Products of the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with n‐butyl methyl ether and 2‐isopropoxyethanol: Reactions of ROC(Ȯ) < radicals

The products of the gas‐phase reactions of the OH radical with n‐butyl methyl ether and 2‐isopropoxyethanol in the presence of NO have been investigated at 298 ± 2 K and 740 Torr total pressure of air by gas chromatography and in situ atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The products observed from n‐butyl methyl ether were methyl formate, propanal, butanal, methyl butyrate, and CH₃C(O)CH₂CH₂OCH₃ and/or CH₃CH₂C(O)CH₂OCH₃, with molar formation yields of 0.51 ± 0.11, 0.43 ± 0.06, 0.045 ± 0.010, ∼0.016, and 0.19 ± 0.04, respectively. Additional products of molecular weight 118, 149 and 165 were observed by API‐MS/MS analyses, with those of molecular weight 149 and 165 being identified as organic nitrates. The products observed and quantified from 2‐isopropoxyethanol were isopropyl formate and 2‐hydroxyethyl acetate, with molar formation yields of 0.57 ± 0.05 and 0.44 ± 0.05, respectively. For both compounds, the majority of the reaction products and reaction pathways are accounted for, and detailed reaction mechanisms are presented. The results of this product study are combined with previous literature product data to investigate the tropospheric reactions of R₁R₂C(Ȯ)OR radicals formed from ethers and glycol ethers, leading to a revised estimation method for the calculation of reaction rates of alkoxy radicals. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 501–513, 1999     

Theoretical Study of the Reactions M++CH3F (M=Ge,As, Se,Sb)

CASSCF–MRMP2 calculations have been carried out to analyze the reactions of the methyl fluoride molecule with the atomic ions Ge⁺, As⁺, Se⁺ and Sb⁺. For these interactions, potential energy curves for the low‐lying electronic states were calculated for different approaching modes of the fragments. Particularly, those channels leading to C? H and C? F oxidative addition products, H₂FC? M? H⁺ and H₃C? M? F⁺, respectively were explored, as well as the paths which evolve to the abstraction (M? F⁺+CH₃) and the elimination (CH₂M⁺+HF) asymptotes. For the reaction Ge⁺+CH₃F the only favorable channel leads to fluorine abstraction by the ion. As⁺ and Sb⁺ can react with CH₃F along pathways yielding stable addition products. However, a viable path joining the oxidative addition product H₃C? M? F⁺ with the elimination asymptote CH₂M⁺+HF was found for the reaction of the fluorocarbon compound with As⁺. No favorable channels were detected for the interaction of fluoromethane with Se⁺. The results discussed herein allow rationalizing some of the experimental data found for these interactions through gas‐phase mass spectrometry.     

Theoretical Study on the Reaction Mechanism of Ketene CH2CO with Isocyanate NCO Radical

The bimolecular single collision reaction potential energy surface of an isocyanate NCO radical with a ketene CH2CO molecule was investigated by means of B3LYP and QCISD（T） methods. The computed results indicate that two possible reaction channels exist on the surface. One is an addition-elimination reaction process, in which the CH2CO molecule is attacked by the nitrogen atom at its methylene carbon atom to lead to the formation of the intermediate OCNCH2CO followed by a C-C rupture channel to the products CH2NCO＋CO. The other is a direct hydrogen abstraction channel from CHzCO by the NCO radical to afford the products HCCO＋HNCO. Because of a higher barrier in the hydrogen abstraction reaction than in the addition-elimination reaction, the direct hydrogen abstraction pathway can only be considered as a secondary reaction channel in the reaction kinetics of NCO＋ CH2CO. The predicted results are in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical investigations.     

