Pyrolysis of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in the absence and the presence of added HCl and/or CCl4

The title reaction has been studied in a static quartz reaction vessel between 587 and 658 K at pressures between 40 and 152 torr. The dehydrochlorination is the only significant reaction and is autoaccelerated by the produced HCl. Numerical modelling indicates that the Rice-Herzfeld mechanism, generally used for describing the pyrolysis of halogenated ethanes, has to be completed in the case of CC1₃CH₃ with additional transfer reactions converting “dead” radicals into chain carriers and vice-versa. The numerical simulation fits the experimental results, in the absence as well as in the presence of different amounts of added HCl. The dehydrochlorination is also accelerated by the addition of CCl₄, which can be explained in terms of additional elementary steps involving · CCl₃ radicals.     

Kinetic study and modeling of the hetero-homo-geneous pyrolysis and oxidation of isobutane around 800 K. Part III. Pyrolysis-oxidation in unpacked and in pbO-coated packed Pyrex reactors

Isobutane pyrolysis has been studied in the presence of oxygen at about 773 K in unpacked and in PbO-coated packed Pyrex reactors. The reaction is shown to be accelerated by oxygen in reactors of low surface-to-volume ratio and strongly inhibited in packed PbO-coated reactors. These oxygen effects are explained in terms of interaction between two radical chain systems, one of pyrolysis, the other of oxidation. Oxygen introduces additional chain initiations and a degenerate chain branching step due to H₂O₂ while oxygenated radicals are efficiently removed at the reactor wall. All experimental results have been modeled and many rate constants of elementary steps were evaluated. The collision efficiency of HO_2. radicals on a PbO-coated Pyrex surface has been determined in the temperature range of this study. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 657–671, 1998     

Cyclo- and cyclized diene polymers. XVI. Nature of the active species and a proposed mechanism of cyclopolymerization of isoprene with catalysts containing ethylaluminum halides

The polymerization of isoprene with C₂H₅AlCl₂ to yield solid cyclopolyisoprene is markedly accelerated by the addition of TiCl₄. The polymer yield passes through a maximum on increasing the catalyst reaction time with or without monomer present. The active species are probably cations formed by dissociation of the reaction product of C₂H₅AlCl₂ and TiCl₄. The polymerization of isoprene with (C₂H₅)₂AlX–TiCl₄ (X = F, Br, Cl) has maximum activity at an Al/Ti mole ratio of 0.75 corresponding to conversion of R₂AlX to RAIX₂ which then reacts with remaining TiCl₄. A proposed mechanism of cyclopolymerization of conjugated dienes involves monomer activation, i.e., conversion to cation radical by one-electron transfer to catalyst cation which is itself neutralized, addition of cation end of monomer cation radical to terminal or internal unsaturation of fused cyclohexane polymer chain, one-electron transfer from “neutral” catalyst to cation on polymer chain which is then transformed to a diradical which undergoes coupling to form a cyclohexene ring. The mechanism of the “living” polymerization involves addition of catalyst-activated monomer to a “dead” polymer with a terminal cyclohexene ring and regeneration of the active catalyst.     

Specific features of the radiolysis of water and aqueous solutions of H2 and O2 by mixed n,γ-radiation with a high portion of the neutron component

A previously unknown feature of the kinetics of the radiolysis of water and hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide solutions has been discussed. By calculation, it has been revealed that concentration oscillations of the radiolysis products can appear during irradiation of the solution with fast neutrons or mixed n,γ-radiation with a high portion of the neutron component. The period and amplitude of the oscillations depend on the temperature, the dose rate, and the ratio of n/γ radiation components. It has been shown that oscillations cannot be excited during γ-radiolysis under any conditions. It is suggested that the mechanism of the oscillations is similar to the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction mechanism. A chain reaction proceeds in the irradiated system, in which the reactants H₂O₂ (“reducing agent”), “oxidizing agent” OH radicals initiating the chain, and the “catalyst” are introduced from the outside. Hydrogen molecules produced by the action of radiation play the role of the “catalyst”, and H₂O molecules formed in the secondary reactions are the “deactivated form of the catalyst”. Hydrogen atoms and hydrated electrons propagate the chain. Oxygen formed in both spurs and the secondary reactions is the “inhibitor” terminating the chain reaction.     

