Photo-Chemical Studies. XL. The Mechanism of the Photo-Chemical Decomposition of Acetone

The data now available indicate quite strongly that the photo-chemical decomposition of acetone proceeds mainly if not entirely by a free radical mechanism. The various steps are reviewed and the evidence for them given. At high pressures where wall effects may be neglected certain definite conclusions are possible. In the region where some reactions are both homogeneous and heterogeneous the proof for all steps is not available and would be difficult to obtain. The analyses for some of the known products are not satisfactory for the small amounts formed. Nevertheless, it is believed that the steps proposed are adequately substantiated, and that the difficulties of obtaining further information are so great as probably not to warrant more effort along certain lines.