Abstract
The vapor phase pyrolysis GC of 11 straight chain and branched chain methyl esters was investigated. Two types of products are observed: a) alkenes and b) unsaturated methyl esters of molecular weight less than that of the parent compound. The alkene products are similar to those observed in the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons. In all cases the most abundant ester product is CH2=CHCOOCH3, but all unsaturated esters up to and including those containing one carbon atom less than the parent compound are observed. The relative product distribution is essentially independent of temperature (575°C–650°C). For a typical methyl ester (methyl nanoate) the average temperature coefficient for the rate of production of both alkene and unsaturated ester is 60 ±2 kcal/mole. The product distribution is independent of sample size when less than 1 µl (approximately 10−3g) is pyrolyzed. The pyrolysis product distribution is unique for each compound studied, and it can be qualitatively correlated with a free radical chain reaction.
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