Flourescence and decomposition of 1,4-Diazabicyclo [2.2.2] Octane in a glow discharge

Excitation of the title compound (DABCO) in a glow discharge gave at low voltage the flourescence which has been assigned by others to an optically-forbidden, lowlying,singlet state. With increasing voltage, the violet bands of the CN radical were also observed. Addition of He or Ar strongly enhanced the intensity of the latter. It is believed that two excitation processes operate independently on the DABCO molecule to give the fluorescent state and a second state from which decomposition may lead to HCN as a major product. © 1976.