An ab initio chemical kinetic study on the reactions of H,OH, and Cl with HOClO3

The mechanisms for reactions of H, HO, and Cl with HOClO₃, important elementary processes in the early stages of the ammonium perchlorate (AP) combustion reaction, have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df,2p)//PW91PW91/6‐311+G(3df) level of theory. The rate constants for the low‐energy channels have been calculated by statistical theory. For the reaction of H and HOClO₃, the main channels are the production of H₂ + ClO₄ (k_1a) and HO + HOClO₂ (k_1b); k_1a and k_1b can be represented as 1.07 × 10^?17 T^1.97 exp(?7484/T) and 6.08 × 10^?17T^1.96 exp(?7729/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. For the HO + HOClO₃ reaction, the main pathway is the H₂O + ClO₄ (k_2a) production process, with the predicted rate constant k_2a = 1.24 × 10 ^?8 T^?2.99 exp(1664/T) for 300–500 K and k_2a = 1.27×10^?19 T^2.12 exp(?1474/T) for 500–3000 K. For the Cl + HOClO₃ reaction, the formation of HOCl + ClO₃ (k_3a) and HCl + ClO₄ (k_3b) is dominant, with k_3a = 1.33×10^?12 T^0.67 exp(?9658/T) and k_3b = 1.75×10¹⁶ T^1.63 exp(?11156/T) cm³ molecules^?1 in the range of 300–3000 K. In addition, the heats of formation of ClO₃ and HOClO₃ have been predicted based on several isodesmic and/or isogyric reactions with Δ_fH^o₀ (ClO₃) = 47.0 ± 1.0 and Δ_fH^o₀ (HOClO₃) = 5.5 ± 1.5 kcal/mol, respectively. These data may be used for kinetic simulation of the AP decomposition and combustion reaction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 253–261, 2010     

Theoretical studies on the reactions CH3SCH3 with OH,CF3, and CH3 radicals

The multiple‐channel reactions OH + CH₃SCH₃ → products, CF₃ + CH₃SCH₃ → products, and CH₃ + CH₃SCH₃ → products are investigated by direct dynamics method. The optimized geometries, frequencies, and minimum energy path are all obtained at the MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) level, and energetic information is further refined by the MC‐QCISD (single‐point) method. The rate constants for eight reaction channels are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory with small‐curvature tunneling contribution over the temperature range 200–3000 K. The total rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental data and the three‐parameter expressions k₁ = 4.73 × 10^?16T^1.89 exp(?662.45/T), k₂ = 1.02 × 10^?32T^6.04 exp(933.36/T), k₃ = 3.98 × 10^?35T^6.60 exp(660.58/T) (in unit of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) over the temperature range of 200–3000 K are given. Our calculations indicate that hydrogen abstraction channels are the major channels and the others are minor channels over the whole temperature range. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of chlorine atoms with CH2F2, CH3CCl3, and CF3CFH2 over the temperature range 253–553 K

Relative rate techniques were used to study the title reactions in 930–1200 mbar of N₂ diluent. The reaction rate coefficients measured in the present work are summarized by the expressions k(Cl + CH₂F₂) = 1.19 × 10^?17 T² exp(?1023/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–553 K), k(Cl + CH₃CCl₃) = 2.41 × 10^?12 exp(?1630/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–313 K), and k(Cl + CF₃CFH₂) = 1.27 × 10^?12 exp(?2019/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–313 K). Results are discussed with respect to the literature data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 401–406, 2009     

Theoretical study on the degradation mechanism of methamidophos and chloramine phosphorus with OH radicals

Theoretical investigation on the gas‐phase degradation reaction mechanism of methamidophos (MAP) and chloramine phosphorus (CHP) with OH radicals is performed. The equilibrium geometries and the harmonic vibration frequencies of the stationary points are obtained at M06‐2x/6‐31+G(d,p) level, and the higher‐level energetic information is further refined at M06‐2x/6–311++G(3df,2p) level. The rate constants for the 14 reaction channels are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory with small‐curvature tunneling correction over the temperature range 200–2000 K. The three‐parameter expressions of k₁(T) = 1.53 × 10^?19T^2.74exp(?1005.12/T), k₂(T) = 1.36 × 10^?20T^3.02exp(?1259.56/T) are given. The total rate constants of all reaction channels of MAP with OH radicals are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Our results indicate that the H‐abstraction reactions on methyl are the major channels for the reaction of MAP and CHP with OH radicals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Standard reactions for comparative rate studies: Experiments on the dehydrochlorination reactions of 2‐chloropropane,chlorocyclopentane, and chlorocyclohexane

