Absolute rate constants for hydrogen abstraction from hydrocarbons by the trichloromethylperoxyl radical

Absolute rate constants have been measured for the reactions of trichloromethylperoxyl radicals with cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and hexamethylbenzene. The CCl₃O₂ radicals were produced by pulse radiolysis of air-saturated CCl₄ solutions containing various amounts of the hydrocarbons. The rate constants were determined by competition with the one-electron oxidation of metalloporphyrins, using the rate of formation of the metalloporphyrin radical cation absorption to monitor the reaction by kinetic spectrophotometry. The rate constants for hydrogen abstraction from cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and hexamethylbenzene were found to be 1 × 10³, 1.0 × 10⁵, and 7.5 × 10⁴ M^?1 s^?1, respectively.     

Rate constants for some hydrogen abstraction reactions of the carbonate radical

Rate constants have been measured in aqueous solutions for the reactions of the carbonate radical, CO₃^˙?, with several saturated alcohols and one cyclic ether as a function of temperature. Arrhenius pre-exponential factors ranged from 2×10⁸ to 1×10⁹ ?? mol^?1 s^?1 and activation energies ranged from 16 to 29 kJ mol^?1. The results suggest that the reactions are not pure hydrogen abstraction, but involve an additional interaction of the radical with the ? OH or ? O? linkage. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Approaches for obtaining accurate rate constants for hydrogen abstraction by a chlorine atom

We have assessed computational methodologies for calculating the rate constants for hydrogen abstraction by Cl(?) for a selection of 12 reactions. For the conventional approach of calculating higher-level [B2K-PLYP/aug'-cc-pV[(T+d),(Q+d)]Z] single-point energies at lower-level [BH&H-LYP/6-31+G(d,p)] stationary points, large deviations from experimental rate constants are found in a number of cases in which the activation energy is very low. These discrepancies are due largely to deviations in the calculated activation energies and can be further traced to the inability of the low level to adequately locate the transition structures. We have examined several alternative approaches for calculating rate constants, namely, IRCmax, IRCmax at 0 K (ZK-IRCmax, with zero-point vibration energies (ZPVEs) incorporated), variational transition-state theory (VTST), and VTST with the inclusion of an Eckart tunneling correction (VTST+E). We find that the low level gives reasonable values for the ZPVEs and thermal enthalpy and entropy corrections that are required in such approaches. While the VTST+E approach yields the closest agreement with experimental rate constants for the systems considered, we find that the simpler IRCmax approach gives adequate values and is able to avoid the major shortcomings of the conventional approach in a cost-effective manner.     

Absolute rate constants of alkene addition reactions of a fluorinated radical in water

Absolute rate constants of *R(f)SO(3)(-) radical addition to a series of water-soluble alkenes containing ionic, carboxylate substituents were measured by laser flash photolysis experiments in water. The observed rate constants were all considerably larger than those of structurally similar analogues in a nonpolar organic solvent, with rate factors of 3-9-fold being observed. It is concluded that such rate enhancements derive at least in part from stabilization of the polar transition state for addition of the electrophilic fluorinated radical to alkenes by the polar solvent water.     

On the accuracy of the hydroperoxide method of determining absolute rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by the tert-butylperoxy radical

Measurements of rates of oxygen absorption and steady-state peroxy radical concentrations for the autoxidation of tetralin in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide have shown that the rate constant for reaction of the tert-butylperoxy radical with tetralin at 60°C is approximately 11.0 M^?1 s^?1. This rate constant is about a factor of 4 larger than the value recently reported by Niki, Okayasu, and Kamiya for this reaction. The present work emphasizes that great care should be taken when the hydroperoxide method is used to estimate cross-propagation rate constants for a substrate as reactive as tetralin at a temperature as high as 60°C.     

