Gas-phase chemistry of benzyl alcohol: Reaction rate constants and products with OH radical and ozone

A bimolecular rate constant, kOH+Benzyl alcohol, of (28 ± 7) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 was measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with benzyl alcohol, at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atm total pressure. Additionally, an upper limit of the bimolecular rate constant, kO3+Benzyl alcohol, of approximately 6 × 10−19 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 was determined by monitoring the decrease in benzyl alcohol concentration over time in an excess of ozone (O3). To more clearly define part of benzyl alcoholʹs indoor environment degradation mechanism, the products of the benzyl alcohol + OH were also investigated. The derivatizing agents O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA) and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) were used to positively identify benzaldehyde, glyoxal and 4-oxopentanal as benzyl alcohol/OH reaction products. The elucidation of other reaction products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with plausible benzyl alcohol/OH reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound/OH gas-phase reaction mechanisms.