The kinetics of the addition of alkyl radicals to carbonyl groups. II. The addition of methyl radicals to trifluoroacetone in the gas phase. The formation reaction of the trifluoro-t-butoxy radical

By photolyzing azomethane over the temperature range 331–491 K in the presence of trifluoroacetone the kinetics of the addition reaction (1), ?H₃ + CF₃COCH₃ → CF₃C(?)(CH₃)₂ have been studied. Detailed analyses have shown that the principal product of the adduct radical, CF₃C(?)(CH₃)₂, is CH₃COCH₃ from reaction (?2), CF₃C(?)(CH₃)₂ → CH₃COCH₃ + ?F₃. The rate constant of the addition reaction has been determined to be k₁(dm³/mol s) = (4.5 ± 1.4) × 10⁷ exp(-(3370 ± 120)/T) over the temperature range 331–491 K, based on the value k₃ = 2.2 × 10¹⁰ dm³/mol s for the reaction (3), 2?H₃ → C₂H₆. The results are discussed in relation to existing data for radical additions to groups.     

EPR kinetic study of the reactions of CF3Br with H atoms and OH radicals

Reactions of CF₃Br with H atoms and OH radicals have been studied at room temperature at 1–2 torr pressures in a discharge flow reactor coupled to an EPR spectrometer. The rate constant of the reaction H + CF₃Br → CF₃ + HBr (1) was found to be k₁ = (3.27 ± 0.34) × 10^?14 cm³/molec·sec. For the reaction of OH with CF₃Br (8) an upper limit of 1 × 10^?15 cm³/molec·sec was determined for k₈. When H atoms were in excess compared to NO₂, used to produce OH radicals, a noticeable reactivity of OH was observed as a result of the reaction OH + HBr → H₂O + Br, HBr being produced from reaction (1).     

Relative rate constants for reactions of HFC 152a, 143, 143a, 134a,and HCFC 124 with F or Cl atoms and for CF2CH3, CF2HCH2, and CF3CFH radicals with F2, Cl2, and O2

Relative rate experiments using UV photolysis of F₂ or Cl₂ have been used to determine rate constant ratios for several hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) reactions with Cl or F atoms and for HFC alkyl radicals with molecular halogens. For mixtures with F₂ present, dark reactions are, also, observed which are attributed to thermal dissociation of the F₂ to form F atoms. At 296 K, the rate of reaction (1a) [CF₂HCH₃ + F → CF₂CH₃ + HF] relative to (1b) [CF₂HCH₃ + F → CF₂HCH₂ + HF] is k_1a/k_1b = 0.73 (±0.13) and is independent of T (= 262–348 K). At 296 K, the ratio of reaction (2a) [CF₂HCH₂F + F → products] to that of (k_1a + k_1b) is (k_1a + k_1b)/k_2a = 2.7 (±0.4), and for reaction (2b) [CF₃CH₃ + F → products] (k_1a + k_1b)/k_2b = 22 ± 12. The temperature dependence (263–365 K) of the rate constant of reaction (3) [CF₃CFH₂ + Cl → products] relative to reaction (4) [CF₃CFClH + Cl → products] is k₃/k₄(±10%) = 1.55 exp(?300 K/T). For the alkyl radicals formed from HFC 152a (CF₂HCH₂ and CF₂CH₃) and from HFC 134a (CF₃CFH), rate constants for the reactions with F₂ and Cl₂ were measured relative to their reactions with O₂. The rate constant of reaction (5cl) [CF₂CH₃ + Cl₂ → CF₂ClCH₃ + Cl] relative to (5o) [CF₂CH₃ + O₂ → CF₂(O₂)CH₃] is k_5cl/k_5o(±15%) = 0.3 exp(200 K/T). For reaction (5f) [CF₂CH₃ + F₂ → CF₃CH₃ + F], k_5f/k_5o(±35%) = 0.23. The ratio for reaction (6f) [CF₂HCH₂ + F₂ → CF₂HCH₂F + F] relative to (6o) [CF₂HCH₂ + O₂ → CF₂HCH₂O₂] is k_6f/k_6o(±40%) = 1.23 exp(?730 K/T). The rate constant ratio for reaction (8cl) [CF₃CFH + Cl₂ → CF₃CFClH + Cl] relative to reaction (8o) [CF₃CFH + O₂ → CF₃CFHO₂] is k_8cl/k_8o(±18%) = 0.16 exp(?940 K/T). For reaction (8f) [CF₃CFH + F₂ → CF₃CF₂H + F], k_8f/k_8o(±35%) = 0.6 exp(?860 K/T). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enthalpies of formation of radicals and the mass spectra of the products of tetrafluoroethylene polymerization in acetone

