Reaction of Methyl Radicals with Ethylene

Abstract

The gas phase reaction between methyl radicals and ethylene has been studied between 124° and 159° by the thermal decomposition of di-t-butyl peroxide in presence of ethylene. The value of k4a/k31/2 for the reactions, CH3+C2H4→ lim k4aC3H7 2CH3→ lim k3C2H6,is 3.3×10−7exp−8660/RT molecule−1/2cm3/2sec−1/2 and the steric factor for the addition of methyl radicals to ethylene is about 7.6×10—3. At low ethylene concentrations no evidence could be found for polymerization beyond the initial methyl radical addition.