The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of selected monoterpenes and cyclo-alkenes with ozone and the NO3 radical

Abstract The relative rate method has been used to measure the room-temperature rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of ozone and NO 3 with selected monoterpenes and cyclo-alkenes with structural similarities to monoterpenes. Measurements were carried out at 298 ± 2 K and 760 ± 10 Torr. The following rate constants (in units of 10 −18  cm 3  molecule −1  s −1 ) were obtained for the reaction with ozone: methyl cyclohexene (132 ± 17), terpinolene (1290 ± 360), ethylidene cyclohexane (223 ± 57), norbornene (860 ± 240), t -butyl isopropylidene cyclohexane (1500 ± 460), cyclopentene (543 ± 94), cyclohexene (81 ± 18), cyclooctene (451 ± 66), dicyclopentadiene (1460 ± 170) and α-pinene (107 ± 13). For the reaction with NO 3 the rate constants obtained (in units of 10 −12  cm 3  molecule −1  s −1 ) were: methyl cyclohexene (7.92 ± 0.95), terpinolene (47.9 ± 4.0), ethylidene cyclohexane (4.30 ± 0.24), norbornene (0.266 ± 0.029), cyclohexene (0.540 ± 0.017), cyclooctene (0.513 ± 0.029), dicyclopentadiene (1.20 ± 0.10) and α-pinene (5.17 ± 0.62). Errors are quoted as the root mean square of the statistical error (95% confidence) and the quoted error in the rate constant for the reference compound. Combining these results with previous studies, new recommendations for the rate constants are presented. Molecular orbital energies were calculated for each alkene and the kinetic data are discussed in terms of the deviation from the structure–activity relationship obtained from the rate constants for a series of simple alkenes. Lifetimes with respect to key initiators of atmospheric oxidation have been calculated suggesting that the studied reactions play dominant roles in the night-time removal of these compounds from the atmosphere.