The breakdown of a bicyclic nitroimidazole into simpler components in a process that requires coenzyme F420 and produces reactive nitrogen species. Hydride, from reduced coenzyme F420, is added to the bicyclic nitroimidazole, resulting in unstable substances that break down to form three stable products. The elimination of nitrous acid produces the corresponding des-nitroimidazole; hydrolysis produces a related compound; and further reduction creates an aromatic hydroxylamine metabolite that degrades further. These reactions release hyponitrous acid and nitrous acid, which is unstable and disproportionates into nitric oxide (NO) and other reactive nitrogen intermediates.