The gas-phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites VI. t-Amyl nitrite

The rate of decomposition of tert-amyl nitrite (t-AmONO) has been studied in the absence (120°–155°C) and presence (160°–190°C) of nitric oxide. In the absence of nitric oxide for low concentrations of tert-amyl nitrite (～10^?4M) and small extents of reaction (～1%), the first-order homogeneous rates of acetone formation are a direct measure of reaction (1) since k_3a ? k₂(NO): The rate of acetone formation is unaffected by the addition of large amounts of carbon tetrafluoride or isobutane (～1 atm) but is completely suppressed by large amounts of nitric oxide (1 atm 120°–155°C). The rate of reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^16.3±0.1 10^?40.3±0.1/θ sec^?1. Since (E₁ + RT) and ΔH°₁ are identical, both may be equated with D(t-AmO – NO) = 40.9 ± 0.1 kcal/mol and E₂ = 0 ± 0.1 kcal/mol. The thermochemistry leads to the result that ΔH°_f (t-AmO) = ?26.6 ± 1 kcal/mol. From ΔS°₁ and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.5±^0.2 M^?1·sec^?1. Although the addition of nitric oxide completely suppresses acetone formation at lower temperatures, it reappears at higher temperatures. This is a result of reaction (3a) now competing with reaction (2), thus allowing k_3a to be determined. The rate constant for reaction (3a) is given by k_3a = 10^{14.7 ± 0.2} 10^{?14.3 ± 1}/θ sec^?1. There are two possible routes for the decomposition of the tert-amyloxyl radical: The dominating process is (3a). From the result at 160°C that k_3a/k_3b = 80, we arrive at the result k_3b = 10^15.0–18.7/θ sec^?1. In addition to the products accounted for by the radical split (1), methyl-2-but-1-ene and methyl-2-but-2-ene are produced as a result of the six-centre elimination of nitrous acid (5): The ratio k_5a/k_5b was 0.35. Unlike tert-butyl where the rates of the two paths were comparable [(l) and (5)], here the total rate of the elimination process was only 0.5% that of the radical split (1). The reason for this is not clear.     

The gas-phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites. III. Isopropyl nitrite

The rate of decomposition of isopropyl nitrite (IPN) has been studied in a static system over the temperature range of 130–160°C. For low concentrations of IPN (1–5 × 10^?5M), but with a high total pressure of CF₄ (～0.9 atm) and small extents of reaction (～1%), the first-order rates of acetaldehyde (AcH) formation are a direct measure of reaction (1), since k₃ » k₂(NO): \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm IPN}\begin{array}{rcl} 1 \\ {\rightleftarrows} \\ 2 \\ \end{array}i - \Pr \mathop {\rm O}\limits^. + {\rm NO},i - \Pr \mathop {\rm O}\limits^. \stackrel{3}{\longrightarrow} {\rm AcH} + {\rm Me}. $\end{document} Addition of large amounts of NO (～0.9 atm) in place of CF₄ almost completely suppressed AcH formation. Addition of large amounts of isobutane – t-BuH – (～0.9 atm) in place of CF₄ at 160°C resulted in decreasing the AcH by 25%. Thus 25% of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ i - \Pr \mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .} $\end{document} were trapped by the t-BuH (4): \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ i - \Pr \mathop {\rm O}\limits^. + t - {\rm BuH} \stackrel{4}{\longrightarrow} i - \Pr {\rm OH} + (t - {\rm Bu}). $\end{document} The result of adding either NO or t-BuH shows that reaction (1) is the only route for the production of AcH. The rate constant for reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^{16.2±0.4–41.0±0.8}/θ sec^?1. Since (E₁ + RT) and ΔH°₁ are identical, within experimental error, both may be equated with D(i-PrO-NO) = 41.6 ± 0.8 kcal/mol and E₂ = 0 ± 0.8 kcal/mol. The thermochemistry leads to the result that \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \Delta H_f^\circ (i - {\rm Pr}\mathop {\rm O}\limits^{\rm .} ) = - 11.9 \pm 0.8{\rm kcal}/{\rm mol}. $\end{document} From ΔS°₁ and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.5±0.4M^?1·sec^?1. From an independent observation that k₆/k₂ = 0.19 ± 0.03 independent of temperature we find E₆ = 0 ± 1 kcal/mol and k₆ = 10^9.8+0.4M^?;1·sec^?1: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ i - \Pr \mathop {\rm O}\limits^. + {\rm NO} \stackrel{6}{\longrightarrow} {\rm M}_2 {\rm K} + {\rm HNO}. $\end{document} In addition to AcH, acetone (M₂K) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) are produced in approximately equal amounts. The rate of M₂K formation is markedly affected by the ratio S/V of different reaction vessels. It is concluded that the M₂K arises as the result of a heterogeneous elimination of HNO from IPN. In a spherical reaction vessel the first-order rate of M₂K formation is given by k₅ = 10^9.4–27.0/θ sec^?1: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm IPN} \stackrel{5}{\longrightarrow} {\rm M}_2 {\rm K} + {\rm HNO}. $\end{document} IPA is thought to arise via the hydrolysis of IPN, the water being formed from HNO. This elimination process explains previous erroneous results for IPN.     

