Atmospheric Oxidation Mechanism and Kinetics of Hydrofluoroethers, CH₃OCF₃, CH₃OCHF₂, and CHF₂OCH₂CF₃, by OH Radical:...

In the present work, the reaction mechanism of two segregated hydrofluoroethers (HFEs), CH₃OCF₃ (HFE-143a) and CH₃OCHF₂ (HFE-152a), and a nonsegregated HFE, CHF₂OCH₂CF₃ (HFE-245fa2), with OH radical is studied using electronic structure calculations. The initial reaction between HFE and OH radical is studied by considering two (three for CHF₂OCH₂CF₃) pathways, H-atom abstraction and C-O bond breaking, OH addition reaction and C-C bond breaking, and OH addition reaction, which leads to the formation of alkyl radical intermediate. The dominant atmospheric fate of initially formed alkyl radical intermediate is its reaction with O₂. The peroxy radicals thus formed exit through the reaction with HO₂ radical and NO radical resulting in the formation of products, carbonyl fluoride (COF₂), trifluoromethylformate, trifluoro(hydroperoxymethoxy)methane, difluoro(hydroperoxy methoxy)methane, difluoromethylformate, 2-(difluoromethoxy)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hydroperoxyethane, and difluoromethyl ester. The rate constant is calculated for the initial H-atom abstraction reaction using canonical variational transition state theory with small curvature tunnelling corrections over the temperature range 272-350 K. The atmospheric lifetime and global warming potential of HFEs are obtained from the calculated reaction potential energy surface and rate constant. The results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric implications of CH₃OCF₃ (HFE-143a), CH₃OCHF₂ (HFE-152a), and CHF₂OCH₂CF₃ (HFE-245fa2).