The Role of Catalysis in Alkanediol Decomposition: Implications for General Detection of Alkanediols and Their Formation in the Atmosphere

In Quest of the Missing C2H6O2 Isomers in the Interstellar Medium: A Theoretical Search

Ethylene glycol (C2H6O2), the only diol detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), is a key component in the synthesis of prebiotic sugars. Its structural isomer, methoxymethanol, has also been found in the ISM. Our results show that neither ethylene glycol (ethane-1,2-diol) nor methoxymethanol is the most stable isomer. Using high-level computational methods, we identified five isomers: two diols, one hydroxy ether, and two peroxides. The geminal diol 1,1-ethanediol (ethane-1,1-diol) is the most stable isomer, although it has not been detected in the ISM, whereas the two peroxides are less stable than the geminal diol by 60 kcal/mol. This study also provides the rotational constants and dipole moment for each conformer of every C2H6O2 isomer.

Methanediol from cloud-processed formaldehyde is only a minor source of atmospheric formic acid

Atmospheric formic acid is severely underpredicted by models. A recent study proposed that this discrepancy can be resolved by abundant formic acid production from the reaction (1) between hydroxyl radical and methanediol derived from in-cloud formaldehyde processing and provided a chamber-experiment-derived rate constant, k1 = 7.5 × 10-12 cm3 s-1. High-level accuracy coupled cluster calculations in combination with E,J-resolved two-dimensional master equation analyses yield k1 = (2.4 ± 0.5) × 10-12 cm3 s-1 for relevant atmospheric conditions (T = 260-310 K and P = 0-1 atm). We attribute this significant discrepancy to HCOOH formation from other molecules in the chamber experiments. More importantly, we show that reversible aqueous processes result indirectly in the equilibration on a 10 min. time scale of the gas-phase reaction [Formula: see text] (2) with a HOCH2OH to HCHO ratio of only ca. 2%. Although HOCH2OH outgassing upon cloud evaporation typically increases this ratio by a factor of 1.5-5, as determined by numerical simulations, its in-cloud reprocessing is shown using a global model to strongly limit the gas-phase sink and the resulting production of formic acid. Based on the combined findings in this work, we derive a range of 1.2-8.5 Tg/y for the global HCOOH production from cloud-derived HOCH2OH reacting with OH. The best estimate, 3.3 Tg/y, is about 30 times less than recently reported. The theoretical equilibrium constant Keq (2) determined in this work also allows us to estimate the Henry's law constant of methanediol (8.1 × 105 M atm-1 at 280 K).

Metal-free catalysis for the reaction of nitrogen dioxide dimer with phenol: An unexpected favorable source of nitrate and aerosol precursors in vehicle exhaust

Atmospheric reaction mechanism and dynamics of phenol with nitrogen dioxide dimer were explored by the density functional theory and high-level quantum chemistry combined with statistical kinetic calculations within 220-800 K. The nitric acid and phenyl nitrite, the typical aerosol precursors, are the preponderant products because of the low formation free energy barrier (∼8.7 kcal/mol) and fast rate constants (∼10^-15 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 at 298 K). Phenyl nitrate is the minor product and it would be also formed from the transformation of phenyl nitrite in NO₂-rich environment. More importantly, kinetic effects and catalytic mechanism of a series of metal-free catalysts (H₂O, NH₃, CH₃NH₂, CH₃NHCH₃, HCOOH, and CH₃COOH) on the title reaction were investigated at the same level. The results indicate that CH₃NH₂ and CH₃NHCH₃ can not only catalyze the title reaction by lowering the free energy barrier (about 1.4-6.5 kcal/mol) but also facilitate the production of organic ammonium nitrate via acting as a donor-acceptor of hydrogen. Conversely, the other species are non-catalytic upon the title reaction. The stabilization energies and donor-acceptor interactions in alkali-catalyzed product complexes were explored, which can provide new insights to the properties of aerosol precursors. Moreover, the lifetime of phenol determined by nitrogen dioxide dimer in the presence of dimethylamine may compete with that of determined by OH radicals, indicating that nitrogen dioxide dimer is responsible for the elimination of phenol in the polluted atmosphere. This work could help us thoroughly understand the removal of nitrogen oxides and phenol as well as new aerosol precursor aggregation in vehicle exhaust.