Shock‐tube spectroscopic water measurements and detailed kinetics modeling of 1‐pentene and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene

To understand the effects of the chemical structure of two C₅ alkene isomers on their combustion properties, and to highlight the major chemical reactions occurring during their high‐temperature oxidation, water time histories were measured behind reflected shock waves for the oxidation of 1‐pentene (C₅H₁₀‐1) and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene (3M1B) in 99.5% Ar. The experiments were carried out at three different equivalence ratios (φ = 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) at pressures and temperatures ranging from 1.29 to 1.47 atm and 1 331 to 1 877 K, respectively. The H₂O quantification extends the database for 1‐pentene and provides new insights for 3M1B. These unique results were used to validate and to develop a new detailed kinetics model. Numerical predictions are presented, and the new model was able to capture the results with suitable accuracy, with 3M1B being notably more reactive than C₅H₁₀‐1. Sensitivity and rate‐of‐production analyses were performed to help explain the results. Under the present conditions, the reactivity is rapidly initiated by molecular dissociation of a fraction of the pentene isomers. The initiation phase then induces H‐atom abstraction by active radicals (H, OH, O, HO₂, and CH₃) to first produce alkenyl C₅H₉ radicals (or an alkyl radical and an alkenyl radical by breaking a C─C bond) and subsequent, smaller fragments. The difference in terms of reactivity between the isomers is essentially due to the fact that 3M1B has one particularly weak tertiary allylic C─H bond, which allows for fast H‐atom abstraction compared with 1‐pentene.     

Gas‐Phase Oxidation of Methyl‐10‐undecenoate in a Jet‐Stirred Reactor

To better understand the chemistry of biodiesel surrogates, the gas‐phase oxidation of a C₁₂ unsaturated methyl ester, methyl‐10‐undecenoate, has been studied in a jet‐stirred reactor in the temperature range 500–1100 K. These experiments were performed using neat fuel synthesized in the laboratory, with an initial fuel mole fraction set as 0.0021, at quasi‐atmospheric pressure (1.07 bar), at a residence time of 1.5 s with dilute mixtures in helium of equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. The maximum obtained conversion was shown to be more than twice lower than that of methyl decanoate under the same conditions. This difference cannot be reproduced by the only published model for an unsaturated ester with a close number of carbon atoms (methyl‐9‐decenoate). A large range of products was quantified in addition to common oxidation products: saturated and unsaturated aldehydes, saturated and unsaturated methyl esters with a second carbonyl function, C₂–C₁₀ alkenes, C₄–C₁₀ dienes, C₄–C₁₀ unsaturated methyl esters, C₈–C₉ saturated methyl esters, and saturated, unsaturated, and hydroxyl methyl esters involving a cyclic ether. Pathways of formation for the products specific to unsaturated ester oxidation were proposed, and possible model improvements were discussed.     

The atmospheric oxidation of ethyl formate and ethyl acetate over a range of temperatures and oxygen partial pressures

The Cl‐atom‐initiated oxidation of two esters, ethyl formate [HC(O)OCH₂CH₃] and ethyl acetate [CH₃C(O)OCH₂CH₃], has been studied at pressures close to 1 atm as a function of temperature (249–325 K) and O₂ partial pressure (50–700 Torr), using an environmental chamber technique. In both cases, Cl‐atom attack at the CH₂ group is most important, leading in part to the formation of radicals of the type RC(O)OCH(O^?)CH₃ [R = H, CH₃]. The atmospheric fate of these radicals involves competition between reaction with O₂ to produce an anhydride compound, RC(O)OC(O)CH₃, and the so‐called α‐ester rearrangement that produces an organic acid, RC(O)OH, and an acetyl radical, CH₃C(O). For both species studied, the α‐ester rearrangement is found to dominate in air at 1 atm and 298 K. Barriers to the rearrangement of 7.7 ± 1.5 and 8.4 ± 1.5 kcal/mole are estimated for CH₃C(O)OCH(O^?)CH₃ and HC(O)OCH(O^?)CH₃, respectively, leading to increased occurrence of the O₂ reaction at reduced temperature. The data are combined with those obtained from similar studies of other simple esters to provide a correlation between the rate of occurrence of the α‐ester rearrangement and the structure of the reacting radical. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 397–413, 2010     

Lateral Adsorbate Interactions Inhibit HCOO− while Promoting CO Selectivity for CO2 Electrocatalysis on Silver

