The Photodissociation of Pyridine at 193 nm

Using photofragmentation translational spectroscopy, the primary processes involved in the photodissociation of pyridine are investigated at 193 nm. Upon absorption of a single photon, HCN + C 4 H 4 , CH 3 + C,H 2 N, C 3 H 3 + C 2 H 2 N, and H + C 5 H 4 N are the observed primary pathways, with relative yields of 59%, 21%, 11%, and 9%, respectively. This paper reports the experimental details and results of this study. Comparison of the results of this study with a previous study in our laboratory investigating the photolysis of benzene serves as a direct measure of the strong influence substitution of a heteroatom in an aromatic ring can have on a molecule's photochemistry.