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3‐methyl‐1,2,3‐butanetricarboxylic acid: An atmospheric tracer for terpene secondary organic aerosol
Author(s) -
Szmigielski Rafal,
Surratt Jason D.,
GómezGonzález Yadian,
Van der Veken Pieter,
Kourtchev Ivan,
Vermeylen Reinhilde,
Blockhuys Frank,
Jaoui Mohammed,
Kleindienst Tadeusz E.,
Lewandowski Michael,
Offenberg John H.,
Edney Edward O.,
Seinfeld John H.,
Maenhaut Willy,
Claeys Magda
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl031338
Subject(s) - tracer , aerosol , chemistry , electrospray ionization , pinene , tricarboxylic acid , mass spectrometry , ionization , chemical ionization , mass spectrum , terpene , ion , electrospray , organic chemistry , environmental chemistry , chromatography , citric acid cycle , physics , nuclear physics , enzyme
Highly oxygenated compounds assigned to be oxidation products of α ‐pinene have recently been observed in substantial concentrations in ambient aerosols. Here, we confirm the unknown α ‐pinene tracer compound with molecular weight (MW) 204 as the C 8 ‐tricarboxylic acid 3‐methyl‐1,2,3‐butanetricarboxylic acid. Its gas and liquid chromatographic behaviors and its mass spectral characteristics in electron ionization and negative ion electrospray ionization perfectly agree with those of a synthesized reference compound. The formation of this compound is explained by further reaction of cis ‐pinonic acid involving participation of the OH radical. This study illustrates that complex, multi‐generation chemistry holds for the photooxidation of α ‐pinene in the presence of NO x .