Kinetics of methyl halide production by reaction of DMSP with halide ion

Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the reactions of DMSP + X(-) <-> CH(3)X + CH3SCH2CH2COO- are obtained by time series measurements of methyl halide (CH(3)X) production by the reactions of DMSP with halide ions (X(-)). Thermodynamically, DMSP reactions with halide ions to produce methyl halides are not favoured because they are endothermic and Delta G degrees > 0 over the range of seawater temperature. Both kinetic and thermodynamic studies suggest that methyl halide production by DMSP + X(-) can only contribute a very small proportion of the currently estimated oceanic source of methyl halide (< 1%).