Autocatalytic oxidation of β‐alanine by peroxomonosulfate in the presence of copper(II) ion

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of β‐alanine by peroxomonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of Cu(II) ion at pH 4.2 (acetic acid/sodium acetate) has been studied. Autocatalysis was observed only in the presence of copper(II) ion, and this was explained due to the formation of hydroperoxide intermediate. The rate constant for the catalyzed (k) and uncatalyzed (k) reaction has been calculated. The kinetic data obtained reveal that both the reactions are first order with respect to [PMS]. k values initially increase with the increase in [β‐alanine] and reach a limiting value, but k values decrease with the increase in [β‐alanine]. k values increase linearly with the increase in [Cu(II)], whereas k values increase with [Cu(II)]². Furthermore, k values are independent of [acetate], but k values decrease with the increase in acetate. A suitable mechanism has been proposed to explain the experimental observation. The reaction has been studied at different temperatures, and the activation parameters are calculated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 44–49, 2008     

Studies on the composition and kinetics of chromium(III)-alanine system

Kinetics of the complex formation of chromium(III) with alanine in aqueous medium has been studied at 45, 50, and 55°C, pH 3.3–4.4, and μ = 1 M (KNO₃). Under pseudo first-order conditions the observed rate constant (k_obs) was found to follow the rate equation: Values of the rate parameters (k_an, k, K_IP, and K) were calculated. Activation parameters for anation rate constants, ΔH^≠(k_an) = 25 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, ΔH^≠(k) = 91 ± 3 kJ mol^?1, and ΔS^≠(k_an) = ?244 ± 3 JK^?1 mol^?1, ΔS^≠(k) = ?30 ± 10 JK^?1 mol^?1 are indicative of an (I_a) mechanism for k_an and (I_d) mechanism for k routes (‥substrate Cr(H₂O) is involved in the k route whereas Cr(H₂O)₅OH²⁺ is involved in k′ route). Thermodynamic parameters for ion-pair formation constants are found to be ΔH°(K_IP) = 12 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, ΔH°(K) = ?13 ± 3 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS°(K_IP) = 47 ± 2 JK^?1 mol^?1, and ΔS°(K) = 20 ± 9 JK^?1 mol^?1.     

Effects of CH3OH‐H2O and CH3OH solvents on rate of reaction of phthalimide with piperidine

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for the cleavage of phthalimide in the presence of piperidine (Pip) vary linearly with the total concentration of Pip ([Pip]_T) at a constant content of methanol in mixed aqueous solvents containing 2% v/v acetonitrile. Such linear variation of k_obs against [Pip]_T exists within the methanol content range 10%–∼80% v/v. The change in k_obs with the change in [Pip]_T at 98% v/v CH₃OH in mixed methanol‐acetonitrile solvent shows the relationship: k_obs = k[Pip]_T + k[Pip], where respective k and k represent apparent second‐order and third‐order rate constants for nucleophilic and general base‐catalyzed piperidinolysis of phthalimide. The values of k_obs, obtained within [Pip]_T range 0.02–0.40 M at 0.03 M NaOH and 20 as well as 50% v/v CH₃OH reveal the relationship: k_obs = k₀/(1 + {k_n[Pip]/k_OX[⁻OX]_T}), where k₀ is the pseudo‐first‐order rate constant for hydrolysis of phthalimide, k_n and k_OX represent nucleophilic second‐order rate constants for the reaction of Pip with phthalimide and for the XO⁻‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐piperidinylphthalamide to phthalimide, respectively, and [⁻OX]_T = [NaOH] + [⁻OX_re], where [⁻OX_re] = [⁻OH_re] + [CH₃O_re⁻]. The reversible reactions of Pip with H₂O and CH₃OH produce ⁻OH_re and CH₃O_re⁻ ions. The effects of mixed methanol‐water solvents on the rates of piperidinolysis of PTH reveal a nonlinear decrease in k with the increase in the content of methanol. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 29–40, 2001     

The acetyl radicals CH3CO· and CD3CO· studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

Ultraviolet absorption spectra have been characterized for the acetyl-h₃ and acetyl-d₃ radicals, which were generated by the flash photolysis of the corresponding acetones. The spectra are broad and intense, with values of the extinction coefficient at the respective maxima estimated as: ?CH₃CO(215) = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm and ?CD₃CO(207.5) = (1.0 ± 0.05) × 10⁴ L/mol·cm. Rate constants for the reactions of mutual interaction were estimated as: k = 3.5 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 3.4 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. Rate constants for the reactions of cross interaction were estimated as: k = 8.6 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s and k = 5.2 × 10¹⁰ L/mol·s. The related values of the cross interaction ratios k/(kk)^1/2 = 2.6 and k/(kk)^1/2 = 1.6 do not differ significantly from the statistical value of 2. The participation of the radical displacement reactions was estimated in terms of the fractions k/k = 0.38 and k/k = 0.47. Corroborative spectra were obtained from the flash photolysis of methyl ethyl ketone and biacetyl, and the relative rates of the competing primary processes were estimated from the relative peak heights of the acetyl and methyl radicals in each system.     