Ag is a promising catalyst for the production of carbon monoxide (CO) via the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ER). Herein, we study the role of the formate (HCOO^?) intermediate *OCHO, aiming to resolve the discrepancy between the theoretical understanding and experimental performance of Ag. We show that the first coupled proton‐electron transfer (CPET) step in the CO pathway competes with the Volmer step for formation of *H, whereas this Volmer step is a prerequisite for the formation of *OCHO. We show that *OCHO should form readily on the Ag surface owing to solvation and favorable binding strength. In situ surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) experiments give preliminary evidence of the presence of O‐bound bidentate species on polycrystalline Ag during CO₂ER which we attribute to *OCHO. Lateral adsorbate interactions in the presence of *OCHO have a significant influence on the surface coverage of *H, resulting in the inhibition of HCOO^? and H₂ production and a higher selectivity towards CO.     

Experimental study of fuel decomposition and hydrocarbon growth processes for practical fuel components in nonpremixed flames: MTBE and related alkyl ethers

Fuel decomposition and hydrocarbon growth processes of methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) and related alkyl ethers have been studied experimentally in soot‐producing nonpremixed flames. Temperature, C1–C12 hydrocarbons, and major species were measured in coflowing methane/air flames whose fuel was separately doped with 5000 ppm of MTBE, n‐butyl methyl ether (NBME), sec‐butyl methyl ether (SBME), ethyl tert‐butyl ether (ETBE), and tert‐amyl methyl ether (TAME; =1,1‐dimethylpropyl methyl ether). The consumption rates of the dopants, several simple kinetic calculations, and the dependence of the observed products on fuel composition indicate that the dominant decomposition process was unimolecular dissociation, not H‐atom abstraction. The dominant dissociations were four‐center elimination of alcohols for the doubly branched ethers (MTBE, ETBE, and TAME) and C? O fission for the linear ether (NBME), while four‐center elimination and C? O fission were comparably important for the singly branched ether (SBME). These dissociations produced alkenes which further reacted to produce alkadienes/alkynes, alkenynes, acetylenic compounds, and aromatics. The dependence of the maximum benzene mole fractions on fuel composition was consistent with benzene formation through reactions of highly‐unsaturated C3 and/or C4 hydrocarbons (C₃H₃, n‐C₄H₃, C₄H₄, n‐C₄H₅, etc.). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 345–358, 2004     

Effects of multidimensional tunneling in the kinetics of hydrogen abstraction reactions of O (3P) with CH3OCHO

Quantum tunneling paths are important in reactions when there is a significant component of hydrogenic motion along the potential energy surface. In this study, variational transition state with multidimensional tunneling corrections are employed in the calculations of the thermal rate constants for hydrogen abstraction from the cis‐CH₃OCHO by O (³P) giving CH₃OCO + OH (R1) and CH₂OCHO + OH (R2). The structures and electronic energies are computed with the M06‐2X method. Benchmark calculations with the CBS_D–T approach give an enthalpy of reaction at 0 K for R1 (−2.8 kcal/mol) and R2 (−2.5 kcal/mol) which are in good agreement with the experiment, i.e. −2.61 and −1.81 kcal/mol. At the low and intermediate values of temperatures, small‐ and large‐curvature tunneling dominate the kinetics of R1, which is the dominant path over the range of temperature from 250 to 1200 K. This study shows the importance of multidimensional tunneling corrections for both R1 and R2, for which the total rate constant at 298 K calculated with the CVT/μOMT method is 8.2 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ which agrees well with experiment value of 9.3 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (Mori, Bull. Inst. Chem. Res. 1981, 59, 116). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Temperature‐Induced Irreversible Phase Transition From Perovskite to Diamond But Pressure‐Driven Back‐Transition in an Ammonium Copper Formate

The compound [CH₃CH₂NH₃][Cu(HCOO)₃] undergoes a phase transition at 357 K, from a perovskite to a diamond structure, by heating. The backward transition can be driven by pressure at room temperature but not cooling under ambient or lower pressure. The rearrangement of one long copper–formate bond, the switch of bridging‐chelating mode of the formate, the alternation of N?H???O H‐bonds, and the flipping of ethylammonium are involved in the transition. The strong N?H???O H‐bonding probably locks the metastable diamond phase. The two phases display magnetic and electric orderings of different characters.     

