Kinetic studies of the reactions CH2I2 + HI⇄CH3I + I2 and 2 CH3I⇄CH4 + CH2I2 the heat of formation of the iodomethyl radical

The rate of the reaction CH₂I₂ + HI ? CH₃I + I₂ has been followed spectrophotometrically from 201.0 to 311.2°. The rate constant for the reaction fits the equation, log (k₁/M^?1 sec^?1) = 11.45 ± 0.18 - (15.11 ± 0.44)/θ. This value, combined with the assumption that E₂ = 0 ± 1 kcal/mole, leads to ΔH (CH₂I, g) = 55.0 ± 1.6 kcal/mole and DH (H? CH₂I) = 103.8 ± 1.6 kcal/mole. The kinetics of the disproportionation, 2 CH₃I ? CH₄ + CH₂I₂ were studied at 331° and are compatible with the above values.     

The pyrolysis of 2-nitrosoisobutane and the bond dissociation energies of nitroso compounds

Study of the reaction by very-low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP) in the temperature range of 550–850°K yields for the high-pressure Arrhenius parameters where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mole. These in turn yield for the high-pressure second-order recombination of tBu + NO, k_?1 = (3.5 ± 1.7) × 10⁹ 1./mole·sec at 600°K. For the competing reaction l./mole·sec and E₄ ≥ 4.2 kcal/mole. The bond dissociation energy DH^o (tBu-NO) was determined to be (39.5 ± 1.5) kcal/mole, both from the equilibrium constant and from the activation energy of reaction (1), obtained from RRKM calculations. A ‘free-volume’ model for the transition state for dissociation is consistent with the data. A limited study of the system at 8–200 torr showed an extremely rapid inhibition by products and a very complex set of products.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of cyclopropylcarbinyl iodide and hydrogen iodide. Heat of formation and stabilization energy of the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical

The rate of the gas phase reaction has been measured spectrophotometrically over the range 480°–550°K. The rate constant fits the equation where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mole. This result, together with the assumption that the activation energy for the back reaction is 0 ± 1 kcal/mole, allows calculation of DH (Δ? CH₂? H) = 97.4 ± 1.6 kcal/mole and ΔH (Δ? CH₂·) = 51.1 ± 1.6 kcal/mole. These values correspond to a stabilization energy of 0.4 ± 1.6 kcal/mole in the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical.     

The dissociation of 3-chloro-1-butene and the resonance energy of the chloro-allyl radical

Methane is a primary product of pyrolysis of 3-chloro-l-butene at temperatures in the range 776–835°K, and from its rate of formation values have been obtained for the limiting high-pressure rate constant of the reaction These may be represented by the expression log [(k₁)_∞/sec^?1] = (16.7 ± 0.3) ? (71.5 ± 1.5)/θ, where θ = 2.303RT kcal/mole. Assuming a zero activation energy for the reverse reaction and that over the experimental temperature range the rates at which a methyl radical adds on to chlorobutene are comparable to those at which it abstracts hydrogen, the activation energy for the dissociation reaction leads to a value of 83.2 ± 1.9 ckal/mole for D(H? CHClCH:CH₂) at 298°K. Taking D(H? CHClCH₂CH ₃) = 95.2 ± 1.0 kcal/mole a value of 12.0 ± 2.1 kcal/mole is obtained for the resonance energy of the chloroallyl radical. This value in conjunction with resonance energies obtained in earlier work indicates that substitution of a hydrogen atom on the carbon atom adjacent to the double bond in the allyl radical leads to no significant variation in the allylic resonance energy.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of allyl alcohol with iodine. The heat of formation and stabilization energy of the hydroxyallyl radical

The reaction of iodine with allyl alcohol has been studied in a static system, following the absorption of visible light by iodine, in the temperature range 150-190°C and in the pressure range 10-200 torr. The rate-determining step has been found to be and k₃ is consistent with the equation From the activation energy and the assumption E_-3 = 1 ± 1 kcal mol^?1, it has been calculated that kcal mol^?1. The stabilization energy of the hydroxyallyl radical has been found to be 11.4 ± 2.2 kcal mol^?1.     

