Laser-induced reactions of NO2 in the visible region

The reaction of NO₂ with isobutane, induced by 488 nm laser radiation, to form 2-nitro-2-methylpropane has been investigated and the results computer-modeled according to two possible reaction mechanisms. The first scheme involves the direct abstraction of H from isobutane by vibronically excited NO₂ (NO₂^*), and the second, abstraction by an intermediate NO₃ radial produced by NO₂^*+NO₂. The modeling results strongly support the NO₂^* scheme as the dominant reaction mechanism.