Heavy atom kinetic isotope effects. Part 3.—The chlorine kinetic isotope effect in the gas-phase unimolecular decomposition of ethyl chloride

Abstract

A study of ³⁵k/³⁷k for the gas-phase elimination of hydrogen chloride from ethyl chloride is reported. The value found at 723 K is 1.001 5 ± 0.000 2. Heavy atom kinetic isotope theory is applied in an attempt to characterise the transition state. It is concluded that there is only a moderate lengthening of the carbon-chlorine bond, and only a little motion of the chlorine atom in the transition state.