PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF METHYLAMINE AT 1470 A

The products produced in the vacuum uv photolysis of methylamine at room temperature using a Xe resonance lamp have been determined. From the photolysis of CH3NH2 and CD3NH2 both in the presence and absence of added free radical scavengers, the relative quantum yields for various primary steps have been calculated. The main primary process is the formation of hydrogen atoms. In contrast with the longer wavelength studies of methylamine, we find that the major portion of these H atoms arise from hydrogens attached to the carbon atom as shown by the experiments with CD3NH2. The direct molecular elimination of hydrogen definitely occurs at 1470 Å. However, the total hydrogen formed by this route represents a relatively minor percentage of the overall decomposition. Only a small fraction of the decomposition occurs via methyl radical formation.