J. Koo, G. Schuster
Jan 15, 1977
Citations
0
Influential Citations
33
Citations
Journal
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Abstract
Abstract : Trans-Diphenyl-1,2-dioxetane was prepared by cyclization of the corresponding beta-bromohydroperoxide. Thermal decomposition of this compound proceeds with an activation energy of 23 + or - 1.6 kcal/mol to yield benzaldehyde 10 + or - 2% of which was in an excited triplet state. The effects of replacement of a dioxetane ring proton with a deuterium were investigated. No detectable partitioning between electronically excited protio and deutero benzaldehyde was detected. The secondary deuterium isotope effect on the rate of thermal decomposition of this dioxetane was found to be 1.01 + or - .02. That the absence of an isotope effect is consistent only with a stepwise decomposition for 1,2-dioxetanes is suggested. (Author)