Free-radical substitution in aliphatic compounds. Part XVI. The reaction of methyl radicals with n-butane

Abstract

Methyl radicals generated by the photolysis of azomethane have been allowed to react with n-butane in the presence of methyl iodide. The butyl iodides formed have been analysed and the reaction carried out over a wide temperature range. From these results the rates of attack CH₃·+ C₄H₁₀→ C₄H₉·+ CH₄ by methyl radicals at the primary and secondary positions in n-butane have been determined: k^s/k^p= 1·21 ± 0·16 exp (1·65 ± 0·10 kcal./RT)