Kinetics and products of the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical and O3 with allyl chloride and benzyl chloride at room temperature

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of allyl chloride and benzyl chloride with the OH radical and O₃ were investigated at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. Direct measurements of the rate constants for reactions with ozone yielded values of ??(O₃ + allyl chloride) = (1.60 ± 0.18) × 10^?18 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and ??(O₃ + benzyl chloride) < 6 × 10^?20 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. With the use of a relative rate technique and ethane as a scavenger of chlorine atoms produced in the OH radical reactions, rate constants of ??(OH + allyl chloride) = (1.69 ± 0.07) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and ??(OH + benzyl chloride) = (2.80 ± 0.19) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were measured. A study of the OH radical reaction with allyl chloride by long pathlength FT-IR absorption spectroscopy indicated that the co-products ClCH₂CHO and HCHO account for ca. 44% of the reaction, and along with the other products HOCH₂CHO, (ClCH₂)₂CO, and CH₂ ? CHCHO account for 84 ± 16% of the allyl chloride reacting. The data indicate that in one atmosphere of air in the presence of NO the chloroalkoxy radical formed following OH radical addition to the terminal carbon atom of the double bond decomposes to yield HOCH₂CHO and the CH₂Cl radical, which becomes a significant source of the Cl atoms involved in secondary reactions. A product study of the OH radical reaction with benzyl chloride identified only benzaldehyde and peroxybenzoyl nitrate in low yields (ca. 8% and ?4%, respectively), with the remainder of the products being unidentified.     

Kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with a series of esters under simulated conditions at 295 K

The rate constants of the isopropyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropenyl acetate, n-propenyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, and ethyl butyrate reactions with OH radicals were determined in purified air under atmospheric conditions, at 750 torr and (295 ± 2) K. A relative rate experimental method was used; n-heptane, n-octane, and n-nonane were the reference compounds, with, respectively, rate constants for the reaction with OH of 7.12 × 10⁻¹², 8.42 × 10⁻¹², and 9.70 × 10⁻¹² molecule⁻¹ cm³s⁻¹. The following rate constants were obtained in units of 10⁻¹² molecule⁻¹ cm³s⁻¹; isopropyl acetate, (3.12 ± 0.29); n-propyl acetate, (1.97 ± 0.24); isopropenyl acetate, (62.53 ± 1.24); n-propenyl acetate, (24.57 ± 0.24); n-butyl acetate, (3.29 ± 0.35); and ethyl butyrate, (4.37 ± 0.42). Tertiary butyl acetate has a low reactivity with OH radicals (<1 × 10⁻¹² molecule⁻¹ cm³s⁻¹). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

OH radical reaction rate constants for polycyclic alkanes: Effects of ring strain and consequences for estimation methods

Using a relative rate method, rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with trans-pinane [(1R, 2R)-2, 6, 6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane], tricyclene (1, 7, 7-trimethyltricyclo[2.2.1.0^{2, 6}]heptane), and quadricyclane (quadricyclo[2.2.1.0^{2, 6}.0^{3, 5}]heptane) of (1.34 ± 0.29) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, (2.86 ± 0.62) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and (1.83 ± 0.41) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, have been determined at 296 ± 2 K. These rate constants are compared with values calculated from an empirical estimation method and used to refine this estimation technique for the calculation of OH radical reaction rate constants for polycyclic systems. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical with the unsaturated peroxyacyl nitrate CH2C(CH3)C(O)OONO2

The gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical with the unsaturated peroxyacyl nitrate CH₂ ? C(CH₃)C(O)OONO₂ (MPAN) has been studied at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure. The OH-MPAN reaction rate constant relative to that of OH + n-butyl nitrate is 2.08 ± 0.25. This ratio, together with a literature rate constant of 1.74 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the OH + n-butyl nitrate reaction at 298 K, yields a rate constant of (3.6 ± 0.4)× 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the OH-MPAN reaction at 298 ± 2 K. Hydroxyacetone and formaldehyde are the major carbonyl products. The yield of hydroxyacetone, 0.59 ± 0.12, is consistent with preferential addition of OH at the unsubstituted carbon atom. Atmospheric persistence and removal processes for MPAN are briefly discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with alkyl nitrates at 299 ± 2 K

