Gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 1‐substituted ethyl acetates. Effect of polar substituents at the α carbon of secondary acetates

Abstract

AbstractThe gas‐phase elimination of several polar substituents at the α carbon of ethyl acetates has been studied in a static system over the temperature range of 310–410°C and the pressure range of 39–313 torr. These reactions are homogeneous in both clean and seasoned vessels, follow a first‐order rate law, and are unimolecular. The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients is given by the following Arrhenius equations: 2‐acetoxypropionitrile, log k1 (s−1) = (12.88 ± 0.29) – (203.3 ± 2.6) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 3‐acetoxy‐2‐butanone, log ±1(s−1) = (13.40 ± 0.20) – (202.8 ± 2.4) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 1,1,1‐trichloro‐2‐acetoxypropane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.12 ± 0.50) – (193.7 ± 6.0) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−; for methyl 2‐acetoxypropionate, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (13.45 ± 0.05) – (209.5 ± 0.5) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 1‐chloro‐2‐acetoxypropane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.95 ± 0.15) – (197.5 ± 1.8) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 1‐fluoro‐2‐acetoxypropane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.83 ± 0.15)– (197.8 ± 1.8) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 1‐dimethylamino‐2‐acetoxypropane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.66 ± 0.22) –(185.9 ± 2.5) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; for 1‐phenyl‐2‐acetoxypropane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.53 ± 0.20) – (180.1 ± 2.3) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1; and for 1‐phenyl−3−acetoxybutane, log ℜ1 (s−1) = (12.33 ± 0.25) – (179.8 ± 2.9) kJ/mol (2.303RT)−1. The CαO bond polarization appears to be the rate‐determining process in the transmition state of these pyrolysis reactions. Linear correlations of electron‐releasing and electron‐withdrawing groups along strong σ bonds have been projected and discussed. The present work may provide a general view on the effect of alkyl and polar substituents at the CαO bond in the gas‐phase elimination of secondary acetates.