The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride

Fluorinated nitriles have been proposed as low-global-warming-potential substitutes for industrial applications such as plasma etching and as dielectric materials in high-voltage equipment. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to measure the radiative efficiency of CH<sub>2</sub>FCN and its react...

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Main Authors: Ramesh Sapkota, Trang Nguyen, Paul Marshall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/478
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author Ramesh Sapkota
Trang Nguyen
Paul Marshall
author_facet Ramesh Sapkota
Trang Nguyen
Paul Marshall
author_sort Ramesh Sapkota
collection DOAJ
description Fluorinated nitriles have been proposed as low-global-warming-potential substitutes for industrial applications such as plasma etching and as dielectric materials in high-voltage equipment. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to measure the radiative efficiency of CH<sub>2</sub>FCN and its reactivity towards Cl and OH radicals, and to determine products from the Cl reaction. Relative rate experiments yielded rate constants for Cl and OH reactions of (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10<sup>−14</sup> and (7.0 ± 1.0) × 10<sup>−14</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> molecule<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The estimated atmospheric lifetime of CH<sub>2</sub>FCN with respect to radical attack was estimated to be 0.45 years, which, combined with the radiative efficiency of 0.042 W m<sup>−2</sup> ppb<sup>−1</sup>, implies a 100-year global warming potential of 20. FCOCN was observed as the only organic product of the Cl-atom reaction in air, consistent with a dominant role for H-abstraction. Absolute infrared cross-sections for FCOCN were determined, to assist future experiments where this molecule may be formed. Quantum calculations at the CBS-APNO//B2PLYP-D3/cc-pVTZ level indicate similar energy barriers to addition and abstraction for OH radical attack, but the looser transition state and greater opportunity for tunneling also favor abstraction in this case.
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spelling doaj-art-33a55ec78624479cbcb6c74f5be124f82025-08-20T02:48:09ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130347810.3390/molecules30030478The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl FluorideRamesh Sapkota0Trang Nguyen1Paul Marshall2Department of Chemistry, Rhodes College, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305070, Denton, TX 76203, USADepartment of Chemistry and Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305070, Denton, TX 76203, USAFluorinated nitriles have been proposed as low-global-warming-potential substitutes for industrial applications such as plasma etching and as dielectric materials in high-voltage equipment. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to measure the radiative efficiency of CH<sub>2</sub>FCN and its reactivity towards Cl and OH radicals, and to determine products from the Cl reaction. Relative rate experiments yielded rate constants for Cl and OH reactions of (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10<sup>−14</sup> and (7.0 ± 1.0) × 10<sup>−14</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> molecule<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The estimated atmospheric lifetime of CH<sub>2</sub>FCN with respect to radical attack was estimated to be 0.45 years, which, combined with the radiative efficiency of 0.042 W m<sup>−2</sup> ppb<sup>−1</sup>, implies a 100-year global warming potential of 20. FCOCN was observed as the only organic product of the Cl-atom reaction in air, consistent with a dominant role for H-abstraction. Absolute infrared cross-sections for FCOCN were determined, to assist future experiments where this molecule may be formed. Quantum calculations at the CBS-APNO//B2PLYP-D3/cc-pVTZ level indicate similar energy barriers to addition and abstraction for OH radical attack, but the looser transition state and greater opportunity for tunneling also favor abstraction in this case.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/478kineticsmechanismrelative ratecross-sectionglobal warming potential
spellingShingle Ramesh Sapkota
Trang Nguyen
Paul Marshall
The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
Molecules
kinetics
mechanism
relative rate
cross-section
global warming potential
title The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
title_full The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
title_fullStr The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
title_full_unstemmed The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
title_short The Atmospheric Chemistry of Fluoroacetonitrile and the Characterization of the Major Product, Cyanoformyl Fluoride
title_sort atmospheric chemistry of fluoroacetonitrile and the characterization of the major product cyanoformyl fluoride
topic kinetics
mechanism
relative rate
cross-section
global warming potential
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/478
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