The mass spectra of the dissociative electron-impact ionization products of telomers formed upon the radiation-chemical telomerization of tetrafluoroethylene in acetone were measured over the range of m/z from 1 to 204. The most intense bands at m/z = 43, 51, and 57 were attributed to the CH₃CO⁺, CF₂H⁺ and CH₃COCH₂⁺ cations—the main dissociation products of the H(C₂F₄) _n CH₂COCH₃ telomers. The telomer composition was consistent with a radical telomerization mechanism, in which chain growth and chain transfer are due to the formation of the CH₃COCH₂^· radical. Based on published data supplemented with quantum-chemical calculations, the enthalpies of formation of the radicals R(CF₂) _n (n = 2–8; R = H, CH₃, CH₃CO, and CH₃COCH₂) were tabulated. The formation of telomers with the same terminal groups is consistent with thermodynamic data and a polymerization mechanism in which the chain growth reaction is diffusion-limited and the chain transfer reaction is activated hydrogen-atom transfer.     

The reaction of methoxy radicals with nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide

By allowing dimethyl peroxide (10^?4M) to decompose in the presence of nitric oxide (4.5 × 10^?5M), nitrogen dioxide (6.5 × 10^?5M) and carbon tetrafluoride (500 Torr), it has been shown that the ratio k₂/k_2′ = 2.03 ± 0.47: CH₃O + NO → CH₃ONO (reaction 2) and CH₃O + NO₂ → CH₃ONO₂ (reaction 2′). Deviations from this value in this and previous work is ascribed to the pressure dependence of both these reactions and heterogeneity in reaction (2). In contrast no heterogeneous effects were found for reaction (2′) making it an ideal reference reaction for studying other reactions of the methoxy radical. We conclude that the ratio k₂/k_2′ is independent of temperature and from k₁ = 10^10.2±0.4M^?1 sec^?1 we calculate that k_2′ = 10^9.9±0.4M^?1 sec^?1. Both k₂ and k_2′ are pressure dependent but have reached their limiting high-pressure values in the presence of 500 Torr of carbon tetrafluoride. Preliminary results show that k₄ = 10.^9.0±0.6 10^?4.5±1.1/ΘM^?1 sec^?1 (Θ = 2.303RT kcal mole^?1) and by k₄ = 10^8.6±0.6 10^?2.4±1.1/ΘM^?1 sec^?1: CH₃O + O₂ → CH₂O + HO₂ (reaction 4) and CH₃O + t-BuH → CH₃OH + (t-Bu) (reaction 4′).     

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.     

Direct detection of CF2 and computer modeling of its appearance in the fluorination of CH2F2

The branched chain reaction between CH₂F₂ and F₂ is studied in a miniature tubular reactor having a diameter of 1.1 mm. The gases at the end of the tube expand into a low-pressure chamber and are analyzed by molecular beam detection. The branching intermediate CF₂ is detected directly at low ionization energies. An approximate quantitative reaction model for the fluorination of CH₂F₂ is proposed and discussed. The influence of the unknown rate constants in this scheme on the course of the reaction is examined. For the most reasonable set of rate constants the unknown rate constant for the branching reaction CF₂ + F₂ → CF₃ + F at 550 K is found to be log k = 10.7 [cm³/mol·s].     

Kinetic flash spectroscopic study of the CH3O2?CH3O2 and CH3O2?SO2 reactions

Methylperoxy radicals were generated by the flash photolysis of azomethane–oxygen mixtures. The observed broadband spectrum of the CH₃O₂ radical is similar, but not identical to those reported previously. The CH₃O₂ decay followed second-order kinetics at high CH₃O₂ concentrations with k₄' = (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10⁸ liter/mol·sec (23 ± 2°C); 2CH₃O₂ → products (4). Because of the potential loss of CH₃O₂ through the reactions with HO₂ and CH₃O radicals subsequently formed in this system, simulations suggest that the true k₄ is in the range: 2.5 × 10⁸ ≥ k₄ ≥ 2.3 × 10⁸ liter/mol·sec. Deviations from linearity of the plot of the reciprocal of the CH₃O₂ absorbance versus time were seen at long times and were attributed to the reaction (5) with an apparent rate constant k₅' ? (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁵ liter/mol·sec; CH₃O₂ + Me₂N₂ → product (5). The CH₃O₂–SO₂ reaction, CH₃O₂ + SO₂ → products (16), was studied by observing CH₃O₂ decay in flashed mixtures of Me₂N₂, O₂, and SO₂. The results gave the apparent second-order rate constant k₁₆' ? (6.4 ± 1.4) × 10⁶ liter/mol·sec. It appears likely that each occurrence of reaction (5) and (16) is followed by the loss of an additional CH₃O₂ radical and that k₅ ? k₅'/2 and k₁₆ ? k₁₆'/2. Our findings suggest that a significant fraction of the SO₂ oxidation in a sunlight-irradiated NO_x?RH-polluted atmosphere, may occur by reaction with CH₃O₂ as well as from the HO and HO₂ reactions.     

