The Criegee intermediate-formic acid reaction explored by rotational spectroscopy

“The Criegee intermediate-formic acid reaction explored by rotational spectroscopy” is the title of the inside front cover paper recently published in the Journal “Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics” (PCCP) and whose authors are Carlos Cabezas (from our Astromol group) and Yasuki Endo.

Abstract: The atmospheric reaction of the simplest Criegee intermediate, CH2OO, with formic acid has been investigated in the gas phase by pulsed Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. The dominant nascent product from this reaction was identified as hydroperoxymethyl formate (HOOCH2OCHO), for which two different conformations, formed through independent insertion mechanisms, were observed in the discharged plasma of a CH2I2/O2/formic acid gas mixture. The conformational identifications are supported by the observation of 13C species in natural abundance together with the chemically mono substituted deuterium isotopologues. These isotopic observations further suggest that hydroperoxymethyl formate slightly decomposes, producing formic anhydride (OHCOCHO) in a dehydration reaction.

Link to the inside front cover

Link to the paper “The Criegee intermediate-formic acid reaction explored by rotational spectroscopy