Selective hydrogen atom abstraction by tritium and deuterium atoms in the radiolysis of tritiated decane at 77 K. Mass effect on solid-state reaction

The relative yields of five isotopic compounds of hydrogen produced in the radiolysis of partially tritiated deuteriodecane (n-C10D22(T))-protiated decane (n-C10H22) mixtures at 77 K were measured by conventional radiogas chromatography. The HT/DT ratio in hydrogen yields is much lower than the HD/D2 ratio. Though D atoms react selectively with n-C10H22, T atoms do not react as selectively with n-C10H22 as D atoms do. The ratio ((p/sub C10H22//p/sub C10D22/)/sub T) of the reaction probability of the T atoms with n-C10H22 to that with n-C10D22 is 4.5-6.3, which is much lower than the ratio ((p/sub C10H22//p/sub C10D22/)/sub D/ = 30) for the D atoms. The ratio for the T atoms in the radiolysis is rather close to the ratio (2.3) for the recoil T atoms. The mass effect on the selective hydrogen atom abstraction reaction in the decane mixtures is discussed. 16 references, 3 figures, 1 table