The influence of (H2O)1-2 in the HOBr + HO2 gas-phase reaction

The HOBr + HO₂ reaction in the absence of water has three different channels for the abstraction of H to generate the corresponding products. The dominant channel is the generation of BrO + H₂O₂. The introduction of water molecules influences this dominant reaction via the way the reactants interact with the water molecules. The addition of water molecules decreases the energy barrier and increases the rate coefficient of the reaction. Interestingly, water works as a catalyst and we obtain BrO + H₂O₂, like in the reaction without water, or the water works as a reactant and we obtain products other than BrO + H₂O₂. The rate coefficients of the HOBr + HO₂ reaction in the presence of water are calculated to be faster than the reaction in the absence of water. However, other pathways in the presence of water are slower than the reaction in the absence of water. The water-assisted effective rate coefficients for the HOBr + HO₂ reaction are also larger than those for the reaction in the absence of water. The influence of a water dimer is not as important when compared with one water molecule. In summary, a single water molecule has a positive catalytic influence in enhancing the HOBr + HO₂ reaction.

Migrations and Catalytic Action of Water Molecules in the Ionized Formamide-(H2O)2 Cluster

Isomerization dynamics involving the migrations, proton transfer reaction, and catalytic actions of water molecules upon vertical ionization of the formamide (FA)-(H₂O)₂ cluster is investigated by the infrared spectroscopy and theoretical reaction path search calculation. The infrared spectroscopic result indicates the [FA-(H₂O)₂]⁺ cation has the hydrogen-bonded structure of the enol isomer cation of formamide and the water dimer. This structure is formed by proton transfer from the CH bond to the carbonyl group through the catalytic action of the water molecules. The isomerization paths involving this enolization in ionized FA-(H₂O)₂ are explored by using the anharmonic downward distortion following method. We found multiple enolization paths which accompany proton exchanges among the formamide moiety and water molecules through the catalytic actions of the water molecules.

Atmospheric chemistry of the self-reaction of HO2 radicals: stepwise mechanism versus one-step process in the presence of (H2O)n (n = 1-3) clusters

The effects of water on radical-radical reactions are of great importance for the elucidation of the atmospheric oxidation process of free radicals. In the present work, the HO2 + HO2 reactions with (H2O)n (n = 1-3) have been investigated using quantum chemical methods and canonical variational transition state theory with small curvature tunneling. We have explored both one-step and stepwise mechanisms, in particular the stepwise mechanism initiated by ring enlargement. The calculated results have revealed that the stepwise mechanism is the dominant one in the HO2 + HO2 reaction that is catalyzed by one water molecule. This is because its pseudo-first-order rate constant (kRWM1') is 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of the corresponding one-step mechanism. Additionally, the value of kRWM1' at 298 K has been found to be 4.3 times larger than that of the rate constant of the HO2 + HO2 reaction (kR1) without catalysts, which is in good agreement with the experimental findings. The calculated results also showed that the stepwise mechanism is still dominant in the (H2O)2 catalyzed reaction due to its higher pseudo-first-order rate constant, which is 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of the corresponding one-step mechanism. On the other hand, the one-step process is much faster than the stepwise mechanism by a factor of 105-106 in the (H2O)3 catalyzed reaction. However, the pseudo-first-order rate constants for the (H2O)2 and (H2O)3-catalyzed reactions are lower than that of the H2O-catalyzed reaction by 3-4 orders of magnitude, which indicates that the water monomer is the most efficient one among all the catalysts of (H2O)n (n = 1-3). The present results have provided a definitive example that water and water clusters have important influences on atmospheric reactions.

Effects of water, ammonia and formic acid on HO2 + Cl reactions under atmospheric conditions: competition between a stepwise route and one elementary step

