Thermal reactions of acetonitrile at high temperatures. Pyrolysis behind reflected shocks

The thermal decomposition of acetonitrile was studied behind reflected shocks in a single pulse shock tube over the temperature range 1350–1950 K at overall densities of approximately 3 × 10^?5 mol/cc. Methane and hydrogen cyanide are the major reaction products. They are formed by an attack of H and CH₃ radicals on acetonitrile. The initiation step of the pyrolysis is the self dissociation of acetonitrile: for which the following rate constant was obtained: k₁ = 6.17 × 10¹⁵exp(?96.6 × 10³/RT)sec^?1. Where R is given in units of cal/K mol. Additional reaction products which appear in the pyrolysis are: C₂H₂, C₂H₄, CH₂?CHCN, CH?CHCN, C₂H₅CN, C₂N₂, and C₄H₂. Acetylene is formed from methane pyrolysis and becomes a major reaction product at high temperatures. Acrilonitrile and cyanoacetylene are secondary products originating from the CH₂CN radical. Rate parameters for the formation of the reaction products are given.