Relative rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of alkyl nitrates have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10^?12 cm³/molec·s, the rate constants obtained are (× 10¹² cm³/molec·s): 2-propyl nitrate, 0.18 ± 0.05; 1-butyl nitrate, 1.42 ± 0.11; 2-butyl nitrate, 0.69 ± 0.10; 2-pentyl nitrate, 1.87 ± 0.12; 3-pentyl nitrate, 1.13 ± 0.20; 2-hexyl nitrate, 3.19 ± 0.16; 3-hexyl nitrate, 2.72 ± 0.22; 3-heptyl nitrate, 3.72 ± 0.43; and 3-octyl nitrate, 3.91 ± 0.80. These rate constants, which are the first reported for the alkyl nitrates, are significantly lower than those for the parent alkanes, and a formula, based on the numbers of the various types of C? H bonds in the alkyl nitrates, is derived for rate constant estimation purposes.     

Kinetics of the reactions of naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene,and 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene with OH radicals and with O3 at 295 ± 1 K

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, and 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene with O₃ and with OH radicals have been studied at 295 ± 1 K in one atmosphere of air. Upper limit rate constants for the O₃ reactions of <3 × 10^?19, <4 × 10^?19, and <4 × 10^?19 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained for naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, and 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, respectively. For the OH radical reactions, rate constants of (in units of 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) 2.59 ± 0.24, 5.23 ± 0.42, and 7.68 ± 0.48 were determined for naphthalene, 2±methylnaphthalene, and 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, respectively. These data show that under atmospheric conditions these naphthalenes will react mainly with the OH radical, with life-times due to this reaction ranging from ca. 11 h for naphthalene to ca. 4 h for 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene.     

A relative rate study of the reaction of Cl atoms with a series of alkyl nitrates and nitro alkanes in air at 295 ± 2 K

The relative rate technique has been used to measure rate constants for the reaction of chlorine atoms with nitro methane, nitro ethane, nitro propane, nitro butane, nitro pentane, ethyl nitrate, isopropyl nitrate, n-propyl nitrate, 2-pentyl nitrate, and 2-heptyl nitrate. Decay rates of these organic species were measured relative to one or more of the following reference compounds; n-butane, ethane, chloroethane, and methane. Using rate constants of 2.25 × 10^?10 5.7 × 10^?11, 8.04 × 10^?12, and 1.0 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the reaction of Cl atoms with n-butane, ethane, chloroethane, and methane, respectively, the following rate constants were derived, in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1: nitro methane, <7 × 10^?15; nitro ethane, (2.05 ± 0.14) × 10^?13; nitro propane, (1.13 ± 0.05) × 10^?11; nitro butane, (5.13 ± 0.68) × 10^?11; nitro pentane, (1.40 ± 0.14) × 10^?10; ethyl nitrate, (3.70 ± 0.24) × 10^?12; n-propyl nitrate, (2.15 ± 0.13) × 10^?11; i-propyl nitrate, (3.94 ± 0.48) × 10^?12; 2-pentyl nitrate, (1.00 ± 0.06) × 10^?10; and 2-heptyl nitrate, (2.84 ± 0.50) × 10^?10. Quoted errors represent 2σ and do not include possible systematic errors due to errors in the reference rate constants. Experiments were performed at 295 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure (?740 torr) of synthetic air. The results are discussed with respect to the previous literature data and to the modeling of these compounds in the atmosphere.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with a series of ketones at 299 ± 2 K

Relative rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of ketones have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of hydroxyl radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane of 7.57 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, the rate constants obtained are (× 10¹² cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): 2-pentanone, 4.74 ± 0.14; 3-pentanone, 1.85 ± 0.34; 2-hexanone, 9.16 ± 0.61; 3-hexanone, 6.96 ± 0.29; 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 5.43 ± 0.41; 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 14.5 ± 0.7; and 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanone, 27.7 ± 1.5. These rate constants indicate that while the carbonyl group decreases the reactivity of C? H bonds in the α position toward reaction with the OH radical, it enhances the reactivity in the β position.     

