Very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP) of hex-1-ene. Kinetics of the retro-ene decomposition of a mono-olefin

The thermal unimolecular decomposition of hex-1-ene has been investigated over the temperature range of 915–1153 K using the technique of very low-pressure pyrolysis (VLPP). The reaction proceeds via the competitive pathways of C₃?C₄ fission and retro-ene elimination, with the latter dominant at low temperatures and the former at high temperatures. This behavior results in an isokinetic temperature of 1035 K under VLPP conditions (both reactions in the unimolecular falloff regime). RRKM calculations, generalized to take into account two competing pathways, show that the experimental unimolecular rate constants are consistent with the high-pressure Arrhenius parameters given by log k₁ (sec^?1) = (12.6 ± 0.2) -(57.7 ± 1.5)/θ for retro-ene reaction, and log k₂ (sec^?1) = (15.9 ± 0.2) - (70.8 ± 1.0)/θ for C-C fission, where θ = 2.303 RT kcal/mol. The A factors were assigned from the results of a recent shock-tube study of the decomposition in the high-pressure regime, and the activation energies were found by matching the RRKM calculations to the VLPP data. The parameters for C-C fission are consistent with the known thermochemistry of n-propyl and allyl radicals. A clear measure of the importance of the molecular pathway in the decomposition of a mono-olefin has been obtained.     

A shock tube,laser‐schlieren study of the pyrolysis of isobutene: Relaxation,incubation, and dissociation rates

Dissociation, vibrational relaxation, and unimolecular incubation have all been observed in shock waves in isobutene with the laser‐schlieren technique. Experiments covered a wide range of high‐temperature conditions: 900–2300 K, and post‐incident shock pressures from 7 to 400 torr in 2, 5, and 10% mixtures with krypton. The surprising observation is that of vibrational relaxation, well resolved over the full temperature range. The resolved process is completely exponential, with relaxation times in the range 20–120 ns atm. Relaxation and dissociation are clearly separated for T > 1850 K, with estimated incubation times near 200 ns atm. Incubation is essential for modeling of the very low‐pressure decomposition. Modeling of gradients with a chain mechanism initiated by CH fission produces an excellent fit and accurate dissociation rates that show severe falloff. A restricted‐rotor, Gorin‐model RRKM analysis fits these rates quite well with the known bond‐energy as barrier and 〈ΔE〉_down = 680 cm^?1. The extrapolated k_∞ is log k_∞(s^?1) = 19.187–0.865 log T ?87.337 (kcal/mol)/RT, in good agreement with previous work. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 381–390, 2003     

Thermal decomposition of CH3I using I-atom absorption

The recently developed I-atom atomic resonance absorption spectrometric (ARAS) technique has been used to study the thermal decomposition kinetics of CH₃I over the temperature range, 1052–1820 K. Measured rate constants for CH₃I(+Kr)→CH₃+I(+Kr) between 1052 and 1616 K are best expressed by k(±36%)=4.36×10⁻⁹ exp(−19858 K/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Two unimolecular theoretical approaches were used to rationalize the data. The more extensive method, RRKM analysis, indicates that the dissociation rates are effectively second-order, i.e., the magnitude is 61–82% of the low-pressure-limit rate constants over 1052–1616 K and 102–828 torr. With the known E₀=ΔH₀⁰=55.5 kcal mole ⁻¹, the optimized RRKM fit to the ARAS data requires (ΔE)_down=590 cm⁻¹. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 535–543, 1997.     

Some aspects of theory and experiment in the ethane–methyl radical system

A critical examination has been made of some aspects of the thermal decomposition of ethane and the reverse recombination reaction. The experimental Arrhenius A-factors for ethane are, in general, smaller than those which are calculated from thermodynamic quantities together with the observed rate constants for methyl recombination. Theoretical calculations also illustrate a discrepancy between the experimental work on recombination and decomposition. The experimental shapes of k/k_α falloff curves and the pressure region of falloff are compared with the predictions of RRKM theory for various models.     

