Combination and disproportionation reactions of the CH3CH — N — NC2H5 radical

Abstract

The radical CH₃CH [graphic omitted] N [graphic omitted] NC₂H₅(1) was produced in the di-tert-butyl peroxide-initiated and thermal decompositions of azoethane. Self-combination of 1 takes place almost exclusively at the carbon radical centre (1C). The disproportionation: combination ratio Δ(Ċ₂H₅, 1N)≈ 0.38 (Δ=k_d/k_c) and the rate constant ratio k_b(ĊH₃, 1N)/k_c(ĊH₃, 1C)= 0.15 ± 0.03. The cross-combination ratio ϕ(ĊH₃, 1C)= 1.38 ± 0.11, which is lower than the cross-reaction ratio ϕ*(ĊH₃, 1)≈ 2.5.