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Organic peroxy radicals (RO2) are key intermediates in the atmospheric degradation of organic matter and fuel combustion, but to date, few direct studies of specific RO2in complex reaction systems exist, leading to large gaps in our understanding of their fate. We show, using direct, speciated measurements of a suite of RO2and gas-phase dimers from O3-initiated oxidation of α-pinene, that ∼150 gaseous dimers (C16–20H24–34O4–13) are primarily formed through RO2cross-reactions, with a typical rate constant of 0.75–2 × 10−12cm3molecule−1s−1and a lower-limit dimer formation branching ratio of 4%. These findings imply a gaseous dimer yield that varies strongly with nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, of at least 0.2–2.5% by mole (0.5–6.6% by mass) for conditions typical of forested regions with low to moderate anthropogenic influence (i.e., ≤50-parts per trillion NO). Given their very low volatility, the gaseous C16–20dimers provide a potentially important organic medium for initial particle formation, and alone can explain 5–60% of α-pinene secondary organic aerosol mass yields measured at atmospherically relevant particle mass loadings. The responses of RO2, dimers, and highly oxygenated multifunctional compounds (HOM) to reacted α-pinene concentration and NO imply that an average ∼20% of primary α-pinene RO2from OH reaction and 10% from ozonolysis autoxidize at 3–10 s−1and ≥1 s−1, respectively, confirming both oxidation pathways produce HOM efficiently, even at higher NO concentrations typical of urban areas. Thus, gas-phase dimer formation and RO2autoxidation are ubiquitous sources of low-volatility organic compounds capable of driving atmospheric particle formation and growth.
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Unexpected formation of oxygen-free products and nitrous acid from the ozonolysis of the neonicotinoid nitenpyram
The neonicotinoid nitenpyram (NPM) is a multifunctional nitroenamine [(R1N)(R2N)C=CHNO2] pesticide. As a nitroalkene, it is structurally similar to other emerging contaminants such as the pharmaceuticals ranitidine and nizatidine. Because ozone is a common atmospheric oxidant, such compounds may be oxidized on contact with air to form new products that have different toxicity compared to the parent compounds. Here we show that oxidation of thin solid films of NPM by gas-phase ozone produces unexpected products, the majority of which do not contain oxygen, despite the highly oxidizing reactant. A further surprising finding is the formation of gas-phase nitrous acid (HONO), a species known to be a major photolytic source of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical in air. The results of application of a kinetic multilayer model show that reaction was not restricted to the surface layers but, at sufficiently high ozone concentrations, occurred throughout the film. The rate constant derived for the O3−NPM reaction is 1 × 10−18cm3⋅s−1, and the diffusion coefficient of ozone in the thin film is 9 × 10−10cm2⋅s−1. These findings highlight the unique chemistry of multifunctional nitroenamines and demonstrate that known chemical mechanisms for individual moieties in such compounds cannot be extrapolated from simple alkenes. This is critical for guiding assessments of the environmental fates and impacts of pesticides and pharmaceuticals, and for providing guidance in designing better future alternatives.
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- PAR ID:
- 10149663
- Publisher / Repository:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Volume:
- 117
- Issue:
- 21
- ISSN:
- 0027-8424
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 11321-11327
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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