Rate constants for reaction of Cl atoms with hydrofluoroethers

The relative rate technique was used to measure the rate constants for the reactions of Cl atoms with CHF 2 OCH 2 CF 3 and CHF 2 OCHFCF 3 . Experiments were carried out at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure using nitrogen as the bath gas. Using 1,1,1‐trichloroethane and 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane as the reference compounds, the following rate coefficients were derived: k (Cl + CHF 2 OCH 2 CF 3 ) = (1.14 ± 0.27) × 10 −14 and k (Cl + CHF 2 OCHFCF 3 ) = (1.20 ± 0.12) × 10 −15 , in units of cm 3  molecule −1  s −1 . The rate constants obtained are compared with the literature data. The implications of the results with regard to the atmosphere are briefly considered. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.