REVERSIBLE PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF KETENE TO ETHYNOL

Ketene decomposes under gas‐phase irradiation to give CO and CH2. By contrast, irradiation at 308 nm in an argon matrix results exclusively in the high energy tautomer ethynol, whose isolation in pure argon in this way was achieved for the first time. The reaction can be reversed by short wavelength UV photolysis. (Figure Presented.) Copyright © 1990 by VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Germany