Synthesis of polyyne molecules from hexane by irradiation of intense femtosecond laser pulses

Hydrogen-capped polyynes have been synthesized by femtosecond laser irradiation of hexane liquid. We used UV absorption to identify and high performance liquid chromatography to separate polyynes up to C12H2, and then confirmed with resonance Raman spectroscopy. The shortest hydrogen-terminated chain is found to be C6H2. A supplementary experiment on decane indicates that the formation via single step rearrangement of the parent molecule is not likely.