Mechanism, Kinetics, and Ecotoxicity Assessment of ·OH-Initiated Oxidation Reactions of Sulfoxaflor

J Phys Chem A. 2021 Nov 25;125(46):10052-10064. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05030. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Abstract

The ·OH-initiated reaction mechanism and kinetics of sulfoxaflor were investigated by using electronic structure calculations. The possible hydrogen atom and cyano group abstraction reaction pathways were studied, and the calculated thermochemical parameters show that the hydrogen atom abstraction from the C7 carbon atom is the more favorable reaction pathway. The subsequent reactions for the favorable intermediate (I4) with other atmospheric reactive species, such as O2, H2O, HO2·, and NOx· (x = 1, 2), were studied in detail. The products identified from the subsequent reactions could contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in the atmosphere. The intermediates and products formed from the initial and subsequent reactions are equally as toxic as the parent sulfoxaflor. At 298 K, the rate constant calculated for the formation of the favorable intermediate I4 is 2.54 × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, which shows that the lifetime of sulfoxaflor is 54 h. The excited-state calculation performed through time-dependent density functional theory shows that the photolysis of the title molecule is unlikely in the atmosphere. The global warming potentials (GWPs) for different time horizons, photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), and ecotoxicity analysis were also studied for the insecticide sulfoxaflor.

MeSH terms

  • Atmosphere
  • Hydroxyl Radical*
  • Kinetics
  • Ozone*
  • Pyridines
  • Sulfur Compounds

Substances

  • Pyridines
  • Sulfur Compounds
  • Hydroxyl Radical
  • Ozone
  • sulfoxaflor