The Cadmium Photosensitized Reactions of Ethane

Abstract

An investigation of the cadmium photosensitized reactions of ethane has been made. It is concluded that the primary process is a C–H bond split, probably by the reaction $$\mathrm{Cd}{(}^3{\mathrm{P}}_1\mathrm{)+}{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6=\mathrm{CdH}+{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5.$$ The products of the reaction are hydrogen, methane, propane, butane, and higher hydrocarbons. The methane probably largely results from methyl radicals produced by $$\mathrm{H}+{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\text{=2}{\mathrm{CH}}_3,$$ and the higher hydrocarbons from recombination reactions of radicals. Two experiments have also been made on the decomposition of propane and butane.