Unusual H2-forming chain reaction in the 3130-Å photolysis of formaldehyde-oxygen mixtures at 25°C

A kinetic study has been made of the 3130-Å photolysis of CH₂O (8 torr) in O₂-containing mixtures (0.02–8 torr) and in the presence of added CO₂ (0–300 torr) at 25°C. Quantum yields of formation of H₂, CO, and CO₂ and the loss of O₂ were measured. Φ and Φ_CO were much above unity. In an explanation of these unexpected results, a new H-atom-forming chain mechanism was postulated involving HO₂ and HO addition to CH₂O: CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1) H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3) H + O₂ + M → HO₂ + M (6) HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (8) HO₂ + CH₂O → (HO₂CH₂O) → HO + HCO₂H (15) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO? (16); HCO? → H + CO (19) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO (17) and HO + CH₂O → HCO₂H + H (18). When the results are rationalized in terms of this mechanism, the data suggest k₁₆ ? k₁₇ and k₁₆/k₁₈ ? 0.5. The data require that a reassessment of the relative rates of reactions (7) and (8) be made, since in the previous work HCO₂H formation was used as a monitor of the rate of reaction (7) HCO + O₂ + M → HCOO₂ + M (7). The present data from experiments at P = 8 torr and P = 1–4 torr give k₇[M]/(k₇[M] + k₈) ≥ 0.049 ± 0.017. These data coupled with the k₈ estimates of Washida and coworkers give k₇ ≥ (4.4 ± 1.6) × 10¹¹ l²/mol²·sec for M = CH₂O. The reaction sequence proposed here is consistent with the observed deterimental effect of O₂ addition on the laser-induced isotope enrichment in HDCO. In additional studies of CH₂O-O₂-isobutene mixtures it was found that Φ was equal to ?₂ as estimated in O₂-free CH₂O-isobutene mixtures. These results suggest that the increase in CO (ν = 1) product observed with O₂ addition in CH₂O photolysis does not result from perturbations in the fragmentation pattern of the excited CH₂O, but it is likely that it originates in the occurrence of the exothermic reaction HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (ν = 1).     

Gas‐phase chemistry of dihydromyrcenol with ozone and OH radical: Rate constants and products

A bimolecular rate constant, k_{OH + dihydromyrcenol}, of (38 ± 9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with 2,6‐dimethyl‐7‐octen‐2‐ol (dihydromyrcenol,) at 297 ± 3 K and 1 atm total pressure. Additionally, an upper limit of the bimolecular rate constant, k, of approximately 2 × 10^?18 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was determined by monitoring the decrease in ozone (O₃) concentration in an excess of dihydromyrcenol. To more clearly define part of dihydromyrcenol's indoor environment degradation mechanism, the products of the dihydromyrcenol + OH and dihydromyrcenol + O₃ reactions were also investigated. The positively identified dihydromyrcenol/OH and dihydromyrcenol/O₃ reaction products were acetone, 2‐methylpropanal (O?CHCH(CH₃)₂), 2‐methylbutanal (O?CHCH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃), ethanedial (glyoxal, HC(?O)C(?O)H), 2‐oxopropanal (methylglyoxal, CH₃C(?O)C(?O)H). The use of derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA) and N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) clearly indicated that several other reaction products were formed. The elucidation of these other reaction products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with plausible dihydromyrcenol/OH and dihydromyrcenol/O₃ reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound/OH and volatile organic compound/O₃ gas‐phase reaction mechanisms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. *

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America

Int J Chem Kinet 38: 451–463, 2006     

The quantum efficiency of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis at 3130 Å and 25°C

