Heat of formation of Benzophenone Oxide

The heat of formation of benzophenone oxide, Ph₂CO₂, was measured using photoacoustic calorimetry. The enthalpy of the reaction Ph₂CN₂ + O₂ → Ph₂CO₂ + N₂ was found to be ?48.0 ±0.8 kcal mol^?1 and ΔH_f(Ph₂CN₂) was determined by measuring the reaction enthalpy for Ph₂CN₂ + EtOH → Ph₂CHOEt + N₂ (?53.6 ±1.0 kcal mol^?1). Taking ΔH_f(PhCHOEt) = ?10.6 kcal mol^?1 led to ΔH_f(Ph₂CN₂) = 99.2 ± 1.5 kcal mol^?1 and hence to ΔH_f(Ph₂CO₂) = 51.1 ± 2.0 kcal mol^?1. The results imply that the self-reaction of benzophenone oxide i.e., 2Ph₂CO₂ → 2Ph₂CO + O₂ is exothermic by ?76.0 ±4.0 kcal mol^?1.