Photolysis of butenedial at 193, 248, 280, 308, 351, 400, and 450 nm

We have studied the photolysis of butenedial at 193, 248, 280, 308, 351, 400, and 450 nm by using laser photolysis combined with cavity ring-down spectroscopy. The HCO radical is a photodissociation product at 193 and 248 nm. The corresponding HCO quantum yields are 0.55 ± 0.07 and 0.12 ± 0.01, independent of butenedial pressure and nitrogen buffer gas pressure. Absorption cross-sections of butenedial are (6.88 ± 0.39) × 10−18 and (3.62 ± 0.69) × 10−19 cm2 at 193 and 248 nm. The end-products from the photolysis of butenedial at 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm were measured by FTIR. Acrolein and 3H-furan-2-one were observed and their yields have been estimated.