Role of excited states in radiolysis of cyclohexane

The mechanism of cyclohexane radiolysis in the condensed phase is discussed with particular attention paid to the cleavage of CC bonds. The contribution of ions and various neutral excitation states to the formation of radiolysis end-products is analysed. As follows from the experimental data shown, short-lived (≈10⁻¹²) superexcited states (S.E.S.) take part in the cyclohexane radiolysis reactions in the liquid phase. The basic process accompanying the decay of S.E.S. molecules is the formation of hydrogen atoms which may acquire excess kinetic energy (“hot atoms”). It is assumed that inspection of hot H atoms along the CC bond constitutes the main source of saturated products formed by cleavage of the cyclohexane ring (C.R.C.P.=cyclohexane ring cleavage products): CH₄, C₂H₆, C₆H₁₄ and so on. In condensed medium, the cleavage of two or more CC bonds in the same molecule, giving rise to unsaturated C.R.C.P. (C₂H₄, C₃H₆, etc.), originates mainly from S.E.S. A smaller amount of unsaturated C.R.C.P. is probably formed via the decay of excited molecular ions. Cleavage of a single CC bond with formation of hexene proceeds effectively from lower excited states which derive particularly from ion-recombination.

Experimental data concerning the incidence of polymorphous transformation in cyclohexane on the C.R.C.P. yields are given. A general scheme for cyclohexane radiolysis, based on the cleavage of CH bonds, is postulated.