Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5388187 Chemical Physics Letters 2008 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

Methacrolein is a major product of isoprene ozonolysis, and methacrolein oxide is an important ozonolysis intermediate. We use CBS-QB3 and RRKM/master equation calculations to characterize all methacrolein formation pathways and all the unimolecular reactions of methacrolein oxide. Our predicted methacrolein yield agrees with experiment if we assume that all of the dioxirane formed from methacrolein oxide decomposes to methacrolein. The vinyl group of methacrolein oxide allows the species to cyclize to a dioxole with a reaction barrier lower than the barriers to either hydroperoxide or dioxirane formation. Two dioxole derivatives, 1,2-epoxy-2-methyl-3-propanal and 2-methyl-3-oxopropanal, should be measurable products of isoprene ozonolysis.

Graphical abstractComputational studies of isoprene ozonolysis have revealed that the lowest barrier pathway for methacrolein oxide is cyclization to the dioxole.Download full-size image

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Authors
, ,