Peroxy radical isomerization in the oxidation of isoprene

We report experimental evidence for the formation of C(5)-hydroperoxyaldehydes (HPALDs) from 1,6-H-shift isomerizations in peroxy radicals formed from the hydroxyl radical (OH) oxidation of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene). At 295 K, the isomerization rate of isoprene peroxy radicals (ISO2?) relative to the rate of reaction of ISO2? + HO2 is k(isom)(295)/(k(ISO2?+HO2)(295)) = (1.2 ± 0.6) x 10(8) mol cm(-3), or k(isom)(295) ? 0.002 s(-1). The temperature dependence of this rate was determined through experiments conducted at 295, 310 and 318 K and is well described by k(isom)(T)/(k(ISO2?+HO2)(T)) = 2.0 x 10(21) exp(-9000/T) mol cm(-3). The overall uncertainty in the isomerization rate (relative to k(ISO2?+HO2)) is estimated to be 50%. Peroxy radicals from the oxidation of the fully deuterated isoprene analog isomerize at a rate ～15 times slower than non-deuterated isoprene. The fraction of isoprene peroxy radicals reacting by 1,6-H-shift isomerization is estimated to be 8-11% globally, with values up to 20% in tropical regions.     

Thermochemical properties, DeltafH degrees (298), S degrees (298), and Cp degrees (T), for n-butyl and n-pentyl hydroperoxides and the alkyl and peroxy radicals, transition states, and kinetics for intramolecular hydrogen shift reactions of the peroxy radicals

Alkyl radicals in atmospheric and combustion environments undergo a rapid association with molecular oxygen (3O2) to form an alkyl peroxy radical (ROO*). One important reaction of these peroxy radicals is the intramolecular H-shift (intramolecular abstraction) to form a hydroperoxide alkyl radical (R'*COOH), where the hydroperoxide alkyl radical may undergo chemical activation reaction with O2 and result in chain branching at moderate to low temperatures. The thermochemistry and trends in kinetic parameters for the hydrogen shift reactions from each carbon (4-8-member-ring TST's) in n-butyl and n-pentyl peroxy radicals (CCCCOO* and CCCCCOO*) are analyzed using density functional and ab initio calculation methods. Thermochemical properties, DeltafH degrees (298 K), C-H bond energies, S degrees (298 K), and Cp degrees (T) of saturated linear C4 and C5 aliphatic peroxides (ROOH), as well as the corresponding hydroperoxide alkyl radicals (R'*COOH), are determined. DeltafH degrees (298 K) are obtained from isodesmic reactions and the total energies of the CBS-QB3 and B3LYP computational methods. Contributions to the entropy and the heat capacity from translation, vibration, and external rotation are calculated using the rigid-rotor-harmonic-oscillator approximation based on the CBS-QB3 frequencies and structures. The results indicate that pre-exponential factors, A(T), decrease with the increase of the ring size (4-8-member-ring TS, H-atom included). The DeltaH for 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-member rings in n-butyl (and n-pentyl) peroxy are 40.8 (40.8), 31.4 (31.5), 20.5 (20.0), 22.6-p (19.4) kcal mol(-1), respectively. The DeltaH for the 8-member ring in n-pentylperoxy is 23.8-p kcal mol(-1), All abstractions are from secondary (-CH2-) groups except those marked (-p), which are from primary sites. Enthalpy and barrier values from the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) and BHandHLYP/6-311G(d,p) methods are compared with CBS-QB3 results. The B3LYP results show good agreement with the higher level CBS-QB3 calculation method; the BHandH barriers for the intramolecular peroxy H-shifts are not acceptable.     

