Abstract
The major products of the reaction at 26° are H2, CH4, C2H4, cis‐ and trans‐1,3‐pentadiene, methylcyclohexane and an isomer of the substrate. Two modes of quenching of the Hg 6(3P1) atoms are presumed to occur: paraffinic type quenching into the C‐H bonds of the molecule and quenching into the CH bond to form vibrationally excited triplet molecules which undergo allylic C‐C and C‐H bond cleavage. Under initial conditions the ratio of trans‐ to cis‐1,3‐pentadiene formed is ≥ 2.0. This can be explained by assuming that the 1,3‐pentadiene is formed in its s‐cis triplet state.