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. 2022 Sep 23;126(39):6984–6994. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05461

Unimolecular Kinetics of Stabilized CH3CHOO Criegee Intermediates: syn-CH3CHOO Decomposition and anti-CH3CHOO Isomerization

Callum Robinson †, Lavinia Onel †, James Newman †, Rachel Lade †, Kendrew Au ‡, Leonid Sheps ‡, Dwayne E Heard †, Paul W Seakins †, Mark A Blitz †,§, Daniel Stone †,*
PMCID: PMC9549458  PMID: 36146923

Abstract

graphic file with name jp2c05461_0006.jpg

The kinetics of the unimolecular decomposition of the stabilized Criegee intermediate syn-CH3CHOO has been investigated at temperatures between 297 and 331 K and pressures between 12 and 300 Torr using laser flash photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2 gas mixtures coupled with time-resolved broadband UV absorption spectroscopy. Fits to experimental results using the Master Equation Solver for Multi-Energy well Reactions (MESMER) indicate that the barrier height to decomposition is 67.2 ± 1.3 kJ mol–1 and that there is a strong tunneling component to the decomposition reaction under atmospheric conditions. At 298 K and 760 Torr, MESMER simulations indicate a rate coefficient of 150–81+176 s–1 when tunneling effects are included but only 5–2 s–1 when tunneling is not considered in the model. MESMER simulations were also performed for the unimolecular isomerization of the stabilized Criegee intermediate anti-CH3CHOO to methyldioxirane, indicating a rate coefficient of 54–21+34 s–1 at 298 K and 760 Torr, which is not impacted by tunneling effects. Expressions to describe the unimolecular kinetics of syn- and anti-CH3CHOO are provided for use in atmospheric models, and atmospheric implications are discussed.

Introduction

Criegee intermediates (R2COO) are zwitterionic species produced in the atmosphere during the ozonolysis of unsaturated hydrocarbons and play a number of key roles in atmospheric oxidation processes. The high exothermicity (∼250 kJ mol–1)1 of ozonolysis reactions leads to the production of nascent excited Criegee intermediates with high internal energy which facilitates the production of atmospheric oxidants including the hydroxyl radical (OH), the hydroperoxy radical (HO2), and other peroxy radicals (RO2). Such processes have been recognized as important sources of OH, the primary oxidizing agent in the atmosphere, particularly in winter and at night when photolytic routes to OH production are limited by low or zero solar intensity2,3 but are in competition with collisional stabilization, which leads to the production of stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCIs). Once stabilized, SCIs can undergo bimolecular reactions with water and water dimers and can act as atmospheric oxidants in bimolecular reactions with species including SO2, NO2, and organic acids.4−8 There is also growing recognition that unimolecular SCI decomposition can be a significant loss mechanism for certain SCIs in the atmosphere, enhancing the production of OH from ozonolysis reactions beyond that achieved through the decomposition of nascent excited Criegee intermediates.6−9

The Criegee intermediate CH3CHOO exists as two conformers: syn-CH3CHOO, in which the methyl group is syn to the terminal oxygen, and anti-CH3CHOO, in which the methyl group is anti to the terminal oxygen. Interconversion between the two conformers is precluded under atmospheric conditions by a significant barrier of ∼160 kJ mol–1 because of the double-bond character of the C–O bond resulting from the zwitterionic nature of Criegee intermediates,10,11 with the conformers displaying differences in spectra and reactivity.11,12 For syn-CH3CHOO, and other Criegee intermediates with α hydrogen atoms syn to the COO Criegee group, decomposition is facilitated by a 1,4-H transfer of the α-H atom to the terminal oxygen atom of the COO group, resulting in a rapid process that is expected to dominate the atmospheric chemistry of such SCIs.7−9,13 The 1,4-H transfer in syn-CH3CHOO leads to the production of vinyl hydroperoxide (CH2CHOOH, VHP) which can undergo decomposition to OH radicals and vinoxy radicals (CH2CHO) (R1).7,13 Other unimolecular pathways such as 1,3-cyclization of the COO group are expected to be slower than the 1,4-H transfer for syn-CH3CHOO.13 For anti-CH3CHOO, the 1,4-H transfer mechanism is limited by the restricted rotation around the C–O bond, and instead 1,3-cyclization of the COO Criegee group leads to the production of methyldioxirane (CH3CHO2) (R2).7,13 However, this process is expected to be relatively slow compared to the bimolecular reactions of anti-CH3CHOO.

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m001.jpg R1
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m002.jpg R2

Figure 1 shows the typical potential energy surface summarizing the key features in the atmospheric formation and unimolecular chemistry of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates.4 The kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO decomposition (R1) are key to determining the atmospheric fate and impact of syn-CH3CHOO and potentially other substituted SCIs with α-H atoms syn to the Criegee group, while the atmospheric losses of SCIs such as anti-CH3CHOO are expected to be dominated by bimolecular reactions, particularly the reactions with water vapor and water dimers.7,13

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Typical potential energy surfaces describing the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO and isomerization of anti-CH3CHOO (not to scale). Structures and labels refer to the species in the wells; vdW = van der Waals complex.

