Gas‐phase reactions of azulene with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 at 298 ± 2 K

Abstract

AbstractAzulene, which is isomeric with naphthalene, was studied to determine whether it behaves like a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or an alkene in its gas‐phase reactions with OH and NO3 radicals and O3. Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the reactions of azulene with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 of (2.73 ± 0.56) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, (3.9) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, and <7 × 10−17 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively, were obtained at 298 ± 2 K. The observation that the NO3 radical reaction did not involve NO2 in the rate determining step indicates that azulene behaves more like an alkene than a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in this reaction. No conclusive evidence for the formation of nitroazulene(s) from either the OH or NO3 radical‐initiated reaction of azulene (in the presence of NOx) was obtained.