Kinetics of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-epoxypentane

Abstract

In the temperature range 638–727 K 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-epoxypentane decomposes by homogeneous, unimolecular and non-radical mechanisms to give propene, propanone, but-1-ene, cis- and trans-but-2-ene, butanone, 2,2-dimethylpentan-3-one, 3,3-dimethylpentan-2-one, 2,3-dimethylpent-1-en-3-ol, 3-ethyl-2-methylbut-3-en-2-ol and 2,3-dimethylpent-3-en-2-ol as the major products. These products arise as the consequence of seven competing primary processes and the Arrhenius parameters for each of these processes are determined. The results and conclusions of this study are in accord with those of previous studies of the thermal decompositions of other alkyl-substituted oxiranes.