The gas phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with cyclohexanol (COL)
has been studied. The rate coefficient was determined to be (19.0 +/- 4.8)
X 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) (at 297 +/- 3 K and 1 atmosphere total
pressure) using the relative rate technique with pentanal, decane, and trid
ecane as the reference compounds. Assuming an average OH concentration of 1
x 10(6) molecules cm(-3), an atmospheric lifetime of 15 h is calculated fo
r cyclohexanol. Products of the OH + COL reaction were determined to more c
learly define COL's atmospheric degradation mechanism. The observed product
s and their Formation yields were: cyclohexanone (0.55 +/- 0.06), hexanedia
l (0.32 +/- 0.15), 3-hydroxycyclohexanone (0.31 +/- 0.14), and 4-hydroxycyc
lohexanone (0.08 +/- 0.04). Consideration of the potential reaction pathway
s suggests that each of these products is formed via hydrogen abstraction a
t a different site on the COL ring. The products and their relative amounts
are discussed in light of the predicted yields For each reaction channel.
(C) 2001 lohn Wiley C Sons, Inc.