Formation of a Criegee intermediate in the low-temperature oxidation of dimethyl sulfoxide

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is the major sulfur-containing constituent of the Marine Boundary Layer. It is a significant source of H2SO4 aerosol/particles and methane sulfonic acid via atmospheric oxidation processes, where the mechanism is not established. In this study, several new, low-temperature pathways are revealed in the oxidation of DMSO using CBS-QB3 and G3MP2 multilevel and B3LYP hybrid density functional quantum chemical methods. Unlike analogous hydrocarbon peroxy radicals the chemically activated DMSO peroxy radical, [CH3S(=O)CH2OO*]*, predominantly undergoes simple dissociation to a methylsulfinyl radical CH3S*(=O) and a Criegee intermediate, CH2OO, with the barrier to dissociation 11.3 kcal mol(-1) below the energy of the CH3S(=O)CH2* + O2 reactants. The well depth for addition of O2 to the CH3S(=O)CH2 precursor radical is 29.6 kcal mol(-1) at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. We believe that this reaction may serve an important role in atmospheric photochemical and irradiated biological (oxygen-rich) media where formation of initial radicals is facilitated even at lower temperatures. The Criegee intermediate (carbonyl oxide, peroxymethylene) and sulfinyl radical can further decompose, resulting in additional chain branching. A second reaction channel important for oxidation processes includes formation (via intramolecular H atom transfer) and further decomposition of hydroperoxide methylsulfoxide radical, *CH2S(=O)CH2OOH over a low barrier of activation. The initial H-transfer reaction is similar and common in analogous hydrocarbon radical + O2 reactions; but the subsequent very low (3-6 kcal mol(-1)) barrier (14 kcal mol(-1) below the initial reagents) to beta-scission products is not common in HC systems. The low energy reaction of the hydroperoxide radical is a beta-scission elimination of *CH2S(=O)CH2OOH into the CH2=S=O + CH2O + *OH product set. This beta-scission barrier is low, because of the delocalization of the *CH2 radical center through the -S(=O) group, to the -CH2OOH fragment in the transition state structure. The hydroperoxide methylsulfoxide radical can also decompose via a second reaction channel of intramolecular OH migration, yielding formaldehyde and a sulfur-centered hydroxymethylsulfinyl radical HOCH2S*(=O). The barrier of activation relative to initial reagents is 4.2 kcal mol(-1). Heats of formation for DMSO, DMSO carbon-centered radical and Criegee intermediate are evaluated at 298 K as -35.97 +/- 0.05, 13.0 +/- 0.2 and 25.3 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) respectively using isodesmic reaction analysis. The [CH3S*(=O) + CH2OO] product set is shown to form a van der Waals complex that results in O-atom transfer reaction and the formation of new products CH3SO2* radical and CH2O. Proper orientation of the Criegee intermediate and methylsulfinyl radical, as a pre-stabilized pre-reaction complex, assist the process. The DMSO radical reaction is also compared to that of acetonyl radical.     

Reactions of Criegee Intermediates are Enhanced by Hydrogen-Atom Relay Through Molecular Design

We report a type of highly efficient double hydrogen atom transfer (DHAT) reaction. The reactivities of 3-aminopropanol and 2-aminoethanol towards Criegee intermediates (syn- and anti-CH₃CHOO) were found to be much higher than those of n-propanol and propylamine. Quantum chemistry calculation has confirmed that the main mechanism of these very rapid reactions is DHAT, in which the nucleophilic attack of the NH₂ group is catalyzed by the OH group which acts as a bridge of HAT. Typical gas-phase DHAT reactions are termolecular reactions involving two hydrogen bonding molecules; these reactions are typically slow due to the substantial entropy reduction of bringing three molecules together. Putting the reactive and catalytic groups in one molecule circumvents the problem of entropy reduction and allows us to observe the DHAT reactions even at low reactant concentrations. This idea can be applied to improve theoretical predictions for atmospherically relevant DHAT reactions.     

