Chemical reactivity of allyltrimethylsilane in UV laser induced aerosol particle formation with acrolein

Abstract

Under irradiation with N 2 laser light, a gaseous mixture of allyltrimethylsilane (ATMeSi) and acrolein (AC) produced sedimentary aerosol particles with a mean diameter of 0.78 μm. From the analysis of FT–IR spectrum measured with the sedimentary particles, 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclobutane and trimethylsilyl group were identified in the sedimentary particles, showing that ATMeSi produced 2-methyl-2-silapropene intermediate by a retroene elimination of propene from ATMeSi, in addition to allyl and trimethylsilyl radicals by a homolytic cleavage of ATMeSi. The nucleation process of the aerosol particles was investigated by measuring monitor (He–Ne laser) light intensity scattered by the aerosol particles as formed under N 2 laser light irradiation. From the dependence of scattered light intensity on the partial pressure of ATMeSi, it was found that the reactive intermediates generated from ATMeSi by a two-photon process of N 2 laser light accelerated the nucleation process of the gaseous mixture.