Absolute rate constants for some intermolecular reactions of alpha-aminoalkylperoxyl radicals. Comparison with alkylperoxyls

Seven alpha-aminoalkylperoxyl radicals have been generated by 355 nm laser flash photolysis (LFP) of oxygen-saturated di-tert-butyl peroxide containing mono-, di-, and trialkylamines and a dialkylarylamine. All these peroxyls possess absorptions in the near-UV (strongest for the trialkylamine-derived peroxyls) which permits direct monitoring of the kinetics of their reactions with many substrates. The measured rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction from some phenols and oxygen atom transfer to triphenylphosphine demonstrated that all seven alpha-aminoalkylperoxyls have similar reactivities toward each specific substrate. More importantly, a comparison with literature data for alkylperoxyls shows that alpha-aminoalkylperoxyls and these alkylperoxyls have essentially the same reactivities. The combination of LFP and alkylamines provides a quick, reliable method for determining absolute rate constants for alkylperoxyl radical reactions, an otherwise laborious task.     

Some hydrogen abstraction reactions of the trichloromethyl radical

The gas phase photolysis of CCl₄ in the presence of several alkanes has been used to obtain Arrhenius parameters for the abstraction of hydrogen atoms by the CCl₃ radical: The following log k₄ values were obtained:

Rate constants for hydrogen abstraction from alkoxides by a perfluoroalkyl radical. An oxyanion accelerated process

A combination of laser flash photolysis and competitive kinetic methods has been used to measure the absolute bimolecular rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction in water from a series of fluorinated alkoxides and aldehyde hydrates by the perfluoroalkyl radical, *CF2CF2OCF2CF2SO3- Na+. The bimolecular rate constants observed for the beta-fluorinated alkoxides were in the 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) range, such rates representing enhancements (relative to the respective alcohols) of between 100 and almost 1000-fold, depending on the reactivity of the alkoxide. Likewise, the monobasic sodium salts of chloral and fluoral hydrate exhibit similar rate enhancements, relative to their respective hydrates.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding and hydrogen atom abstraction in gas-phase aliphatic amine radical cations

The intramolecular hydrogen atom abstraction by the nitrogen atom in isolated aliphatic amine radical cations is examined experimentally and with composite high-level ab initio methods of the G3 family. The magnitude of the enthalpy barriers toward H-atom transfer varies with the shape and size of the cyclic transition state and with the degree of substitution at the nitrogen and carbon atoms involved. The lower barriers are found for 1,5- and 1,6-abstraction, for chairlike transition states, for abstraction reactions in ionized primary amines, and for abstraction of H from tertiary carbon atoms. In most cases, the internal energy required for 1,4-, 1,5-, and 1,6-hydrogen atom abstraction to occur is less than that required for gas-phase fragmentation by simple cleavage of C-C bonds, which explains why H-atom transfer can be reversible and result in extensive H/D exchange prior to the fragmentation of many low-energy deuterium labeled ionized amines. The H-atom transfer to nitrogen is exothermic for primary amine radical cations and endothermic for tertiary amines. It gives rise to a variety of distonic radical cations, and these may undergo further isomerization. The heat of formation of the gauche conformers of the gamma-, delta-, and epsilon-distonic isomers is up to 25 kJ mol(-1) lower than that of the corresponding trans forms, which is taken to reflect C-H-N hydrogen bonding between the protonated amino group and the alkyl radical site.     

Absolute rate constants for reactions of tributylstannyl radicals with bromoalkanes, episulfides, and alpha-halomethyl-episulfides, -cyclopropanes, and -oxiranes: new rate expressions for sulfur and bromine atom abstraction