Single pulse shock tube studies of the thermal dehydrochlorination reactions (chlorocyclopentane → cyclopentene + HCl) and (chlorocyclohexane → cyclohexene + HCl) at temperatures of 843–1021 K and pressures of 1.4–2.4 bar have been carried out using the comparative rate technique. Rate constants have been measured relative to (2‐chloropropane → propene + HCl) and the decyclization reactions of cyclohexene, 4‐methylcyclohexene, and 4‐vinylcyclohexene. Absolute rate constants have been derived using k(cyclohexene → ethene + butadiene) = 1.4 × 10¹⁵ exp(?33,500/T) s^?1. These data provide a self‐consistent temperature scale of use in the comparison of chemical systems studied with different temperature standards. A combined analysis of the present results with the literature data from lower temperature static studies leads to

• k(2‐chloropropane) = 10^{(13.98±0.08)} exp(?26, 225 ± 130) K/T) s^?1; 590–1020 K; 1–3 bar
• k(chlorocylopentane) = 10^{(13.65 ± 0.10)} exp(?24,570 ± 160) K/T) s^?1; 590–1020 K; 1–3 bar
• k(chlorocylohexane) = 10^{(14.33 ± 0.10)} exp(?25,950 ± 180) K/T) s^?1; 590–1020 K; 1–3 bar

Including systematic uncertainties, expanded standard uncertainties are estimated to be about 15% near 600 K rising to about 25% at 1000 K. At 2 bar and 1000 K, the reactions are only slightly under their high‐pressure limits, but falloff effects rapidly become significant at higher temperatures. On the basis of computational studies and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM)/Master Equation modeling of these and reference dehydrochlorination reactions, reported in more detail in an accompanying article, the following high‐pressure limits have been derived:

• k_∞ (2‐chloropropane) = 5.74 × 10⁹T^1.37 exp(?25,680/T) s^?1; 600–1600 K
• k_∞ (chlorocylopentane) = 7.65 × 10⁷T^1.75 exp(?23,320/T) s^?1; 600–1600 K
• k_∞ (chlorocylohexane) = 8.25 × 10⁹T^1.34 exp(?25,010/T) s^?1; 600–1600 K

© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

Int J Chem Kinet 44: 351–368, 2012     

Kinetic study of the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with ethane and propane

Absolute rate coefficients for the reactions of the hydroxyl radical with ethane (k₁, 297–300 K) and propane (k₂, 297–690 K) were measured using the flash photolysis–resonance fluorescence technique. The rate coefficient data were fit by the following temperature-dependent expressions, in units of cm³/molecule·s: k₁(T) = 1.43 × 10^?14T^1.05 exp (?911/T) and k₂(T) = 1.59 × 10^?15T^1.40 exp (-428/T). Semiquantitative separation of OH-propane reactivity into primary and secondary H-atom abstraction channels was obtained.     

Theoretical study and rate constants calculation for the reactions of SiH3 radical with SiH3CH3 and SiH2(CH3)2

The multiple‐channel reactions SiH₃ + SiH₃CH₃ → products and SiH₃ + SiH₂(CH₃)₂ → products are investigated by direct dynamics method. The minimum energy path (MEP) is calculated at the MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) level, and energetic information is further refined by the MC‐QCISD method. The rate constants for individual reaction channels are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory (ICVT) with small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over the temperature range of 200–2400 K. The theoretical three‐parameter expression k₁(T) = 2.39 × 10⁻²³T^4.01exp(−2768.72/T) and k₂(T) = 9.67 × 10⁻²⁷T^4.92exp(−2165.15/T) (in unit of cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) are given. Our calculations indicate that hydrogen abstraction channel from SiH group is the major channel because of the smaller barrier height among eight channels considered. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010     

Hydroxyl radical reactions with halogenated ethanols in aqueous solution: Kinetics and thermochemistry

