Acylperoxy Radicals Research Articles

Computational and Experimental Investigation of the Detection of HO2 Radical and the Products of Its Reaction with Cyclohexene Ozonolysis Derived RO2 Radicals by an Iodide-Based Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer.

The HO2 radical is an important atmospheric molecule that can potentially influence the termination of autoxidation processes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that lead to the formation of highly oxygenated multifunctional compounds (HOMs). In this work, we demonstrate the direct detection of the HO2 radical using an iodide-based chemical ionization mass spectrometer (iodide-CIMS). Expanding on the previously established correlation between molecule-iodide binding enthalpy and iodide-CIMS instrument sensitivity, the experimental detection of the HO2 radical was preceded by the quantum chemical calculation of the HO2*I- cluster (PBE/aug-cc-pVTZ-PP level), which showed a reasonably strong binding enthalpy of 21.60 kcal/mol. Cyclohexene ozonolysis intermediates and closed-shell products were next detected by the iodide-CIMS. The ozone-initiated cyclohexene oxidation mechanism was perturbed by the introduction of the HO2 radical, leading to the formation of closed-shell hydroperoxides. The experimental investigation once again followed the initial computational molecule-iodide binding enthalpy calculations. The quantum chemical calculations were performed at the PBE/aug-cc-pVTZ-PP level for radicals and DLPNO-CCSD(T)/def2-QZVPP//PBE/aug-cc-pVTZ-PP level for the closed-shell products. A comparison between the iodide-CIMS and nitrate-CIMS spectra with identical measurement steps revealed that the iodide-CIMS was able to detect the low-oxidized (O/C ratio 0.5 and 0.66) cyclohexene ozonolysis monomer products more efficiently than nitrate-CIMS. Higher-oxidized monomers (O/C ratio 1 to 1.5) were detected equally well by both methods. An investigation of dimers showed that both iodide- and nitrate-CIMS were able to detect the dimer compositions possibly formed from reactions between the peroxy radical monomers considered in this study. Additionally, iodide-CIMS detected organic ions that were formed by a previously suggested mechanism of dehydroxylation of peroxy acids (and deoxygenation of acyl peroxy radicals) by H2O*I- clusters. These mechanisms were computationally verified.

Metallophthalocyanine intercalated layered double hydroxides as an efficient catalyst for the selective epoxidation of olefin with oxygen

Varied metallophthalocyanine intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as bifunctional hybrid catalysts for selective epoxidation have been prepared and characterized. Systematic characterizations suggested the successful intercalation of the metallophthalocyanines into the interlayer of ZnAl LDHs. The synthesized hybrid exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the selective epoxidation of various olefins through O2/isobutaldehyde system. The basicity of the hybrid benefits to the selectivity of epoxide, and the bifunctional roles of the catalyst in the reaction have been discussed and verified by a series of controlled experiments. On the basis of obtained results, a probable mechanism of the epoxidation by the hybrid has been proposed and detailedly investigated. Under the catalysis of metallophthalocyanines intercalated LDHs in the presence of O2/isobutaldehyde, the production of epoxide undergoes two reaction paths. And two types of intermediates, namely acylperoxy radical and peroxyacid, are formed in the reaction, and the former is predominant.

Rapid Hydrogen Shift Reactions in Acyl Peroxy Radicals.

We have used quantum mechanical chemical calculations (CCSD(T)-F12a/cc-pVDZ-F12//M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ) to investigate the hydrogen shift (H-shift) reactions in acyl peroxy and hydroperoxy acyl peroxy radicals. We have focused on the H-shift reactions from a hydroperoxy group (OOH) (1,X-OOH H-shift with X = 6, 7, 8, or 9) in the hydroperoxy acyl peroxy radicals, this H-shift is a reversible reaction and it scrambles between two peroxides, hydroperoxy acyl peroxy and peroxy peroxoic acid radicals. The forward reaction rate constants of the 1,X-OOH H-shift reactions are estimated to be above 103 s-1 with transition state theory corrected with Eckart quantum tunnelling correction. The ratio between the forward and reverse reaction rate constant of the 1,X-OOH H-shift reactions is around ∼105. Therefore, the equilibrium is pushed toward the production of peroxy peroxoic acid radicals. These very fast 1,X-OOH H-shift reactions are much faster than the reactions with NO and HO2 under most atmospheric conditions and must be included in the atmospheric models when hydroperoxy acyl peroxy radicals are oxidized. Finally, we have observed that H-shift reactions in a pentane acyl peroxy radical (C5-AOO) is fast (>1 s-1); this can have a significant influence on the possible formation of large acyl peroxy nitrate molecules.