Thermochemistry and Kinetics of the Thermal Decomposition of 1‐Chlorohexane

A theoretical kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of 1‐chlorohexane in gas phase between 600 and 1000 K was performed. Transition‐state theory and unimolecular reaction rate theory were combined with molecular information provided by quantum chemical calculations. Particularly, the B3LYP, BMK, M05–2X, and M06–2X formulations of the density functional theory (DFT) and the high‐level ab initio methods G3B3 and G4 were employed. The possible reaction channels for the thermal decomposition of 1‐chlorohexane were investigated, and the reaction takes place through the elimination of HCl with the formation of 1‐hexene. The derived high‐pressure limit rate coefficients are k _∞(600–1000 K) = (8 ± 5) × 10¹³ exp[‐((56.7 ± 0.4) kcal mol⁻¹/RT )] s⁻¹. The pressure effect over the reaction was analyzed from the calculation of the low‐pressure limit rate coefficients and the falloff curves. In addition, the standard enthalpies of formation at 298 K of −46.9 ± 1.5 kcal mol⁻¹ for 1‐chlorohexane and 5.8 ± 1.5 kcal mol⁻¹ for C₆H₁₃ radical were derived from isodesmic and isogiric reactions at high levels of theory.     

Chemically activated methylcyclobutane exothermicity of singlet methylene reactions and the heat of formation of singlet methylene

The specific decomposition rates of chemically activated methylcyclobutane produced from CH₂(¹A₁) reaction with cyclobutane have been determined. CH₂(¹A₁)was produced from ketene photolyses at 3340 and 3130 Å and from diazomethane photolyses at 4358 and 3660 Å. Comparisons of the excitation energies of the methylcyclobutane, determined by RRKM theory calculations, and the experimental results for the ketene systems, with thermochemically predicted maximum excitation energies, favor an Arrhenius A factor in the range of 5 × 10¹⁵ to 1 × 10¹⁶ sec^?1 for methylcyclobutane. This result is consistent with (1) the comparison of RRKM theory calculations and the experimental unimolecular falloff for methylcyclobutane, (2) the comparison of experimental A factors for cyclobutane and other alkylcyclobutane decompositions, and (3) two out of three reported experimental A factors for methylcyclobutane. An analysis of these and previous results leads to a value of the CH₂(¹A₁) ? CH₂(³B₁) energy splitting of 9±3 kcal/mole.     

The unimolecular decomposition and isomerization of chemically activated 1-methyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclopropane

The reaction of CH₂(¹A₁) with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluorocyclopropane was studied at 300 K and at pressures between 9.0 and 365.0 torr. Chemically activated 1-methyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclopropane was formed and two competitive reaction paths, namely decomposition and isomerization, were observed. By fitting the experimental results to calculated values from RRKM theory, we estimated the Arrhenius parameters for both reaction processess as well as the heat of formation of 1-methyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclopropane. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Intramolecular isotopic effect in the pyrolysis of ethyl-2d1 chloride

The thermal decomposition of deuterated ethyl chloride CH₂DCH₂Cl was studied in a static system in the pressure range of 0.1–26 torr, and the Arrhenius expression for the overall decomposition at the high-pressure limit and in the temperature range of 670–1100 K was found to be The intramolecular isotopic effects were first examined in the pressure range of 0.1–26 torr at 837 K, and the branching ratio k_H/k_D was found to decrease with increasing pressure. The RRKM-theory calculations describe the experimental data well. The intramolecular isotopic effect was also examined in the temperature range of 728–926 K, and the branching ratio at the high pressure limit was given by the expression when k_H and k_D are the rate constants for the HCl and DCl channels of elimination. The Arrhenius A factors obtained at the high-pressure limit together with the temperature-dependent expression of the branching ratio provided additional experimental data for an assignment (fine-tuned) of the vibrational frequencies of both activated complexes involved in the thermal decomposition of CH₂DCH₂Cl. The evaluated vibrational frequencies were then used in the RRKM calculations describing the pressure dependence of the intramolecular isotopic effect. The RRKM calculations and the experimental data were in good agreement, supporting the choice of vibrational frequencies for both the activated complexes as well as the transition-state model.     

Shock tube study of dissociation and relaxation in 1,1-difluoroethane and vinyl fluoride

