Identification of Intermediates in Pyridine Pyrolysis with Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometry and Tunable Synchrotron VUV Photoionization

The pyrolysis of pyridine (5.26% pyridine in argon) was performed with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization and molecular-beam mass spectrometry technique atthe temperature range of 1255-1765 K at 267 Pa. About 20 products and intermediates,containing major species H2, HCN, C2H2, C5H3N, C4H2, and C3H3N, were identified by near-threshold measurements of photoionization mass spectra and their mole fractions vs.temperatures were estimated. The major reaction pathways are analyzed based on theexperimental observations