Free radical-induced oxidative degradation of polyacrylamide in aqueous solution

The oxidative main chain degradation of polyacrylamide initiated by ^·OH radicals attacking the polymer in aqueous solution was studied. ^·OH radicals were produced by irradiating dilute polymer solutions with high energy radiation. A bimolecular process (combination of PO₂ radicals) was found to be the rate determining step in the series of consecutive reactions leading to main-chain rupture. This was revealed from results obtained in pulse radiolysis studies using the light scattering detection method. Under the given experimental conditions, the number of radical sites per initial macromolecule exceeded unity with the consequence that intramolecular reactions of PO₂ radicals dominated intermolecular combinations. From both pulse radiolysis and continuous irradiations it was inferred that only a small fraction (about 1%) of the attacking ^·OH radicals initiated main-chain scission.     

Dynamics of radiationless transitions in large molecules: 3. Decay of vibration-phonon states

The statistical operator of the ensemble of high-frequency intramolecular vibrations associated with the phonon reservoir depends on the phonon occupation numbers under thermal equilibrium conditions. The eigenvalues of energy of statistically averaged vibration-phonon (VP) states are complex quantities. In the case of weak VP coupling, only one- and two-phonon transitions are taken into consideration for calculating the decay rate constant, in which the difference of phonon energies compensates for the difference in energy between the initial and final intramolecular states. Although the fast evolution of amplitudes of VP states is due to intramolecular redistribution of energy and is not reduced to exponential decay of the initial state, the imaginary components of the eigenvalues coincide with those predicted by Fermi’s golden rule. The relative contribution of two-phonon (combination) transitions compared with one-phonon transitions increases with an increase in the density of intramolecular states and temperature, becoming prevalent for large molecules at T ≥ D ? Δ₀ (D = 100–200 K (70–140 cm^?1) is the Debye temperature and Δ₀～10 cm^?1 is the spacing between neighboring intramolecular vibration levels). When T ≥ D, the decay rate constant is K ∝ T ².     

CHLOROPHYLL-QUINONE PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN LIPOSOMES: MECHANISMS OF RADICAL FORMATION AND DECAY*

Abstract— Laser flash photolysis has been used to investigate the mechanism of formation and decay of the radical species generated by light-induced electron transfer from chlorophyll a (Chi) triplet to various quinones in egg phosphatidyl choline bilayer vesicles. Chlorophyll triplet quenching by quinone is controlled by diffusion occurring within the bilayer membrane (kq～ 10⁶M^?1 s^?1. as compared to ～ 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1 in ethanol) and reflects bilayer viscosity. Radical formation via separation of the intermediate ion pair is also inhibited by increased bilayer viscosity. Cooperativity is observed in the radical formation process due to an enhancement of radical separation by electron transfer from semiquinone anion radical to a neighboring quinone molecule. Two modes of radical decay are observed, a rapid (t_1/2= 150μ) recombination between Chi and quinone radicals occurring within the bilayer and a much slower (t_1/2= 1–100 ms) recombination occurring across the bilayer-water interface. The latter is also cooperative, which accounts for a t_1/2 which is dependent upon quinone concentration. The slow decay is only observed with quinones which are not tightly anchored into the bilayer, and is probably the result of electron transfer from semiquinone anion radical formed within the bilayer to a quinone molecule residing at the bilayer-water interface. Direct evidence for such a process has been obtained from experiments in which both ubiquinone and benzoquinone are present simultaneously. With benzo-quinone, approx. 60% of the radical decay occurs via the slow mode. Triplet to radical conversion efficiencies in the bilayer systems are comparable to those obtained in fluid solution (～ 60%). However, radical recombination, at least for the slow decay mechanism, is considerably retarded.     

