Formaldehyde nitrate radical reaction

Limited product data are available for the nitrate radical reaction with isoprene and a- and /3-pinene. For the isoprene reaction, Barnes et al. (1990) determined molar yields of total nitrates of 80%, CO of 4%, and formaldehyde of 11%. Methacrolein was also detected, but an accurate product yield could not be determined. Additional work with a- and /3-pinene was not conclusive. Although nitrate features were observed as initial reaction products, these compounds quickly transferred into aerosols, thus preventing identification via the methods employed in the study (FTIR spectroscopy). 

As Barr et al. (2003) pointed out, the importance of such emissions is determined mainly by their impact on the three processes taking place in the atmosphere. The first consists in that such NMHCs as isoprene form in the course of carboxylization in plants and contribute much thereby to the formation of biospheric carbon cycle. The second process is connected with NMHCs exhibiting high chemical activity with respect to such main oxidants as hydroxyl radicals (OH), ozone (03), and nitrate radicals (N03). Reactions with the participation of such components result in the formation of radicals of alkylperoxides (R02), which favor efficient transformation of nitrogen monoxide (NO) into nitrogen dioxide (N02), which favors an increase of ozone concentration in the ABL. Finally, NMHC oxidation leads to the formation of such carbonyl compounds as formaldehyde (HCHO), which stimulates the processes of 03 formation. Finally, the oxidation of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes results in the intensive formation of fine carbon aerosol with a particle diameter of <0.4 pm... 

Chemical/Physical. Atkinson et al. (2000) studied the kinetic and products of the gas-phase reaction of 2-heptanone with OH radicals in purified air at 25 °C and 740 mmHg. A relative rate constant of 1.17 x 10 " cmVmolecule Sec was calculated for this reaction. Reaction products identified by GO, FTIR, and atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectroscopy were (with respective molar yields) formaldehyde, 0.38 acetaldehyde, L0.05 propanal, X0.05 butanal, 0.07 pentanal, 0.09 and molecular weight 175 organic nitrates. 

Photolytic. Methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein were reported as major photooxidation products for the reaction of 2-methyl-l,3-butadiene with OH radicals. Formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, and HO2 were reported as minor products (Lloyd et al, 1983). Synthetic air containing gaseous nitrous acid and exposed to artificial sunlight (X = 300-450 nm) photo-oxidized 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene into formaldehyde, methyl nitrate, peroxyacetal nitrate, and a compound tentatively identified as methyl vinyl ketone (Cox et al, 1980). 

Major products reported from the photooxidation of o-xylene with nitrogen oxides include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, peroxyacetyl nitrate, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal (Altshuller, 1983). The rate constant for the reaction of o-xylene and OH radicals at room temperature was 1.53 x 10 " cmVmolecule-sec (Hansen et al, 1975). A rate constant of 8.4 x 10 L/molecule-sec was reported for the reaction of o-xylene with OH radicals in the gas phase (Darnall et al., 1976). Similarly, a room temperature rate constant of 1.34 x 10 " cmVmolecule-sec was reported for the vapor-phase reaction of o-xylene with OH radicals (Atkinson, 1985). At 25 °C, a rate constant of 1.25 X 10 " cmVmolecule-sec was reported for the same reaction (Ohta and Ohyama, 1985). 

As shown, NO3 radical leads to different chemistry than does HO radical the peroxy radical can decompose to yield several products, including acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, 1,2-propanediol dinitrate (PDDN), nitroxyperoxypropyl nitrate (NPPN), and a-nitrooxyacetone. The reactions of the peroxy radicals with NO , species can lead to highly functionalized (and oxidized) organic compounds. 

The syntheses of iron isonitrile complexes and the reactions of these complexes are reviewed. Nucleophilic reagents polymerize iron isonitrile complexes, displace the isonitrile ligand from the complex, or are alkylated by the complexes. Nitration, sulfonation, alkylation, and bromina-tion of the aromatic rings in a benzyl isonitrile complex are very rapid and the substituent is introduced mainly in the para position. The cyano group in cyanopentakis(benzyl isonitrile)-iron(ll) bromide exhibits a weak "trans" effect-With formaldehyde in sulfuric acid, benzyl isonitrile complexes yield polymeric compositions. One such composition contains an ethane linkage, suggesting dimerization of the transitory benzyl radicals. Measurements of the conductivities of benzyl isonitrile iron complexes indicate a wide range of A f (1.26 e.v.) and o-o (1023 ohm-1 cm.—1) but no definite relationship between the reactivities of these complexes and their conductivities. 

The fate of the organic nitrate peroxy radical produced in reaction 14 is probably oxidation of NO to N02 and then decomposition, yielding acetyl nitrate, formaldehyde, and a hydroperoxy radical as shown in reactions 15 and 16. 

However, near the Earth s surface, the hydrocarbons, especially olefins and substituted aromatics, are attacked by the free atomic O, and with NO, produce more NO2. Thus, the balance of the reactions shown in the above reactions is upset so that O3 levels build up, particularly when the Sun s intensity is greatest at midday. The reactions with hydrocarbons are very complex and involve the formation of unstable intermediate free radicals that undergo a series of changes. Aldehydes are major products in these reactions. Formaldehyde and acrolein account for 50% and 5%, respectively, of the total aldehyde in urban atmospheres. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (CH3COONO2), often referred to as PAN, and its homologs, also arise in urban air, most likely from the reaction of the peroxyacyl radicals with NO2. 

