The thermal unimolecular decomposition of 1-methylcyclohexa-1,4-diene

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of 1-methylcyclohexa-1,4-diene has been studied in the temperature range 314–362°. Within this range, in an “aged” reaction vessel the decomposition is homogeneous and kinetically first order and yields only toluene and hydrogen. The rate constants, which are independent of pressure from 1 to 20 mm. are accurately fitted by the Arrhenius equation k= 10^12·69exp(–44,690/RT)sec.^–1 The results of decompositions in the presence of a methyl radical source (di-t-butyl peroxide) confirm that the normal thermal decomposition is a non-radical molecular process.