Direct Observation of the Gas-Phase Criegee Intermediate (CH2OO)

The ozonolysis of cyclic monoterpenes: a computational review

Monoterpenes are prevalent organic compounds emitted to the atmosphere, via biogenic activities in various types of plants. Monoterpenes undergo atmospheric decomposition reactions derived by the potent atmospheric oxidizing agents, OH, O3, and NOx. This review critically surveys literature pertinent to the atmospheric removal of monoterpenes by ozone. In general, the ozonolysis reactions of monoterpenes occur through the so-called Criegee mechanism. These classes of reactions generate a wide array of chemical organic and inorganic low vapor pressure (LVP) species. Carbonyl oxides, commonly known as Criegee intermediates (CIs), are the main intermediates from the gas-phase ozonolysis reaction. Herein, we present mechanistic pathways, reactions rate constants, product profiles, thermodynamic, and kinetic results dictating the ozonolysis reactions of selected monoterpenes (namely carene, camphene, limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and sabinene). Furthermore, the unimolecular (vinyl hydroperoxide and ester channels) and bimolecular reactions (cycloaddition, insertion, and radical recombination) of the resulting CIs are fully discussed. The orientations and conformations of the resulting primary ozonides (POZs) and CIs of monoterpenes are classified to reveal their plausible effects on reported thermokinetic parameters.

Impact of the water dimer on the atmospheric reactivity of carbonyl oxides

The reactions of twelve carbonyl oxides or Criegee intermediates with the water monomer and with the water dimer have been investigated employing high level theoretical methods. The study includes all possible carbonyl oxides arising from the isoprene ozonolysis and the methyl and dimethyl carbonyl oxides that originated from the reaction of ozone with several hydrocarbons. These reactions have great significance in the chemistry of the atmosphere because Criegee intermediates have recently been identified as important oxidants in the troposphere and as precursors of secondary organic aerosols. Moreover, water vapor is one of the most abundant trace gases in the atmosphere and the water dimer can trigger the atmospheric decomposition of Criegee intermediates. Our calculations show that the nature and position of the substituents in carbonyl oxides play a very important role in the reactivity of these species with both the water monomer and the water dimer. This fact results in differences in rate constants of up to six orders of magnitude depending on the carbonyl oxide. In this work we have defined an effective rate constant (keff) for the atmospheric reaction of carbonyl oxides with water vapor, which depends on the temperature and on the relative humidity as well. With this keff we show that the water dimer, despite its low tropospheric concentration, enhances the atmospheric reactivity of Criegee intermediates, but its effect changes with the nature of carbonyl oxide, ranging between 59 and 295 times in the most favorable case (syn-methyl carbonyl oxide), and between 1.4 and 3 times only in the most unfavorable case.

UV absorption of Criegee intermediates: quantitative cross sections from high-level ab initio theory

Criegee Intermediates (CIs) are important intermediates in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. We quantitatively model their UV absorption spectra using ab initio techniques.

An Estimation of the Levels of Stabilized Criegee Intermediates in the UK Urban and Rural Atmosphere Using the Steady-State Approximation and the Potential Effects of These Intermediates on Tropospheric Oxidation Cycles

Levels of the stabilized Criegee Intermediate (sCI), produced via the ozonolysis of unsaturated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were estimated at two London urban sites (Marylebone Road and Eltham) and one rural site (Harwell) in the UK over the period of 1998-2012. The steady-state approximation was applied to data obtained from the NETCEN (National Environmental Technology Centre) database, and the levels of annual average sCI were estimated to be in the range of 30-3000 molecules cm-3 for UK sites. A consistent diurnal cycle of sCI concentration is estimated for the UK sites with increasing levels during daylight hours, peaking just after midday. The seasonal pattern of sCI shows higher levels in spring with peaks around May due to the higher levels of O3. The ozone weekend effect resulted in higher sCI in UK urban areas during weekend. The sCI data were modeled using the information provided by the Air Quality Improvement Research Program (AQIRP) and found that the modeled production was five- to six-fold higher than our estimated data, and therefore the estimated sCI concentrations in this study are thought to be lower estimates only. Compared with nighttime, 1.3- to 1.8-fold higher sCI exists under daytime conditions. Using the levels of sCI estimated at Marylebone Road, globally the oxidation rates of NO2 + sCI (22.4 Gg/yr) and SO2 + sCI (37.6 Gg/yr) in urban areas can increase their effect in the troposphere and potentially further alter the oxidizing capacity of the troposphere. Further investigations of modeled sCI show that CH3CHOO (64%) and CH2OO (13%) are dominant among all contributing sCI at the UK sites.