Investigation of electrochemical behavior of secondary products of capture of OH radicals by dimethyl sulfoxide molecules using laser photoemission

Electrode reactions of intermediates formed during capture of OH radicals by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecules were studied using laser photoemission in aqueous buffer solutions in the pH range from acidic to basic. The results were compared with characteristics of one-electron reduction of methyl radicals generated via photoemission from methyl halides CH₃X (X = Cl, I). From these experiments, it was concluded that intermediates in these systems were identical since the primary product of capture of OH radicals by DMSO molecules, i.e., adduct (CH₃)₂SO^. (OH), was spontaneously decomposed to form ^.CH₃ with a time as low as <2 × 10^?5 s. Some anomalies were found on time-resolved voltammograms of intermediates in the pH range from weakly basic to weakly acidic and at illumination times of an electrode with UV light T _m ≤ 90–300 ms. These features were presumably caused by rather slow formation of organomercury intermediates as interaction products of the components of the system DMSO—OH radical—mercury electrode.     

Formation and thermal-induced decay of radical ions in polymer matrices

The formation of radical ions in γ-irradiated polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrices at 77°K and thermal-induced reaction of these radical ions were of studied by optical absorption spectroscopic measurements. The radical ions of stilbene and pyrene were investigated. These radical ions decay according to second-order kinetics, which means that the neutralization reaction of the cationic species and anionic species participates in the decay process. The kinetic plots consist of two straight lines; that is, fast and slow decay processes are concerned. The activation energies were estimated to be E_fast = 2.4 kcal/mol and E_slow = 6.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The probability of recombination reaction depends on the distance between cationic and anionic species.     

About the co-product of the OH radical in the reaction of acetyl with O2 below atmospheric pressure

Recent studies have shown that the reaction between acetyl radicals and O₂ at low pressures leads to the direct fast formation of OH radical, but the nature of co-products is controversial. Laser photolysis coupled to TDLAS (10–200 Torr, 298 K) has been employed to directly monitor two possible co-products of this reaction, CO and formaldehyde. Only CH₂O has been detected in yield of 0.29 ± 0.13, but with time constants much slow than the OH formation under these conditions; the observed CH₂O-time profiles are compatible with the known mechanism of peroxyacetyl secondary reactions.     

Pulse radiolysis studies on reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals with nicotinamide and 6-methyl nicotinic acid

Reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals derived from 2-propanol, ethanol and methanol with nicotinamide (NICAM) and 6-methyl nicotinic acid (6-MNA) were studied at various pHs using pulse radiolysis technique. It is found that α-hydroxyalkyl radicals react with NICAM and 6-MNA at pHs when nitrogen is in the protonated state. In these reactions, radical adducts of NICAM/6-MNA with α-hydroxyalkyl radicals are formed which have absorption maxima at about 340–350 nm which subsequently decay to give pyridinyl type of radicals of NICAM and 6-MNA having λ_max at 410 nm. Rate constants for the reactions of (CH₃)₂COH, CH₃CHOH and CH₂OH radicals with NICAM and 6-MNA were found to have linear dependence on reduction potentials of corresponding α-hydroxyalkyl radicals. Adducts formed in the reactions of CH₃CHOH and CH₂OH radicals with both NICAM and 6-MNA decayed slowly compared to the decay of adduct formed in reactions with (CH₃)₂COH radicals.     

Oxidative dealkylation of 4a-alkylated 4a,5-dihydroflavins: Properties of 4a-alkylated flavin radicals

Covalent coenzyme substrate adducts (“σ-complexes”) are probable intermediates in flavin-dependent biological dehydrogenations. As chemical model reaction for the σ-complex decay, oxidative dealkylation of stable 4a-alkyl-4a,5-dihydroflavins was studied as a function of alkyl mobility and nature of the oxidizing agent. The alkyl groups studied were n-propyl, allyl and benzyl, the oxidizing agents ³O₂, ¹O₂^*, nitroxide radical, ferricyanide and light-excited flavin.For all three alkyl residues, the primary reaction is formation of the 4a-alkyl-4a-hydroflavin radical by le^?-abstraction. ³O₂ and ferricyanide are too weak to initiate this step. If, however, the radical 4a-RFl is once formed, at least five decay modes can be observed depending on the nature of R:(1) For saturated R the exclusive decay is back transfer of the electron initially abstracted. In this case, dealkylation can only be obtained with ¹O₂*, albeit with the relatively slow rate of < 10⁶ M^?1s^?1.(2) For unsaturated R further 1e^?-oxidation leads to quantitative formation of oxidized flavin, while the fate of the alkyl group is still uncertain: In any case, ROH and the corresponding aldehydes as well as the dimers R₂ can be excluded as products.(3) Further oxidation by ³O₂ again leads to a quantitative yield of oxidized flavin while the alkyl residues are converted to peroxy radicals. In an autocatalytic reaction they form the corresponding hydroperoxides with starting 4a-R-Fl_redH, leading to acrolein (R = allyl) or benzaldehyde (R = benzyl) as the major products.(4) In the absence of further oxidant, slow intramolecular alkyl migration is observed leading to the stable 5-alkyl-l,5-dihydroflavin isomer.(5) Competitively, alkyl migration occurs intermolecularly with the starting material as carbenium acceptor, resulting in formation of the stable 4a,5-dialkyl-4a,5-dihydroflavin and unsubstituted radical HFl, which disproportionates.     