Quantum chemical calculations at M06-2X and CCSD(T) levels of theory have been performed to investigate the effects of H2O, NH3, and HCOOH on the HO2 + Cl → HCl + O2 reaction. The results show that catalyzed reactions with three catalysts could proceed through two different mechanisms, namely a stepwise route and one elementary step, where the former reaction is more favorable than the latter. Meanwhile, for the stepwise route, a single hydrogen atom transfer pathway in the presence of all catalysts has more advantages than the respective double hydrogen atom transfer pathway. Then, the relative impacts of catalysts under tropospheric conditions were investigated by considering the temperature dependence of the rate constants and the altitude dependence of catalyst concentrations. The calculated results show that at 0 km altitude, the HO2 + Cl → HCl + O2 reaction with catalysts, such as H2O, NH3, or HCOOH, cannot compete with the reaction without a catalyst, as the effective rate constant with a catalyst is smaller by 2-6 orders of magnitude than the naked reaction within the temperature range 280-320 K. The calculated results also show that at altitudes of 5, 10 and 15 km, the effective rate constant of the HCOOH-catalyzed reaction increases obviously with an increase in altitude. At 15 km altitude, its value is up to 9.63 × 10-11 cm3 per molecule per s, which is close to the corresponding value of the reaction without a catalyst, showing that the contribution of HCOOH to the HO2 + Cl → HCl + O2 reaction cannot be neglected at high altitudes. The new findings in this investigation are not only of great necessity and importance for elucidating the gas-phase reaction of HO2 with Cl in the presence of acidic, neutral and basic catalysts, but are also of great interest for understanding the importance of other types of hydrogen abstraction in the atmosphere.

New insights into 3M3M1B: the role of water in ˙OH-initiated degradation and aerosol formation in the presence of NOX (X = 1, 2) and an alkali

Metal-free catalysis of the ˙OH-initiated degradation of 3M3M1B, nitrate aerosol formation, and peroxynitrate decomposition.

Catalytic effect of (H2O)n (n = 1–3) clusters on the HO2 + SO2 → HOSO + 3O2 reaction under tropospheric conditions

The HO₂ + SO₂ → HOSO + ³O₂ reaction without and with (H₂O)n (n = 1–3) have been investigated using CCSD(T)/CBS//M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ methods, and canonical variational transition state theory with small curvature tunneling.

Catalytic effect of (H2O) n (n = 1-3) on the HO2 + NH2 → NH3 + 3O2 reaction under tropospheric conditions

The effects of (H2O) n (n = 1-3) clusters on the HO2 + NH2 → NH3 + 3O2 reaction have been investigated by employing high-level quantum chemical calculations with M06-2X and CCSD(T) theoretical methods, and canonical variational transition (CVT) state theory with small curvature tunneling (SCT) correction. The calculated results show that two kinds of reaction, HO2⋯(H2O) n (n = 1-3) + NH2 and H2N⋯(H2O) n (n = 1-3) + HO2, are involved in the (H2O) n (n = 1-3) catalyzed HO2 + NH2 → NH3 + 3O2 reaction. Due to the fact that HO2⋯(H2O) n (n = 1-3) complexes have much larger stabilization energies and much higher concentrations than the corresponding complexes of H2N⋯(H2O) n (n = 1-3), the atmospheric relevance of the former reaction is more obvious with its effective rate constant of about 1-11 orders of magnitude faster than the corresponding latter reaction at 298 K. Meanwhile, due to the effective rate constant of the H2O⋯HO2 + NH2 reaction being respectively larger by 5-6 and 6-7 orders of magnitude than the corresponding reactions of HO2⋯(H2O)2 + NH2 and HO2⋯(H2O)3 + NH2, the catalytic effect of (H2O) n (n = 1-3) is mainly taken from the contribution of the water monomer. In addition, the enhancement factor of the water monomer is 10.06-13.30% within the temperature range of 275-320 K, which shows that at whole calculated temperatures, a positive water effect is obvious under atmospheric conditions.

Role of water on the H-abstraction from methanol by ClO

The influence of a single water molecule on the reaction mechanism and kinetics of hydrogen abstraction from methanol (CH₃OH) by the ClO radical has been investigated using ab initio calculations. The reaction proceeds through two channels: abstraction of the hydroxyl H-atom and methyl H-atom of CH₃OH by ClO, leading to the formation of CH₃O+HOCl (+H₂O) and CH₂OH+HOCl (+H₂O), respectively. In both cases, pre- and post-reactive complexes were located at the entrance and exit channel on the potential energy surfaces. Results indicate that the formation of CH₂OH+HOCl (+H₂O) is predominant over the formation of CH₃O+HOCl (+H₂O), with ambient rate constants of 3.07×10^-19 and 3.01×10^-23cm³/(molecule·sec), respectively, for the reaction without water. Over the temperature range 216.7-298.2K, the presence of water is seen to effectively lower the rate constants for the most favorable pathways by 4-6 orders of magnitude in both cases. It is therefore concluded that water plays an inhibitive role on the CH₃OH+ClO reaction under tropospheric conditions.