Online Quantification of Criegee Intermediates of α-Pinene Ozonolysis by Stabilization with Spin Traps and Proton-Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry Detection

Biogenic alkenes, which are among the most abundant volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, are readily oxidized by ozone. Characterizing the reactivity and kinetics of the first-generation products of these reactions, carbonyl oxides (often named Criegee intermediates), is essential in defining the oxidation pathways of organic compounds in the atmosphere but is highly challenging due to the short lifetime of these zwitterions. Here, we report the development of a novel online method to quantify atmospherically relevant Criegee intermediates (CIs) in the gas phase by stabilization with spin traps and analysis with proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry. Ozonolysis of α-pinene has been chosen as a proof-of-principle model system. To determine unambiguously the structure of the spin trap adducts with α-pinene CIs, the reaction was tested in solution, and reaction products were characterized with high-resolution mass spectrometry, electron paramagnetic resonance, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. DFT calculations show that addition of the Criegee intermediate to the DMPO spin trap, leading to the formation of a six-membered ring adduct, occurs through a very favorable pathway and that the product is significantly more stable than the reactants, supporting the experimental characterization. A flow tube set up has been used to generate spin trap adducts with α-pinene CIs in the gas phase. We demonstrate that spin trap adducts with α-pinene CIs also form in the gas phase and that they are stable enough to be detected with online mass spectrometry. This new technique offers for the first time a method to characterize highly reactive and atmospherically relevant radical intermediates in situ.

Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy of a halogen substituted Criegee intermediate ClCHOO

Pure rotational spectra of the chloro-substituted Criegee intermediate (ClCHOO) were observed by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. Two conformers (syn and anti) of the isolated molecule were identified from the rotational spectra of the parent and ³⁷Cl and ¹³C isotopologues detected in natural abundance. Rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and all components of the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor were determined for both conformers. Structural features of the molecule have been rationalized with supporting ab initio calculations and the natural bond orbital analysis, which suggest that the conformational preferences are driven by hyperconjugative effects.

A kinetic study of the CH2OO Criegee intermediate reaction with SO2, (H2O)2, CH2I2 and I atoms using OH laser induced fluorescence

The OH laser induced fluorescence method was used to study the kinetics of CH₂OO reacting with SO₂, (H₂O)₂, CH₂I₂ and I atoms.

Introductory lecture: atmospheric chemistry in the Anthropocene

The term “Anthropocene” was coined by Professor Paul Crutzen in 2000 to describe an unprecedented era in which anthropogenic activities are impacting planet Earth on a global scale. Greatly increased emissions into the atmosphere, reflecting the advent of the Industrial Revolution, have caused significant changes in both the lower and upper atmosphere. Atmospheric reactions of the anthropogenic emissions and of those with biogenic compounds have significant impacts on human health, visibility, climate and weather. Two activities that have had particularly large impacts on the troposphere are fossil fuel combustion and agriculture, both associated with a burgeoning population. Emissions are also changing due to alterations in land use. This paper describes some of the tropospheric chemistry associated with the Anthropocene, with emphasis on areas having large uncertainties. These include heterogeneous chemistry such as those of oxides of nitrogen and the neonicotinoid pesticides, reactions at liquid interfaces, organic oxidations and particle formation, the role of sulfur compounds in the Anthropocene and biogenic–anthropogenic interactions. A clear and quantitative understanding of the connections between emissions, reactions, deposition and atmospheric composition is central to developing appropriate cost-effective strategies for minimizing the impacts of anthropogenic activities. The evolving nature of emissions in the Anthropocene places atmospheric chemistry at the fulcrum of determining human health and welfare in the future.

Atmospheric Chemistry of Criegee Intermediates: Unimolecular Reactions and Reactions with Water

Criegee intermediates are produced in the ozonolysis of unsaturated hydrocarbons in the troposphere, and understanding their fate is a prerequisite to modeling climate-controlling atmospheric aerosol formation. Although some experimental and theoretical rate data are available, they are incomplete and partially inconsistent, and they do not cover the tropospheric temperature range. Here, we report quantum chemical rate constants for the reactions of stabilized formaldehyde oxide (CH₂OO) and acetaldehyde oxide (syn-CH₃CHOO and anti-CH₃CHOO) with H₂O and for their unimolecular reactions. Our results are obtained by combining post-CCSD(T) electronic structure benchmarks, validated density functional theory potential energy surfaces, and multipath variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling, coupled-torsions anharmonicity, and high-frequency anharmonicity. We consider two different types of reaction mechanisms for the bimolecular reactions, namely, (i) addition-coupled hydrogen transfer and (ii) double hydrogen atom transfer (DHAT). First, we show that the MN15-L exchange-correlation functional has kJ/mol accuracy for the CH₂OO + H₂O and syn-CH₃CHOO + H₂O reactions. Then we show that, due to tunneling, the DHAT mechanism is especially important in the syn-CH₃CHOO + H₂O reaction. We show that the dominant pathways for reactions of Criegee intermediates depend on altitude. The results we obtain eliminate the discrepancy between experiment and theory under those conditions where experimental results are available, and we make predictions for the full range of temperatures and pressures encountered in the troposphere and stratosphere. The present results are an important cog in clarifying the atmospheric fate and oxidation processes of Criegee intermediates, and they also show how theoretical methods can provide reliable rate data for complex atmospheric processes.

