Catalysis by hydrogen halides in the gas phase. Part XXVII. N-t-Butylacetamide and hydrogen chloride

Abstract

The gas-phase hydrogen chloride catalysed decomposition of N-t-butylacetamide (NBA) into t-butylamine, isobutene, acetonitrile, and acetic acid at 380 °C is reported. Acetyl chloride is believed to be formed as the intermediate. The experimental evidence presented also suggests that acetyl chloride is in equilibrium with keten and hydrogen chloride, the former reacting with NBA to yield the observed products. The decomposition appears to be homogeneous and molecular. The kinetic form, which is basically first-order in each reactant, is altered by t-butylamine either produced in the reaction or added initially.