Kinetics of the thermal decomposition of cyclobutanone

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of cyclobutanone into cyclopropane and carbon monoxide has been shown to occur simultaneously with the major decomposition to ethylene and ketene. The relative rate constant expression is given by [Formula: see text] Both reactions are pressure sensitive below 10 Torr and this quasi-unimolecular behavior is most pronounced in the cyclopropane forming reaction, consistent with the higher activation energy. The data are also discussed in relation to the photochemical decomposition and it is shown that cyclopropane formation from the ground singlet is an important feature of the photolysis at 3130 Å.