Effect of experimental conditions on the reaction steps of cyclopentane radiolysis

The nearly complete product spectrum of cyclopentane radiolysis was investigated in solid, liquid and gas phases. It was deduced that most excited molecules which lead to monomolecular H2 formation are produced by neutralization: this excited state may be tentatively identified with the lowest singlet on the basis of photochemical works. Cyclopentane (>99.9%) samples were irradiated by a Co-60 source at 77 (in liquid nitrogen), 195 (in dry ice-acetone slush), 255 (in ice-sodium chloride slush), 293, 303 and 343 K (in water or air). Experimental data are tabulated. (T.I.)