The kinetics and equilibrium of the gas-phase reaction CH3CF2Br + I2 = CH3CF2I + IBr the C-Br bond dissociation energy in 1,1-difluorobromoethane

The kinetics and equilibrium of the gas-phase reaction of CH₃CF₂Br with I₂ were studied spectrophotometrically from 581 to 662°K and determined to be consistent with the following mechanism: A least squares analysis of the kinetic data taken in the initial stages of reaction resulted in log k₁ (M^?1 · sec^?1) = (11.0 ± 0.3) - (27.7 ± 0.8)/θ where θ = 2.303 RT kcal/mol. The error represents one standard deviation. The equilibrium data were subjected to a “third-law” analysis using entropies and heat capacities estimated from group additivity to derive ΔH_r° (623°K) = 10.3 ± 0.2 kcal/mol and ΔH_rr (298°K) = 10.2 ± 0.2 kcal/mol. The enthalpy change at 298°K was combined with relevant bond dissociation energies to yield DH°(CH₃CF₂ - Br) = 68.6 ± 1 kcal/mol which is in excellent agreement with the kinetic data assuming that E₂ = 0 ± 1 kcal/mol, namely; DH°(CH₃CF₂ - Br) = 68.6 ± 1.3 kcal/mol. These data also lead to ΔH_f°(CH₃CF₂Br, g, 298°K) = -119.7 ± 1.5 kcal/mol.     

Very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP) of but-1-yne the heat of formation and stabilization energy of the propargyl radical

The unimolecular decomposition of but-1-yne has been investigated over the temperature range of 1052° – 1152°K using the technique of very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP). The primary process is C? C bond fission yielding methyl and propargyl radicals. Application of RRKM theory shows that the experimental rate constants are consistent with the highpressure Arrhenius parameters given by where θ = 2.303 RT kcal/mol. The parameters are in good agreement with estimates based on shock-tube studies. The activation energy, combined with thermochemical data, leads to DH°[HCCCH₂? CH₃] = 76.0, ΔH(HCC?CH_2,g) = 81.4, and DH° [HCCCH₂? H] = 89.2, all in kcal/mol at 300°K. The stabilization energy of the propargyl radical SE° (HCC?CH₂) has been found to be 8.8 kcal/mol. Recent result for the shock-tube pyrolysis of some alkynes have been analyzed and shown to yield values for the heat of formation and stabilization energy of the propargyl radical in excellent agreement with the present work. From a consideration of all results it is recommended that ΔH(HCC?CH_2,g) = 81.5±1.0, DH[HCCCH₂? H] = 89.3 ± 1.0, and SE° (HCC?CH₂) = 8.7±1.0 kcal/mol.     

Kinetics of the gas phase reaction of methyl benzoate with bromine and iodine: The methoxyl C?H bond strength of methyl esters

The gas phase reactions of PhCOOCH₃ with I₂ and Br₂ were studied spectrophotometrically in a static system over the temperature ranges 344–359° and 246–303°, respectively. For each system the initial rate was first order in PhCOOCH₃ and half order in halogen as the concentration of PhCOOCH₃ was varied from 1.4 to 15.2 torr, that of I₂ from 6.2 to 26.4 torr, and that of Br₂ from 3.0 to 13.6 torr. The rate-determining step is the extraction of a methoxyl hydrogen atom: Empirical assignment of A-factors for k₁ lead to for the I₂ system, and to for the Br₂ system, where ? = 2.303RT in kcal/mole. Combined with the assumption that E_–1 = 1 ± 1 kcal/mole and 2 ± 1 kcal/mole for HI and HBr, respectively, DH (PhCOOCH₂? H) calculated from the two systems shows excellent agreement at 100.2 ± 1.3 kcal/mole and 100.1 ± 1.3 kcal/mole. Using a value of δH (PhCOOMe) = –65.6 ± 1.5 kcal/mole obtained from group additivity estimates, δH_f,298⁰ (PhCOOCH₂) is calculated to be –16.7 ± 2.0 kcal/mole. Unimolecular decomposition of the Ph(CO)O°CH₂ radical was also observed: with a rate constant equal to The abnormally high methoxyl C? H bond strength is discussed in relation to the bonding in ethers, alkanes, and esters.     

The kinetics of the reactions of O(3P) atoms with dimethyl ether and methanol

The kinetics of the reaction of O + CH₃OCH₃ were investigated using fast-flow apparatus equipped with ESR and mass-spectrometric detection. The concentration of O(³P) atoms to CH₃OCH₃ was varied over an unusually large range. The rate constant for reaction was found to be k = (5.0 ± 1.0) × 10¹² exp [(?2850 ± 200/RT)] cm³ mole^?1 sec^?1. The reaction O + CH₃OH was studied using ESR detection. Based on an assumed stoichiometry of two oxygen atoms consumed per molecule of CH₃OH which reacts, we obtain a value of k = (1.70 ± 0.66) × 10¹² exp [(?2,280 ± 200/RT)] cm³ mole^?1 sec^?1 for the reaction The results obtained in this study are compared with the results from other workers on these reactions. The observation of essentially equal activation energies in these two reactions is indicative of approximately equal C? H bond strengths in CH₃OCH₃ and CH₃OH. This is in agreement with recent measurements of these bond energies.     

