The gaseous oxidation of diethyl ether

Abstract

A detailed study has been made of the gaseous oxidation of diethyl ether in the low-tem­perature region. The reaction has many characteristics of hydrocarbon oxidation, although there is one essential difference: excess oxygen tends to retard the rate of ether combustion. The principal products during the induction period are acetaldehyde, peracetic acid and ethanol. In the later stages of reaction, acetaldehyde and peracetic acid are consumed; ethanol and acetic acid being the principal end-products. It is assumed that an ‘ether radical’, CH 3 CHOCH 2 CH 3 , formed by the initiation process, decomposes to yield acetaldehyde and an ethyl radical. Subsequently, there are two con­current reactions. First, the ethy radicals are oxidized throughout the course of the reaction, ethanol being the principal product of this process. Secondly, acetaldehyde is oxidized to peracetic acid, the peracetic acid decomposing in the later stages of reaction to form copious amounts of acetic acid. It is thought that the peracetic acid is the compound that is primarily responsible for chain-branching.