The acetyl radicals CH3CO· and CD3CO· studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

Ultraviolet absorption spectra have been characterized for the acetyl-h₃ and acetyl-d₃ radicals, which were generated by the flash photolysis of the corresponding acetones. The spectra are broad and intense, with values of the extinction coefficient at the respective maxima estimated as: ?CH₃CO(215) = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm and ?CD₃CO(207.5) = (1.0 ± 0.05) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm. Rate constants for the reactions of mutual interaction were estimated as: k = 3.5 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 3.4 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. Rate constants for the reactions of cross interaction were estimated as: k = 8.6 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 5.2 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. The related values of the cross interaction ratios k/(kk)^1/2 = 2.6 and k/(kk)^1/2 = 1.6 do not differ significantly from the statistical value of 2. The participation of the radical displacement reactions was estimated in terms of the fractions k/k = 0.38 and k/k = 0.47. Corroborative spectra were obtained from the flash photolysis of methyl ethyl ketone and biacetyl, and the relative rates of the competing primary processes were estimated from the relative peak heights of the acetyl and methyl radicals in each system.     

Oxidation of thallium(I) by hexacyanoferrate(III) in aqueous acetic acid

The hexacyanoferrate(III)-thallium(I) reaction in aqueous acetic acid containing large concentrations of hydrochloric acid is considerably accelerated both by hydrogen and chloride ions as well as increasing acetic acid in the medium. The experimental results obey the rate law (1) where β₁ to β₆ are the cumulative stability constants of the species TlCl, TlCl, TlCl, HFe(CN), H₂Fe(CN) and H₃Fe(CN)₆ respectively and k_a and k_b are the rate constants associated with the mono- and di-protonated oxidant species. The main active species are H₂Fe(CN) and TlCl.     

A pulse radiolysis study of I and (SCN) in aqueous solutions over the temperature range 15–90°C

The extinction coefficients and the decay kinetics of I and (SCN) have been characterized over the 15–90°C-temperature range. The extinction coefficients of I at 385 and 725 nm were determined to be 10,000 and 2560M^?1 cm^?1, respectively, based on the extinction coefficient of (SCN) at 475 nm being equal to 7600M^?1 cm^?1. At these three wavelengths, all extinction coefficients were constant over the temperature range studied. The rate of decay of both I and (SCN) was found to be a function of I^? and SCN^? concentration, respectively, as well as temperature.     

Disproportionation-to-combination ratios for cyclohexyl-h11 and -d11 radicals in the gas phase as determined by the radiolysis of water vapor–cyclohexane mixtures

In the radiolysis of water vapor containing small concentrations of cyclohexane, the principal products which account for about 98% of all end products are found to be hydrogen, cyclohexene, and bicyclohexyl. Cyclohexene and bicyclohexyl yields were determined over a range of temperatures (70–200°C), total pressures (50–2400 torr), and total doses (0.15–2.0 Mrad). The disproportionation–combination ratio k/k for c-C₆H₁₁ radicals could be determined as 0.56 ± 0.01 from the ratio of cyclohexene to bicyclohexyl yield. By using c-C₆D₁₂, the ratio k/k for c-C₆D₁₁ radicals is found to be 0.38 ± 0.01. Comparison of the reactivity pattern of C₆H₁₁ and C₆D₁₁ radicals leads to (k)/(k)/(k/k) = 1.47 ± 0.02. The corresponding values for the reactions of c-C₆H₁₁ with c-C₆D₁₁ were also determined.     

Kinetic characteristics of chloride-assisted oxidative dealkylation of alkylcobalamins

The recent experiments on the chloride-assisted dealkylation of alkylcobalamins by a variety of oxidants (IrCl, AuCl, Fe(H₂O)₅Cl²⁺, and PtCl), which are scattered in several previous publications, and their general kinetic characteristics are summarized. The kinetic studies are also extended to include the dealkylations of (methylaquo)?3,5,6-trimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide and protonated base-off ethylcobalamin by IrCl (1.0M Cl^?) and by Fe(III) ions at 0.1M Cl^?, and the demethylation of (methylaquo)?3,5,6-trimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide by AuCl (1.0M Cl^?). This extension is in an effort to substantiate the general mechanism which has been previously proposed for these oxidative dealkylations. The general kinetic characteristics are described in terms of a preassociation of the reactants, followed by a rate-determining electron-transfer process to yield the R-B radical, which then undergoes further reactions to produce the products observed. The overall reactions are discussed within the framework of chlorine-bridging inner sphere electron-transfer reactions.     

