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.