Interaction of nitrogen oxides with polymers

The mechanism of nitrogen oxide reactions with various polymers has been co nsidered. Particular emphasis has been given to the mechanism of formation of stable nitrogen-containing radicals. It is shown that active participant s in the reactions with nitrogen oxides are double bonds, amide groups of m acromolecules, hydroperoxides and peroxide macroradicals. The application o f nitrogen oxides as a simple way for the preparation of spin-labelled poly mers and the use of the ESR imaging technique for the investigation of the structure of the reaction front during nitration of solid polymers are cons idered.