Nitrated hydroxyaromatics may enter into the atmosphere from both primary and secondary sources. The formation of nitrophenols and nitrocresols in die combustion processes of motor vehicles has been reported by Tremp et al. (1993). Others primary sources may be combustion of coal, wood, manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde resins, pharmaceuticals disinfectants, dyes and explosives (Harrison et al., 2005). Studies in our and other laboratories have shown that an additional important source of diese compounds in the atmosphere could be the gas-phase OH-radical initiated photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, phenol, cresols and dihydroxybenzenes in the presence of NOx during the daytime as well as the reaction of NO3 radicals widi these aromatics during the night time (Atkinson et al., 1992 Olariu et al., 2002). Once released or... 

Aldehydes are emitted by combustion processes and also are formed in the atmosphere from the photochemical degradation of other organic compounds. Aldehydes undergo photolysis, reaction with OH radicals, and reaction with N03 radicals in the troposphere. Reaction with N03 radicals is of relatively minor importance as a loss process for these compounds, but can be a minor contributor to the H02 (from formaldehyde) and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) formation during nighttime hours (Stockwell and Calvert, 1983 Cantrell et al., 1985). Thus, the major loss processes involve photolysis and reaction with OH radicals. 

Isoprene and the terpenes may be attacked by OH, NO3 and O3. The rate coefficients at room temperature for reaction with isoprene are of the order of 10 , 10 and 10 cm molecule" s , respectively. In the case of attack by OH, and in the presence of oxygen, a peroxy-hydroxy radical is formed up to six isomers may be produced. Product studies indicate that the initial addition is to one of the terminal carbon atoms. The peroxy-hydroxy radical may then either react with NO or with other RO2 radicals (including HO2) to form a variety of products, as indicated in Fig. 11. Under conditions where the peroxy-hydroxy radical reacts exclusively with NO, approximately 50 % of the carbon balance is accounted for by three main products methacrolein, methyl vinyl ketone and formaldehyde. Other carbonyl products and hydroxy-nitrates are thought to make up the carbon balance although there is presently no clear indication of the exact identity of these compounds or their yields. 

In the second series of experiments, the products from the photo-oxidation of diethyl ether, carried out in a Teflon bag reactor at ppm and ppb levels, have been determined by withdrawing vapour samples and monitoring by gas chromatography, HPLC and by chemiluminescence analysis. The major reaction products which have been measured are ethyl formate, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, PAN, methyl nitrate and ethyl nitrate. The products observed arise from the decomposition reactions of the 1-ethoxyethoxy radical and from its reaction with oxygen. The data enable the establishment of a quantitative mechanism for the photo-oxidative reaction. In addition the rate of conversion of NO to NO2, determined by chemiluminescence analysis, shows that for each molecule of ether reacted only one molecule of NO is converted to NO2. In further end-product analyses experiments, the OH radical initiated photo-oxidation of n-hexane or the photolyses of 2- or 3-hexyl nitrites were studied to examine the... 

The major products were ethyl formate and formaldehyde and the minor products were ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, peroxyacetyl nitrate, and methyl and ethyl nitrates. The products arise from the decomposition reactions of the 1-ethoxyethoxy radical and from its reaction with molecular oxygen ... 

The reaction with NO leads to the formation of CO2 and a methyl radical that is oxidized to formaldehyde by reactions (16)-(20). In addition, the oxidation of CH3 regenerates HO c so that the oxidation cycle continues. Association with NO2 produces peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). Its lifetime is longer than that of alkylperoxy nitrates, but strongly temperature dependent, ranging from 1 hr at 298 K to 140 d at 250 K. Thus, PAN can be transported over a great distance before undergoing thermal decomposition. Under conditions of lowNOj concentrations acetyl peroxy radicals interact also with HO2 radicals... 

The chief pathways to account for the disappearance of MTBE in the environment are atmospheric reactions and biodegradation. By virtue of its sterically hindered structure, MTBE has lower reactivity than other hydrocarbons in gasoline. The atmospheric half-life of MTBE has been estimated at 4 toll days (Carter et al., 1991). MTBE will react with hydroxyl (OH) radicals in the atmosphere. The rate of atmospheric reactivity of hydroxyl radicals with MTBE has been determined to be close to 2.8 x 10 cm molecule sec . While the ultimate product of degradation of MTBE is carbon dioxide and water, in laboratory experiments, observed products are tertiarybutyl formate, formaldehyde, methyl acetate, and acetone. Organic nitrate has also been noted when nitrogen oxides are present. 

Cantrell, C.A., Stockwell, W.R., Anderson, L.G., Busarow, K.L., Pemer, D., Schmeltekopf, A., Calvert, J.G., Johnston, H.S. Kinetic study of the nitrate free radical (N03)-formaldehyde reaction and its possible role in nighttime tropospheric chemistry. J. Phys. Chem. 89, 139-146 (1985)... 

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