The C−C Bond Is Stronger than the C−Cl Bond in CH 3 COCl

The C−C and C−Cl bond dissociation energies, D 0 at 0 K, in CH 3 COCl are determined from the recent, accurate experimental enthalpies of formation for CH 3 COCl, CH 3, COCl, CH 3 CO, and Cl. D 0 (C−C) is 85.9 ± 0.8 kcal mol -1, and D 0 (C−Cl) is 83.0 ± 1.0 kcal mol -1 . This suggests that the C−C bond is stronger than the C−Cl bond in CH 3 COCl, unlike what has been assumed in several recent publications on the photodissociation of CH 3 COCl. Results from recent ab initio calculations agree with this order of bond dissociation energies.