Résumé : The analysis (separation and identification) of eleven C5H10 isomers is performed using coupled GC/MS with a 70 m glass capillary column containing a 2.5 μm thick film of PS225 as stationary phase. Cryogenic CO2 cooling improves the separations. The total analysis time is less than 12 minutes. Some mechanistic details on the Hg 6(3P1) (hereafter denoted by Hg*) photosensitization of the title compounds are elucidated. Thus the Hg* photosensitization of cis‐2‐pentene at 20 Torr yields methylcyclobutane with a quantum yield ø = 0.1, not ethylcyclopropane as was previously thought. (Ethylcyclopropane is formed in trace quantities.) The photostationary state for the Hg* sensitization of the 2‐pentenes is confirmed to correspond to the concentration ratio [trans]/[cis] = 1.00. Trans‐1,2‐dimethylcyclopropane is a product of the Hg* photosensitization of 1‐pentene. The major products of the Hg* photosensitization of trans‐1,2‐dimethylcyclopropane at 80 Torr are 3‐methyl‐1‐butene, trans‐ and cis‐2‐pentene and cis‐1,2‐dimethylcyclopropane which are all formed with quantum yields near 0.1 and in the ratios 1.04:1.07:1.00:1.45. Copyright © 1995 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim