A study of negative catalysis in the gas phase I. The action of aliphatic amines on the slow oxidation of diethyl ether in the gas phase

Abstract

A study of the inhibition of the slow oxidation of diethyl ether by aliphatic amines is reported. Secondary and tertiary amines are more powerful inhibitors than the primary compounds. It is shown that the surface of the reaction vessel does not play a large part in the reaction. It is therefore suggested that amines must inhibit by stabilizing free radicals formed during the oxidation of ether; this may be done by forming addition compounds with the radicals in the gas phase or by an oxygenated radical abstracting hydrogen from an amine molecule.