OH Kinetics with a Range of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds: N-Methylformamide, t-Butylamine, and N-Methyl-propane Diamine

Emissions of amines and amides to the atmosphere are significant from both anthropogenic and natural sources, and amides can be formed as secondary pollutants. Relatively little kinetic data exist on overall rate coefficients with OH, the most important tropospheric oxidant, and even less on site-specific data which control the product distribution. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) can be used to estimate both quantities. Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with t-butylamine (k₁), N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine (k₂), and N-methylformamide (k₃) have been measured using laser flash photolysis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence. Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) has been used to ensure the reliable introduction of these low-vapor pressure N-containing compounds and to give qualitative information on products. Supporting ab initio calculations are presented for the t-butylamine system. The following rate coefficients have been determined: k_1,298K= (1.66 ± 0.20) × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1, k(T)₁ = 1.65 × 10^-11 (T/300)^-0.69 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1, k_2,293K = (7.09 ± 0.22) × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1, and k_3,298K = (1.03 ± 0.23) × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1. For OH + t-butylamine, ab initio calculations predict that the fraction of N-H abstraction is 0.87. The dominance of this channel was qualitatively confirmed using end-product analysis. The reaction of OH with N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine also had a negative temperature dependence, but the reduction in the rate coefficient was complicated by reagent loss. The measured rate coefficient for reaction 3 is in good agreement with a recent relative rate study. The results of this work and the literature data are compared with the recent SAR estimates for the reaction of OH with reduced nitrogen compounds. Although the SARs reproduce the overall rate coefficients for reactions, site-specific agreement with this work and other literature studies is less strong.

Atmospheric Chemistry of 2-Amino-2-methyl-1-propanol: A Theoretical and Experimental Study of the OH-Initiated Degradation under Simulated Atmospheric Conditions

The OH-initiated degradation of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol [CH₃C(NH₂)(CH₃)CH₂OH, AMP] was investigated in a large atmospheric simulation chamber, employing time-resolved online high-resolution proton-transfer reaction-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and chemical analysis of aerosol online PTR-ToF-MS (CHARON-PTR-ToF-MS) instrumentation, and by theoretical calculations based on M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ quantum chemistry results and master equation modeling of the pivotal reaction steps. The quantum chemistry calculations reproduce the experimental rate coefficient of the AMP + OH reaction, aligning k(T) = 5.2 × 10^–12 × exp (505/T) cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1 to the experimental value k_exp,300K = 2.8 × 10^–11 cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1. The theoretical calculations predict that the AMP + OH reaction proceeds via hydrogen abstraction from the −CH₃ groups (5–10%), −CH₂– group, (>70%) and −NH₂ group (5–20%), whereas hydrogen abstraction from the −OH group can be disregarded under atmospheric conditions. A detailed mechanism for atmospheric AMP degradation was obtained as part of the theoretical study. The photo-oxidation experiments show 2-amino-2-methylpropanal [CH₃C(NH₂)(CH₃)CHO] as the major gas-phase product and propan-2-imine [(CH₃)₂C=NH], 2-iminopropanol [(CH₃)(CH₂OH)C=NH], acetamide [CH₃C(O)NH₂], formaldehyde (CH₂O), and nitramine 2-methyl-2-(nitroamino)-1-propanol [AMPNO₂, CH₃C(CH₃)(NHNO₂)CH₂OH] as minor primary products; there is no experimental evidence of nitrosamine formation. The branching in the initial H abstraction by OH radicals was derived in analyses of the temporal gas-phase product profiles to be B_CH3/B_CH2/B_NH2 = 6:70:24. Secondary photo-oxidation products and products resulting from particle and surface processing of the primary gas-phase products were also observed and quantified. All the photo-oxidation experiments were accompanied by extensive particle formation that was initiated by the reaction of AMP with nitric acid and that mainly consisted of this salt. Minor amounts of the gas-phase photo-oxidation products, including AMPNO₂, were detected in the particles by CHARON-PTR-ToF-MS and GC×GC-NCD. Volatility measurements of laboratory-generated AMP nitrate nanoparticles gave Δ_vapH = 80 ± 16 kJ mol^–1 and an estimated vapor pressure of (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10^–5 Pa at 298 K. The atmospheric chemistry of AMP is evaluated and a validated chemistry model for implementation in dispersion models is presented.

Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Reaction of tert-Butylamine with OH Radicals in the Atmosphere

The OH-initiated atmospheric degradation of tert-butylamine (tBA), (CH₃)₃CNH₂, was investigated in a detailed quantum chemistry study and in laboratory experiments at the European Photoreactor (EUPHORE) in Spain. The reaction was found to mainly proceed via hydrogen abstraction from the amino group, which in the presence of nitrogen oxides (NO _x), generates tert-butylnitramine, (CH₃)₃CNHNO₂, and acetone as the main reaction products. Acetone is formed via the reaction of tert-butylnitrosamine, (CH₃)₃CNHNO, and/or its isomer tert-butylhydroxydiazene, (CH₃)₃CN═NOH, with OH radicals, which yield nitrous oxide (N₂O) and the (CH₃)₃Ċ radical. The latter is converted to acetone and formaldehyde. Minor predicted and observed reaction products include formaldehyde, 2-methylpropene, acetamide and propan-2-imine. The reaction in the EUPHORE chamber was accompanied by strong particle formation which was induced by an acid-base reaction between photochemically formed nitric acid and the reagent amine. The tert-butylaminium nitrate salt was found to be of low volatility, with a vapor pressure of 5.1 × 10^-6 Pa at 298 K. The rate of reaction between tert-butylamine and OH radicals was measured to be 8.4 (±1.7) × 10^-12 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 at 305 ± 2 K and 1015 ± 1 hPa.

