The kinetics of thermal dimerization of hexatriene

The thermal isomerization of cis-hexatriene (cHT) to cyclohexadiene (CHD) and the dimerization of CHD and trans-hexatriene (tHT) in the liquid phase in the temperature range 380 K-473 K are reported. The rate coefficients are: for the cHT to CHD isomerization for tHT dimerizationlog and for CHD dimerization; endo form exo form © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The rate constant for H + i-C4H8 → t-C4H9 in the range of 298–563 K

The overall rate constant for hydrogen-atom addition to isobutene has been measured in the temperature range of 298–563 K in a flow discharge system coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Previously published results allow the determination of where the error limits are 95% confidence limits.      

Thermal decomposition of cyclopentane and related compounds

Cyclopentane has been decomposed in comparative-rate single-pulse shock-tube experiments. The pyrolytic mechanism involves isomerization to 1-pentene and also a minor pathway leading to cyclopropane and ethylene. This is followed by the decomposition of 1-pentene and cyclopropane. The rate expressions over the temperature range of 1000°–1200° K are Details of the cyclopentane decomposition processes are considered, and it appears that if the trimethylene radical is an intermediate, then ΔH_f(trimethylene) ≤ 280 kJ/mol at 300°K.     

The self-inhibited pyrolysis of isobutane

The pyrolysis of isobutane was investigated in the ranges of 770° to 855°K and 20 to 150 Torr at up to 4% decomposition. The reaction is homogeneous and strongly self-inhibited. A simple Rice-Herzfeld chain terminated by the recombination of methyl radicals is proposed for the initial, uninhibited reaction. Self-inhibition is due to abstraction of hydrogen atoms from product isobutene giving resonance-stabilized 2-methylallyl radicals which participate in termination reactions. The reaction chains are shown to be long. It is suggested that a previously published rate constant for the initiation reaction (1) is incorrect and the value k₁ = 10^16.8 exp (?81700 cal mol^?1/RT)s^?1 is recommended. The values of the rate constants for the reactions (4i) (4t) (8) are estimated to be and From a recalculation of previously published data on the pyrolysis of isobutane at lower temperatures and higher pressures, the value k_11c, = 10^9.6 cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 is obtained for the rate constant of recombination of t-butyl. A calculation which is independent of any assumed rate constants or thermochemistry shows that the predominant chain termination reaction is the recombination of two methyl radicals in the conditions of the present work and the recombination of two t-butyl radicals in those of our previous study at lower temperatures and higher pressures.     

Thermal stability of alcohols

3,3-Dimethylbutanol-2 (3,3-DMB-ol-2) and 2,3-dimethylbutanol-2 (2,3-DMB-ol-2) have been decomposed in comparative-rate single-pulse shock-tube experiments. The mechanisms of the decompositions are The rate expressions are They lead to D(iC₃H₇? H) – D((CH₃)₂(OH) C? H) = 8.3 kJ and D(C₂H₅? H) – D(CH₃(OH) CH? H) = 24.2 kJ. These data, in conjunction with reasonable assumptions, give and The rate expressions for the decomposition of 2,3-DMB-1 and 3,3-DMB-1 are and      

Gas phase thermolysis of benzyl t-butyl sulfide,phenyl t-butyl sulfide,and phenyl t-butyl ether

The pyrolysis kinetics of the title compounds has been studied in a stirred-flow reactor over the temperature range 440–530°C and pressures between 5 and 14 torr. Benzyl t-butyl sulfide and phenyl t-butyl ether formed isobutene as product in over 98% yield, together with the corresponding benzyl thiol and phenol. The benzyl thiol decomposes to a large extent into hydrogen sulfide and bibenzyl. In the pyrolysis of phenyl t-butyl sulfide, the hydrocarbon products consisted of 80 ±5% isobutene plus 20% isobutane, while the sulfur containing products were thiophenol and diphenyl disulfide. Order one kinetics was observed for the consumption of the reactants. The first order rate coefficients, based on isobutene production, followed the Arrhenius equations: Benzyl t-butyl sulfide: Phenyl t-butyl sulfide: Phenyl t-butyl ether: For benzyl t-butyl sulfide and phenyl t-butyl ether, the results suggest a unimolecular mechanism involving polar four center cyclic transition states. For phenyl t-butyl sulfide, the t-butyl-sulfur single bond fission mechanism is a parallel, less important process than the complex fission one.     

Kinetics,mechanism, and endo selectivity of Diels–Alder reactions of alkylmonosubstituted ethenes with cyclohexa-1,3-diene in the gas phase

The reactions where Y = CH₃ (M), C₂H₅ (E), i? C₃H₇ (I), and t? C₄H₉ (T) have been studied between 488 and 606 K. The pressures of CHD ranged from 16 to 124 torr and those of YE from 57 to 625 torr. These reactions are homogeneous and first order with respect to each reagent. The rate constants (in L/mol·s) are given by The Arrhenius parameters are used as a test for a biradical mechanism and to discuss the endo selectivity of the reactions.     

