Photodissociation dynamics of small molecules: dissociation of alkyl iodides in the near ultraviolet

Abstract

In this article we have briefly presented various techniques that are employed to study photodissociation dynamics of small molecules in the gas phase, insofar the energy partitioning among the product modes is concerned. Dynamics of dissociation of methyl iodide as well as other related iodides =~260 nm have been treated in detail citing several experimental techniques utilized to obtain nascent energy distribution in the fragments. The influence of excited state potential energy surfaces on the quantum yield of excited iodine atom (²P_½) production, or in the release of most of the available energy into the vibrational modes of alkyl fragments have been discussed.