Oxidation of tetralin to 1-tetralone over CrAPO-5

A chromium-incorporated microporous aluminophosphate, CrAPO-5, was tested as a catalyst for the oxidation of tetralin using either a combination of aldehyde and O2 (1 atm) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant system. The former resulted in significantly improved catalytic performance (69.6% yield to 1-tetralone) over the latter (38.5% yield to 1-tetralone) at 80 °C in 8 h, and conversion increased in the sequence of acetaldehyde≪isobutyl aldehyde<pivalaldehyde. CrAPO-5 also exhibited good activity and high selectivity (53.7% yield to 1-tetralone) after 24 h using pivalaldehyde and O2 at room temperature. Hot filtration and recycle experiments established that oxidation takes place mostly on Cr sites in CrAPO-5. A plausible reaction mechanism involving acylperoxy radicals and oxo-chromium(V) species on CrAPO-5 was proposed for the tetralin oxidation.

The cis- and trans-formylperoxy radical: fundamental vibrational frequencies and relative energies of the X̃ 2A′′ and à 2A′ states

Acylperoxy radicals [RC(O)OO˙] play an important catalytic role in many atmospheric and combustion reactions.

Oxidative degradation of fragrant aldehydes. Autoxidation by molecular oxygen

The oxidative degradation of fragrant aldehydes by molecular oxygen has been investigated. The oxygen consumption was monitored and the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the aldehyde C(O)–H bond were calculated by DFT method. The oxidation products were identified by GC/MS. The different pathways accounting for the oxidative degradation are discussed. The main product is the acid, beside the formate ester. Both oxidation products result from the Baeyer–Villiger reaction involving a peracid R(CO)OOH whereas minor products arise from the hydroperoxide ROOH intermediate derived either from the acyl peroxy radical, R(CO)OO or from the decarboxylation of the peracid RC(O)OOH.

α-pinene photooxidation under controlled chemical conditions – Part 1: Gas-phase composition in low- and high-NO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;x&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; environments

Abstract. The OH oxidation of α-pinene under both low- and high-NOx environments was studied in the Caltech atmospheric chambers. Ozone was kept low to ensure OH was the oxidant. The initial α-pinene concentration was 20–50 ppb to ensure that the dominant peroxy radical pathway under low-NOx conditions is reaction with HO2, produced from reaction of OH with H2O2, and under high-NOx conditions, reactions with NO. Here we present the gas-phase results observed. Under low-NOx conditions the main first generation oxidation products are a number of α-pinene hydroxy hydroperoxides and pinonaldehyde, accounting for over 40% of the yield. In all, 65–75% of the carbon can be accounted for in the gas phase; this excludes first-generation products that enter the particle phase. We suggest that pinonaldehyde forms from RO2 + HO2 through an alkoxy radical channel that regenerates OH, a mechanism typically associated with acyl peroxy radicals, not alkyl peroxy radicals. The OH oxidation and photolysis of α-pinene hydroxy hydroperoxides leads to further production of pinonaldehyde, resulting in total pinonaldehyde yield from low-NOx OH oxidation of ~33%. The low-NOx OH oxidation of pinonaldehyde produces a number of carboxylic acids and peroxyacids known to be important secondary organic aerosol components. Under high-NOx conditions, pinonaldehyde was also found to be the major first-generation OH oxidation product. The high-NOx OH oxidation of pinonaldehyde did not produce carboxylic acids and peroxyacids. A number of organonitrates and peroxyacyl nitrates are observed and identified from α-pinene and pinonaldehyde.

Branching Ratios for the Reaction of Selected Carbonyl-Containing Peroxy Radicals with Hydroperoxy Radicals

An important chemical sink for organic peroxy radicals (RO(2)) in the troposphere is reaction with hydroperoxy radicals (HO(2)). Although this reaction is typically assumed to form hydroperoxides as the major products (R1a), acetyl peroxy radicals and acetonyl peroxy radicals have been shown to undergo other reactions (R1b) and (R1c) with substantial branching ratios: RO(2) + HO(2) → ROOH + O(2) (R1a), RO(2) + HO(2) → ROH + O(3) (R1b), RO(2) + HO(2) → RO + OH + O(2) (R1c). Theoretical work suggests that reactions (R1b) and (R1c) may be a general feature of acyl peroxy and α-carbonyl peroxy radicals. In this work, branching ratios for R1a-R1c were derived for six carbonyl-containing peroxy radicals: C(2)H(5)C(O)O(2), C(3)H(7)C(O)O(2), CH(3)C(O)CH(2)O(2), CH(3)C(O)CH(O(2))CH(3), CH(2)ClCH(O(2))C(O)CH(3), and CH(2)ClC(CH(3))(O(2))CHO. Branching ratios for reactions of Cl-atoms with butanal, butanone, methacrolein, and methyl vinyl ketone were also measured as a part of this work. Product yields were determined using a combination of long path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The following branching ratios were determined: C(2)H(5)C(O)O(2), Y(R1a) = 0.35 ± 0.1, Y(R1b) = 0.25 ± 0.1, and Y(R1c) = 0.4 ± 0.1; C(3)H(7)C(O)O(2), Y(R1a) = 0.24 ± 0.15, Y(R1b) = 0.29 ± 0.1, and Y(R1c) = 0.47 ± 0.15; CH(3)C(O)CH(2)O(2), Y(R1a) = 0.75 ± 0.13, Y(R1b) = 0, and Y(R1c) = 0.25 ± 0.13; CH(3)C(O)CH(O(2))CH(3), Y(R1a) = 0.42 ± 0.1, Y(R1b) = 0, and Y(R1c) = 0.58 ± 0.1; CH(2)ClC(CH(3))(O(2))CHO, Y(R1a) = 0.2 ± 0.2, Y(R1b) = 0, and Y(R1c) = 0.8 ± 0.2; and CH(2)ClCH(O(2))C(O)CH(3), Y(R1a) = 0.2 ± 0.1, Y(R1b) = 0, and Y(R1c) = 0.8 ± 0.2. The results give insights into possible mechanisms for cycling of OH radicals in the atmosphere.

Modelled and measured concentrations of peroxy radicals and nitrate radical in the U.S. Gulf Coast region during TexAQS 2006

Measurements of total peroxy radicals (HO2 + RO2) and nitrate radical (NO3) were made on the NOAA research vessel R/V Brown along the U.S. Gulf Coast during the TexAQS 2006 field campaign. The measurements were modelled using a constrained box-model based upon the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM). The agreement between modelled and measured HO2 + RO2 was typically within ∼40% and, in the unpolluted regions, within 30%. The analysis of the model results suggests that the MCM might underestimate the concentrations of some acyl peroxy radicals and other small peroxy radicals. The model underestimated the measurements of NO3 by 60–70%, possibly because of rapid heterogeneous uptake of N2O5. The MCM model results were used to estimate the composition of the peroxy radical pool and to quantify the role of DMS, isoprene and alkenes in the formation of RO2 in the different regions. The measurements of HO2 + RO2 and NO3 were also used to calculate the gas-phase budget of NO3 and quantify the importance of organic peroxy radicals as NO3 sinks. RO2 accounted, on average, for 12–28% of the total gas-phase NO3 losses in the unpolluted regions and for 1–2% of the total gas-phase NO3 losses in the polluted regions.

On quantitative measurements of peroxycarboxylic nitric anhydride mixing ratios by thermal dissociation chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Thermal dissociation chemical ionization mass spectrometry (TD-CIMS) has become an increasingly popular tool for rapid and sensitive quantification of peroxycarboxylic nitric anhydrides (PANs), which are important trace gas constituents of the troposphere. In TD-CIMS, the PANs are thermally dissociated in a heated inlet to NO 2 and peroxyacyl radicals, which are converted in electron transfer reactions with iodide reagent ions to the corresponding carboxylate anions. Here, we evaluate the performance of the TD-CIMS method in the presence of interferences that occur in polluted air masses. Response factors of the TD-CIMS were determined using laboratory-generated air samples and parallel measurements of NO 2 and ΣPAN by blue diode laser thermal dissociation cavity ring-down spectroscopy (TD-CRDS) and of NO y by NO-O 3 chemiluminescence (CL). The TD-CIMS was less sensitive to peroxymethacryloyl nitric anhydride (MPAN) than to other PANs tested, which was rationalized by differences in the temperature dependent loss rates of the peroxyacyl radicals in the heated inlet. To track matrix effects, photochemically generated 13C-labeled PAN was continuously added as an internal standard. The presence of NO or NO 2 in the sample gas mixture resulted in signal suppression, which could be corrected using the internal standard. The presence of organic acids resulted in a redistribution of count intensity between carboxylate anions, impacting the instrument's ability to accurately quantify PANs other than peroxyacetic nitric anhydride under moderately polluted conditions.

