with N‐phenylbenzohydroxamate ion

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants have been determined for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of p‐nitrophenyl acetate with p‐chlorophenoxide (4‐ClC₆H₄O^?) and N‐phenylbenzohydroxamate (C₆H₅CON(C₆H₅)O^?) ions in phosphate buffer (pH 7.7) at 27°C. The effect of cationic, (CTAB, TTAB, DTAB), anionic (SDS), and nonionic (Brij‐35) surfactants has been studied. The k_obs value increases upon addition of CTAB and TTAB. The effect of DTAB and other surfactants on the reaction is not very significant. The micellar catalysis and α‐effect shown by hydroxamate ion have been explained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 26–31, 2006     

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     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of thiophenyl methylacetates in acetonitrile

The aminolysis of Z‐thiophenyl methylacetates (C₂H₅C(O)SC₆H₄Z) with X‐benzylamines in acetonitrile has been investigated at 45°C. The reaction is found to proceed by a stepwise mechanism in which the rate‐determining step is the breakdown of the zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, T^±, with possibly a hydrogen‐bonded four‐center‐type transition state. These mechanistic conclusions are drawn based on (i) the large magnitude of β_X (= 1.2 ∼ 2.5) and β_z (= −0.9 ∼ −1.5), (ii) the normal kinetic isotope effects (k_H/k_D ≅ 1.2) involving deuterated benzylamines (XC₆H₄CH₂ND₂), (iii) a large positive ρ_xz (= 2.4) and (iv) adherence to the reactivity‐selectivity principle in all cases. The extremely large β_X (β_nuc) values can be accounted for by the loss of a strong localized cationic charge on the N atom of benzylamines in the expulsion from the T^±. The pK_a^o (≥ 10.0) is high due to a large ratio of the expulsion rates of the amine (k_−a) to thiophenolate (k_b) (k_−a/k_b) from the T^±. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 485–490, 2000     

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with Di‐n‐Propyl ether and Di‐n‐Butyl ether and their deuterated analogs

Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals and Cl atoms with di‐n‐propyl ether, di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, di‐n‐butyl ether and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈ have been measured at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants obtained (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units) were: OH radical reactions, di‐n‐propyl ether, (2.18 ± 0.17) × 10⁻¹¹; di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, (1.13 ± 0.06) × 10⁻¹¹; di‐n‐butyl ether, (3.30 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹¹; and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈, (1.49 ± 0.12) × 10⁻¹¹; Cl atom reactions, di‐n‐propyl ether, (3.83 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹⁰; di‐n‐propyl ether‐d₁₄, (2.84 ± 0.31) × 10⁻¹⁰; di‐n‐butyl ether, (5.15 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹⁰; and di‐n‐butyl ether‐d₁₈, (4.03 ± 0.06) × 10⁻¹⁰. The rate constants for the di‐n‐propyl ether and di‐n‐butyl ether reactions are in agreement with literature data, and the deuterium isotope effects are consistent with H‐atom abstraction being the rate‐determining steps for both the OH radical and Cl atom reactions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 425–431, 1999