Studies of ozonolysis reactions in flow reactors and atmospheric simulation chambers have enabled estimates of the unimolecular kinetics of the stabilized Criegee intermediate CH3CHOO.14−18 However, such studies are typically unable to identify conformer-specific behavior and are subject to significant uncertainties because of the use of indirect measurements to infer the chemistry of Criegee intermediates. A number of such indirect studies have been used to approximate non-conformer-specific decomposition kinetics for CH3CHOO on the basis of relative rate arguments, giving rate coefficients ranging over several orders of magnitude (∼10–3 to ∼102 s–1) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure,14−17 while the first absolute, but indirect, measurements reported a value of 76 s–1 with an accuracy within a factor of 3.18

Conformer-specific kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO decomposition have been reported following observations of OH formation in the ozonolysis of propene and trans-but-2-ene, with results for k1 ranging between 3 and 30 s–1 at ∼2.6 Torr and 293 K.19 Relative rate studies of CH3CHOO in ozonolysis experiments at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, involving reactions of CH3CHOO conformers with SO2 and measurements of either H2SO4 products16 or SO2,17 have also been used to estimate conformer-specific kinetics for syn- and anti-CH3CHOO. These studies indicate values for k1 of 86 ± 13 s–1 16 and 310 ± 290 s–1,17 and a value of 38 ± 24 s–1 for k2,16 using current IUPAC recommendations20 for the kinetics of reactions of CH3CHOO conformers with SO2. However, these values are associated with large uncertainties, and the results are potentially affected by differences in pressure between the ozonolysis experiments and those performed to measure the kinetics of CH3CHOO + SO2.

The potential energy surfaces and kinetics for reactions R1 and R2 have also been studied by a number of groups using theoretical methods.10,13,21−27 The mechanism for (R1) is expected to proceed via 1,4-H atom transfer from the methyl substituent to the terminal oxygen atom in a cyclic five-membered transition state, while that for (R2) involves bending of the O–O bond and 1,3-cyclization of the COO Criegee group. Table 1 summarizes the methods used, calculated barriers, and the predicted kinetics. Despite a higher barrier, the predicted rate coefficients for syn-CH3CHOO (k1) are larger than those for anti-CH3CHOO (k2) in most studies because of expected effects of quantum mechanical tunneling. For syn-CH3CHOO, the availability of the 1,4-H transfer pathway facilitates quantum mechanical tunneling through the reaction barrier, leading to a significant enhancement in the rate of reaction which is not possible for anti-CH3CHOO since pathways involving H atom transfer are inaccessible because of the restricted rotation around the C–O bond. The impact of quantum mechanical tunneling on the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO has been investigated in a series of experiments involving vibrational activation of jet-cooled syn-CH3CHOO, generated via photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2, and detection of the OH radical decomposition product.9,22,23,28−31 Activation of specific vibrational modes in syn-CH3CHOO using tunable infrared laser excitation, while remaining below the energy barrier to decomposition, has demonstrated that there is a significant tunneling component to the reaction, with a combination of experimental results and application of theory leading to an expected rate coefficient of 122 s–1 at 298 K and atmospheric pressure.23 Experiments using syn-CD3CHOO have also indicated that the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO proceeds predominantly by a tunneling mechanism, with a kinetic isotope effect of over 50.32

Table 1. Summary of Theoretical Studies of Reactions R1 and R2a.

T/K p/Torr k1/s–1 barrier height (R1)/kJ mol–1 k2/s–1 barrier height (R2)/kJ mol–1 methods ref
298 ∞ 24.2 74.9 67.2 64.4 MCG3//QC1SD/MG3 Kuwata et al.10
            RRKM, VTST & Eckart tunneling model  
298 ∞ 209 69.5 57.6 64.4 CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ Nguyen et al.21
            RRKM & Eckart tunnelling model  
298 760 166 71.5     CCSD(T) cc-pVTZ & CCSD(T)-F12 CBS Fang et al.22
            RRKM & Eckart tunneling model  
298 760 122 71.5     CCSD(T) cc-pVTZ & CCSD(T)-F12 CBS Fang et al.23
            RRKM & adjusted Eckart tunneling model  
298 ∞ 328 71.2 55.4 65.4 W3X-L//CCSD(T)-F12a/DZ-F12 Long et al.24
            MP-CVT SCT  
298 760 124 72     mHEAT-345(Q) Nguyen et al.25
            SCTST & VPT2  
298 ∞ 182 69.8 72.5 64.4 QCISD(T)/CBS//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p) Vin & Takahashi26
            SCTST & VPT2  
298 ∞ 136 70.3 53 65.7 CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//M06-ZX Vereecken et al.13
            MC-CTST & Eckart tunneling model  
291 ∞ 137 71.1     MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ & CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ Burd et al.27
            1D-SCTST  
291 ∞ 155 71.1     MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ & CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ Burd et al.27
            FD-SCTST (MP2 x matrix)  
291 ∞ 136 71.1     MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ & CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ Burd et al.27
            FD-SCTST (B3LYP x matrix)  
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a

Temperatures and pressures are given for the conditions at which the rate coefficients are calculated.