Carbon–hydrogen bond strengths in methyl formate and the kinetics of the reaction with iodine

The gas phase reaction I₂ + HCOOCH₃ → HI + CH₃I + CO₂ has been studied spectrophotometrically in a static system over the pressure ranges I₂ (6–39 torr) and HCOOMe (28–360 torr). In the temperature range 293–356°, the initial rate of disappearance of I₂ is first order in [HCOOMe] and half-order in [I₂]. The rate determining step is where k₁ is given by where θ = 2.303 RT in kcal/mole. This activation energy gives a carbonyl C? H bond strength of 92.7 kcal/mole. At 356° there was no evidence of abstraction of a methoxy hydrogen, so a lower limit of 100 kcal/mole may be placed on this C? H bond strength. These ester C? H bond strengths are discussed in relation to comparable values in aldehydes and ethers.     

Kinetics of the I2-catalyzed isomerization of allyl chloride to cis- and trans-1-chloro-1-propene. The stabilization energy of the chloroallyl radical

The I₂-catalyzed isomerization of allyl chloride to cis- and trans- l-chloro-l-propene was measured in a static system in the temperature range 225–329°C. Propylene was found as a side product, mainly at the lower temperatures. The rate constant for an abstraction of a hydrogen atom from allyl chloride by an iodine atom was found to obey the equation log [k,/M^?1 sec^?1] = (10.5 ± 0.2) ?; (18.3 ± 10.4)/θ, where θ is 2.303RT in kcal/mole. Using this activation energy together with 1 ± 1 kcal/mole for the activation energy for the reaction of HI with alkyl radicals gives DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHCl? H) = 88.6 ± 1.1 kcal/mole, and 7.4 ± 1.5 kcal/mole as the stabilization energy (SE) of the chloroallyl radical. Using the results of Abell and Adolf on allyl fluoride and allyl bromide, we conclude DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHF? H) = 88.6 ± 1.1 and DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHBr? H) = 89.4 ± 1.1 kcal/ mole; the SE of the corresponding radicals are 7.4 ± 2.2 and 7.8 ± 1.5 kcal/mole. The bond dissociation energies of the C? H bonds in the allyl halides are similar to that of propene, while the SE values are about 2 kcal/mole less than in the allyl radical, resulting perhaps more from the stabilization of alkyl radicals by α-halogen atoms than from differences in the unsaturated systems.     

Kinetics of the bromine catalyzed elimination of HCl from 1,1,1-trichloroethane

The gas phase kinetics of the bromine catalyzed elimination of HCl from 1,1,1-trichloroethane has been studied over a five fold variation of (CH₃CCl₃)/(Br₂) and from 565 to 634 K. The most important reactions in the mechanism are found to be: The preferred analysis of the kinetic data results in log(k₁/M^?1 s^?1) = 11.3 ± 0.3 ? (19.9 ± 1.0) × 10³/4.575 T. From these results one calculates the C—H bond dissociation energy in CH₃CCl₃ to be 103.8 ± 2 kcal mol^?1, and the heat of formation of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl to be 17.7 ± 2 kcal mol^?1.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of acetone with iodine: Heat of formation and stabilization energy of the acetonyl radical

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction CH₃COCH₃ + I₂ ? CH₃COCH₂I + HI have been measured spectrophotometrically in a static system over the temperature range 340–430°. The pressure of CH₃COCH₃ was varied from 15 to 330 torr and of I₂ from 4 to 48 torr, and the initial rate of the reaction was found to be consistent with \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm CH}_3 {\rm COCH}_3 + {\rm I}^{\rm .} \stackrel{1}{\rightarrow}{\rm CH}_{\rm 3} {\rm COCH} + {\rm HI} $\end{document} as the rate-determining step. An Arrhenius plot of the variation of k₁ with temperature showed considerable scatter of the points, depending on the conditioning of the reaction vessel. After allowance for surface catalysis, the best line drawn by inspection yielded the Arrhenius equation, log [k₁/(M^?1 sec^?1)] = (11.2 ± 0.8) – (27.7 θ 2.3)/θ, where θ = 2.303 R T in kcal/mole. This activation energy yields an acetone C? H bond strength of 98 kcal/mole and δH (CH₃CO?H₂) radical = ?5.7 ± 2.6 kcal/mole. As the acetone bond strength is the same as the primary C? H bond strength in isopropyl alcohol, there is no resonance stabilization of the acetonyl radical due to delocalization of the radical site. By contrast, the isoelectronic allyl resonance energy is 10 kcal/mole, and reasons for the difference are discussed in terms of the π-bond energies of acetone and propene.     

