Issue 8, 2021

Aqueous-phase fates of α-alkoxyalkyl-hydroperoxides derived from the reactions of Criegee intermediates with alcohols

Abstract

In the atmosphere, carbonyl oxides known as Criegee intermediates are produced mainly by ozonolysis of volatile organic compounds containing C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bonds, such as biogenic terpenoids. Criegee intermediates can react with OH-containing species to produce labile organic hydroperoxides (ROOHs) that are taken up into atmospheric condensed phases. Besides water, alcohols are an important reaction partner of Criegee intermediates and can convert them into α-alkoxyalkyl-hydroperoxides (α-AHs), R1R2C(–OOH)(–OR′). Here, we report a study on the aqueous-phase fates of α-AHs derived from ozonolysis of α-terpineol in the presence of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol. The α-terpineol α-AHs and the decomposition products were detected as their chloride adducts by electrospray mass spectrometry as a function of reaction time. Our discovery that the rate of decomposition of α-AHs increased as the pH decreased from 5.9 to 3.8 implied that the decomposition mechanism was catalyzed by H+. The use of isotope solvent experiments revealed that a primary decomposition product of α-AHs in an acidic aqueous solution was a hemiacetal R1R2C(–OH)(–OR′) species that was further transformed into other products such as lactols. The proposed H+-catalyzed decomposition of α-AHs, which provides H2O2 and multifunctional species in ambient aerosol particles, may be faster than other degradation processes (e.g., photolysis by solar radiation).

Graphical abstract: Aqueous-phase fates of α-alkoxyalkyl-hydroperoxides derived from the reactions of Criegee intermediates with alcohols

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Dec 2020
Accepted
02 Feb 2021
First published
03 Feb 2021

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021,23, 4605-4614

Aqueous-phase fates of α-alkoxyalkyl-hydroperoxides derived from the reactions of Criegee intermediates with alcohols

M. Hu, J. Qiu, K. Tonokura and S. Enami, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 4605 DOI: 10.1039/D0CP06308H

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