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     

Oxidation of dimethyl ether: Absolute rate constants for the self reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals,the reaction of CH3OCH2 radicals with O2, and the thermal decomposition of CH3OCH2 radicals

The rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ (reaction (1)) and the self reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals (reaction (5)) were measured using pulse radiolysis coupled with time resolved UV absorption spectroscopy. k₁ was studied at 296K over the pressure range 0.025–1 bar and in the temperature range 296–473K at 18 bar total pressure. Reaction (1) is known to proceed through the following mechanism: CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# → CH₂OCH₂O₂H^# → 2HCHO + OH (k_prod) CH₃OCH₂ + O₂ ↔ CH₃OCH₂O₂^# + M → CH₃OCH₂O₂ + M (k_RO2) k = k_RO2 + k_prod, where k_RO2 is the rate constant for peroxy radical production and k_prod is the rate constant for formaldehyde production. The k₁ values obtained at 296K together with the available literature values for k₁ determined at low pressures were fitted using a modified Lindemann mechanism and the following parameters were obtained: k_RO2,0 = (9.4 ± 4.2) × 10⁻³⁰ cm⁶ molecule⁻² s⁻¹, k_RO2,∞ = (1.14 ± 0.04) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and k_prod,0 = (6.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, where k_RO2,0 and k_RO2,∞ are the overall termolecular and bimolecular rate constants for formation of CH₃OCH₂O₂ radicals and k_prod,0 represents the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of CH₃OCH₂ radicals with O₂ to yield formaldehyde in the limit of low pressure. k_RO2,∞ = (1.07 ± 0.08) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−(46 ± 27)/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was determined at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–473K. At 1 bar total pressure and 296K, k₅ = (4.1 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and at 18 bar total pressure over the temperature range 296–523K, k₅ = (4.7 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. As a part of this study the decay rate of CH₃OCH₂ radicals was used to study the thermal decomposition of CH₃OCH₂ radicals in the temperature range 573–666K at 18 bar total pressure. The observed decay rates of CH₃OCH₂ radicals were consistent with the literature value of k₂ = 1.6 × 10¹³exp(−12800/T)s⁻¹. The results are discussed in the context of dimethyl ether as an alternative diesel fuel. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The rate constant for the recombination of trifluoromethyl radicals at T = 296 K

The high-pressure rate constant of the CF₃ + CF₃ → C₂F₆ reaction at T = 296 K was measured in the pulse photolysis (λ = 694.3 nm, ruby laser) of CF₃NO in the presence of NO by means of the time-resolved detection of CF₃NO by the intracavity absorption of He(SINGLE BOND)Ne laser radiation (λ = 632.8 nm). The obtained value is k_2∞ = (3.9 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹² cm³/s. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The kinetics of the addition of alkyl radicals to carbonyl groups. I. The kinetics of the gas phase decomposition reactions of the trifluoro-t-butoxy radical

Trifluoro-t-butoxy radicals have been generated by reacting fluorine with 2-trifluoromethyl propan-2-ol: Over the temperature range 361-600 K the trifluoro-t-butoxy radical decomposes exclusively by loss of the ? CF₃ group [reaction (?2)] rather than by loss of ? CH₃ group [reaction (?1)]: The limits of detectability of the product CF₃COCH₃, by gas-chromatographic analysis, place a lower limit on the ratio k_?2/k_?1 of ca. 75. The implications of these results in relation to the reverse radical addition reactions to the carbonyl group are discussed along with the thermochemistry of the reactions.     