The mechanism of the photolysis of formaldehyde was studied in experiments at 3130 Å and in the pressure range of 1–12 torr at 25°C. The experiments were designed to establish the quantum yields of the primary decomposition steps (1) and (2), CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1): CH₂O + hν → H₂ + CO (2), through the effects of added isobutene, trimethylsilane, and nitric oxide on Φ_CO and Φ. The ratio Φ_CO/Φ was found to be 1.01 ± 0.09(2σ) and (Φ + Φ_CO)/2 = 1.10 ± 0.08 over the range of pressures and a 12-fold change in incident light intensity. Isobutene and nitric oxide additions reduced Φ to about the same limiting value, 0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, but these added gases differed in their effects on Φ_CO. With isobutene addition Φ_CO/Φ reached a limiting value of 2.3; with NO addition Φ_CO exceeded unity. The addition of small amounts of Me₃SiH reduced Φ to 1.02 ± 0.08 and lowered Φ_CO to 0.7. These findings were rationalized in terms of a mechanism in which the “nonscavengeable,” molecular hydrogen is formed in reaction (2) with ?₂ = 0.32 ± 0.03, while the “free radical” hydrogen is formed in reaction (1) with ?₁ = 0.68 ± 0.03. In the pure formaldehyde system these reactions are followed by (3)–(5): H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3); 2HCO → CH₂O + CO (4); 2HCO → H₂ + 2CO (5). The data suggest k₄/k₅ ? 5.8. Isobutene reduced Φ by the reaction H + iso-C₄H₈ → C₄H₉ (20), and the results give k₂₀/k₃ ? 43 ± 4, in good agreement with the ratio of the reported values of the individual constants k₃ and k₂₀.     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of nitrate radicals with geraniol,citronellol, and dihydromyrcenol

Terpenes and terpene alcohols are prevalent compounds found in a wide variety of consumer products including soaps, flavorings, perfumes, and air fresheners used in the indoor environment. Knowing the reaction rate of these chemicals with the nitrate radical is an important factor in determining their fate indoors. In this study, the bimolecular rate constants of k (16.6 ± 4.2) × 10^?12, k (12.1 ± 3) × 10^?12, and k (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the nitrate radical (NO₃?) with 2,6‐dimethyl‐2,6‐octadien‐8‐ol (geraniol), 3,7‐dimethyl‐6‐octen‐1‐ol (citronellol), and 2,6‐dimethyl‐7‐octen‐2‐ol (dihydromyrcenol) at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Using the geraniol, citronellol, or dihydromyrcenol + NO₃? rate constants reported here, pseudo‐first‐order rate lifetimes (k′) of 1.5, 1.1, and 0.002 h^?1 were determined, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 669–675, 2010     

2–Butoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol reactions with the nitrate radical: Rate coefficients and gas‐phase products

The bimolecular rate coefficients k and k were measured using the relative rate technique at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Values of (2.7 ± 0.7) and (4.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were observed for k and k, respectively. In addition, the products of 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? gas‐phase reactions were investigated. Derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine and N, O‐bis (trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to identify the reaction products. For 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? reaction: hydroxyacetaldehyde, 3‐hydroxypropanal, 4‐hydroxybutanal, butoxyacetaldehyde, and 4‐(2‐oxoethoxy)butan‐2‐yl nitrate were the derivatized products observed. For the benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction: benzaldehyde ((C₆H₅)C(?O)H) was the only derivatized product observed. Negative chemical ionization was used to identify the following nitrate products: [(2‐butoxyethoxy)(oxido)amino]oxidanide and benzyl nitrate, for 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^?, respectively. The elucidation of these products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with a plausible 2‐butoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound + NO₃^? gas‐phase mechanisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 778–788, 2012     

Reactivity of dpph• in the oxidation of catechol and catechin

A kinetic study of the reduction of pyrocatechol and catechin by dpph^? radical has been carried out in various ratios of CH₃OH/H₂O mixed solvent at pH 5.5–7.5, μ = 0.10 M [(n‐Bu)₄N]ClO₄, and T = 25°C. The rate constants of oxidation in aqueous solvent, k, were obtained from the extrapolation of the linear plots of the specific rate constants k vs. % H₂O plots at each pH value. A linear relationship between k and 1/[H⁺] was observed for both flavonoids with k = k₁K_a1/[H⁺], where K_a1 was the first acid dissociation constant on the catechol ring and k₁ is the rate constant of the oxidation of the mononegative species HX^?. The values of k₁ obtained from the slopes of the plots are (8.2 ± 0.2) × 10⁵ and (6.1 ± 0.1) × 10⁵ M^?1 s^?1 for pyrocatechol and catechin, respectively. The analysis of the reaction on the basis of Marcus theory for an outer‐sphere electron transfer reaction yielded a value of 3.7 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the self‐exchange rate constant of dpph^?/dpphH couple. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 147–153, 2011     

