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.     

On the gas-phase free radical displacement reaction CH3 + CD3COCD3 → CD3 + CH3COCD3

The gas-phase free radical displacement reaction has been studied in the temperature range of 240–290°C and at 140°C with the thermal decomposition of azomethane (AM) and di-tert-butylperoxide (DTBP), respectively, as methyl radical sources. The reaction products of the CD₃ radicals were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Assuming negligible isotope effects, Arrhenius parameters for the elementary radical addition reaction were derived: The data are discussed with respect to the back reaction and general features of elementary addition reactions.     

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      

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:      

Effects of alkenes on the thermal decomposition of propane part II. Influence of ethylene

Experiments with propane-ethylene mixtures in the temperature range 760–830 K resulted in refinement of the role of ethylene inhibition in the decomposition of propane. The source of the rate-reducing effect of ethylene is the reaction This replaces the decomposition chains more slowly by means of the reactions than H-atoms do by direct H-abstraction from propane. Analysis of the ratios of the product formation rates showed that the selectivity of the ethyl radical for the abstraction of hydrogen of different bond strengths from propane was practically the same as that of the H-atom. The ratio of the rate constants of hydrogen addition to ethylene and methyl-hydrogen abstraction from propane by the H-atom (3) was determined as was that of the decomposition and the similar H-abstraction of the ethyl radical Interpretation of the influence of ethylene required the completion of the mechanism with further initiation of the reaction besides termination via ethyl radicals.     

Effect of olefins on the thermal decomposition of propane part I. The model reaction

Study of the thermal decomposition of propane at very low conversions in the temperature range 760–830 K led to refinement of the mechanism of the reaction. The quotient V/V characterizing the two decomposition routes connected with the 1- and 2-propyl radicals proved to depend linearly on the initial propane concentration. This suggested the occurrence of intermolecular radical isomerization: in competition with decomposition of the 2-propyl radical: The linearity led to the conclusion that the selectivity of H-abstraction from the methyl and methylene groups by the methyl radical is practically the same as that by the H atom. The temperature-dependence of this selectivity ( μ = kCH₃/kCH₂) was given by Further evaluation of the dependence gave the Arrhenius representation for the ratio of the rate coefficients of the above isomerization and decomposition reactions. Steady-state treatment resulted in the rate equation of the process, comparison of which with measurements gave further Arrhenius dependences.     

Photolysis of azomethane–propane mixtures. Arrhenius parameters for the hydrogen abstraction reactions of methyl with azomethane and with propane

Mixtures of up to 14% azomethane in propane have been photolyzed using mainly 366 nm radiation in the ranges of 323–453 K and 25–200 torr. Detailed measurements were made of the yields of nitrogen, methane, and ethane. Other products observed were isobutane, n-butane, ethene, and propene. A detailed mechanism is proposed and shown to account for the observed variation of product yields with experimental conditions. The quantum yield of the molecular process is found to be given by the temperature-independent equation The values of rate constants obtained are where the reactions are and it is assumed that the rate constant for the reaction is given by      

Flash photolysis of biacetyl in gas phase. Rate constants of reactions between methyl and acetyl radicals

The flash photolysis of biacetyl produces CO, C₂H₆, and CH₃COCH₃ as main products, and in small amounts CO₂, C₂H₄, and CH₃CHO. The rate constants of reactions (2) and (3) of thermally equilibrated radicals were calculated from the amounts of products: .     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction CH3F + I2 ⇆ CH2FI + HI: The C?H bond dissociation energy in methyl and methylene fluorides

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of CH₃F with I₂ have been studied spectrophotometrically from 629 to 710 K, and were determined to be consistent with the following mechanism: (1) A least-squares analysis of the kinetic data taken in the initial stages of reaction resulted in where θ = 4.575T/1000 kcal/mol. The errors represent one standard deviation. The experimental activation energy E₄ = 30.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mol was combined with the assumption E₃ = 1 ± 1 kcal/mol and estimated heat capacities to obtain The enthalpy change at 298 K was combined with selected thermochemical data to derive The kinetic studies of ?HF₂ and CH₂F₂ have been reevaluated to yield These results are combined with literature data to yield the C? H, C? F, and C? Cl bond dissociation energies in their respective fluoromethanes, and the effect of α-fluorine substitution is discussed.     

The reactions of methyl radicals with chloromethanes

The reaction of methyl radicals with CCl₄ and CCl₃Br have been reinvestigated in the gas phase over a wide range of temperatures and pressures using both the photolysis of acetone and the pyrolysis of di-tertiary butyl peroxide (dtBP) as the methyl radical sources. The results are in essential agreement with previous work; however, these new studies provide evidence that at higher pressures the major source of HCl in the reactions is due to methyl radical attack on CH₃CCl₃, formed via the combination of methyl and trichloromethyl radicals. From these investigations Arrhenius parameters for the reactions have been determined: Pyrolysis of dtBP in the presence of relatively high-pressure mixtures of CCl₄ and CCl₃Br resulted in no enhanced methane formation, since, under these conditions, the only termination product is C₂Cl₆, and the HCl precursor CH₃CCl₃ is not formed. A competitive technique has been used in which dtBP was pyrolysed in the gas phase in the presence of high-pressure mixtures of CCl₃Br and a chloromethane. Arrhenius parameters were obtained for the reactions and the results were used to provide information on the importance of polar effects for hydrogen abstraction from halogenated methanes.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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:      

Radical steps in diethyl ether decomposition

The thermal decomposition of diethyl ether was studied in the temperature range 697.2–760.5 K. The rate constant of reaction (1), and the ratio of the rate constant of reaction (2) to that of (12): were calculated from the amounts of products:      

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.     

Reaction kinetics of NH in the shock tube pyrolysis of HNCO

The high temperature kinetics of NH in the pyrolysis of isocyanic acid (HNCO) have been studied in reflected shock wave experiments. Time histories of the NH(X³Σ^?) radical were measured using a cw, narrow-linewidth laser absorption diagnostic at 336 nm. The second-order rate coefficients of the reactions: (1) were determined to be: cm³?mol^?1?s^?1, where f and F define the lower and upper uncertainty limits, respectively. The data for k_1a are somewhat better fit by:      

The determination of the arrhenius parameters for the reaction Cl + C2F5I → ICl + C2F5 using a competitive method

The reactions have been studied competitively over the range of 28–182°C by photolysis of mixtures of Cl₂ + C₂F₅I+ CH₄. We obtain where θ = 2.303RT J/mol. The use of published data on reaction (2) leads to log (k₁cm³/mol sec) = (13.96 ± 0.2) ? (11,500 ± 2000)/θ.     

Influence of butadiene-1,3 on ethanal pyrolysis at 495°C

At 495°C and a low extent of reaction, ethanal pyrolysis is slightly inhibited by the addition of small quantities of butadiene-1,3, whereas it is accelerated by more important quantities. The inhibiting effect is interpreted in terms of a free-radical chain mechanism in which the main chain carriers of ethanal pyrolysis (CH₃.free radicals) reversibly add to butadiene-1,3 and yield penten-2-yl (R.) free radicals. These free radicals either react in a metathetical step: or in terminating steps. But butadiene-1,3 also gives rise to new initiation steps: which account for the accelerating effect. Process (i₃) seems to be more important than process (i₂) in the experimental conditions, but its nature could not be identified. The results are consistent with literature data and the following value of k₆: (4.57T in cal/mol).