THE MERCURY PHOTOSENSITIZED DECOMPOSITION OF ETHANE: II. THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AND THE MECHANISM OF THE REACTION

Abstract

An investigation of the mercury photosensitized decomposition of ethane has been made, a continuous flow system being used. Under these circumstances, in the absence of secondary reactions, it is found that there is considerable production of hydrogen. It is therefore concluded that the primary step in the reaction is a C—H bond split.The mechanism of the reaction is discussed in detail, and it is concluded that the processes occurring, both with and without added hydrogen, are:[Formula: see text]It is also concluded from a discussion of the various steps that the reaction[Formula: see text]is somewhat faster than[Formula: see text]This necessitates a revision upwards of Steacie and Phillips' estimate of the activation energy of the latter reaction to about 9 Kcal.