Computations on the A-X transition of isoprene-OH-O2 peroxy radicals

Calculations are carried out on the A state of HO2, CH3O2, and CH3CH2O2 and 10 isomers and conformers of the isoprene-OH-O2 peroxy radicals derived from OH addition to isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene). In addition to calculating vertical and adiabatic excitation energies, we consider the effect of excitation on molecular structure, and examine the OO stretching frequencies, which are known to be major features in the absorption spectra of the A states of the smaller radicals. The two methods used are the configuration interaction with single excitations (CIS) method and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), both with a range of basis sets up to 6-311++G(2df,2pd). TD-DFT overestimates excitation energies considerably, while CIS tends to underestimate them slightly. TD-DFT does seem to capture the trend in excitation energy vs. size for the smaller peroxy radicals. Conformation and configuration strongly affect the excitation energies of the peroxy radicals from isoprene. CIS calculations indicate that the intramolecular OH--O hydrogen bonds, present in the ground state of some peroxy radicals from isoprene, are weakened or broken in the excited state, while TD-DFT calculations suggest they are retained.     

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.     

Structures, internal rotor potentials, and thermochemical properties for a series of nitrocarbonyls, nitroolefins, corresponding nitrites, and their carbon centered radicals

Structures, enthalpy (Δ(f)H°(298)), entropy (S°(T)), and heat capacity (C(p)(T)) are determined for a series of nitrocarbonyls, nitroolefins, corresponding nitrites, and their carbon centered radicals using the density functional B3LYP and composite CBS-QB3 calculations. Enthalpies of formation (Δ(f)H°(298)) are determined at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,2p), and composite CBS-QB3 levels using several work reactions for each species. Entropy (S) and heat capacity (C(p)(T)) values from vibration, translational, and external rotational contributions are calculated using the rigid-rotor-harmonic-oscillator approximation based on the vibration frequencies and structures obtained from the density functional studies. Contribution to Δ(f)H(T), S, and C(p)(T) from the analysis on the internal rotors is included. Recommended values for enthalpies of formation of the most stable conformers of nitroacetone cc(═o)cno2, acetonitrite cc(═o)ono, nitroacetate cc(═o)no2, and acetyl nitrite cc(═o)ono are -51.6 kcal mol(-1), -51.3 kcal mol(-1), -45.4 kcal mol(-1), and -58.2 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The calculated Δ(f)H°(298) for nitroethylene c═cno2 is 7.6 kcal mol(-1) and for vinyl nitrite c═cono is 7.2 kcal mol(-1). We also found an unusual phenomena: an intramolecular transfer reaction (isomerization) with a low barrier (3.6 kcal mol(-1)) in the acetyl nitrite. The NO of the nitrite (R-ONO) in CH(3)C(═O')ONO moves to the C═O' oxygen in a motion of a stretching frequency and then a shift to the carbonyl oxygen (marked as O' for illustration purposes).     

Quantum chemical and master equation simulations of the oxidation and isomerization of vinoxy radicals

The vinoxy radical, a common intermediate in gas-phase alkene ozonolysis, reacts with O2 to form a chemically activated alpha-oxoperoxy species. We report CBS-QB3 energetics for O2 addition to the parent (*CH2CHO, 1a), 1-methylvinoxy (*CH2COCH3, 1b), and 2-methylvinoxy (CH3*CHCHO, 1c) radicals. CBS-QB3 predictions for peroxy radical formation agree with experimental data, while the G2 method systematically overestimates peroxy radical stability. RRKM/master equation simulations based on CBS-QB3 data are used to estimate the competition between prompt isomerization and thermalization for the peroxy radicals derived from 1a, 1b, and 1c. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radicals 4a and 4c (derived from 1a and 1c, respectively) is a 1,4-shift of the acyl hydrogen requiring 19-20 kcal/mol. The resulting hydroperoxyacyl radical decomposes quantitatively to form *OH. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radical 4b (derived from 1b) is a 1,5-shift of a methyl hydrogen requiring 26 kcal/mol. About 25% of 4a, but only approximately 5% of 4c, isomerizes promptly at 1 atm pressure. Isomerization of 4b is negligible at all pressures studied.     