Direct measurements of the kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO decomposition have been made at 298 K at pressures between 10 and 100 Torr, with CH3CHOO produced following photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/Ar gas mixtures at 248 nm.33 The kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO were determined through detection of OH radicals by high repetition rate (10 kHz) laser-induced fluorescence at 282 nm, based on the assumption that any OH in the system is formed exclusively from decomposition of the syn-conformer. Analysis of the temporal profiles for OH required not only consideration of the kinetics for the decomposition of the Criegee intermediate but also its reactions with other species in the reaction mixture, including the CH3CHI2 precursor, IO radicals, and its self-reaction, as well as the kinetics of the processes leading to the removal of OH from the system. Knowledge of the initial concentrations of syn-CH3CHOO was also required and was estimated to be on the order of 1012–1013 cm–3 from the laser fluence, the CH3CHI2 precursor concentration, the yield of CH3CHOO from the reaction between CH3CHI and O2, which was assumed to be 0.9 for all pressures investigated based on previous measurements at 4 Torr,11 and the ratio of syn:anti conformers, which was assumed to be 7:3.12 The impact of wall losses and diffusion of syn-CH3CHOO were assumed to be negligible. Determination of the decomposition kinetics using measurements of OH thus requires a complex analysis which necessitates a number of assumptions, although application of the approach to measure the kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO + SO2 gave similar results to others reported in the literature.11,12,34 The results for the decomposition kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO indicated a rate coefficient of 182 ± 66 s–1 between 25 and 100 Torr, with no significant pressure dependence in this range, although a lower value of ∼70 s–1 was obtained at 10 Torr.33

Experiments using time-resolved UV absorption spectroscopy have also been performed to make direct measurements of the decomposition kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO, enabling investigation of the pressure dependence between 100 and 700 Torr at 298 K and of the temperature dependence between 278 and 318 K at a pressure of 300 Torr.35 Photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2 at 248 nm was used to generate CH3CHOO, with the absorption monitored at 340 nm. While both syn- and anti-CH3CHOO display significant absorption at 340 nm, high concentrations of water vapor were added to ensure the rapid removal of anti-CH3CHOO. The change in absorption at 340 nm was thus dominated by changes in the concentration of syn-CH3CHOO, with minor contributions from CH3CHI2, which are approximately constant on the time scale of the experiment, and IO. Compared to the experiments involving detection of OH,33 direct monitoring of syn-CH3CHOO simplifies the analysis, although determination of the decomposition kinetics still required consideration of the syn-CH3CHOO self-reaction, which was assumed to be negligible for initial concentrations on the order of 1011 cm–3, and of the reactions involving CH3CHI2, IO, and, for these experiments, water vapor. The reaction of syn-CH3CHOO with its di-iodo precursor was demonstrated to be significant, with similar effects observed at high temperatures in our previous investigation of the decomposition kinetics of CH2OO.36 The effects of physical losses such as diffusion and wall loss were estimated on the basis of measurements for the CH2OO Criegee intermediate under similar conditions and were highlighted as being potentially underestimated in the previous work33 involving detection of OH. Results indicated a weak pressure dependence in the decomposition kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO at 298 K, with the rate coefficient varying from ∼120 s–1 at 100 Torr to ∼170 s–1 at 700 Torr, and an increase in the rate coefficient at 300 Torr from 67 ± 15 s–1 at 278 K to 146 ± 31 s–1 at 298 K and 288 ± 81 s–1 at 318 K.35

There are thus a range of estimates for CH3CHOO Criegee intermediate decomposition kinetics obtained from various theoretical and experimental approaches, with significant uncertainties remaining. However, there is agreement within the literature that quantum mechanical tunneling plays an important role in the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO under ambient conditions and that the reaction is likely to dominate its atmospheric chemistry, with potentially significant consequences for tropospheric OH production.

In this work we report a direct investigation of the conformer-specific kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO decomposition. Experiments were conducted at pressures between 12 and 300 Torr and temperatures between 297 and 331 K using flash photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2, coupled with time-resolved broadband UV absorption spectroscopy. Experimental results are supported by Master equation calculations performed using the Master Equation Solver for Multi-Energy well Reactions (MESMER) to provide a full parametrization of the kinetics as a function of temperature and pressure suitable for inclusion in atmospheric models.

Experimental Section

The decomposition kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO were studied using flash photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2 gas mixtures, coupled with broadband UV absorption spectroscopy. The experimental apparatus has been described in detail elsewhere;37−40 therefore, only a brief description is given here.

Precursor and bath gases were mixed in a gas manifold at known flow rates controlled by calibrated mass flow controllers (MKS Instruments), with CH3CHI2 entrained into the flow by passing a known flow of N2 through a bubbler containing liquid CH3CHI2 held at a constant temperature in an ice bath. The precursor gas mixture was passed into a jacketed Pyrex reaction cell (100 cm in length, 3 cm internal diameter) which was sealed with fused silica windows at each end. The total flow rate through the reaction cell was maintained at 4000 standard cm3 per minute (sccm) at 100 Torr and adjusted accordingly with pressure to maintain a constant residence time in the cell of ∼6 s. The total pressure in the cell was measured by a capacitance manometer (MKS Instruments) and controlled by a rotary pump (EM2, Edwards) by throttling the exit to the reaction cell. The temperature of the gas mixture was maintained by flowing liquid from a recirculating thermostatting unit (Huber Unistat 360) through the jacket surrounding the cell and calibrated through measurements of the temperature in the cell made by a K-type thermocouple placed at a series of positions along the length of the cell in separate experiments using flowing N2 gas under otherwise identical conditions.40

Chemistry in the cell was initiated by an excimer laser (KrF, Lambda-Physik CompEx 210) operating at a wavelength of λ = 248 nm, which was aligned along the length of the reaction cell using a dichroic turning mirror (Edmund Optics). The timing of the photolysis laser was controlled by a delay generator (SRS DG535) with a pulse repetition rate of 0.15 Hz such that a fresh gas mixture was photolyzed on each pulse. The typical laser fluence was ∼25 mJ cm–2, giving [syn-CH3CHOO]0 on the order of ∼1011–1012 cm–3.

