Thermal decomposition of dimethyllaurylamine oxide

The principal reaction during thermal decom‐position of dimethyllaurylamine oxide is deoxy‐genation to dimethyllaurylamine; 1‐dodecene is also formed. The rates of amine oxide decomposi‐tion have been determined in the range of 80‐100C. Interpretation of the kinetic data shows that deoxygenation is a primary decomposition process. Comparison of the energy and entropy of activation for olefin formation (36.3 kcal, 12.4 e.u.) and amine formation (20.6 kcal, ‐30.8 e.u.) shows that these are competing processes with different transition states.