in aqueous solutions were performed to determine the rate constants for reactions with the participation of inter-
mediates determining the mechanism of the process. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and cyclic nitra-
mine, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine, were used as substrates. The bimolecular rate constants for the reactions
of hydrated electrons (
) and hydroxyl radicals (
OH) with the substrates and constants for the recombination of electron adducts and carbon-centered radicals (the products of the detachment of the H atom from the nitro
compound molecule by the OH radical) were determined by direct measurements with the use of high-speed
spectrophotometry. Computer simulation of the reaction scheme was used to estimate the rate constant for sig-
nificant reactions, monomolecular forward and back reactions of electron adducts and electron transfer to
molecular oxygen, and refine the rate constant for the reaction of
with tert-butanol.