Rate constants for the reactions of NO3•, SO4•- and Cl• radicals with formate and acetate esters in aqueous solution

Rate constants for the reactions of NO3•, SO4•− and Cl• with the esters methyl formate, ethyl formate, methyl acetate and ethyl acetate in aqueous solution have been measured using pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis. The reactivities of NO3•, SO4•− and Cl• are compared with •OH and found to be roughly in the order Cl•≈•OHNO3•≈SO4•−. The rates of reaction of NO3• with the formate esters in the aqueous phase are about four orders of magnitude faster than their corresponding gas phase reactions. In contrast, the rate constants for reaction of Cl• with formate and acetate esters in the aqueous phase are about 100 times smaller than the gas phase values.