Photolysis of tetramethylurea in the vapour phase

Abstract

The gas-phase photolysis of tetramethylurea was studied at various temperatures, times of irradiation, and wavelengths. The major gaseous products were carbon monoxide, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, ethane, methane, and polymer. A large fraction of the dimethylamino-radicals formed photochemically are not involved in the gaseous reaction products. These disproportionate and initiate polymerisation which is responsible for about 70% of the total reaction.