Kinetics and thermochemistry of electron attachment to SF6

Thermochemical analysis of the electron capture process of SF₆ leads to a rate constant for the reverse process \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm SF}_6^ - \mathop \to \limits^2 {\rm SF}_6 + e^ -,k_2 = 1.5 \times 10^{13 - 31.4/\theta } {\rm s}^{{\rm - 1}} $\end{document}, where θ = 2.303RT, in kcal/mol. The electron affinity of 32±3 kcal/mol is deduced from the observed bimolecularity of the capture process down to 0.1 torr Ar bath gas and estimated entropies of SF₆ and SF. The capture process is discussed from the view point of the formation of a metastable SF electron (SF₆·e) Langevin complex which appears to have a lifetime of about 2 × 10^?13 s. Curve crossing from the SF₆·e complex to vibrationally excited (SF)* appears to have a normal rate and A factor. This is interpreted to indicate near-resonant coupling between the orbiting electron and the vibronic motions of SF₆, together with similarity in structure of SF₆ and SF. It is shown that the apparent slowness of thermal electron ejection from SF is a result of an unfavorable equilibrium constant rather than a slow rate.     

Kinetics and equilibria of the reaction between bromine and ethyl ether. The C?H bond dissociation energy in ethyl ether

The kinetics and equilibria of the reaction: have been studied in the temperature range 298–333 K by using the very low pressure reactor (VLPR) technique. Combining the estimated entropy change of reaction (1), ΔS = 8.1 ± 1.0 eu, with the measured ΔG, we find ΔH = 4.2 ± 0.4 kcal/mol; ΔH(CH₃CHOC₂H₅) = ?20.2 kcal/mol, and DH° [Et OCH(Me)-H] = 91.7 ± 0.4 kcal/mol. We find: where θ = 2.3 RT in kcal/mol. It has been shown that the reaction proceeds via a loose transition state and the “contact TS” model calculation gives a very good agreement with the observed value.     

Consistency of theory and experiment in the ethane–methyl radical system

The thermal decomposition of ethane has been reinvestigated using the single pulse, reflected shock technique. Reflected shock temperatures were corrected for boundary layer-induced nonidealities using the thermal decomposition of cyclohexene as a kinetic standard. The rate constant for the reaction was calculated from the rate of formation of methane under conditions of very low extent of reaction, over a temperature range of 1000–1241 K. Ethane compositions of 1% and 3% in argon at total reaction pressures of 3 and 9 atm were used, and a small pressure dependence of k₁ was observed. An RRKM model is described which gives excellent agreement with this and other recent dissociation and recombination rate constant data in light of a recent revision to the thermochemistry of the methyl radical. In the range of 1000–1300 K an RRKM extrapolated k is given by the expression, log k = 17.2 ? 91,000/2.3RT, while at 298 K the calculation gives log k (l/mol sec) = 10.44, where k is calculated from k and the equilibrium constant.     

Kinetics and mechanism of electron transfer from phenolate anion to hexacyanoferrate (III) in aqueous alkaline media

A kinetic reinvestigation of the title redox system in aqueous alkaline media at 35°C and an ionic strength of 0.5 mol dm^?3 shows that the reaction follows a pseudosecond-order Fe(CN) disappearance. While varying [phenol]₀ and [OH^?] exhibit a linear influence on the pseudo-second-order rate constant, varying[Fe(CN)]₀ and [Fe(CN)]₀, initially taken, have a complicated inhibitory effect on the same. The major phenoloxidation products isolated under a chosen condition are 2,2′- and 4,4′- dihydroxydiphenyl. Results are interpreted in terms of a probable mechanism which envisages a reversible formation, by the first one-electron transfer, of a reactive phenoxy radical (PhO^˙) which on the second one-electron transfer forms a less reactive ion-pair intermediate (stabilized by the Fe(CN) produced) to decompose rate-determiningly to phenoxonium cation (PhO⁺) and Fe(CN), the product-formation steps being very rapid and kinetically indistinguishable.     

CH bond dissociation energies,isolated stretching frequencies,and radical stabilization energy

An earlier correlation between isolated CH stretching frequencies, v, and experimental CH bond dissociation energies, in hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, and CHO compounds, is updated. A stabilization energy, E, which reflects only the properties of the radical, is defined by the deviation of a point from the above correlation. E values for a variety of radicals are listed and discussed. In H? C? N and H? C? O compounds E is low or negligible, due to the low v found in these compounds. The conventional definition of E_S then represents a serious misnomer, which distracts attention from the probable source of discrepancies between experimental and ab initio values of DH°(C? H), namely, the parent molecules. Stereo electronic effects concerned with the breaking of CH bonds are predicted in a variety of situations. Some experimental determinations of DH°(C? H), viz., in C₂H₄, HCOOH, CH₃CHO, CH₃NH₂, are considered to be probably in error. Schemes for partitioning energies of atomization into ‘standard’ or ‘intrinsic’ bond energies are criticized.     

