Thermal decomposition of di-t-butyl peroxide in the presence of (CH3)2CCH2: Reactions of CH3, (CH3)2ĊCH2CH3, and (CH3)2ĊCH2C(CH3)2CH2CH3 radicals

A study of the reaction initiated by the thermal decomposition of di-t-butyl peroxide (DTBP) in the presence of (CH₃)₂C?CH₂ (B) at 391–444 K has yielded kinetic data on a number of reactions involving CH₃ (M·), (CH₃)₂CCH₂CH₃ (MB·) and (CH₃)₂?CH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₃ (MBB·) radicals. The cross-combination ratio for M· and MB· radicals, rate constants for the addition to B of M· and MB· radicals relative to those for their recombination reactions, and rate constants for the decomposition of DTBP, have been determined. The values are, respectively, where θ = RT ln 10 and the units are dm^3/2 mol^?1/2 s^?1/2 for k₂/k and k₉/k, s^?1 for k₀, and kJ mol^?1 for E. Various disproportionation-combination ratios involving M·, MB·, and MBB· radicals have been evaluated. The values obtained are: Δ₁(M·, MB·) = 0.79 ± 0.35, Δ₁(MB·, MB·) = 3.0 ± 1.0, Δ₁(MBB·, MB·) = 0.7 ± 0.4, Δ₁(M·, MBB·) = 4.1 ± 1.0, Δ₁(MB·, MBB·) = 6.2 ± 1.4, and Δ₁(MBB·, MBB·) = 3.9 ± 2.3, where Δ₁ refers to H-abstraction from the CH₃ group adjacent to the center of the second radical, yielding a 1-olefin. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.