Mechanistic aspects of diphenhydramine (DPH) oxidation induced by hydroxyl (•OH) and sulfate (SO4•−) radicals have been explored in detail by pulse radiolysis technique and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The transient absorption spectrum along with HRMS analysis undoubtedly established the non‐position selective hydroxylation of DPH by •OH (a; k2 = (1.08 ± 0.06) × 1010 dm3 mol−1 s−1; λmax: 335 nm) led to various transformation products (i ‐ vii) including isomeric mono (Ia‐d), di (IIa‐c) and tri (VIIa‐e) hydroxylated analogues. On the other hand, SO4•− (specific one electron oxidant) ultimately generates another hydroxylated adduct radical ‘c’ λmax: 330 nm, k2=(5.70 ± 0.03) × 109dm3 mol−1 s−1) which is formed as a result of preferential hydroxylation of initially formed radical cation ‘b’ at ipso position. The mechanism leading to the formation of various transformation products induced by •OH and SO4•− are thoroughly discussed. The mechanistic findings obtained from our studies (especially in the case of less investigated oxidant like SO4•−) are capable to enrich the fundamental understanding on environmentally relevant reactions initiated by •OH and SO4•−.

Elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aquatic environment is extremely important, as they are identified pollutants. The oxidative degradation of two model PAHs, namely 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3HNA) and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (6HNA), collectively represented as