THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF BETA-PROPIOLACTONE IN GAS PHASE

The thermal decomposition of β-propiolactone was found to be a first-order reaction yielding equal amounts of ethylene and carbon dioxide as the only products. Addition of nitric oxide had no effect on the reaction. From the temperature dependence of the reaction at an average initial pressure of 12 Torr, the activation energy was found to be 45.81 ± 0.07 kcal mole−1 and the preexponential factor (1.17 ± 0.08) × 1016 sec−1. Two alternative activated complexes are discussed in terms of the Marcus-Rice quantum theory of unimolecular reactions. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.