A systematic computational study on the reactions of HO2 with RO2: The HO2 + CH3O2(CD3O2) and HO2 + CH2FO2 reactions

A systematic theoretical study of the reactions of HO2 with RO2 has been carried out. The major concern of the present work is to gain insight into the reaction mechanism and then to explain experimental observations and to predict new product channels for this class of reactions of importance in the atmosphere. In this paper, the reaction mechanisms for two reactions, namely, HO2 + CH3O2 and HO2 + CH2FO2, are reported. Both singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces are investigated. The complexity of the present system makes it impossible to use a single ab initio method to map out all the reaction paths. Various ab initio methods including MP2, CISD, QCISD(T), CCSD(T), CASSCF, and density function theory (B3LYP) have been employed with the basis sets ranging from 6-31G(d) to an extrapolated complete basis set (CBS) limit. It has been established that the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) scheme represents the most feasible method for our systematic study. For the HO2 + CH3O2 reaction, the production of CH3OOH is determined to be the dominant channel. For the HO2 + CH2FO2 reaction, both CH2FOOH and CHFO are major products, whereas the formation of CHFO is dominant in the overall reaction. The computational findings give a fair explanation for the experimental observation of the products.     

A systematic computational study of the reactions of HO2 with RO2: the HO2 + C2H5O2 reaction

The reaction of HO2 with C2H5O2 has been studied using the density functional theory (B3LYP) and the coupled-cluster theory [CCSD(T)]. The reaction proceeds on the triplet potential energy surface via hydrogen abstraction to form ethyl hydroperoxide and oxygen. On the singlet potential energy surface, the addition-elimination mechanism is revealed. Variational transition state theory is used to calculate the temperature-dependent rate constants in the range 200-1000 K. At low temperatures (e.g., below 300 K), the reaction takes place predominantly on the triplet surface. The calculated low-temperature rate constants are in good agreement with the experimental data. As the temperature increases, the singlet reaction mechanism plays more and more important role, with the formation of OH radical predominantly. The isotope effect of the reaction (DO2 + C2D5O2 vs HO2 + C2H5O2) is negligible. In addition, the triplet abstraction energetic routes for the reactions of HO2 with 11 alkylperoxy radicals (CnHmO2) are studied. It is shown that the room-temperature rate constants have good linear correlation with the activation energies for the hydrogen abstraction.     

Water-catalyzed gas-phase hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH3O2 and HO2 with HO2: a computational investigation

The gas-phase hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH(3)O(2) and HO(2) with HO(2) in the presence and absence of a single water molecule have been studied at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3d,2p)//B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) level of theory. The calculated results show that the process for O(3) formation is much faster than that for (1)O(2) and (3)O(2) formation in the water-catalyzed CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction. This is different from the results for the non-catalytic reaction of CH(3)O(2) + HO(2), in which almost only the process for (3)O(2) formation takes place. Unlike CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction in which the preferred process is different in the catalytic and non-catalytic conditions, the channel for (3)O(2) formation is the dominant in both catalytic and non-catalytic HO(2) + HO(2) reactions. Furthermore, the calculated total CVT/SCT rate constants for water-catalyzed and non-catalytic title reactions show that the water molecule doesn't contribute to the rate of CH(3)O(2) + HO(2) reaction though the channel for O(3) formation in this water-catalyzed reaction is more kinetically favorable than its non-catalytic process. Meanwhile, the water molecule plays an important positive role in increasing the rate of HO(2) + HO(2) reaction. These results are in good agreement with available experiments.     

Kinetics of the CH2Cl + CH3 and CHCl2 + CH3 radical-radical reactions

The CH2Cl + CH3 (1) and CHCl2 + CH3 (2) cross-radical reactions were studied by laser photolysis/photoionization mass spectroscopy. Overall rate constants were obtained in direct real-time experiments in the temperature region 301-800 K and bath gas (helium) density (6-12) x 10(16) atom cm(-3). The observed rate constant of reaction 1 can be represented by an Arrhenius expression k1 = 3.93 x 10(-11) exp(91 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%) or as an average temperature-independent value of k1= (4.8 +/- 0.7) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The rate constant of reaction 2 can be expressed as k2= 1.66 x 10(-11) exp(359 K/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (+/-25%). C2H4 and C2H3Cl were detected as the primary products of reactions 1 and 2, respectively. The experimental values of the rate constant are in reasonable agreement with the prediction based on the "geometric mean rule." A separate experimental attempt to determine the rate constants of the high-temperature CH2Cl + O2 (10) and CHCl2 + O2 (11) reaction resulted in an upper limit of 1.2 x 10(-16) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for k10 and k11 at 800 K.     

