Kinetic isotope effects in the thermal gas phase reactions of 1, 2-epoxycyclohexane-3, 3, 6, 6-d4

First-order rate constants for formation of cyclohexanone and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol from 1,2-epoxycyclohexane and 1,2-epoxycyclohexane-3,3,6,6-d₄ have been determined over the temperature range of 677–746°K. The observed kinetic isotope effects are used in an attempt to determine the mechanism for formation of products. A distinction between a biradical and a concerted mechanism for the alcohol formation could not be made. However, if a common biradical is the precursor of both cyclohexanone and 2-cyclohexenl-ol then the rate of ring closure of this biradical must be much faster than the rates of hydrogen transfer to give the ketone and the alcohol.