Kinetics and products of chlorine atom initiated oxidation of HCF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 CF 2 OCF 2 H and HCF 2 O(CF 2 O) n ‐(CF 2 CF 2 O) m CF 2 H

Smog chamber/FTIR techniques were used to measure k (Cl + HCF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 ‐CF 2 OCF 2 H) = k (Cl + HCF 2 O(CF 2 O) n (CF 2 CF 2 O) m CF 2 H) = (5.0 ± 1.4) × 10 −17 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 in 700 Torr of N 2 /O 2 diluent at 296 ± 1 K. The Cl‐initiated atmospheric oxidation of HCF 2 OCF 2 OCF 2 CF 2 OCF 2 H and the sample of HCF 2 O(CF 2 O) n (CF 2 CF 2 O) m CF 2 H used in this work gave COF 2 in molar yields of (476 ± 36)% and (859 ± 63)%, respectively, with no other observable carbon containing products (i.e., essentially complete conversion of both hydrofluoropolyethers into COF 2 ). The results are discussed with respect to the atmospheric chemistry and environmental impact of hydrofluoropolyethers of the general formula HCF 2 O(CF 2 O) n (CF 2 CF 2 O) m CF 2 H. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 819–825, 2008