Rates of reaction between the nitrate radical and some aliphatic ethers

Rate coefficients for the reaction of NO3 with dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di‐n‐propyl ether, and methyl t‐butyl ether (MTBE) have been determined. Absolute rates were measured at temperatures between 258 and 373 K using the fast flow‐discharge technique. Relative rate experiments were also made at 295 K in a reactor equipped with White optics and using FTIR spectroscopy to follow the reactions. The measured rate coefficients (in units of 10−15 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) at 295 K are: 0.26 ± 0.11, 2.80 ± 0.23, 6.49 ± 0.65, and 0.64 ± 0.06 for dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, di‐n‐propyl ether, and methyl t‐butyl ether, respectively. The corresponding activation energies are 21.0 ± 5.0, 17.2 ± 4.0, 15.5 ± 2.1, and 20.1 ± 1.7 kJ mole−1. The error limits correspond to the 95%‐confidence interval.