PHOTOLYSIS AND RADIOLYSIS OF NITROMETHANE AND NITROETHANE

Abstract— Prolonged photolysis of nitromethane and nitroethane in liquid and vapour phases, with simultaneous photolysis of the nitrogen dioxide formed, was studied in the absence and presence of cupric oxide. A high-pressure quartz immersion lamp providing the full range of visible and u.v. spectrum, with a high output of radiation at 366 and 313 mμ, was employed as source of light. The products of photolysis were detected by microanalytical methods, infrared-absorption spectrum analysis and gas chromatography. Photolysis of liquid nitro-alkanes resulted in formation of many compounds; saturated hydrocarbons, and in the case of nitroethane, ethylene, were submitted to detailed examination. Photolysis in the vapour phase was carried out in a specially designed glass apparatus. The main products were nitrogen dioxide, aldehydes and polyaldehydes; hydrocarbons were not estimated.
Liquid nitromethane and nitroethane were also irradiated with γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. The radiolysis products were similiar to those obtained on photolysis. The mechanism of photolytic decomposition of nitroalkanes is proposed and discussed.