Rate constants for the reactions between OH and perfluorinated alkenes

The rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with fully fluorinated alkenes containing different numbers of -CF(3) groups next to olefinic carbon, CF(2)═CF(2), CF(2)═CFCF(3), CF(3)CF═CFCF(3), and (CF(3))(2)C═CFC(2)F(5), were measured between 230 and 480 K using the flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique to give the following expressions: k(C(2)F(4))(250-480 K) = 1.32 × 10(-12) × (T/298 K)(0.9) × exp(+600 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(C(3)F(6))(230-480 K) = 9.75 ×10(-14) × (T/298 K)(1.94) × exp(+922 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(trans-C(4)F(8))(230-370 K) = 7.50 × 10(-14) × (T/298 K)(1.68) × exp(+612 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(cis-C(4)F(8))(230-370 K) = 2.99 × 10(-14) × (T/298 K)(2.61) × exp(+760 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), and k(C(6)F(12))(250-480 K) = 2.17 × 10(-15) × (T/298 K)(3.90) × exp(+1044 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The kinetics of the OH reaction in an industrial sample of octofluoro-2-propene (a mixture of the cis- and trans-isomers of CF(3)CF═CFCF(3)) was studied to determine the "effective" reaction rate constant for the typically industrial mixture: k()(230-480 K) = 7.89 × 10(-14) × (T/298 K)(1.71) × exp(+557 K/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). On the basis of these results, the atmospheric lifetimes were estimated to be 1.2, 5.3, 21, 34, and 182 days for CF(2)═CF(2), CF(3)CF═CF(2), trans-CF(3)CF═CFCF(3), cis-CF(3)CF═CFCF(3), and (CF(3))(2)C═CFC(2)F(5), respectively. The general pattern of halolalkene reactivity toward OH is discussed.     

Oxygen centered radicals in iodine chemical oscillators

The existence of free radicals in iodine-based oscillatory systems has been debated for some time. Recently, we have reported the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the iodide-peroxide system in acidic medium, which is common to all iodine--based oscillatory systems ( J. Phys. Chem. A 2011 , 115 , 2247--2249 ). In this work, the goal was to identify the ROS produced in this system using an EPR spin trap which can distinguish between hydroxyl (HO(?)) and hydroperoxyl (HOO(?)) radicals. The formation of the hydroperoxyl radical was observed and a possible explanation for the low EPR signal of hydroxyl radical was proposed.     

Measurements of the kinetics of the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene: Radical propagation in the OH + isoprene + O2 + NO reaction system

The mechanism of the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene in the presence of NO and O₂ has been investigated using a discharge‐flow system at 298 K and 2 torr total pressure. OH radical concentration profiles were measured using laser‐induced fluorescence as a function of reaction time. The rate constant for the reaction of OH + isoprene was measured to be (1.10 ± 0.05) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. In the presence of NO and O₂, regeneration of OH radicals by the reaction of isoprene‐based peroxy radicals with NO was measured and compared to simulations of the kinetics of this system. The results of these experiments are consistent with an overall rate constant of 9 × 10⁻¹² cm³ mol⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (with an uncertainty factor of 2) for the reaction of isoprene‐based hydroxyalkyl peroxy radicals with NO. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 637–643, 1999     

Generation and detection of alkyl peroxy radicals in a supersonic jet expansion

Alkyl peroxy radicals are synthesized in a supersonic jet expansion by the initial production of alkyl radicals and subsequent reaction with molecular oxygen. Parent ions CH3OO+/CD3OO+ are observed employing vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionizationtime-of-flight mass spectroscopy (TOFMS). Employing infrared (IR) + VUV photofragmentation detected spectroscopy, rotationally resolved infrared spectra of jet-cooled CH3OO and CD3OO radicals are recorded for the A 2A' <-- X 2A" transition by scanning the IR laser frequency while monitoring the CH3 + and CD3 + ion signals generated by the VUV laser. The band origins of the A 2A'<--X 2A" transition for CH3OO and CD3OO are identified at 7381 and 7371 cm(-1), respectively. Rotational simulation for the CH3OO and CD3OO 0(0) 0 transitions of A<--X yields a rotational temperature for these radicals of approximately 30 K. With the aid of ab initio calculations, two and five vibrational modes for the A 2A' excited electronic state are assigned for CH3OO and CD3OO radicals, respectively. Both experimental and theoretical results suggest that the ground electronic state of the ions of ethyl and propyl peroxy radicals are not stable although their ionization energies (IE) are less than 10.5 eV. The C2H5OO+/C3H7OO+ cations can readily decompose to C2H5 +/C3H7 + and O2. This is partially responsible for the inability of IR+VUV photofragmentation spectroscopy to detect the near IR A<--X electronic transition for these radicals.     

