Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene

Abstract Isoprene (C5H8) globally accounts for half of the non-methane hydrocarbon flux into Earth´s atmosphere. Its degradation is mainly initiated by the gas-phase reaction with OH radicals yielding a complex system of RO2 radicals. Subsequent product formation is not conclusively understood yet....

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Main Authors: Torsten Berndt, Erik H. Hoffmann, Andreas Tilgner, Hartmut Herrmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57336-1
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author Torsten Berndt
Erik H. Hoffmann
Andreas Tilgner
Hartmut Herrmann
author_facet Torsten Berndt
Erik H. Hoffmann
Andreas Tilgner
Hartmut Herrmann
author_sort Torsten Berndt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Isoprene (C5H8) globally accounts for half of the non-methane hydrocarbon flux into Earth´s atmosphere. Its degradation is mainly initiated by the gas-phase reaction with OH radicals yielding a complex system of RO2 radicals. Subsequent product formation is not conclusively understood yet. Here we report the observation of C4- and C5-products from OH + isoprene bearing at least two functional groups. Their production is initiated either by the reaction of initially formed δ-RO2 radicals with NO or by 1,6 H-shift isomerization of Z-δ-RO2 radicals. Both reaction channels also form highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs), which could be important for the generation of secondary organic aerosol. C5H9O8 and C5H9O9 radicals represent the main precursors of closed-shell HOMs. Global simulations revealed that the isoprene-derived HOM-RO2 production is comparable with that of α-pinene, currently regarded as very important HOM source. This study provides a more complete insight into isoprene´s degradation process including the HOM formation.
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spelling doaj-art-54d7e310372d4c938cc91a6e2ccab0072025-08-20T02:55:23ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-57336-1Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isopreneTorsten Berndt0Erik H. Hoffmann1Andreas Tilgner2Hartmut Herrmann3Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Abstract Isoprene (C5H8) globally accounts for half of the non-methane hydrocarbon flux into Earth´s atmosphere. Its degradation is mainly initiated by the gas-phase reaction with OH radicals yielding a complex system of RO2 radicals. Subsequent product formation is not conclusively understood yet. Here we report the observation of C4- and C5-products from OH + isoprene bearing at least two functional groups. Their production is initiated either by the reaction of initially formed δ-RO2 radicals with NO or by 1,6 H-shift isomerization of Z-δ-RO2 radicals. Both reaction channels also form highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs), which could be important for the generation of secondary organic aerosol. C5H9O8 and C5H9O9 radicals represent the main precursors of closed-shell HOMs. Global simulations revealed that the isoprene-derived HOM-RO2 production is comparable with that of α-pinene, currently regarded as very important HOM source. This study provides a more complete insight into isoprene´s degradation process including the HOM formation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57336-1
spellingShingle Torsten Berndt
Erik H. Hoffmann
Andreas Tilgner
Hartmut Herrmann
Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
Nature Communications
title Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
title_full Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
title_fullStr Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
title_full_unstemmed Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
title_short Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
title_sort highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57336-1
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AT andreastilgner highlyoxidizedproductsfromtheatmosphericreactionofhydroxylradicalswithisoprene
AT hartmutherrmann highlyoxidizedproductsfromtheatmosphericreactionofhydroxylradicalswithisoprene