Kinetics of the reactions of O(3P) with CCl2=CH2, (Z)-CHCl=CHCl, and CCl2=CCl2: a temperature dependence study

Absolute rate coefficients for the gas-phase reactions of ground-state oxygen atoms with CCl(2)=CH(2) (1), (Z)-CHCl=CHCl (2) and CCl(2)=CCl(2) (3) have been measured directly using the fast flow discharge technique. The experiments were carried out under pseudo-first-order conditions with [O((3)P)](0) < [chloroethene](0). The temperature dependences of the reactions of O((3)P) with CCl(2)=CH(2), (Z)-CHCl=CHCl and CCl(2)=CCl(2) were studied in the range 298-359 K. The kinetic data obtained were used to derive the following Arrhenius expressions (in units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): k(1) = (1.82 +/- 1.29) x 10(-11) exp[-(12.63 +/- 0.97) x 10(3)/RT], k(2) = (1.56 +/- 0.92) x 10(-11) exp[-(16.68 +/- 1.54) x 10(3)/RT], k(3) = (4.63 +/- 1.38) x 10(-11) exp[-(19.59 +/- 3.21) x 10(3)/RT]. This is the first temperature dependence study of the reactions of O((3)P) atoms with (Z)-CHCl=CHCl and CCl(2)=CCl(2). All the rate coefficients display a positive temperature dependence and pressure independence, which points to the importance of the irreversibility of the addition mechanism for these reactions. The obtained rate coefficients are compared with previous studies carried out mainly at room temperature. The rates of addition of O atoms and OH radicals to the double bond of alkenes at 298 K are related by the expression: log k(OH) = 0.57278 log k(O(3P)) - 4.095. A correlation is presented between the reactivity of chloroethenes toward O atoms and the second-order perturbational term of the frontier molecular orbital theory which carries the contribution of the different atomic orbitals to the HOMO of the chloroethene. To a first approximation, this correlation allows room-temperature rate coefficients to be predicted within +/-25-30% of the measured values.     

Flowtube reactor study of the association reactions of CHCl2 and CCl3 with O2 at low pressure

The new flowtube reactor employing dissociative electron attachment to produce radicals and high-pressure photoionization in the mass spectrometric detection of radicals is described. The system has been applied to a study of the association reactions of CHCl₂ and CCl₃ with O₂ in a great excess of helium at total densities below 10¹⁷ cm^?3 over the temperature range 286 to 332 K. Both reactions display a strong negative temperature coefficient. The results can be parameterized in the form k₀(CHCl₂ + O₂) = (4.3 ± 0.2) × 10^?31(T/300)^?6.7±0.7 cm⁶ s^?1, k₀(CCl₃ + O₂) = (2.7 ± 0.2) × 10^?31(T/300)^?8.7±1.0 cm⁶ s^?1. © 1994 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     

Oxidative pyrolysis of CH2Cl2, CHCl3, and CCl4-I: Incineration implications

The oxidative pyrolysis of methylene chloride, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride has been investigated using a micro-bore, fused silica, tubular flow reactor operating under laminar flow conditions coupled to in-line GC-MS detection. Data were obtained over the temperature range 573–1273 K for the following conditions: chlorocarbon/oxygen equivalence ratios of 3.0, chlorocarbon concentrations of 2.7 ± 0.1 × 10^?5 mols/L, gas-phase residence times of 2.0 s, and reactor pressures of 1.15 ± 0.05 atm. The parent stability (defined by the temperature required for 99% destruction) was evaluated as: Chemically activated recombination of chlorinated C₁ radicals are proposed as important pathways to chlorinated ethane and olefin products. The most significant finding from analysis of product distributions containing ≥2 carbon atoms was the observation of ca. 1 mol% yields of higher-molecular-weight perchlorinated aromatic species from the decomposition of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Implications with respect to the controlled high-temperature incineration of these chlorinated methanes are briefly discussed.     

