Atmospheric chemistry of acetone: Kinetic study of the CH3C(O)CH2O2+NO/NO2 reactions and decomposition of CH3C(O)CH2O2NO2

Pulse radiolysis was used to study the kinetics of the reactions of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂ radicals with NO and NO₂ at 295 K. By monitoring the rate of formation and decay of NO₂ using its absorption at 400 and 450 nm the rate constants k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO)=(8±2)×10⁻¹² and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂+NO₂)=(6.4±0.6)×10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined. Long path length Fourier transform infrared spectrometers were used to investigate the IR spectrum and thermal stability of the peroxynitrate, CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. A value of k₋₆≈3 s⁻¹ was determined for the rate of thermal decomposition of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂ in 700 torr total pressure of O₂ diluent at 295 K. When combined with lower temperature studies (250–275 K) a decomposition rate of k₋₆=1.9×10¹⁶ exp (−10830/T) s⁻¹ is determined. Density functional theory was used to calculate the IR spectrum of CH₃C(O)CH₂O₂NO₂. Finally, the rate constants for reactions of the CH₃C(O)CH₂ radical with NO and NO₂ were determined to be k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO)=(2.6±0.3)×10⁻¹¹ and k(CH₃C(O)CH₂+NO₂)=(1.6±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of the atmospheric chemistry of acetone and the long range atmospheric transport of NO_x. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 475–489, 1998     

Shock tube study of monomethylamine thermal decomposition and NH2 high temperature absorption coefficient

CH₃NH₂ thermal decomposition is shown to provide a suitable NH₂ radical source for spectroscopic and kinetic shock tube studies. Using this precursor, the absorption coefficient of the NH₂ radical at a detection wavelength of 16739.90 cm⁻¹ has been determined. In the temperature range 1600–2000K the low‐pressure absorption coefficient is described by the polynominal equation: k_NH2=3.953×10¹⁰/T ³+7.295×10⁵/T ²−1.549×10³/T [atm⁻¹ cm⁻¹] The uncertainty of the determined absorption coefficient is estimated to be ±10%. The rate of the thermal decomposition reaction CH₃NH₂+M → CH₃+NH₂+M is determined over the temperature range 1550–1900 K and at pressures near 1.6 atm. The rate coefficient was found to be: k₁=2.51×10¹⁶ exp(−28430/T) [cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹] The uncertainty of the determined rate coefficients is estimated to be ±20%. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 323–330, 1999     

Rate constants and Arrhenius parameters for the reactions of Cl atoms with the halogenated ethers: CF3CH2OCHF2, CF3CHClOCHF2, and CF3CH2OCClF2

Rate constants have been determined for the reactions of Cl atoms with the halogenated ethers CF₃CH₂OCHF₂, CF₃CHClOCHF₂, and CF₃CH₂OCClF₂ using a relative‐rate technique. Chlorine atoms were generated by continuous photolysis of Cl₂ in a mixture containing the ether and CD₄. Changes in the concentrations of these two species were measured via changes in their infrared absorption spectra observed with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Relative‐rate constants were converted to absolute values using the previously measured rate constants for the reaction, Cl + CD₄ → DCl + CD₃. Experiments were carried out at 295, 323, and 363 K, yielding the following Arrhenius expressions for the rate constants within this range of temperature:Cl + CF₃CH₂OCHF₂: k = (5.1₅ ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² exp(−1830 ± 410 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Cl + CF₃CHClOCHF₂: k = (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−2450 ± 250 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Cl + CF₃CH₂OCClF₂: k = (9.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp(−2390 ± 190 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ The results are compared with those obtained previously for the reactions of Cl atoms with other halogenated methyl ethyl ethers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 165–172, 2001     

Pressure dependence of the rate coefficients and product yields for the reaction of CH3CO radicals with O2

Relative rate coefficients for the reaction of acetyl (CH₃CO) radicals with O₂ (k₄) and Cl₂ (k₇) have been obtained at 298 K and 228 K as a function of total pressure, using FTIR/environmental chamber techniques. Measured values of k₄/k₇ were placed on an absolute basis using k₇=2.8×10⁻¹¹ exp(−47/T) cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹. At 298 K, the value of k₄ is constant ((7±2)×10⁻¹³ cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹) at pressures from 0.1 to 2 torr, then increases to a high pressure limiting value of (3.2±0.6)×10⁻¹² cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹, which is approached at pressures above 300 torr. At 228 K, the low-pressure value of k₄ increases by about 20–30%, while the high pressure value remains unchanged. Experiments designed to elucidate the products of reaction (4) as a function of pressure at 298 K indicate that the reaction occurs via a concerted mechanism in which CH₃CO radicals combine with O₂ to give an excited acetylperoxy radical (CH₃COO₂*) which is increasingly stabilized at high pressure at the expense of a low pressure decomposition channel. The yield of acetylperoxy radicals from reaction (4) decreases from >95% at pressures above 100 torr, to about 90% at 60 torr, and 50% at 6 torr. Indirect evidence for formation of OH radicals from the low pressure decomposition is presented, although the carbon-containing coproduct(s) of this channel could not be identified. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 655–663, 1997.     

Temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for the reaction of chlorine atoms with chloromethanes

Rate coefficients for the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₃Cl (k₁), CH₂Cl₂ (k₂), and CHCl₃ (k₃) have been determined over the temperature range 222–298 K using standard relative rate techniques. These data, when combined with evaluated data from previous studies, lead to the following Arrhenius expressions (all in units of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k₁ = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1200 ± 150/T); k₂ = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1100 ± 150/T); k₃ = (0.48 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−1050 ± 150/T). Values for k₁ are in substantial agreement with previous measurements. However, while the room temperature values for k₂ and k₃ agree with most previous data, the activation energies for these rate coefficients are substantially lower than previously recommended values. In addition, the mechanism of the oxidation of CH₂Cl₂ has been studied. The dominant fate of the CHCl₂O radical is decomposition via Cl‐atom elimination, even at the lowest temperatures studied in this work (218 K). However, a small fraction of the CHCl₂O radicals are shown to react with O₂ at low temperatures. Using an estimated value for the rate coefficient of the reaction of CHCl₂O with O₂ (1 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹), the decomposition rate coefficient for CHCl₂O is found to be about 4 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ at 218 K, with the barrier to its decomposition estimated at 6 kcal/mole. As part of this work, the rate coefficient for Cl atoms with HCOCl was also been determined, k₇ = 1.4 × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−885/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, in agreement with previous determinations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 515–524, 1999     

Substitution Kinetics of [Fe(PDT/PPDT)n(phen)m]2+ (n ≠ m; n,m = 1,2) with 2,2′‐Bipyridine, 1,10‐Phenanthroline,and 2,2′,6,2″‐Terpyridine

The triazines 3‐(2‐pyridyl)‐5,6‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazine (PDT), 3‐(4‐phenyl‐2‐pyridyl)‐5,6‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazine (PPDT), and 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) were coordinated to the Fe²⁺ ion to form (1) , (2) , , (3) and (4) . The complexes were synthesized and characterized by mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The rate of substitution of these complexes by 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), and 2,2′,6,2″‐terpyridine (terpy) was studied in a sodium acetate–acetic acid buffers over the range 3.6–5.6 at 25, 35, and 45°C under pseudo–first‐order conditions. The reactions are first order with respect to the concentration of the complexes. The reaction rates increase with increasing [bpy/phen/terpy] and pH, whereas ionic strength has no influence on the rate of reaction. Plots of k _obs versus [bpy/phen/terpy] and 1/[H⁺] are linear with positive slopes and significant y‐intercepts. This indicates that the reactions proceed by both dissociative as well as associative pathways for which the associative pathway predominates the substitution kinetics. Observed temperature‐depended rate constants at the three temperatures at which substitution reactions were studied together with the protonation constants of the substituting ligands (phen, bpy, terpy) were used to evaluate the specific rate constants (k ₁ and k ₂) and thermodynamic parameters (E_a , ΔH ^#, ΔS ^#, and ΔG ^#). The reactivity order of the four complexes depends on the phenyl groups present on the triazine (PDT/PPDT) molecule. The π‐electrons on phenyl rings stabilizes the charge on the metal center by inductive donation of electrons toward the metal center resulting in a decrease in reactivity of the complex, and the order is 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 . The rate of substitution is also influenced by the basicity of the incoming ligand (bpy/phen/terpy), and it decreased in the order: phen > terpy > bpy. Higher rate constants, low E_a values_, and more negative entropy of activation (−ΔS ^#) values were observed for the associative path, revealing that substitution reactions at the octahedral iron(II) complexes by bpy, phen, and terpy occur predominantly by the associative mechanism. Density functional theory calculations support the interpretations.     

