Thermolysis of N-alkylated ethylenediamines: an ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy study

Thermolyses of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (1a), N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylethylenediamine (1b) and sym-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine (1c) at 760–825 °C have been studied by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Although the corresponding N-alkylated aminomethylene radicals were not observed, this study establishes that thermolysis of 1a is an efficient route to N-methylenimine (3a); methane, ethane, and ethene are the other major products. …