Effect of a single water molecule on the HO2 + ClO reaction

The catalytic effect of a single water molecule on the HO2 + ClO reaction has been investigated at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP-D3/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Four H-abstraction paths and two kinds of products, among which the paths for HOCl + O2 formation are dominant, have been found for the HO2 + ClO reaction without water. The rate constant of the most favorable path for the reaction without water is computed to be 4.53 × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at room temperature, in good agreement with the experiment. In the presence of a water molecule, although the reaction becomes more complex, the dominant products do not change. Four main channels, starting from HO2H2O + ClO, H2OHO2 + ClO, ClOH2O + HO2 and H2OClO + HO2, are investigated. The most favorable paths, reactions between H2OHO2 and ClO, and between ClOH2O and HO2, are 7-10 and 6-9 orders of magnitude slower than the reaction in the absence of water, respectively. It is concluded that the presence of a single water molecule does not play an important role in enhancing the HO2 + ClO reaction under tropospheric conditions.

Impact of the acidic group on the hydrolysis of 2-dinitromethylene-5,5-dinitropyrimidine-4,6-dione

Unique and incredible catalysis of the titled hydrolysis using HSO₄⁻ is proposed and verified in the gas and solvent phases.

Study of low temperature chlorine atom initiated oxidation of methyl and ethyl butyrate using synchrotron photoionization TOF-mass spectrometry

The initial oxidation products of methyl butyrate (MB) and ethyl butyrate (EB) are studied using a time- and energy-resolved photoionization mass spectrometer.

Role of the (H2O)n (n = 1–3) cluster in the HO2 + HO → 3O2 + H2O reaction: mechanistic and kinetic studies

Upon incorporation of the catalyst (H₂O)_n (n = 1–3) into the reaction HO₂ + HO → H₂O + ³O₂, the catalytic effects of water, water dimer, and water trimer mainly arise from the contribution of a single molecule of water vapor.

The catalytic effect of water, water dimers and water trimers on H2S +3O2formation by the HO2+ HS reaction under tropospheric conditions

Catalyst X (X = H₂O, (H₂O)₂and (H₂O)₃) is incorporated into the channel of H₂S +³O₂formation and the catalytic effect of water, water dimers and water trimers is mainly taken from the contribution of a single water vapor molecule.

Can a single water molecule really affect the HO2 + NO2 hydrogen abstraction reaction under tropospheric conditions?

During the HO₂ + NO₂ reaction, hydrogen abstraction by a single water molecule not only changes the branching ratio of HONO and HNO₂ formation, but also introduces different features with respect to the naked reaction, acting as a reactant that leads to the production of HNO₃.

A new insight into the 5-carboxycytosine and 5-formylcytosine under typical bisulfite conditions: a deamination mechanism study

5-Methylcytosine (5-MeCyt) can be converted to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmCyt) in mammalian DNA by the ten-eleven translocation enzymes. The conventional bisulfite sequencing cannot discriminate 5-hmCyt from 5-MeCyt, whereas the oxidation products of 5-hmCyt, 5-carboxycytosine (5-caCyt) and 5-formylcytosine (5-fCyt) enable them to be identified in bisulfite sequencing. This mechanism likely involves the decarboxylation of 5-caCyt and deformylation of 5-fCyt to cytosine (Cyt) before deamination. Another possibility could be a direct bisulfite-induced deamination reaction followed by decarboxylation and deformylation. Here the HSO3(-)-induced direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-caCytN3(+)-SO3(-) (paths A and B) and 5-O(+)fCytN3(+)-SO3(-) (paths C and D) has been explored at the MP2/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. The activation free energy (ΔG(s≠) = 54.16 kJ mol(-1)) of the direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-caCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path A is much lower than the ΔG(s≠) of CytN3(+)-SO3(-) (100.91 kJ mol(-1)) under bisulfite conditions, implying that 5-caCyt may firstly involve a process of deamination. Meanwhile, the ΔG(s≠) (103.84 kJ mol(-1)) of the HSO3(-)-induced direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-O(+)fCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path C is in close proximity to our previous theoretical data for CytN3(+)-SO3(-), indicating that the deamination of 5-fCyt is also likely to occur in the presence of bisulfite. Meanwhile, the HSO3(-)-induced direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-caCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path A and 5-O(+)fCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path C is represented and has been further explored in the presence of one and two water molecules. The results show that both in the gas and aqueous phases, the participation of one and two water molecules makes the HSO3(-)-induced direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-caCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path A unfavorable, whereas the contribution of one and two water molecules facilitates the HSO3(-)-induced direct hydrolytic deamination of 5-O(+)fCytN3(+)-SO3(-) path C.