Rate Coefficients for the Reactions of OH Radicals with a Series of Alkyl-Substituted Amines

Rate coefficients have been determined at (298 ± 2) K and atmospheric pressure for the reaction of OH radicals with two primary monoalkyl-, one secondary dialkyl-, and five tertiary trialkyl-substituted amines in a large volume photoreactor by the relative kinetic technique. The following rate coefficients (in cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 units) have been obtained: (1) 1,2-dimethylpropylamine, CH₃C(CH₃)HC(CH₃)H)NH₂, (5.08 ± 1.02) × 10^-11; (2) tert-amylamine (tert-pentylamine), CH₃CH₂C(CH₃)₂NH₂, (0.86 ± 0.17) × 10^-11; (3) diethylamine, (CH₃CH₂)₂NH, (7.36 ± 1.47) × 10^-11; (4) N,N-dimethylethylamine, (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₃, (7.37 ± 1.47) × 10^-11; (5) N,N-dimethylpropylamine, (CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂CH₃, (10.97 ± 1.78) × 10^-11; (6) N,N-dimethylisopropylamine, (CH₃)₂NCH(CH₃)₂, (9.79 ± 1.75) × 10^-11; (7) N,N-diethylmethylamine, (CH₃CH₂)₂NCH₃, (8.92 ± 1.54) × 10^-11; (8) triethylamine, (CH₃CH₂)₃N, (10.86 ± 1.88) × 10^-11. The quoted errors are the 2σ deviations from least-squares linear analysis of the kinetic data plus a contribution to take into account uncertainties associated with the reference compounds. With the exception of diethylamine, this study represents the first determinations of the rate coefficients for reaction of the compounds with OH radicals. The results are compared with rate coefficients available in the literature for smaller alkyl-substituted amines and also the values predicted for the compounds investigated by using a structure activity relationship (SAR). With the exception of tert-amylamine, the SAR-predicted OH rate coefficients are in good agreement with the experimental values.

Gas-Phase Mechanisms of the Reactions of Reduced Organic Nitrogen Compounds with OH Radicals

Research on the fate of reduced organic nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere has gained momentum since the identification of their crucial role in particle nucleation and the scale up of carbon capture and storage technology which employs amine-based solvents. Reduced organic nitrogen compounds have strikingly different lifetimes against OH radicals, from hours for amines to days for amides to years for isocyanates, highlighting unique functional group reactivity. In this work, we use ab initio methods to investigate the gas-phase mechanisms governing the reactions of amines, amides, isocyanates and carbamates with OH radicals. We determine that N-H abstraction is only a viable mechanistic pathway for amines and we identify a reactive pathway in amides, the formyl C-H abstraction, not currently considered in structure-activity relationship (SAR) models. We then use our acquired mechanistic knowledge and tabulated literature experimental rate coefficients to calculate SAR factors for reduced organic nitrogen compounds. These proposed SAR factors are an improvement over existing SAR models because they predict the experimental rate coefficients of amines, amides, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, carbamates and thiocarbamates with OH radicals within a factor of 2, but more importantly because they are based on a sound fundamental mechanistic understanding of their reactivity.

OH radical reactivity of pesticides adsorbed on aerosol materials: first results of experiments with filter samples

Preliminary results of a new method to investigate the OH radical reactivity of semi-volatile organic compounds (e.g., pesticides) are presented. Terbuthylazine, simazine, sodium benzoate, and bromoxynil were adsorbed on highly disperse silicon dioxide powder as an unreactive carrier at a thickness well below one monolayer. The coated material was suspended in air as an aerosol, sampled on filters, and exposed in an 840-liter Duran chamber to OH radicals, produced by photolysis of hydrogen peroxide in the gas phase. Sunlamps on top of the chamber were used as cold light sources [T(aerosol) approximately 25 degreesC]. OH radical concentrations (10(5)<cOH (cm-3)<3x10(6)) were monitored in the gas phase using a set of four hydrocarbons with well-known OH reactivities as reference compounds. The triazine terbuthylazine (kOH=1.1x10(-11) cm3 s-1) was used as a reference compound in the filter samples. Simazine and isoproturon were found to react with a comparable OH rate constant with respect to terbuthylazine. Sodium benzoate reacts about a factor of 3 slower. Rapid degradation was observed for bromoxynil, explained mainly by photolysis. Besides the characterization and discussion of the experimental setup used, the rate constants obtained are discussed and compared with estimated values.