Oxidation of dimethyl ether: Absolute rate constants for the self reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals,the reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals with O2, and the thermal decomposition of CH3OCH2 radicals

The rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ (reaction (1)) and the self reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals (reaction (5)) were measured using pulse radiolysis coupled with time resolved UV absorption spectroscopy. k₁ was studied at 296K over the pressure range 0.025–1 bar and in the temperature range 296–473K at 18 bar total pressure. Reaction (1) is known to proceed through the following mechanism: CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# → CH₂OCH₂O₂H^# → 2HCHO + OH (k_prod) CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# + M → CH₃OCH₂O₂ + M (k_RO2) k = k_RO2 + k_prod, where k_RO2 is the rate constant for peroxy radical production and k_prod is the rate constant for formaldehyde production. The k₁ values obtained at 296K together with the available literature values for k₁ determined at low pressures were fitted using a modified Lindemann mechanism and the following parameters were obtained: k_RO2,0 = (9.4 ± 4.2) × 10⁻³⁰ cm⁶ molecule⁻² s⁻¹, k_RO2,∞ = (1.14 ± 0.04) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_prod,0 = (6.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, where k_RO2,0 and k_RO2,∞ are the overall termolecular and bimolecular rate constants for formation of CH₃OCH₂O₂ radicals and k_prod,0 represents the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ to yield formaldehyde in the limit of low pressure. k_RO2,∞ = (1.07 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(46 ± 27)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was determined at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–473K. At 1 bar total pressure and 296K, k₅ = (4.1 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–523K, k₅ = (4.7 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. As a part of this study the decay rate of CH₃OCH₂ radicals was used to study the thermal decomposition of CH₃OCH₂ radicals in the temperature range 573–666K at 18 bar total pressure. The observed decay rates of CH₃OCH₂ radicals were consistent with the literature value of k₂ = 1.6 × 10¹³exp(−12800/T)s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of dimethyl ether as an alternative diesel fuel. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal decomposition of CH3I using I-atom absorption

The recently developed I-atom atomic resonance absorption spectrometric (ARAS) technique has been used to study the thermal decomposition kinetics of CH₃I over the temperature range, 1052–1820 K. Measured rate constants for CH₃I(+Kr)→CH₃+I(+Kr) between 1052 and 1616 K are best expressed by k(±36%)=4.36×10⁻⁹ exp(−19858 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Two unimolecular theoretical approaches were used to rationalize the data. The more extensive method, RRKM analysis, indicates that the dissociation rates are effectively second-order, i.e., the magnitude is 61–82% of the low-pressure-limit rate constants over 1052–1616 K and 102–828 torr. With the known E₀=ΔH₀⁰=55.5 kcal mole ⁻¹, the optimized RRKM fit to the ARAS data requires (ΔE)_down=590 cm⁻¹. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 535–543, 1997.     

Absolute rate constants for F + CH3CHO and CH3CO + O2, relative rate study of CH3CO + NO,and the product distribution of the F + CH3CHO reaction

Using a pulse-radiolysis transient UV–VIS absorption system, rate constants for the reactions of F atoms with CH₃CHO (1) and CH₃CO radicals with O₂ (2) and NO (3) at 295 K and 1000 mbar total pressure of SF₆ was determined to be k₁=(1.4±0.2)×10⁻¹⁰, k₂=(4.4±0.7)×10⁻¹², and k₃=(2.4±0.7)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. By monitoring the formation of CH₃C(O)O₂ radicals (λ>250nm) and NO₂ (λ=400.5nm) following radiolysis of SF₆/CH₃CHO/O₂ and SF₆/CH₃CHO/O₂/NO mixtures, respectively, it was deduced that reaction of F atoms with CH₃CHO gives (65±9)% CH₃CO and (35±9)% HC(O)CH₂ radicals. Finally, the data obtained here suggest that decomposition of HC(O)CH₂O radicals via C C bond scission occurs at a rate of <4.7×10⁵ s⁻¹. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 913–921, 1998     

Atmospheric Chemistry of CH3CH2OCH3: Kinetics and Mechanism of Reactions with Cl Atoms and OH Radicals

The atmospheric chemistry of methyl ethyl ether, CH₃CH₂OCH₃, was examined using FT‐IR/relative‐rate methods. Hydroxyl radical and chlorine atom rate coefficients of k (CH₃CH₂OCH₃+OH) = (7.53 ± 2.86) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k (CH₃CH₂OCH₃+Cl) = (2.35 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were determined (297 ± 2 K). The Cl rate coefficient determined here is 30% lower than the previous literature value. The atmospheric lifetime for CH₃CH₂OCH₃ is approximately 2 days. The chlorine atom–initiated oxidation of CH₃CH₂OCH₃ gives CH₃C(O)H (9 ± 2%), CH₃CH₂OC(O)H (29 ± 7%), CH₃OC(O)H (19 ± 7%), and CH₃C(O)OCH₃ (17 ± 7%). The IR absorption cross section for CH₃CH₂OCH₃ is (7.97 ± 0.40) × 10⁻¹⁷ cm molecule⁻¹ (1000–3100 cm⁻¹). CH₃CH₂OCH₃ has a negligible impact on the radiative forcing of climate.     

Pressure Dependence and Kinetic Isotope Effects in the Absolute Rate Constant for Methoxy Radical Reacting with NO2

We have investigated the kinetics for the reaction CH₃O? + NO₂ in N₂ bath gas. The rate constants are well‐fit by the Troe expression over the temperature (250–335 K) and pressure range (30–700 Torr) investigated. The termolecular rate constant is given by cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1, and the rate constant at the high‐pressure limit is given by cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. We also studied the kinetics of the reaction of CD₃O? + NO₂ as a function of temperature and pressure under similar conditions as those for CH₃O? + NO₂. The resulting low‐ and high‐pressure limiting rate constants are cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1 and cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The rate constants for the two isotopologues track each other closely as the high‐pressure limit is approached. The present results agree with most previous results at 295 K over a range of pressures, but there is substantial disagreement about the temperature dependence.     

Inhibition of Aquated Sulfur Dioxide Autoxidation by Aliphatic,Acyclic, Aromatic,and Heterocyclic Volatile Organic Compounds

The oxidation of dissolved sulfur dioxide, sulfur(IV), by oxygen proceeds through the involvement of sulfoxy radicals among which sulfate radical anion is the main chain carrier. When organics are present, they inhibit the oxidation of sulfur(IV) via scavenging of SO₄⁻ radicals. In contrast to previous studies, which were limited mostly to aliphatic compounds, this paper presents the results of the effect of 13 new volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including aromatic and heterocyclic on uncatalyzed sulfur(IV) autoxidation at pH 8.2 and 25°C. In all cases, the kinetics was first order in the presence and absence of VOCs and experimental rate law was Eq. (1). (1) where −d[S(IV)]/dt is the rate of sulfur(IV) disappearance, k _obs is the first‐order rate constant in the presence of inhibitor, k _o is the first‐order rate constant in the absence of inhibitor, [S(IV)] is concentration of sulfur(IV) at time, t , and B is an inhibition parameter. VOCs cause inhibition by scavenging sulfate radical anions, which propagate the autoxidation chain. An analysis of B (Eq. (1)) and k _inh (Eq. (2)) values for 21 aliphatic, aromatic, acyclic, and heterocyclic organic compounds showed that these to be related by Eq. (3) for a subgroup and Eq. (4) for b subgroup. (2) a subgroup (benzamide, 2,2‐dimethyl‐1‐propanol, 1‐hexanol, methanol, ethanol, 1‐propanol, 2‐ propanol, 1‐butanol, 2‐butanol, ethylene glycol, rebaudioside A) (3) b  subgroup (o‐toluic acid, m‐toluic acid, p‐toluic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, 1‐heptanol, glycerol, sucralose, acesuifame K, glycine, 3‐pentanol) (4)     

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     

The Role of Solvation in the Kinetics and the Mechanism of Hydroperoxide Radicals Addition to π‐Bonds of 1,2‐Diphenylethylene and 1,4‐Diphenylbutadiene‐1,3

A combination of microcalorimetry, the rotating sector method, and ESR at 323 K in the environment of 10 solvents of different polarities was used to measure rate constants of addition of hydroperoxide radicals () to π bonds of trans‐1,2‐diphenylethylene and trans,trans‐1,4‐diphenylbutadiene‐1,3 (k₂) and disproportionation rate constants of these radicals (k₃). With increasing dielectric constant of the medium, k₂ values increase from 69 to 410 M⁻¹ · s⁻¹, and k₃ values almost do not change and are in the range of (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹. A linear dependence of logarithm values of rate constants from the dielectric constant of the medium in the coordinates of the Kirkwood–Onsager equation was found that allows to make a conclusion about the effect of nonspecific solvation in the studied systems. The quantum‐chemical analysis (NWChem, DFT B3LYP/6‐311G**) of the detailed mechanism for addition shows that the influence of the medium polarity reflects the superposition of the effects of nonspecific and specific solvation. The scale of the polar effect will depend on how different solvation energies of the transition and the initial reaction complexes. If a value of the solvation energy of the transition complex is larger than the solvation energy of the initial reaction complex, then the reaction rate should increase with an increase of the solvent's polarity and decrease otherwise.     