Temperature-Dependence of the Rates of Reaction of Trifluoroacetic Acid with Criegee Intermediates

The rate coefficients for gas-phase reaction of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with two Criegee intermediates, formaldehyde oxide and acetone oxide, decrease with increasing temperature in the range 240–340 K. The rate coefficients k(CH₂OO + CF₃COOH)=(3.4±0.3)×10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and k((CH₃)₂COO + CF₃COOH)=(6.1±0.2)×10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ at 294 K exceed estimates for collision-limited values, suggesting rate enhancement by capture mechanisms because of the large permanent dipole moments of the two reactants. The observed temperature dependence is attributed to competitive stabilization of a pre-reactive complex. Fits to a model incorporating this complex formation give k [cm³ s⁻¹]=(3.8±2.6)×10⁻¹⁸ T² exp((1620±180)/T) + 2.5×10⁻¹⁰ and k [cm³ s⁻¹]=(4.9±4.1)×10⁻¹⁸ T² exp((1620±230)/T) + 5.2×10⁻¹⁰ for the CH₂OO + CF₃COOH and (CH₃)₂COO + CF₃COOH reactions, respectively. The consequences are explored for removal of TFA from the atmosphere by reaction with biogenic Criegee intermediates.     

Criegee中间体RCHOO(R=H,CH_3)与NCO的反应机理

采用CCSD(T)/aug-cc-p VTZ//B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p)方法对Criegee中间体RCHOO(R=H,CH_3)与NCO反应的机理进行了研究,利用经典过渡态理论(TST)并结合Eckart校正模型计算了标题反应在298~500 K范围内优势通道的速率常数.结果表明,上述反应包含亲核加成、氧化和抽氢3类机理,其中每类又包括NCO中N和O分别进攻的两种形式.亲核加成反应中O端进攻为优势通道,氧化和抽氢反应则是N端进攻为优势通道;甲基取代使CH_3CHOO反应活性高于CH2OO;anti-CH_3CHOO的加成及氧化反应活性高于syn-CH_3CHOO,而抽氢反应则是syn-CH_3CHOO的活性高于anti-CH_3CHOO.anti-构象对总速率常数的贡献大于syn-构象,且总速率常数具有显著的负温度效应.     

Criegee中间体CH_3CHOO与OH自由基反应机理的理论研究

采用CCSD(T)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)方法研究了Criegee中间体CH_3CHOO与OH自由基反应的微观机理.结果表明,上述反应存在抽氢、加成-分解和氧化3类反应通道,其中,syn-CH3CHOO+OH以抽β-H为优势通道,表观活化能为-4.88 k J/mol;anti-CH_3CHOO+OH则以加成-分解反应为优势通道,表观活化能为-13.25 k J/mol.在加成-分解和氧化反应通道中,anti-构象的能垒均低于syn-构象,而抽氢反应则是syn-(β-H)的能垒低于anti-构象.速率常数计算表明,anti-构象的加成-分解反应通道具有显著的负温度效应;syn-和anti-构象的氧化通道具有显著的正温度效应.3类反应具有显著不同的温度效应,说明通过改变温度可显著调节3类反应的相对速率.     

Criegee中间体CH3CHOO与H2O反应机理及酸催化效应

采用CCSD（T）//B3LYP/6-311+G（d,p）方法研究了H₂O及甲酸等6种有机酸对CH₃CHOO与H₂O加成反应的催化作用。结果表明,非催化反应存在双质子迁移和加成反应2条通道,其中加成反应为优势通道。其加成机理为H₂O中OH加到CH₃CHOO的α-C上,同时H₂O中另一个H迁移到CH₃CHOO的端O上。催化剂H₂O及有机酸以氢键复合物的形式参与反应促进了H质子转移,可降低基元反应能垒和表观活化能,且催化效应与有机酸的强度成正比。例如,当分别用H₂O（pK_a=15.7）、甲酸（pK_a=3.75）和草酸（pK_a=1.23）催化时,生成syn-HAHP的基元反应能垒由非催化的69.12 kJ·mol^-1分别降至40.78、18.88和10.61 kJ·mol^-1。非催化反应具有正的表观活化能,而所有催化反应则均具有负的表观活化能。     