This paper reports measurements of the thermal dissociation of 1,1-difluoroethane in the shock tube. The experiments employ laser-schlieren measurements of rate for the dominant HF elimination using 10% 1,1-difluoroethane in Kr over 1500-2000 K and 43 < P < 424 torr. The vinyl fluoride product of this process then dissociates affecting the late observations. We thus include a laser schlieren study (1717-2332 K, 75 < P < 482 torr in 10 and 4% vinyl fluoride in Kr) of this dissociation. This latter work also includes a set of experiments using shock-tube time-of-flight mass spectrometry (4% vinyl fluoride in neon, 1500-1980 K, 500 < P < 1300 torr). These time-of-flight experiments confirm the theoretical expectation that the only reaction in vinyl fluoride is HF elimination. The dissociation experiments are augmented by laser schlieren measurements of vibrational relaxation (1-20% C(2)H(3)F in Kr, 415-1975 K, 5 < P < 50 torr, and 2 and 5% C(2)H(4)F(2) in Kr, 700-1350 K, 6 < P < 22 torr). These experiments exhibit very rapid relaxation, and incubation delays should be negligible in dissociation. An RRKM model of dissociation in 1,1-difluoroethane based on a G3B3 calculation of barrier and other properties fits the experiments but requires a very large DeltaE(down) of 1600 cm(-1), similar to that found in a previous examination of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane. Dissociation of vinyl fluoride is complicated by the presence of two parallel HF eliminations, both three-center and four-center. Structure calculations find nearly equal barriers for these, and TST calculations show almost identical k(infinity). An RRKM fit to the observed falloff again requires an unusually large DeltaE(down) and the experiments actually support a slightly reduced barrier. These large energy-transfer parameters now seem routine in these large fluorinated species. It is perhaps a surprising result for which there is as yet no explanation.     

Kinetic study of the recombination reaction OD + NO2 + M → DNO3 + M

Rate constants for the recombination reaction OD + NO₂ + M → DNO₃ + M have been determined in the falloff region (5–500 torr) and at 297 ± 2 K, in the presence of He, N₂, and SF₆ as third bodies, by using a pulsed laser photolysis-resonance absorption technique. Values of k₀, k_x and the falloff parameter F_c have been estimated. Our rate constants were, within the experimental uncertainty, the same as those reported for the reaction of OH radicals with NO₂.     

Kinetics of the BrO + NO2 association reaction. Temperature and pressure dependence in the falloff regime

A laser flash photolysis-long path absorption technique has been employed to study the kinetics of the reaction products as a function of temperature (248–346 K), pressure (16–800 torr), and buffer gas identity (N₂, CF₄). The reaction is found to be in the falloff regime between third and second-order over the entire range of conditions investigated. This is the first study where temperature-dependent measurements of k₁(P, T) have been reported at pressures greater than 12 torr; hence, our results help constrain choices of k₁(P, T) for use in models of lower stratospheric BrO_x chemistry. Approximate falloff parameters in a convenient form for atmospheric modeling are derived. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Application of RRKM theory to the reactions OH + NO2 + N2 → HONO2 + N2 (1) and ClO + NO2 + N2 → ClONO2 + N2 (2); a modified gorin model transition state

Rate constants as a function of both temperature and pressure were calculated for the title reactions using RRKM theory in conjunction with a modified Gorin transition state. The modification introduces a hindrance parameter which accounts for repulsive interactions between the rotating fragments. At the highest stratospheric pressures (～50 torr) and at stratospheric temperature (～220°K), the extent of “falloff” from first-order [N₂] dependence is ～70% for reaction (1) and ～35% for reaction (2).     

Kinetics of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of 3-bromopropene

The thermal decomposition of 3-bromopropene was investigated in the temperature range 568.2–653.2 K and pressures between 14–64 Torr in static Pyrex reaction vessel. The reaction was shown to be homogeneous gas reaction of the first order with more than 60% conversion. For the overall reaction, E _a = 153.67 ± 6.70 kJ mol^?1, and logA (A, s^?1) = 9.46 ± 0.57. Two mechanisms, dehydrohalogenation molecular elimination and C-Br bond fission are discussed, both of which account for the observed kinetics and products of decomposition. To interpret the fall-off behaviour, RRKM/ME calculations were adopted and the pressure dependent rate constants were calculated at collision efficiency of 0.25. From the pressure dependence study and RRKM calculations, it can be deduced that we are at the high-pressure limit.     

Pressure dependence of the rate coefficients and product yields for the reaction of CH3CO radicals with O2

Relative rate coefficients for the reaction of acetyl (CH₃CO) radicals with O₂ (k₄) and Cl₂ (k₇) have been obtained at 298 K and 228 K as a function of total pressure, using FTIR/environmental chamber techniques. Measured values of k₄/k₇ were placed on an absolute basis using k₇=2.8×10⁻¹¹ exp(−47/T) cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹. At 298 K, the value of k₄ is constant ((7±2)×10⁻¹³ cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹) at pressures from 0.1 to 2 torr, then increases to a high pressure limiting value of (3.2±0.6)×10⁻¹² cm³ molec⁻¹ s⁻¹, which is approached at pressures above 300 torr. At 228 K, the low-pressure value of k₄ increases by about 20–30%, while the high pressure value remains unchanged. Experiments designed to elucidate the products of reaction (4) as a function of pressure at 298 K indicate that the reaction occurs via a concerted mechanism in which CH₃CO radicals combine with O₂ to give an excited acetylperoxy radical (CH₃COO₂*) which is increasingly stabilized at high pressure at the expense of a low pressure decomposition channel. The yield of acetylperoxy radicals from reaction (4) decreases from >95% at pressures above 100 torr, to about 90% at 60 torr, and 50% at 6 torr. Indirect evidence for formation of OH radicals from the low pressure decomposition is presented, although the carbon-containing coproduct(s) of this channel could not be identified. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 655–663, 1997.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the germane decomposition