Autoxidation of Formaldehyde with Oxygen-A Comparison of Reaction Channels

The autoxidation of formaldehyde through initiation by triplet oxygen is studied via two initial steps: (1) H-atom abstraction and (2) 3O2 addition reaction. The reaction energy profiles show that the reactions are thermodynamically and kinetically demanding. A comparison of the pathways of these initial reactions and the search for a less energy-demanding pathway is presented. The presence of a Brønsted acid has no effect on the energetics of the reaction, while the presence of a single water molecule catalyst enhances the initial reactions. The H-atom abstraction reaction from formaldehyde results in formyl and hydroperoxy radicals. These radicals on further reaction with the second equivalent of 3O2 lead to a CO + 2HO2 product channel. The 3O2 addition reaction to formaldehyde results in a triplet biradical intermediate which further leads to performic acid, the precursor in the synthesis of carboxylic acids from aldehydes. In the presence of water molecules, performic acid is formed in a single kinetic step, and this leads to a CO2 + OH + HO2 product channel upon subsequent reaction with 3O2 in a thermodynamically favorable reaction. The results show that the less established 3O2 addition reaction to aldehydes is a viable route for autoxidation in the absence of purpose-built initiators, in addition to the well-established H-atom abstraction route.

Synthesis of methanediol [CH2(OH)2]: The simplest geminal diol

Methanediol [CH₂(OH)₂] represents a pivotal atmospheric volatile organic compound and plays a fundamental role in aerosol growth. Although sought for decades, methanediol has never been identified due to the inherent dehydration tendency of two adjacent hydroxyl groups (OH) at the same carbon atom. Here, we prepare and identify methanediol via processing of low-temperature ices followed by sublimation into the gas phase. These findings open up a concept to synthesize and characterize unstable geminal diols—critical organic transients in Earth’s atmosphere. The excited state dynamics of oxygen may also lead to methanediol in methanol-rich interstellar ices in cold molecular clouds, followed by sublimation in star-forming regions and prospective detection of these reactive intermediates in the gas phase by radiotelescopes.

Geminal diols—organic molecules carrying two hydroxyl groups at the same carbon atom—have been recognized as key reactive intermediates by the physical (organic) chemistry and atmospheric science communities as fundamental transients in the aerosol cycle and in the atmospheric ozonolysis reaction sequence. Anticipating short lifetimes and their tendency to fragment to water plus the aldehyde or ketone, free geminal diols represent one of the most elusive classes of organic reactive intermediates. Here, we afford an exceptional glance into the preparation of the previously elusive methanediol [CH₂(OH)₂] transient—the simplest geminal diol—via energetic processing of low-temperature methanol–oxygen ices. Methanediol was identified in the gas phase upon sublimation via isomer-selective photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with isotopic substitution studies. Electronic structure calculations reveal that methanediol is formed via excited state dynamics through insertion of electronically excited atomic oxygen into a carbon–hydrogen bond of the methyl group of methanol followed by stabilization in the icy matrix. The first preparation and detection of methanediol demonstrates its gas-phase stability as supported by a significant barrier hindering unimolecular decomposition to formaldehyde and water. These findings advance our perception of the fundamental chemistry and chemical bonding of geminal diols and signify their role as an efficient sink of aldehydes and ketones in atmospheric environments eventually coupling the atmospheric chemistry of geminal diols and Criegee intermediates.

Atmospheric Ring-Closure and Dehydration Reactions of 1,4-Hydroxycarbonyls in the Gas Phase: The Impact of Catalysts

