Photodissociation dynamics of the methyl perthiyl radical at 248 nm via photofragment translational spectroscopy

Photofragment translational spectroscopy was used to study the photodissociation of the methyl perthiyl radical CH3SS at 248 nm. The radical was produced by flash pyrolysis of dimethyl disulfide (CH3SSCH3). Two channels were observed: CH3 + S-2 and CH2S + SH. Photofragment translational energy distributions indicate that CH3 + S-2 results from C-S bond fission on the ground state surface. The CH2S + SH channel can proceed through isomerization to CH2SSH on the ground state surface but also may involve production of electronically excited CH2S. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4789485]