The kinetics and the mechanism of the thermal decomposition of bis(trifluoromethyl) trioxide. The influence of carbonmonoxide on its decomposition

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of CF₃O₃CF₃ has been investigated in the pressure range of 15–599 torr at temperatures between 59.8 and 90.3°C and also in the presence of CO between 42 and 7°C. The reaction is homogeneous. In the absence of CO the only reaction products are CF₃O₂CF₃ and O₂. The rate of reaction is strictly proportional to the trioxide pressure, and is not affected by the total pressure, the presence of inert gases, and oxygen. The following mechanism explains the experimental results: In the presence of CO there appear CO₂, (CF₃OCO)₂, and CF₃O₂C(O)OCF₃ as products. With increasing temperature the amount of peroxicarbonate decreases, while the amounts of oxalate and CO₂ increase. The rate of decomposition of the trioxide above a limiting pressure of about 10 torr CO is strictly first order and independent of CO pressure, total pressure, and the pressure of the products. The addition of larger amounts of O₂ to the CO containing system chaqnges the course of the reaction.