Kinetics and yields of OH radical from the CH3OCH2 + O2 reaction using a new photolytic source

The methoxymethyl radical, CH3OCH2, formed from the photodissociation of CH3OCH2Br at 248 nm, was observed to form OH on reaction with O2. The kinetics of OH formation were measured as a function of pressure at 295 K using this new photolytic methoxymethyl radical precursor, detecting OH by LIF, giving rate coefficients in good agreement with the literature values for CH3OCH2 + O2 (R2). This reaction proceeds via the formation of an energised CH3OCH2O2 adduct, which either dissociates to OH + 2H2CO or is collisionally stabilised. To quantify OH production from the CH3OCH2 + O2 reaction, both relative and absolute OH yield measurements were performed as a function of pressure.