A theoretical investigation on kinetics, mechanism, and thermochemistry of the gas-phase reactions of methyl fluoroacetate with OH radicals and fate of alkoxy radical.

We theoretically investigated OH-initiated hydrogen abstraction reactions of methyl fluoroacetate (MFA) CH2FC(O)OCH3 at the MPWB1K level of theory in conjunction with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. Thermodynamic and kinetic data are computed using the comparatively accurate G2(MP2) method. Two most stable conformers of MFA are identified, and the energy difference between them is found to be only 0.32 kcal mol(-1). Both of them are considered for rate coefficient calculations, and the contribution from each of the conformers is found to be quite significant. We propose an indirect mechanism due to validation of pre- and post-reactive complexes. The rate parameters are determined using canonical transition state theory and energetics at the G2(MP2) level. The temperature dependence of the rate constant can be described by the Arrhenius expressions: k = 8.79 × 10(-13) exp[(-377.27 ± 64)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over a temperature range of 250-450 K. The ΔfH°298 for CH2FC(O)OCH3, CH2FC(O)OC(•)H2, and C(•)HFC(O)OCH3 are also computed using an isodesmic procedure. The OH-driven atmospheric lifetime of MFA was estimated to be 24 days. A mechanistic study to shed light on the atmospheric degradation and the sole fate for the consumption of CH2FC(O)OCH2O(•) radical has also been reported.