Pulse Radiolysis of Formamide and Formamide–Water Mixtures

Abstract

From the optical absorption spectrum observed by a sub-nanosecond pulse radiolysis method it is concluded that irradiated pure liquid formamide (dielectric constant = 109) does not yield solvated electrons with lifetimes >10−11 s. In formamide–water mixtures the hydrated electron is formed in low yield and the position of the absorption band of eaq− is not altered by changing the composition. Apparently formamide reacts much more rapidly with thermalized electrons than it does with hydrated electrons. The latter may be formed in formamide–water mixtures due to aggregates of water molecules.