Criegee intermediate

A Criegee intermediate (also called a Criegee zwitterion or Criegee biradical) is a molecule containing the oxide of a carbonyl group. These chemicals may react with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the earth's atmosphere, and are implicated in the formation of aerosols, which are an important factor in controlling global climate. Criegee intermediates are also an important source of OH (hydroxyl radicals). OH radicals are the most important oxidant in the troposphere, and are important in controlling air quality and pollution. A Criegee intermediate (also called a Criegee zwitterion or Criegee biradical) is a molecule containing the oxide of a carbonyl group. These chemicals may react with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the earth's atmosphere, and are implicated in the formation of aerosols, which are an important factor in controlling global climate. Criegee intermediates are also an important source of OH (hydroxyl radicals). OH radicals are the most important oxidant in the troposphere, and are important in controlling air quality and pollution. The formation of this sort of structure was first postulated in the 1950s by Rudolf Criegee, for whom it is named, but it was not until 2012 that direct detection of such chemicals was reported. Infrared spectroscopy suggests the electronic structure has a substantially zwitterionic character rather than the biradical character that had previously been proposed. Criegee intermediates are formed by the gas-phase reactions of alkenes and ozone in the earth's atmosphere. Ozone adds across the carbon–carbon double bond of the alkene to form a primary ozonide, which then decomposes to produce a carbonyl (RR'CO) and a carbonyl oxide. The latter is known as the Criegee intermediate. The alkene ozonolysis reaction is extremely exothermic, releasing about 50 kilocalories per mole (210 kJ/mol) of excess energy. Therefore, the Criegee intermediates are formed with a large amount of internal energy.