Production and Photodissociation of the Methyl Perthiyl Radical.

The photodissociation dynamics of the methyl perthiyl (CH3SS) radical are investigated via molecular beam photofragment translational spectroscopy, using "soft" electron ionization to detect the radicals and their photofragments. With this new capability, we have shown that CH3SS can be generated from flash pyrolysis of dimethyl trisulfide. Utilizing this source of radicals and the advantages afforded by soft electron ionization, we have reinvestigated the photodissociation dynamics of CH3SS at 248 nm, finding CH3S + S to be the dominant dissociation channel with CH3 + SS as a minor process. These results differ from previous work reported in our laboratory in which we found CH3 + SS and CH2S + SH as the main dissociation channels. The difference in results is discussed in light of our new capabilities for characterization of radical production.