We present Infrared en Space Observatory long-wavelength spectrometer obser
vations of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618, a star evolving very fast to
ward the planetary nebula stage. In addition to the Lines of (CO)-C-12, (CO
)-C-13, HCN, and HNC, we report on the detection of H2O and OH emission tog
ether with the fine-structure Lines of [O I] at 63 and 145 mu m The abundan
ce of the latter three species relative to (CO)-C-12 are 4 x 10(-2), 8 x 10
(-4), and 4.5 (approximate value) in the regions where they are produced. W
e suggest that O-bearing species other than CO are produced in the innermos
t region of the circumstellar envelope. The UV photons from the central sta
r photodissociate most of the molecular species produced in the asymptotic
giant branch (AGB) phase and allow a chemistry dominated by standard ion-ne
utral reactions. They not only allow these reactions for the formation of O
-bearing species but also modify the abundances of C-rich molecules like HC
N and HNC for which we found an abundance ratio of similar or equal to 1, w
hich is much lower than in AGE stars. The molecular abundances in the diffe
rent regions of the circumstellar envelope have been derived from radiative
transfer models and from our knowledge of its physical structure.