Reaction of methylene with cyclobutane. Part 2.—Excess energy carried by singlet methylene

Abstract

The reaction of singlet methylene with cyclobutane has been reinvestigated to determine the energy content of the methylene. The results show that methylene produced by the photolysis of ketene at 206.2 nm has appreciably more energy than when 325.0 nm radiation is employed. RRKM calculations on the lifetime of the vibrationally excited methylcyclobutane produced in the reaction are reported, and an apparent failure of the strong collision hypothesis discussed. The possibility that the 206.2 nm photolysis of ketene produces methylene in the ¹B₁ state is also discussed.