Arrhenius rate expressions were determined for the abstraction of bromine atom from 2-phenethyl bromide by tri-n-butylstannyl radical (Bu(3)Sn(*)) in benzene using transient absorption spectroscopy, (log(k(abs,Br)/M(-1) s(-1)) = (9.21 +/- 0.20) - (2.23 +/- 0.28)/theta, theta = 2.3RT kcal/mol, errors are 2sigma) and for the abstraction of sulfur atom from propylene sulfide to form propylene, (log(k(s)/M(-1) s(-1)) = (8.75 +/- 0.91) - (2.35 +/-1.33)/theta). Rate constants for reactions of organic bromides, RBr, with Bu(3)Sn(*) were found to vary as R = benzyl (15.6) > thiiranylmethyl (6.2) > oxiranylmethyl (3.1) > cyclopropylmethyl (1.3) > 2-phenethyl (1.0), with k(abs,Br) = 6.8 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) at 353 K for 2-phenethyl bromide. Bromine abstraction from alpha-bromomethylthiirane is about 7-fold faster than sulfur atom abstraction and is comparable to the reactivity of a secondary alkyl bromide. The potential surface for the vinylthiomethyl --> allylthiyl radical rearrangement at UB3LYP/6-31G(d) and UB3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p) levels of theory suggests that the thiiranylmethyl radical is produced about 9 kcal/mol above the allylthiyl radical on the rearrangement surface, consistent with the observed enhancement of the Br atom abstraction from the thiirane and with synchronous C-S bond scission of the thiirane ring. The selectivities reported in this work for S vs Cl and Br abstraction provide applications for radical-based synthesis and new competition basis rate expressions for trialkylstannyl radicals.     

Kinetics of hydrogen abstraction reactions of butene isomers by OH radical

The rate coefficients of H-abstraction reactions of butene isomers by the OH radical were determined by both canonical variational transition-state theory and transition-state theory, with potential energy surfaces calculated at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//BH&HLYP/6-311G(d,p) level and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//BH&HLYP/cc-pVTZ level and quantum mechanical tunneling effect corrected by either the small-curvature tunneling method or the Eckart method. While 1-butene contains allylic, vinylic, and alkyl hydrogens that can be abstracted to form different butene radicals, results reveal that s-allylic H-abstraction channels have low and broad energy barriers, and they are the most dominant channels which can occur via direct and indirect H-abstraction channels. For the indirect H-abstraction s-allylic channel, the reaction can proceed via forming two van der Waals prereactive complexes with energies that are 2.7-2.8 kcal mol(-1) lower than that of the entrance channel at 0 K. Assuming that neither mixing nor crossover occurs between different reaction pathways, the overall rate coefficient was calculated by summing the rate coefficients of the s-allyic, methyl, and vinyl H-abstraction paths and found to agree well with the experimentally measured OH disappearance rate. Furthermore, the rate coefficients of p-allylic H abstraction of cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene, and isobutene by the OH radical were also determined at 300-1500 K, with results analyzed and compared with available experimental data.     

Rate constants for hydrogen abstraction reactions of the sulfate radical,SO4−. Alcohols

Rate constants have been determined for the reactions of SO₄^? with a series of alcohols, including hydrated formaldehyde. The SO₄^? radical was produced by the laser-flash photolysis of persulfate, S₂O₈^2?. Rate constants for the reactions of SO₄^? with alcohols range from 1.0 × 10⁷ for methanol to 3.4 × 10⁸ M^?1 s^?1 for 1-octanol. Rate constants for the reactions of SO₄^? with deuterated methanol and ethanol are lower by about a factor of 2.5. For methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol, the temperature dependence of the rate constant was determined over the range 10–45°C.     

Nucleophilic character of the tert-butyl radical. Absolute rate constants for the reactions with substituted toluenes

The decay of photochemically generated tert-butyl radicals is studied at 48°C in 11 m- and p-substituted toluenes by time-resolved electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It is governed by the second-order self-termination perturbed by a pseudo-first-order reaction of the radical with the toluenes. The first-order lifetimes yield the rate constants k_A for hydrogen transfer from toluenes to tert-butyl. Substituent effects on the rate constants confirm the nucleophilic character of the radical.     

