Gas-phase photolysis of spiropentane at 147.0 nm

Abstract

The gas-phase photolysis of spiropentane has been investigated using xenon (147.0 nm) resonance radiation. Major products observed in order of decreasing importance are ethylene, aliène, methylacetylene, 1,2-butadiene, acetylene, propylene, and vinylacetylene. Nitric oxide was used as a radical scavenger while hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen iodide were employed as radical interceptors in the determination of the relative importance of radical and molecular processes. CH3/CH2 and CH3C=C• radicals were identified and quantified. Seven primary reaction channels were postulated of which those involving the "elimination" of ethylene were the most predominant accounting for 71% of the photodecomposition.