Peculiar kinetics of the complex formation in the iron(III)–sulfate system

The results of comprehensive equilibrium and kinetic studies of the iron(III)–sulfate system in aqueous solutions at I = 1.0 M (NaClO₄), in the concentration ranges of T = 0.15–0.3 mM, and at pH 0.7–2.5 are presented. The iron(III)–containing species detected are FeOH²⁺ (=FeH_?1), (FeOH) (=Fe₂H_?2), FeSO, and Fe(SO₄) with formation constants of log β = ?2.84, log β = ?2.88, log β = 2.32, and log β = 3.83. The formation rate constants of the stepwise formation of the sulfate complexes are k_1a = 4.4 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm Fe}^{3+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-}\,\stackrel{k_{1a}}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm FeSO}_4^+The results of comprehensive equilibrium and kinetic studies of the iron(III)–sulfate system in aqueous solutions at I = 1.0 M (NaClO₄), in the concentration ranges of T = 0.15–0.3 mM, and at pH 0.7–2.5 are presented. The iron(III)–containing species detected are FeOH²⁺ (=FeH_?1), (FeOH) (=Fe₂H_?2), FeSO, and Fe(SO₄) with formation constants of log β = ?2.84, log β = ?2.88, log β = 2.32, and log β = 3.83. The formation rate constants of the stepwise formation of the sulfate complexes are k_1a = 4.4 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm Fe}^{3+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-}\,\stackrel{k_{1a}}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm FeSO}_4^+$ step and k₂ = 1.1 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm FeSO}_4^+ + {\rm SO}_4^{2-} \stackrel{k_2}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm Fe}({\rm SO}_4)_2^-$ step. The mono‐sulfate complex is also formed in the ${\rm Fe}({\rm OH})^{2+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-} \stackrel{k_{1b}}{\longrightarrow} {\rm FeSO}_4^+$ reaction with the k_1b = 2.7 × 10⁵ M^?1 s^?1 rate constant. The most surprising result is, however, that the 2 FeSO? Fe³⁺ + Fe(SO₄) equilibrium is established well before the system as a whole reaches its equilibrium state, and the main path of the formation of Fe(SO₄) is the above fast (on the stopped flow scale) equilibrium process. The use and advantages of our recently elaborated programs for the evaluation of equilibrium and kinetic experiments are briefly outlined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 114–124, 2008     

The N(4S) + N2O(X̃1∑) reaction

The title reaction, which is spin‐forbidden for N₂(X¹∑) + NO(X²Π) production, has been studied from 960 to 1130 K in a high‐temperature photochemistry reactor. No reaction could be observed, indicating k < 1 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. It is concluded that there is no significant contribution from the spin‐allowed exothermic path leading to N₂(X¹∑) + NO(a⁴Π). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 387–389, 2001     

Kinetics of acid catalyzed and Ag(I) catalyzed decomposition of peroxodisulfate in aqueous medium

The mechanism of acid catalyzed decomposition of peroxodisulfate, (S₂O) in aqueous perchlorate medium involves the hydrolysis of the species H₂S₂O₈ and HS₂O and the homolysis of the species H₂S₂O₈, HS₂O and S₂O at the O? O bond. The overall rate law when 1.4M > [HClO₄] > 0.1M is The constants k′ and k″ contain the hydrolysis and homolysis rate constants of HS₂O₈^? and H₂S₂O₈, respectively. With added Ag(I), the acid catalyzed and Ag(I) catalyzed reactions take place independently. Ag(I) catalyzed decomposition appears to involve the species AgS₂O (aq).     

