The enthalpy of isomerisation of methyl isocyanide

Abstract

A controlled thermal explosion in which methyl isocyanide isomerises quantitatively to methyl cyanide has been studied in a calorimeter at 300 K. The enthalpy of isomerisation ΔH = −23.70 ± 0.14 (2 sdm) kcal mol−1, from which values of the enthalpies of formation of both gaseous and liquid methyl isocyanide are calculated.Similar measurements for ethyl isocyanide yield ΔH = −21.5 ± 1.0 kcal mol−1.