A detailed chemical kinetic model for high temperature ethanol oxidation

A detailed chemical kinetic model for ethanol oxidation has been developed and validated against a variety of experimental data sets. Laminar flame speed data (obtained from a constant volume bomb and counterflow twin‐flame), ignition delay data behind a reflected shock wave, and ethanol oxidation product profiles from a jet‐stirred and turbulent flow reactor were used in this computational study. Good agreement was found in modeling of the data sets obtained from the five different experimental systems. The computational results show that high temperature ethanol oxidation exhibits strong sensitivity to the fall‐off kinetics of ethanol decomposition, branching ratio selection for C₂H₅OH + OH ↔ Products, and reactions involving the hydroperoxyl (HO₂) radical. The multichanneled ethanol decomposition process is analyzed by RRKM/Master Equation theory, and the results are compared with those obtained from earlier studies. The ten‐parameter Troe form is used to define the C₂H₅OH(+M) ↔ CH₃ + CH₂OH(+M) rate expression as k^∞ = 5.94E23 T^−1.68 exp(−45880 K/T) (s⁻¹) k^o = 2.88E85 T^−18.9 exp(−55317 K/T) (cm³/mol/sec) F_cent = 0.5 exp(−T/200 K) + 0.5 exp(−T/890 K) + exp(−4600 K/T) and the C₂H₅OH(+M) ↔ C₂H₄ + H₂O(+M) rate expression as k^∞ = 2.79E13 T^0.09 exp(−33284 K/T) (s⁻¹) k^o = 2.57E83 T^−18.85 exp(−43509 K/T) (cm³/mol/sec) F _cent = 0.3 exp(−T/350 K) + 0.7 exp(−T/800 K) + exp(−3800 K/T) with an applied energy transfer per collision value of <ΔE_down> = 500 cm⁻¹. An empirical branching ratio estimation procedure is presented which determines the temperature dependent branching ratios of the three distinct sites of hydrogen abstraction from ethanol. The calculated branching ratios for C₂H₅OH + OH, C₂H₅OH + O, C₂H₅OH + H, and C₂H₅OH + CH₃ are compared to experimental data. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 183–220, 1999     

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of 2‐Methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophenes: Effect of Substituents and Structure–Reactivity Correlations

A kinetic study is reported for reactions of 2‐methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophenes 1a–d (X = SO₂CH₃, CO₂CH₃, CONH₂, H) with piperidine in different solvents at 20°C. It is shown that the reactions take place through a S_NAr mechanism with the initial nucleophilic addition step being rate limiting. The satisfactory Hammett correlations (log k₁ vs. σ) obtained in the present system confirms that a 3‐X substituent exerts an effect on the 2‐position of the same type as that exerted from the 5‐position. The second‐order rate constants associated with these reactions are employed to determine the electrophilicity parameters E of the thiophenes 1a–d according to the relationship log k (20°C) = s(E + N) (Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1994, 33, 938–957). The E values of 1a–d are found to cover a range from ?21.33 to ?17.18, going from 1d , the least reactive, to 1a , the most reactive thiophene. Interestingly, a linear correlation (r² = 0.9910) between the electrophilicity parameters E determined in this work and the Hammett's σ constants values has been observed and discussed. On the other hand, we have found that the reported rate constants of some thiophenes 1 complexation by the methoxide ion in methanol are 3.5–73.5 times higher than predicted by Mayr's approach.     

The atmospheric chemistry of the HC(O)CO radical

The chemistry of the HC(O)CO radical, produced in the oxidation of glyoxal, has been studied under conditions relevant to the lower atmosphere using an environmental chamber/Fourier Transform infrared spectrometric system. The chemistry of HC(O)CO was studied over the range 224–317 K at 700 Torr total pressure and was found to be governed by competition between unimolecular decomposition [to HCO and CO, reaction (5)] and reaction with O₂ [to form HO₂ and 2CO, reaction (6a), or HC(O)C(O)O₂, reaction (6b)]. The rate coefficient for decomposition relative to that of reaction with O₂ increases with increasing temperature. Assuming a value for k₆ of 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, the following expression for the unimolecular decomposition is obtained at 700 Torr, k₅ = 1.4⁺⁹/_−1.1 × 10¹² exp(−3160 ± 500/T). The rate coefficients for reactions (6a) and (6b) are about equal, with no strong dependence on temperature. The reaction of HC(O)C(O)O₂ with NO₂ was also studied. Final product analysis was consistent with the formation of HCO, CO₂, and NO₃ as the major products in this reaction; no evidence for the PAN‐type species, HC(O)C(O)O₂NO₂, was found even at the lowest temperature studied (224 K). The UV‐visible absorption spectrum of glyoxal is also reported; results are in substantive agreement with previous studies. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 149–156, 2001     

