Quantum Chemical and Statistical Rate Theory Studies of the Vinyl Hydroperoxides Formed in trans-2-Butene and 2,3-Dimethyl-2-butene Ozonolysis

Abstract

The vinyl hydroperoxide (VHP), the major isomerization product of the syn-alkyl Criegee intermediate (CI) formed in alkene ozonolysis, is a direct precursor of hydroxyl radical (OH), the most important oxidant in the troposphere. While simulations of CI reactivity have usually assumed the VHP to be a prompt and quantitative source of OH, recent quantum chemical studies have revealed subtleties in VHP reactivity such as a barrier to peroxy bond homolysis and a possible rearrangement to a hydroxycarbonyl. In this work, we use M06-L, Weizmann-1 Brueckner Doubles, and equation-of-motion spin-flip coupled-cluster theories to calculate a comprehensive reaction mechanism for the syn and anti conformers of the parent VHP formed in trans-2-butene ozonolysis and the 1-methyl VHP formed in 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene ozonolysis. We predict that for the parent VHP the anti homolysis transition structure (TS) is 3 kcal mol lower in energy than the syn TS, but for the 1-methyl system, the syn TS is 2 kcal mol lower in energy. Statistical rate theory simulations based on the quantum chemical data predict that the parent VHP preferentially decomposes to vinoxy and OH radicals under all tropospheric conditions, while the 1-methyl VHP preferentially decomposes to 1-methylvinoxy and OH radicals only close to 298 K; at 200 K, the 1-methyl VHP preferentially rearranges to hydroxyacetone. Lower temperatures and higher pressures favor the temporary accumulation of both the parent and the 1-methyl VHP.

Carbenium ion-mediated oligomerization of methylglyoxal for secondary organic aerosol formation

“…Although quantum chemical calculations have been extensively employed to investigate the gas-phase atmospheric chemistry (33,34), fewer theoretical studies have been conducted to elucidate the atmospheric chemical mechanisms in the aqueous phase. In the present work, quantum chemical calculations were performed using the Gaussian 09 package (35).…”

New Developments in Semiclassical Transition-State Theory

“…74 As a result, the reactivity of these species has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical studies in recent years. [75][76][77][78][79][80][81] CIs are typically formed in the atmosphere by the ozonolysis of alkene species. They can then react in a number of different ways, either bimolecularly with 'Criegee Scavengers' 79,[82][83][84][85][86] or with other CI molecules, 87,88 or react unimolecularly.…”

Unimolecular and water reactions of oxygenated and unsaturated Criegee intermediates under atmospheric conditions

“…Globally, though, the bulk of the Criegee intermediates appears to form oxygenated compounds through unimolecular reactions or through reactions with water forming hydroxy-hydroperoxides, HOQOOH. The products can sometimes decompose promptly, [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] e.g. OH radicals can be formed through dissociation of -OOH hydroperoxide groups formed in unimolecular or water reactions.…”