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Ortho-allybenzyl radical: a sensitive procedure for the assessment of hydrogen donor solvent reactivity

Conference · · Prepr. Pap. - Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5397964

The thermal conversion of coal involves the decomposition of interconnected hydroaromatic structures into resonance stabilized benzylic radical fragments. Capping of these radicals with hydrogen from a donor solvent leads to the formation in high yields of lower molecular weight soluble and volatile products. In the absence of a donor solvent, the radicals abstract hydrogen from alkyl coal structures and depending on the supply of donatable hydrogen within the coal, conversion yields may be greatly affected. In view of the great variety of radicals which must form during coal liquefaction and the many possible competing reactions which lead to products, the ability of a donor solvent to transfer hydrogen to coal radicals is undoubtedly of great importance. A procedure has been developed for the quantitative determination of hydrogen donor strengths toward benzyl radical. The method competes the rearrangement of o-allylbenzyl radical against hydrogen transfer to the radical from a donor solvent. At this time, the method provides relative and estimated absolute rates of hydrogen atom transfer. Experiments are in progress which are designed to convert these relative rates to absolute rates with a high degree of accuracy and precision. (1 table, 19 refs.)

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
OSTI ID:
5397964
Report Number(s):
CONF-830814-Vol.4
Journal Information:
Prepr. Pap. - Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Prepr. Pap. - Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States) Vol. 28:5; ISSN ACFPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English