Hydrogen Formation in the Radiolyses of Liquid Butene−1 and <i>trans</i>-Butene−2

Abstract

The effect of temperature and various electron or positive-ion scavengers on hydrogen formation in the radiolyses of liquid butene−1 and trans-butene−2 have been examined. The hydrogen formation is not appreciably affected by temperature and these additives, which indicates that thermal free radicals and ionic species may not play an important role in hydrogen formation from these olefins. The liquid-phase radiolyses of C4H8−1—C4D8−1 and trans-C4H8−2-trans-C4D8−2 mixtures have also been investigated. The data indicate that hydrogen for the most part may be formed by bimolecular processes. The results have led to the conclusion that the mechanism of the hydrogen formation may be interpreted in terms of the hydrogen-atom abstraction reaction of hot hydrogen atoms or the equivalent formed by the direct excitation which may involve ``superexcitation.''