Shock wave study of ring opening processes in biphenylene

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of biphenylene was studied by UV absorption spectroscopy in reflected shock waves over the temperature range 1470–1860 K. Rates for the first three steps of the reaction sequence were determined, the primary step being characterized by a rate constant of k=1.2×10¹⁶ exp(-374 kJ mol^-1/RT) s^-1. By comparison with single pulse shock tube measurements the reaction mechanism could be identified as a sequence of ring opening processes followed by fragmentation of the forming linear chains.