Toward a more complete understanding of the reaction mechanism of methyl vinyl ether with ozone: A matrix isolation study

A study of the thermal and photochemical reactions of ozone with methyl vinyl ether (MVE) is described, using both twin jet and merged jet deposition under a variety of conditions. In addition, irradiation experiments were carried out with either a red LED (625 nm) or a Hg pen lamp (254 nm). Products were observed by infrared spectroscopy and identification was aided by 18O and scrambled 16,18O experiments. The experimental work was supported by extensive DFT calculations. Initial thermal products included the primary ozonide (POZ), one of the two possible Criegee intermediates (CI) and H2CO, marking the first observation of the POZ and CI in this system. At longer times using merged jet deposition, observed products include methyl formate, methyl acetate, formic acid and methanol, consistent with an earlier static gas phase study on this system. Photochemical products arose from the addition of a single oxygen atom to MVE, leading to formation of methoxyacetaldehyde and methoxyoxirane, along with minor products.