Laser flash photolysis combined with competition kinetics with SCN^? as the reference substance has been used to determine the rate constants of OH radicals with three fluorinated and three chlorinated ethanols in water as a function of temperature. The following Arrhenius expressions have been obtained for the reactions of OH radicals with (1) 2‐fluoroethanol, k₁(T) = (5.7 ± 0.8) × 10¹¹ exp((?2047 ± 1202)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (2) 2,2‐difluoroethanol, k₂(T) = (4.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁹ exp((?855 ± 796)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (3) 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, k₃(T) = (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹¹ exp((?2400 ± 790)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (4) 2‐chloroethanol, k₄(T) = (3.0 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1067 ± 440)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (5) 2, 2‐dichloroethanol, k₅(T) = (2.1 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1179 ± 517)/T) M^?1 s^?1, and (6) 2,2,2‐trichloroethanol, k₆(T) = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1237 ± 550)/T) M^?1 s^?1. All experiments were carried out at temperatures between 288 and 328 K and at pH = 5.5–6.5. This set of compounds has been chosen for a detailed study because of their possible environmental impact as alternatives to chlorofluorocarbon and hydrogen‐containing chlorofluorocarbon compounds in the case of the fluorinated alcohols and due to the demonstrated toxicity when chlorinated alcohols are considered. The observed rate constants and derived activation energies of the reactions are correlated with the corresponding bond dissociation energy (BDE) and ionization potential (IP), where the BDEs and IPs of the chlorinated ethanols have been calculated using quantum mechanical calculations. The errors stated in this study are statistical errors for a confidence interval of 95%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 174–188, 2008     

Theoretical Studies of the Reactions CFxH3−xCOOR+Cl and CF3COOCH3+OH

The mechanism and kinetics of the reactions of CF₃COOCH₂CH₃, CF₂HCOOCH₃, and CF₃COOCH₃ with Cl and OH radicals are studied using the B3LYP, MP2, BHandHLYP, and M06‐2X methods with the 6‐311G(d,p) basis set. The study is further refined by using the CCSD(T) and QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p) methods. Seven hydrogen‐abstraction channels are found. All the rate constants, computed by a dual‐level direct method with a small‐curvature tunneling correction, are in good agreement with the experimental data. The tunneling effect is found to be important for the calculated rate constants in the low‐temperature range. For the reaction of CF₃COOCH₂CH₃+Cl, H‐abstraction from the CH₂ group is found to be the dominant reaction channel. The standard enthalpies of formation for the species are also calculated. The Arrhenius expressions are fitted within 200–1000 K as k_T(1)=8.4×10^?20T ^2.63exp(381.28/T), k_T(2)=2.95×10^?21T ^3.13exp(?103.21/T), k_T(3)=1.25×10^?23T ^3.37exp(791.98/T), and k_T(4)=4.53×10^?22T ^3.07exp(465.00/T).     

A consistent model for the thermal decomposition of NCN3 and the singlet– triplet relaxation of NCN

The thermal decomposition of cyanogen azide (NCN₃) and the subsequent collision‐induced intersystem crossing (CIISC) process of cyanonitrene (NCN) have been investigated by monitoring excited electronic state ¹NCN and ground state ³NCN radicals. NCN was generated by the pyrolysis of NCN₃ behind shock waves and by the photolysis of NCN₃ at room temperature. Falloff rate constants of the thermal unimolecular decomposition of NCN₃ in argon have been extracted from ¹NCN concentration–time profiles in the temperature range 617 K <T< 927 K and at two different total densities: k(ρ ≈ 3 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=4.9 × 10⁹ × exp (?71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%); k(ρ ≈ 6 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=7.5 × 10⁹ × exp (‐71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%). In addition, high‐temperature ¹NCN absorption cross sections have been determined in the temperature range 618 K <T< 1231 K and can be expressed by σ /(cm²/mol)= 1.0 × 10⁸ ?6.3 × 10⁴ K^?1 × T (± 50%). Rate constants for the CIISC process have been measured by monitoring ³NCN in the temperature range 701 K <T< 1256 K resulting in k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 1.8 ×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=2.6 × 10⁶× exp (‐36±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 3.5×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1 = 2.0 × 10⁶ × exp (?31±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 7.0×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=1.4 × 10⁶ × exp (?25±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%). These values are in good agreement with CIISC rate constants extracted from corresponding ¹NCN measurements. The observed nonlinear pressure dependences reveal a pressure saturation effect of the CIISC process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 30–40, 2013     

