Absolute rate constants for hydrocarbon autoxidation. 24. Rate constants and Arrhenius parameters for reaction of tert-butylperoxy radicals with 3-methylpentane

Abstract

Autoxidation of 3-methylpentane in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide gives, after reduction with triphenylphosphine, 3-methyl-3-pentanol and 3-methyl-2-pentanol as the major reaction products. The overall rate constant for reaction of (CH3)3COO· with this substrate at 30 °C is 0.008 ± 0.001 M−1 s−1 which consists of k/tertiary C—H = 0.007 ± 0.001 M−1 s−1 and k/secondary C—H = 0.0002 ± 0.0001 M−1 s−1. The products from cooxidation of cumene and 3-methylpentane in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide are formed in yields which are consistent with these rate constants relative to a value of 0.16 M−1 s−1 for cumene. The Arrhenius equations for reaction of (CH3)3COO• with the t-C—H and s-C—H of 3-methylpentane relative to the Arrhenius equation for reaction of (CH3)3COO• with cumene (log (k10/M−1 s−1) = (8.7 ± 0.3) − (13.2 ± 0.4)/θ) are[Formula: see text]respectively, where θ = 2.303 RT kcal mol−1.