REACTIONS OF O(1D) WITH HYDROCARBONS IN LIQUID ARGON

Photolysis of O3 (2537 Å) in dilute solutions in liquid argon has been used to study the reactions of O(1D) with several hydrocarbons and also C2F4. In the case of the alkanes, the major products were the corresponding alcohols formed by insertion of O(1D) into the C-H bonds in an indiscriminate manner. Reactions involving removal of two H atoms occurred to the extent of about 3% of the overall reactions of O(1D) with both alkanes and alkenes O(1D) + C2H6 → H2O + C2H4; O(1D) + C2H4 → H2O + C2H2 For ethane and the higher alkanes, there was no evidence for the production of radicals which could be scavenged by O2, unlike previous results with H2 and CH4. The relative rates of O(1D) attack on alkanes were found to be proportional to the number of C-H bonds present, but independent of the type. The evidence was that the C=C bond is attacked five times as rapidly as a C-H bond.