Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction CH3F + I2 ⇆ CH2FI + HI: The C?H bond dissociation energy in methyl and methylene fluorides

The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of CH₃F with I₂ have been studied spectrophotometrically from 629 to 710 K, and were determined to be consistent with the following mechanism: (1) A least-squares analysis of the kinetic data taken in the initial stages of reaction resulted in where θ = 4.575T/1000 kcal/mol. The errors represent one standard deviation. The experimental activation energy E₄ = 30.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mol was combined with the assumption E₃ = 1 ± 1 kcal/mol and estimated heat capacities to obtain The enthalpy change at 298 K was combined with selected thermochemical data to derive The kinetic studies of ?HF₂ and CH₂F₂ have been reevaluated to yield These results are combined with literature data to yield the C? H, C? F, and C? Cl bond dissociation energies in their respective fluoromethanes, and the effect of α-fluorine substitution is discussed.