Deactivation of I(2P1/2) by CH3Cl,CH2Cl2, CHCl3, CCl3F,and CCl4

Collisional deactivation of I(²P_1/2) by the title compounds was investigated through the use of the time-resolved atomic absorption of excited iodine atoms at 206.2 nm. Rate constants for atomic spin-orbit relaxation by CH₃Cl, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, CCl₃F, and CCl₄ are 3.1±0.3×10⁻¹³, 1.28±0.08×10⁻¹³, 5.7±0.3×10⁻¹⁴, 3.9±0.4×10⁻¹⁵, and 2.3±0.3×10⁻¹⁵cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, at room temperature (298 K). The higher efficiency observed for relaxation by CH₃Cl, CH₂Cl₂, and CHCl₃ reveals a contribution in the deactivation process of the first overtone corresponding to the C(SINGLEBOND)H stretching of the deactivating molecule (which lies close to 7603 cm⁻¹) as well as the number of the contributing modes and certain molecular properties such as the dipole moment. It is believed that, for these molecules, a quasi-resonant (E-v,r,t) energy transfer mechanism operates. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 799–803, 1998     

Direct kinetics study of the temperature dependence of the CH2O branching channel for the CH3O2 + HO2 reaction

A direct kinetics study of the temperature dependence of the CH₂O branching channel for the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction has been performed using the turbulent flow technique with high‐pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the detection of reactants and products. The temperature dependence of the CH₂O‐producing channel rate constant was investigated between 298 and 218 K at a pressure of 100 Torr, and the data were fitted to the following Arrhenius expression: 1.6 × 10^?15 × exp[(1730 ± 130)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Using the Arrhenius expression for the overall rate of the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction and this result, the 298 K branching ratio for the CH₂O producing channel is measured to be 0.11, and the branching ratio is calculated to increase to a value of 0.31 at 218 K, the lowest temperature accessed in this study. The results are compared to the analogous CH₃O₂ + CH₃O₂ reaction and the potential atmospheric ramifications of significant CH₂O production from the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 363–376, 2001     

UV absorption spectra of HO2, CH3O2, C2H5O2, and CH3C(O)CH2O2 radicals and mechanism of the reactions of F and Cl atoms with CH3C(O)CH3

Pulse radiolysis techniques were used to measure the gas phase UV absorption spectra of the title peroxy radicals over the range 215–340 nm. By scaling to σ(CH₃O₂)_{240 nm} = (4.24 ± 0.27) × 10^?18, the following absorption cross sections were determined: σ(HO₂)_{240 nm} = 1.29 ± 0.16, σ(C₂H₅O₂)_{240 nm} = 4.71 ± 0.45, σ(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂)_{240 nm} = 2.03 ± 0.22, σ(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂)_{230 nm} = 2.94 ± 0.29, and σ(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂)_{310 nm} = 1.31 ± 0.15 (base e, units of 10^?18 cm² molecule^?1). To support the UV measurements, FTIR‐smog chamber techniques were employed to investigate the reaction of F and Cl atoms with acetone. The F atom reaction proceeds via two channels: the major channel (92% ± 3%) gives CH₃C(O)CH₂ radicals and HF, while the minor channel (8% ± 1%) gives CH₃ radicals and CH₃C(O)F. The majority (>97%) of the Cl atom reaction proceeds via H atom abstraction to give CH₃C(O)CH₂ radicals. The results are discussed with respect to the literature data concerning the UV absorption spectra of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂ and other peroxy radicals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 283–291, 2002     