Pyrolysis-gas-liquid-chromatography utilised for a kinetic study of the mechanisms of initiation and termination in the thermal degradation of polystyrene

Pyrolysis-gas-liquid-chromatography (“thermocouple feedback” technique) has been used to study the thermal degradation kinetics of ionically-initiated and free-radical-initiated samples of polystyrene. Although mass-spectrometric measurements confirm that the pyrolysis products from large samples (1 mg) contain oligomers up to at least hexamer in addition to monomer, only monomer is detected when small thin samples (0.1 μg, 10²–10⁵ Å) are used. This effect is not due to a sensitivity problem in detecting oligomers, nor to the incapacity of such compounds of limited volatility to elute from the GLC apparatus. In studying the kinetics of monomer evolution from thin films, initial work was concerned with the effect of film thickness and the limits of first-order behaviour. Then the specific rate of monomer evolution (k_obs) was measured as a function of molecular weight for both types of sample at 723 K and 753 K; the results indicate that the pyrolysis mechanism involves both initiation at the chain-ends and initiation by random scission. Kinetic schemes involving mixed initiation have been proposed, and on this basis the results have been analysed to yield activation energies for scission and end-initiation for both types of sample. Comparison of the activation energies obtained with the quoted value for scission of a CC bond has shown that the depolymerization chain termination process cannot be second order and must be first order in the concentration of long chain radicals. The experimental results also indicate that the ionically-initiated polystyrenes are more stable than free-radical-initiated samples of comparable molecular weight. Possible initiation sites have been discussed with reference to the samples examined and to previous published studies. Several mechanisms leading to first order termination have been proposed; it is suggested that the most probable process involves intramolecular transfer with subsequent scission to give an oligomer radical which is small enough to diffuse readily from the system without further reaction.     

Mechanism of Thermal Toluene Autoxidation

Aerobic oxidation of toluene (PhCH₃) is investigated by complementary experimental and theoretical methodologies. Whereas the reaction of the chain‐carrying benzylperoxyl radicals with the substrate produces predominantly benzyl hydroperoxide, benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde originate mainly from subsequent propagation of the hydroperoxide product. Nevertheless, a significant fraction of benzaldehyde is also produced in primary PhCH₃ propagation, presumably via proton rather than hydrogen transfer. An equimolar amount of benzyl alcohol, together with benzoic acid, is additionally produced in the tertiary propagation of PhCHO with benzylperoxyl radicals. The “hot” oxy radicals generated in this step can also abstract aromatic hydrogen atoms from PhCH₃, and this results in production of cresols, known inhibitors of radical‐chain reactions. The very fast benzyl peroxyl‐initiated co‐oxidation of benzyl alcohol generates HO₂^. radicals, along with benzaldehyde. This reaction also causes a decrease in the overall oxidation rate, due to the fast chain‐terminating reaction of HO₂^. with the benzylperoxyl radicals, which causes a loss of chain carriers. Moreover, due to the fast equilibrium PhCH₂OOH+HO₂^.?PhCH₂OO^.+H₂O₂, and the much lower reactivity of H₂O₂ compared to PhCH₂OOH, the fast co‐oxidation of the alcohol means that HO₂^. gradually takes over the role of benzylperoxyl as principal chain carrier. This drastically changes the autoxidation mechanism and, among other things, causes a sharp decrease in the hydroperoxide yield.     

