CO2 Laser Induced Sensitized Dissociation of Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene Oxide (C2H4O), when excited by energy transfer from SF6 using a pulsed CO2 laser, undergoes isomerization to CH3CHO followed by dissociation. The intermediate isomerized product, acetaldehyde, is formed with excess internal erergy sufficient to decompose into CH3 and CHO radicals. CH3 radicals could be trapped by their reaction with chlorine, forming CH3Cl as a stable product. Also, the intermediate acetaldehyde could be partially stabilized in the presence of argon. An average excitation energy of C2H4O molecule was found to be 65 kcal mol−1. Average number of photons absorbed per SF6 molecule, , was calculated to be 13 from the direct measurement of absorbed energy. The product distribution indicates that radical chain mechanism does not play a significant role in the present laser induced reaction.