Knowledge Bank

The reaction of bromine atoms with $NO2$ molecules has been investigated by infrared spectroscopy following co condensation onto a $10\circ K$ CsI window of both reactants diluted in argon. Five bands due to nitryl bromide, $Br-NO2$, are observed in the initial deposit. These bands decrease in unison under the Influence of pyrex-filtered mercury are irradiation, and four new features attributable to bromine nitrite, $Br-ONO2$, appear. The structures of both isomers have been confirmed by nitrogen-15 and oxygen-18 enrichment experiments. The spectral similarities among the nitryl halides and among the halogen nitrites will be discussed.