Radiation chemical isomerization of cyclohexane into methyl-cyclopentane

The composition of C6 and C12 products involving ring fission produced from irradiated liquid cyclohexane with 60Co-γ-radiation at room temperature was studied. Of C12 products n-hexyl-cyclohexane was found in largest amounts (G=0.08), and not 6-cyclohexyl-l-hexene (G=0.03) as had been reported earlier. Of C6 products, l-hexene (G=0.36) and methylcyclo-pentane (G=0.20) were formed with highest yields. Methylene-cyclopentane (G=0.005) as well as cyclopentyl-cyclohexylmethane (G=0.03) have also been observed. C5-cyclic products were produced presumably via skeletal rearrangement of cyclohexylradicals possessing sufficient energy. The radiation source was 60Co-γ, irradiations took place at room temperature and the hydrocarbon was in a liquid state. The dose rate was 1.5 Mrad h-1 the total dose was between 3 and 10 Mrad. In some experiments 02 radical scavenger was dissolved in a concentration of 0.05M. (F.Gy.)