The gas-phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites. IV. Ethyl nitrite

The rate of decomposition of methyl nitrite (MN) has been studied in the presence of isobutane-t-BuH-(167-200°C) and NO (170-200°C). In the presence of t-BuH (～0.9 atm), for low concentrations of MN (～10^?4M) and small extents of reaction (4-10%), the first-order homogeneous rates of methanol (MeOH) formation are a direct measure of reaction (1) since k₄(t-BuH) »k₂(NO): . The results indicate that the termination process involves only \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ t - {\rm Bu\, and\, NO:\,\,}t - {\rm Bu} + {\rm NO\stackrel{e}{\longrightarrow}} $\end{document} products, such that k_e ～ 10¹⁰ M^?1 ～ sec^?1.Under these conditions small amounts of CH₂O are formed (3-8% of the MeOH). This is attributed to a molecular elimination of HNO from MN. The rate of MeOH formation shows a marked pressure dependence at low pressures of t-BuH. Addition of large amounts of NO completely suppresses MeOH formation. The rate constant for reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^{15.8°0.6-41.2°1}/· sec^?1. Since (E₁ + RT) and ΔH^Δ₁ are identical, within experimental error, both may be equated with D(MeO - NO) = 41.8 + 1 kcal/mole and E₂ = 0 ± 1 kcal/mol. From ΔS¹₁ and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.1°0.6M^?1 · sec^?1, in good agreement with our values for other alkyl nitrites. These results reestablish NO as a good radical trap for the study of the reactions of alkoxyl radicals in particular. From an independent observation that k₆/k₂ = 0.17 independent of temperature, we conclude that \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ E_6 = 0 \pm 1{\rm kcal}/{\rm mol\, and\,}\,k_6 = 10^{9.3} M^{- 1} \cdot {\rm sec}^{- 1} :{\rm MeO} + {\rm NO}\stackrel{6}{\longrightarrow}{\rm CH}_2 {\rm O} + {\rm HNO} $\end{document}. From the independent observations that k₂:k_2→: k_6→ was 1:0.37:0.04, we find that k_2→ = 10^9.7M^?1 ? sec^?1 and k_6→ = 10^8.7M^?1 ? sec^?1. In addition, the thermodynamics lead to the result In the presence of NO (～0.9 atm) the products are CH₂O and N₂O (and presumably H₂O) such that the ratio N₂O/CH₂O ～ 0.5. The rate of CH₂O formation was affected by the surface-to-volume ratio s/v for different reaction vessels, but it is concluded that, in a spherical reaction vessel, the CH₂O arises as the result of an essentially homogeneous first-order, fourcenter elimination of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm HNO}:{\rm MN\stackrel{5}{\longrightarrow}CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm O} + {\rm HNO} $\end{document}. The rate of CH₂O formation is given by k₅ = 10^{13.6°0.6-38.5-1}/? sec^?1.     

The gas phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites. I. t-butyl nitrite

