An isokinetic relationship in the oxidation of acetals by ozone. Evidence for rotation before the oxidation of acyclic acetals

Abstract

Second order rate constants for the oxidation by ozone of several acyclic acetals of heptaldehyde were determined at several temperatures. An isokinetic relationship is shown to exist for this series of reactions and the isokinetic temperature was found to be below the experimental temperature range, a domain of temperatures where reactivity is dominated by entropy factors. These results are contrasted with those obtained for cyclic acetals of heptaldehyde, where the isokinetic temperature falls above the working temperatures, a domain of temperatures where reactivity depends mainly on enthalpy factors. These results are interpreted in terms of a conformational change before oxidation in the acyclic acetals.