A low energy source for production of CH3, CN and other free radicals: IRMPD of di and trimethylamine molecules

In the infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of (CH3)2NH (DMA) and (CH3)3N (TMA) molecules, in the medium pressure domain (10 Torr), the CH3N and NH bonds can be easily broken to produce CH3 and other free radicals. In TMA and DMA IRMPD it has been observed that generated CH3 radicals react: (1) with hydrogen to produce CH4, (2) with one another to form C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and (3) with the neighboring molecules to produce heavy compounds. The radicals which result after the breaking of H3CN and NH bonds can isomerize to produce HCN or NH3. Contrary to the predicted polymer ((C2H5N)n) reported to appear in the UV and thermal decomposition of DMA in the IRMPD process we measured appreciable quantities of heavy compounds like: TMA, (CH3)2 NCH2N(CH3)2 (I) and (CH3)2NCH2CN (II). The data obtained allow us to identify the dynamic process of the IRMPD and to do a kinetical approach of the radicals yielded.