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Roy TK, Qian Y, Sojdak CA, Kozlowski MC, Klippenstein SJ, Lester MI. Infrared signature of the hydroperoxyalkyl intermediate (·QOOH) in cyclohexane oxidation: An isomer-resolved spectroscopic study. J Chem Phys 2024; 161:034302. [PMID: 39007377 DOI: 10.1063/5.0219431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Infrared (IR) action spectroscopy is utilized to characterize carbon-centered hydroperoxy-cyclohexyl radicals (·QOOH) transiently formed in cyclohexane oxidation. The oxidation pathway leads to three nearly degenerate ·QOOH isomers, β-, γ-, and δ-QOOH, which are generated in the laboratory by H-atom abstraction from the corresponding ring sites of the cyclohexyl hydroperoxide (CHHP) precursor. The IR spectral features of jet-cooled and stabilized ·QOOH radicals are observed from 3590 to 7010 cm-1 (∼10-20 kcal mol-1) at energies in the vicinity of the transition state (TS) barrier leading to OH radicals that are detected by ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence. The experimental approach affords selective detection of β-QOOH, arising from its significantly lower TS barrier to OH products compared to γ and δ isomers, which results in rapid unimolecular decay and near unity branching to OH products. The observed IR spectrum of β-QOOH includes fundamental and overtone OH stretch transitions, overtone CH stretch transitions, and combination bands involving OH or CH stretch with lower frequency modes. The assignment of β-QOOH spectral features is guided by anharmonic frequencies and intensities computed using second-order vibrational perturbation theory. The overtone OH stretch (2νOH) of β-QOOH is shifted only a few wavenumbers from that observed for the CHHP precursor, yet they are readily distinguished by their prompt vs slow dissociation rates to OH products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Kumar Roy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6323, USA
| | - Yujie Qian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6323, USA
| | - Christopher A Sojdak
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6323, USA
| | - Marisa C Kozlowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6323, USA
| | - Stephen J Klippenstein
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - Marsha I Lester
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6323, USA
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2
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Qian Y, Roy TK, Jasper AW, Sojdak CA, Kozlowski MC, Klippenstein SJ, Lester MI. Isomer-resolved unimolecular dynamics of the hydroperoxyalkyl intermediate (•QOOH) in cyclohexane oxidation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401148121. [PMID: 38602914 PMCID: PMC11032462 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401148121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The oxidation of cycloalkanes is important in the combustion of transportation fuels and in atmospheric secondary organic aerosol formation. A transient carbon-centered radical intermediate (•QOOH) in the oxidation of cyclohexane is identified through its infrared fingerprint and time- and energy-resolved unimolecular dissociation dynamics to hydroxyl (OH) radical and bicyclic ether products. Although the cyclohexyl ring structure leads to three nearly degenerate •QOOH isomers (β-, γ-, and δ-QOOH), their transition state (TS) barriers to OH products are predicted to differ considerably. Selective characterization of the β-QOOH isomer is achieved at excitation energies associated with the lowest TS barrier, resulting in rapid unimolecular decay to OH products that are detected. A benchmarking approach is employed for the calculation of high-accuracy stationary point energies, in particular TS barriers, for cyclohexane oxidation (C6H11O2), building on higher-level reference calculations for the smaller ethane oxidation (C2H5O2) system. The isomer-specific characterization of β-QOOH is validated by comparison of experimental OH product appearance rates with computed statistical microcanonical rates, including significant heavy-atom tunneling, at energies in the vicinity of the TS barrier. Master-equation modeling is utilized to extend the results to thermal unimolecular decay rate constants at temperatures and pressures relevant to cyclohexane combustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Qian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104-6323
| | - Tarun Kumar Roy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104-6323
| | - Ahren W. Jasper
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | | | - Marisa C. Kozlowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104-6323
| | | | - Marsha I. Lester
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104-6323
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3
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Yu H, Møller KH, Buenconsejo RS, Crounse JD, Kjaergaard HG, Wennberg PO. Atmospheric Photo-Oxidation of 2-Ethoxyethanol: Autoxidation Chemistry of Glycol Ethers. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:9564-9579. [PMID: 37934888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c04456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the gas-phase photo-oxidation of 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE) initiated by the OH radical with a focus on its autoxidation pathways. Gas-phase autoxidation─intramolecular H-shifts followed by O2 addition─has recently been recognized as a major atmospheric chemical pathway that leads to the formation of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs), which are important precursors for secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Here, we examine the gas-phase oxidation pathways of 2-EE, a model compound for glycol ethers, an important class of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in volatile chemical products (VCPs). Both experimental and computational techniques are applied to analyze the photochemistry of the compound. We identify oxidation products from both bimolecular and autoxidation reactions from chamber experiments at varied HO2 levels and provide estimations of rate coefficients and product branching ratios for key reaction pathways. The H-shift processes of 2-EE peroxy radicals (RO2) are found to be sufficiently fast to compete with bimolecular reactions under modest NO/HO2 conditions. More than 30% of the produced RO2 are expected to undergo at least one H-shift for conditions typical of modern summer urban atmosphere, where RO2 bimolecular lifetime is becoming >10 s, which implies the potential for glycol ether oxidation to produce considerable amounts of HOMs at reduced NOx levels and elevated temperature. Understanding the gas-phase autoxidation of glycol ethers can help fill the knowledge gap in the formation of SOA derived from oxygenated VOCs emitted from VCP sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmin Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Kristian H Møller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen Ø DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Reina S Buenconsejo
