The thermal unimolecular decomposition of 3-methylcyclobutanone

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of 3-methylcyclobutanone has been studied in the gas phase in the temperature range 552–606 K and found to yield propene and ketene by a strictly first-order process which is probably unimolecular. The rate data fit the Arrhenius equation log k/s^–1= 14.57 ± 0.05 – 200.3 ± 0.6 kJ mol^–1/RT ln 10. The results are compared with other cyclobutanones in an attempt to define the nature of the activated complexes involved.