The kinetics of the interaction of peroxy radicals. II. Primary and secondary alkyl peroxy

Abstract

AbstractA chain mechanism is proposed to account for the very rapid termination reactions observed between alkyl peroxy radicals containing α‐C—H bonds which are from 104 to 106 faster than the termination of tertiary alkyl peroxy radicals. The new mechanism is equation image with termination by equation image . \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm R}\overline {{\rm CHOO}} $\end{document} is the zwitterion originally postulated by Criegee to account for the chemistry of O3‐olefin addition. Heats of formation are estimated for \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \overline {{\rm CH}_2 {\rm OO,}} {\rm }\overline {{\rm RCHOO}} $\end{document}, and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ({\rm C}\overline {{\rm H}_3 )_2 {\rm COO}} $\end{document} and it is shown that all steps in the mechanism are exothermic. The second step can account for (1Δ)O2 which has been observed. k1 is estimated to be 109–2/θ liter/M sec where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mole. The second and third steps constitute a chain termination process where chain length is estimated at from 2 to 10. This mechanism for the first time accounts for minor products such as acid and ROOH found in termination reactions. Trioxide (step 3) is shown to be important below 30°C or in very short time observations (<10 s at 30°C). Solvent effects are also shown to be compatible with the new mechanism.