Radiolysis of alkanes

Szondy, T. Wojnarovits, L. Foldiak, G. Anomalous Energy Transfer in Radiolysis of Alkanes. A possible Theoretical Explanation. Proceedings 5th Tihany Symposium on Radiation Chemistry. Dobo, J. Hedvig, P. Shciller, R., Eds. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1983 119 pp. 

Radiolysis of alkane liquids fits the classical picture of radiation chemistry, namely, large yields of ions are initially produced which on recombination give rise to excited states and other products. Much radiation chemistry of alkanes is also interpreted in terms of free radicals. The exact connection between the three reactive regimes of excited states, ions, and free radicals is not always clearly established. 

Neutralization by electrons remains an important process in the radiolysis of alkanes containing chloroalkanes or CO2 as solute. Many of the electrons formed in the ionization process have insufficient energy to escape the Coulomb field of their associated cation and, on returning, neutralize the corresponding radical cations, carbenium ions or carbonium ions (geminate recombination). Part of the electrons formed do not return, however, but react with the chloroalkane solute by dissociative electron attachment. 

Reaction 10. Warman (18) has shown that Reaction 13 must be included to account for the yields observed in the gas-phase radiolysis of alkane-N20 mixtures, but this would leave no O" to give extra C6Hn by Reactions 11 and 12. 

Table III. Radiolysis of Alkane—Nitrous Oxide Solutions0...

FIGURE 5. Yields of scission of C—C bonds in the gamma radiolysis of alkane isomers as a function of the dissociation energy of the bond, for molecules with a different number of C atoms O, Cg , C A, C5 , C4. Reprinted with permission from Ref. 42. Copyright (1976) Pergamon Press PLC... 

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