Investigation of gas phase reactions of OH radicals with fluoromethane and difluoromethane using Ar-sensitized pulse radiolysis

Hydroxyl radical reactions were studied in gas phase CH₃F and CH₂F₂ systems using an Ar-sensitized pulse radiolysis-absorption spectroscopy technique. Bimolecular H-atom abstraction rate constants were determined empirically by fitting the observed OH decay data to a first-order law, then plotting the apparent first-order rate constants against substrate concentration. The resulting values of the bimolecular rate constants in cm³ molec^-1 s^-1 are (1.71 ± 0.24) × 10^-14 for OH + CH₃F and (0.88 ± 0.14) × 10^-14 for OH + CH₂F₂. Both values are in good agreement with previous results. Kinetic modeling showed a substantial contribution of radical-radical reactions to OH loss in both cases, but the data reduction procedure was successful in distinguishing the contribution due to the bimolecular OH-substrate abstraction process. Observed and computer simulated OH decay curves match satisfactorily for typical experiments, using initial OH concentrations and OH abstraction rate constants which were within ± 10% of the measured values.     

Reactivity of OH radicals with chlorobenzoic acids—A pulse radiolysis and steady-state radiolysis study

The reactions of OH radicals with 2-, 3-, 4-chlorobenzoic acids (ClBzA) and chlorobenzene (ClBz), k(OH+substrates)=(4.5?6.2)×10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, have been studied by pulse radiolysis in N₂O saturated solutions. The absorption maxima of the OH-adducts were in the range of 320?340 nm. Their decay was according to a second-order reaction, 2k=(1?9)×10⁸ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. In the presence of N₂O/O₂ the formation of peroxyl radicals was detectable for 2-, 4-ClBzA and ClBz, k(OH-adduct+O₂)=(2?4)×10⁷ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, while this reaction for 3-ClBzA was too slow to be registered. In the presence of N₂O the degradation rates induced by gamma radiation were very similar for all chlorobenzoic acids, yet the chloride formation was distinctly higher for 3-ClBzA. In the presence of oxygen the initial degradation of 2-and 4-ClBzA equaled the OH-radical concentration, whereas in case of 3-ClBzA only ～60% of OH led to degradation. The order for the efficiency of dehalogenation was 4->2->3-ClBzA. Several primary radiolytic products could be detected by HPLC. To evaluate the toxicity of final products a bacterial bioluminescence test was carried out.     

Photodissociation of CH2I2 and Subsequent Electron Transfer in Solution

We studied photoinduced reactions of diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) upon excitation at 268 nm in acetonitrile and hexane by subpicosecond–nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The transient spectra involve two absorption bands centered at around 400 (intense) and 540 nm (weak). The transients probed over the range 340–740 nm show common time profiles consisting of a fast rise (<200 fs), a fast decay (≈500 fs), and a slow rise. The two fast components were independent of solute concentration, whereas the slow rise became faster (7–50 ps) when the concentration in both solutions was increased. We assigned the fast components to the generation of a CH₂I radical by direct dissociation of the photoexcited CH₂I₂ and its disappearance by subsequent primary geminate recombination. The concentration‐dependent slow rise produced the absorption bands centered at 400 and 540 nm. The former consists of different time‐dependent bands at 385 and 430 nm. The band near 430 nm grew first and was assigned to a charge‐transfer (CT) complex, CH₂I₂^δ+???I^δ?, formed by a photofragment I atom and the solute CH₂I₂ molecule. The CT complex is followed by full electron transfer, which then develops the band of the ion pair CH₂I₂⁺???I^? at 385 nm on the picosecond timescale. On the nanosecond scale, I₃^? was generated after decay of the ion pair. The reaction scheme and kinetics were elucidated by the time‐resolved absorption spectra and the reaction rate equations. We ascribed concentration‐dependent dynamics to the CT‐complex formation in pre‐existing aggregates of CH₂I₂ and analyzed how solutes are aggregated at a given bulk concentration by evaluating a relative local concentration. Whereas the local concentration in hexane monotonically increased as a function of the bulk concentration, that in acetonitrile gradually became saturated. The number of CH₂I₂ molecules that can participate in CT‐complex formation has an upper limit that depends on the size of aggregation or spatial restriction in the neighboring region of the initially photoexcited CH₂I₂. Such conditions were achieved at lower concentrations in acetonitrile than in hexane.     

Intersystem Crossing in Naphthalenediimide–Oxoverdazyl Dyads: Synthesis and Study of the Photophysical Properties

Oxoverdazyl (Vz) radical units were covalently linked to the naphthalenediimide (NDI) chromophore to study the effect of the radical on the photophysical properties, especially the radical enhanced intersystem crossing (REISC), which is a promising approach to develop heavy-atom-free triplet photosensitizers. Rigid phenyl or ethynylphenyl linkers between the two moieties were used, thus REISC and formation of doublet (D₁, total spin quantum number S=1/2) and quartet states (Q₁, S=3/2) are anticipated. The photophysical properties of the dyads were studied with steady-state and femtosecond/nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopies and DFT computations. Femtosecond transient absorption spectra show a fast electron transfer (<150 fs), and ISC (ca. 1.4–1.85 ps) is induced by charge recombination (CR, in toluene). Nanosecond transient absorption spectra demonstrated a biexponential decay of the triplet state of the NDI moiety. The fast component (lifetime: 50 ns; population ratio: 80 %) is assigned to the D₁→D₀ decay, and the slow decay component (2.0 μs; 20 %) to the Q₁→D₀ ISC. DFT computations indicated ferromagnetic interactions between the radical and chromophore (J=0.07–0.13 eV). Reversible formation of the radical anion of the NDI moiety by photoreduction of the radical-NDI dyads in the presence of sacrificial electron donor triethanolamine (TEOA) is achieved. This work is useful for design of new triplet photosensitizers based on the REISC effect.     

Isotopic effect in the radiolysis of water. Diffusion-kinetic modelling up to 300°C

Diffusion-kinetic calculations [1-3] have been analysed to determine the isotopic effect in the radiolysis of water with ionising radiation of linear energy transfer characteristics (LET) from 0.2 to 60 eV/nm and at temperatures up to 300°C. This analysis shows that, for low LET radiation, the spur decay of e^- _aq is slower in D₂O and results in a higher yield of e^- _aq, g(e^- _aq), at 10^-7 -10^-6s after the ionisation event. In low LET radiolysis, g(OD) ≈ g(OH) over the whole range of temperature but in high LET radiolysis g(OD) is clearly lower than g(OH). The isotopic effect on the yields of the radical products is enhanced by increasing LET but diminished by increasing temperature. The yields of the molecular products show the opposite isotopic effect to their radical precursors, namely g(D₂) is 10-20% lower than g(H₂) and g(D₂O₂) > g(H₂O₂). A particularly significant difference between g(D₂O₂) and g(H₂O₂) has been found at LET = 20 eV/nm. The isotopic dependence of the g-values estimated for fast neutron radiolysis is also presented.     

