Kinetics of the Thermal <i>Cis-Trans</i> Isomerization of Dideuteroethylene

Abstract

The thermal cis-trans isomerization of trans-ethylene, d2 has been studied from 450° to 550°C over a pressure range of 0.9 cm to 31 cm Hg in two quartz reactors. The rate is pressure dependent over the entire pressure range. It is concluded that at 0.9 cm the reaction is a homogeneous, unimolecular reaction. A high pressure activation energy of 65 kcal and frequency factor of 1013 sec—1 are deduced. At higher pressures the reaction is sensitized by processes attendant on polymerization, which occurs as a side reaction with propylene as the principal product. The relation of this study to other work on substituted ethylenes is discussed briefly, as well as a few other topics pertinent to the results obtained.