Absolute rate constants for hydrocarbon autoxidation. VI. Alkyl aromatic and olefinic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Absolute rate constants have been measured for the autoxidation of a large number of hydrocarbons at 30 °C. The chain-propagating and chain-terminating rate constants depend on the structure of the hydrocarbon and also on the structure of the chain-carrying peroxy radical. With certain notable exceptions which are mainly due to steric hindrance, the rate constants for hydrogen-atom abstraction increase in the order primary < secondary < tertiary; and, for compounds losing a secondary hydrogen atom, the rate constants increase in the order unactivated < acyclic activated by a single π-electron system < cyclic activated by a single Π-system < acyclic activated by two π-systems < cyclic activated by two π-systems. The rate constants for chain termination by the self-reaction of two peroxy radicals generally increase in the order tertiary peroxy radicals < acyclic allylic secondary [Formula: see text] cyclic secondary [Formula: see text] acyclic benzylic secondary < primary peroxy radicals < hydroperoxy radicals.