The 13C and D kinetic isotope effects in the reaction of CH4 with Cl

The kinetic isotope effects in the reaction of methane (CH₄) with Cl atoms are studied in a relative rate experiment at 298 ± 2 K and 1013 ± 10 mbar. The reaction rates of ¹³CH₄, ¹²CH₃D, ¹²CH₂D₂, ¹²CHD₃, and ¹²CD₄ with Cl radicals are measured relative to ¹²CH₄ in a smog chamber using long path FTIR detection. The experimental data are analyzed with a nonlinear least squares spectral fitting method using measured high‐resolution spectra as well as cross sections from the HITRAN database. The relative reaction rates of ¹²CH₄, ¹³CH₄, ¹²CH₃D, ¹²CH₂D₂, ¹²CHD₃, and ¹²CD₄ with Cl are determined as k/k = 1.06 ± 0.01, k/k = 1.47 ± 0.03, k/k = 2.45 ± 0.05, k/k = 4.7 ± 0.1, k/k = 14.7 ± 0.3. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 110–118, 2005     

Kinetics of the reactions of the IO radical with dimethyl sulfide,methanethiol, ethylene,and propylene

The reactions of IO radicals with CH₃SCH₃, CH₃SH, C₂H₄, and C₃H₆ have been studied using the discharge flow method with direct detection of IO radicals by mass spectrometry. The absolute rate constants obtained at 298 K are the following: IO + CH₃SCH₃ → products (1): k₁ = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^?14; IO + CH₃SH → products (2): k₂ = (6.6 ± 1.3) × 10^?16; IO + C₂H₄ →products (3): k₃ < 2 × 10^?16; IO + C₃H₆ → products (4): k₄ < 2 × 10^?16 (units are cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1). CH₃S(O)CH₃ and HOI were found as products of reactions (1) and (2), respectively. The present lower value of k₁ compared to our previous determination is discussed.     

A kinetic study of the gas‐phase reactions of OIO with NO,NO2, and Cl2

The kinetics of iodine dioxide (OIO) reactions with nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and molecular chlorine (Cl₂) are studied in the gas‐phase by cavity ring‐down spectroscopy. The absorption spectrum of OIO is monitored after the laser photodissociation, 266 or 355 nm, of the gaseous mixture, CH₂I₂/O₂/N₂, which generates OIO through a series of reactions. The second‐order rate constant of the reaction OIO + NO is determined to be (4.8 ± 0.9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 under 30 Torr of N₂ diluent at 298 K. We have also measured upper limits for the second‐order rate constants of OIO with NO₂ and Cl₂ to be k < 6 × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k < 8 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 688–693, 2007     

Thermal ignition of acetonitrile. Experimental results and kinetic modeling

Ignition delay times of acetonitrile (CH₃CN) in mixtures containing acetonitrile and oxygen diluted in argon were studied behind reflected shock waves. The temperature range covered was 1420–1750 K at overall concentrations behind the reflected shock wave ranging from 2 to 4×10⁻⁵ mol/cm³. Over this temperature and concentration range the ignition delay times varied by approximately one order of magnitude, ranging from ca. 100 μs to slightly above 1 ms. From a total of some 70 tests the following correlation for the ignition delay times was derived: t_ign=9.77×10⁻¹² exp(41.7×10³/RT)×{[CH₃CN]^0.12[O₂]^−0.76[Ar]^0.34} s, where concentrations are expressed in units of mol/cm³ and R is expressed in units of cal/(K mol). The ignition delay times were modeled by a reaction scheme containing 36 species and 111 elementary reactions. Good agreement between measured and calculated ignition delay times was obtained. A least-squares analysis of 60 computed ignition delay times from six different groups of initial conditions gave the following temperature and concentration dependence: E=46.2×10³ cal/mol, β=0.43, β=−1.18, and β_Ar=0.18. The ignition process is initiated by H-atom ejection from acetonitrile. The addition of oxygen atoms to the system from the dissociation of molecular oxygen and from the reaction CH₃CN+O₂ → HO₂·+CH₂CN·is negligible. In view of the relatively high concentration of methyl radicals obtained in the reaction CH₃CN+H → CH₃+HCN, the branching step CH₃+O₂ → CH₃O+O plays a more important role than the parallel step H+O₂→ OH+O. A discussion of the mechanism in view of the sensitivity analysis is presented. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 839–849, 1997     

Rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with n‐propanol and iso‐propanol between 237 and 376 K

The rate coefficients for the reaction OH + CH₃CH₂CH₂OH → products (k₁) and OH + CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ → products (k₂) were measured by the pulsed‐laser photolysis–laser‐induced fluorescence technique between 237 and 376 K. Arrhenius expressions for k₁ and k₂ are as follows: k₁ = (6.2 ± 0.8) × 10^?12 exp[?(10 ± 30)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, with k₁(298 K) = (5.90 ± 0.56) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and k₂ = (3.2 ± 0.3) × 10^?12 exp[(150 ± 20)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, with k₂(298) = (5.22 ± 0.46) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The quoted uncertainties are at the 95% confidence level and include estimated systematic errors. The results are compared with those from previous measurements and rate coefficient expressions for atmospheric modeling are recommended. The absorption cross sections for n‐propanol and iso‐propanol at 184.9 nm were measured to be (8.89 ± 0.44) × 10^?19 and (1.90 ± 0.10) × 10^?18 cm² molecule^?1, respectively. The atmospheric implications of the degradation of n‐propanol and iso‐propanol are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 10–24, 2010     

The kinetics of the reaction F + H2 → HF + H. A critical review of literature data

Published experimental studies concerning the determination of rate constants for the reaction F + H₂ → HF + H are reviewed critically and conclusions are presented as to the most accurate results available. Based on these results, the recommended Arrhenius expression for the temperature range 190–376 K is k = (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁰ exp |-(450 ± 50)/T| cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the recommended value for the rate constant at 298 K is k = (2.43 ± 0.15) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The recommended Arrhenius expression for the reaction F + D₂ → DF + D, for the same temperature range, based on the recommended expression for k and accurate results for the kinetic isotope effect k/k is k = (1.06 ± 0.12) × 10^×10 exp |-(635 ± 55)/T|cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the recommended value for 298 K is k = (1.25 ± 0.10) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 67–71, 1997.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of substitution reactions with sulfur-containing nucleophiles in aqueous acid solutions. I—rates of reactions of some tetrahalopalladate (II) anions with thiourea and selenourea

The activation energy parameters for the reaction of PdX (X=Cl^?, Br^?) in aqueous halide acid solution with thiourea (tu) and selenourea (seu) have been determined. High rates of reaction parallel low enthalpies and appreciable negative entropy of activation. The rate law in each case simplifies to k_obs=k[L] where L=tu or seu, and only ligand-dependent rate constants are observed at 25°C. The ligand-dependent rate constants for the first identifiable step in the PdCl + X system is (9.1±0.1) × 10³ M^?1 sec^?1 and (4.5±0.1) × 10⁴ M^?1 sec^?1 for X=tu and seu, respectively, while for the PdBr + X system it is (2.0±0.1) × 10⁴ M^?1 sec^?1 and (9.0±0.1) × 10⁴ M^?1 sec^?1 for X=tu and seu, respectively.     