Rate constants of the combination of methyl radicals with nitric oxide and oxygen

Rate constants for the combination of methyl radicals with NO and O₂ have been measured by flash photolysis of azomethane coupled with product analysis by gas chromatography. Values of the rate constants have been obtained over the pressure region from 50 to 700 torr with He, N₂, and Ar as quenching molecules. The high-pressure limits were obtained through an RRKM model calculation and were found to be The rate constants were measured relative to the methyl combination reaction k₁ with k₁ = 9.5 × 10^?11 cm³/molec · sec. The RRKM model suggests D₀(CH₃? O₂) = 32 ± 3 kcal/mole.     

Chain ion molecular mechanism of ascorbic acid oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. Cu3+ ion as a chain carrier

The kinetics and mechanism of ascorbic acid (DH₂) oxidation have been studied under anaerobic conditions in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions. At 10^?4 ≤ [Cu²⁺]₀ < 10^?3M, 10^?3 ≤ [DH₂]₀ < 10^?2M, 10^?2 ≤ [H₂O₂] ≤ 0.1M, 3 ≤ pH < 4, the following expression for the initial rate of ascorbic acid oxidation was obtained: where χ₂ (25°C) = (6.5 ± 0.6) × 10^?3 sec^?1. The effective activation energy is E₂ = 25 ± 1 kcal/mol. The chain mechanism of the reaction was established by addition of Cu⁺ acceptors (allyl alcohol and acetonitrile). The rate of the catalytic reaction is related to the rate of Cu⁺ initiation in the Cu²⁺ reaction with ascorbic acid by the expression where C is a function of pH and of H₂O₂ concentration. The rate equation where k₁(25°C) = (5.3 ± 1) × 10³M^?1 sec^?1 is true for the steady-state catalytic reaction. The Cu⁺ ion and a species, which undergoes acid–base and unimolecular conversions at the chain propagation step, are involved in quadratic chain termination. Ethanol and terbutanol do not affect the rate of the chain reaction at concentrations up to ≈0.3M. When the Cu²⁺–DH₂–H₂O₂ system is irradiated with UV light (λ = 313 nm), the rate of ascorbic acid oxidation increases by the value of the rate of the photochemical reaction in the absence of the catalyst. Hydroxyl radicals are not formed during the interaction of Cu⁺ with H₂O₂, and the chain mechanism of catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid is quantitatively described by the following scheme. Initiation: Propagation: Termination:      

The oxidation of methyl radicals at room temperature

Using the technique of molecular modulation spectrometry, we have measured directly the rate constants of several reactions involved in the oxidation of methyl radicals at room temperature: k₁ is in the fall-off pressure regime at our experimental pressures (20–760 torr) where the order lies between second and third and we obtain an estimate for the second-orderlimit of (1.2 ± 0.6) × 10^?12 cm³/molec · sec, together with third-order rate constants of (3.1 ± 0.8) × 10^?31 cm⁶/molec² · sec with N₂ as third body and (1.5 ± 0.8) × 10^?30 with neopentane; we cannot differentiate between k_2a and k_2c and we conclude k_2a + (k_2c) = (3.05 ± 0.8) × 10^?13 cm³/molec · sec and k_2b = (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10^?13 cm³/molec · sec; k₃ = (6.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?11 cm³/molec · sec.     

The very-low-pressure study of the kinetics and equilibrium: Cl + CH4 ⇄ CH3 + HCl at 298 K. The heat of formation of the CH3 radical

The bimolecular rate constant for the direct reaction of chlorine atoms with methane was measured at 25°C by using the very-low-pressure-pyrolysis technique. The rate constant was found to be In addition, the ratio k₁/k_?1 was observed with about 25% accuracy: K₁₍₂₉₈₎ = 1.3 ± 0.3. This gives a heat of formation of the methyl radical ΔH° _{f 298}(CH₃) = 35.1 ± 0.15 kcal/mol. A bond dissociation energy BDE (CH₃ ? H) = 105.1 ± 0.15 kcal/mol in good agreement with literature values was obtained.     

