Oxidation of 4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene. Part V. Tunnelling effect on the kinetics of the initiation step
Abstract
The rate constant ka of the initiation step in the reaction of 4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene (PH2) with molecular oxygen: PH2+ O2→ PH·+ HO2· was measured over the temperature range 263–191 K. A significant positive deviation from the Arrhenius dependence, In ka= In A–Ea/RT, was observed, and is ascribed to quantum-mechanical tunnelling.