Abstract
Terpenes react quite rapidly with ambient ozone and lead via ozonides to highly oxidizing radicals and consecutive products forming aerosols. In the presence of SO2 sulphur containing compounds, mainly as sulphate, are formed. By means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and by comparison with known spectra the main products of the reaction of ß‐pinene (as a model compound) with ozone and sulphur dioxide could be identified. Reaction of terpenes with NO3‐radicals, which build up in the atmosphere at night‐time, leads to the formation of organic nitrates that form aerosols. The kinetics as well as the products of the reaction between NO3‐radicals and ß‐pinene have been studied by FTIR and MS.