The reaction of atomic oxygen O(3P) with propane

The reaction of O(³P) atoms with propanehas been studied at temperatures near 300 K by using a discharge flow system. Oxygen atoms were generated in the absence of molecular oxygen by the reaction N + NO → N₂ + O, nitrogen atoms having been generated in a microwave discharge. Rate constants for the reaction were measured in two ways, either by measurement of O-atom decay in the presence of excess propane or by measuring the change in propane concentration after an appropriate time in the presence of an excess of oxygen atoms. The two methods were in good agreement, and the mean rate constant at 306 K is given by A study of the products of the reaction under conditions corresponding to complete removal of oxygen atoms has shown that an important product of the reaction in the early stages is propene. This is difficult to explain interms of a mechanism involving alkoxy radicals similar to that which has been proposed for some other O(³P)–hydrocarbon reactions. An alternative mechanism is proposed in terms of successive hydrogen abstraction reactions.