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - John D Crounse
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Henrik G Kjaergaard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen Ø DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Paul O Wennberg
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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4
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Nozière B, Durif O, Dubus E, Kylington S, Emmer Å, Fache F, Piel F, Wisthaler A. The reaction of organic peroxy radicals with unsaturated compounds controlled by a non-epoxide pathway under atmospheric conditions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:7772-7782. [PMID: 36857663 PMCID: PMC10015623 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05166d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Today, the reactions of gas-phase organic peroxy radicals (RO2) with unsaturated Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are expected to be negligible at room temperature and ignored in atmospheric chemistry. This assumption is based on combustion studies (T ≥ 360 K), which were the only experimental data available for these reactions until recently. These studies also reported epoxide formation as the only reaction channel. In this work, the products of the reactions of 1-pentylperoxy (C5H11O2) and methylperoxy (CH3O2) with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene ("2,3DM2B") and isoprene were investigated at T = 300 ± 5 K with Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and Gas Chromatography/Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry. Unlike what was expected, the experiments showed no measurable formation of epoxide. However, RO2 + alkene was found to produce compounds retaining the alkene structure, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone (C5H10O2) with 2,3DM2B and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-butenal (C5H8O2) and methyl vinyl ketone with isoprene, suggesting that these reactions proceed through another reaction pathway under atmospheric conditions. We propose that, instead of forming an epoxide, the alkyl radical produced by the addtion of RO2 onto the alkene reacts with oxygen, producing a peroxy radical. The corresponding mechanisms are consistent with the products observed in the experiments. This alternative pathway implies that, under atmospheric conditions, RO2 + alkene reactions are kinetically limited by the initial addition step and not by the epoxide formation proposed until now for combustion systems. Extrapolating the combustion data to room temperature thus underestimates the rate coefficients, which is consistent with those recently reported for these reactions at room temperature. While slow for many classes of RO2, these reactions could be non-negligible at room temperature for some functionalized RO2. They might thus need to be considered in laboratory studies using large alkene concentrations and in biogenically-dominated regions of the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nozière
- KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Olivier Durif
- KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Eloé Dubus
- KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stephanie Kylington
- KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Åsa Emmer
- KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Fabienne Fache
- Université Lyon 1 and CNRS, UMR 5246, ICBMS, 69626 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Felix Piel
- University of Oslo, Department of Chemistry, 0315 Oslo, Norway
| | - Armin Wisthaler
- University of Oslo, Department of Chemistry, 0315 Oslo, Norway
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5
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Fu Z, Xie HB, Elm J, Liu Y, Fu Z, Chen J. Atmospheric Autoxidation of Organophosphate Esters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6944-6955. [PMID: 34793133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers, have frequently been identified in the atmosphere. However, their atmospheric fate and toxicity associated with atmospheric transformations are unclear. Here, we performed quantum chemical calculations and computational toxicology to investigate the reaction mechanism of peroxy radicals of OPEs (OPEs-RO2•), key intermediates in determining the atmospheric chemistry of OPEs, and the toxicity of the reaction products. TMP-RO2• (R1) and TCPP-RO2• (R2) derived from trimethyl phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, respectively, are selected as model systems. The results indicate that R1 and R2 can follow an H-shift-driven autoxidation mechanism under low NO concentration ([NO]) conditions, clarifying that RO2• from esters can follow an autoxidation mechanism. The unexpected autoxidation mechanism can be attributed to the distinct role of the ─(O)3P(═O) phosphate-ester group in facilitating the H-shift of OPEs-RO2• from commonly encountered ─OC(═O)─ and ─ONO2 ester groups in the atmosphere. Under high [NO] conditions, NO can mediate the autoxidation mechanism to form organonitrates and alkoxy radical-related products. The products from the autoxidation mechanism have low volatility and aquatic toxicity compared to their corresponding parent compounds. The proposed autoxidation mechanism advances our current understanding of the atmospheric RO2• chemistry and the environmental risk of OPEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Hong-Bin Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jonas Elm