The homogeneous gas-phase thermal decomposition kinetics of germane have been measured in a single-pulse shock tube between 950 and 1060 K at pressures around 4000 torr. The initial decomposition is GeH₄ → GeH₂ + H₂ in its pressure-dependent regime, with log k = 13.83 ± 0.78 – 50,750 ± 3570 cal/2.303RT. RRKM calculations suggest that the high-pressure Arrhenius parameters are log k GeH₄(M → ∞) = 15.5 – 54,300 cal/2.303RT. Extrapolations to static system pyrolysis conditions (T ～ 600 K, P ～ 200 torr) give homogeneous reaction rates which are much slower than those observed, hence the static system pyrolysis of germane must be predominantly heterogeneous. Shock-initiated pyrolysis reaction stoichiometry is 2 mol H₂ per mole GeH₄, suggesting that the subsequent decomposition of germylene is essentially quantitative. Investigations of the hydrogen product yields for pyrolysis of GeD₄ in øCH₃ further indicate that the germylene decomposition reaction is mainly GeH₂ → H₂ + Ge, but that a small amount of reaction to H atoms may also occur.     

High‐temperature dissociation of ethyl radicals and ethyl iodide

The decomposition of ethyl iodide and subsequent dissociation of ethyl radicals have been investigated behind incident shock waves in a diaphragmless shock tube by laser‐schlieren (LS) densitometry (1150–1870 K, 55 ± 2 Torr and 123 ± 3 Torr). The LS density‐gradient profiles were simulated assuming that the initial dissociation of C₂H₅I proceeded by 87% C–I fission and 13% HI elimination. Excellent agreement was found between the simulations and experimental profiles. Rate coefficients for the C–I scission reaction were obtained and show strong falloff. Gorin model RRKM (Rice, Ramsperger, Kassel, and Marcus) calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data with E₀ = 55.0 kcal/mol, which is in very good agreement with recent thermochemical measurements and evaluations. However, E₀ is approximately 2.7 kcal/mol higher than previous estimates. First‐order rate coefficients for dissociation of C₂H₅I were determined to be k_55Torr = 8.65 × 10⁶⁸ T^?16.65 exp(?37,890/T) s^?1, k_123Torr = 3.01 × 10⁶⁹ T^?16.68 exp(?38,430/T) s^?1, k_∞ = 2.52 × 10¹⁹ T^?1.01 exp(?28,775/T) s^?1. Rates of dissociation for ethyl radicals were also obtained, and these are in very good agreement with theoretical predictions (Miller J. A. and Klippenstein S. J. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2004, 6, 1192–1202). The simulations show that at low temperatures ethyl radicals are consumed through recombination reactions as well as dissociation, whereas at high temperatures, dissociation dominates. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 433–443, 2012     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of Cl atoms with CH2 CO (Ketene)

The kinetics and mechanism of the gas-phase reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO have been studied with a FTIR spectrometer/smog chamber apparatus. Using relative rate methods the rate of reaction of Cl atoms with ketene was found to be independent of total pressure over the range 1–700 torr of air diluent with a rate constant of (2.7 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 295 K. The reaction proceeds via an addition mechanism to give a chloroacetyl radical (CH₂ClCO) which has a high degree of internal excitation and undergoes rapid unimolecular decomposition to give a CH₂Cl radical and CO. Chloroacetyl radicals were also produced by the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂ClCHO; no decomposition was observed in this case. The rates of addition reactions are usually pressure dependent with the rate increasing with pressure reflecting increased collisional stabilization of the adduct. The absence of such behavior in the reaction of Cl atoms with CH₂CO combined with the fact that the reaction rate is close to the gas kinetic limit is attributed to preferential decomposition of excited CH₂ClCO radicals to CH₂Cl radicals and CO as products as opposed to decomposition to reform the reactants. As part of this work ab initio quantum mechanical calculations (MP2/6-31G(d,p)) were used to derive Δ_fH₂₉₈(CH₂ClCO) = −(5.4 ± 4.0) kcal mol⁻¹. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Isotope effect in Ni + C2H4 (C2D4) association reaction