Absorption of UV/vis radiation by species within the cell was monitored using a laser-driven light source (LDLS, Energetiq EQ-99X), which provides ∼10 mW cm–2 of light at wavelengths between 200 and 800 nm with near constant radiance across the spectral range. Output from the lamp was directed onto an off-axis parabolic mirror (ThorLabs) to collimate the beam. The probe light was aligned in a seven-pass arrangement described previously, resulting in a total effective path length of 443 ± 21 cm.37−39 The beam exiting the cell was passed through a sharp cut-on filter (248 nm RazorEdge ultrasteep long-pass edge filter, Semrock) to minimize the impacts of scattered excimer light and focused onto a fiber optic via a fiber launcher (Elliot Scientific).

For experiments at T = 297 K, the output from the fiber optic was directed onto a spectrograph (CP140-103 Imaging Spectrograph, Horiba) and imaged onto a line-scan charge-coupled device (CCD) detector (S7030-1006 FFT, Hamamatsu), giving a spectral resolution (FWHM) of 1.5 nm and a time resolution of 1 ms achieved by transfer of data from the CCD to a PC for analysis in real time at 1 ms intervals.37,38

For experiments at T > 297 K, the output from the fiber optic was directed through a 25 μm slit onto a spectrograph equipped with a diffraction grating of 300 grooves/mm and imaged onto an integrated thermoelectrically cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) detector (FER-SCI-1024BRX, Princeton Instruments) with a spectral resolution (FWHM) of 1 nm and a variable time resolution on the order of hundreds of microseconds. The improved time resolution for experiments at T > 297 K was necessary because of the more rapid chemistry occurring at such temperatures and required use of charge transfer from an illuminated region of the CCD (1024 × 10 pixels) to an optically masked storage region (1024 × 265 pixels) on the CCD prior to transfer to the PC for analysis. Charge transfer on the CCD, which can take place more rapidly than the communication between the CCD and the PC, requires the illumination of multiple rows on the CCD and results in an instrument response function which is also applied to the model used to obtain kinetic data during analysis (further details are given in the Supporting Information).39

For experiments at all temperatures, the CCDs provide a series of sequential, time-resolved broadband transmission spectra before, during, and after photolysis. Wavelength calibration was performed via measurements of the well-known Hg emission spectrum from a low pressure Hg Pen-Ray lamp (Oriel). Timing of the CCD cameras was controlled by the same delay generator used to control the firing of the excimer laser. Intensity data recorded by the cameras were typically averaged for 100–400 photolysis shots and were transferred to a PC for analysis.

Experiments were performed in N2 (BOC oxygen free, 99.998%) at temperatures between 297 and 331 K and pressures between 12 and 300 Torr. Concentrations of CH3CHI2 (Sigma-Aldrich, 98%) were varied in the range 4.33 × 1012–2.80 × 1014 cm–3 to enable characterization of the kinetics of CH3CHI2 + CH3CHOO, while also ensuring low concentrations of photolysis products to minimize the effects of possible Criegee–Criegee and Criegee–radical chemistry. Concentrations of O2 (BOC, 99.5%) were varied between 9.15 × 1016 and 5.89 × 1017 cm–3, while maintaining the requirement for rapid production of CH3CHOO following photolysis of CH3CHI2. Gases and chemicals were used as supplied.

Results

Absorbance spectra were determined at each time point during the course of the reaction from the measured transmission spectra using the Beer–Lambert law eq 1:

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m003.jpg 1

where Aλ,t is the total absorbance at wavelength λ and time t, Iλ,0 is the average pre-photolysis light intensity at wavelength λ, Iλ,t is the post-photolysis light intensity at wavelength λ and time t, σi,λ is absorption cross section of species i at wavelength λ, ci,t is the concentration of species i at time t, and l is the effective path length, which has a value of 443 ± 21 cm.