Reaction of CO2 with a Vanadium(II) Aryl Oxide: Synergistic Activation of CO2/Oxo Groups towards H‐Atom Radical Abstraction

Treatment of divalent (ONNO)V(TMEDA) ( 1 ; ONNO=[2,4‐Me₂‐2‐(OH)C₆H₂CH₂]₂N(CH₂)₂NMe₂) with CO₂ afforded [(ONNO)V]₂(μ‐OH)(μ‐formate) ( 2 ). Whereas the bridging hydroxo and formate groups both originated from CO₂, the H atoms present on the two residues were obtained through H‐atom radical abstraction from the solvent. DFT calculations revealed an initially linear CO₂ bonding mode, followed by deoxygenation, and highlighted a synergistic effect between the so‐formed oxo group and an additional bridging CO₂ residue in promoting radical behavior.     

Variational transition state theory rate constants and H/D kinetic isotope effects for CH3 + CH3OCOH reactions

The rate constants and H/D kinetic isotope effect for hydrogen abstraction reactions involving isotopomers of methyl formate by methyl radical are computed employing methods of the variational transition state theory (VTST) with multidimensional tunneling corrections. The energy paths were built with a dual-level method using the moller plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) method as the low-level and complete basis set (CBS) extrapolation as the high-level energy method. Benchmark calculations with the CBS_D-T approach give an enthalpy of reaction at 0 K for R1 (−4.5 kcal/mol) and R2 (−4.2 kcal/mol) which are in good agreement with the experiment, that is, −4.0 and − 4.8 kcal/mol. For the reactional paths involving the isotopomers CH₃ + CH₃OCOH → CH₄ + CH₃OCO and CH₃ + CH₃OCOD → CH₃D + CH₃OCO, the value of k^H/k^D (T = 455 K) using the canonical VTST/small-curvature tunneling approximation method is 6.7 in close agreement with experimental value (6.2). © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical study of the mechanism of CH2CO + CN reaction

The potential energy surface information of the CH₂CO + CN reaction is obtained at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) level. To gain further mechanistic knowledge, higher‐level single‐point calculations for the stationary points are performed at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p) level. The CH₂CO + CN reaction proceeds through four possible mechanisms: direct hydrogen abstraction, olefinic carbon addition–elimination, carbonyl carbon addition–elimination, and side oxygen addition–elimination. Our calculations demonstrate that R→IM1→TS3→P3: CH₂CN + CO is the energetically favorable channel; however, channel R→IM2→TS4→P4: CH₂NC + CO is considerably competitive, especially as the temperature increases (R, IM, TS, and P represent reactant, intermediate, transition state, and product, respectively). The present study may be helpful in probing the mechanism of the CH₂CO + CN reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Fragmentation reactions of the enolate ions of 2-pentanone

The reaction of [OH]^? with 2-pentanone produces two enolate ions, [CH₃CH₂CH₂COCH₂]^? and [CH₃COCHCH₂CH₃]^?, by proton abstraction from C(1) and C(3), respectively. Using deuterium isotopic labelling the fragmentation reactions of each enolate have been delineated for collisional activation at both high (8 keV) and low (5–100 eV) collisional energies. The primary enolate ion fragments mainly by elimination of ethene. Two mechanisms operate: elimination of C(4) and C(5) with hydrogen migration from C(5), and elimination of C(3) and C(4) with migration of the C(5) methyl group. Minor fragmentation of the primary enolate also occurs by elimination of propane and elimination of C₂H₅; the latter reaction involves specifically the terminal ethyl group. The secondary enolate ion fragments mainly by loss of H₂ and by elimination of CH₄; for the latter reaction four different pathways are operative. Minor elimination of ethene also is observed involving migration of a C(5) hydrogen to C(3) and elimination of C(4) and C(5) as ethene.     