The association reactions of atomic nickel with ethene and fully deuterated ethene in carbon dioxide buffer gas at 295 K have been investigated in the pressure range 5–100 torr, using a laser photolysis-laser fluorescence technique. By comparison with results of ab initio quantum chemistry calculations for the complex Ni[C₂H₄], the data are shown to be consistent with reaction on both ground and excited state potential energy surfaces. A simple rate equations treatment is described which shows the form of the pressure dependence of the second-order recombination rate coefficient in this case. Under conditions which are expected to hold for the Ni + C₂H₄ (C₂D₄) reaction, the pressure dependence has the standard Lindemann-Hinshelwood form, with the limiting high pressure rate constant given by an apparent value which reflects the degree to which the participating electronic states are coupled by nonadiabatic transitions. The limiting high pressure behavior of the recombination rate coefficient for Ni + C₂H₄ is not strongly affected by deuterium isotope substitution. However, the effect on the low pressure rate constant is large and consistent with RRKM unimolecular reaction theory. This validates the use of RRKM calculations for estimating the binding energy of the complex from kinetic data. The binding energy of Ni[C₂H₄] is estimated to be 35.2 ± 4.2 kcal mol^?1. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An investigation of temperature and pressure dependence of the reaction of CF2ClO2 radicals with nitrogen dioxide by flash photolysis and time resolved mass spectrometry

Rate coefficients of the termolecular reaction were determined over the temperature range of 248–324 K and at pressures from 1 to 10 torr by time resolved mass spectrometry. CF₂ClO₂ radicals were generated by flash photolysis of CF₂ClBr in the presence of oxygen. Their rate of decay was measured by following (CF₂O₂)⁺ fragment ions formed in the ion source. With 2 to 40 mtorr of NO₂ present the dominant removal pathway is addition to form the peroxynitrate. The third order rate coefficients are wholly within the falloff over the experimental pressure range, and have a negative temperature coefficient. Rate constants for the reverse reaction, the unimolecular dissociation of CF₂ClO₂NO₂, D. Koppenkastrop and F. Zabel, Int. J. Chem. Kinet., 23 , 1 (1991) were employed to calculate equilibrium constants, from which a 600 torr value of the combination rate coefficient was obtained at each temperature. From the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constants, the average enthalpy of reaction over the experimental temperature range was found to be 106.1 ± 0.3 kJ/mol. Extrapolation of the combination rate constants to lower and higher pressures, and estimates of low and high pressure limiting rate coefficients, k₀ and k_∞ were done by nonlinear least squares fit of the experimental data, using the empirical F_c equations developed by Troe.     

Study of the kinetics and equilibrium of the benzyl-radical association reaction with molecular oxygen

The forward rate constant, k₁, and the equilibrium constant, K_p, for the association reaction of the benzyl radical with oxygen have been determined. The rate constant k₁ was measured as a function of temperature (between 298 and 398 K) and pressure (at 20 and 760 torr of N₂) by two different techniques, argon-lamp flash photolysis and excimer-laser flash photolysis, both of which employed UV absorption spectroscopy (at 253 nm and 305 nm, respectively) to monitor the benzyl radical concentration. Over the range of conditions studied, we find that the reaction is independent of pressure and is almost independent of temperature, which is in accord with two early studies of the reaction but in apparent disagreement with more recent work. For our results in 760 torr of N₂ and for 298 < T/K < 398, a linear least-squares fitting of the data yield the expression: k₁ = (7.6 ± 2.4) × 10^?13 exp[(190 ± 160) K / T ] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. With the flash-photolysis technique, we determined K_p over the temperature range 398–525 K. Experimental values were analyzed alone and combined with theoretically determined entropy values of the benzyl and benzylperoxy radicals to determine the enthalpy of reaction: ΔH = (?91.4 ± 4) kJ mol^?1. Previous work on the benzyl radical enthalpy of formation allows us to calculate ΔH°_{f 298} (Benzylperoxy) = (117 ± 6) kJ mol^?1. In addition, we carried out an RRKM calculation of k₁ using as constraints the thermodynamic information gained by the study of K_p. We find that all the studies of the association reaction are in good agreement once a fall-off effect is taken into account for the most recent work conducted at pressures near 1 torr of helium. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.