Reference absorption cross sections for CH3CHI2,41syn-CH3CHOO,12anti-CH3CHOO,12 and IO42 were least squares fit to the absorbance spectra to obtain concentrations for each species throughout the reaction. Figure 2 shows a typical fit to the post-photolysis absorbance, with typical concentration–time profiles shown in Figure 3. Experimental time scales and precursor concentrations were optimized to obtain kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO, which resulted in small contributions to the absorbance signal from anti-CH3CHOO because of lower yields of the anti-conformer from CH3CHI + O211,12,34 and, presumably, more rapid reaction of the anti-conformer with the CH3CHI2 precursor. Experimental results reported in this work focus on the observations of syn-CH3CHOO, for which conditions were optimized.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Observed absorbance (black), total fit (red), and the individual contributions from syn-CH3CHOO (blue), anti-CH3CHOO (purple), CH3CHI2 (green), and IO (orange) determined by fitting reference spectra to the observed absorbance using eq 1. For these data, T = 297 K, p = 12 Torr, t = 1.0 ms, and [CH3CHI2] = 2.6 × 1013 cm–3. The fit to the observed absorbance for these data gave Δ[CH3CHI2] = 3.97 × 1012 cm–3, [syn-CH3CHOO] = 1.14 × 1012 cm–3, [anti-CH3CHOO] = 3.00 × 1011 cm–3, and [IO] = 1.95 × 1011 cm–3.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Observed concentration–time profile for [syn-CH3CHOO] (open circles). For these data, T = 318 K, p = 160 Torr, and [CH3CHI2] = 2.4 × 1013 cm–3. Uncertainties in the syn-CH3CHOO concentrations are given by the uncertainties in the fits to the observed absorbance at each time point combined with the uncertainty in the effective path length. The fit to eq 3 (coupled with the instrument response function as detailed in the Supporting Information) (solid line) gave [syn-CH3CHOO]0 = (1.24 ± 0.08) × 1012 cm–3 and k′ = 756 ± 79 s–1 (with the instrument response parameters w = (1.52 ± 0.04) × 10–4 s and tc = −(8.9 ± 3.2) × 10–6 s). Errors are 1σ.

The kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO removal from the system are controlled by its decomposition (R1), reaction with the CH3CHI2 precursor (R3), physical losses such diffusion out of the probe region and wall loss (R4), self-reaction (R5), and reaction with anti-CH3CHOO (R6) or iodine atoms (R7).

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m004.jpg R3
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m005.jpg R4
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m006.jpg R5
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m007.jpg R6
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m008.jpg R7

The observed decays are also influenced by an instrument response function, details of which are given in the Supporting Information. Of the processes contributing to syn-CH3CHOO removal, the reaction with the precursor is pseudo-first-order because of the higher concentrations of CH3CHI2 compared to syn-CH3CHOO, decomposition is first-order, and physical losses can be approximated as first-order, while the syn-CH3CHOO self-reaction and reactions with anti-CH3CHOO or iodine atoms are second-order. Concentration–time profiles for syn-CH3CHOO can therefore be fit with a mixed first- and second-order kinetic model (eq 2), which can be coupled with the instrument response function where necessary (see the Supporting Information.

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m009.jpg 2

where Ct is the concentration of syn-CH3CHOO at time t, C0 is the initial concentration of syn-CH3CHOO, k′ represents the sum of first-order (or pseudo-first-order) losses of syn-CH3CHOO, and k″ represents the sum of second-order losses of syn-CH3CHOO.

Fits to eq 2 were performed with k″ treated as a global parameter at each temperature and pressure and all other parameters treated locally. At 297 K, the fits gave an average value of k″ = (7.8 ± 3.0) × 10–11 cm3 s–1, with no significant dependence on pressure (see the Supporting Information). At temperatures above 297 K, fits to eq 2 were found to be insensitive to the second-order component, indicating minimal effects of Criegee–Criegee and Criegee–iodine reactions for the initial concentrations used in these experiments (see the Supporting Information for further details). Similar behavior was also observed in our previous study of CH2OO Criegee decomposition36 and in a previous study of syn-CH3CHOO decomposition.35 For data obtained at temperatures above 297 K, the syn-CH3CHOO profiles were thus analyzed with a model based on first-order loss kinetics (eq 3), which was coupled with the instrument response function where necessary as detailed in the Supporting Information.

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m010.jpg 3

where Ct is the concentration of syn-CH3CHOO at time t, C0 is the initial concentration of syn-CH3CHOO, and k′ is the rate coefficient describing the sum of first-order loss of syn-CH3CHOO.

For fits to eq 2 or 3, the observed first-order rate coefficient describing the loss of syn-CH3CHOO from the system, k′, is equal to k1 + k3[CH3CHI2] + k4, and a plot of k′ against the concentration of the CH3CHI2 precursor yields a slope equal to k3 and an intercept equal to k1 + k4. At each temperature and pressure investigated the concentration of CH3CHI2 was varied sufficiently to determine k3. Figure 4 shows an example plot of k′ against [CH3CHI2] used to determine (k1 + k4) and k3. Although there is some variability in determinations of k3, potentially because of uncertainties in [CH3CHI2], the gradients and intercepts of the plots of k′ against [CH3CHI2] are well-defined, and thus (k1 + k4) is well-defined. Results for k3 indicate no significant dependence on pressure and a temperature dependence described by k3 = (3.2 ± 0.7) × 10–10 exp((−1230 ± 70)/T) cm3 s–1, with a mean value of (5.1 ± 2.4) × 10–12 cm3 s–1 at 297 K (see the Supporting Information for further details).

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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k′ against [CH3CHI2] at T = 318 K and p = 160 Torr (black points). The fit to the data (solid line) gave (k1 + k4) = 446 ± 115 s–1 (intercept) and k3 = (10.81 ± 0.98) × 10–12 cm3 s–1 (slope). Errors are 1σ.