Kinetics of the reactions of OH radicals with 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine,diethylamine, and 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol at 298 ± 2 K

Rate constants for the reactions of 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, diethylamine, and 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol with OH radicals have been measured at 298 ± 2 K using a relative rate method. The measured rate constants (cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) are (1.54 ± 0.21) × 10^?12 for 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, (1.19 ± 0.25) × 10^?10 for diethylamine, and (1.76 ± 0.38) × 10^?12 for 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol, where the indicated errors are the estimated overall uncertainties including those in the rate constants for the reference compounds. No reaction of 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine with gaseous nitric acid was observed, and an upper limit to the rate constant for the reaction of 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol with O₃ of <7 × 10^{? 20} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was determined. Using a 12‐h average daytime OH radical concentration of 2 × 10⁶ molecule cm^?3, the lifetimes of the volatile organic compounds studied here with respect to reaction with OH radicals are 7.5 days for 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, 1.2 h for diethylamine, and 6.6 days for 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol. Likely reaction mechanisms are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 631–638, 2011     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with a series of aromatic hydrocarbons at 296 ± 2 K

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been determined at 296 ± 2 K for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with toluene, the xylenes, and the trimethylbenzenes. Using the recommended literature rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with propene of (2.66 ± 0.40) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, the following rate constants (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) were obtained: toluene, 5.48 ± 0.84; o-xylene, 12.2 ± 1.9; m-xylene, 23.0 ± 3.5; p-xylene, 13.0 ± 2.0; 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, 32.7 ± 5.3; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 32.5 ± 5.0; and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 57.5 ± 9.2. These data are compared with the literature values.     

Room temperature rate constants for the reaction of OH with selected chlorinated and oxygenated hydrocarbons

A study was conducted to measure the hydroxyl radical rate constants using a relative rate procedure in which the photolysis of methyl nitrite was the source of OH. During the course of this study, the OH rate constant was measured for a number of chlorinated solvents for which measurements have not previously been reported or for which there are few reliable measurements. Room temperature OH rate constants are presented for six chlorinated hydrocarbons (allyl chloride, benzyl chloride, chlorobenzene, epichlorohydrin, trichloroethylene, and vinylidene chloride) and four oxygenated hydrocarbons (acrolein, methacrolein, methyl ethyl ketone, and propylene oxide). Also included are OH rate constants for alkanes (ethane, propane, isobutane, and cyclohexane), alkenes (trans?2-butene and isoprene), and aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, o^?, m^?, and p-xylene). Rate constants for compounds not previously reported include vinylidene chloride (1.49 ± 0.21 × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) and benzyl chloride (2.96 ± 0.15 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). The analysis for chlorinated hydrocarbons included a correction for possible chlorine atom reactions.     

Atmospheric chemistry of di-tert-butyl ether: Rates and products of the reactions with chlorine atoms,hydroxyl radicals,and nitrate radicals

The rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of di-tert-butyl ether (DTBE) with chlorine atoms, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrate radicals have been determined in relative rate experiments using FTIR spectroscopy. Values of k_(DTBE+CI) = (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁰,k_(DTBE+OH) = (3.7 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹², and k_(DTBE+N03) = (2.8 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained. Tert-butyl acetate was identified as the major product of both Cl atom and OH radical initiated oxidation of DTBE in air in the presence of NO_x. The molar tert-butyl acetate yield was 0.85 ± 0.11 in the Cl atom experiments and 0.84 ± 0.11 in OH radical experiments. As part of this work the rate constant for reaction of Cl atoms with tert-butyl acetate at 295 K was determined to be (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The stated errors are two standard deviations (2σ). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with (C2H5)3PO and (CH3O)2P(S)Cl at 296 ± 2 K