Kinetics of the solvolysis of [Co(3Rpy)4Cl2]+ ions (R = Me or Et) in water and in water + methanol mixtures

Rates of solvolysis of ions [Co(3Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ with R = Me and Et have been measured over a range of temperatures for a series of water-rich water + methanol mixtures to investigate the effect of changes in solvent structure on the solvolysis of complexes presenting a largely hydrophobic surface to the solvent. The variation of the enthalpies and entropies of activation with solvent composition has been determined. A free energy cycle relating the free energy of activation in water to that in water + methanol is applied using free energies of transfer of individual ionic species from water into water + methanol. Data for the free energy of transfer of chloride ions ΔG(Cl^?) from both the spectrophotometric solvent sorting method and the TATB method for separating ΔG(salt) into ΔG(i) for individual ions are used: irrespective of the source of ΔG(Cl^?), in general, ?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl²⁺) > ?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂⁺), where Rpy = py, 4Mepy, 4Etpy, 3Etpy, and 3Mepy, showing that changes in solvent structure in water-rich water + methanol mixtures generally stabilize the cation in the transition state more than the cation in the initial state for this type of complex ion. A similar result is found when the free energy cycle is applied to the solvolysis of the dichloro (2,2′,2″-triaminotriethylamine)cobalt(III) ion. The introduction of a Me or Et group on the pyridine ring in [Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ has little influence on the difference {ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl²⁺)?ΔG(Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂⁺)} in water + methanol with the mol fraction of methanol < 0.20.     

The kinetics of the reaction: Br + C3H6 ⇌ HBr + C3H5

Studies of the reaction of Br + propylene to produce HBr and allyl radical were made using VLPR (Very Low Pressure Reactor) over the range 263–363 K. Apparent bimolecular rate constants k were found to vary in an inverse manner with the initial concentration of bromine atoms introduced into the reactor. Plots of k against [Br] give straight lines whose intercepts were taken to be the true bimolecular, metathesis rate constant k₁. The reaction scheme is where k₂ ? k₁ and k_?1 [HBr] is negligibly small under our conditions. Arrhenius parameters for k₁ were assigned for linear and bent transition states and shown to give excellent fits to the observed intercepts. where θ = 2.303 RT (kcal mol^?1). The dependence of k on [Br] is accounted for in terms of the reactivity of Br* (²P_1/2) produced in the microwave discharge. The activation energy for the metathesis reaction of Br* with propylene is shown to be very small.     

Kinetic study of the interaction of adenosine 5′‐monophosphate with diaqua (2‐hydrazinopyridine) palladium(II) in aqueous medium

The interaction of the palladium(II) complex [Pd(hzpy)(H₂O)₂]²⁺, where hzpy is 2‐hydrazinopyridine, with purine nucleoside adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (5′‐AMP) was studied kinetically under pseudo‐first‐order conditions, using stopped‐flow techniques. The reaction was found to take place in two consecutive reaction steps, which are both dependent on the actual 5′‐AMP concentration. The activation parameters for the two reaction steps, i.e. ΔH = 32 ±2 kJ mol^?1, ΔS = ?168 ±7 J K^?1 mol^?1, and ΔH = 28 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, ΔS = ?126 ± 5 J K^?1 mol^?1, respectively, were evaluated and suggested an associative mode of activation for both substitution processes. The stability constants and the associated speciation diagram of the complexes were also determined potentiometrically. The isolated solid complex was characterized by C, H, and N elemental analyses, IR, magnetic, and molar conductance measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 132–142, 2010     

Oxidation of thallium(I) by hexacyanoferrate(III) in aqueous acetic acid

The hexacyanoferrate(III)-thallium(I) reaction in aqueous acetic acid containing large concentrations of hydrochloric acid is considerably accelerated both by hydrogen and chloride ions as well as increasing acetic acid in the medium. The experimental results obey the rate law (1) where β₁ to β₆ are the cumulative stability constants of the species TlCl, TlCl, TlCl, HFe(CN), H₂Fe(CN) and H₃Fe(CN)₆ respectively and k_a and k_b are the rate constants associated with the mono- and di-protonated oxidant species. The main active species are H₂Fe(CN) and TlCl.     

Disproportionation-to-combination ratios for cyclohexyl-h11 and -d11 radicals in the gas phase as determined by the radiolysis of water vapor–cyclohexane mixtures

In the radiolysis of water vapor containing small concentrations of cyclohexane, the principal products which account for about 98% of all end products are found to be hydrogen, cyclohexene, and bicyclohexyl. Cyclohexene and bicyclohexyl yields were determined over a range of temperatures (70–200°C), total pressures (50–2400 torr), and total doses (0.15–2.0 Mrad). The disproportionation–combination ratio k/k for c-C₆H₁₁ radicals could be determined as 0.56 ± 0.01 from the ratio of cyclohexene to bicyclohexyl yield. By using c-C₆D₁₂, the ratio k/k for c-C₆D₁₁ radicals is found to be 0.38 ± 0.01. Comparison of the reactivity pattern of C₆H₁₁ and C₆D₁₁ radicals leads to (k)/(k)/(k/k) = 1.47 ± 0.02. The corresponding values for the reactions of c-C₆H₁₁ with c-C₆D₁₁ were also determined.     

