THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF MOLECULAR COMPLEXES: II. β-QUINOL CLATHRATES

Abstract

The β-quinol clathrates of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol, and methyl cyanide decompose at temperatures well below the melting point of the host quinol lattice. The accompanying endothermal effect is broad, indicating that the decomposition occurs gradually over a considerable temperature range. The clathrate decomposition was verified by measurement of the gas evolved. The enthalpy change accompanying decomposition correlates closely with the energy of interaction of the guest molecule with the β-quinol lattice, and the decomposition of the clathrate is suggested to occur by a lattice distortion mechanism in which the size and shape of the guest molecule are important.