Multiphoton Infrared Laser-Induced Decomposition of Acetone-d6

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100457a007

The focused IR laser-induced decomposition of acetone-d₆ has been studied to determine if the classical mechanism for the thermal decomposition can explain the distribution of reaction products.Binary mixtures of acetone-d₆ with acetone, ethane, (CH3)2N2, and cyclopropane have been studied for product composition and isotopic distribution in the products.It is argued on the basis of these observations that ketene is not produced and a classical acetone chain mechanism cannot explain the facts.The material balance and the production of hydrogen and ethylene as major products are best explained on the basis of total decomposition of acetone-d₆ near the focus.This is followed by a rapid temperature rise resulting from recombination of CD3.The chemistry that follows is simply the thermal decomposition of ethane at temperatures approaching 1900 K.