Effect of solvent on the reactions of coordination complexes part VII: Kinetics of solvolysis of cis-(bromo) (imidazole) bis-(ethylenediamine)cobalt (III) and cis-(bromo) (N-methyl imidazole)bis-(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) in methanol-water media

The kinetics of the solvolytic aquation of cis-(Bromo) (imidazole) bis(ethylenediamine) cobalt (III) and cis-(Bromo) (N-methylimidazole) bis(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) have been investigated in aqueous methanol media with methanol content 0–80% by weight and at temperatures 40–55°C. The pseudo-first order rate constant decreases with increasing methanol content. Plots of log k vs. D (where D_s is the bulk-dielectric constant of the solvent mixture) and log k vs. the Grunwald-Winstein Y-solvent parameter are nonlinear, the curvature of the plots is relatively more significant for the imidazole complex. The plots of log k vs. molfraction of methanol (X_MeOH) for both the substrates also deviate from linearity, the deviation being less and less marked, particularly for the N-methyl imidazole complex, as the temperature is increased. Hence preferential solvation phenomenon appears to be less significant when the N-H proton of imidazole is replaced by -CH₃ group. The plots of calculated values of the transfer free energy of the dissociative transition state, cis-{[(en)₂Co(B)]³⁺}* (B = imidazole, N-methylimidazole), relative to that of the initial state, cis-[Co(en)₂(B)Br]²⁺, for the transfer of the ions from water to the mixed solvent, against X_MeOH exhibit maxima at X_MeOH = 0.06, 0.27, and 0.12, 0.36 and minima at X_MeOH = 0.12 and 0.19 for cis-[(en)₂Co(imH)Br]²⁺ and its N-methylimidazole analogue respectively which are in keeping with the solvent structural changes around the initial state and transition state of these substrates as the solvent composition is varied. Plots of activation enthalpy and entropy against molfraction of the solvent mixtures exhibit maxima and minima. This type of variations of the activation parameters, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, with X_MeOH speaks of the enthalpy and entropy changes associated with the solvent-shell reorganization of the complex ions both in the initial and in the transition states which contribute appreciably to the overall activation enthalpy and entropy of the aquation reaction.     

A pulse radiolysis study of I and (SCN) in aqueous solutions over the temperature range 15–90°C

The extinction coefficients and the decay kinetics of I and (SCN) have been characterized over the 15–90°C-temperature range. The extinction coefficients of I at 385 and 725 nm were determined to be 10,000 and 2560M^?1 cm^?1, respectively, based on the extinction coefficient of (SCN) at 475 nm being equal to 7600M^?1 cm^?1. At these three wavelengths, all extinction coefficients were constant over the temperature range studied. The rate of decay of both I and (SCN) was found to be a function of I^? and SCN^? concentration, respectively, as well as temperature.     

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with CH3OCF2CF3, CH3OCF2CF2CF3, and CH3OCF(CF3)2

The rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with CH₃OCF₂CF₃, CH₃OCF₂CF₂CF₃, and CH₃OCF(CF₃)₂ have been measured over the temperature range 250–430 K. Kinetic measurements have been carried out using the flash photolysis, laser photolysis, and discharge flow methods combined respectively with the laser induced fluorescence technique. The influence of impurities in the samples was investigated by using gas‐chromatography. The following Arrhenius expressions were determined: k(CH₃OCF₂CF₃) = (1.90) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1510 ± 120)/T], k(CH₃OCF₂CF₂CF₃) = (2.06) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1540 ± 80)/T], and k(CH₃OCF(CF₃)₂) = (1.94) × 10⁻¹² exp[−(1450 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 846–853, 1999     

Kinetics of the simultaneous oxidation of nickel(II) and sulfur(IV) by oxygen in alkaline medium in Ni(II)–sulfur(IV)–O2 system

In the Ni(II)–S(IV)–O₂ system in the region of pH > 8.4, both Ni(II) and S(IV) are simultaneously autoxidized, and when sulfur is consumed fully NiOOH precipitates. At pH > 8.4, ethanol has no effect on the rate, whereas ammonia strongly inhibits the reaction when pH > 7.0. The kinetics of the reaction, in both the presence and the absence of ethanol, is defined by the rate law where k is the rate constant, K_O is the equilibrium constant for the adsorption of O₂ on ? Ni(OH)₂ particle surface. In ammonia buffer, the factor F is defined by where K, K_OH, K₁, K₂, K₃, and K₄ are the stability constants of NiSO₃, NiOH⁺, Ni(NH₃)²⁺, Ni(NH₃), Ni(NH₃), and Ni(NH₃), respectively. In unbuffered medium, the factor F reduces to The values of k and K^sp were found to be (1.3 ± 0.08) × 10^?1 s^?1 and (4.2 ± 3.5) × 10^?16, respectively, at 30°C. A nonradical mechanism that assumes the adsorption of both SO₃^2? and O₂ on the ? Ni(OH)₂ particle surface has been proposed. At pH ≤ 8.2, Ni(II) displays no catalytic activity for sulfur(IV)‐autoxidation and it is also not oxidized to NiOOH. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 464–478, 2010     