The kinetics of free radical chain reactions in solutions of trichlorofluorethylene in cyclohexane

The kinetics of the gamma-radiation-induced free radical chain reaction in solutions of C₂Cl₃F in cyclohexane (RH) was investigated over a temperature range of 87.5–200°C. The following rate constants and rate constant ratios were determined for the reactions: In competitive experiments in ternary solutions of C₂Cl₄ and C₂Cl₃F in cyclohexane the rate constant ratio k_2c/k_2a was determined By comparing with previous data for the addition of cyclohexyl radicals to other chloroethylenes it is shown that in certain cases the trends in activation energies for cyclohexyl radical addition can be correlated with the C? Cl bond dissociation energies in the adduct radicals.     

Rate constants for abstraction of hydrogen from ethylene by methyl and ethyl radicals relative to abstraction from propane and isobutane

A method is described for the measurement of relative rate constants for abstraction of hydrogen from ethylene at temperatures in the region of 750 K. The method is based on the effect of the addition of small quantities of propane and isobutane on the rates of formation of products in the thermal chain reactions of ethylene. On the assumption that methane and ethane are formed by the following reactions, (1) measurements of the ratio of the rates of formation of methane and ethane in the presence and absence of the additive gave the following results: Values for k₂ and k₃ obtained from these ratios are compared with previous measurements.     

Effects of olefins on the thermal decomposition of propane part V. Effect of butene-2-Cis

The thermal decomposition of butene-2-cis at low conversion and its effect on the pyrolysis of propane have been studied in the temperature range 779-812 K. It was established that 2-butene decomposes in a long-chain process, with the chain cycle (Besides the radical path, the molecular reaction can also play a role in the formation of the products.) The thermal decomposition of propane is considerably inhibited by 2-butene, which can be explained by the fact that the less reactive radicals formed in the reactions between the olefin and the chain-carrying radicals regenerate the chain cycle more slowly than the original radicals in the above chain cycle or in the reactions The reactions of the 2-propyl radical are further initiation steps. The ratios of the rate coefficients of the elementary steps of the decomposition (Table III) have been determined via the ratios of the products. Estimation of the radical concentrations indicated that only the methyl, 2-propyl and methylallyl radicals are of importance in the chain termination. On the basis of the inhibition-influenced curves, the role of the bimolecular initiation steps. could be clarified in the presence of 2-butene.     

Unexpectedly rapid vapor-phase reaction between bromine and methyl iodide

The overall reaction (1) occurs readily in the gas phase, even at room temperature in the dark. The reaction is much faster than the corresponding process and does not involve the normal bromination mechanism for gas phase reactions. Reaction (1) is probably heterogeneous although other mechanisms cannot be excluded. The overall reactions (1) (2) proceed, for all practical purposes, completely to the right-hand side in the vapor phase. The expected mechanism is (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) where reaction (3) is initiated thermally or photochemically. Reaction (4) is of interest because little kinetic data are available on reactions involving abstraction of halogen by halogen and also because an accurate determination of the activation energy E₄ would prmit us to calculate an acccurate value of the bond dissociation energy D(CH₃? I).     

Thermal decomposition of 3,4-dimethylpentene-1, 2,3,3-trimethylpentane, 3,3-dimethylpentane,and isobutylbenzene in a single pulse shock tube

Several hydrocarbons have been pyrolyzed in a single pulse shock tube. Rate parameters for the main bond breaking step have been found to be In combination with similar studies carried out earlier and through application of the well-established experimental rule (k(AB)/k_r(AA)k_r(BB))^1/2 ～ 2 where A and B are radicals and the rate constants are for the combination of these radicals, rate parameters for the thermal decomposition of all the hydrocarbons formed from any pair of the following radicals: methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, t-amyl, allyl, methylallyl, and benzyl have been calculated. The available calculated and experimental values of the decomposition rate constants are in excellent agreement. It appears that, with the possible exception of reactions involving the ejection of methyl radicals, the frequency factors per bond are nearly constant, depending only upon the type of carbon–carbon bond that is being broken. These values are all lower than those expected from the radical recombination rates. Heats of formation of ethyl, t-amyl, benzyl, methylallyl, n-propyl, s-butyl, isobutyl, neopentyl, and 3-pentyl radicals have been derived. Rate parameters for the decomposition of some simple ketones and ethers have also been estimated.     

Gas phase thermolysis of cyanomethyl t-butyl sulfide and cyanomethyl t-butyl ether

The pyrolyses of cyanomethyl t-butyl sulfide and its oxygen homologue have been studied in a stirred-flow system over the temperature range 490–540°C and pressures between 5 and 14 Torr. In both cases, isobutene is formed as product in over 97% yield. Hydrogen sulfide is obtained in about half the amount of isobutene in the pyrolysis of the sulfide. Hydrogen cyanide is formed in the pyrolysis of the ether. The first-order rate coefficients for the consumption of the reactants followed the Arrhenius equations Cyanomethyl t-butyl sulfide: Cyanomethyl t-butyl ether: A molecular mechanism involving polar four-centered cyclic transition states is proposed for both reactions, with the CN group stabilizing the partial negative charge developed at the S and O atoms.     