Analysis of the unimolecular reaction N2O5 + M ⇌ NO2 + NO3 + M

Recent experimental results on the thermal decomposition of N₂O₅ in N₂ are evaluated in terms of unimolecular rate theory. A theoretically consistent set of fall-off curves is constructed which allows to identify experimental errors or misinterpretations. Limiting rate constants k₀ = [N₂] 2.2 × 10^?3 (T/300)^?4.4 exp(?11,080/T) cm³/molec·s over the range of 220–300 K, k_∞ = 9.7 × 10¹⁴ (T/300)^+0.1 exp(?11,080/T) s^?1 over the range of 220–300 K, and broadening factors of the fall-off curve F_cent = exp(-T/250) + exp(?1050/T) over the range of 220–520 K have been derived. NO₂ + NO₃ recombination rate constants over the range of 200–300 K are k_rec,0 = [N₂] 3.7 × 10^?30 (T/300)^?4.1 cm⁶/molec²·s and k_rec,∞ = 1.6 × 10^?12 (T/300)^+0.2 cm³/molec·s.     

Dual-level direct dynamics studies on the reactions of tetramethylsilane with chlorine and bromine atoms

The multiple-channel reactions Cl + Si(CH₃)₄ and Br + Si(CH₃)₄ are investigated by direct dynamics method. The minimum energy path is calculated at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level, and energetic information is further refined by the MC-QCISD (single-point) method. The rate constants for individual reaction channel are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory with small-curvature tunneling correction over the temperature range 200–3,000 K. The theoretical three-parameter expression k ₁(T) = 9.97 × 10^?13 T ^0.54exp(613.22/T) and k ₂(T) = 1.16 × 10^?17 T ^2.30exp(?3525.88/T) (in unit of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) are given. Our calculations indicate that hydrogen abstraction channel is the major channel due to the smaller barrier height among feasible channels considered.     

Kinetic study of the reaction of chlorine atoms with CF3I and the reactions of CF3 radicals with O2, Cl2 and NO at 296 K

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of Cl atoms with CF₃I have been studied relative to the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₄ over the temperature range 271–363 K. Using k(Cl + CH₄) = 9.6 × 10^?12 exp(?2680/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, we derive k(Cl + CF₃I) = 6.25 × 10^?11 exp(?2970/RT) in which E_a has units of cal mol^?1. CF₃ radicals are produced from the reaction of Cl with CF₃I in a yield which was indistinguishable from 100%. Other relative rate constant ratios measured at 296 K during these experiments were k(Cl + C₂F₅I)/k(Cl + CF₃I) = 11.0 ± 0.6 and k(Cl + C₂F₅I)/k(Cl + C₂H₅Cl) = 0.49 ± 0.02. The reaction of CF₃ radicals with Cl₂ was studied relative to that with O₂ at pressures from 4 to 700 torr of N₂ diluent. By using the published absolute rate constants for k(CF₃ + O₂) at 1–10 torr to calibrate the pressure dependence of these relative rate constants, values of the low- and high-pressure limiting rate constants have been determined at 296 K using a Troe expression: k₀(CF₃ + O₂) = (4.8 ± 1.2) × 10^?29 cm⁶ molecule^?2 s^?1; k_∞(CF₃ + O₂) = (3.95 ± 0.25) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1; F_c = 0.46. The value of the rate constant k(CF₃ + Cl₂) was determined to be (3.5 ± 0.4) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 296 K. The reaction of Cl atoms with CF₃I is a convenient way to prepare CF₃ radicals for laboratory study. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Temperature‐dependent rate coefficients and mechanism for the gas‐phase reaction of chlorine atoms with acetone

