Mechanistic study of the BrCH2O radical degradation in 700 Torr air

The degradation mechanism of BrCH2O radicals was studied by using the Cl-atom initiated oxidation of CH3Br at 297 ± 2 K in 700 Torr air, with long-path FTIR spectroscopic methods. Experimental evidence has indicated that BrCH2O radicals decomposed mainly via Br-elimination, producing CH2O (⩾ 79%); the reactions of BrCH2O with O2 and HBr-elimination (if they occurred) were found to be less than 10% and 11%, respectively. This work has also suggested that the BrCH2O2 self-reaction almost uniquely formed BrCH2O radicals, and the BrCH2O2 + HO2 reaction gave predominantly BrCH2OOH (⩾ 85%).