Rate coefficients for the reactions of hydrogen atoms with 1-bromopropane, 2-bromopropane, 1-bromobutane,and 2-bromobutane

The rate coefficients for the reactions of hydrogen atoms with n-C₃H₇Br, s-C₃H₇Br, n-C₄H₉Br, and s-C₄H₉Br were determined in a discharge flow-reactor at 298 K and a pressure of 4 mbar. Molecular-beam sampling and subsequent mass-spectrometric detection with electron-impact ionisation was used for the measurement of the bromo-hydrocarbon concentration. The rate coefficients obtained are (in 10¹⁰ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹): 2.3±1.2 for n-C₃H₇Br, 2.3±1.2 for s-C₃H₇Br, 2.4±1.2 for n-C₄H₉Br, and 2.8±1.4 for s-C₄H₉Br. The results are compared with predictions from bond-energy bond-order (BEBO) calculations, where a reasonable agreement is found. Furthermore, also by BEBO calculations, the relative importance of bromine abstraction as compared to hydrogen abstraction is estimated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 721–727, 1998