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Title: Gas and liquid phase pyrolysis of tetralin: A reconciliation of apparently contradictory data

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7172244· OSTI ID:7172244

The pyrolysis of tetralin under static reactor conditions at 450{degrees}C at 1--3 torr leads to hydrogen loss products (75%), C2 loss products (12%), and neophyl radical rearrangement products (12%). Tetramethylbutane initiated the reaction and the product distribution was unchanged. The rate of reaction is near first order in tetralin accelerated to. The rate is approximately 1/2 order in tetramethybutane. A mechanistic scheme is proposed which involves relatively fast hydrogen atom loss from the 1- or 2-tetralyl radical followed by slow hydrogen atom abstraction or hydrogen atom addition to tetralin, and formation of ring contracted product by reversible neophyl rearrangement of the 2-tetralyl radical followed by rate determining (in that pathway) hydrogen abstraction from tetralin. In the absence of external initiator, initiation by tetralin and termination by hydrogen atom recombination dependent on total pressure, rationalizes the first order behavior. Liquid phase pyrolysis of tatralln at much higher concentrations (ca 20000x) occurs with a rate only three times faster and 1-methylindan is the major product.

Research Organization:
Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-86ER13616
OSTI ID:
7172244
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13616-6; ON: DE92040308
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English