THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF METHYL HYDROPEROXIDE

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of methyl hydroperoxide has been studied in solution and in the gas phase. The decomposition was found to be partly heterogeneous in solution in dimethyl phthalate and no reliable rate constants were obtained. Use of the toluene carrier method for the gas phase work enabled measurement of the rate constant for the homogeneous decomposition. The first order rate constants obtained range from 0.19 s−1 at 292 °C to 1.5 s−1 at 378 °C, leading to log A, 11± 2, and activation energy, 32 ± 5 kcal/mole. These results are compared with the expected values of log A, 13–14, and activation energy, 42 kcal/mole. The significance of these findings is discussed.