Reactions of alkoxy radicals with O2. I. C2H5O radicals

C₂H₅ONO was photolyzed with 366 nm radiation at ?48, ?22, ?2.5, 23, 55, 88, and 120°C in a static system in the presence of NO, O₂, and N₂. The quantum yield of CH₃CHO, Φ{CH₃CHO}, was measured as a function of reaction conditions. The primary photochemical act is and it proceeds with a quantum yield ?_1a = 0.29 ± 0.03 independent of temperature. The C₂H₅O radicals can react with NO by two routes The C₂H₅O radical can also react with O₂ via Values of k₆/k₂ were determined at each temperature. They fit the Arrhenius expression: Log(k₆/k₂) = ?2.17 ± 0.14 ? (924 ± 94)/2.303 T. For k₂ ? 4.4 × 10^?11 cm³/s, k₆ becomes (3.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 exp{?(924 ± 94)/T} cm³/s. The reaction scheme also provides k_8a/k₈ = 0.43 ± 0.13, where      

The gas-phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites VI. t-Amyl nitrite

The rate of decomposition of tert-amyl nitrite (t-AmONO) has been studied in the absence (120°–155°C) and presence (160°–190°C) of nitric oxide. In the absence of nitric oxide for low concentrations of tert-amyl nitrite (～10^?4M) and small extents of reaction (～1%), the first-order homogeneous rates of acetone formation are a direct measure of reaction (1) since k_3a ? k₂(NO): The rate of acetone formation is unaffected by the addition of large amounts of carbon tetrafluoride or isobutane (～1 atm) but is completely suppressed by large amounts of nitric oxide (1 atm 120°–155°C). The rate of reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^16.3±0.1 10^?40.3±0.1/θ sec^?1. Since (E₁ + RT) and ΔH°₁ are identical, both may be equated with D(t-AmO – NO) = 40.9 ± 0.1 kcal/mol and E₂ = 0 ± 0.1 kcal/mol. The thermochemistry leads to the result that ΔH°_f (t-AmO) = ?26.6 ± 1 kcal/mol. From ΔS°₁ and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.5±^0.2 M^?1·sec^?1. Although the addition of nitric oxide completely suppresses acetone formation at lower temperatures, it reappears at higher temperatures. This is a result of reaction (3a) now competing with reaction (2), thus allowing k_3a to be determined. The rate constant for reaction (3a) is given by k_3a = 10^{14.7 ± 0.2} 10^{?14.3 ± 1}/θ sec^?1. There are two possible routes for the decomposition of the tert-amyloxyl radical: The dominating process is (3a). From the result at 160°C that k_3a/k_3b = 80, we arrive at the result k_3b = 10^15.0–18.7/θ sec^?1. In addition to the products accounted for by the radical split (1), methyl-2-but-1-ene and methyl-2-but-2-ene are produced as a result of the six-centre elimination of nitrous acid (5): The ratio k_5a/k_5b was 0.35. Unlike tert-butyl where the rates of the two paths were comparable [(l) and (5)], here the total rate of the elimination process was only 0.5% that of the radical split (1). The reason for this is not clear.     

Arrhenius parameters for the reactions CH3. + C4H10 → CH4 + C4H9. and C2H5. + C4H10 → C2H6 + C4H9.

Study of n-butane pyrolysis at high temperature in a flow system allows measurement of the sum of the rate constants of the initiation reactions and of the Arrhenius parameters of the reactions Established data for k₁/k₂ allow estimation of k₁ for 951°K and this, with recent thermochemical data, yields the result log k_?1 (l.mole s^?1) = 8.5, in remarkable agreement with a recent measurement [20] but over si×ty times smaller than conventional assumption. The product k₃k₄ (l.²mole^?2s^?2) is found to be associated with the Arrhenius parameters log (A₃A₄) = 21.90 ± 0.6 and (E₃ + E₄) = 38.3 ± 2.7 kcal/mole. These values are much higher than would be e×pected on the basis of low temperature estimates. Independent evaluation gives log A₄ = 10.5 ± 0.4 (l.mole^?1s^?1) and E₄ = 20.1 ± 1.7 kcal/mole, hence log A₃ = 11.4 ± 0.8 (l.mole^?1s^?1) and E₃ = 18.2 ± 3.2 kcal/mole. These values are shown to be entirely consistent with a wide range of results from pyrolytic studies, and it is argued that they further confirm the view that Arrhenius plots for alkyl radical–alkane metathetical reactions are strongly curved, in part due to tunneling and, appreciably, to other as yet unidentified effects. Since there is published evidence that metathetical reactions involving hydrogen atoms show even greater curvature, it is suggested that this may be a characteristic of many metathetical reactions.