Atmospheric fates of Criegee intermediates in the ozonolysis of isoprene

We use a large laboratory, modeling, and field dataset to investigate the isoprene + O3 reaction, with the goal of better understanding the fates of the C1 and C4 Criegee intermediates in the atmosphere. Although ozonolysis can produce several distinct Criegee intermediates, the C1 stabilized Criegee (CH2OO, 61 ± 9%) is the only one observed to react bimolecularly. We suggest that the C4 Criegees have a low stabilization fraction and propose pathways for their decomposition. Both prompt and non-prompt reactions are important in the production of OH (28% ± 5%) and formaldehyde (81% ± 16%). The yields of unimolecular products (OH, formaldehyde, methacrolein (42 ± 6%) and methyl vinyl ketone (18 ± 6%)) are fairly insensitive to water, i.e., changes in yields in response to water vapor (≤4% absolute) are within the error of the analysis. We propose a comprehensive reaction mechanism that can be incorporated into atmospheric models, which reproduces laboratory data over a wide range of relative humidities. The mechanism proposes that CH2OO + H2O (k(H2O)∼ 1 × 10(-15) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1)) yields 73% hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HMHP), 6% formaldehyde + H2O2, and 21% formic acid + H2O; and CH2OO + (H2O)2 (k(H2O)2∼ 1 × 10(-12) cm(3) molec(-1) s(-1)) yields 40% HMHP, 6% formaldehyde + H2O2, and 54% formic acid + H2O. Competitive rate determinations (kSO2/k(H2O)n=1,2∼ 2.2 (±0.3) × 10(4)) and field observations suggest that water vapor is a sink for greater than 98% of CH2OO in a Southeastern US forest, even during pollution episodes ([SO2] ∼ 10 ppb). The importance of the CH2OO + (H2O)n reaction is demonstrated by high HMHP mixing ratios observed over the forest canopy. We find that CH2OO does not substantially affect the lifetime of SO2 or HCOOH in the Southeast US, e.g., CH2OO + SO2 reaction is a minor contribution (<6%) to sulfate formation. Extrapolating, these results imply that sulfate production by stabilized Criegees is likely unimportant in regions dominated by the reactivity of ozone with isoprene. In contrast, hydroperoxide, organic acid, and formaldehyde formation from isoprene ozonolysis in those areas may be significant.

Kinetics of stabilised Criegee intermediates derived from alkene ozonolysis: reactions with SO2, H2O and decomposition under boundary layer conditions

The removal of SO2 in the presence of alkene-ozone systems has been studied for ethene, cis-but-2-ene, trans-but-2-ene and 2,3-dimethyl-but-2-ene, as a function of humidity, under atmospheric boundary layer conditions. The SO2 removal displays a clear dependence on relative humidity for all four alkene-ozone systems confirming a significant reaction for stabilised Criegee intermediates (SCI) with H2O. The observed SO2 removal kinetics are consistent with relative rate constants, k(SCI + H2O)/k(SCI + SO2), of 3.3 (±1.1) × 10(-5) for CH2OO, 26 (±10) × 10(-5) for CH3CHOO derived from cis-but-2-ene, 33 (±10) × 10(-5) for CH3CHOO derived from trans-but-2-ene, and 8.7 (±2.5) × 10(-5) for (CH3)2COO derived from 2,3-dimethyl-but-2-ene. The relative rate constants for k(SCI decomposition)/k(SCI + SO2) are -2.3 (±3.5) × 10(11) cm(-3) for CH2OO, 13 (±43) × 10(11) cm(-3) for CH3CHOO derived from cis-but-2-ene, -14 (±31) × 10(11) cm(-3) for CH3CHOO derived from trans-but-2-ene and 63 (±14) × 10(11) cm(-3) for (CH3)2COO. Uncertainties are ±2σ and represent combined systematic and precision components. These values are derived following the approximation that a single SCI is present for each system; a more comprehensive interpretation, explicitly considering the differing reactivity for syn- and anti-SCI conformers, is also presented. This yields values of 3.5 (±3.1) × 10(-4) for k(SCI + H2O)/k(SCI + SO2) of anti-CH3CHOO and 1.2 (±1.1) × 10(13) for k(SCI decomposition)/k(SCI + SO2) of syn-CH3CHOO. The reaction of the water dimer with CH2OO is also considered, with a derived value for k(CH2OO + (H2O)2)/k(CH2OO + SO2) of 1.4 (±1.8) × 10(-2). The observed SO2 removal rate constants, which technically represent upper limits, are consistent with decomposition being a significant, structure dependent, sink in the atmosphere for syn-SCI.