A computational study of the reaction kinetics of methyl radicals with trifluorohalomethanes

Ab initio calculations have been used to characterize the transition states for halogen abstraction by CH₃ in reactions with CF₄, CF₃Cl, CF₃Br, and CF₃I (1–4). Geometries and frequencies were obtained at the HF/6-31G(d) and MP2=full/6-31G(d) levels of theory. Energy barriers were computed via the Gaussian-2 methodology, and the results were employed in transition state theory analyses to obtain the rate constants over 298–2500 K. There is good accord with literature measurements in the approximate temperature range 360–500 K for reactions (2–4), and the computed activation energies are accurate to within ±6 kJ mol⁻¹. Recommended rate constant expressions for use in combustion modeling are k;₁=1.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.41 exp(−13150 K/T), k₂=8.4×10⁻²⁰(T/K)^2.34 exp(−5000 K/T), k₃=4.6×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.05 exp(−3990 K/T), and k₄=8.3×10⁻¹⁹ (T/K)^2.18 exp(−1870 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of flame suppression chemistry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 179–184, 1998.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of Cl atoms with CH2 CO (Ketene)

The kinetics and mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO have been studied with a FTIR spectrometer/smog chamber apparatus. Using relative rate methods the rate of reaction of Cl atoms with ketene was found to be independent of total pressure over the range 1–700 torr of air diluent with a rate constant of (2.7 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 295 K. The reaction proceeds via an addition mechanism to give a chloroacetyl radical (CH₂ClCO) which has a high degree of internal excitation and undergoes rapid unimolecular decomposition to give a CH₂Cl radical and CO. Chloroacetyl radicals were also produced by the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂ClCHO; no decomposition was observed in this case. The rates of addition reactions are usually pressure dependent with the rate increasing with pressure reflecting increased collisional stabilization of the adduct. The absence of such behavior in the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO combined with the fact that the reaction rate is close to the gas kinetic limit is attributed to preferential decomposition of excited CH₂ClCO radicals to CH₂Cl radicals and CO as products as opposed to decomposition to reform the reactants. As part of this work ab initio quantum mechanical calculations (MP2/6-31G(d,p)) were used to derive Δ_fH₂₉₈(CH₂ClCO) = −(5.4 ± 4.0) kcal mol⁻¹. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical investigation of the formic acid decomposition kinetics

Decomposition of formic acid (HCO₂H) proceeds via three unimolecular channels: dehydration, decarboxylation, and dissociation, the latter expected to be of minor contribution to the overall kinetics. In addition, despite the similar values reported for the individual activation energies for the dehydration and decarboxylation reactions, experimental works have shown that the former is dominant in the reaction mechanism. These reactions show pressure-dependent rate coefficients, and the high-pressure condition is not yet verified at atmospheric pressure. This work aims to investigate the influence of temperature and pressure on the rate coefficients. Hence, theoretical calculations at the CCSD(T)/CBS level have been performed to accurately describe the unimolecular reaction and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) rate coefficients have been calculated and integrated for the prediction of k(T,P) rate coefficients, adopting both strong and weak collision models, over the intervals 0.5-10 atm and 298-2200 K. Our results suggest that the isomerization path is important and explains the preference for the (CO + H₂O) channel. Rate coefficients for the (CO₂ + H₂) and (CO + H₂O) formations are given, in s⁻¹, as exp(−34404/T) and exp(−33785/T), respectively. The dissociation limit of 107.29 kcal mol^–1, with respect the Z-HCO₂H conformer, leading to OH + HCO, via a barrierless potential curve, with rate coefficients, in s⁻¹, expressed as k_HCO+OH(T) = 1.68 × 10¹⁷ exp(−56018/T). Temperature and pressure dependence for the HCO + OH → CO₂ + H₂ and HCO + OH → CO + H₂O reactions have also been estimated.