Gas-phase pyrolysis and the solvolysis of s-butyl thiocyanate. Part I. The gas-phase pyrolysis

Abstract

The gas-phase pyrolysis of s-butyl thiocyanate followed a first-order law and was homogeneous and unimolecular, the Arrhenius equation being log k₁/s^–1= 12·304 ± 0·042 –(38,820 ± 87)/2·303 RT. No racemisation was observed in the gas-phase reaction, and the small amount of s-butyl isothiocyanate which built up during the reaction was shown to arise through back addition. The implications of these results are discussed.