Classical dynamics of the O + ClO → Cl + O2 and Cl + O3 → ClO + O2 reactions

An explicit function has been derived for the potential-energy surface of the ground state of ClO₃ with the six interatomic distances as variables. This surface is valid over all configurations of the atoms. The surface has been used to calculate classical trajectories for the reactions R₁: O(³P₂)+ClO(²Π_3/2)→ O₂(³∑)+Cl(²)P_3/2 and R₂: Cl(²P_3/2)+O₃(¹A₁)→ClO(²Π_3/2)+O₂(³∑). An appreciable fraction (～1/3) of the reactive trajectories for R₁ go through a long-lived complex ClOO(²A″). The cross section decreases with increasing rotational state of the ClO; and 37% of the energy release is vibrational. The calculated rate constant at 298°K is 2.6 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec. For reaction R₂ there is no evidence of long-lived complexes. The product ClO is predominantly found in the backward-scattering direction. Most of the internal energy is carries off by ClO but O₂ carried off most translational energy. An Arrhenius expression has been deduced from calculations at 220 and 300°K to give an A factor of 2.488 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec and an activation energy of 1.543 kJ/mol.     

The decomposition of dimethyl peroxide and the rate constant for CH3O + O2 → CH2O + HO2

The decomposition of dimethyl peroxide (DMP) was studied in the presence and absence of added NO₂ to determine rate constants k₁ and k₂ in the temperature range of 391–432°K: The results reconcile the studies by Takezaki and Takeuchi, Hanst and Calvert, and Batt and McCulloch, giving log k₁(sec^?1) = (15.7 ± 0.5) - (37.1 ± 0.9)/2.3 RT and k₂ ≈ 5 × 10⁴M^?1· sec^?1. The disproportionation/recombination ratio k_7b/k_7a = 0.30 ± 0.05 was also determined: When O₂ was added to DMP mixtures containing NO₂, relative rate constants k₁₂/k_7a were obtained over the temperature range of 396–442°K: A review of literature data produced k_7a = 10^9.8±0.5M^?1·sec^?1, giving log k₁₂(M^?1·sec^?1) = (8.5 ± 1.5) - (4.0 ± 2.8)/2.3 RT, where most of the uncertainty is due to the limited temperature range of the experiments.     

Kinetics and mechanism for the CH2O + NO2 reaction: A computational study

The reactants, products, and transition states of the CH₂O + NO₂ reaction on the ground electronic potential energy surface have been searched at both B3LYP/6?311+G(d,p) and MPW1PW91/6?311+G(3df,2p) levels of theory. The forward and reverse barriers are further improved by a modified Gaussian‐2 method. The theoretical rate constants for the two most favorable reaction channels 1 and 2 producing CHO + cis‐HONO and CHO + HNO₂, respectively, have been calculated over the temperature range from 200 to 3000 K using the conventional and variational transition‐state theory with quantum‐mechanical tunneling corrections. The former product channel was found to be dominant below 1500 K, above which the latter becomes competitive. The predicted total rate constants for these two product channels can be presented by k_t (T) = 8.35 × 10^?11 T^6.68 exp(?4182/T) cm³/(mol s). The predicted values, which include the significant effect of small curvature tunneling corrections, are in quantitative agreement with the available experimental data throughout the temperature range studied (390–1650 K). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 184–190, 2003     

Multichannel RRKM-TST and CVT rate constant calculations for reactions of CH2OH or CH3O with HO2

The kinetics and mechanism of the gas-phase reactions between hydroxy methyl radical (CH(2)OH) or methoxy radical (CH(3)O) with hydroproxy radical (HO(2)) have been theoretically investigated on their lowest singlet and triplet surfaces. Our investigations indicate the presence of one deep potential well on the singlet surface of each of these systems that play crucial roles on their kinetics. We have shown that the major products of CH(2)OH + HO(2) system are HCOOH, H(2)O, H(2)O(2), and CH(2)O and for CH(3)O + HO(2) system are CH(3)OH and O(2). Multichannel RRKM-TST calculations have been carried out to calculate the individual rate constants for those channels proceed through the formation of activated adducts on the singlet surfaces. The rate constants for direct hydrogen abstraction reactions on the singlet and triplet surfaces were calculated by means of direct-dynamics canonical variational transition-state theory with small curvature approximation for the tunneling.     

