Reactions of NO3-naphthalene adducts with O2 and NO2

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of the NO₃ radical with naphthalene have been investigated at 150 torr O₂ + 590 torr N₂ and 600 torr O₂ + 140 torr N₂ at 298 ± 2 K. Relative rate measurements were carried out in reacting NO₃? N₂O₅-naphthalene-propene-O₂? N₂ mixtures by longpath Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. A rate constant ratio for the reactions of O₂ and NO₂ with the NO₃-naphthalene adduct of k/k < 4 × 10^?7 was obtained from the competition between O₂ and NO₂ for reaction with the NO₃-naphthalene adduct and thermal decomposition of the adduct back to reactants. Atmospheric pressure ionization MS/MS measurements of the nitronaphthalene products of the NO₃ radical-initiated reaction of naphthalene are consistent with the proposed reaction mechanism, and the atmospheric implications of the data are discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.