Spectroscopy of the Simplest Criegee Intermediate CH2OO: Simulation of the First Bands in Its Electronic and Photoelectron Spectra

CH₂OO, the simplest Criegee intermediate, and ozone are isoelectronic. They both play very important roles in atmospheric chemistry. Whilst extensive experimental studies have been made on ozone, there were no direct gas‐phase studies on CH₂OO until very recently when its photoionization spectrum was recorded and kinetics studies were made of some reactions of CH₂OO with a number of molecules of atmospheric importance, using photoionization mass spectrometry to monitor CH₂OO. In order to encourage more direct studies on CH₂OO and other Criegee intermediates, the electronic and photoelectron spectra of CH₂OO have been simulated using high level electronic structure calculations and Franck–Condon factor calculations, and the results are presented here. Adiabatic and vertical excitation energies of CH₂OO were calculated with TDDFT, EOM‐CCSD, and CASSCF methods. Also, DFT, QCISD and CASSCF calculations were performed on neutral and low‐lying ionic states, with single energy calculations being carried out at higher levels to obtain more reliable ionization energies. The results show that the most intense band in the electronic spectrum of CH₂OO corresponds to the ${{\rm{\tilde B}}}$ ¹A′ ← ${{\rm{\tilde X}}}$ ¹A′ absorption. It is a broad band in the region 250–450 nm showing extensive structure in vibrational modes involving O–O stretching and C‐O‐O bending. Evidence is presented to show that the electronic absorption spectrum of CH₂OO has probably been recorded in earlier work, albeit at low resolution. We suggest that CH₂OO was prepared in this earlier work from the reaction of CH₂I with O₂ and that the assignment of the observed spectrum solely to CH₂IOO is incorrect. The low ionization energy region of the photoelectron spectrum of CH₂OO consists of two overlapping vibrationally structured bands corresponding to one‐electron ionizations from the highest two occupied molecular orbitals of the neutral molecule. In each case, the adiabatic component is the most intense and the adiabatic ionization energies of these bands are expected to be very close, at 9.971 and 9.974 eV at the highest level of theory used.     

Photodynamics of Methyl-Vinyl Criegee Intermediate: Different Conical Intersections Govern the Fates of Syn/Anti Configurations

Methyl vinyl ketone oxide, an unsaturated four-carbon Criegee intermediate produced from the ozonolysis of isoprene has been recognized to play a key role in determining the tropospheric OH concentration. It exists in four configurations (\begin{document}$ anti $\end{document}-\begin{document}$ anti $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ anti $\end{document}-\begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}-\begin{document}$ anti $\end{document}, and \begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}-\begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}) due to two different substituents of saturated methyl and unsaturated vinyl groups. In this study, we have carried out the electronic structure calculation at the multi-configurational CASSCF and multi-state MS-CASPT2 levels, as well as the trajectory surface-hopping nonadiabatic dynamics simulation at the CASSCF level to reveal the different fates of \begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}/\begin{document}$ anti $\end{document} configurations in photochemical process. Our results show that the dominant channel for the S\begin{document}$ _1 $\end{document}-state decay is a ring closure, isomerization to dioxirane, during which, the \begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}(C\begin{document}$ - $\end{document}O) configuration with an intramolecular hydrogen bond shows slower nonadiabatic photoisomerization. More importantly, it has been found for the first time in photochemistry of Criegee intermediate that the cooperation of two heavy groups (methyl and vinyl) leads to an evident pyramidalization of C3 atom in methyl-vinyl Criegee intermediate, which then results in two structurally-independent minimal-energy crossing points (CIs) towards the \begin{document}$ syn $\end{document}(C\begin{document}$ - $\end{document}O) and \begin{document}$ anti $\end{document}(C\begin{document}$ - $\end{document}O) sides, respectively. The preference of surface hopping for a certain CI is responsible for the different dynamics of each configuration.     