- Department of Chemistry and iClimate, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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6
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Berndt T, Chen J, Kjærgaard ER, Møller KH, Tilgner A, Hoffmann EH, Herrmann H, Crounse JD, Wennberg PO, Kjaergaard HG. Hydrotrioxide (ROOOH) formation in the atmosphere. Science 2022; 376:979-982. [PMID: 35617402 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn6012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Organic hydrotrioxides (ROOOH) are known to be strong oxidants used in organic synthesis. Previously, it has been speculated that they are formed in the atmosphere through the gas-phase reaction of organic peroxy radicals (RO2) with hydroxyl radicals (OH). Here, we report direct observation of ROOOH formation from several atmospherically relevant RO2 radicals. Kinetic analysis confirmed rapid RO2 + OH reactions forming ROOOH, with rate coefficients close to the collision limit. For the OH-initiated degradation of isoprene, global modeling predicts molar hydrotrioxide formation yields of up to 1%, which represents an annual ROOOH formation of about 10 million metric tons. The atmospheric lifetime of ROOOH is estimated to be minutes to hours. Hydrotrioxides represent a previously omitted substance class in the atmosphere, the impact of which needs to be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Berndt
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Eva R Kjærgaard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian H Møller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Andreas Tilgner
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Erik H Hoffmann
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hartmut Herrmann
- Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - John D Crounse
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Paul O Wennberg
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.,Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Henrik G Kjaergaard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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7
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Barber VP, Kroll JH. Chemistry of Functionalized Reactive Organic Intermediates in the Earth's Atmosphere: Impact, Challenges, and Progress. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:10264-10279. [PMID: 34846877 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c08221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The gas-phase oxidation of organic compounds is an important chemical process in the Earth's atmosphere. It governs oxidant levels and controls the production of key secondary pollutants, and hence has major implications for air quality and climate. Organic oxidation is largely controlled by the chemistry of a few reactive intermediates, namely, alkyl (R) radicals, alkoxy (RO) radicals, peroxy (RO2) radicals, and carbonyl oxides (R1R2COO), which may undergo a number of unimolecular and bimolecular reactions. Our understanding of these intermediates, and the reaction pathways available to them, is based largely on studies of unfunctionalized intermediates, formed in the first steps of hydrocarbon oxidation. However, it has become increasingly clear that intermediates with functional groups, which are generally formed later in the oxidation process, can exhibit fundamentally different reactivity than unfunctionalized ones. In this Perspective, we explore the unique chemistry available to functionalized organic intermediates in the Earth's atmosphere. After a brief review of the canonical chemistry available to unfunctionalized intermediates, we discuss how the addition of functional groups can introduce new reactions, either by changing the energetics or kinetics of a given reaction or by opening up new chemical pathways. We then provide examples of atmospheric reaction classes that are available only to functionalized intermediates. Some of these, such as unimolecular H-shift reactions of RO2 radicals, have been elucidated only relatively recently, and can have important impacts on atmospheric chemistry (e.g., on radical cycling or organic aerosol formation); it seems likely that other, as-yet undiscovered reactions of (multi)functional intermediates may also exist. We discuss the challenges associated with the study of the chemistry of such intermediates and review novel experimental and theoretical approaches that have recently provided (or hold promise for providing) new insights into their atmospheric chemistry. The continued use and development of such techniques and the close collaboration between experimentalists and theoreticians are necessary for a complete, detailed understanding of the chemistry of functionalized intermediates and their impact on major atmospheric chemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P Barber
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jesse H Kroll
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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8
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Goldman MJ, Green WH, Kroll JH. Chemistry of Simple Organic Peroxy Radicals under Atmospheric through Combustion Conditions: Role of Temperature, Pressure, and NO x Level. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:10303-10314. [PMID: 34843244 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c07203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Organic peroxy radicals (RO2) are key intermediates in the oxidation of organic compounds in both combustion systems and the atmosphere. While many studies have focused on reactions of RO2 in specific applications, spanning a relatively limited range of reaction conditions, the generalized behavior of RO2 radicals across the full range of reaction conditions (temperatures, pressures, and NO levels) has, to our knowledge, never been explored. In this work, two simple model systems, n-propyl peroxy radical and γ-isobutanol peroxy radical, are used to evaluate RO2 fate using pressure-dependent kinetics. The fate of these radicals was modeled based on literature data over 250-1250 K, 0.01-100 bar, and 1 ppt to 100 ppm of NO, which spans the typical range of atmospheric and combustion conditions. Covering this entire range provides a broad overview of the reactivity of these species under both atmospheric and combustion conditions, as well as under conditions intermediate to the two. A particular focus is on the importance of reactions that were traditionally considered to occur in only one of the two sets of conditions: RO2 unimolecular isomerization reactions (long known to occur in combustion systems but only recently appreciated in atmospheric systems) and RO2 bimolecular reactions of RO2 with NO (thought to occur mainly in atmospheric systems and rarely considered in combustion chemistry).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Jacob Goldman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - William H Green
