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Updated: May 2, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Photolysis of astrophysically relevant acrylonitrile: a matrix experimental study
A Toumi1, I Couturier-Tamburelli, T Chiavassa
1Aix-Marseille Université , CNRS, PIIM, UMR 7345, 13397 Marseille, France.
Abstract:
This report documents the photochemical study of H2C ═ C(H)CN (acrylonitrile) trapped in low-temperature argon matrices and irradiated with a microwave-discharge hydrogen-flow lamp (λ > 120 nm). We succeeded in identifying H2C ═ C(H)NC (isoacrylonitrile) as a photoproduct. HC3N (cyanoacetylene), C2H2:HCN (acetylene:hydrogen cyanide), and C2H2:HNC (acetylene:hydrogen isocyanide) complexes, which are molecules detected in molecular clouds or in the Titan atmosphere, were also identified. No imine product was observed, but other compounds coming from the HC3N photolysis have been found. Fourier transform infrared measurements and (2)H substitution experiments coupled with density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31G**) were performed to confirm the spectral assignments of the photochemical products and intermediate species.
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