The rate of decomposition of t-butyl nitrite (TBN) has been studied in a static system over the temperature range of 120–160°C. For low concentrations of TBN (10^?5- 10^?4M), but with a high total pressure of CF₄ (～0.9 atm) and small extents of reaction (～1%), the first-order homogeneous rates of acetone (M₂K) formation are a direct measure of reaction (1), since k₃» k₂ (NO): TBN . Addition of large amounts of NO in place of CF₄ almost completely suppresses M₂K formation. This shows that reaction (1) is the only route for this product. The rate of reaction (1) is given by k₁ = 10^16.3–40.3/θ s^?1. Since (E₁ + RT) and ΔH are identical, both may be equated with D(RO-NO) = 40.9 ± 0.8 kcal/mole and E₂ = O ± 1 kcal/mole. From ΔS and A₁, k₂ is calculated to be 10^10.4M^?1 ·s^?1, implying that combination of t? BuO and NO occurs once every ten collisions. From an independent observation that k₂/k₂′ = 1.7 ± 0.25 independent of temperature, it is concluded that k₂′ = 10^10.2M^?1 · s^?1 and k₁′ = 10^15.9?40.2/θ s^?1; . This study shows that MeNO arises solely as a result of the combination of Me and NO. Since NO is such an excellent radical trap for t-Bu\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm Me\dot O}$\end{document}, reaction (2) may be used in a competitive study of the decomposition of t? Bu\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm Me\dot O}$\end{document} in order to obtain the first absolute value for k₃. Preliminary results show that k₃ (∞) = 10^15.7–17.0/θ s^?1. The pressure dependence of k₃ is demonstrated over the range of 10^?2?1 atm (160°C). The thermochemistry for reaction (3) implies that the Hg 6(³P₁) sensitised decomposition of t-BuOH occurs via reaction (m): In addition to the products accounted for by the TBN radical split, isobutene is formed as a result of the 6-centre elimination of HONO: TBN \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathop \to \limits^7 $\end{document} isobutene + HONO. The rate of formation of isobutene is given by k₇ = 10^12.9–33.6/θ s^?1. t-BuOH, formed at a rate comparable to that of isobutene–at least in the initial stages–is thought to arise as a result of secondary reactions between TBN and HONO. The apparent discrepancy between this and previous studies is reconciled in terms of the above parallel reactions (1) and (7), such that k + 2k₇ = 10^14.7–36.2/θ s^?1.     

The gas-phase pyrolysis of alkyl nitrites. VII. Primary and secondary nitrites in the presence of nitric oxide

Although our pyrolytic studies of five alkyl nitrites (RONO) have shown that it is possible to determine precise, acceptable values for k₁: we have been uncertain about the mechanism for the first order production of nitroxyl from primary and secondary nitrites. Nitroxyl could arise either from the direct elimination process (5) or from the disproportionation of the alkoxyl radical concerned and nitric oxide: Thus k_exp = k₅ or k₁k₆/[k₂ + k₆]. If the route is reaction (6), E_exp should be identical to E₁, since the ratio k₆/k₂ is temperature independent. We preferred the elimination process because E_exp < E₁ and A_exp was in agreement with transition-state calculations for such elimination processes. This study was concerned with the pyrolyses of ethyl and i-propyl nitrites in the presence of nitric oxide. The results show that nitroxyl is produced via the disproportionation of the alkoxyl radical and nitric oxide, as originally suggested by Levy. This is supported by the wealth of particularly photochemical data in the literature. Our and other previous spuriously low Arrhenius parameters are attributed to heterogeneous effects.     

Kinetics of the reactions of cyclopropane derivatives,part II. The gas-phase pyrolysis of cyclopropylamine

At temperatures of 356-425°C and pressures of 15–60 Torr, cyclopropylamine reacts to give an equimolar mixture of ammonia and N-propylidenecyclopropylamine as the initial product. The reaction is first order, homogeneous, and unaffected by the presence of radical inhibitors, and thus proceeds by an initial rate-determining unimolecular isomerization to give a reactive intermediate, which then reacts with a further molecule of cyclopropylamine to give the observed products. Reaction in the presence of added aliphatic amines gives other imines in addition, and the nature of these indicates that the intermediate is propenylamine or its tautomer propylideneamine:      

Study of alkyl nitrites oxidation with DMSO

The oxidation of nine alkyl nitrites to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in yields of 76–96% by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is described; since oxidation with DMSO is very selective this method can be used to obtain aldehydes or ketones from alcohols which include other labile functional groups such as alkene, alkyne and aldehyde.     

Techniques in gas-phase thermolyses: Part 7. Direct surface participation in gas-phase Curie-point pyrolysis: The pyrolysis of phenyl azide

The possible direct participation of the hot reactor surface in the formation of pyrolysis products was elucidated through the pyrolytic decomposition of phenyl azide. It is demonstrated that the intermediate phenyl nitrene generated reacts with elemental carbon at the filament surface, leading eventually to benzonitrile. The importance of well defined surfaces is discussed.     

Proton affinity of methyl nitrite and methyl peroxynitrite: implications for measuring branching ratios of alkyl nitrates and nitrites

Geometry optimizations for methyl nitrite and methyl peroxynitrite, along with various protonated isomers for each, have been investigated using ab initio and density functional methods. The lowest energy structure for protonated methyl nitrite is a complex between CH3OH and NO(+). For methyl peroxynitrite, the lowest energy protonated structure is a complex between CH3OOH and NO(+). Their respective proton affinities are estimated to be 195.2 and 195.8 kcal/mol at the QCISD(T)/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory. The results, compared with past studies, suggest an alternative method for directly measuring branching ratios for production of alkyl nitrates and nitrites.     

