Orientation of addition of hydrogen atoms to propylene,butene-1, and isobutene

The orientation of addition of H atoms to the asymmetric olefins propylene, butene-1, and isobutene has been determined as a function of atom concentration, olefin concentration, hydrogen pressure, total pressure, and olefin conversion. Conditions have been determined for which complicating secondary processes are believed to be unimportant. The percentage of nonterminal addition is 5.7, 5.7, and 0.48 for propylene, butene-1, and isobutene, respectively. From these data activation energy differences between nonterminal and terminal addition of 1.7 and 3.2 kcal/mole for the linear olefins and isobutene, respectively, may be calculated. For D atom addition to propylene, a small isotope effect was observed, nonterminal addition being 5.4%. These observations are consistent with a predominantly free radical or electroneutral character for H atoms.