Phenol transformation and dimerisation, photosensitised by the triplet state of 1-nitronaphthalene: A possible pathway to humic-like substances (HULIS) in atmospheric waters

The nitroderivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are potentially important photosensitisers in the atmospheric condensed phase. Here we show that the triplet state of 1-nitronaphthalene (31NN*) is able to directly react with phenol, causing its transformation upon irradiation of 1NN in aqueous solution. Additional but less important processes of phenol degradation are reactions with OH and 1O2, both photogenerated by irradiated 1NN. Dihydroxybiphenyls and phenoxyphenols were detected as main phenol transformation intermediates, likely formed by dimerisation of phenoxy radicals that would be produced upon phenol oxidation by 31NN*. Very interestingly, irradiation with 1NN shifted the fluorescence peaks of phenol (Ex/Em = 220–230/280–320 nm and 250–275/280–320 nm, with Ex/Em = excitation and emission wavelengths) to a region that overlaps with “M-like” fulvic substances (Ex/Em = 250–300/330–400 nm). Moreover, at longer irradiation times a further peak appeared (Ex/Em = 300–450/400–450 nm), which is in the region of HULIS fluorescence. Irradiated material was also able to photoproduce 1O2, thus showing photosensitisation properties. Therefore, compounds with fluorescence properties that closely resemble those of HULIS (they would be identified as HULIS by fluorescence if present in environmental samples) can be formed upon triplet-sensitised transformation of phenol by 1NN.