THE REACTION OF HYDROGEN AND DEUTERIUM ATOMS WITH PROPANE

Abstract

The reaction of hydrogen atoms with propane has been investigated over the temperature range 30° to 250 °C. by the Wood-Bonhoeffer method. The products are solely methane at low temperatures, and methane, ethane, and ethylene at higher temperatures.It is concluded that the results can be explained only by the assumption that the reaction[Formula: see text]is of importance. The bearing of this on the Rice-Herzfeld mechanisms is discussed. The activation energy of the reaction is 10 ± 2 Kcal.The main steps in the postulated mechanism are:Primary Reaction[Formula: see text]Secondary Reactions at Low Temperatures[Formula: see text]Additional Secondary Reactions at High Temperatures[Formula: see text]The reaction of deuterium atoms with propane was also investigated. It was found that the methane and ethane produced were highly deuterized, while the propane was not appreciably exchanged.