Electron Attachment to Brominated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons of the Form n‐CNH2N+1Br (N = 1–6, 8, and 10). I. An Electron Swarm Study

An electron swarm study has been made of brominated aliphatic hydrocarbons of the form n‐CNH2N+1Br(N = 1–6, 8, and 10). Attachment rates, αw, as a function of mean electron energy 〈e〉, are reported. The attachment rates reach a maximum value at ≤ 0.038, 0.76, 0.76, 0.75, 0.74, 0.73, 0.20, and ≤ 0.038 eV for N = 1 to 6, 8, and 10, respectively. The observed variation in both the magnitude of αw and in the widths of the αw vs 〈e〉 functions within this series of molecules are discussed within the resonance scattering theory. In addition to a dissociative electron attachment process yielding Br− via a short‐lived (< 10−13 sec) compound negative ion state, another electron attachment process involving a longer‐lived (∼ 10−10–10−6 sec) state is suggested by the data. For the fast process leading to Br− production, these molecules can be considered as diatomiclike R(=CNH2N+1)–Br systems. The cross sections for the CH3Br and n‐C10H21Br molecules reach a maximum value at energies < 3 / 2kT. Over the energy range f...