Effects and role of basic nitrogen-derived ultrathin films on ‘plasma-reduction’

Abstract

Basic nitrogen-derived ultrathin films have been formed on brief plasmolysis (in a closed system) of even non-basic nitrogen-containing organic vapours such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and nitrile derivatives. The nitrogen-containing entity in these is readily leached into either polar or non-polar solvents. Based on these findings, the reported ‘plasma reduction’ of various electron-accepting compounds by energetic electrons could be rationalized in terms of nitrogen base-catalysed reactions, since various viologens, organic dye compounds, iodine and all other compounds reported for ‘plasma reduction’ also undergo electronic spectral changes in reactions with nitrogen bases.