Second hydrogen atom abstraction by molecular ions

We report the observation of a new physical phenomenon of the addition of 2 hydrogen atoms to molecular ions thus forming [M + 2H]⁺ ions. We demonstrate such second hydrogen atom abstraction onto the molecular ions of pentaerythritol and trinitrotoluene (TNT). We used both gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) with supersonic molecular beam (SMB) with methanol added into its make‐up gas and electron ionization (EI) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) with SMB with methanol as the LC solvent. We found that the formation of methanol clusters resulted upon EI in the formation of dominant protonated pentaerythritol ion at m/z = 137 plus about 70% relative abundance of pentaerythritol molecular ion with 2 additional hydrogen atoms at m/z = 138 which is well above the 5.7% natural C¹³ isotope abundance of protonated pentaerythritol. Similarly, we found an abundant protonated TNT ion at m/z = 228 and a similar abundance of TNT molecular ion with 2 additional hydrogen atoms at m/z = 229. Upon the use of deuterated methanol (CD₃OD) as the solvent, we observed an abundant m/z = 231 (M + 2D)⁺ of TNT with 2 deuterium atoms. We found such abundant second hydrogen atom abstraction with butylglycolate and at low abundances in dioctylphthalate, Vitamin K3, phenazine, and RDX. At this time, we are unable to report the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of this phenomenon in standard electrospray LC‐MS. This observation could have important implications on the provision of elemental formula from mass spectra that are involved with protonated molecules. Accordingly, while accurate mass measurements can serve for the generation of elemental formula, their further support and improvement via isotope abundance analysis are questionable. Consequently, if a given compound can be analyzed by both GC‐MS and LC‐MS, its GC‐MS analysis can be superior for the provision of accurate elemental formulae if its EI mass spectrum exhibits abundant molecular ions such as with GC‐MS with SMB (also known as cold EI).     

Theoretical study on the hydrogen abstraction reactions from hydrazine derivatives by H atom

The hydrogen abstraction reactions from hydrazine and its methyl derivatives by the H atom have been investigated theoretically by using CBS-QB3//DSD-BLYP-D3(BJ)/Def2-TZVP quantum chemical calculations and transition state theory calculations coupled with various tunneling correction methods. Both the products and transition state energies of the hydrogen abstraction from the amino group were stabilized by the methyl group substitution. The substitution effect on the ^αN site was two times larger than that on the ^βN site. On the other hand, the substitution effect was negligible on the hydrogen abstraction from the methyl group. The overall rate coefficients of N₂H₄ + H reaction calculated by canonical variational transition state theory with the small-curvature tunneling correction agreed well with previously reported values, but those of CH₃NHNH₂/(CH₃)₂NNH₂ + H were slightly lower than a previous experimental value. The product-specific rate coefficients have been proposed for the kinetics modeling of these fuels’ combustion.     

Large primary kinetic isotope effects in the abstraction of hydrogen from organic compounds by a fluorinated radical in water

Isotope effects have been measured for the abstraction of hydrogen from a series of organic substrates by the perfluoro radical, Na+ -O3SCF2CF2OCF2CF2*, in water. Both primary and secondary deuterium isotope effects were measured, with the primary isotope effects ranging in value from 4.5 for isopropanol to 19.6 for acetic acid. The values for the alpha- and beta-secondary deuterium isotope effects were 1.06 and 1.035, respectively. It was concluded that tunneling contributes significantly to the production of the observed, large primary kinetic isotope effects in these C-H abstraction reactions.     

Rate constants for hydrogen abstraction reactions by the hydroperoxyl radical from methanol, ethenol, acetaldehyde, toluene, and phenol

An important step in the initial oxidation of hydrocarbons at low to intermediate temperatures is the abstraction of H by hydroperoxyl radical (HO(2)). In this study, we calculate energy profiles for the sequence: reactant + HO(2) → [complex of reactants] → transition state → [complex of products] → product + H(2)O(2) for methanol, ethenol (i.e., C(2)H(3)OH), acetaldehyde, toluene, and phenol. Rate constants are provided in the simple Arrhenius form. Reasonable agreement was obtained with the limited literature data available for acetaldehyde and toluene. Addition of HO(2) to the various distinct sites in phenol is investigated. Direct abstraction of the hydroxyl H was found to dominate over HO(2) addition to the ring. The results presented herein should be useful in modeling the lower temperature oxidation of the five compounds considered, especially at low temperature where the HO(2) is expected to exist at reactive levels.     

Tunneling parameters for the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of diphenylcarbene in a low temperature toluene matrix

Tunneling reaction rate constants of diphenylcarbene in a toluene matrix can be fit by an asymmetric Eckart barrier. The barrier heights in good agreement with theory.