Characterization of a thermal decomposition chemical ionization mass spectrometer for the measurement of peroxy acyl nitrates (PANs) in the atmosphere

Abstract. This paper presents a detailed laboratory characterization of a thermal dissociation chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TD-CIMS) for the atmospheric measurement of Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and its homologues (PANs). PANs are efficiently dissociated in a heated inlet and the resulting peroxy acyl radicals are reacted with I− ions in a flow tube. The mass spectrometer detects the corresponding carboxylate ions. PAN, peroxypropionyl nitrate (PPN), peroxyisobutyryl nitrate (PiBN), peroxy-n-butyryl nitrate (PnBN), peroxyacryloyl nitrate (APAN), peroxycrotonyl nitrates (CPAN) and peroxymethacryloyl nitrate (MPAN) were cross-calibrated with both a dual channel GC/ECD and a total odd-nitrogen (NOy) instrument for the NCAR TD-CIMS' typical aircraft operation conditions. In addition, the instrument sensitivity to a number of more exotic PANs (peroxyhydroxyacetyl nitrate, methoxyformyl peroxynitrate, and peroxybenzoyl nitrate) was evaluated qualitatively by comparisons with a long-path FTIR instrument. The sensitivity for PPN is slightly higher than that of PAN. Larger aliphatic and olefinic PAN compounds generally showed lower sensitivities. We postulate that these differences are owing to secondary reactions in the thermal decomposition region, which either reduce the yield of peroxy acyl radicals or cause losses of these radicals through intramolecular decomposition. The relative importance of these secondary reactions varies considerably between different PAN species. Results also indicate that the reaction of the larger peroxy acyl radicals with the ion-water cluster, I−(H2O)n proceeds about an order of magnitude faster than with I− alone, as has been observed for peroxy acetyl radicals. Sensitivity variations among the individual PAN species at very low water vapor were observed. The results call for careful evaluation of each PAN species to be measured and for each desired operating condition of a TD-CIMS instrument.

Reactions of Mn(II) and Mn(III) with Alkyl, Peroxyalkyl, and Peroxyacyl Radicals in Water and Acetic Acid

The kinetics of oxidation of Mn(II) with acylperoxyl and alkylperoxyl radicals were determined by laser flash photolysis utilizing a macrocyclic nickel complex as a kinetic probe. Radicals were generated photochemically from the appropriate ketones in the presence of molecular oxygen. In both acidic aqueous solutions and in 95% acetic acid, Mn(II) reacts with acylperoxyl radicals with k = (0.5-1.6) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and somewhat more slowly with alkylperoxyl radicals, k = (0.5-5) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). Mn(III) rapidly oxidizes benzyl radicals, k = 2.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) (glacial acetic acid) and 3.7 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) (95% acetic acid). The value in 3.0 M aqueous perchloric acid is much smaller, 1 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The decarbonylation of benzoyl radicals in H(2)O has k = 1.2 x 10(6) s(-1).

CrAPO-5 catalysts having a hierarchical pore structure for the selective oxidation of tetralin to 1-tetralone

A novel CrAPO-5 material having a unique microporous–mesoporous hierarchical pore structure (CrAPO-5H) was synthesized using an organosilane surfactant to conventional CrAPO-5 reaction mixture by a one-step hydrothermal process. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2-adsorption isotherm and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and employed as a catalyst for the liquid phase oxidation of tetralin. CrAPO-5H produced higher activity than conventional microporous CrAPO-5. Acylperoxy radicals, in situ generated from trimethylacetaldehyde and O2, were more effective as oxidant than tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH); 88% conversion of tetralin with 97% selectivity to 1-tetralone was obtained with the former, whereas 57% conversion with 86% selectivity was achieved using the latter at 80 °C after 8 h. The effect of reaction temperature, Cr content, solvent, and the type of aldehyde employed for the in situ generation of acylperoxy radicals on catalytic performance was investigated. Activities of CrAPO-5H remained constant after 1st catalyst recycle. A hot filtration experiment coupled with a blank test revealed that oxidation proceeded mostly on Cr sites in the CrAPO-5H, but a minor contribution from trace amount of leached Cr could not be ruled out.