Metal Complexes with Macrocyclic Ligands. Part XLIV Kinetics of the Cu2+ incorporation into a macrocyclic ligand conjugated to proteins: Model studies for the d‘post-labeling’ technique

The kinetics of the Cu²⁺ complexation by macrocycles 1 (4-[(l,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-1-yl)methyl]-benzoic acid) and 2 (N-propyl-4-[(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-1-yl)methyl]-benzamide) as well as by macrocycle 1 conjugated to bovine serum albumin (bsa) and to ribonuclease A (rnase) were studied by stopped flow techniques. For 1 and 2 , the kinetics were followed in the mM range monitoring the d-d* absorption band of the Cu²⁺ complex. From the pH dependence of k_obs, the rate law is v = [Cu²⁺] (k_LH[LH] + k[LH₂]), where k_LH and k are the bimolecular rate constants for Cu²⁺ with the diprotonated (LH₂) and monoprotonated (LH₁) form of the ligand, respectively. The values are k = 1.7( 1 ) M^?1s^?1 and k_LH = 2.3(1) 10⁵ M^?1s^?1 for 1 , and k, = 0.28(9) M^?1s^?1 and k_LH = 2.0(1) 10⁵ M^?1s^?1 for 2. The kinetics of the Cu²⁺ incorporation into 1,2 and 1 conjugated to bsa and rnase, i.e., 3 and 4 , respectively, were also followed using nitroso-R salt as a metal indicator in the μM range, i.e., under conditions typical for the ‘post-labeling’ technique to give radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. In these cases, the reaction takes place between the 1:1 complex of Cu²⁺ with nitroso-R-salt and the macrocycle. At pH 6.5, the rates are very similar to each other indicating that the complexation properties of the macrocycle attached to a protein are not very different from those of the free ligand under comparable conditions.     

Theoretical studies on the reactions CH3SCH3 with OH,CF3, and CH3 radicals

The multiple‐channel reactions OH + CH₃SCH₃ → products, CF₃ + CH₃SCH₃ → products, and CH₃ + CH₃SCH₃ → products are investigated by direct dynamics method. The optimized geometries, frequencies, and minimum energy path are all obtained at the MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) level, and energetic information is further refined by the MC‐QCISD (single‐point) method. The rate constants for eight reaction channels are calculated by the improved canonical variational transition state theory with small‐curvature tunneling contribution over the temperature range 200–3000 K. The total rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental data and the three‐parameter expressions k₁ = 4.73 × 10^?16T^1.89 exp(?662.45/T), k₂ = 1.02 × 10^?32T^6.04 exp(933.36/T), k₃ = 3.98 × 10^?35T^6.60 exp(660.58/T) (in unit of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) over the temperature range of 200–3000 K are given. Our calculations indicate that hydrogen abstraction channels are the major channels and the others are minor channels over the whole temperature range. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

The reaction of methyl p-nitrophenyl sulfate with hydrogen peroxide anion determination of pKa of hydrogen peroxide in methanol by a kinetic spectrophotometric procedure

A kinetic spectrophotometric investigation of the reaction of the hydrogen peroxide anion with methyl p-nitrophenyl sulfate in methanol solvent resulted in the evaluation of the pK_a of HOOH in methanol at 25°C as 15.8 ± 0.2. Since normal kinetic procedures for the determination of the equilibrium constant K for the process CH₃O^? + H₂O₂ ? CH₃OH + HO were found to be associated with high uncertainty, another procedure was devised to establish the magnitude of K. This method is based on an analysis of the changing slopes of plots of pseudo-first-order rate constants against the total base concentration as the stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide is varied. The method is applicable to any system in which anionic nucleophiles generated in situ compete with solvent anions. Such a corroboration of kinetically determined equilibrium constants is believed essential. The kinetic data allow the specific rate constant k_HOO-for the reaction of methyl p-nitrophenyl sulfate with hydrogen peroxide anions to be evaluated and yield the rate constant ratio k/k = 8.8 ± 2.2. This confirms the existence of an α effect at saturated carbon in this system.     