The rate coefficient for the gas‐phase reaction of chlorine atoms with acetone was determined as a function of temperature (273–363 K) and pressure (0.002–700 Torr) using complementary absolute and relative rate methods. Absolute rate measurements were performed at the low‐pressure regime (～2 mTorr), employing the very low pressure reactor coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (VLPR/QMS) technique. The absolute rate coefficient was given by the Arrhenius expression k(T) = (1.68 ± 0.27) × 10^?11 exp[?(608 ± 16)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k(298 K) = (2.17 ± 0.19) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The quoted uncertainties are the 2σ (95% level of confidence), including estimated systematic uncertainties. The hydrogen abstraction pathway leading to HCl was the predominant pathway, whereas the reaction channel of acetyl chloride formation (CH₃C(O)Cl) was determined to be less than 0.1%. In addition, relative rate measurements were performed by employing a static thermostated photochemical reactor coupled with FTIR spectroscopy (TPCR/FTIR) technique. The reactions of Cl atoms with CHF₂CH₂OH (3) and ClCH₂CH₂Cl (4) were used as reference reactions with k₃(T) = (2.61 ± 0.49) × 10^?11 exp[?(662 ± 60)/T] and k₄(T) = (4.93 ± 0.96) × 10^?11 exp[?(1087 ± 68)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The relative rate coefficients were independent of pressure over the range 30–700 Torr, and the temperature dependence was given by the expression k(T) = (3.43 ± 0.75) × 10^?11 exp[?(830 ± 68)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k(298 K) = (2.18 ± 0.03) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The quoted errors limits (2σ) are at the 95% level of confidence and do not include systematic uncertainties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 724–734, 2010     

Direct ab initio dynamics calculations of the rate constants for the reaction of CHF2CF2OCH3 with Cl

A dual‐level direct dynamics method is employed to reveal the dynamical properties of the reaction of CHF₂CF₂OCH₃ (HFE‐254pc) with Cl atoms. The optimized geometries and frequencies of the stationary points and the minimum energy path (MEP) are calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level by using GAUSSIAN 98 program package, and energetic information is further refined by the G3(MP2) method. Two H‐abstraction channels have been identified. For the reactant CHF₂CF₂OCH₃ and the two products, CHF₂CF₂OCH₂ and CF₂CF₂OCH₃, the standard enthalpies of formation are evaluated with the values of ?256.71 ± 0.88, ?207.79 ± 0.12, and ?233.43 ± 0.88 kcal/mol, respectively, via group‐balanced isodesmic reactions. The rate constants of the two reaction channels are evaluated by means of canonical variational transition‐state theory (CVT) including the small‐curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over a wide range of temperature from 200 to 2000 K. The calculated rate constants agree well with the experimental data, and the Arrhenius expressions for the title reaction are fitted and can be expressed as k₁ = 9.22 × 10^?19 T^2.06 exp(219/T), k₂ = 4.45 × 10^?14 T^0.90 exp(?2220/T), and k = 4.71 × 10^?22 T^3.20) exp(543/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Our results indicate that H‐abstraction from ? CH₃ group is the main reaction pathway in the lower temperature range, while H‐abstraction from ? CHF₂ group becomes more competitive in the higher temperature range. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 221–230, 2007     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx reactions,part II: Kinetics and mechanism for NH2 + HONO

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HONO have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the CCSD/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The reaction producing the primary products, NH₃ + NO₂, takes place via precomplexes, H₂N???c‐HONO or H₂N???t‐HONO with binding energies, 5.0 or 5.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The rate constants for the major reaction channels in the temperature range of 300–3000 K are predicted by variational transition state theory or Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory depending on the mechanism involved. The total rate constant can be represented by k_total = 1.69 × 10^?20 × T^2.34 exp(1612/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 300–650 K and 8.04 × 10^?22 × T^3.36 exp(2303/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 650–3000 K. The branching ratios of the major channels are predicted: k₁ + k₃ producing NH₃ + NO₂ accounts for 1.00–0.98 in the temperature range 300–3000 K and k₂ producing OH + H₂NNO accounts for 0.02 at T > 2500 K. The predicted rate constant for the reverse reaction, NH₃ + NO₂ → NH₂ + HONO represented by 8.00 × 10^?26 × T^4.25 exp(?11,560/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, is in good agreement with the experimental data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 678–688, 2009     

Temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reaction OH + H2S in He,N2, and O2

The rate constants of the reaction between OH and H₂S in He, N₂, and O₂ over the temperature range 245–450 K have been determined using the discharge flow-resonance fluorescence technique. At 299 K, k₁ = (4.4 ± 0.7) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be fitted either by k₁ = 5.6 × 10^?12 exp(?57/T) or by k₁ = (3.8 × 10^?19)T^2.43 exp(732/T) to within 8 and 9%, respectively. However, the non-Arrhenius behavior can be confidently confirmed. The absence of the pressure dependence and the third-body effect at low temperature suggest that the complex formation mechanism is not important over the temperature range of our study.     

