Studies in vacuum ultraviolet photochemistry. Part III. 2-methyl-2-nitropropane, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane, and t-butyl nitrite

2-Methyl-2-nitropropane, t-butyl nitrite and 2-methyI-2-nitrosopropane have been photolysed in the gas phase at 147 and 123.6 nm to conversions of <1%. The main primary processes are (i)-(iii). For the nitrite there is Bu ^t-NO₂ + hv ? Bu^t + NO₂ (i) Bu^t-ONO + hv ? Bu^t + NO₂ (ii) Bu ^t-NO + hv ? Bu^t + NO (iii) another important process (iv), the nitric oxide being produced in an electronically excited state which fluoresces. Bu^t-ONO + hv ? Bu^tO + NO(A ²?⁺) (iv) The overall photochemistry is interpreted on the basis of these primary processes, and subsequent reaction of the fragments produced in these processes.