In this chapter we discuss some of the recent work directed at further understanding the chemistry of our atmosphere in regions of low NO x , such as forests, where there are considerable emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds, for example reactive hydrocarbons such as isoprene. Recent field measurements have revealed some surprising results, for example that OH concentrations are measured to be considerably higher than can be understood using current chemical mechanisms. It has also not proven possible to reconcile field measurements of other species, such as oxygenated VOCs, or emission fluxes of isoprene, using current mechanisms. Several complementary approaches have been brought to bear on formulating a solution to this problem, namely field studies using state-of-the-art instrumentation, chamber studies to isolate sub-sections of the chemistry, laboratory studies to measure rate coefficients, product branching ratios and photochemical yields, the development of ever more detailed chemical mechanisms, and high quality ab initio quantum theory to calculate the energy landscape for relevant reactions and to enable the rates of formation of products and intermediates for previously unknown and unstudied reactions to be predicted. The last few years have seen significant activity in this area, with several contrasting postulates put forward to explain the experimental findings, and here we attempt to synthesise the evidence and ideas.