Effects of physical losses were estimated from experiments in which the physical losses of the Criegee intermediate CH2OO were measured via photolysis of CH2I2/O2/N2 mixtures,38 in a similar manner to that described by Li et al.35 in their study of syn-CH3CHOO decomposition. Li et al. demonstrated that calculations of physical losses of syn-CH3CHOO via diffusion likely underestimate the total physical losses because of effects of turbulence and that measurements of CH2OO can be used to better estimate the total physical losses because the decomposition kinetics of CH2OO is slow.36 For pressures above 12 Torr, the rate coefficient describing physical losses obtained from measurements of CH2OO showed no significant dependence on pressure, with a mean value of 3.2 ± 1.7 s–1, while at a pressure of 12 Torr a value of 10.6 ± 5.9 s–1 was obtained. A similar value of 9 ± 6 s–1 was reported by Li et al.35 for a similar experimental setup, with no significant dependence on temperature in the range 278–318 K or pressure in the range 100–700 Torr. The decomposition kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO was subsequently obtained by subtracting the estimated rate coefficients for physical losses (k4) from the intercepts of the plots of k′ against the concentration of CH3CHI2 (equal to k1 + k4) to obtain rate coefficients for syn-CH3CHOO decomposition (k1). Physical losses were significantly lower than chemical losses through decomposition for all conditions (i.e., k4 ≪ k1). Further details are given in the Supporting Information.

Figure 5 shows the rate coefficients for syn-CH3CHOO decomposition, k1, as a function of temperature and pressure. A summary is given in Table 2. At 297 K, k1 varies from 98.1 ± 16.9 s–1 at 12 Torr to 200.6 ± 43.1 s–1 at 297 Torr, with results in agreement with previous measurements using photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2 to generate syn-CH3CHOO,33,35 although the results obtained by Zhou et al.,33 based on detection of OH, are systematically higher than those obtained in this work and by Li et al.,35 which both monitor syn-CH3CHOO directly. Results are also in good agreement with theoretical predictions at ∼298 K (Table 1) and measurements obtained at 300 Torr and 318 K by Li et al.35

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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k1 as a function of temperature and pressure. Results from this work are shown by the solid symbols; those obtained by Zhou et al.33 and Li et al.35 are shown by the open symbols. MESMER simulations using the parameters obtained from fits to this work are shown by the solid lines, with simulations using the fitted parameters for conditions used in previous work shown by the dotted lines. Errors are 1σ.

Table 2. Summary of Experimental Conditions and Results (Errors Are 1σ).

T/K p/Torr (k1 + k4)/s–1 k3/10–12 cm3 s–1 k1/s–1
297 12 109 ± 16 4.82 ± 0.37 98 ± 17
297 33 107 ± 17 5.21 ± 0.44 103 ± 17
297 64 121 ± 25 5.54 ± 0.49 118 ± 25
297 86 146 ± 21 1.52 ± 1.12 143 ± 21
297 152 164 ± 37 4.76 ± 0.86 161 ± 37
297 297 204 ± 43 9.03 ± 2.98 201 ± 43
314 12 335 ± 26 4.83 ± 0.37 325 ± 27
314 67 346 ± 75 1.78 ± 0.59 343 ± 75
314 87 367 ± 83 3.85 ± 0.83 364 ± 83
314 160 446 ± 115 10.81 ± 0.98 443 ± 115
314 300 415 ± 163 12.02 ± 1.23 412 ± 163
331 12 546 ± 228 8.38 ± 2.46 535 ± 228
331 34 716 ± 108 9.23 ± 0.75 713 ± 108
331 64 752 ± 95 8.99 ± 0.62 749 ± 96
331 92 701 ± 72 8.76 ± 0.59 698 ± 72
331 150 893 ± 87 8.00 ± 0.71 890 ± 87
331 301 927 ± 265 4.13 ± 2.07 924 ± 265
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Master Equation Analysis

Master equation calculations were performed to rationalize the observed decomposition kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO, and to predict the isomerization kinetics for anti-CH3CHOO, using the Master Equation Solver for Multi-Energy well Reactions (MESMER), which has been described in detail in previous work.36,40,43,44 MESMER uses an energy-grained master equation in which the rovibrational energy states for reactants, transition states, intermediates, and products are partitioned into a number of grains that contain a defined number of states. Energy grains representing initial reactants are assigned populations based on a Boltzmann distribution, with grains representing other species assigned a population of zero. Changes in the population distribution among the grains can occur through collisional energy transfer via interactions with a thermal bath gas or through reactive transformation of one species to another. Transformations of one species to another are controlled by the microcanonical rate coefficients in the system, which are described by RRKM theory, while collisional energy transfer is described by an exponential down model in which the average energy transferred between grains on collision is determined by the parameter ⟨ΔE⟩down. In this work, ⟨ΔE⟩down was assumed to be independent of temperature because of the relatively narrow range of temperatures investigated.

Pressure- and temperature-dependent rate coefficients for k1 were calculated in MESMER using a rigid rotor harmonic oscillator approximation, with the effects of quantum mechanical tunneling determined using the asymmetric Eckart tunneling model.45 Relevant energies, geometries, vibrational frequencies, and rotational constants were provided by the calculations reported by Vereecken et al.,13 which were performed at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//M06-ZX level of theory. Collision parameters were obtained from the work of Long et al.24 The input file for MESMER is given in the Supporting Information.

