Fragmentation of excited molecules and ions in the radiolysis of hydrocarbons

Abstract

A survey is given of recent studies of the primary CH and CC bond dissociations of excited molecules and ions in the gas- and liquid-phase radiolysis of hydrocarbons, which have been mainly carried out by the product analysis method. In the CC bond dissociations evidence has been presented for the fragmentation of the excited parent ion, while in the CH bond dissociations attention has been focused upon an important role of hot hydrogen atoms in the hydrogen formation. A theoretical treatment of highly excited hydrocarbon molecules involving super-excited states is also described.