The flash photolysis of ethenetetracarbonitrile

Abstract

The flash photolysis of ethenetetracarbonitrile gives rise to two short-lived diffuse absorption bands at 299.0 and 321.2 nm which are tentatively attributed to the dicyanocarbene radical. Flash photolysis of ethenetetracarbonitrile which has been photolysed or heated for a prolonged period yields a similar pair of bands with a lifetime of many minutes. The identity of the carrier of these bands is not known, but some possibilities are discussed.