RADICAL REACTIONS IN THE RADIOLYSIS OF CYCLOPENTANE

The end products produced in the gamma-radiolysis of cyclopentane have been measured at very low total doses (25-50 krad). Iodine scavenging techniques in solutions of 0.1-30 mM were used to elucidate radical yields and reaction mechanisms. The yields of the main radical species were found to be as follows: cyclopentyl, 4.8; 1-pentyl, 0.2; 3-cyclopentenyl, 0.07; H atom, 1.3 radical/100 eV. The change in yields from neat cyclopentane to 0.1 mM iodine solution suggests that about 79% of the cyclopentyl radicals escape the spur and react in the bulk medium with a disproportionation to combination ratio of 0.97. Radical precursors account for about 50% of the total end product yield, which is much smaller than found in the radiolysis of cyclohexane or cyclooctane. The radiolysis mechanism for cyclopentane is discussed and compared to those for cyclohexane and cyclooctane.