Absolute rate constants for the hydroxyl radical reactions with CH3SH and C2H5SH at room temperaturea)

Interests in the gas phase oxidation reactions of organic sulfur compounds such as thiols, sulfides, and disulfides have become increasingly important due to their potential role in the formation of tropospheric and stratospheric sulfur containing aerosols. The rate constants for the reaction of OH with CH3SH and C2H5SH have been determined under pseudo‐first‐order conditions, using the discharge flow‐resonance fluorescence technique. The measured room temperature rate constants are (2.56±0.44)×10−11 and (3.67±0.18)×10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for CH3SH and C2H5SH, respectively. The CH3SH results are compared to those of previous studies, employing different experimental techniques.