Oxidation of Alkyl Ions, CnH2n+1+ (n=1-5) in Reactions with O2 and O3 in the Gas Phase
Abstract
Rate constants and product ion branching fractions are reported for the reactions of CH3(+), C2H5(+), s-C3H7(+), s-C4H9(+), t-C4H9(+), and t-C3H11(+) with O2 and O3 at 300 K in a variable-temperature selected-ion flow tube (VT-SIFT). The reaction rate constant for CH3(+) with O3 is large and approximately equal to the thermal energy capture rate constant given by the Su-Chesnavich equation. The C2H5+, s-C3H7(+), and s-C4H9(+) ions are somewhat less reactive, reacting at approximately 7-46% of the thermal capture rate. The HCO(+) and C2H3O(+) ions are the major products in these reactions. The t-C4H9(+) and t-C5H11(+) ions are found to be unreactive, with rate constants <5 x 10(exp -12)cu cm/s, which is the present detection limit of our apparatus using this ozone source. Ozone is a singlet in its ground state, and ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-3lG(d) level of theory indicate that reactant complexes can be formed, decreasing in stability with the size of alkyl chains attached to the cationic carbon atom. The decreasing reactivity of the alkyl ions with increasing order of the carbocation is attributed to a greatly reduced O3 binding energy. The ions listed above do not undergo two-body reactions with 02, k < 5 x 10(exp -13)cu cm/s, despite the availability of reaction channels with exothermicities of several hundred kilojoules per mole. Ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory indicate that the 02 reaction systems form weak complexes with large C-O bond distances (repulsive at smaller distances) on the lowest energy triplet potential energy surface. Access to the singlet surface is required for bond formation; however, this surface is not accessible at thermal energies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 24, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA425497
Entities
People
- Albert A Viggiano
- Anthony J. Midley
- Skip Williams
- Stephen Irle
- W. B. Knighton
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory