H + HOONO2 → products: Temperature-dependent rate constant

The absolute reaction rate constant of the title reaction was measured in a stirred-flow reactor under H-atom-rich conditions at seven temperatures from 226 to 315 K. Carbon monoxide was added to convert any OH radicals produced back to H atom by way of the reaction OH + CO → H + CO₂. The reaction rate constants were essentially constant between 248 and 315 K: (k ± 2σ) = (2.46 ± 0.35) × 10^?14 cm³/s. At temperatures lower than 248 K, the measured rate constant became larger at lower temperatures, possibly due to heterogeneous effects. An hypothesis is advanced that may explain the surprisingly slow rate constant that is virtually independent of temperature, but more experiments are required to determine the dynamical reaction pathway.