On the redox reactions of radicals with AlIII(phthalocyaninate) pendants covalently bonded to poly(ethyleneamide). Mechanistic alterations when radicals are formed inside pockets of micelle‐like polymer aggregates

The mechanisms of the redox reactions between a polymer containing Al(III) sulfonated phthalocyanine pendants, (Al^III(^?NHS(O₂)trspc)^2?)₂, and radicals have been investigated in this work. Pulse radiolysis and photochemical methods were used for these studies. Oxidizing radicals, OH^?, HCO₃^?, (CH₃)₂COHCH₂^?, and N₃^?, as well as reducing radicals, e_aq^?, CO₂^??, and (CH₃)₂C^?OH, respectively accept or donate one electron forming pendent phthalocyanine radicals, Al^III(^?NHS(O₂)trspc ^?)^{? or 3?}. The kinetics of the redox processes is consistent with a mechanism where the pendants react with radicals formed inside aggregates of five to six polymer strands. Electron donating radicals, that is, CO₂^?? and (CH₃)₂C^?OH, produce one‐electron reduced phthalocyanine pendants that, even though they were stable under anaerobic conditions, donated charge to a Pt catalyst. While the polymer was regenerated in the Pt catalyzed processes, 2‐propanol and CO₂ were respectively reduced to propane and CO. The reaction of SO₃^?? radicals with the polymer stood in contrast with the reactions of the radicals mentioned above. A first step of the mechanism, the coordination of the SO₃^?? radical to the Al(III), was subsequently followed by the formation of a SO₃^?? ‐ phthalocyanine ligand adduct. The decay of the SO₃^?? ‐ phthalocyanine ligand adduct in a ～10² ms time domain regenerates the polymer, and it was attributed to the dimerization/disproportionation of SO₃^?? radicals escaping from the aggregates of polymer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Atmospheric Chemistry of Camphor

Rate constants have been measured at 296 ± 2 K for the gas‐phase reactions of camphor with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃. Using relative rate methods, the rate constants for the OH radical and NO₃ radical reactions were (4.6 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and <3 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, where the indicated error in the OH radical reaction rate constant includes the estimated overall uncertainty in the rate constant for the reference compound. An upper limit to the rate constant for the O₃ reaction of <7 × 10⁻²⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ was also determined. The dominant tropospheric loss process for camphor is calculated to be by reaction with the OH radical. Acetone was identified and quantified as a product of the OH radical reaction by gas chromatography, with a formation yield of 0.29 ± 0.04. In situ atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (API‐MS) analyses indicated the formation of additional products of molecular weight 166 (dicarbonyl), 182 (hydroxydicarbonyl), 186, 187, 213 (carbonyl‐nitrate), 229 (hydroxycarbonyl‐nitrate), and 243. A reaction mechanism leading to the formation of acetone is presented, as are pathways for the formation of several of the additional products observed by API‐MS. © 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 56–63, 2001     

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions in the 10-methylacridinium cation–benzyltrimethylsilane system: steady-state and flash photolysis studies

The mechanism of the photoinduced reaction of the lowest excited singlet state of the 10-methylacridinium (AcrMe⁺) cation with benzyltrimethylsilane (BTMSi) in acetonitrile has been investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved methods. A variety of stable products was found after irradiation (365 nm) of the reaction mixture under aerobic and oxygen-free conditions. The stable products were identified and analyzed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry (MS). Based on Stern–Volmer plots of the AcrMe⁺ fluorescence quenching by BTMSi (using fluorescence intensity and lifetime measurements), the rate constants were determined to be k _q = 1.24 (± 0.02) × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k _q = 1.23 (± 0.02) × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, i.e., close to the diffusion-controlled limit in acetonitrile, indicating the dynamic quenching mechanism. The quenching process was shown to occur via an electron-transfer reaction leading to the formation of acridinyl radicals (AcrMe^•) and C₆H₅CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ ^•+ radical cations. Based on stationary and flash photolysis experiments, a detailed mechanism of the secondary reactions is proposed and discussed. The AcrMe^• radical was shown to decay by two processes. The fast decay, observed on the nanosecond timescale, was attributed to the back-electron transfer occurring within the initial radical ion pair. The slow decay on the microsecond timescale was explained by recombination reactions of radicals which escaped from the radical pair, including benzyl radicals formed via C–Si bond cleavage in the C₆H₅CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ ^•+ radical cation.     