Selective oxidation of tetralin over a chromium terephthalate metal organic framework, MIL-101

MIL-101, a mesoporous chromium terephthalate metal organic framework, was found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of tetralin to 1-tetralone using tert-butyl hydroperoxide or acylperoxy radicals generated in situ from trimethylacetaldehyde and O(2) as an oxidant.

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 32: Formal kinetics of γ-lactone formation from secondary products. Heterogeneous kinetics

Oxidation of aldehydes and γ-hydroxy- trans-vinylene groups can yield γ-lactones. These intermediates account for γ-lactone formation in the advanced stages of polyethylene processing in air. The acyl-peroxy radical formed on free radical induced oxidation of aldehydes can abstract intramolecularly a δ-hydrogen atom to yield a peracid. Reaction of the alkyl radical formed in this reaction with the hydroperoxide group of the peracid gives a γ-lactone with simultaneous release of a hydroxyl radical. The calculated rate of γ-lactone formation according to the mechanism envisaged decreases slightly with increasing temperature (activation energy of about −5 kcal/mol). It is in agreement with the experiments that do not show significant activation energy in the high temperature range for the advanced stages of polyethylene processing. The calculated rate of γ-lactone formation is found to increase by a factor of about 2.7 if the processing experiments are performed in pure oxygen instead of in air. This is close to the experimental factor of about 2. Peroxidation of γ-hydroxy- trans-vinylene groups can also yield γ-lactones. The first possibility involves addition of a peroxy radical to the double bond followed by oxygen addition to the alkyl radical. This reaction possibly yields an α-peroxy-hydroperoxide. Intramolecular decomposition involving the two reactive groups of the α-peroxy-hydroperoxide can give an ozonide that on thermal decomposition yields among others an acid group in 4-position to the alcohol. The activation energy calculated is strongly negative so that the rate should decrease strongly with increasing temperature. Hence, the mechanism cannot contribute significantly to γ-lactone formation in the whole temperature range of the experiments. This is so in spite of the fact that the rate is estimated to increase by a factor of about 1.7 on passing from air to pure oxygen, which is close to the experimental value of approximately 2. The second possibility of transformation of γ-hydroxy- trans-vinylene groups is based on stress-induced oxygen addition to the double bond. Acid catalyzed decomposition of the allylic hydroperoxide that is formed in the reaction yields a pair of aldehydes with one of the aldehyde groups in 4-position to the alcohol group. Peroxidation of the aldehyde pair can give an acid group in 4-position to the hydroxyl group so that a γ-lactone can be formed. The activation energy calculated for the process is very small and the effect of the oxygen concentration corresponds to an increase by a factor of approximately 4.5 on passing from air to pure oxygen. It is postulated that simultaneous contribution by different mechanisms might well account for the experimental value of about 2. The heterogeneous kinetics discussed in detail allows for complementary data interpretation. It is especially suited for the understanding of the advanced stages of polyethylene processing, after some induction time.

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 28: Formal kinetics of aldehyde and carboxylic acid formation in the advanced stages

The rate of acid formation at high temperature is constantly increasing but temperature independent. Two main mechanisms can account for this behavior in the advanced stages of polyethylene processing. The first mechanism is based on free radical induced oxidation of aldehyde pairs that are formed on acid-catalyzed decomposition of allylic hydroperoxides. The last will be formed essentially on mechanical stress-induced oxygen addition to trans-vinylene groups. Peroxidation of one of the aldehydes might yield an acyl-peroxy radical that is likely to abstract the labile hydrogen atom from the second aldehyde. The acyl radical formed in the reaction will abstract a hydroxyl group from the peracid formed in the same reaction. This yields an acid and an acyl-oxy radical that will give a primary alkyl radical on decarboxylation. The second mechanism involves oxidation of ketones and alcohols that accumulate in the oxidizing melt. Acid-catalyzed decomposition of the α-keto-hydroperoxides yields simultaneously an acid and an aldehyde. Formal kinetics based on each mechanism shows that they do not involve significant activation energy, as it is required by the experimental data. The dependency on the oxygen concentration deduced from the formal kinetics for the oxidation of aldehyde pairs is in agreement with the experiments.