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jesse H Kroll
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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9
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Vereecken L, Vu G, Wahner A, Kiendler-Scharr A, Nguyen HMT. A structure activity relationship for ring closure reactions in unsaturated alkylperoxy radicals. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:16564-16576. [PMID: 34313271 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02758a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Terpenoids are an important class of multi-unsaturated volatile organic compounds emitted to the atmosphere. During their oxidation in the troposphere, unsaturated peroxy radicals are formed, which may undergo ring closure reactions by an addition of the radical oxygen atom on either of the carbons in the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bond. This study describes a quantum chemical and theoretical kinetic study of the rate of ring closure, finding that the reactions are comparatively fast with rates often exceeding 1 s-1 at room temperature, making these reactions competitive in low-NOx environments and allowing for continued autoxidation by ring closure. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) is presented for 5- to 8-membered ring closure in unsaturated RO2 radicals with aliphatic substituents, with some analysis of the impact of oxygenated substituents. H-migration in the cycloperoxide peroxy radicals formed after the ring closure was found to be comparatively slow for unsubstituted RO2 radicals. In the related cycloperoxide alkoxy radicals, migration of H-atoms implanted on the ring was similarly found to be slower than for non-cyclic alkoxy radicals and is typically not competitive against decomposition reactions that lead to cycloperoxide ring breaking. Ring closure reactions may constitute an important reaction channel in the atmospheric oxidation of terpenoids and could promote continued autoxidation, though the impact is likely to be strongly dependent on the specific molecular backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Vereecken
- Institute for Energy and Climate Research: IEK-8: Troposphere, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany.
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10
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Barber VP, Green WH, Kroll JH. Screening for New Pathways in Atmospheric Oxidation Chemistry with Automated Mechanism Generation. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:6772-6788. [PMID: 34346695 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c04297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the Earth's atmosphere, reactive organic carbon undergoes oxidation via a highly complex, multigeneration process, with implications for air quality and climate. Decades of experimental and theoretical studies, primarily on the reactions of hydrocarbons, have led to a canonical understanding of how gas-phase oxidation of organic compounds takes place. Recent research has brought to light a number of examples where the presence of certain functional groups opens up reaction pathways for key radical intermediates, including alkyl radicals, alkoxy radicals, and peroxy radicals, that are substantially different from traditional oxidation mechanisms. These discoveries highlight the need for methods that systematically explore the chemistry of complex, functionalized molecules without being prohibitively expensive. In this work, automated reaction network generation is used as a screening tool for new pathways in atmospheric oxidation chemistry. The reaction mechanism generator (RMG) is used to generate reaction networks for the OH-initiated oxidation of 200 mono- and bifunctionally substituted n-pentanes. The resulting networks are then filtered to highlight the reactions of key radical intermediates that are fast enough to compete with traditional atmospheric removal processes as well as "uncanonical" processes which differ from traditionally accepted oxidation mechanisms. Several recently reported, uncanonical atmospheric mechanisms appear in the RMG dataset. These "proof of concept" results provide confidence in this approach as a tool in the search for overlooked atmospheric oxidation chemistry. Several previously unreported reaction types are also encountered in the dataset. The most potentially atmospherically important of these is a radical-carbonyl ring-closure reaction that produces a highly functionalized cyclic alkoxy radical. This pathway is proposed as a promising target for further study via experiments and more detailed theoretical calculations. The approach presented herein represents a new way to efficiently explore atmospheric chemical space and unearth overlooked reaction steps in atmospheric oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P Barber
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - William H Green
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jesse H Kroll
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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11
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Thermal unimolecular reactivity pathways in dehydro‐diazines radicals. J PHYS ORG CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/poc.4152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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