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Rate and mechanism of the reaction of hydroxyl radicals with formic and deuteriated formic acids

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00231a032· OSTI ID:5296085

Rate constants for the reactions of hydroxyl radicals with the monomer and dimer of formic acid and deuteriated formic acids have been determined in the temperature range 297-445 K by a laser photolysis-resonance absorption technique. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by photolysis of formic acid at 222 nm with a KrCl excimer laser and were monitored by time-resolved resonance absorption. In each case the rate constant of the monomer of formic acid was much larger than that of the dimer, and a large isotope effect was observed when the carboxylic, but not the formyl, hydrogen was substituted by deuterium. A two-channel mechanism is proposed, one involving formation of a hydrogen-bonded adduct followed by transfer of the carboxylic hydrogen to the hydroxyl radical, and the other, direct abstraction of a formyl hydrogen. 31 refs., 2 figs. 1 tab.

OSTI ID:
5296085
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA) Vol. 110:23; ISSN 0002-7863; ISSN JACSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English