DFT-based computational analysis of 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) as an antioxidant in aviation fuels

Antioxidants are indispensable additives for ensuring the long-term stability, performance, and reliability of aviation fuels. They prevent the formation of gum and other insoluble deposits in the fuel which clog fuel systems, leading to engine problems. This is achieved by inhibiting free radical chain reactions involved in the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the fuel. The compound 2,4-Dimethyl-6-tert-butyl phenol (DTBP) is one of the widely used antioxidants in aviation fuels. In this report, the radical scavenging done by DTBP is analysed computationally by density functional theory (DFT) with the model chemistry X/6-31+G(d,p), where X represents certain Minnesota functionals such as MN15, M05-2X, M06-2X, M08-HX, and M11. Among the well-known modes of radical scavenging, namely HAT, SETPT, and SPLET, the HAT mode is preferred in the gaseous phase, while SPLET operates in non-polar solvents, as computations indicate. Fukui indices, global reactivity descriptors, electronic spectra, and natural bond orbitals (NBOs) are also generated to explain the results. Understanding the mechanism of radical scavenging is important in designing powerful and efficient antioxidants for aviation fuels such as jet fuel, aviation gasoline, Jet B, and bio-kerosene.