Free radical reactions in solution. Part 6. Thermal decomposition of substituted dibenzyl mercurials in solution. An improved σ˙ scale

Abstract

The kinetics of the decomposition of ten substituted dibenzylmercury compounds in solution have been determined in the temperature range 126–156°. From the relative rates at 140.2°, a new scale of substituent constants σ˙ applicable to free radical reactions is derived. E.s.r. spectra for seven substituted benzyl radicals show a reasonable correlation of a_α–CH2 with σ˙.