The development of the methods of multiple-photon (MP) IR laser excitation (MPE) and dissociation (MPD) of molecules (see reviews') has led to a new technique to initiate gas- phase chemical reactions. Indeed the resonant IR multiphoton dissociation of polyatomic molecules enables in a short time (lO”-lO-s s) the selective production of free radicals (see reviews'). Such pulsed selective production of high concentrations of free radicals (pulsed ...