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with (C₂H₅O)₃PO and (CH₃O)₂P(S)Cl and of the reactions of NO₃ radicals and O₃ with (CH₃O)₂P(S)Cl have been studied at room temperature. Using a relative rate technique, the rate constants determined for the reactions of the OH radical with (C₂H₅O)₃PO and (CH₃O)₂P(S)Cl at 296 ± 2 K and 740 torr total pressure of air were (5.53 ± 0.35) × 10^?11 and (5.96 ± 0.38) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. Upper limits to the rate constants for the NO₃ radical and O₃ reactions with (CH₃O)₂P(S)Cl of <3 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and <2 × 10^?19 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, were obtained. These data are compared and discussed with previous literature data for organophosphorus compounds.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of β-phellandrene with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 at 297 ± 2 K

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the biogenically emitted monoterpene β-phellandrene with OH and NO₃ radicals and O₃ have been measured at 297 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air using relative rate methods. The rate constants obtained were (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 units): for reaction with the OH radical, (1.68 ± 0.41) × 10^?10; for reaction with the NO₃ radical, (7.96 ± 2.82) × 10^?12; and for reaction with O₃, (4.77 ± 1.23) × 10^?17, where the error limits include the estimated uncertainties in the reference reaction rate constants. Using these rate constants, the lifetime of β-phellandrene in the lower troposphere due to reaction with these species is calculated to be in the range of ca. 1–8 h, with the OH radical reaction being expected to dominate over the O₃ reaction as a loss process for β-phellandrene during daylight hours.     

Measurements of the kinetics of the OH + α‐pinene and OH + β‐pinene reactions at low pressure

The rate constants for the OH + α‐pinene and OH + β‐pinene reactions have been measured in 5 Torr of He using discharge‐flow systems coupled with resonance fluorescence and laser‐induced fluorescence detection of the OH radical. At room temperature, the measured effective bimolecular rate constant for the OH + α‐pinene reaction was (6.08 ± 0.24) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. These results are in excellent agreement with previous absolute measurements of this rate constant, but are approximately 13% greater than the value currently recommended for atmospheric modeling. The measured effective bimolecular rate constant for the OH + β‐pinene reaction at room temperature was (7.72 ± 0.44) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, in excellent agreement with previous measurements and current recommendations. Above 300 K, the effective bimolecular rate constants for these reactions display a negative temperature dependence suggesting that OH addition dominates the reaction mechanisms under these conditions. This negative temperature dependence is larger than that observed at higher pressures. The measured rate constants for the OH + α‐pinene and OH + β‐pinene reactions are in good agreement with established reactivity trends relating the rate constant for OH + alkene reactions with the ionization potential of the alkene when ab initio calculated energies for the highest occupied molecular orbital are used as surrogates for the ionization potentials for α‐ and β‐pinene. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 300–308, 2002     

Measurements of the kinetics of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein

The mechanisms of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein have been studied at 300 K and 100 Torr total pressure, using a turbulent flow technique coupled with laser‐induced fluorescence detection of the OH radical. The rate constants for the OH + methyl vinyl ketone and OH + methacrolein reactions were measured to be (1.78 ± 0.08) × 10^?11 and (3.22 ± 0.10) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, and were found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies. In the presence of O₂ and NO, the OH radical propagation and the loss of OH through radical termination resulting from the production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates were measured at 100 Torr total pressure and compared to the simulations of the kinetics of these reaction systems. The results of these experiments are consistent with an overall rate constant of (2.0 ± 1.3) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for both the methyl vinyl ketone‐based peroxy radical + NO and methacrolein‐based peroxy radical + NO reactions, each with branching ratios of 0.90 ± 0.10 for the bimolecular channel (oxidation of NO to NO₂) and 0.10 ± 0.10 for the termolecular channel (production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 12–25, 2003     

Gas-phase reactions of azulene with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 at 298 ± 2 K

Azulene, which is isomeric with naphthalene, was studied to determine whether it behaves like a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or an alkene in its gas-phase reactions with OH and NO₃ radicals and O₃. Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the reactions of azulene with OH and NO₃ radicals and O₃ of (2.73 ± 0.56) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, (3.9) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and <7 × 10^?17 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, were obtained at 298 ± 2 K. The observation that the NO₃ radical reaction did not involve NO₂ in the rate determining step indicates that azulene behaves more like an alkene than a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in this reaction. No conclusive evidence for the formation of nitroazulene(s) from either the OH or NO₃ radical-initiated reaction of azulene (in the presence of NO_x) was obtained.     

