Kinetic Studies in the Chemistry of Rubber and Related Materials. III. Thermochemistry and Mechanisms of Olefin Oxidation
Abstract A new estimate of the O—O bond strength in hydroperoxides is reported, based on a determination of the heats of oxidation of ethyl linoleate and linolenate. This value is employed, together with other known bond strengths and resonance energies, to estimate the heats of a number of alternative oxidation reactions of olefins. By considering the effects of the olefin structure on these heats of reaction, it is possible to see how structural differences can lead to the formation of different oxidation products. The discussion is confined to primary products of the oxidation chain, but, even so, a considerable diversity of behavior is shown to be possible. The final material may include simple monomeric hydroperoxides, polymers with varying amounts of oxygen incorporated in the chain, cyclic peroxides, and scission products. The very limited experimental evidence available falls generally into line with expectation.