3 METHODS TO MEASURE RH BOND-ENERGIES

We present a critical review of three different experimental methods used to measure bond energies: radical kinetics, gas-phase acidity cycles, and photoionization mass spectrometry. These experimental techniques are currently in use to measure the bond energies of a large number of molecules. We discuss the basic premises of each of these experiments and explicitly try to point out the strengths and weaknesses of each method. We directly compare each of these procedures using a set of about 30 important molecules. These three different techniques have only a few disagreements among them, the case of ethylene being the most serious. For the overwhelming number of studies, all measurements lead to bond energies within each other's error bars. We include tables of ionization potentials, electron affinities, and heats of formation for about 40 important organic and inorganic radicals. We also list bond energies for the parent molecules at 0 and 298 K.