Rate constant for the reaction of CH3C(O)CH2 radical with HBr and its thermochemical implication

The fast flow method with laser induced fluorescence detection of CH₃C(O)CH₂ was employed to obtain the rate constant of k₁ (298 K) = (1.83 ± 0.12 (1σ)) × 10¹⁰ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for the reaction CH₃C(O)CH₂ + HBr ? CH₃C(O)CH₃ + Br (1, ?1). The observed reduced reactivity compared with n‐alkyl or alkoxyl radicals can be attributed to the partial resonance stabilization of the acetonyl radical. An application of k₁ in a third law estimation provides Δ_fH(CH₃C(O)CH₂) values of ?24 kJ mol^?1 and ?28 kJ mol^?1 depending on the rate constants available for reaction ( ‐1 ) from the literature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 32–37, 2006     

Kinetics of the reactions of atomic chlorine with methanol and the hydroxymethyl radical with molecular oxygen at 298 K

The rate constants for the reactions Cl + CH₃OD → CH₂OD + HCl (1) and CH₂OH + O₂ → HO₂ + H₂CO (2) have been determined in a discharge flow system near 1 torr pressure with detection of radical and molecular species using collision-free sampling mass spectrometry. The rate constant k₁, determined from the decay of CH₃OD in the presence of excess Cl, is (5.1 ± 1.0) × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1. This is in reasonable agreement with the only previous measurement of k₁. The CH₂OH radical was produced by reaction (1) and its reaction with O₂ was studied by monitoring the decay of the CH₂OH radical in the presence of excess O₂. The result is k₂ = (8.6 ± 2.0) × 10^?12 cm³ s^?1. Previous estimates of k₂ have differed by nearly an order of magnitude, and our value for k₂ supports the more recent high values.     

Polymerization of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne homologs containing two silicon atoms by tantalum- and niobium-based catalysts

Polymerization of new 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne homologs containing two silicon atoms [CH₃C?CSi(CH₃)₂CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ and CH₃C?CSi(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂Si(CH₃)₃] was investigated by use of Ta and Nb catalysts. CH₃C?CSi(CH₃)₂CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ was polymerized quantitatively by TaCl₅ alone to provide a polymer having molecular weight over 10⁶. CH₃C?CSi(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂Si(CH₃)₃ was polymerized in good yield by an equimolar mixture of TaCl₅ with an appropriate organometallic cocatalyst such as Ph₄Sn to give a polymer with molecular weight of ca. 4 X 10⁵. Nb catalysts were less active toward these monomers than the corresponding Ta catalysts. These two kinds of polymers had alternating double bonds along the main chain according to IR and ¹³C-NMR spectra. Both polymers were white solids completely soluble in low-polarity solvents like toluene, and solution casting afforded uniform, tough films. These polymers were thermally fairly stable, and their softening points were above 350°C. Films of these polymers showed smaller oxygen permeability coefficients [P = 4 × 10^?9 – 8 × 10^?9 cm³(STP) · cm/(cm²·sec·cmHg)] but larger separation factors [(P/P) = 3.4 – 3.6] than a poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] film.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some carboxylates by a nickel (III) oxime-imine complex

The kinetics of the oxidation of formate, oxalate, and malonate by |Ni^III(L¹)|²⁺ (where HL¹ = 15-amino-3-methyl-4,7,10,13-tetraazapentadec-3-en-2-one oxime) were carried out over the regions pH 3.0–5.75, 2.80–5.50, and 2.50–7.58, respectively, at constant ionic strength and temperature 40°C. All the reactions are overall second-order with first-order on both the oxidant and reductant. A general rate law is given as - d/dt|Ni^III(L¹)²⁺| = k_obs|Ni^III(L¹)²⁺| = (k_d + nk_s |R|)|Ni^III(L¹)²⁺|, where k_d is the auto-decomposition rate constant of the complex, k_s is the electron transfer rate constant, n is the stoichiometric factor, and R is either formate, oxalate, or malonate. The reactivity of all the reacting species of the reductants in solution were evaluated choosing suitable pH regions. The reactivity orders are: k_HCOOH > k; k > k > k, and k > k < k for the oxidation of formate, oxalate, and malonate, respectively, and these trends were explained considering the effect of hydrogen bonded adduct formation and thermodynamic potential. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 225–230, 1997.