Competitive reactivities of vinylthiyl radicals thermally generated from haloethylenes and hydrogen sulfide

Acetylene and its derivatives have been used for the first time as “traps” for vinylthiyl radicals generatedin situ from hydrogen sulfide and haloethylenes in gas-phase processes. The competitive reactivity of the vinylthiyl radicals has been studied at 500–570 °C in the presence of two chemical “traps.” The efficiency of chemical “traps” for the vinylthiyl radicals decreases in the following sequence: HC≡CPh > HC≡CH > MeC≡CH > CH₂=CHCl. Acetylene is a more efficient “trap” for the vinylthiyl radicals than 1,2-dichloroethylene, from which they have been generated. The β-phenylvinylthiyl radicals generated during cothermolysis of halostyrene-hydrogen sulfide-acetylene component ternary systems undergo first of all intramolecular ring closure to give benzothiophene, which is a thermodynamically favorable system; the reaction of these radicals with acetylene and its derivatives occurs much more slowly than heterocyclization. Phenylacetylene is a more efficient “trap” than acetylene. α-Phenylvinylthiyl radicals mostly react with acetylene to yield 2-phenylthiophene.     

The interaction between polymerization initiators and inhibitors in solutions—II. The reaction between benzoyl peroxide and p-benzoquinone in concentrated solutions; Some observations on the induced decomposition of the peroxide

The reaction between benzoyl peroxide and p-benzoquinone in concentrated solutions in a wide variety of solvents has been investigated by isolation and identification of the reaction products. Despite the high efficiency of p-benzoquinone as a trap for benzoyloxy radicals, partial decarboxylation to phenyl radicals usually occurs. Complete suppression of decarboxylation is achieved only when p-benzoquinone is present at such a high concentration that it is effectively the solvent for the reaction.The benzoyloxy- and phenyl semiquinones show marked differences in reactivity, the former tend to combine to form dibenzoyloxy dibenzoquinone while disproportionation is favoured by the latter to form quinhydrone of monophenylbenzoquinone.At lower quinone ratio, the peroxide undergoes induced decomposition by phenyl radicals both in “reactive” and “unreactive” solvents. The induced decomposition involves the formation of radical intermediates which undergo disproportionation, but not intramolecular rearrangement, to form p-phenylbenzoyloxy radicals. The latter can be captured, before undergoing decarboxylation, by the benzoyloxysemiquinones formed in the reaction.A correlation between the electron donating property of a radical and its capability to induce the decomposition of the peroxide was developed.     

Alternating copolymerization of maleic anhydride with allyl chloroacetate

Some regularities of radical alternating copolymerization of maleic anhydride with allyl chloroacetate are studied. The formation of donor–acceptor complexes between comonomers with complexing constant K_c = 0.052 L/mol is found using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The kinetic parameters for this copolymerization reaction are found and the quantitative contribution of monomer complexes to chain-growth radical reactions is calculated. It is shown that either a “free-monomer” mechanism (dilute solutions) or a “mixed” mechanism (concentrated solutions) prevails for chain growth during radical copolymerization depending on total monomer concentration. It is found that inhibition of degradative chain transfer in the course of the reaction studied takes place owing to the presence of α-chlorine atom in the allyl chloracetate molecule and formation of charge transfer complex.     

Collision between polymeric radicals for termination rate constants

The motion of each polymeric radical during a collision between the polymeric radicals with the same radius is treated as completely random motion. The result obtained is: k_t = 0.250k_s (where k_t is the chain-termination rate constant and k_s is the reaction rate constant between radical chain ends). On taking the motion of the primary radical during a collision between a primary radical and a large polymeric radical to be completely random, the result obtained is: k_ti = 0.250k_si (where k_ti is the primary radical termination rate constant and k_si is the reaction rate constant between primary radical and radical chain end). On substituting k_s for k_si in the second equation, the rate constant obtained becomes the chain termination rate constant between the very small polymeric radical and the very large polymeric radical, and identical to the former equation. This identity indicates that the effect of the difference of the size of the polymeric radicals on the collision process relating to the chain termination rate constant should not be large.     

