Abstract
Pyrolysis of isobutene in the temperature range from 948 to 1, 023K was studied in the presence of hydrogen or deuterium using an atmospheric flow reactor. The overall rate of isobutene decomposition could be expressed by 1.5 order rate equations. The overall kinetic isotope effect (kH2)/(kD2) was 2.54-1.72 in the temperature range studied. The distribution of deuterated products was analyzed that gave some evidence in support of the free radical chain mechanism previously proposed. R.R.K.M. theory was applied to calculate the rate of hot isobutyl radical decomposition.
