Photo-oxidation of vapour-phase benzene; possible role of the oxygen 1Σ−u state

Abstract Optic-acoustic measurements of heat energy yields for vapour-phase benzene, excited at 248 nm, as a function of high oxygen pressure have been used to determine parameters associated with the photo-oxidation of benzene. The results suggest that interaction between the highly vibrationally excited 3 B 1u state of benzene and ground state oxygen results in transfer of energy to the 1 Σ − u state of oxygen. This state dissociates to give oxygen ( 3 P) atoms which react with ground state benzene to give phenol as the major primary product.