Mercury Photosensitized Polymerization of Acetylene

Abstract
An investigation has been made of the mercury (3P1) photosensitized polymerization of acetylene. Benzene was found in the reaction products in addition to polymer and hydrogen. Effect of acetylene pressure and light intensity on the rate, effect of pressure on the formation of hydrogen and benzene, and effect of temperature on the rate of benzene formation were studied. The fraction of acetylene reacting to form benzene was constant at 0.29 in the range of the acetylene pressure studied. The quantum yield of the over‐all reaction was 4.8 including the yield of benzene and 4.3 excluding it. The reaction mechanism is discussed.

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