The flash-photolysis of sodium pyrenide in tetrahydrofuran. On the photo-oxidation process and on the existence of sodium atoms NaO

Evidence is given that the yields of photo-oxidation for free pyrene anions (Π^?) and for anions associated with sodium cations (Π^?Na⁺) in liquid THF and THP are connected to the effective threshold values for the photo- ionization of free and associated pyrene anions. Our experimental results indicate that the phenomena observed by Fisher and Rämme after flash-photolysis of sodium pyrenide in THF which have led to the postulation of transient; sodium atoms Na⁰ may be interpreted as being caused by benzene or toluene negative ions.