Kinetics of reversible recombination of aromatic C-centered radicals

The kinetics of the reversible recombination of the 2-phenyl- (I), 2-p-methoxyphenyl-(II), and 2-p-nitrophenyl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene-2-yl (III) radicals have been investigated. Recombination rate constants of R(I–III) have been determined in different solvents (2k₁ ～ 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1). The rate of reaction (I) with R(I–III) decreases with increasing solvent viscosity η. In the toluene-vaseline oil mixture (2 ? η ? 120 cP) the recombination of R(I–III) is molecular mobility limited. The thermodynamic parameters of reaction (I) have been determined: ΔH⁰ = 20–30 kcal/mol. Activation volumes ΔV for recombination of R(II) have been measured. In n-propanol ΔV is equal to the viscous flow activation volume of the solvent ΔV. In toluene and chloroform ΔV < ΔV. For the last two solvents the activation volumes of the cage reaction have been estimated ΔV = ?(2–3) cm³/mol. Visible-range absorption spectra and ESR spectra have been recorded for R(I–III). The role of cage effect in the reactivity anisotropy averaging of R(I–III) is discussed. The potential of the high-pressure tests for deriving information about the elementary act of a fast bimolecular reaction is considered.     

Kinetic study of hydroxylamine-bromate ion reaction in acid sulfate solution—a competitive consecutive reaction

A kinetic study of oxidation of hydroxylamine by bromate ion in acid sulfate solution using spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods is reported. Oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrate is quantitative and followed competitive, consecutive, and auto catalytics steps characterized by induction periods. In the slow rate limiting step, hydroxylamine on reaction with HOBr (k) forms an intermediate I, which further reacts fast with second molecule of HOBr (k) giving nitrite. Nitrite reacts with HOBr (k) yielding the final product nitrate. Nitric acts as an autocatalyst also and its initial addition decreased the induction periods. In excess of hydrogen ion concentration all the reaction steps follow second-order kinetics. All the second-order rate constants are reported and the reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Recommendations for measuring second-order rate constants and kinetic solvent isotope effects on acid-catalyzed reactions

Kinetic solvent isotope effects (KSIE) were measured for the hydrolyses of acetals of benzaldehydes in aqueous solutions covering the pH (pD) range of 1–6. For p-methoxybenzaldehyde diethyl acetal, k/k = 1.8–3.1, depending on the procedure used to calculate the KSIE and on the pH (pD) range used as the basis for k(k). It is shown that this variation is an experimental artifact, and is a characteristic of KSIE measurements in general. It is recommended that k be calculated from a least-squares fit of data to the equation k_obs = k[L⁺], and that the KSIE be reported as k/k. The limitation remains, however, that the KSIE measured for a variety of substances over quite different pH (pD) ranges may not be comparable to more than ?20%. The source of these observations is discussed in terms of small changes in the activity coefficient ratios (a specific salt effect), including the solvent isotope effect on the activity coefficient ratio [eq. (3)].     

The kinetics of the reaction: Br + C3H6 ⇌ HBr + C3H5

Studies of the reaction of Br + propylene to produce HBr and allyl radical were made using VLPR (Very Low Pressure Reactor) over the range 263–363 K. Apparent bimolecular rate constants k were found to vary in an inverse manner with the initial concentration of bromine atoms introduced into the reactor. Plots of k against [Br] give straight lines whose intercepts were taken to be the true bimolecular, metathesis rate constant k₁. The reaction scheme is where k₂ ? k₁ and k_?1 [HBr] is negligibly small under our conditions. Arrhenius parameters for k₁ were assigned for linear and bent transition states and shown to give excellent fits to the observed intercepts. where θ = 2.303 RT (kcal mol^?1). The dependence of k on [Br] is accounted for in terms of the reactivity of Br* (²P_1/2) produced in the microwave discharge. The activation energy for the metathesis reaction of Br* with propylene is shown to be very small.     

Kinetics of acid catalyzed and Ag(I) catalyzed decomposition of peroxodisulfate in aqueous medium

The mechanism of acid catalyzed decomposition of peroxodisulfate, (S₂O) in aqueous perchlorate medium involves the hydrolysis of the species H₂S₂O₈ and HS₂O and the homolysis of the species H₂S₂O₈, HS₂O and S₂O at the O? O bond. The overall rate law when 1.4M > [HClO₄] > 0.1M is The constants k′ and k″ contain the hydrolysis and homolysis rate constants of HS₂O₈^? and H₂S₂O₈, respectively. With added Ag(I), the acid catalyzed and Ag(I) catalyzed reactions take place independently. Ag(I) catalyzed decomposition appears to involve the species AgS₂O (aq).     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of aqueous sulfite with N-chloroalanylalanylalanine

The rate of the reaction of aqueous sulfite with the N-chloropeptide N-chloroalanylalanylalanine has been studied as a function of pH, temperature, and ionic strength. The results of this work suggest that the mechanism of the reaction involves the interaction of the neutral chloramine with the three ionic forms of sulfite, SO, HSO, and H₂SO₃, with the rate of reaction increasing rapidly with increasing protonation. The estimated second-order rate constants for each ionic species as a function of temperature are where the activation energies are in units of cal/mol.     

