Gas-phase eliminations. Part XIV. The pyrolysis of 1-(1-chloroethyl)-2-methylbenzene

Abstract

The gas-phase thermal decomposition of the title compound was studied in the temperature range 285–325° and with initial pressures between 25 and 105 mmHg. The only products detected were o-methylstyrene and hydrogen chloride. The reaction, which was homogeneous and unimolecular, followed the Arrhenius equation (i). log (k/s^–1)= 13.55 – 44.83 (2.303RT/kcal mol^–1)^–1(i) The mechanism was identified as a four-centred type related to that of the aliphatic halides rather than the six-centred one proposed for 1-chloromethyl-2-methylbenzene.