Absolute rate constants for the addition of hydroxymethyl radicals to alkenes in methanol solution

Absolute rate constants and their temperature dependencies were determined for the addition of hydroxymethyl radicals (CH₂OH) to 20 mono- or 1,1-disubstituted alkenes (CH₂ = CXY) in methanol by time-resolved electron spin resonance spectroscopy. With the alkene substituents the rate constants at 298 K (k₂₉₈) vary from 180 M^?1s^?1 (ethyl vinylether) to 2.1 middot; 10⁶ M^?1s^?1 (acrolein). The frequency factors obey log A/M^?1s^?1 = 8.1 ± 0.1, whereas the activation energies (E_a) range from 11.6 kJ/mol (methacrylonitrile) to 35.7 kJ/mol (ethyl vinylether). As shown by good correlations with the alkene electron affinities (EA), log k₂₉₈/M^?1s^?1 = 5.57 + 1.53 · EA/eV (R² = 0.820) and E_a = 15.86 ? 7.38 · EA/eV (R² = 0.773), hydroxymethyl is a nucleophilic radical, and its addition rates are strongly influenced by polar effects. No apparent correlation was found between E_a or log k₂₉₈ with the overall reaction enthalpy. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate constants and Arrhenius parameters for the reactions of Cl atoms with the halogenated ethers: CF3CH2OCHF2, CF3CHClOCHF2, and CF3CH2OCClF2

Rate constants have been determined for the reactions of Cl atoms with the halogenated ethers CF₃CH₂OCHF₂, CF₃CHClOCHF₂, and CF₃CH₂OCClF₂ using a relative‐rate technique. Chlorine atoms were generated by continuous photolysis of Cl₂ in a mixture containing the ether and CD₄. Changes in the concentrations of these two species were measured via changes in their infrared absorption spectra observed with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Relative‐rate constants were converted to absolute values using the previously measured rate constants for the reaction, Cl + CD₄ → DCl + CD₃. Experiments were carried out at 295, 323, and 363 K, yielding the following Arrhenius expressions for the rate constants within this range of temperature:Cl + CF₃CH₂OCHF₂: k = (5.1₅ ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² exp(−1830 ± 410 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Cl + CF₃CHClOCHF₂: k = (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹¹ exp(−2450 ± 250 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ Cl + CF₃CH₂OCClF₂: k = (9.6 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹² exp(−2390 ± 190 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ The results are compared with those obtained previously for the reactions of Cl atoms with other halogenated methyl ethyl ethers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 165–172, 2001     

Kinetics of gas-phase addition reactions of methyl radicals. I. Addition to ethylene,acetylene, and benzene

The reactions have been studied by a mass-balance method involving the photolysis of small amounts of biacetyl in the presence of a large excess of isobutane containing a small proportion of the unsaturated substrate. The following Arrhenius parameters have been derived:

Rate constants for the reaction of ground-state oxygen atoms with methanol from 297 to 544 K

The rate constant for the reaction of ground-state oxygen atoms with methanol has been determined between 297 and 544 K by a phase-shift technique using mercury photosensitized decomposition of N₂O to generate oxygen atoms. The relative oxygen atom concentration was monitored by the chemiluminescence from the reaction of oxygen atoms with nitric oxide. The results are accommodated by the Arrhenius expression k₁ = (9.79 ± 2.71) × 10¹² exp[(?2267 ± 111)/T]cm³/mol·s, where the indicated uncertainties are 95% confidence limits for 10 degrees of freedom. As an incidental part of this work, the third-body efficiency of CH₃OH relative to N₂O for the reaction O + NO + M → NO₂ + M (M = CH₃OH) was determined to be 3.1 at 298 K.     

The gas-phase decomposition of methylsilane. Part III. Kinetics

The homogeneous gas-phase decomposition kinetics of methylsilane and methylsilane-d₃ have been investigated by the comparative-rate-single-pulse shock-tube technique at total pressures of 4700 torr in the 1125–1250 K temperature range. Three primary processes occur: CH₃SiH₃ → CH₃SiH + H₂ (1), CH₃SiH₃ → CH₄ + SiH₂ (2), and CH₃SiH₃ → CH₂ = SiH₂ + H₂ (3). The high-pressure rate constants for the primary processes in CH₃SiH₃ obtained by RRKM calculations are log (k₁ + k₃) (s^?1) = 15.2 - 64,780 Cal/θ and log k₂ (s^?) = 14.50 - 67,600 → 2800 Cal/θ. For CH₃SiD₃ these same rate constants are log k₁ (s^?) = 14.99 - 64,700 cal/θ log k₂ (s^?) = 14.68 – 66,700 → 2000 cal/θ, and log k₃ (s^?) = 14.3 ? 64,700 cal/θ.     

