UV SPECTRUM AND THE KINETICS AND REACTION PATHWAYS OF THE SELF-REACTION OF CH2CH2OH RADICALS

CH2CH2OH radicals have been studied at room temperature by using a pulse radiolysis/kinetic absorption technique. The ultraviolet spectrum lies in the range 210-265 nm with a maximum absorption cross section of 2.0 × 10-18 cm2 molecule-1 at 210 nm. This technique has also been used to study the overall kinetics of the self-reaction of these radicals: 2CH2CH2OH (+M) → (CH2CH2OH)2 (+M) (7a); 2CH2CH2OH (+M) → CH3CHO + CH3CH2OH (7b), while product studies using gas chromatography have yielded information on the reaction pathways. A value of k7 = 5.6 (±1.0) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and a branching ratio of k7a/(k7a + k7b) ≥ 0.88 have been measured at room temperature. © 1990 American Chemical Society.