Epoxidation of Simple Alkenes with O2and Isobutyraldehyde Catalyzed by Ni Catalysts Deposited on Nanoporous Carbon

Novel nickel catalyst deposited on nanoporous carbon was found to be an efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of simple alkenes with <TEX>$O_2$</TEX> and isobutyraldehyde under mild conditions. Alkenes exhibited different reactivities towards Ni-catalyst and epoxidation with stilbene proceeds stereospecifically. This may be rationalized with the mechanism involving coordinated acylperoxy radical intermediate. Nickel contents depend on the preparative methods and the KNI-3 catalyst, which was synthesized by wet impregnation of <TEX>$Ni(NO_3)_2$</TEX> into nanoporous carbon, shows the highest activity. The activity of the catalyst is well correlated with contents of nickel. Recycled catalysts suffer considerable loss of activity due to leaching of catalytic active species, nickel.

A thermal dissociation–chemical ionization mass spectrometry (TD‐CIMS) technique for the simultaneous measurement of peroxyacyl nitrates and dinitrogen pentoxide

We have developed a thermal dissociation–chemical ionization mass spectrometry (TD‐CIMS) technique for fast measurements of a series of peroxyacyl nitrates and dinitrogen pentoxide. Thermally generated acylperoxy radicals react with I− to produce a carboxylate ion that is unique for each parent species. NO3 resulting from the decomposition of N2O5 reacts with I− to form NO3−. The measurement technique was verified for PAN and PPN during an informal comparison with a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD) in Boulder, Colorado, during October 2002. Good agreement was obtained between the two instruments with R2 = 0.91 for PAN (n = 657) and R2 = 0.89 for PPN (n = 655). Detection limits of 7 pptv and 4 pptv were determined for PAN and PPN, respectively, for a 1 s integration period and a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3. The TD‐CIMS simultaneously detected ambient PiBN and N2O5 + NO3 in addition to PAN and PPN during the intercomparison period. We estimate a detection limit of 3 pptv in 1 s for PiBN. PnBN would be detected at the same mass, so we cannot rule out a contribution from PnBN to our PiBN estimate. Sensitivity to MPAN was found to be lower than to PAN in laboratory experiments, but a detection limit of 10 pptv can still be achieved by integrating for 15 s. Assuming the same sensitivity as for PAN, the detection limit for the sum of N2O5 and NO3 was estimated to be 12 pptv in 1 s. The fast time response of the TD‐CIMS combined with a sensitivity and limit of detection comparable to the GC/ECD make this a promising technique for PAN flux measurements by eddy covariance. PAN uptake by different types of vegetation could be important input for global and regional ozone models, and PAN deposition to snow is of interest in polar regions.

Gamma-hydroxyalkenals are oxidatively cleaved through Michael addition of acylperoxy radicals and fragmentation of intermediate beta-hydroxyperesters.

Oxidative cleavage of arachidonate (C(20)) and linoleate (C(18)) phospholipids generates truncated C(8) or C(12) gamma-hydroxyalkenal phospholipids as well as C(5) or C(9) carboxyalkanoate phospholipids, which are abundant in atherosclerotic plaques. The gamma-hydroxyalkenals promote foam cell formation by scavenger receptor CD36-mediated endocytosis. The carboxyalkanoates are potent regulators of endothelial cell functions that may promote atherogenesis. We now report an unexpected biosynthetic interconnection; the carboxyalkanoates can be generated through oxidative cleavage of the gamma-hydroxyalkenals with the loss of three carbons. This unprecedented transformation is shown to involve Michael addition of an acylperoxy radical and fragmentation of the resulting beta-hydroxyperester.

Secondary organic aerosol formation from cyclohexene ozonolysis: effect of OH scavenger and the role of radical chemistry.

To isolate secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in ozone-alkene systems from the additional influence of hydroxyl (OH) radicals formed in the gas-phase ozone-alkene reaction, OH scavengers are employed. The detailed chemistry associated with three different scavengers (cyclohexane, 2-butanol, and CO) is studied in relation to the effects of the scavengers on observed SOA yields in the ozone-cyclohexene system. Our results confirm those of Docherty and Ziemann that the OH scavenger plays a role in SOA formation in alkene ozonolysis. The extent and direction of this influence are shown to be dependent on the specific alkene. The main influence of the scavenger arises from its independent production of HO2 radicals, with CO producing the most HO2, 2-butanol an intermediate amount, and cyclohexane the least. This work provides evidence for the central role of acylperoxy radicals in SOA formation from the ozonolysis of alkenes and generally underscores the importance of gas-phase radical chemistry beyond the initial ozone-alkene reaction.