Photochemistry of Acetylene, Hudrogen Cyanide, and Mixtures

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100224a035

Photoluses of HCN, C2H2, and mixtures were accomplished including various ratios of HCN/C2H2 and time periods.The photolysis of HCN yielded (CN)2, CH4, NH3, CH3NH2, (NH)2, and a brown polymer.The products from C2H2 were diacetylene (C4H2), C2H4, C6H6, vinylacetylene, phenylacetylene, and a polymer.Products from a relatively low HCN/C2H2 ratio (5:1) where 90percent of the light is absorbed by C2H2 were similar to those of C2H2 except for the additional formation of acrylonitrile (C2H3CN).At relatively higher ratios of HCN/C2H2 where 37-56percent of the light is absorbed by HCN, cyanoacetylene (C2HCN) was formed in addition to the foregoing products and the C4H2 substantially reduced.The proposed principal path for formation of C4H2 is attack of C2H^. on C2H2, while for C2H3CN the principal path is attack of C2H3^. on HCN.The proposed principal path for production of C2HCN is via CN^. attack on C2H2.Several products from HCN are proposed to be the result of progressive H atom addition.Other products from C2H2 and HCN are the result of radical-radical recombination.We believe these results could have relevance to Jovian atmosphere chemistry and formation of several molecules found in interstellar space.