Reactions of trifluoromethyl and methyl radicals with ethylene oxide

Abstract

The reaction between CF3 radicals and ethylene oxide was studied in the range 60–228 °C using CF3I as a radical source. For the reactions,[Formula: see text]we obtain[Formula: see text]where θ = 2.3 RT kcal mole−1Published data of Phibbs and Darwent on the reaction[Formula: see text]have been re-calculated and it is suggested that both the original and re-calculated values of the activation energy E5 are too low. The Arrhenius parameters for the reactions of CF3 and CH3 radicals with ethylene oxide are compared with those for related reactions.