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

Azulene, 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 NO_x) was obtained.