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The consumption of labeled methylphenylcarbinol during the liquid-phase oxidation of ethylbenzene at 120" has been investigated. Oxidation of the carbinol yielded only acetophenone, but most of the latter was formed directly, by the termination reaction and by decomposition of hydroperoxide molecules. Use of the modified kinetic isotope method permitted quantitative calculation of rates of formation of alcohol and ketone molecules by various routes.

The rates of consumption of cc-phenylethylhydroperoxide molecules during the oxidation of ethylbenzene at 120°C: have been measured using radioactive tracer procedures ; balance equations for the total activities and concentrations were used for the calculations. In order to obtain a coherent set of rates a hydrogen transfer reaction between hydroperoxide molecules and peroxy radicals had to be taken into account.It was established that ketone and alcohol molecules were formed mainly as a result of the induced decomposition of the hydroperoxide and the contribution to their formation by termination processes was < l o % of their total formation rates. The formation rates of alcohol and ketone via hydroperoxide molecules were very similar.The relative reactivity of hydroperoxide and ethylbenzene molecules toward peroxy radicals was found to be two. Further kinetic data, such as ease of oxidation and kinetic chain length both for the oxidation of the parent hydrocarbon and its main intermediate, have been determined.

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