Photolysis of Hexafluoroazomethane

Abstract

Hexafluoroazomethane is decomposed by light of 2537 A to yield nitrogen, hexafluoroethane, perfluorotetramethyl hydrazine, and perfluorohexamethyl tetrazine. The relative amounts of the various products vary with the pressure: the compounds of higher molecular weight being produced more abundantly at higher pressures. A free radical mechanism is proposed for the reaction.