THE PHOTOLYSIS OF METHYL CYANIDE AT 1849 Å

Abstract

The photolysis of MeCN has been investigated under a considerable range of conditions and a mechanism proposed which accounts satisfactorily for the products found, viz. H2, HCN, C2N2, CH4, C2H6, C2H5CN. Two primary processes occur[Formula: see text]of which the former is apparently the more important. HCN is formed predominantly by an H atom abstraction of the CN group which is believed to occur through addition to the unsaturated bond with the formation of an unstable inline radical. This and similar intermediates formed by other radicals are proposed to account for several anomalies found in the photochemistry of nitriles.A brief investigation of the photolysis of carbonyl cyanide is reported.