A LOW-ENERGY SOURCE FOR PRODUCTION OF CH3, CN AND OTHER FREE-RADICALS- IRMPD OF DI AND TRIMETHYLAMINE MOLECULES

In the infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of (CH3)(2)NH (DMA) a nd (CH3)(3)N (TMA) molecules, in the medium pressure domain (10 Torr), the CH3-N and N-H bonds can be easily broken to produce CH3 and other free radicals. In TMA and DMA IRMPD it has been observed that generat ed CH3 radicals react: (1) with hydrogen to produce CH4, (2) with one another to form C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and (3) with the neighboring molecule s to produce heavy compounds. The radicals which result after the brea king of H3C-N and N-H bonds can isomerize to produce HCN or NH3. Contr ary to the predicted polymer ((C2H5N)(n)) reported to appear in the UV and thermal decomposition of DMA in the IRMPD process we measured app reciable quantities of heavy compounds like: TMA, (CH3)(2) N-CH2-N(CH3 )(2) (I) and (CH3)(2)NCH2-C=N (II). The data obtained allow us to iden tify the dynamic process of the IRMPD and to do a kinetical approach o f the radicals yielded.