Synthesis of a functionalized furan via ozonolysis—further confirmation of the Criegee mechanism

A new method for the synthesis of a tetrahydrofuran ring is described which involves ozonolysis of a diene possessing a free hydroxy group in the γ-position. The reaction proceeds via ozone attack on the terminal double bond, cleavage, and intramolecular cyclization through the free hydroxy group. The cyclization event can be rationalized through formation of Criegee’s carbonyl oxide, but not through the ‘unified’ mechanism, thereby lending support to the Criegee mechanism as a method of producing oxygen-containing heterocycles.     

Rate Coefficients of C1 and C2 Criegee Intermediate Reactions with Formic and Acetic Acid Near the Collision Limit: Direct Kinetics Measurements and Atmospheric Implications

Rate coefficients are directly determined for the reactions of the Criegee intermediates (CI) CH₂OO and CH₃CHOO with the two simplest carboxylic acids, formic acid (HCOOH) and acetic acid (CH₃COOH), employing two complementary techniques: multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry and cavity‐enhanced broadband ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. The measured rate coefficients are in excess of 1×10^?10 cm³ s^?1, several orders of magnitude larger than those suggested from many previous alkene ozonolysis experiments and assumed in atmospheric modeling studies. These results suggest that the reaction with carboxylic acids is a substantially more important loss process for CIs than is presently assumed. Implementing these rate coefficients in global atmospheric models shows that reactions between CI and organic acids make a substantial contribution to removal of these acids in terrestrial equatorial areas and in other regions where high CI concentrations occur such as high northern latitudes, and implies that sources of acids in these areas are larger than previously recognized.     

The gas-phase ozonolysis reaction of methylbutenol: A mechanistic study

The gas-phase ozonolysis reaction of methylbutenol through the Criegee mechanism is investigated. The initial reaction leads to a primary ozonide (POZ) formation with barriers in the range of 10–28 kJ mol⁻¹. The formation of 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propanal (HMP) and formaldehyde-oxide is more favorable, by 10 kJ mol⁻¹, than the syn-CI and formaldehyde. The unimolecular dissociation of the more stable syn-CI via 1,5-H transfer into an epoxide is more favored than the epoxide and ³O₂ formation. The ester channel led to the formation of the acetone and formic acid favorably from the anti-CI. The hydration of the anti-CI with H₂O and (H₂O)₂ is significantly barrierless with a higher plausibility to the latter, and thus they may lead to the formation of peroxides and ultimately OH radicals, as well as airborne particulate matter. Reaction of anti-CI with water dimers enhances its atmospheric reactivity by a factor of 28 in reference to water monomers.     

Ro-vibrational Spectra of the Simplest Deuterated Criegee Intermediate CD2OO

Criegee intermediates are of significance in the atmospheric chemistry. In this work, the ro-vibrational spectra of the simplest deuterated Criegee intermediate, CD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}OO, were studied by a vibrational self-consistent field/virtual configuration interaction (VSCF/VCI) method based on a nine-dimensional accurate potential energy surface and dipole surface for its ground electronic state. The calculated fundamental vibrational frequencies and rotational constants are in excellent agreement with the available experimental results. These data are useful for further spectroscopic studies of CD\begin{document}$ _2 $\end{document}OO. Especially, the rotational constants for excited vibrational levels are essential for experimental spectral assignments. However, the infrared intensities from different resources, including the current computation, the experiment, and previous calculations at the NEVPT2 and B3LYP levels, deviate significantly.     