Probing the pyrolysis of methyl formate in the dilute gas phase by synchrotron radiation and theory

The thermal dissociation of the atmospheric constituent methyl formate was probed by coupling pyrolysis with imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (iPEPICO) using synchrotron VUV radiation at the Swiss Light Source (SLS). iPEPICO allows threshold photoelectron spectra to be obtained for pyrolysis products, distinguishing isomers and separating ionic and neutral dissociation pathways. In this work, the pyrolysis products of dilute methyl formate, CH₃OC(O)H, were elucidated to be CH₃OH + CO, 2 CH₂O and CH₄ + CO₂ as in part distinct from the dissociation of the radical cation (CH₃OH^+• + CO and CH₂OH⁺ + HCO). Density functional theory, CCSD(T), and CBS-QB3 calculations were used to describe the experimentally observed reaction mechanisms, and the thermal decomposition kinetics and the competition between the reaction channels are addressed in a statistical model. One result of the theoretical model is that CH₂O formation was predicted to come directly from methyl formate at temperatures below 1200 K, while above 1800 K, it is formed primarily from the thermal decomposition of methanol.     

Metal(II) Formates (M = Fe,Co, Ni,and Cu) Stabilized by Tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda): Convenient Molecular Precursors for the Synthesis of Supported Nanoparticles

γ‐Alumina supported 3d transition‐metal nanoparticles are commonly used catalysts for several industrial reactions, such as Fischer‐Tropsch, reforming, methanation, and hydrogenation reactions. However, the activity of such catalyst is often limited by the low metal dispersion and a high content of irreducible metal, inherent to the conventional preparation methods in aqueous phase. In this context, we have recently shown that [{Ni(μ²‐OCHO)(OCHO)(tmeda)}₂(μ²‐OH₂)] (tmeda=tetramethylethylenediamine) is a suitable molecular precursor for the formation of 1–2 nm large nanoparticles onto alumina. Here, we explore the synthesis of the corresponding Fe, Co, and Cu molecular precursors, namely [{Fe(μ²‐OCHO)(OCHO)(tmeda)}₄], [{Co(μ²‐OCHO)(OCHO)(tmeda)}₂(μ²‐OH₂ )], [Cu(κ²‐OCHO)₂(tmeda)], which are, like the Ni precursor, soluble in a range of solvents, rendering them convenient metal precursors for the preparation of supported metallic nanoparticles on γ‐alumina. Using a specific adsorption of the molecular precursor on γ‐alumina in a suitable organic solvent, treatment under H₂ provides small and narrowly distributed Fe (2.5±0.9 nm), Co (3.0±1.2 nm), Ni (1.7±0.5 nm), and Cu (2.1±1.5 nm) nanoparticles. XAS shows that the proportion of MAl₂O₄ (M = Co, Ni, Cu) is small, thus illustrating the advantage of using these tailor‐made molecular precursors.     

Kinetics of hydrogen abstraction reaction between trifluoromethyl formate and OH radical: A theoretical investigation

Kinetics and mechanism of the hydrogen abstraction reaction between trifluoromethyl formate, CF₃OCHO, and OH radical have been investigated by using ab initio molecular orbital theory up to G2(MP2) level. The hydrogen abstraction rate constant has been calculated for the first time over a temperature range of 250–450 K by using standard transition state theory including the tunneling correction. Arrhenius parameters of the reaction have been estimated from the temperature dependence of the calculated rate constant. The calculated value for the rate constant (2.0 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) at 298 K is found to be in very good agreement with the recent experimental results. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 500–507, 2002     

Shock‐Tube Experiments and Kinetic Modeling of CH3NHCH3 Ignition at Elevated Pressures

Ignition delay times of CH₃NHCH₃/O₂/Ar mixtures are measured with a shock tube in the temperature range of 1040–1604 K. Different pressures (4, 8, and 18 atm) and equivalence ratios (0.5, 1, and 2) are investigated. A recently developed CH₃NHCH₃ kinetic model is examined, and then modified by adding the hydrogen abstractions from CH₃NHCH₃ by HO₂ and NO₂. The rate constants of the hydrogen abstraction by HO₂ are estimated by analogy to the CH₃OH + HO₂ system, and those of the hydrogen abstraction by NO₂ by analogy to the CH₃NH₂ + HO₂ system. The modified model is well validated against the present measurements. Based on this model, sensitivity analysis and reaction pathway analysis are performed to provide insight into the chemical kinetics of CH₃NHCH₃ ignition. CH₃NHCH₃ is mainly consumed by hydrogen abstractions at low temperatures, and its unimolecular decomposition becomes important at higher temperatures.     