Influences of ClH and BrH on the pyrolyses of neopentane and ethane at small extents of reaction

A symbolic mechanism “μH, YH” has been proposed to account for the homogeneous chain pyrolysis of an organic compound μH in the presence of a hydrogenated additive YH at small extents of reaction. An analysis of this mechanism leads to two limiting cases: the thermal decomposition of neopentane corresponds to the first one (A), that of ethane to the second one (B). Previous experimental work has shown that this mechanism seems to account for a number of experimental observations, especially the inhibition of alkane pyrolyses by alkenes. Experimental investigations were extended by examining the influences oftwo hydrogen halides (ClH and BrH) upon the pyrolyses of neopentane (at 480°C) and ethane (around 540°C). The experiments have been performed in a conventional static Pyrex apparatus and reaction products have been analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The study shows that ClH and BrH accelerate the pyrolysis of neopentane (into i-C₄H₈ + CH₄). The experimental results are interpreted by reaction schemes which appear as examples of the mechanism “μH, YH” in the first limiting case (A). The proposed schemes enable one to understand why the accelerating influence of ClH is lower or higher than that of BrH, depending on the concentration of the additive. An evaluation of the rate constant of the elementary steps neo-C₅H₁₁ · → i-C₄H₈ + CH₃ · is discussed. In the case of ethane pyrolysis, BrH inhibits the formation of the majorproducts (C₂H₄ + H₂) and, even more, that of n-butane traces. The experimental results are interpreted by a reaction scheme which appears as an example of the mechanism “μH, YH” in the second limiting case (B). On the contrary, ClH has no noticeable influence on the reaction kinetics. This result inessentially due to the fact that the bond dissociation energy of Cl? H(?103 kcal/mol) is higher than that of C₂H₅—H (?98 kcal/mol), whereas that of Br—H (?88 kcal/mol) is lower.     

SHi Reactions at Silicon as Unimolecular Chain Transfer Steps in the Formation of Cyclic Alkoxysilanes

A new radical approach to cyclic ethers 2 is offered by the intramolecular homolytic substitution (S_Hi) reaction at a silicon center. High diastereoselectivities can be obtained in this efficient unimolecular chain transfer reaction. Less suitable are radicals such as 1 in which an R₃Si group replaces the SnMe₃ group.     

Chain transfer by addition–substitution–fragmentation mechanism. I. End–functional polymers by a single-step free radical transfer reaction: Use of a new allylic linear peroxyketal

A new chain transfer agent, ethyl 2-[1-(1-n-butoxyethylperoxy) ethyl] propenoate (EBEPEP) was used in the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and butyl acrylate (BA) to produce end-functional polymers by a radical addition–substitution–fragmentation mechanism. The chain transfer constants (C_tr) for EBEPEP in the three monomers polymerization at 60°C were determined from measurements of the degrees of polymerization. The C_tr were determined to be 0.086, 0.91, and 0.63 in MMA, St, and BA, respectively. EBEPEP behaves nearly as an “azeotropic” transfer agent for styrene at 60°C. The activation energy, E_atr, for the chain transfer reaction of EBEPEP with PMMA radicals was determined to be 29.5 kJ/mol. Thermal stability of peroxyketal EBEPEP in the polymerization medium was estimated from the DSC measurements of the activation energy, E_ath = 133.5 kJ/mol, and the rate constants, k_th, of the thermolysis to various temperature. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Scope for Accessing the Chain Length Dependence of the Termination Rate Coefficient for Disparate Length Radicals in Acrylate Free Radical Polymerization

A method that utilizes reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) chemistry is evaluated on a theoretical basis to deduce the termination rate coefficient for disparate length radicals k in acrylate free radical polymerization, where s and l represent the arbitrary yet disparate chain lengths from either a “short” or “long” RAFT distribution. The method is based on a previously developed method for elucidation of k for the model monomer system styrene. The method was expanded to account for intramolecular chain transfer (i.e., the formation of mid-chain radicals via backbiting) and the free radical polymerization kinetic parameters of methyl acrylate. Simulations show that the method's predictive capability is sensitive to the polymerization rate's dependence on monomer concentration, i.e., the virtual monomer reaction order, which varies with the termination rate coefficient's value and chain length dependence. However, attaining the virtual monomer reaction order is a facile process and once known the method developed here that accounts for mid-chain radicals and virtual monomer reaction orders other than one seems robust enough to elucidate the chain length dependence of k for the more complex acrylate free radical polymerization.     

