Neat nitrobenzene was continuously irradiated at two ultrasonic frequencies: 40 and 200 kHz, under air and argon atmosphere, respectively. Samples taken at intervals of 1, 5, 10 and 24 h were analyzed by GC-MS and decomposition products were identified. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed. Presence of air as dissolved gas leads to oxygenated compounds such as 1,4-benzoquinone, 2,4-dinitrophenol, m-dinitrobenzene while argon inhibits the decomposition of nitrobenzene, especially at sonication times under 5 h. Based on the nature of the compounds identified we advanced a mechanism, involving a divergent splitting of unstable radical cation of NB in air and argon respectively. Thus, under air, the phenyl cation formation is preferred leading to 1,4-benzoquinone nitro-biphenyls and dinitrobenzene, while under argon, the phenyl radical formation seems to be favored, leading to phenol and diphenyl ether. The oxygenated compounds detected under argon clearly are a consequence of the nitro group splitting.
