Effects of Metal Ions on Aqueous-Phase Decomposition of α-Hydroxyalkyl-Hydroperoxides Derived from Terpene Alcohols.

We report the results of a mass spectrometric study of the effects of atmospherically relevant metal ions on the decomposition of α-hydroxyalkyl-hydroperoxides (α-HHs) derived from ozonolysis of α-terpineol in aqueous solutions. By direct mass spectrometric detection of chloride adducts of α-HHs, we assessed the temporal profiles of α-HHs and other products in the presence of metal ions. In addition, reactions between α-HHs and FeCl in the presence of excess DMSO showed that the amount of hydroxyl radicals formed in a mixture of α-terpineol, O, and FeCl was 5.7 ± 0.8% of the amount formed in a mixture of HO and FeCl. The first-order rate constants for the decay of α-HHs produced by ozonolysis of α-terpineol in the presence of 5 mM acetate buffer at a pH of 5.1 ± 0.1 were determined to be (4.5 ± 0.1) × 10 s (no metal ions), (4.7 ± 0.2) × 10 s (with 0.05 mM Fe), (4.7 ± 0.1) × 10 s (with 0.05 mM Zn), and (4.8 ± 0.2) × 10 s (with 0.05 mM Cu). We propose that in acidic aqueous media, the reaction of α-HHs with Fe is outcompeted by H-catalyzed decomposition of α-HHs, which produces the corresponding aldehydes and HO, which can in turn react with Fe to form hydroxyl radicals.