Pressure dependence of pentyl nitrate formation from the OH Radical-initiated reaction of n-pentane in the presence of NO.

The formation yields of 2- and 3-pentyl nitrate from the reactions of 2- and 3-pentyl peroxy radicals with NO have been measured at room temperature over the pressure range 51-744 Torr of N2 + O2, using the OH radical-initiated reaction of n-pentane to generate the pentyl peroxy radicals. The influence of 2- and 3-pentyl nitrate formation from the reaction of 2- and 3-pentoxy radicals with NO2 was investigated by conducting experiments with the initial CH3ONO (the OH radical precursor) and NO concentrations being varied by a factor of 5-10. From experiments carried out with low initial CH3ONO and NO concentrations, the measured yields of 2-pentyl nitrate and 3-pentyl nitrate, defined as ([pentyl nitrate] formed)/([n-pentane] reacted), each increase with increasing total pressure, from 1.10 +/- 0.09% and 1.11 +/- 0.10%, respectively, at 51 +/- 1 Torr of O2 to 5.48 +/- 0.51% and 4.07 +/- 0.31%, respectively, at 737 +/- 4 Torr of N2 + O2.