Mechanism of the reaction of radicals with peroxides and dimethyl sulfoxide in aqueous solution

The reactions of methyl and methylperoxyl radicals derived from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with hydrogen peroxide, peroxymonocarbonate (HCO4 (-)), and persulfate were studied. The major reaction observed for the hydroperoxides was the abstraction of the hydrogen atom by the radicals. The radicals interact with a lone pair of electrons on the peroxide to produce methanol and formaldehyde. Furthermore, the results indicate that in RO2H and RO2R', electron-withdrawing groups cause a considerable increase in the reactivity of the peroxides towards the radicals and not only towards nucleophiles. The HO2 (.)/O2 (.-) and CO3 (.-) radicals react with DMSO to produce methyl radicals. Thus, the formation of the (.)CH3 radicals in the presence of DMSO is not proof of the formation of the (.)OH radicals in the system. These reactions must be considered when radical processes, such as in biological and catalytic systems, are studied. Especially, the plausible role of HCO4 (-) ions in biological systems as a source of oxidative stress cannot be overlooked.     

The Origin of the Reactivity of the Criegee Intermediate: Implications for Atmospheric Particle Growth

The electronic structure of the simplest Criegee intermediate, H₂COO, is practically that of a closed shell. On the biradical scale (β), where 0 corresponds to the pure closed shell and 1 to a pure biradical, its β value is only 0.10, suggesting that its ground electronic state is best described as a H₂C=O^δ+?O^δ? zwitterion. However, this picture of a nearly inert closed shell contradicts its rich reactivity in the atmosphere. It is shown that the mixing of its ground state with the first triplet excited state, which is a pure biradical state of the type H₂C^.?O?O^., is responsible for the formation of strongly bound products during reactions inducing atmospheric particle growth.     

Criegee中间体气相反应热力学的G2理论计算

Criegee中间体已被认为是大气中一些重要污染物的来源，是引发大量次级反应的关键物质，与光化学氧化剂、有机过氧化物的产生，以及与酸雨、大气光化学烟雾和森林衰退等许多环境问题有关[1-4]．但由于Criegee中间体寿命短，对其可能参与的一些大气化学反应进行实验研究有一定难     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Reactions Involving Criegee Intermediates: An Assessment of Density Functional Theory and Ab Initio Methods Through Comparison with CCSDT(Q)/CBS Data

Reactions involving Criegee intermediates (CIs, R₁R₂COO) are important in atmospheric ozonolysis models. In recent years, density functional theory (DFT) and CCSD(T)-based ab initio methods are increasingly being used for modeling reaction profiles involving CIs. We obtain highly accurate CCSDT(Q)/CBS reaction energies and barrier heights for ring-closing reactions involving atmospherically important CIs (R₁/R₂ = H, Me, OH, OMe, F, CN, cyclopropene, ethylene, acetaldehyde, and acrolein). We use this benchmark data to evaluate the performance of DFT, double-hybrid DFT (DHDFT), and ab initio methods for the kinetics and thermodynamics of these reactions. We find that reaction energies are more challenging for approximate theoretical procedures than barrier heights. Overall, taking both reaction energies and barrier heights into account, only one of the 58 considered DFT methods (the meta-GGA MN12-L) attains near chemical accuracy, with root-mean-square deviations (RMSDs) of 3.5 (barrier heights) and 4.7 (reaction energies) kJ mol⁻¹. Therefore, MN12-L is recommended for investigations where CCSD(T)-based methods are not computationally feasible. For reaction barrier heights performance does not strictly follow Jacob's Ladder, for example, DHDFT methods do not perform better than conventional DFT methods. Of the ab initio methods, the cost-effective CCSD(T)/CBS(MP2) approach gives the best performance for both reaction energies and barrier heights, with RMSDs of 1.7 and 1.4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. All the considered Gaussian-n methods show good performance with RMSDs below the threshold of chemical accuracy for both reaction energies and barrier heights, where G4(MP2) shows the best overall performance with RMSDs of 2.9 and 1.5 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.