Bond Dissociation Energies and Electronic Structures in a Series of Peroxy Radicals: A Theoretical Study

Quantum chemical calculations are performed to estimate the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for 18 peroxy radicals. Since DFT methods are researched to have low basis sets sensitivity, these radicals are studied by utilizing the hybrid density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91 and PBE1PBE) in conjunction with the 6‐311G** basis set and the complete basis set (CBS‐Q) method. On the basis of comparisons of the computational results and the experimental values, we evaluate the effectiveness of above methods. It is demonstrated that CBS‐Q method is the best method for computing the reliable BDEs of C—OO bond, with the average absolute errors of 2.1 kcal/mol. So CBS‐Q method is suitable to predict accurate BDEs of C‐OO bond for peroxy compounds. The computational energy gaps between the HOMO and LUMO of studied compounds are almost identical from the point of view of stability and substantial HOMO‐LUMO gaps for all molecules suggest their electronic stability. In addition, substituent effect on the C—OO BDE of peroxy radicals is analyzed. It is noted that the effects of substitution on the C—OO BDE of peroxy radicals are significant. Our results will shed lights on future theoretical and experimental work.     

Reaction kinetics and thermochemistry of the chemically activated and stabilized primary ethyl radical of methyl ethyl sulfide,CH3SCH2CH2•, with O2 to CH3SCH2CH2OO•

Oxidation of methyl ethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₂CH₃, methylthioethane, MES) under atmospheric and combustion conditions is initiated by hydroxyl radicals, MES radicals, generated after loss of a H atom via OH abstraction, will further react with O₂ to form chemically activated and stabilized peroxyl radical adducts. The kinetics of the chemically activated reaction between the CH₃SCH₂CH₂• radical and molecular oxygen are analyzed using quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory for k(E) with master equation analysis and a modified strong-collision approach to account for further reactions and collisional deactivation. Thermodynamic properties of reactants, products, and transition states are determined by the B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p), M062X/6-311+G(2d,p), ωB97XD/6-311+G(2d,p) density functional theory, and CBS-QB3, G3MP2B3, and G4 composite methods. The reaction of CH₃SCH₂CH₂• with O₂ forms an energized peroxy adduct CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• with a calculated well depth of 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Thermochemical properties of reactants, transition states, and products obtained under CBS-QB3 level are used for calculation of kinetic parameters. Reaction enthalpies are compared between the methods. The temperature and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for both the chemically activated reactions of the energized adduct and the thermally activated reactions of the stabilized adducts are presented. Stabilization and isomerization of the CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• adduct are important under high pressure and low temperature. At higher temperatures and atmospheric pressure, the chemically activated peroxy adduct reacts to new products before stabilization. Addition of the peroxyl oxygen radical to the sulfur atom followed by sulfur-oxygen double bond formation and elimination of the methyl radical to form S(= O)CCO• + CH₃ (branching) is a potentially important new pathway for other alkyl-sulfide peroxy radical systems under thermal or combustion conditions.     

Thermochemical properties and bond dissociation energies of C3-C5 cycloalkyl hydroperoxides and peroxy radicals: cycloalkyl radical + (3)O2 reaction thermochemistry

Cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons are major components in modern fuels; they can be present in the reactants, and they can be formed during the gas-phase oxidation processes. In combustion and thermal oxidation processes, these cyclics will form radicals that react with (3)O(2) to form peroxy radicals. In this study, density functional theory and higher level ab initio calculations are used to calculate thermochemical properties and bond dissociation energies of 3-5-membered cycloalkanes, corresponding hydroperoxides, hydroperoxycycloalkyl radicals, and cycloalkyl radicals that occur in these reaction systems. Geometries, vibration frequencies, and thermochemical properties, ΔH(f 298)°, are calculated with the B3LYP/6-31 g(d,p), B3LYP/6-31 g(2d,2p), composite CBS-QB3, and G3MP2B3 methods. Standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K are evaluated using isodesmic reaction schemes with several work reactions for each species. Group additivity contributions are developed, and application of group additivity with comparison to calculated values is illustrated. Entropy and heat capacities, S°(T) and C(p)°(T) (5 K ≤ T ≤ 5000), are determined using geometric parameters and frequencies from the B3LYP/6-31 g(d,p) calculations.     

