The Reactions of Methyl Radicals with Benzene, Toluene, Diphenyl Methane and Propylene

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The reactions of methyl radicals with benzene, toluene, diphenyl methane and propylene to yield methane have been studied in the temperature range of 100–260°C. With toluene the activation energy is 5.6 kcal. and with propylene 3 kcal. Diphenyl methane shows a reactivity corresponding to these low values while the experiments with benzene, as well as earlier work with ethylene, indicate much higher activation energies of methane formation. The activation energies obtained have been correlated with earlier data on reactions with saturated hydrocarbons, with thermal data indicative of the strength of individual C – H bonds, with similar data from the interaction of atomic sodium with halide compounds, with concepts of the organic chemist on bond strengths and with some experimental data on pyrolysis of toluene. It is concluded that, contrary to accepted views, there may be marked differences in C – C and C – H bond strengths among the various hydrocarbons studied.