Reaction Kinetics of Hydrogen Abstraction Reactions by Hydroperoxyl Radical from 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran and 2,5-Dimethyltetrahydrofuran

Highly accurate rate parameters for H-abstraction reactions by HO2 radicals are needed for development of predictive chemical kinetic models for ignition. In this article, we report the rate coefficients for reaction of hydroperoxyl radical (HO2) with 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) and 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) computed employing CBS-QB3 and CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory in the temperature range of 500-2000 K. Conventional transition state theory (CTST) with hindered rotor approximation for low frequency torsional modes and RRHO (rigid-rotor harmonic oscillator) approximation for all other vibrational modes is employed to evaluate the high pressure rate constants as a function of temperature. Rate constant of each individual hydrogen abstraction channel is taken into account to calculate the overall rate constant. Three-parameter Arrhenius expressions have been obtained by fitting to the computed rate constants of all abstraction channels between 500 and 2000 K. Eight transition states have been identified for MTHF and four for slightly more stable trans-DMTHF. Intrinsic reaction coordinates (IRC) calculations were performed to verify the connectivity of all the transition states (TSs) with reactants and products. One dimensional Eckart's asymmetrical method has been used to calculate quantum mechanical tunneling effect. Results of the theoretically calculated rate coefficients indicate that the hydrogen abstraction by HO2 from the C2 carbon of both MTHF and DMTHF is the most dominant path among all reaction pathways attributed to its lowest barrier height. The total rate coefficients of the MTHF and DMTHF with HO2 at CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory are k(T) = 8.60T(3.54) exp(-8.92/RT) and k(T)= 3.17T(3.63) exp(-6.59/RT) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1), respectively. At both the level of theories, the predicted total abstraction rate constant for DMTHF is found to be higher as compared to that of MTHF over an entire temperature range of investigation. The overall rate constant calculated at CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory is lower by 1.43 and 3.44 times at 2000 K than the CBS-QB3 level for MTHF and DMTHF, respectively.