The mechanism for OH radical initiated atmospheric photoxidation reaction of ethyl acetate was carried out by using the density functional theory method. Geometries have been optimized at the B3LYP level with a standard 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The single-point energy calculations have been performed at the MP2/6-31G(d), MP2/6-311++G(d,p), and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d) levels, respectively. All of the possible degradation channels involved in the oxidation of ethyl acetate by OH radicals have been presented and discussed. Among the five possible hydrogen abstraction pathways of the reaction of ethyl acetate with OH radicals, the hydrogen abstractions from the C1-H3 and C2-H5 bonds are the dominant reaction pathways due to the low potential barriers and strong exothermicity. The ␤-ester rearrangement of IM6 is energetically favorable but is not expected to be important. The ␣-ester rearrangement reaction and O 2 direct abstraction from IM17 are the more favorable pathways and are strongly competitive. In addition, the ␣-ester rearrangement reaction is confirmed to be a one-step process. Acetic acid, formic acetic anhydride, acetoxyacetaldehyde, and acetic anhydride are the main products for the reaction of ethyl acetate with OH radicals.

Polyfluorinated sulfonamides (FSAs, F(CF2)nSO2NR1R2) are present in the atmosphere and may serve as the source of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs, CF3(CF2)nCOO–) in remote locations through long-range atmospheric transport and oxidation. Density functional theory (DFT) molecular orbital theory calculations were carried out to investigate OH radical-initiated atmospheric oxidation of a series of sulfonamides, F(CF2)nSO2NR1R2 (n = 4, 6, 8). Geometry optimizations of the reactants as well as the intermediates, transition states, and products were performed at the MPWB1K level with the 6-31G+(d,p) basis set. Single-point energy calculations were carried out at the MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) level of theory. The OH radical-initiated reaction mechanism is given and confirms that the OH addition to the sulfone double bond producing perfluoroalkanesulfonic acid directly cannot occur in the general atmosphere. Canonical variational transition-state (CVT) theory with small curvature tunneling (SCT) contribution was used to predict the rate constants. The overall rate constants were determined, k(T) (N-EtFBSA + OH) = (3.21 × 10−12) exp(–584.19/T), k(T) (N-EtFHxSA + OH) = (3.21 × 10−12) exp(–543.24/T), and k(T) (N-EtFOSA + OH) = (2.17 × 10−12) exp(–504.96/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, over the possible atmospheric temperature range of 180–370 K, indicating that the length of the F(CF2)n group has no large effect on the reactivity of FSAs. Results show that the atmospheric lifetime of FSAs determined by OH radicals will be 20–40 days, which agrees well with the experimental values (20–50 days), 20 thus they may contribute to the burden of perfluorinated pollution in remote regions.

N-methyl perfluorobutane sulfonamidoethanol (NMeFBSE), a new product of the 3M Company, is currently widely used in many countries and territories. It is prone to volatilize to the atmosphere where it can undergo long-range transport and chemical transformations. In this work, the reaction mechanism for the OH-initiated atmospheric oxidation of NMeFBSE was investigated. The geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies of all of the stationary points were calculated at the MPWB1K level with the 6-31G+(d,p) basis set. Single-point energy calculations were carried out at the MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. The results indicate that the channel of the formation of C4F9 and HSO3N(CH3)CH2CH2OH resulting from OH addition to NMeFBSE and hydrogen abstractions from the −CH3 group in NMeFBSE are energetically favorable. The main degradation products include perfluorinated carboxylic acids (C3F7COOH, C2F5COOH, CF3COOH), HSO3N(CH3)CH2CH2OH, NMeFBSA (C4F9SO2NH(CH3)), C4F9SO2N(CH3)CH2CHO, and C4F9SO2N(CH3)CH2COOH. The reaction mechanism for the formation of NMeFBSA is reported for the first time. Using the atmospheric fate of NMeFBSE as a guide, it seems that N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol (NMeFOSE) contributes to the ubiquity of perfluoroalkyl sulfonate and carboxylate compounds in the atmosphere.

The chlorine-initiated reaction mechanism of ethyl formate in the atmosphere was investigated using the density functional theory method. The geometry parameters and frequencies of all of the stationary points were calculated at the B3LYP/ 6-31G(d,p) level. The single-point energy calculations were carried out at different levels, including MP2/6-31G(d), MP2/6-311++G(d,p), and CCSD(T)/6-31G(d). A detailed oxidation mechanism is provided and discussed. Present results show that α-ester rearrangement reaction and the O2 direct abstraction from IM6 (HC(O)OCH(O)CH3) are the more favorable pathway and are competitive. The 1,4-H shift isomerization of IM6 proved to be feasible under general atmospheric conditions. The decomposition of IM18 (CH3CH2OC(O)O) is favorable both thermodynamically and kinetically. Canonical variational transition theory with small-curvature tunneling correction was employed to predict the rate constants. The overall rate constant of ethyl formate at 298 K is 8.63 × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The Arrhenius equations of rate constants at the temperature range of 200–380 K were fitted.