Pyrolysis of 1‐chloro‐1,1‐difluoroethane: Considerations about its molecular nature

A new insight into the contested origin of the absence of radical reaction in the pyrolysis of CF₂ClCH₃ is given. This chain reaction would be too slow compared with the molecular reaction because of a too slow homogeneous initiation leading to a too fast wall recombination of the Cl atom chain carriers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Int J Chem Kinet 31: 283–289, 1999     

The mechanism of the vapor-phase chlorination of benzene derivatives

The title reaction, displaying peculiar characteristics as to relative rates and isomer distributions, has been studied in detail. Prior to this study, different mechanisms had been advanced by several groups. Kinetic features (isomer patterns, relative and absolute rates, reaction orders, influences of additives, H/D isotope effects) strongly point to a free-radical (chain) process, in which (1) is a crucial step. This abstraction reaction, endothermal by about 6 kcal/mol, apparently proceeds via a transition state closely resembling the free aryl radical. Relative rates and isomer distributions therefore reflect differences in stabilization energies, or in DH°(Ar – H). With high arene–Cl₂ intake ratios or, more pronounced, with CCl₄ as the reagent, aryl radicals also lead to biaryl, where arene successfully competes with the halogenating agent. This interpretation is quantitatively supported by our observation that “added,?” recognizable aryl radicals yield the same chlorination–arylation product ratio, and by the results of competitive chlorination of benzene and chloroform over a temperature range of 200°C, where the latter study substantiates the value DH⁰(C₆H₅ – H) ≈ 109 kcal/mol.     

Emulsion polymerization. V. Lowest theoretical limits of the ratio kt/kp

It is assumed that the propagating polymeric radicals have no diffusive mobility in the very highly viscous medium within latex particles. Chain growth takes place on a lattice when the polymeric radical reacts with a monomer present on a lattice site adjacent to that occupied by the reactive chain end. For termination, two radical chain ends must be positioned on adjacent lattice sites at the same instant. The k_t/k_p ratios calculated with this model are either similar to or somewhat lower than the values determined in emulsion polymerization experiments. A minimum value of k_t/k_p can be calculated with the aid of the rate equation of Part III by assuming that only “living” polymer is produced during emulsion polymerization. This value of k_t/k_p is significantly lower than that calculated by the lattice model. Since the value corresponding to the lattice model gives the slowest practically achievable termination rate, it is concluded from these calculations that emulsion polymerization cannot be carried out under conditions in which chain termination is completely suppressed.     

A Mechanistic Study of the Effects of Antioxidants on the Formation of Malondialdehyde‐Like Products in the Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals with Deoxyribose

The reactions of ^.OH radicals with deoxyribose, DR, form five different DR^. radicals, only one of which is transformed into malondialdehyde (MDA)‐like products. The radiolytic yield of the MDA‐like products increases with the increase in the DR concentration indicating that some of the initially formed “unproductive” radicals react with DR to form the “productive” radicals. The yield of the MDA‐like products also increases with the dose rate delivered to the solution suggesting that the formation of the MDA‐like products involves the reaction of the “productive” radicals with a radical. The addition of ascorbate, AH^?, to the solution decreases the yield of the MDA‐like products as expected from the relative rates of the reaction of DR and AH^? with ^.OH radicals. On the other hand the addition of the exogenous thiol, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), to the solutions decreases the yield of the MDA‐like products considerably more than expected from the rate constants of the reaction with ^.OH radicals. The addition of the endogenous thiol, glutathione (GSH), to the solutions affects the yield of the MDA‐like products at low concentration less than expected and at “high” concentrations more than expected from the rate constant of the reaction. Addition of low concentration of AH^? to solutions containing GSH increases considerably its antioxidant activity whereas addition of small concentrations of AH^? to solutions containing NAC has no effect on its antioxidant activity. The results point out that the DR^. radicals react differently with NAC and GSH and that the GS^. and NAC^. radicals react differently with DR, the GS^. radical being considerably more active than the NAC^. radical. Thus it has to be concluded that the relative activity of antioxidants depends also on the rate constants of many secondary reactions and on the concentrations of all the solutes present in the system.