Temperature-Dependent Rate Coefficient for the Reaction of CH₃SH with the Simplest Criegee Intermediate

The kinetics of the reaction of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO with CH3SH was measured with transient IR absorption spectroscopy in a temperature-controlled flow reaction cell, and the bimolecular rate coefficients were measured from 278 to 349 K and at total pressure from 10 to 300 Torr. The measured bimolecular rate coefficient at 298 K and 300 Torr is (1.01 ± 0.17) × 10–12 cm3 s–1. The results exhibit a weak negative temperature dependence: the activation energy Ea (k = Ae–Ea/RT) is −1.83 ± 0.05 kcal mol–1, measured at 30 and 100 Torr. Quantum chemistry calculations of the reaction rate coefficient at the QCISD­(T)/CBS//B3LYP/6-311+G­(2d,2p) level (1.6 × 10–12 cm3 s–1 at 298 K; Ea = – 2.80 kcal mol–1) are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The experimental and theoretical results of the reaction of CH2OO with CH3SH are compared to the reactions of CH2OO with methanol and hydrogen sulfide, and the trends in reactivity are discussed. The results of the present work indicate that this reaction has a negligible influence to atmospheric CH2OO or CH3SH