Rate constant and products for the reaction of Cl atom with n‐butyraldehyde

The photooxidations of n‐butyraldehyde initiated by Cl atom were carried out at room temperature (298 ± 2K) and 1 atm pressure. The rate coefficient for the reactions of Cl atom with n‐butyraldehyde was determined as k = (2.04 ± 0.36) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 by using relative rate techniques. The photooxidation products of n‐butyraldehyde reaction with Cl atom were also studied by using both gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and gas chromatography techniques. C₂H₅CHO, CH₃CHO, CO and CO₂ were the major products observed. In the absence of NO, the observed yields of C₂H₅CHO, CH₃CHO, and CO were 60%, 3%, and 9%, respectively. However, when NO was introduced into the reaction chamber and the initial ratios of NO]₀/n‐butyraldehyde]₀ were between 1 and 8, the yield of C₂H₅CHO decreased to 33%, whereas that of CH₃CHO and CO rose up to 21% and 25%, respectively. On the basis of mechanism data deduced in this study and the fraction molar yields, the approximate branching ratios for Cl atom attack at ? C(O)H, α‐, β‐, and γ‐positions in n‐butyraldehyde could be derived as ?42%, <25%, 21%, and ?12%, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 168–174, 2007