Fragmentations of Hydroxymethyl Radical Cation: An Ab Initio Study

The probable fragmentation channels of hydroxymethyl radical cation were studied through the H‐and H₂‐abstraction and C‐O bond breaking reactions including their related isomerization reactions. The energy barriers for hydroxymethyl cation undergoing isomerization reactions are generally higher than those undergoing the concerted 1,2‐elimination reactions to generate CHO⁺ and H₂. The fragmentation reaction to form CHO⁺ and H₂ through the 1,2‐elimination pathways is the major fragmentation channel for hydroxymethyl cation, consistent with the experimental observation. H abstraction from the hydroxyl group of CH₂OH⁺ is more difficult than that from the methylene group. The feasible path to lose H is to generate CHOH₂⁺ through hydrogen transfer reaction as the first step and then to undergo H‐elimination to generate trans‐CHOH⁺. Among all the reactions found in this study, the OH‐elimination to generate CH₂⁺ has the highest energy barrier. Our calculation results indicate that the major signals contributed from the related species of hydroxymethyl cation found in the mass spectrum should be m/e 29, m/e 30.     

Rate coefficients and mechanisms of the reaction of cl‐atoms with a series of unsaturated hydrocarbons under atmospheric conditions

Rate coefficients and/or mechanistic information are provided for the reaction of Cl‐atoms with a number of unsaturated species, including isoprene, methacrolein ( MACR ), methyl vinyl ketone ( MVK ), 1,3‐butadiene, trans‐2‐butene, and 1‐butene. The following Cl‐atom rate coefficients were obtained at 298 K near 1 atm total pressure: k(isoprene) = (4.3 ± 0.6) × 10^?10cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (independent of pressure from 6.2 to 760 Torr); k( MVK ) = (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1; k( MACR ) = (2.4 ± 0.3) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1; k(trans‐2‐butene) = (4.0 ± 0.5) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1; k(1‐butene) = (3.0 ± 0.4) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Products observed in the Cl‐atom‐initiated oxidation of the unsaturated species at 298 K in 1 atm air are as follows (with % molar yields in parentheses): CH₂O (9.5 ± 1.0%), HCOCl (5.1 ± 0.7%), and 1‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐one (CMBO, not quantified) from isoprene; chloroacetaldehyde (75 ± 8%), CO₂ (58 ± 5%), CH₂O (47 ± 7%), CH₃OH (8%), HCOCl (7 ± 1%), and peracetic acid (6%) from MVK ; CO (52 ± 4%), chloroacetone (42 ± 5%), CO₂ (23 ± 2%), CH₂O (18 ± 2%), and HCOCl (5%) from MACR ; CH₂O (7 ± 1%), HCOCl (3%), acrolein (≈3%), and 4‐chlorocrotonaldehyde (CCA, not quantified) from 1,3‐butadiene; CH₃CHO (22 ± 3%), CO₂ (13 ± 2%), 3‐chloro‐2‐butanone (13 ± 4%), CH₂O (7.6 ± 1.1%), and CH₃OH (1.8 ± 0.6%) from trans‐2‐butene; and chloroacetaldehyde (20 ± 3%), CH₂O (7 ± 1%), CO₂ (4 ± 1%), and HCOCl (4 ± 1%) from 1‐butene. Product yields from both trans‐2‐butene and 1‐butene were found to be O₂‐dependent. In the case of trans‐2‐butene, the observed O₂‐dependence is the result of a competition between unimolecular decomposition of the CH₃CH(Cl)? CH(O?)? CH₃ radical and its reaction with O₂, with k_decomp/k_O2 = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10¹⁹ molecule cm^?3. The activation energy for decomposition is estimated at 11.5 ± 1.5 kcal mol^?1. The variation of the product yields with O₂ in the case of 1‐butene results from similar competitive reaction pathways for the two β‐chlorobutoxy radicals involved in the oxidation, ClCH₂CH(O?)CH₂CH₃ and ?OCH₂CHClCH₂CH₃. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 334–353, 2003