The elimination of HF from vibrationally excited fluoroethanes. The decomposition of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane-d0 and d3

The vibrationally excited molecules CF₃CH and CF₃CD have been synthesized by radical combination (produced by ketone photolysis), and HF and DF elimination from them studied as a function of temperature and pressure. Using RRK theory many calculations have recently been made of critical energies for the decomposition of "hot" fluoroethane molecules. Taking CF₃CH as an example, it is concluded that the empiricism involved in such calculations renders results of doubtful significance. The non-equilibrium kinetic isotope effect is k_H/k_D = 3.1 at 470°K. Arrhenius parameters are also presented for radical abstraction reactions from the ketone source molecules.     

Kinetics and mechanism of acetylacetonate transfer from acetylacetonatomanganese(III) to iron(III) in acetonitrile catalysis and inhibition effects

The reaction between tris(acetylacetonato)magnanese(III) and hexa(N,N-dimethylformamide)iron(III) perchlorate in acetonitrile proceeds in two stages. The first stage corresponds to the reaction of pentacoordinated Fe(DMF) with Mn(acac)₃, and the rate-determining step of the second stage consists mainly in the elimination of a DMF ligand from Fe(DMF) to yield Fe(DMF) which reacts rapidly with the manganese complex. The formation of Fe(DMF) is catalyzed by Mn(acac)₃, this catalytic effect being decreased by manganese products. The rate-determining step for the formation of Fe(acac)₃ is the transfer of the first acetylacetonate to yield Fe(acac)²⁺. The final products of iron depend on the ratio of reactant concentrations. With Mn or Fe in excess, Fe(acac)₃ or Fe(acac)²⁺ are mainly produced.     

The mechanism of O(3P) atom reaction with ethylene and other simple olefins

Reactions of oxygen atoms with ethylene, propene, and 2-butene were studied at room temperature under discharge flow conditions by resonance fluorescence spectroscopy of O and H atoms at pressures of 0.08 to 12 torr. The measured total rate constants of these reactions are K = (7.8 ± 0.6)·10^?13cm³s^?1,K = (4.3 ± 0.4) ± 10^?12 cm³ s^?1, K = (1.4 ± 0.4) · 10^?11 cm³ s^?1. The branching ratios of H atom elimination channels were measured for reactions of O atoms with ethylene and propene. No H-atom elimination was found for the reaction of O-atoms with 2-butene. A redistribution of reaction O + C₂ channels with pressure was found. A mechanism of the O + C₂ reaction was proposed and the possibility of its application to other olefins is discussed. On the basis of mechanism the pressure dependence of the total rate constant for reaction O + C₂ was predicted and experimentally confirmed in the pressure range 0.08–1.46 torr.     

Kinetics of the solvolysis of [Co(3Rpy)4Cl2]+ ions (R = Me or Et) in water and in water + methanol mixtures

Rates of solvolysis of ions [Co(3Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ with R = Me and Et have been measured over a range of temperatures for a series of water-rich water + methanol mixtures to investigate the effect of changes in solvent structure on the solvolysis of complexes presenting a largely hydrophobic surface to the solvent. The variation of the enthalpies and entropies of activation with solvent composition has been determined. A free energy cycle relating the free energy of activation in water to that in water + methanol is applied using free energies of transfer of individual ionic species from water into water + methanol. Data for the free energy of transfer of chloride ions ΔG(Cl^?) from both the spectrophotometric solvent sorting method and the TATB method for separating ΔG(salt) into ΔG(i) for individual ions are used: irrespective of the source of ΔG(Cl^?), in general, ?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl²⁺) > ?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂⁺), where Rpy = py, 4Mepy, 4Etpy, 3Etpy, and 3Mepy, showing that changes in solvent structure in water-rich water + methanol mixtures generally stabilize the cation in the transition state more than the cation in the initial state for this type of complex ion. A similar result is found when the free energy cycle is applied to the solvolysis of the dichloro (2,2′,2″-triaminotriethylamine)cobalt(III) ion. The introduction of a Me or Et group on the pyridine ring in [Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ has little influence on the difference {ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl²⁺)?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂⁺)} in water + methanol with the mol fraction of methanol < 0.20.