Cold-surface photochemistry of primary and tertiary alkyl nitrites

Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) is used to explore the photochemistry of primary and tertiary alkyl nitrites deposited on a gold surface. The primary alkyl nitrites examined for this study were n-butyl, isobutyl, and isopentyl nitrite. These compounds showed qualitatively similar spectra to those observed in previous condensed-phase measurements. The photolysis of the primary nitrites involved the initial formation of an alkoxy radical and NO, followed by production of nitroxyl (HNO) and an aldehydic species. In addition, the formation of nitrous oxide, identified from its distinctive transition near 2230 cm(-1), was observed to form from the self-reaction of nitroxyl. The reaction rates for cis and trans conformer decay, as tracked through their intense N═O stretching modes, were found to be significantly different, potentially due to a structural bias that favors HNO formation for the initial trans conformer photoproducts over recombination. Tert-butyl nitrite demonstrates only the trans conformer in the RAIRS spectra prior to photolysis; however, recombination of the initial NO and RO(?) photoproducts was observed to produce the cis conformer in the photolyzed samples. The primary photoproducts from tert-butyl nitrite can also react to form acetone and nitrosomethane, but the absence of HNO prohibits the formation of N(2)O that was observed for the primary alkyl nitrites. Additionally, the RAIRS spectrum of isobutyl nitrite co-deposited with water was measured to examine the photolysis of this species on a water-ice surface. No change in the identity of the photoproducts was observed in this experiment, and minimal frequency shifting (1-3 cm(-1)) of the vibrational modes occurred. In addition to being a known atmospheric source of NO and various aldehydes, our results point to cold surface processing of alkyl nitrites as a potential environmental source of nitrous oxide.     

Determination of sulphanilamides with alkyl nitrites by a potentiometric method

A potentiometric titration with alkye nitrite solutions is described for the determination of various sulpha, drugs.     

Dimethyl carbonate synthesis and other oxidative reactions using alkyl nitrites

The oxidative reactions using the alkyl nitrites (RONO) as an oxidant have been developed by Ube Industries, Ltd. In the alkyl nitrite reactions, substrates such as CO andyor unsaturated- andyor carbonyl-compounds are oxidized over the palladium catalysts in no direct contact with molecular oxygen. The dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dialkyl oxalates and other useful chemicals are synthesized efficiently under moderate conditions by the alkyl nitrite reactions.     

The kinetics and mechanisms of the gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl 4-bromobutyrate. The ion-pair mechanism revisited

The gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl 4-bromobutyrate has been investigated in a static system over the temperature range of 354.6–374.7°C and the pressure range of 51–126 torr. The elimination reaction in seasoned vessels and in the presence of at least twofold of a chain radical inhibitor is homogeneous, unimolecular, and obeys a first-order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the Arrhenius equation log k₁(s^?1) = (13.31 ± 0.82) – (205.1 ± 8.6)kJ/mol/2.303RT. The partial rates for the parallel eliminations to normal dehydrobromination, lactone formation, and bromobutyric acid product have been estimated and reported. The carboethoxy substituent of the bromoester has been found to assist anchimerically the elimination process, where dihydrobromination and lactone formation arise from an intimate ion-pair mechanism.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase pyrolysis of some secondary acetates

The rates of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of three secondary acetates have been measured in a static system over the temperature range 290–350°C and pressure range 54–250 Torr. The reactions in seasoned vessels are homogeneous, follow a first order-law, and are unimolecular. The effect of -substituents in acetates is discussed.

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290–350°C 54–250 . , , , . - .

     

The gas-phase pyrolysis of several aliphatic 1,3-diols. The kinetic and mechanism of 2,4-dimethyl-2,4-pentanediol

Satisfactory kinetic determinations of several aliphatic 1,3-diols were difficult to obtain. Moreover the product distributions from each of these substrates suggest complex parallel mechanisms. However, the elimination kinetic of 2,4-dimethyl-2,4-pentanediol has been measured over the temperature range of 419.7–459.9°C and pressure range of 47–115 torr. The reaction carried out by employing a static system, in seasoned vessel, and in the presence of the free-radical inhibitor propene, proved to be homogeneous, unimolecular, and follows a first-order rate law. The products are acetone, isobutene, and H₂O. The rate coefficient is expressed by the following Arrhenius equation: log k₁(s⁻¹)=(12.53±0.58)−(217.3±8.0) kJ mol⁻¹ (2.303RT)⁻¹. The pyrolytic elimination of this substrate is believed to proceed through a concerted six-membered cyclic transition-state type of mechanism. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 851–854, 1997