Pyrolytic Production of CH₃ from CH₃CN

The figure shows the production of the methyl radical from CH₃CN precursor molecules by the pyrolysis source. Photoionization and mass spectrometry is utilized to characterize the radicals emerging from the pyrolytic source. Since femtosecond laser pulses are used, little or no fragmentation of the molecular ions take place. Consequently, the radicals emerging from the pyrolysis source are detected unambiguously in the mass spectrum. At 1800 C, the CH₃ radical is most abundant in the beam.