An experimental study of the reactivity of the hydroxide anion in the gas phase at room temperature, and its perturbation by hydration

Abstract

Flowing afterglow measurements are reported which provide rate constants and product identifications at 298 ± 2 K for the gas-phase reactions of OH− with CH3OH, C2H5OH, CH3OCH3, CH2O, CH3CHO, CH3COCH3, CH2CO, HCOOH, HCOOCH3, CH2=C=CH2, CH3—C≡CH, and C6H5CH3. The main channels observed were proton transfer and solvation of the OH−. Hydration with one molecule of H2O was observed either to reduce the rate slightly and lead to products which are the hydrated analogues of the "nude" reaction, or to stop the reaction completely, k ≤ 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The reaction of OH−•H2O with CH3—C≡CH showed an uncertain intermediate behaviour.