Thermal degradation of some benzyltrialkylammonium salts using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract

A number of benzyl quaternary ammonium salts have been examined by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using various temperatures for the pyrolysis. The products show that simple substitution reactions dominate at low temperatures with slight evidence for classical Hofmann degradation. Raising the temperature gave increasing concentrations of 1,2-diphenylethane and stilbene which must be produced by intermolecular reactions. There appeared to be a linear relationship between the amount of 1,2-diphenylethane produced and the temperature of the pyrolysis.