Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of CF3OC(O)H with OH radicals at 242-328 K

The rate constants, k1, of the reaction of CF3OC(O)H with OH radicals were measured by using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique in an 11.5‐dm3 reaction chamber at 242–328 K. OH radicals were produced by UV photolysis of an O3–H2O–He mixture at an initial pressure of 200 Torr. Ozone was continuously introduced into the reaction chamber during UV irradiation. With CF3OCH3 as a reference compound, k1 at 298 K was (1.65 ± 0.13) × 10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The temperature dependence of k1 was determined as (2.33 ± 0.42) × 10−12 exp[−(1480 ± 60)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1; possible systematic uncertainty could add an additional 20% to the k1 values. The atmospheric lifetime of CF3OC(O)H with respect to reaction with OH radicals was calculated to be 3.6 years. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 337–344 2004