The photo-oxidation reaction of ethyl
methacrylate (EMA) initiated
by Cl atoms were explored in the Earth’s tropospheric conditions
using experimental as well as computational methodologies. The experiments
were performed to measure the rate coefficients of the title reaction
over the temperature range of 268−363 K by the relative rate
method. The rate coefficients for the title reaction were measured
relative to 1, 3 butadiene and trans-2-butene. The rate coefficient
for the title reaction at 298 K was experimentally measured to be k
EMA+Cl
Exp − 298 K = (2.80
± 0.80) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The derived Arrhenius expression
for the title reaction is k
TFEA+Cl
Exp −
(268−363K)= (2.32 ± 0.20) × 10−11 exp [(696 ± 54)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1. Computational calculations
were performed at CCSD(T)//MP2/6-31+G(d, p) level of theory using
canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with small curvature
tunneling (SCT) in the temperatures between 200 and 400 K. The degradation
mechanism initiated by Cl atoms was proposed for the title reaction
based on the qualitative analysis of the products. The important atmospheric
parameters such as atmospheric lifetimes, global warming potentials,
and photochemical ozone creation potentials, thermochemistry and branching
ratios of the test reaction are presented in the manuscript.