Atmospheric Chemistry of Camphor

Rate constants have been measured at 296 ± 2 K for the gas‐phase reactions of camphor with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃. Using relative rate methods, the rate constants for the OH radical and NO₃ radical reactions were (4.6 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and <3 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, where the indicated error in the OH radical reaction rate constant includes the estimated overall uncertainty in the rate constant for the reference compound. An upper limit to the rate constant for the O₃ reaction of <7 × 10⁻²⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was also determined. The dominant tropospheric loss process for camphor is calculated to be by reaction with the OH radical. Acetone was identified and quantified as a product of the OH radical reaction by gas chromatography, with a formation yield of 0.29 ± 0.04. In situ atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (API‐MS) analyses indicated the formation of additional products of molecular weight 166 (dicarbonyl), 182 (hydroxydicarbonyl), 186, 187, 213 (carbonyl‐nitrate), 229 (hydroxycarbonyl‐nitrate), and 243. A reaction mechanism leading to the formation of acetone is presented, as are pathways for the formation of several of the additional products observed by API‐MS. © 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 56–63, 2001     

Formation of alkyl nitrates from the reaction of branched and cyclic alkyl peroxy radicals with NO

The yields of C₅ and C₆ alkyl nitrates from neopentane, 2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, and cyclohexane have been measured in irradiated CH₃ONONO-alkane-air mixtures at 298 ± 2 K and 735-torr total pressure. Additionally, OH radical rate constants for neopentyl nitrate, 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, and cyclohexyl nitrate, relative to that for n-butane, have been determined at 298 ± 2 K. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with n-butane of 2.58 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, these OH radical rate constants are (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): neopentyl nitrate, 0.87 ± 0.21; cyclohexyl nitrate, 3.35 ± 0.36; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 1.75 ± 0.06; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 1.75 ± 0.22; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 3.07 ± 0.08. After accounting for consumption of the alkyl nitrates by OH radical reaction and for the yields of the individual alkyl peroxy radicals formed in the reaction of OH radicals with the alkanes studied, the alkyl nitrate yields (which reflect the fraction of the individual RO₂ radicals reacting with NO to form RONO₂) determined were: neopentyl nitrate, 0.0513 ± 0.0053; cyclohexyl nitrate, 0.160 ± 0.015; 3-nitro-2-methylbutane, 0.109 ± 0.003; 2-nitro-2methylbutane, 0.0533 ± 0.0022; 2-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.0350 ± 0.0096; 3- + 4-nitro-2-methylpentane, 0.165 ± 0.016; and 2-nitro-3-methylpentane, 0.140 ± 0.014. These results are discussed and compared with previous literature values for the alkyl nitrates formed from primary and secondary alkyl peroxy radicals generated from a series of n-alkanes.     

Rate constants of the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal,trans‐2‐octenal,and trans‐2‐nonenal

The rate constants of the gas‐phase reaction of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal, trans‐2‐octenal, and trans‐2‐nonenal were determined at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure using the relative rate technique. Two reference compounds were selected for each rate constant determination. The relative rates of OH + trans‐2‐hexenal versus OH + 2‐methyl‐2‐butene and β‐pinene were 0.452 ± 0.054 and 0.530 ± 0.036, respectively. These results yielded an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐hexenal of (39.3 ± 1.7) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐octenal versus the OH reaction with butanal and β‐pinene were 1.65 ± 0.08 and 0.527 ± 0.032, yielding an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐octenal of (40.5 ± 2.5) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐nonenal versus OH+ butanal and OH + trans‐2‐hexenal were 1.77 ± 0.08 and 1.09 ± 0.06, resulting in an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐nonenal of (43.5 ± 3.0) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. In all cases, the errors represent 2σ (95% confidential level) and the calculated rate constants do not include the error associated with the rate constant of the OH reaction with the reference compounds. The rate constants for the hydroxyl radical reactions of a series of trans‐2‐aldehydes were compared with the values estimated using the structure activity relationship. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 483–489, 2009