The gas-phase photolysis of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene at 123.6 nm

Abstract

The gas-phase photolysis of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene has been investigated using krypton (123.6 nm) resonance radiation. The observed neutral products of the primary decomposition were vinylacetylene, ethylene, acetylene, methylacetylene, propylene, allene, 2-methy-1-buten-3-yne, pentatriene/1-penten-3-yne, 1,3-butadiene, 2-butyne and butatriene, listed in decreasing order of concentration. There was also evidence of the presence of several radical fragments: CH2/CH3, C2H3, C3H3, and C4H5. Quantum yields for each of the products were determined in the photolysis of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, performed both in the presence and the absence of additives. Nitric oxide and oxygen were employed as radical scavengers, while hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen iodide were used as radical interceptors. Twelve primary, neutral molecule, reaction channels were proposed and the quantum efficiency assigned for each. The ionization efficiency of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene was established as n = 0.55 at 10.03 eV. No products formed exclusively via an ion–molecule pathway were identified and therefore the fate of the C5H8+ ion was not determined.