Energy Disposal in the Photofragmetation of Pyruvic Acid in the Gas Phase

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00349a019

The photochemical decarboxylation of pyruvic acid has been studied with the use of a photofragment infrared fluorescence method.The dependence of observed emission on excitation wavelength, in cojunction with a statistical energy disposal model, suggests that the loss of CO2 occurs in concert with the formation of an unstable hydroxycarbene intermediate.This intermediate undergoes isomerization to acetaldehyde only after nascent products are uncoupled.