Oxidation of n-alkanes photosensitized by 1-naphthol

Abstract

The addition of 1-naphthol accelerates the photo-decomposition of n-alkanes when floating on water. The products of oxidation are mainly long chain alcohols, with smaller amounts of peroxides and hydroperoxides. The amounts formed during irradiation have been determined by chemical analysis and also from the changes produced in the interfacial tensions of the solutions. Differences are observed in the behaviour of alkanes with odd and even numbers of carbon atoms in their chains, the latter being the more stable. A mechanism of oxidation has been proposed which, overall, follows half order kinetics with respect to the naphthol concentration in solution.