Low pressure infrared multiple-photon photochemistry of acetonitrile

The infrared(ir) multiple-photon photolysis of CH3CN has been performed over the pressure range 10 mtorr to 5 torr. The rotational and vibrational distributions of CH(X 2Π) and CN(X 2Σ+) as well as their corresponding temperatures, Tr and Tv for CN(X) and Tr for CH(X), are reported as a function of initial CH3CN pressure. Experiments involving the time evolution of CH, CN, and C2 along with ir photolysis of a 93.0% 13CH312CH sample have provided the basis for possible mechanisms by which these species as well as other unidentified species are formed.