Free radicals by mass spectrometry. XXXIX. Primary steps in the mercury-photosensitized decompositions of methyl and ethyl mercaptan

Abstract

The reaction between Hg(3P1) atoms and methyl mercaptan at 55° is mainly H-atom removal from sulfur[Formula: see text]with a minor participation (~10%) of C—S bond rupture[Formula: see text]Ethyl mercaptan dissociates by two main processes[Formula: see text]Some evidence was found for a small amount of dissociation by C—C bond rupture. No C—H bond rupture in either compound could be detected.