Single pulse shock tube study on the thermal stability of ketones

Abstract 5‐Methyl‐hexanone‐2, 3‐methyl‐pentanone‐2, and hexanone‐2 have been decomposed in comparative rate single pulse shock tube experiments. The mechanism of decomposition involves the breaking of carbon‐carbon bonds as well as molecular processes involving 6‐center complexes. The following rate expressions at 1100 K have been obtained: These results lead to ΔHf(CH3ĊO) = − 13.8 kJ and ΔHf(CH3COCH2·) = − 12.6 kJ at 300 K. They are compared with existing literature values and some generalizations are made with regard to the stability of carbonyl compounds.