The kinetics and mechanism of thermal decomposition of alkyl isocyanates

The kinetics of the gas-phase decomposition of ethyl, isopropyl, and t-butyl isocyanates have been studied in the temperature range of 380–530°C. t-Butyl isocyanate decomposes almost exclusively by a unimolecular route to isobutene and HNCO, but in EtNCO and i-PrNCO this route competes with a free-radical chain which produces CO, CH₄, and HCN or CH₃CN. In i-PrNCO, however, the chain process is very rapidly inhibited by the propene formed in the parallel unimolecular route. A minor heterogeneous bimolecular decomposition in each case gives rise to carbon dioxide and a carbodiimide. Mechanisms and trends in the alkyl isocyanates from methyl through t-butyl are discussed.