Phototransformation of resorcinol induced by excitation of nitrite and nitrate ions. I: Nitrite ions

The excitation of nitrite ions in the presence of resorcinol (I) leads to the formation of 4‐nitrosoresorcinol (II) as the major photoproduct. The reaction is inhibited by formate ions, but this inhibition is much more efficient in degassed solution than in air‐saturated medium. In the absence of formate ions, the transformation is not affected by the presence of oxygen. From the influence of oxygen and formate ions, it is concluded that the formation of II results from a reaction of I with N₂O₃. Dinitrogen trioxide is formed by oxidation of nitrite ions by hydroxyl radicals resulting from the photolysis of nitrite ions:

Key Words:

• Photoreactions
• phenolic compounds
• resorcinol
• nitrite ions