MESMER provides the potential to fit simulations for k1 to the observed values by varying the barrier height to decomposition, ⟨ΔE⟩down, and the imaginary frequency for the transition state. However, it was not possible to achieve a good unique fit to the data by varying all three parameters simultaneously. To fit to the data, a series of fits were performed in which the barrier height to decomposition was varied for a range of fixed values for ⟨ΔE⟩down and the imaginary frequency. The best fit was determined by comparing the reduced χ2 statistic for the fits (shown in the Supporting Information), with the optimum fit using a value for ⟨ΔE⟩down of 300 cm–1 and giving a barrier height of 67.2 ± 1.3 kJ mol–1 (compared to the calculated value13 of 70.3 kJ mol–1) using an imaginary frequency of 1480 ± 45 cm–1 (compared to the calculated value13 of 1619 cm–1).

Figure 5 shows the MESMER fit to the experimental data using the optimized values for ⟨ΔE⟩down, the barrier height, and the imaginary frequency. The impact of tunneling on the overall rate coefficients for syn-CH3CHOO decomposition is significant under atmospheric conditions. At 298 K and 760 Torr, the MESMER simulations indicate a rate coefficient of 150–81+176 s–1 when tunneling effects are included but only 5–2 s–1 when tunneling is not considered in the model. The MESMER simulations give a high pressure rate-limiting coefficient of 152–83+183 s–1 at 298 K.

Simulations were performed in MESMER to determine k1 using the optimized values for ⟨ΔE⟩down, the barrier height, and the imaginary frequency for (R1) at pressures between 1 and 7600 Torr and temperatures between 200 and 800 K. Simulations were also performed for k2 using the potential energy surface for anti-CH3CHOO isomerization (R2) provided by Vereecken et al.13 at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//M06-ZX level of theory, with ⟨ΔE⟩down = 300 cm–1 and the barrier height to isomerization adjusted by the same difference as that required for the fit to the experimental data for syn-CH3CHOO decomposition (i.e., using a barrier height of 62.6 kJ mol–1 for (R2) compared to the calculated value13 of 65.7 kJ mol–1). The difference in transition state structure for the unimolecular reactions of syn- and anti-CH3CHOO has a significant impact on the atmospheric chemistry of the two conformers, with quantum mechanical tunneling leading to decomposition being the major pathway for syn-CH3CHOO loss in the atmosphere but isomerization having limited importance for anti-CH3CHOO. Effects of tunneling were thus included in the simulations for (R1) but not for (R2), and the imaginary frequency for (R2) was not adjusted in the simulations compared to the calculated value reported by Vereecken et al.13 At 298 K and 760 Torr, the MESMER simulations indicate k2 = 54–21+34 s–1. The high-pressure rate-limiting coefficient is 64–26 s–1 at 298 K.

The rate coefficients calculated by MESMER using the optimized potential energy surface were parametrized using the Troe expression46 for use in kinetic models:

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m011.jpg 4

The low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients, k0 and k∞ in eq 4, are given by eqs 5 and 6:

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m012.jpg 5
graphic file with name jp2c05461_m013.jpg 6

The broadening factor, F, in eq 4 is given by eq 7:

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m014.jpg 7

where N is given by eq 8:

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m015.jpg 8

The tunneling component to k1 was parametrized by the inclusion of an additional term given by

graphic file with name jp2c05461_m016.jpg 9

Parametrization of k1 was thus achieved by the addition of eqs 4 and 9, while k2 was parametrized by eq 4, with terms in eq 4 defined by eqs 5–8. It should be noted that the variables provided by these parametrizations are not intended to provide physical insight into the reactions, which is provided by the Master equation calculations, but rather to provide descriptions of the kinetics that can be readily implemented in atmospheric models. Table 3 summarizes the fit parameters determined in eqs 4–9 to describe k1 and eqs 4–8 to describe k2. The MESMER simulations for k1 and k2 and fits to the eqs 4–9 (for k1) or eqs 4–8 (for k2) are shown in the Supporting Information.

Table 3. Summary of Fit Parameters to Describe MESMER Simulations for k1 (Eqs 4–9) and k2 (Eqs 4–8).

  k1/s–1 k2/s–1
A0/cm3 s–1 (1.9 ± 1.8) × 10–4 (7.1 ± 2.6) × 10–4
n –8.08 ± 0.60 –7.78 ± 0.24
Ea,0/kJ mol–1 63.5 ± 2.8 73.8 ± 1.0
A∞/s–1 (4.2 ± 4.0) × 109 (1.0 ± 0.4) × 1014
m 3.10 ± 0.64 –2.64 ± 0.31
Ea,∞/kJ mol–1 43.7 ± 2.6 69.7 ± 1.0
Fc 0.729 ± 0.015 0.785 ± 0.015
α/s–1 801 ± 316  
μ 12.18 ± 0.46  
β/K–1 (8.8 ± 1.2) × 10–3  
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Atmospheric Implications

