The rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with pinonaldehyde has be
en measured at 293 +/- 6 K using the relative rate method in the laboratory
in Wuppertal (Germany) using photolytic sources for the production of OH r
adicals and in the EUPHORE smog chamber facility in Valencia (Spain) using
the in situ ozonolysis of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene as a dark source of OH radi
cals. In ail the experiments pinonaldehyde and the reference compounds were
monitored by FTIR spectroscopy, and in addition in the EUPHORE smog chambe
r the decay of pinonaldehyde was monitored by the HPLC/DNPH method and the
reference compound by GC/FID. The results from all the different series of
experiments were in good agreement and lead to an average value of k(pinona
ldehyde + OH) = (4.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). This resu
lt lead to steady-state estimates of atmospheric pinonaldehyde concentratio
ns in the ppbV range (1 ppbV approximate to 2.5 X 10(10) molecule cm(-3) at
298 K and 1 atm) in regions with substantial Lu-pinene emission. It also i
mplies that atmospheric sinks of pinonaldehyde by reaction with OH radicals
could be half as important as its photolysis, The rate constant of the rea
ction of pinonaldehyde with Ci atoms has been measured for the first time.
Relative rate measurements lead to a value of k(pinonaldehyde + Cl) = (2.4
+/- 1.4) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). In contrast to previous studie
s which suggested enhanced kinetic reactivity for pinonaldehyde compared to
other aldehydes, the results from both the OH- and CI-initiated oxidation
of pinonaldehyde in the present work are in line with predictions using str
ucture-activity relationships. (C) 1999 John Wiley C Sons, Inc.