Absolute rate constants for the self reactions of HO2, CF3CFHO2, and CF3O2 radicals and the cross reactions of HO2 with FO2, HO2 with CF3CFHO2, and HO2 with CF3O2 at 295 K

The kinetics of the self-reactions of HO₂, CF₃CFHO₂, and CF₃O₂ radicals and the cross reactions of HO₂ with FO₂, HO₂ with CF₃CFHO₂, and HO₂ with CF₃O₂ radicals, were studied by pulse radiolysis combined with time resolved UV absorption spectroscopy at 295 K. The rate constants for these reactions were obtained by computer simulation of absorption transients monitored at 220, 230, and 240 nm. The following rate constants were obtained at 295 K and 1000 mbar total pressure of SF₆ (unit: 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k(HO₂+HO₂)=3.5±1.0, k(CF₃CFHO₂+CF₃CFHO₂)=3.5±0.8, k(CF₃O₂+CF₃O₂)=2.25±0.30, k(HO₂+FO₂)=9±4, k(CF₃CFHO₂+HO₂)=5.0±1.5, and k(CF₃O₂+HO₂)=4.0±2.0. In addition, the decomposition rate of CF₃CFHO radicals was estimated to be (0.2–2)×10³ s⁻¹ in 1000 mbar of SF₆. Results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of hydrofluorocarbons. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics of the CH3O2 + HO2 reaction: A temperature and pressure dependence study using chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A temperature and pressure kinetic study for the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction has been performed using the turbulent flow technique with a chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection system. An Arrhenius expression was obtained for the overall rate coefficient of CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction: k(T) = (3.82^+2.79_?1.61) × 10^?13 exp[(?781 ± 127)/T] cm^?3 molecule^?1 s^?1. A direct quantification of the branching ratios for the O₃ and OH product channels, at pressures between 75 and 200 Torr and temperatures between 298 and 205 K, was also investigated. The atmospheric implications of considering the upper limit rate coefficients for the O₃ and OH branching channels are observed with a significant reduction of the concentration of CH₃OOH, which leads to a lower amount of methyl peroxy radical. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 571–579, 2007     

Kinetics of fluorine atom reactions using resonance absorption spectrometry in the far vacuum ultraviolet reactions F + HCl,CH4, CHCl3 CHCl2F,and CHClF2

Atomic resonance absorption spectrometry with a nonreversed fluorine resonance lamp (～95 nm) has been used to study the kinetics of elementary reactions of ground state F²P_J atoms in a discharge-flow system. The following rate constants (in cm³/molec·sec)

1 All rate constants are given with 1.5 σ.

were determined at 298° K: The reaction F ₂P_J + HCl(1) was found to give J-excited Cl ₂P_1/2 atoms with a product branching ratio [Cl ₂P_1/2]/[Cl ₂P_3/2] = 0.10.     

Kinetics of the reactions of CCl3 with O and O2 and of CCl3O2 with NO at 295 K

The reactions of CCl₃ with O(³P) and O₂ and those of CCl₃O₂ with NO have been studied at 295 K using discharge flow methods with helium as the bath gas. The rate coefficient for the reaction of CCl₃ with O was found to be (4.2 ± 0.6) × 10^?11 cm³/s and that for CCl₃O₂ with NO was (18.6 ± 2.8) × 10^?12 cm³/s with both coefficients independent of [He]. For reaction between CCl₃ and O₂ the rate coefficient was found to increase from 1.51 7times; 10^?14 cm³/s to 7.88 × 10^?14 cm³/s as the [He] increased from 3.5 × 10¹⁶ cm^?3 to 2.7 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3. There was no evidence for a direct two-body reaction, and it is concluded that the only product of this reaction is CCl₃O₂. Examination of these results for CCl₃ + O₂ in terms of current simplified falloff treatment suggests that the high-pressure limit for this reaction is ～ 2.5 × 10^?12 cm³/s, which may be compared with a direct measurement of the high-pressure limit of 5 × 10^?12 cm³/s. A value of (5.8 ± 0.6) × 10^?31 cm⁶/s has been obtained for k₀, the coefficient in the low-pressure region. This value is compared with corresponding values found earlier for the (CH₃, O₂) and (CF₃, O₂) systems and with estimates based on unimolecular rate theory.