IR and UV spectra of the matrix-isolated peroxy radicals CF3OO, trans-FC(O)OO, and cis-FC(O)OO

The peroxy radicals CF3OO and FC(O)OO are prepared in high yields by vacuum flash pyrolysis of ROONO2 or ROOOR (R=CF3, FC(O)), highly diluted in inert gases, and subsequent isolation in inert-gas matrices by quenching the product mixtures at low temperatures. The IR spectrum of FC(O)OO was observed for the first time and eight fundamentals as well as several combinations were measured and assigned for both cis and trans rotamers of FC(O)OO. Discrepancies in an earlier assignment of the fundamentals of CF3OO have been eliminated and its IR spectrum is reported fully. The matrix UV spectra of both peroxy radicals (X2A"--> 2(2)A" transition) are in agreement with the gas-phase spectra; however, there are differences in the absorption cross-sections, for which possible reasons are discussed. The X2A"--> 1(2)A' transitions in the near IR region are too weak to be detected with our instrumentation.     

Thermal stability of carbonyl radicals. Part II. Reactions of methylglyoxyl and methylglyoxylperoxy radicals at 1 bar in the temperature range 275-311 K

Reactions of methylglyoxyl and methylglyoxylperoxy radicals were investigated at a total pressure of 1 bar in oxygen. Methylglyoxyl radicals were generated by stationary photolysis of Br2-CH3C(O)C(O)H-NO2-O2-N2 mixtures at wavelengths > or =480 nm and of Cl2-CH3C(O)C(O)H-NO2-O2-N2 mixtures in the wavelength range 315-460 nm. In the bromine system, rate constant ratios for the reactions CH3C(O)CO --> CH3CO + CO (kdis) and CH3C(O)CO + O2 --> CH3C(O)C(O)O2 (kO2) were measured as a function of temperature in the range 275-311 K. Assuming the constant value kO2 = 5.1 x 10(-12) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for our reaction conditions, kdis = 1.2 x 10(10.0+/-0.7) x exp(-11.7 +/- 3.8 kJ mol(-1)/RT) s(-1) (2sigma errors) was obtained for ptot = 1 bar (M = O2), in good agreement with the kinetic parameters calculated by Méreau et al. [R. Méreau, M.-T. Rayez, J.-C. Rayez, F. Caralp and R. Lesclaux, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2001, 3, 4712]. CH3C(O)C(O)O2 radicals oxidise NO2, forming NO3, CH3CO and CO2. This experimental result is supported by DFT and ab initio calculations. Possible mechanisms for the observed formation of several % of ketene and bromoacetyl peroxynitrate are discussed. Use of Cl rather than Br atoms to abstract the aldehydic H atom from methylglyoxal leads to chemically activated CH3C(O)CO radicals, thus substantially increasing the fraction of CH3C(O)CO radicals that decompose rather than add O2.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CF═CH2 and (Z)-CF3CF═CHF: Cl and NO3 rate coefficients, Cl reaction product yields, and thermochemical calculations

