The photolysis of gaseous aldehydes. II. The decomposition of formyl and acetyl radicals

Abstract

The potential energy surfaces for the decomposition of HCO, CH₃CO, and COCl radicals have been constructed using Bawn's (1938, 1939) method with new parameter values. The values obtained for the energies of activation for decomposition were of the order of 26, 18, and 6 kcal mole^-1 respectively. The CH3CO and COCl values agree with experimental estimates and consequently it is believed that the formyl value is of the correct order of magnitude.