Theoretical study on the reaction of the phenoxy radical with O2, OH,and NO2

Unlike the chemistry underlying the self‐coupling of phenoxy (C₆H₅O) radicals, there are very limited kinetics data at elevated temperatures for the reaction of the phenoxy radical with other species. In this study, we investigate the addition reactions of O_2, OH, and NO₂ to the phenoxy radical. The formation of a phenoxy‐peroxy is found to be very slow with a rate constant fitted to k = 1.31 × 10^?20T^2.49 exp (?9300/T) cm³/mol/s in the temperature range of (298–2,000 K) where the addition occurs predominantly at the ortho site. Our rate constant is in line with the consensus of opinions in the literature pointing to the observation of no discernible reaction between the oxygen molecule and the resonance‐stabilized phenoxy radical. Addition of OH at the ortho and para sites of the phenoxy radical is found to afford adducts with sizable well depths of 59.8 and 56.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The phenoxy‐NO₂ bonds are found to be among the weakest known phenoxy‐radical bonds (1.7–8.7 kcal/mol). OH‐ and O₂‐initiated mechanisms for the degradation of atmospheric phenoxy appear to be negligible and the fate of atmospheric phenoxy is found to be controlled by its reaction with NO₂. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Unexpected Radical Telomerisation of Vinylidene Fluoride with 2-Mercaptoethanol

The radical telomerisation of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) with 2-mercaptoethanol as chain transfer agent (CTA) was studied to synthesise fluorinated telomers which bear a hydroxy end-group, such as H(VDF)_nS(CH₂)₂OH, under thermal (di-tert-butyl peroxide as the initiator) or photochemical initiations. A careful structural study of a typical H-VDF-S(CH₂)₂OH telomer was performed by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. These analytical methods allowed us to explore the selective addition of the thiyl radical onto the hydrogenated side of VDF, and the telomer containing one VDF unit was obtained selectively. Surprisingly, for higher [VDF]_o initial concentrations, a monoadduct telomer was produced as well as PVDF homopolymer. This feature was related to the fast consumption of the CTA. The kinetics of radical telomerisation led to a quite high transfer constant of the CTA (40 at 140 °C) that evidences the formation of a monoadduct as the only telomer formed.     

Kinetics of the reactions of atomic chlorine with methanol and the hydroxymethyl radical with molecular oxygen at 298 K

The rate constants for the reactions Cl + CH₃OD → CH₂OD + HCl (1) and CH₂OH + O₂ → HO₂ + H₂CO (2) have been determined in a discharge flow system near 1 torr pressure with detection of radical and molecular species using collision-free sampling mass spectrometry. The rate constant k₁, determined from the decay of CH₃OD in the presence of excess Cl, is (5.1 ± 1.0) × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1. This is in reasonable agreement with the only previous measurement of k₁. The CH₂OH radical was produced by reaction (1) and its reaction with O₂ was studied by monitoring the decay of the CH₂OH radical in the presence of excess O₂. The result is k₂ = (8.6 ± 2.0) × 10^?12 cm³ s^?1. Previous estimates of k₂ have differed by nearly an order of magnitude, and our value for k₂ supports the more recent high values.     

Steady-state γ-radiolysis of aqueous methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone) under postulated nuclear reactor accident conditions

The steady-state γ-radiolysis of aqueous solutions containing 1×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) has been studied at a dose rate of 0.12 Gy s⁻¹, 25°C and an initial pH of 10. Experiments were conducted in air-, Ar- or N₂O-purged aqueous solutions, or in Ar-purged solutions with added tert-butanol. MEK, its radiolytic products, and the change in pH resulting from MEK decomposition were analysed as a function of time (or total absorbed dose). The main initial step for the radiolytic decomposition of MEK is the H abstraction from MEK by OH, produced by γ-radiolysis of water, to form MEK radical. In the absence of O, the main decay path of the MEK radical appears to be dimerization to , -dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione. In the presence of oxygen, the MEK radical reacts primarily with O to form the MEK peroxyl radical. This radical ultimately results in a series of progressively smaller oxidation products. The formation of organic acids, and eventually CO₂, reduces the pH of the solution. This paper presents the experimental data and proposes the MEK decay kinetics and mechanism.