ABSTRACT
The radiation chemistry of alkanes was reviewed several times in the past. The books of Topchiev [1] and Foldiak (editor) [2] deal mainly with the yield and distribution of final products. In the book edited by Gaumann and Hoigne [3] the yields of radical intermediates, LET effects (linear energy transfer, energy lost when the particle passes unit length) reaction mechanisms, etc. are discussed. "Hydrocarbon chemistry" dominates the book edited by Ausloos [4]. Freeman [5] and, more recently, Hummel [6] explained ionizing-radiation-induced chemical changes in alkanes based on the radiation chemical theories available at the time of writing of their review papers. The most recent review published by Shkrob et al. [7] concentrates on the liquid phase ion chemistry detailing the different views on the highmobility cations observed in several liquid cycloalkanes; they also discuss some aspects ofthe excited-state chemistry. The formation and decay of excited alkane molecules was reviewed in a recent book chapter of Mayer and Szadkowska-Nicze [8]. In addition to these special books, book chapters or review articles on hydrocarbon radiolysis, or more specifically on alkane radiolysis, general radiation chemistry books also provide great attention to the radiolysis of alkanes [9-13].
