The Reaction of Nitrogen Atoms With Ethylene

Reaction of nitrogen atoms with ethylene has been found to produce hydrogen cyanide, ethane, and a polymerizable material. The yield of hydrogen cyanide was approximately 70% of the ethylene consumed by nitrogen atoms, while the amount of polymerizable material averaged about 16% by weight of the hydrogen cyanide produced. The yield of ethane increased as the excess of ethylene over nitrogen atoms was increased. The reaction was found to proceed by "clean-up of nitrogen atoms. An activation energy of 6.9 kcal. was calculated from collision yields, a steric factor of 0.1 being assumed. A mechanism for the reaction has been proposed, involving rupture of the ethylene double bond with formation of hydrogen cyanide and a methyl radical, the methyl radical then reacting further with nitrogen atoms.