Molecular Chirality and Cloud Activation Potentials of Dimeric α-Pinene Oxidation Products
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: The surface activity of ten atmospherically relevant α-pinene-derived dimers having varying terminal functional groups and backbone stereochemistry is reported. We find ∼10% differences in surface activity between diastereomers of the same dimer, demonstrating that surface activity depends upon backbone stereochemistry. Octanol–water ( K OW ) and octanol–ammonium sulfate partitioning coefficient ( K OAS ) measurements of our standards align well with the surface activity measurements, with the more surface-active dimers exhibiting increased hydrophobicity. Our findings establish a link between molecular chirality and cloud activation potential of secondary organic aerosol particles. Given the diurnal variations in enantiomeric excess of biogenic emissions, possible contributions of such a link to biosphere:atmosphere feedbacks as well as aerosol particle viscosity and phase separation are discussed.
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07509
Institution: Northwestern University
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1276186940, G336680401, Collaborative Research: Isotopologue Synthesis and Use for Elucidating Important Chemical Mechanisms of Organic Condensation Reactions in Atmospheric Particles, G4433393426, Surfaces of Secondary Organic Aerosol Particles, NNCI: Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G6915139076, G754063543, G7570481651, G8230932042
OpenAlex ID: W3202430876