Analysis of products from a C2H2/N2 microwave discharge: new nitrile species

The production of gaseous hydrocarbons, nitriles, amines, and hydrazines in a continuous-flow microwave plasma discharge excited in a 20% C2H2+80% N2 mixture at a pressure of 20 Torr is reported. The product analysis was made by Li+ ion attachment mass spectrometry. A variety of N-containing organics (identified as HCnN (n=1–7), NC(CC)nCN (n=0–2), NC(CH2)nCN (n=0–6), CnH2n−1NH2 (n=0–6), CnH2n+1N(H)NH2 (n=0–5), etc.) were formed and these were tentatively assigned to nitriles, amines, and hydrazines. The mass-spectral analysis exhibited progressions differing by 14 mass units. Reaction schemes were proposed to explain the formation of some molecules.