Reactions of NO<sub>3</sub> with aromatic aldehydes: gas-phase kinetics and insights into the mechanism of the reaction

Abstract. Rate coefficients for the reaction of NO3 radicals with a series aromatic aldehydes were measured in 7300 L simulation chamber at ambient temperature and pressure by relative absolute methods. The rate benzaldehyde (BA), ortho-tolualdehyde (O-TA), meta-tolualdehyde (M-TA), para-tolualdehyde (P-TA), 2,4-dimethyl (2,4-DMBA), 2,5-dimethyl (2,5-DMBA) 3,5-dimethyl (3,5-DMBA) k1= 2.6 ± 0.3, k2= 8.7 0.8, k3= 4.9 0.5, k4= 0.4, k5= 15.1 1.3, k6= 12.8 1.2 k7= 6.2 0.6, respectively, units 10−15 cm3 molec.−1 s−1 298 2 K. coefficient k13 radical deuterated (benzaldehyde-d1) was found to be half that k1. end product an excess NO2 C6H5C(O)O2NO2. Theoretical calculations aldehydic bond energies pathways indicate reacts primarily through abstraction hydrogen atom. atmospheric implications are briefly discussed.