Products and mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of NO3 radicals with α-pinene

Abstract
The gas-phase reaction of NO 3 radicals with α-pinene has been studied under flow conditions in the pressure range 20<p/mbar 10 17 molecule cm -3 , pinonaldehyde 75±6%, α-pinene oxide 15±3%, organic nitrates (total) 14±3%, α-campholene aldehyde 3±1%. In the absence of NO, nitroperoxy-group-containing substances were observed, arising from the reaction RO 2 +NO 2 →RO 2 NO 2 . A reaction mechanism is proposed and a tropospheric application of the results is discussed.