Table 4 gives the current IUPAC recommendations20 for the kinetics of stabilized syn- and anti-CH3CHOO with water vapor, water dimers, and SO2 at 298 K and 760 Torr, with typical concentrations for these species in the lower atmosphere and the resulting pseudo-first-order loss rates associated with each reaction.20 For syn-CH3CHOO, the pseudo-first-order loss for reaction with water vapor has an upper limit of 62 s–1, with the reaction of SO2 having a pseudo-first-order loss of 0.65 s–1. Decomposition is thus expected to dominate the atmospheric loss of stabilized syn-CH3CHOO, with the rate coefficient of 150 s–1 determined in this work for 298 K and 760 Torr, giving a lower limit of 70% for the loss of syn-CH3CHOO via decomposition for typical tropospheric conditions when considering the competition with water vapor and SO2. Quantum mechanical tunneling, which increases the rate coefficient for syn-CH3CHOO from 5–2+3 to 150–81 s–1 at 298 K and 760 Torr, thus dominates the atmospheric chemistry of syn-CH3CHOO, shifting the balance of the main atmospheric loss process from reaction with water to unimolecular decomposition. The production of OH radicals following the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO, through the vinyl hydroperoxide mechanism, has potentially significant impacts on tropospheric oxidizing capacity at night and in low-light conditions when photolytic sources are OH are low.2,3 At low temperatures, the tunneling component to the decomposition of syn-CH3CHOO will dominate the fate of syn-CH3CHOO in the atmosphere; however, there are currently no experimental measurements of the kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO with water dimers which may increase atmospheric losses through channels other than decomposition at higher temperatures. For anti-CH3CHOO, atmospheric losses are expected to be dominated by reactions with water vapor and water dimers, for which the pseudo-first-order losses are orders of magnitude faster than isomerization. For both syn- and anti-CH3CHOO the products of reactions with water and water dimers are currently uncertain, limiting full assessment of the atmospheric impacts of these reactions.

Table 4. Current IUPAC Recommendations for Kinetics of syn- and anti-CH3CHOO with Water Vapor, Water Dimers, and SO2 at 298 K and 760 Torr,20 with Pseudo-First-Order Loss Rate Coefficients for Typical Atmospheric Concentrations Compared to the Kinetics for syn-CH3CHOO Decomposition and anti-CH3CHOO Isomerization determined at 298 K and 760 Torr in This Worka.

reaction concn of reaction partner/cm–3 k/cm3 s–1 or s–1 pseudo-first-order loss/s–1 % of total loss
syn-CH3CHOO + H2O 3.08 × 1017 <2 × 10–16 <62 <29.02
syn-CH3CHOO + (H2O)2 1.96 × 1014      
syn-CH3CHOO + SO2 2.50 × 1010 2.6 × 10–11 0.65 >0.31
syn-CH3CHOO decomposition   150 150 >70.67
anti-CH3CHOO + H2O 3.08 × 1017 1.3 × 10–14 4000 31.56
anti-CH3CHOO + (H2O)2 1.96 × 1014 4.4 × 10–11 8600 67.98
anti-CH3CHOO + SO2 2.50 × 1010 1.4 × 10–10 3.5 0.03
anti-CH3CHOO isomerization   54 54 0.43
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a

Concentrations of reaction partners used are those adopted by IUPAC for the lower troposphere.20

Conclusions

The kinetics of the unimolecular decomposition of the stabilized Criegee intermediate syn-CH3CHOO (k1) have been investigated at temperatures between 297 and 331 K and pressures between 12 and 300 Torr using laser flash photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2 gas mixtures coupled with time-resolved broadband UV absorption spectroscopy.

Master equation fits to experimental results for k1 were performed using MESMER. The fits required a decrease in the calculated13 barrier height of 70.3 to 67.2 kJ mol–1 and in the calculated13 imaginary frequency for the reaction from a value of 1619 to 1480 cm–1, using an exponential down model to describe collisional energy transfer with ⟨ΔE⟩down = 300 cm–1. The effects of quantum mechanical tunneling were included in MESMER using the asymmetric Eckart tunneling model, indicating significant impacts under atmospheric conditions. MESMER simulations using the optimized barrier height and imaginary frequency indicate a rate coefficient for decomposition of stabilized syn-CH3CHOO of 150–81+176 s–1 when tunneling effects are included but only 5–2 s–1 when the effects of tunneling are not considered.

MESMER simulations were also performed for the unimolecular isomerization of the stabilized Criegee intermediate anti-CH3CHOO using a calculated13 barrier height adjusted by the same difference required to fit the experimental results for syn-CH3CHOO, indicating a rate coefficient of 54–21+34 s–1 at 298 K and 760 Torr.

Under atmospheric conditions, the impact of tunneling is expected to make decomposition the dominant loss mechanism for stabilized syn-CH3CHOO, while the isomerization of stabilized anti-CH3CHOO is expected to be a minor loss process.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for funding (grant references NE/L010798/1 and NE/P012876/1). L.S. and K.A. were supported by the United States Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the USDOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DENA0003525. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.

Supporting Information Available

The Supporting Information is available free of charge at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05461.

  • Description of the instrument response function; comparison of first- and mixed-order fits; temperature dependence of syn-CH3CHOO + CH3CHI2; physical losses of syn-CH3CHOO; optimization of the potential energy surface for (R1) using MESMER; MESMER analysis of k1 and k2; MESMER input files (PDF)

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Special Issue

Published as part of The Journal of Physical Chemistry virtual special issue “Advances in Atmospheric Chemical and Physical Processes”.

Supplementary Material

jp2c05461_si_001.pdf (457.7KB, pdf)

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Supplementary Materials

jp2c05461_si_001.pdf (457.7KB, pdf)

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