Competition between H2O and (H2O)2 reactions with CH2OO/CH3CHOO

We calculated the bimolecular rate coefficients for the CH₂OO/CH₃CHOO reactions with H₂O/(H₂O)₂.

Temperature dependence of the reaction of anti-CH3CHOO with water vapor

The kinetics of the reaction of anti-CH₃CHOO with water vapor were investigated using transient UV absorption spectroscopy at temperatures from 288 to 328 K and 500 Torr.

Dynamics and spectroscopy of CH2OO excited electronic states

Ab initio molecular dynamics with a high level of theory is used to explore the fate of a Criegee intermediate after an initial electronic excitation. Results are confronted with experiments.

Oxidation of a P-C Bond under Mild Conditions

The reactivity of phosphenium dication [(Ph3P)2C-P-NiPr2](2+), 1(2+), towards pyridine N-oxide (O-py) has been investigated. The resulting oxophosphonium dication [(Ph3P)2C(NiPr2)P(O)(O-py)](2+), 2(2+), was surprisingly stabilized by a less nucleophilic O-py ligand instead of pyridine (py). This compound was then identified as an analogue of the elusive Criegee intermediate as it underwent oxygen insertion into the P-C bond through a mechanism usually observed for Baeyer-Villiger oxidations. This oxygen insertion appears to be the first example of a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation involving O-py.

Infrared identification of the Criegee intermediates syn- and anti-CH₃CHOO, and their distinct conformation-dependent reactivity

The Criegee intermediates are carbonyl oxides that play critical roles in ozonolysis of alkenes in the atmosphere. So far, the mid-infrared spectrum of only the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO has been reported. Methyl substitution of CH2OO produces two conformers of CH3CHOO and consequently complicates the infrared spectrum. Here we report the transient infrared spectrum of syn- and anti-CH3CHOO, produced from CH3CHI + O2 in a flow reactor, using a step-scan Fourier-transform spectrometer. Guided and supported by high-level full-dimensional quantum calculations, rotational contours of the four observed bands are simulated successfully and provide definitive identification of both conformers. Furthermore, anti-CH3CHOO shows a reactivity greater than syn-CH3CHOO towards NO/NO2; at the later period of reaction, the spectrum can be simulated with only syn-CH3CHOO. Without NO/NO2, anti-CH3CHOO also decays much faster than syn-CH3CHOO. The direct infrared detection of syn- and anti-CH3CHOO should prove useful for field measurements and laboratory investigations of the Criegee mechanism.

Observation of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO in the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethylene

Ozonolysis is one of the dominant oxidation pathways for tropospheric alkenes. Although numerous studies have confirmed a 1,3-cycloaddition mechanism that generates a Criegee intermediate (CI) with form R1R2COO, no small CIs have ever been directly observed in the ozonolysis of alkenes because of their high reactivity. We present the first experimental detection of CH2OO in the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethylene, using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and a modified pulsed nozzle, which combines high reactant concentrations with rapid sampling and sensitive detection. Nine other product species of the O3 + C2H4 reaction were also detected, including formaldehyde, formic acid, dioxirane, and ethylene ozonide. The presence of all these species can be attributed to the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions of CH2OO, and their abundances are in qualitative agreement with published mechanisms and rate constants.

Production of and Dissociative Electron Attachment to the Simplest Criegee Intermediate in an Afterglow

The simplest Criegee intermediate, CH2OO, has been produced in a flowing afterglow using a novel technique. CH2I is produced by dissociative electron attachment to CH2I2, leading to the established reaction CH2I + O2 → CH2OO + I. The presence of CH2OO is established by observation of dissociative electron attachment to yield O(-) using the variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry (VENDAMS) technique. The measurements establish the electron attachment rate coefficient of thermal electrons at 300 K to CH2OO as 1.2 ± 0.3 × 10(-8) cm(3) s(-1). Thermal electron attachment is solely dissociative and is not a promising route to producing stable CH2OO(-). The results open the possibility of measuring ion-molecule chemistry involving Criegee intermediates, as well as the reactivity of other unstable radicals produced in an analogous manner.

Theoretical study of the reactions of Criegee intermediates with ozone, alkylhydroperoxides, and carbon monoxide

The reaction of Criegee intermediates with hydroperoxides yields exotic ether oxides, as well as oligomers.