Reaction of the NO3 radical with some thiophenes: Kinetic study and a correlation between rate constant and EHOMO

The rate constants and activation energies for the reactions of some thiophenes with the NO₃ radical were measured using the absolute fast‐flow discharge technique at 263–335 K and low pressure. The proposed Arrhenius expressions for 2‐ethylthiophene, 2‐propylthiophene, 2,5‐dimethylthiophene, and 2‐chlorothiophene are k = (4.2 ± 0.28) ×10^?16 exp[(2280 ± 70)]/T, k = (7.0 ± 2) × 10^?18 exp[(3530 ± 70)]/T, k = (1 ± 1) × 10^?14 exp[(1648 ± 240)]/T, and k = (8 ± 2) × 10^?17 exp[(2000 ± 200)]/T (k = cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1), respectively. The reactions of this radical with 2‐chlorothiophene and 3‐chlorothiophene were also studied by a relative method in a Teflon static reactor at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The effect of substitution on thiophene reactivity is discussed, and a relationship between the rate constants and the ionization potential (IP = ?E_HOMO) has been proposed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 570–576, 2006     

Experimental Study of the Reactions of OH Radicals with Propane,n‐Pentane,and n‐Heptane over a Wide Temperature Range

The kinetics of the reactions of propane, n‐pentane, and n‐heptane with OH radicals has been studied using a low‐pressure flow tube reactor (P = 1 Torr) coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The rate constants of the title reactions were determined under pseudo–first‐order conditions, monitoring the kinetics of OH radical consumption in excess of the alkanes. A newly developed high‐temperature flow reactor was validated by the study of the OH + propane reaction, where the reaction rate constant, k₁ = 5.1 × 10^?17T^1.85exp(–160/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (uncertainty of 20%), measured in a wide temperature range, 230–898 K, was found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies and current recommendations. The experimental data for the rate constants of the reactions of OH with n‐pentane and n‐heptane can be represented as three parameter expressions (in cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, uncertainty of 20%): k₂ = 5.8 × 10^?18T^2.2exp(260/T) at T= 248–900 K and k₃ = 2.7 × 10^?16T^1.7exp(138/T) at T= 248–896 K, respectively. A combination of the present data with those from previous studies leads to the following expressions: k₁ = 2.64 × 10^?17T^1.93exp(–114/T), k₂ = 9.0 × 10^?17T^1.8 exp(120/T), and k₃ = 3.75 × 10^?16 T^1.65 exp(101/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which can be recommended for k₁, k₂, and k₃ (with uncertainty of 20%) in the temperature ranges 190–1300, 240–1300, and 220–1300 K, respectively.     

Quantum chemical/vRRKM study on the thermal decomposition of cyclopentadiene

Thermal decomposition of cyclopentadiene to c‐C₅H₅ (cyclopentadienyl radical) + H (1) and the reverse bimolecular reaction (?1) are studied quantum‐chemically at the G2M level of theory. The dissociation pathway has been mapped out following the minimum energy path on the potential energy surface (PES) calculated by the density functional UB3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) method. Using isodesmic reaction analysis, the standard enthalpy of formation for c‐C₅H₅ is found to be 62.5 ± 1.3 kcal mol^?1, and the c‐C₅H₅? H bond dissociation energy is estimated as D°₂₉₈(c‐C₅H₅? H) = 82.5 ± 0.9 kcal mol^?1, in excellent agreement with the recent experimental values. Variational rate constants are computed on the basis of a scaled UB3LYP dissociation potential that fits the isodesmic/experimental enthalpy of Reaction (1). At the high pressure limit, k₁^∞ = 1.55 × 10¹⁸ T^?0.8 exp(?42300/T) s^?1 and k_?1^∞ = 2.67 × 10¹⁴ exp(?245/T) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The fall‐off effects are evaluated by a weak collision master equation/RRKM analysis. Calculated T, P‐dependent rate constants are in very good agreement with the most reliable experimental measurements. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 139–151 2004