Time-resolved vibrational chemiluminescence: Rate constants for the reactions of F atoms with H2O and HCN,and for the relaxation of HF (v = 1) by H2O and HCN

Rate constants have been determined at (298 ± 4) K for the reactions: and the relaxation processes: Time-resolved HF(1,0) emission was observed following the photolysis of F₂ with pulses from an excimer laser operating on XeCl (λ = 308 nm). Analysis of the emission traces gave first-order constants for reaction and relaxation, and their dependence on [H₂O] and [HCN] yielded:      

Basic elimination of HCl from chlorinated ethanes

Chloroethanes react with aqueous caustic to yield either elimination or substitution products. The reaction rates were measured for the dichloroethanes, trichloroethanes, tetrachloroethanes, and pentachloroethane between 283 and 353°K. The constants of HCl eleminations referring to the rate equation are given by all rate constants being in 1./mole·s and R in cal/mole· deg. With ethyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, and 1,1,l-trichloroethane, the elimination is not observed and a slow substitution takes place. The influence of chlorine substituents on both sides of the molecule on mechanism and rate parameters is discussed.     

H2S-promoted thermal isomerization of butene-2 CIS to butene-1 or butene-2 trans around 500°C

H₂S increases the thermal isomerization of butene-2 cis (B_c) to butene-1 (B₁) and butene-2 trans (B_t) around 500°C. This effect is interpreted on the basis of a free radical mechanism in which buten-2-yl and thiyl free radicals are the main chain carriers. B₁ formation is essentially explainedby the metathetical steps: whereas the free radical part of B_t formation results from the addition–elimination processes: . It is shown that the initiation step of pure B_c thermal reaction is essentially unimolecular: and that a new initiation step occurs in the presence of H₂S: . The rate constant ratio has been evaluated: and the best values of k₁ and k_1', consistent with this work and with thermochemical data, are . From thermochemical data of the literature and an “intrinsic value” of E_?3 ? 2 kcal/mol given by Benson, further values of rate constants may be proposed: is shown to be E₄ ? 3.5 ± 2 kcal/mol, of the same order as the activation energy of the corresponding metathetical step.     

Thermal stability of primary amines

Tertiary-amyl amine has been decomposed in single-pulse shock-tube experiments. Rate expressions for several of the important primary steps are This leads to D(CH₃? H) – D(NH₂? H) = ?10.5 kJ and D[(CH₃)₃C? H] – D[(CH₃)₂NH₂C? H] = + 6 kJ. The present and earlier comparative rate single-pulse shock-tube data when combined with high-pressure hydrazine decomposition results-(after correcting for fall off effects through RRKM calculations) gives where k_r(…) is the recombination rate involving the appropriate radicals. This suggests that in this context amino radical behavior is analogous to that of alkyl radicals. If this agreement is exact, then Rate expressions for the primary step in the decomposition of a variety of primary amines have been computed. In the case of benzyl amine where data exist the agreement is satisfactory. The following differences in bond energies have been estimated:      

The kinetics of the thermal bromination of CF3I. Determination of the bond dissociation energy D(CF3−I)

The kinetics of the thermal bromination reaction have been studied in the range of 173–321°C. For the step we obtain where θ=2.303RT cal/mole. From the activation energy for reaction (11), we calculate that This is compared with previously published values of D(CF₃?I). The relevance of the result to published work on k_c for a combination of CF₃ radicals is discussed.     

Kinetics of the pyrolyses of endo- and exo-5-methylbicyclo (2.2.2) oct-2-ene in the gas phase

The pyrolyses of endo- and exo-5-methylbicyclo (2.2.2) oct-2-ene (endo- and exo-MBO) have been studied between 608 and 679°K at pressures between 7 and 37 torr. These reactions correspond to parallel first-order eliminations of propene and ethylene: The rate constants (in sec^?1) for endo-MBO are given by and those for exo-MBO by Reaction mechanisms involving diradicals are shown to be compatible with the experimental results. The heats of formation and the entropies of endo and exo-MBO are estimated.     

Pyrolysis of 2,4-dimethylhexene-l and the stability of isobutenyl radicals

2,4-Dimethylhexene-l has been decomposed in single-pulse shock tube experiments. Rate expressions for the initial reactions are and sec^?1 at 1.5–5 atm and 1050°K. This leads to ΔH^°_f300 (CH₂ = C(CH₃)CH₂) = 124 kJ/mol, or an allylic resonance energy of 50 kJ/mol. Rate expressions for the decomposition of the appropriate olefins which yield isobutenyl radicals and methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, t-butyl, and t-amyl radicals, respectively, are presented. The rate expression for the decomposition of isobutenyl radical is (at the beginning of the fall-off region). For the combination of isobutenyl and methyl radicals, the rate constant at 1020°K is Combination of this number and the calculated rate expression for 2-methylbutene-1 decomposition gives S. (1100) = 470 J/mol °K. This yields It is demonstrated that an upper limit for the rate of hydrogen abstraction by isobutenyl from toluene is