Thermal Decomposition of CF3C(O)O2NO2, CClF2C(O)O2NO2, CCl2FC(O)O2NO2, and CCl3C(O)O2NO2

Haloacetyl, peroxynitrates are intermediates in the atmospheric degradation of a number of haloethanes. In this work, thermal decomposition rate constants of CF₃C(O)O₂NO₂, CClF₂C(O)O₂NO₂, CCl₂FC(O)O₂NO₂, and CCl₃C(O)O₂NO₂ have been determined in a temperature controlled 420 l reaction chamber. Peroxynitrates (RO₂NO₂) were prepared in situ by photolysis of RH/Cl₂/O₂/NO₂/N₂ mixtures (R = CF₃CO, CClF₂CO, CCl₂FCO, and CCl₃CO). Thermal decomposition was initiated by addition of NO, and relative RO₂NO₂ concentrations were measured as a function of time by long-path IR absorption using an FTIR spectrometer. First-order decomposition rate constants were determined at atmospheric pressure (M = N₂) as a function of temperature and, in the case of CF₃C(O)O₂NO₂ and CCl₃C(O)O₂NO₂, also as a function of total pressure. Extrapolation of the measured rate constants to the temperatures and pressures of the upper troposphere yields thermal lifetimes of several thousands of years for all of these peroxynitrates. Thus, the chloro(fluoro)acetyl peroxynitrates may play a role as temporary reservoirs of Cl, their lifetimes in the upper troposphere being limited by their (unknown) photolysis rates. Results on the thermal decomposition of CClF₂CH₂O₂NO₂ and CCl₂FCH₂O₂NO₂ are also reported, showing that the atmospheric lifetimes of these peroxynitrates are very short in the lower troposphere and increase to a maximum of several days close to the tropopause. The ratio of the rate constants for the reactions of CF₃C(O)O₂ radicals with NO₂ and NO was determined to be 0.64 ± 0.13 (2σ) at 315 K and a total pressure of 1000 mbar (M = N₂). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.