Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of bromoethane.

A mechanism for the atmospheric oxidation of bromoethane is proposed from an ab initio study. Using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p)//MP2/6-31G(d) level of theory, the structure and energetics of the 35 species and transition states involved in the atmospheric oxidation of bromoethane are examined. From these calculations, reaction enthalpies and activation energies to characterize the potential energy surface of the proposed mechanism for the complete atmospheric degradation of bromoethane are determined. The studies revealed that the hydrogen abstraction from the alpha carbon has the lowest activation energy barrier of all the possible abstractions, making this pathway the most energetically favored pathway for the atmospheric oxidation process. The brominated species that result from the oxidation at the alpha carbon are BrC(O)CH(3) and BrC(O)H. Other species resulting from oxidation initiated at the beta carbon are also identified.