The objective of this work was to determine the feasibility of modifying asphalt AAK-2 and AAM-2 by elimination reactions. The dehydrohalogenation reaction and the dealkylation reaction were investigated. Brominated asphalt AAK-2 and AAM-2 can be produced via free-radical chain reaction. The dehydrobrominated asphalt AAM-2 showed an increase in large molecular size (LMS) materials, no elastic recovery and an increased ESR free radical signal intensity. However, the dehydrobromination modified asphalt AAK-2 showed an increase in elastic recovery compared to the original asphalt. In this case, no increase in the ratio of the ESR signal intensity of vanadyl porphyrins to free radicals was observed. The dealkylation reaction modified asphalt AAK-2 showed an increased elastic recovery and a weight average molecular weight reduction, due to its high sulfur and nitrogen content. The ratio of the ESR signal intensity of vanadyl porphyrine to free radicals was decreased. A plot of log [ESR signal intensity ratio] versus aging index yielded a straight line for eight core asphalts studied. Therefore, an increase in the free radical concentration in asphalt may correlate with the loss of elastic recovery, increased W S materials and increased viscosity. The feasibility of modifing asphalt MK-2 and AAH-2 vas successfully demonst Gated: The results obtained here not oil; provide methods for chemically modifying asphalt but also provided information on - oxidation - reactions of asphalt nitrogen content. The ratio of the ESR signal intensity of vanadyl porphyrine to free radicals was decreased. A plot of log [ESR signal intensity ratio] versus aging index yielded a straight line for eight core asphalts studied. Therefore, an increase in the free radical concentration in asphalt may correlate with the loss of elastic recovery, increased W S.