1,4-Hydroxycarbonyls can potentially undergo sequential reactions involving cyclization followed by dehydration to form dihydrofurans. As dihydrofurans contain a double bond, they are highly reactive toward atmospheric oxidants such as OH, O₃, and NO₃. In the present study, we use ab initio calculations to examine the impact of various atmospheric catalysts on the energetics and kinetics of the gas-phase cyclization and dehydration reaction steps associated with 4-hydroxybutanal, a prototypical 1,4-hydroxycarbonyl molecule. The cyclization step transforms 4-hydroxybutanal into 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran, which can subsequently undergo dehydration to form 2,3-dihydrofuran. As the barriers associated with the cyclization and dehydration steps for 4-hydroxybutanal are, respectively, 34.8 and 63.0 kcal/mol in the absence of a catalyst, both reaction steps are inaccessible under atmospheric conditions in the gas phase. However, the presence of a suitable catalyst can significantly reduce the reaction barriers, and we have examined the impact of a single molecule of H₂O, HO₂ radical, HC(O)OH, HNO₃, and H₂SO₄ on these reactions. We find that H₂SO₄ reduces the reaction barriers the greatest, with the barrier for the cyclization step being reduced to -13.1 kcal/mol and that for the dehydration step going down to 9.2 kcal/mol, measured relative to their respective separated starting reactants. Interestingly, our kinetic study shows that HNO₃ gives the fastest rate due to the combined effects of a larger atmospheric concentration and a reduced barrier. Thus, our study suggests that, with acid catalysis, the cyclization reaction step can readily occur for 1,4-hydroxycarbonyls in the gas phase. Because the dehydration step exhibits a significant barrier even with acid catalysis, the 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran products, once formed, are likely lost through their reaction with OH radicals in the atmosphere. We have investigated the reaction pathways and the rate constant for this bimolecular reaction in the presence of excess molecular oxygen (³O₂), as it would occur under tropospheric conditions, using computational chemistry over the 200-300 K temperature range. We find that the main products from these OH-initiated oxidation reactions are succinaldehyde + HO₂ and 2,3-dihydro-2-furanol + HO₂.

Stereoisomers of hydroxymethanes: Probing structural and spectroscopic features upon substitution

Ab initio studies on CH_x(OH)_4-x (x = 0-3) polyols are carried out to derive their structural and spectroscopic features. Several stereoisomers (both equilibrium structures and transition states) are found. Some are predicted here for the first time. We determined hence their geometrical parameters, vibrational frequencies, electronic excitation energies for the singlet manifold, and IR spectra. While the IR spectra for all polyols present similar shapes, their UV spectra exhibit however distinct band origin that are specific to each polyol and more interestingly to each diasteroisomer. Stereoelectronic effects are also noticed and discussed. It is suggested that UV spectroscopy is an efficient probe to experimentally identify polyols in mixtures involving polyols.

Role of Double Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions in Atmospheric Chemistry

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions are ubiquitous and play a crucial role in chemistries occurring in the atmosphere, biology, and industry. In the atmosphere, the most common and traditional HAT reaction is that associated with the OH radical abstracting a hydrogen atom from the plethora of organic molecules in the troposphere via R-H + OH → R + H2O. This reaction motif involves a single hydrogen transfer. More recently, in the literature, there is an emerging framework for a new class of HAT reactions that involves double hydrogen transfers. These reactions are broadly classified into four categories: (i) addition, (ii) elimination, (iii) substitution, and (iv) rearrangement. Hydration and dehydration are classic examples of addition and elimination reactions, respectively whereas tautomerization or isomerization belongs to a class of rearrangement reactions. Atmospheric acids and water typically mediate these reactions. Organic and inorganic acids are present in appreciable levels in the atmosphere and are capable of facilitating two-point hydrogen bonding interactions with oxygenates possessing an hydroxyl and/or carbonyl-type functionality. As a result, acids influence the reactivity of oxygenates and, thus, the energetics and kinetics of their HAT-based chemistries. The steric and electronic effects of acids play an important role in determining the efficacy of acid catalysis. Acids that reduce the steric strain of 1:1 substrate···acid complex are generally better catalysts. Among a family of monocarboxylic acids, the electronic effects become important; barrier to the catalyzed reaction correlates strongly with the pKa of the acid. Under acid catalysis, the hydration of carbonyl compounds leads to the barrierless formation of diols, which can serve as seed particles for atmospheric aerosol growth. The hydration of sulfur trioxide, which is the principle mechanism for atmospheric sulfuric acid formation, also becomes barrierless under acid catalysis. Rate calculations suggest that such acid catalysis play a key role in the formation of sulfuric acid in the Earth's stratosphere, Venusian atmosphere, and on heterogeneous surfaces. Over the past few years, theoretical calculations have shown that these acid-mediated double hydrogen atom transfers are important in the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere as well as that of other planets. This Account reviews and puts into perspective some of these atmospheric HAT reactions and their environmental significance.

Ammonia as an efficient catalyst for decomposition of carbonic acid: a quantum chemical investigation

Electronic structure calculations using M06-2X, MP2 and CCSD(T) methods have been employed to show ammonia as an efficient catalyst for decomposition of carbonic acid.