1,1,1,3,3,-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc): atmospheric degradation and contribution to radiative forcing

The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc) has been determined over the temperature range 278–323K using a relative rate technique. The results provide a value of k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=2.0×10⁻¹²exp(−1750±400/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ based on k(OH+CH₃CCl₃)=1.8×10⁻¹² exp (−1550±150/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the rate constant of the reference reaction. Assuming the major atmospheric removal process is via reaction with OH in the troposphere, the rate constant data from this work gives an estimate of 10.8 years for the tropospheric lifetime of HFC-365mfc. The overall atmospheric lifetime obtained by taking into account a minor contribution from degradation in the stratosphere, is estimated to be 10.2 years. The rate constant for the reaction of Cl atoms with 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane was also determined at 298±2 K using the relative rate method, k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃)=(1.1±0.3)×10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The chlorine initiated photooxidation of CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ was investigated from 273–330 K and as a function of O₂ pressure at 1 atmosphere total pressure using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Under all conditions the major carbon-containing products were CF₂O and CO₂, with smaller amounts of CF₃O₃CF₃. In order to ascertain the relative importance of hydrogen abstraction from the (SINGLE BOND)CH₂(SINGLE BOND) and (SINGLE BOND)CH₃ groups in CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals and Cl atoms with the structurally similar compounds CF₃CH₂CCl₂F and CF₃CH₂CF₃ were also determined at 298 K k(OH+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(8±3)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(OH+CF₃CH₂CF₃)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CCl₂F)=(3.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹]; k(Cl+CF₃CH₂CF₃)<1×10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results indicate that the most probable site for H-atom abstraction from CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃ is the methyl group and that the formation of carbonyl compounds containing more than a single carbon atom will be negligible under atmospheric conditions, carbonyl difluoride and carbon dioxide being the main degradation products. Finally, accurate infrared absorption cross-sections have been measured for CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, and jointly used with the calculated overall atmospheric lifetime of 10.2 years, in the NCAR chemical-radiative model, to determine the radiative forcing of climate by this CFC alternative. The steady-state Halocarbon Global Warming Potential, relative to CFC-11, is 0.17. The Global Warming Potentials relative to CO₂ are found to be 2210, 790, and 250, for integration time-horizons of 20, 100, and 500 years, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The reactions of hydrogen atoms with bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfide

The reactions of hydrogen atoms produced by the mercury-photosensitized decomposition of H₂ with bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfide has been studied. The rate coefficient for the primary reaction, H + CF₃SSCF₃ → CF₃SH + CF₃S, was determined in competition with the reaction H + C₂H₄S → SH + C₂H₄ to have the value k = (3.0 ± 0.18) × 10¹⁴ exp[-(4560 ± 140)/RT] cm³ mol^?1 S^?1. The high A factor can be partially accounted for by assuming free rotation for the two CF₃ groups and the SCF₃ groups about the S—S bond in the transition state. The relatively high activation energy is attributed to inductive and orbital overlap effects. CH₃SH, H₂S, and CF₃SH all react with CF₃SSCF₃ to yield solid complexes which were not explored further.     

A study of the self reaction of CH2ClO2 and CHCl2O2 radicals at 298 K

A low‐pressure discharge‐flow system equipped with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of NO₂ and resonance‐fluorescence detection of OH has been employed to study the self reactions CH₂ClO₂ + CH₂ClO₂ → products (1) and CHCl₂O₂ + CHCl₂O₂ → products (2), at T = 298 K and P = 1–3 Torr. Possible secondary reactions involving alkoxy radicals are identified. We report the phenomenological rate constants (k_obs) k_1obs = (4.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k_2obs = (8.6 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the rate constants derived from modelling the decay profiles for both peroxy radical systems, which takes into account the proposed secondary chemistry involving alkoxy radicals k₁ = (3.3 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ k₂ = (7.0 ± 1.8) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ A possible mechanism for these self reactions is proposed and QRRK calculations are performed for reactions (1), (2) and the self‐reaction of CH₃O₂, CH₃O₂ + CH₃O₂ → products (3). These calculations, although only semiquantitative, go some way to explaining why both k₁ and k₂ are a factor of ten larger than k₃ and why, as suggested by the products of reaction (1) and (2), it seems that the favored reaction pathway is different from that followed by reaction (3). The atmospheric fate of the chlorinated peroxy species, and hence the impact of their precursors (CH₃Cl and CH₂Cl₂), in the troposphere are briefly discussed. HC(O)Cl is identified as a potentially important reservoir species produced from the photooxidation of these precursors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 433–444, 1999