UV laser-induced photolysis of diethyl selenium and diethyl tellurium: extrusion of selenium and tellurium via molecular elimination of ethene

KrF laser-induced photolysis of gaseous (C2H5)2M (M=Se, Te) compounds is shown to be a one-photon process controlled by the cleavage of both CM bonds. It is dominated by the molecular elimination of ethene and yields elemental selenium and tellurium.