Atmospheric chemistry of trans-CF ₃ CH=CHF: products and mechanisms of hydroxyl radical and chlorine atom initiated oxidation

Smog chamber/FTIR techniques were used to study the products and mechanisms of OH radical and Cl atom initiated oxidation of trans-CF3CH=CHF in 700 Torr of N2/O2 diluent at 295±1 K. Hydroxyl radical initiated oxidation leads to the formation of CF3CHO and HC(O)F in yields which were indistinguishable from 100% and were not dependent on the O2 partial pressure. Chlorine atom initiated oxidation gives HC(O)F, CF3CHO, CF3C(O)Cl, and CF3C(O)CHFCl. The yields of CF3C(O)Cl and CF3C(O)CHFCl increased at the expense of HC(O)F and CF3CHO as the O2 partial pressure was increased over the range 5–700 Torr. The results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry and environmental impact of trans-CF3CH=CHF.