Reactivity of the carbonate radical with aniline derivatives

Abstract Carbonate radicals generated by the photolysis of H2O2 at 313 nm in aqueous sodium bicarbonate (pH 8.3) or carbonate (pH 11.6) solution reacted with substituted aromatic amine derivatives. Particularly fast reactions (second-order rate constants of 5 × 108 to 2 × 109) were observed with anilines bearing electron-donating substituents, either on the ring or at the nitrogen atom. The results suggest that carbonate radicals may play a significant role in the removal of some aromatic amines from the aquatic environment, particularly in carbonate-rich waters.