{
  "abstract": "Simple aromatics, largely toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ) and benzene (C ₆ H ₆ ), are emitted into Earth´s atmosphere by different sources. Their degradation initiated by the gas-phase reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH) forms mainly bicyclic peroxy radicals (BCP) besides phenol-type compounds. The formation of highly oxidized products with at least 6 O atoms (HOMs) starting from BCP is currently controversial. Here, the experimental observation of HOMs and other products is reported for near-atmospheric conditions focusing on OH + toluene. Autoxidation processes starting from BCP generate C ₇ H ₉ O ₇ and C ₇ H ₉ O ₉ radicals with molar yields of $${0.25}_{\\,-0.13}^{\\,+0.25}\\, \\%$$ 0.25 − 0.13 + 0.25 % and $${0.12}_{\\,-0.06}^{\\,+0.12}\\, \\%$$ 0.12 − 0.06 + 0.12 % , respectively. Labeling experiments revealed that the ring H atoms are involved in autoxidation. The atmospherically relevant reaction of C ₇ H ₉ O ₇ and C ₇ H ₉ O ₉ with NO almost exclusively forms organic nitrates as HOM products, C ₇ H ₉ O ₆₋₈ NO ₂ , with a total molar yield ≤ 0.1%. Other HOMs, such as C ₇ H ₈ O ₈ and C ₇ H ₈ O ₁₀ , represent only small trace products. Results from OH + benzene confirmed the findings from the toluene system pointing to a minor relevance of both aromatics for HOM generation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Torsten Berndt",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2014-6018"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1pq398ezf9gy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s42004-026-02230-0",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "d1pq398ezf9gy",
  "issns": [
    "2399-3669"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-026-02230-0",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1902|Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220930439",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-026-02230-0.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1pq398ezf9gy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:51Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s42004-026-02230-0",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-026-02230-0"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:1902|Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols",
      "subfield": "atmospheric"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with toluene",
  "title_text": "Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with toluene",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:51Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1pq398ezf9gy",
  "venue": "Communications Chemistry",
  "versions": []
}