Kinetic parameters for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with CH ₃OCH ₂F (HFE-161) in the temperature range of 200-400 K: Transition state theory and Ab initio calculations

Rate coefficients for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with CH ₃OCH ₂F (HFE-161) were computed using transition state theory coupled with ab initio methods, viz., MP2, G3MP2, and G3B3 theories in the temperature range of 200-400 K. Structures of the reactants and transition states (TSs) were optimized at MP2(FULL) and B3LYP level of theories with 6-31G* and 6-311++G** basis sets. The potential energy surface was scanned at both the level of theories. Five different TSs were identified for each rotamer. Calculations of Intrinsic reaction coordinates were performed to confirm the existence of all the TSs. The kinetic parameters due to all different TSs are reported in this article. The rate coefficients for the title reaction were computed to be k = (9 ± 1.08) × - 10 ^-13 exp [-(1,713 ± 33)/T] cm ³ molecule ^-1 s ^-1 at MP2, k = (7.36 ± 0.42) × - 10 ^-13 exp [-(198 ± 16)/T] cm ³ molecule ^-1 s ^-1 at G3MP2 and k = (5.36 ± 1.57) × - 10 ^-13 exp [-(412 ± 81)/T] cm ³ molecule ^-1 s ^-1 at G3B3 theories. The atmospheric lifetimes of CH ₃OCH ₂F at MP2, G3MP2, and G3B3 level of theories were estimated to be 20, 0.1, and 0.3 years, respectively.