Rate constants for some reactions of free radicals with haloacetates in aqueous solution

The kinetics of the acqueous-phase reactions of the free radicals ·OH, ·Cl, and SO· with the halogenated acetates, CH₂FCOO^?, CHF₂COO^?, CF₃COO^?, and with CH₂ClCOO^?, CHCl₂COO^?, CCl₃COO^? were investigated. Generally, the reactivity decreases with increasing halogen substitution and is in the order k(·OH) > k(SO·) > k(·Cl), but there is no general relation between the effect on reactivity of chlorine and fluorine substitution. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Arrhenius parameters for the gas‐phase reactions of O3 with two butenes and two methyl‐substituted butenes over the temperature range of 295–351 K

Gas‐phase reactions of ozone with two butenes (1‐butene and isobutene) and two methyl‐substituted butenes (2‐methyl‐1‐butene and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene) have been studied in an indoor chamber at 295–351 K. The O₃ concentrations were monitored by Model 49C‐Ozone analyzer. The butene concentrations were measured by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector. The Arrhenius expressions of k=3.50×10^?15e^{(?1756±84)/T} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k=3.39×10^?15e^{(?1697±52)/T} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, k=6.18×10^?15e^{?(1822±80)/T} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and k=7.24×10^?14e^{?(2741±139)/T} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were obtained for the ozonolysis reactions of 1‐butene, isobutene, 2‐methyl‐1‐butene, and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene, respectively. Both the reaction rate constant and activation energy obtained in this work are in good agreement with those reported by using different techniques in the literature. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 238–246, 2011     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase β‐myrcene + OH and isoprene + OH reactions as a function of temperature

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of the hydroxyl radical with the biogenic hydrocarbons, β‐myrcene and isoprene, were measured using the relative rate technique over the temperature range 313–413 K and at ～1 atm total pressure. OH was produced by the photolysis of H₂O₂, and helium was the diluent gas. The reactants were detected by online mass spectrometry, which resulted in high time resolution allowing for large amounts of data to be collected and used in the determination of the Arrhenius parameters. Many experiments were performed over the temperature range of interest, leading to more accurate parameters than previous investigations. The following Arrhenius expression has been determined for these reactions (in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1): for isoprene k = (3.14) × 10^?11 exp [(338 ± 19)/T] and for β‐myrcene k = (9.19) × 10^?12 exp[(1071 ± 82)/T]. The Arrhenius plot for the isoprene + OH reaction indicates curvature in this relationship and is given by k = (3.47 ± 0.14) × 10^?17 T² exp [(1036 ± 14)/T]. Our measured rate constant for the β‐myrcene + OH reaction at 298 K is higher, but not significantly, than current literature values. This is the first report of β‐myrcene's rate constant with OH as a function of temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 407–413, 2009     

Gas phase rate coefficients and activation energies for the reaction of butanal and 2‐methyl‐propanal with nitrate radicals

Rate coefficients have been determined for the reaction of butanal and 2‐methyl‐propanal with NO₃ using relative and absolute methods. The relative measurements were accomplished by using a static reactor with long‐path FTIR spectroscopy as the analytical tool. The absolute measurements were made using fast‐flow–discharge technique with detection of NO₃ by optical absorption. The resulting average coefficients from the relative rate experiments were k = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁴ and k = (1.2 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹⁴ (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) for butanal and 2‐methyl‐propanal, respectively. The results from the absolute measurements indicated secondary reactions involving NO₃ radicals and the primary formed acyl radicals. The prospect of secondary reactions was investigated by means of mathematical modeling. Calculations indicated that the unwanted NO₃ radical reactions could be suppressed by introducing molecular oxygen into the flow tube. The rate coefficients from the absolute rate experiments with oxygen added were and k = (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁴ and = (0.9 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁴ (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) for butanal and 2‐methyl‐propanal. The temperature dependence of the reactions was studied in the range between 263 and 364 K. Activation energies for the reactions were determined to 12 ± 2 kJ mole⁻¹ and 14 ± 1 kJ mole⁻¹ for butanal and 2‐methyl‐propanal, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 294–303, 2000