Gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms with hydrochloroethers: relative rate constants and their correlation with substituents' electronegativities

Quantum calculation on night-time degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl ether (CH3CH2OCH2CH2Cl) initiated by NO3 radical

A dual-level quantum chemical calculations have been carried out on the initiation of night-time degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl ether (CH3CH2OCH2CH2Cl) via H-abstraction by NO3 radical. Within the scope of density functional theory, the electronic structure of all the species involved in the titled reaction has been optimized at M06-2X functional along with 6-31[Formula: see text]G(d,p) basis set. A higher level of couple cluster CCSD(T) method in conjunction with 6-311[Formula: see text]G(d,p) basis set has been used for the refined energy of the species. All minima and saddle states involved in the reaction channel have been characterized on the potential energy surface (PES). From PES, it is confirmed that H-abstraction from methylene (–CH2–) of ethyl (CH3CH2–) part of CH3CH2OCH2CH2Cl follows the minimum energy path. The rate constants (individual and overall) of the titled reaction are obtained using Canonical Transition State Theory (CTST) over the temperature range of 250–350[Formula: see text]K. The atmospheric lifetime and radiative efficiency of the titled molecule have also been estimated, amounting to 0.23 years and 0.024 years, respectively. The Global Warming Potentials of the 2-chloroethyl ethyl ether in 20 years, 100 years and 500 years time horizon were found to be 0.13, 0.04 and 0.01, respectively.

Computational study of H-abstraction reactions from CH3OCH2CH2Cl/CH3CH2OCH2CH2Cl by Cl atom and OH radical and fate of alkoxy radicals

Multichannel gas-phase reactions of CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl/CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂Cl with chlorine atom and hydroxyl radical have been investigated using ab initio method and canonical variational transition-state dynamic computations with the small-curvature tunneling correction. Further energetic information is refined by the coupled-cluster calculations with single and double excitations (CCSD)(T) method. Both hydrogen abstraction and displacement processes are carried out at the same level. Our results reveal that H-abstraction from the -OCH₂- group is the dominant channel for CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl by OH radical or Cl atom, and from α-CH₂ of the group CH₃CH₂- is predominate for the reaction CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂Cl with Cl/OH. The contribution of displacement processes may be unimportant due to the high barriers. The values of the calculated rate constants reproduce remarkably well the available experiment data. Standard enthalpies of formation for reactants and product radicals are calculated by isodesmic reactions. The Arrhenius expressions are given within 220-1200 K. The atmospheric lifetime, ozone depleting potential (ODP), ozone formation potential (OFP), and global warming potential (GWP) of CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl/CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂Cl are investigated. Meanwhile, the atmospheric fate of the alkoxy radicals are also researched using the same level of theory. To shed light on the atmospheric degradation, a mechanistic study is obtained, which indicates that reaction with O₂ is the dominant path for the decomposition of CH₃OCH(O•)CH₂Cl, the C-C bond scission reaction is the primary reaction path in the consumption of CH₃CH(O•)OCH₂CH₂Cl in the atmosphere.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ab initio method and canonical variational transition-state theory are employed to study the kinetic nature of hydrogen abstraction reactions of CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl/CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂Cl with Cl atom and OH radical and fate of alkoxy radicals (CH₃OCH(O•)CH₂Cl/CH₃CH(O•)OCH₂CH₂Cl).