Reaction of Oxygen Atoms With Acetaldehyde

Reaction of oxygen atoms, produced by mercury photosensitized decomposition of nitrous oxide, with acetaldehyde has been studied at room temperature. The major products of the reaction are water and biacetyl and the only primary process appears to be[Formula: see text]followed by[Formula: see text]and[Formula: see text]At room temperature oxygen atoms react with acetaldehyde 0.7 ± 0.1 times as fast as with ethylene, so that the activation energy of reaction [1] is likely to be close to 3 kcal./mole.