Peroxyacetic nitric anhydride

The nomenclature for this homologous series is somewhat confused. The term PANs has been used historically to denote peroxyacyl nitrates, and this terminology continues to be used extensively in the literature, despite the lack of adherence to traditional IUPAC rules of nomenclature. Because the PANs can be considered to be mixed anhydrides of carboxylic acids and nitric acid, another suggestion (Roberts, 1990) has been peroxyacetic nitric anhydride for CH,C(0)00NO2 and peroxy carboxylic nitric anhydrides for the whole class of compounds. Although it does not follow the IUPAC rules, it would be consistent with the widespread use of the name PAN but also reflect the structure more accurately. Table 6.20 shows the structures and commonly used names of some PANs that have been observed in the atmosphere and/or in laboratory studies. 

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (peroxyacetic nitric anhydride) PAN O II ch,coono2... 

Packed column technology has been used in airborne gas chromatographs for the separation and quantitation of sulfur species (46, 47) and peroxyacetic nitric anhydride (48). The combination of sample preconcentration and sensitive detectors has yielded detection limits that are superior to corresponding continuous sensors. For S02, a detection limit of 25 pptrv was claimed, and for peroxyacetic nitric anhydride the detection limit was roughly 60 pptrv for an 50-cm3 air sample. Analysis times for samples were on the order of 10 min. 

Oxidation. Acetaldehyde is readily oxidised with oxygen or air to acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and peracetic acid (see Acetic acid and derivatives). The principal product depends on the reaction conditions. Acetic acid [64-19-7] may be produced commercially by the Hquid-phase oxidation of acetaldehyde at 65°C using cobalt or manganese acetate dissolved in acetic acid as a catalyst (34). Liquid-phase oxidation in the presence of mixed acetates of copper and cobalt yields acetic anhydride [108-24-7] (35). Peroxyacetic acid or a perester is beheved to be the precursor in both syntheses. There are two commercial processes for the production of peracetic acid [79-21 -0]. Low temperature oxidation of acetaldehyde in the presence of metal salts, ultraviolet irradiation, or osone yields acetaldehyde monoperacetate, which can be decomposed to peracetic acid and acetaldehyde (36). Peracetic acid can also be formed directiy by Hquid-phase oxidation at 5—50°C with a cobalt salt catalyst (37) (see Peroxides and peroxy compounds). Nitric acid oxidation of acetaldehyde yields glyoxal [107-22-2] (38,39). Oxidations of /)-xylene to terephthaHc acid [100-21-0] and of ethanol to acetic acid are activated by acetaldehyde (40,41). 

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