The thermal decomposition of the chemiluminescent compound tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TMAE) has been investigated in a static system between 283 and 323 "C over initial pressures from 6.0 to 45 mmHg. The order of the reaction was first, as was the order for the formation of methane and dimethylamine, the major decomposition products. The Arrhenius parameters for the TMAE decomposition are given as k¡ = 9.0(±1.0) X 10ue-39 900(±2ooo)/flr g_i wjjjje those for CH4 and DMA are &ch4 = 4.3(±0.03) X 10ne-39 300(±300)/rt s-i an¿ feDMA = 2.5(±0.01) X 10loe-36 5oo(±2O0)/fiT g-i¡ respectively. The effect of certain foreign gases indicated that the decomposition was free radical in nature. A mechanism is suggested which accounts for the predominant gaseous products and calculations from experimental data are offered in support of the proposed mechanism.

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