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The gas‐phase kinetics and mechanism of the homogeneous elimination of CO from butyraldehyde in the presence of HCl has been experimentally studied. The reaction is homogeneous and follows the second‐order kinetics with the following rate expression: log k1 (s−1 L mol−1) = (13.27 ± 0.36) – (173.2 ± 4.4) kJ mol−1(2.303RT)−1. Experimental data suggested a concerted four‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. The first and rate‐determining step occurs through a four‐membered cyclic transition state to produce propane and formyl chloride. The formyl chloride intermediate rapidly decomposes to CO and HCl gases.

The study on the mechanism of the gas-phase elimination or thermal decomposition kinetics of 2, 2-dimethyl-3-butenal has been carried out by using theoretical calculation at MP2, combined ab initio CBSQB3 and DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91, MPW1PW91, PBEPBE, PBE1PBE, CAMB3LYP, M06, B97d) levels of theory. A good reasonable agreement between experimental and calculated parameters was obtained by using CAMB3LYP/6-311G(d,pd) calculations. The contrasted calculated parameters against experimental values suggested decarbonylation reaction to proceed through a concerted five-membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism, involving the hydrogen transfer from the carbonyl carbon to the gamma carbon, consistent with observed kinetic isotope effect. The breaking of alpha carbon-carbonyl carbon bond to produce carbon monoxide is 50% advanced in the transition state. The reaction mechanism may be described as a concerted moderately non-synchronous process. Examination of the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis of electron density supports the suggested mechanism.

The gas-phase elimination kinetics of tetrahydropyranyl phenoxy ethers: 2phenoxytetrahydro-2H-pyran, 2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, and 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran were determined in a static system, with the vessels deactivated with allyl bromide, and in the presence of the free radical inhibitor toluene. The working temperature and pressure were 330 to 390°C and 25 to 89 Torr, respectively. The reactions yielded DHP and the corresponding 4-substituted phenol. The eliminations are homogeneous, unimolecular, and satisfy a first-order rate law. The Arrhenius equations for decompositions were found as follows:2-phenoxytetrahydro-2H-pyran log k 1 (s −1 ) = (14.18 ± 0.21) − (211.6 ± 0.4) kJ mol −1 (2.303 RT) −1 2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran log k 1 (s −1 ) = (14.11 ± 0.18) − (203.6 ± 0.3) kJ mol −1 (2.303 RT) −1 2-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran log k 1 (s −1 ) = (14.08 ± 0.08) − (205.9 ± 1.0) kJ mol −1 (2.303 RT) −1The analysis of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal elimination of 2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyranes suggests that the reaction proceeds via 4-member cyclic transition state. The results obtained confirm a slight increase of rate constant with increasing electron donating ability groups in the phenoxy ring. The pyran hydrogen abstraction by the oxygen of the phenoxy group appears to be the determinant factor in the reaction rate.

Thermal decomposition kinetics of dicyclopentadiene‐1,8‐dione 7 implied an intramolecular competition between α,β‐ and β,γ‐double bond to assist the CO elimination. Experimental thermolysis of 7 in dioxane gave 3a,7a‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐1‐one (cis‐bicyclo[4.3.0]nona‐2,4,7‐triene‐9‐one), CO gas, and a very small amount of indanone. This result suggested β,γ‐double bond favored the extrusion of CO gas. Calculations of several density functional theory (DFT) levels of theory and CBS‐QB3 method were employed. Two mechanisms were considered: a one‐step concerted pathway and a stepwise mechanism involving [1,3] and [1,5] hydrogen sigmatropic migrations. The CAM‐B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) calculation reasonably agrees with the experimental kinetic parameters. The mechanism appears to be unimolecular in one step concerted through a five‐membered cyclic transition state. Isomerization of product cis‐bicyclo[4.3.0]nona‐2,4,7‐triene‐9‐one yielding 1‐indanone is presented and described. Calculation from substrate 7 may explain in a similar way the mechanism of decomposition of compounds 1‐6. The present work may well promote to the possibility of carrying out experimental research works on the thermal decarbonylation kinetics in a liquid solution and in the gas phase of β,γ‐unsaturated aliphatic ketones.