Photonitration of hydrocarbons with lasers

The photonitration of isobutane (i-C
4
H
10
) has been investigated in the 458-515 nm region with an argon-ion laser as the radiation source, t-nitrobutane (t-C
4
H
9
NO
2
) was the major product. Its rate of production was linear with laser intensity and increased with increasing photon energy. Computer modeling of possible reaction steps indicated that the reaction is initiated by the direct abstraction of hydrogen from i-C
4
H
10
by electronically excited NO
2
.