Rate coefficients, k, for the gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms and NO(3) radicals with 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, CF(3)CF═CH(2) (HFO-1234yf), and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene, (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF (HFO-1225ye), are reported. Cl-atom rate coefficients were measured in the fall-off region as a function of temperature (220-380 K) and pressure (50-630 Torr; N(2), O(2), and synthetic air) using a relative rate method. The measured rate coefficients are well represented by the fall-off parameters k(0)(T) = 6.5 × 10(-28) (T/300)(-6.9) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(∞)(T) = 7.7 × 10(-11) (T/300)(-0.65) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for CF(3)CF═CH(2) and k(0)(T) = 3 × 10(-27) (T/300)(-6.5) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(∞)(T) = 4.15 × 10(-11) (T/300)(-0.5) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for (Z)-CF(3)C═CHF with F(c) = 0.6. Reaction product yields were measured in the presence of O(2) to be (98 ± 7)% for CF(3)C(O)F and (61 ± 4)% for HC(O)Cl in the CF(3)CF═CH(2) reaction and (108 ± 8)% for CF(3)C(O)F and (112 ± 8)% for HC(O)F in the (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF reaction, where the quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors. NO(3) reaction rate coefficients were determined using absolute and relative rate methods. Absolute measurements yielded upper limits for both reactions between 233 and 353 K, while the relative rate measurements yielded k(3)(295 K) = (2.6 ± 0.25) × 10(-17) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(4)(295 K) = (4.2 ± 0.5) × 10(-18) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF, respectively. The Cl-atom reaction with CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF leads to decreases in their atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potentials and formation of a chlorine-containing product, HC(O)Cl, for CF(3)CF═CH(2). The NO(3) reaction has been shown to have a negligible impact on the atmospheric lifetimes of CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF. The energetics for the reaction of Cl, NO(3), and OH with CF(3)CF═CH(2) and (Z)-CF(3)CF═CHF in the presence of O(2) were investigated using density functional theory (DFT).     

Kinetics of elementary steps in the reactions of atomic bromine with isoprene and 1,3-butadiene under atmospheric conditions

Laser flash photolysis of CF(2)Br(2) has been coupled with time-resolved detection of atomic bromine by resonance fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the gas-phase kinetics of early elementary steps in the Br-initiated oxidations of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, Iso) and 1,3-butadiene (Bu) under atmospheric conditions. At T ≥ 526 K, measured rate coefficients for Br + isoprene are independent of pressure, suggesting that hydrogen transfer (1a) is the dominant reaction pathway. The following Arrhenius expression adequately describes all kinetic data at 526 K ≤ T ≤ 673 K: k(1a)(T) = (1.22 ± 0.57) × 10(-11) exp[(-2100 ± 280)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) (uncertainties are 2σ and represent precision of the Arrhenius parameters). At 271 K ≤ T ≤ 357 K, kinetic evidence for the reversible addition reactions Br + Iso ? Br-Iso (k(1b), k(-1b)) and Br + Bu ? Br-Bu (k(3b), k(-3b)) is observed. Analysis of the approach to equilibrium data allows the temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients k(1b), k(-1b), k(3b), and k(-3b) to be evaluated. At atmospheric pressure, addition of Br to each conjugated diene occurs with a near-gas-kinetic rate coefficient. Equilibrium constants for the addition/dissociation reactions are obtained from k(1b)/k(-1b) and k(3b)/k(-3b), respectively. Combining the experimental equilibrium data with electronic structure calculations allows both second- and third-law analyses of thermochemistry to be carried out. The following thermochemical parameters for the addition reactions 1b and 3b at 0 and 298 K are obtained (units are kJ mol(-1) for Δ(r)H and J mol(-1) K(-1) for Δ(r)S; uncertainties are accuracy estimates at the 95% confidence level): Δ(r)H(0)(1b) = -66.6 ± 7.1, Δ(r)H(298)(1b) = -67.5 ± 6.6, and Δ(r)S(298)(3b) = -93 ± 16; Δ(r)H(0)(3b) = -62.4 ± 9.0, Δ(r)H(298)(3b) = -64.5 ± 8.5, and Δ(r)S(298)(3b) = -94 ± 20. Examination of the effect of added O(2) on Br kinetics under conditions where reversible adduct formation is observed allows the rate coefficients for the Br-Iso + O(2) (k(2)) and Br-Bu + O(2) (k(4)) reactions to be determined. At 298 K, we find that k(2) = (3.2 ± 1.0) × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) independent of pressure (uncertainty is 2σ, precision only; pressure range is 25-700 Torr) whereas k(4) increases from 3.2 to 4.7 × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) as the pressure increases from 25 to 700 Torr. Our results suggest that under atmospheric conditions, Br-Iso and Br-Bu react with O(2) to produce peroxy radicals considerably more rapidly than they undergo unimolecular decomposition. Hence, the very fast addition reactions appear to control the rates of Br-initiated formation of Br-Iso-OO and Br-Bu-OO radicals under atmospheric conditions. The peroxy radicals are relatively weakly bound, so conjugated diene regeneration via unimolecular decomposition reactions, though unimportant on the time scale of the reported experiments (milliseconds), is likely to compete effectively with bimolecular reactions of peroxy radicals under relatively warm atmospheric conditions as well as in 298 K competitive kinetics experiments carried out in large chambers.     

Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of naphthalene initiated by OH radical. A theoretical study

The atmospheric oxidation mechanism of naphthalene (Nap) initiated by the OH radical is investigated using density functional theory at B3LYP and BB1K levels. The initial step is dominated by OH addition to the C(1)-position of Nap, forming radical C(10)H(8)-1-OH (R1), followed by the O(2) additions to the C(2) position to form peroxy radical R1-2OO, or by the hydrogen abstraction by O(2) to form 1-naphthol. In the atmosphere, R1-2OO will react with NO to form R1-2O, undergo intramolecular hydrogen transfer from -OH to -OO to form R1-P2O1 radicals, or possibly undergo ring-closure to R1-29OO bi-cyclic radical; while the formation of other bi-cyclic intermediate radicals is negligible because of the extremely high Gibbs energy barriers of >100 kJ mol(-1) (relative to R1+O(2)). The mechanism is different from the oxidation mechanism of benzene, where the bi-cyclic intermediates play an important role. Radicals R1-P2O1 will dissociate to 2-formylcinnamaldehyde, while R1-2O will be transformed to stable products C(10)H(6)O(3) via epoxide-like intermediates. A few reaction pathways suggested in previous experimental studies are found to be invalid.     

Rearrangements and interconversions of heteroatom-substituted isocyanates, isothiocyanates, nitrile oxides, and nitrile sulfides, RX-NCY and RY-CNX

Isocyanates and isothiocyanates of the type RX-NCY (X and Y = O or S) and the isomeric nitrile oxides and nitrile sulfides RY-CNX are highly reactive compounds. A number of potential 1,4-shifts of substituent groups of the type R-Y-CNX → R-X-N═C═Y, 1,3-shifts R-C(═Y)-N═X → R-X-N═C═Y, and 1,2-shifts R-C(═Y)-N═X → R-Y-CNX have been evaluated computationally. The results obtained for the relatively new functional MPW1K and the well-established B3LYP, together with a triple-ζ quality basis set, are very similar. The 1,3- and 1,4-halogen shifts in the title compounds are usually highly exothermic and possess low activation barriers. 1,3-Aryl shifts are feasible for for 5e → 6e (Ar-CO-NSO(2) → Ar-SO(2)-NCO) with activation barriers of less than 40 kcal/mol. Additionally, several 1,3- and 1,4-hydrogen shifts and the 1,4-methyl-shift in methoxynitrile sulfide MeO-CNS to methylsulfenyl isocyanate MeS-NCO (4c → 6c) are potentially feasible. The 1,2-shift reactions 4b → 5b (HO-NCS → H-CS-NO) and 4c → 5c (Ar-O-CNS→ Ar-CO-NS) are good candidates for experimental observation with activation energies around 30 kcal/mol.     

Effects of olefin group and its position on the kinetics for intramolecular H-shift and HO2 elimination of alkenyl peroxy radicals

Two classes of unimolecular reactions of peroxy radicals are key to autoignition, namely, intramolecular H-atom shift (which promotes autoignition) and concerted HO(2) elimination (which inhibits autoignition). Olefin groups are prominent functional groups in biodiesel fuels. This paper explores the effects of the presence of an olefin group and its position on the kinetics of unimolecular reactions of peroxy radicals. CBS-QB3 calculations were carried out for 10 selected alkyl- and alkenylperoxy radicals. Transition-state theory was used to determine the temperature dependence of the high-pressure limiting rate constants, and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus/master equation simulations were performed to determine the pressure dependence of selected rate constants. Tunneling effects were computed using the asymmetric Eckart potential. The contribution of internal rotors to partition functions were included by using the hindered-rotor treatment.