Criegee intermediates, formed by alkene ozonolysis in
the troposphere,
can react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The temperature-dependent
kinetics of the reactions between the Criegee intermediate CH
2
OO and three aliphatic aldehydes, RCHO where R = H, CH
3
, and C
2
H
5
(formaldehyde, acetaldehyde,
and propionaldehyde, respectively), have been studied using a laser
flash-photolysis transient absorption spectroscopy technique. The
experimental measurements are supported by
ab initio
calculations at various composite levels of theory that characterize
stationary points on the reaction potential and free energy surfaces.
As with other reactions of CH
2
OO with organic carbonyls,
the mechanisms involve 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition at the C=O group,
over submerged barriers, leading to the formation of 1,2,4-trioxolane
secondary ozonides. The bimolecular rate constants of all three reactions
decrease with increasing temperature over the range 275–335
K and are characterized by equations of Arrhenius form:
k
(
T
) = (7.1 ± 1.5) × 10
–14
exp((1160 ± 60)/
T
), (8.9 ± 1.7) ×
10
–15
exp((1530 ± 60)/
T
), and
(5.3 ± 1.3) × 10
–14
exp((1210 ± 70)/
T
) cm
3
s
–1
for HCHO, CH
3
CHO, and C
2
H
5
CHO, respectively. Based
on estimated concentrations of CH
2
OO, the reactions with
aldehydes are unlikely to play a significant role in the atmosphere.