Thermal isomerization and decomposition of 1,2-butadiene in shock waves

1,2-Butadiene diluted with Ar was heated behind reflected shock waves over the temperature and the total density range of 1100–1600 K and 1.36 × 10^?5 ? 1.75 × 10^?5 mol/cm³. The major products were 1,3-butadiene, 1-butyne, 2-butyne, vinylacetylene, diacetylene, allene, propyne, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, CH₄, and benzene, which were analyzed by gas chromatography. The UV kinetic absorption spectroscopy at 230 nm showed that 1,2-butadiene rapidly isomerizes to 1,3-butadiene from the initial stage of the reaction above 1200 K. In order to interpret the formation of 1,3-butadiene, 1-butyne, and 2-butyne, it was necessary to include the parallel isomerizations of 1,2-butadiene to these isomers. The present data were successfuly modeled with a 82 reaction mechanism. From the modeling, rate constant expressions were derived for the isomerization 1,2-butadiene = 1,3-butadiene to be k₃ = 2.5 × 10¹³ exp(?63 kcal/RT) s^?1 and for the decomposition 1,2-butadiene = C₃H₃ + CH₃ to be k₆ = 2.0 × 10¹⁵ exp(?75 kcal/RT) s^?1, where the activation energies, 63 kcal/mol and 75 kcal/mol, were assumed. These rate constants are only applicable under the present experimental conditions, 1100–1600 K and 1.23–2.30 atm. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.