Kinetics for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers CH2FCF2OCHF2, CHF2CF2OCH2CF3, CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF3, and CF3CHFCF2OCH2CF2CHF2 at 268–308 K

Rate constants were determined for the reactions of OH radicals with the hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂(k₁), CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃ (k₂), CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃(k₃), and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂(k₄) by using a relative rate method. OH radicals were prepared by photolysis of ozone at UV wavelengths (>260 nm) in 100 Torr of a HFE–reference–H₂O–O₃–O₂–He gas mixture in a 1‐m³ temperature‐controlled chamber. By using CH₄, CH₃CCl₃, CHF₂Cl, and CF₃CF₂CF₂OCH₃ as the reference compounds, reaction rate constants of OH radicals of k₁ = (1.68) × 10^?12 exp[(?1710 ± 140)/T], k₂ = (1.36) × 10^?12 exp[(?1470 ± 90)/T], k₃ = (1.67) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 140)/T], and k₄ = (2.39) × 10^?12 exp[(?1560 ± 110)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained at 268–308 K. The errors reported are ± 2 SD, and represent precision only. We estimate that the potential systematic errors associated with uncertainties in the reference rate constants add a further 10% uncertainty to the values of k₁–k₄. The results are discussed in relation to the predictions of Atkinson's structure–activity relationship model. The dominant tropospheric loss process for the HFEs studied here is considered to be by the reaction with the OH radicals, with atmospheric lifetimes of 11.5, 5.9, 6.7, and 4.7 years calculated for CH₂FCF₂OCHF₂, CHF₂CF₂OCH₂CF₃, CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃, and CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₂CHF₂, respectively, by scaling from the lifetime of CH₃CCl₃. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 239–245, 2003