The formation of aromatic hydrocarbons at high temperatures. XXVIII. Pyrolysis of n-[α-¹⁴C]propylbenzene

Abstract

The pyrolysis of n-[σ-14C]propylbenzene at 700° has given a tar from which nine compounds have been isolated in sufficient quantity and purity for radio- chemical analysis; four of these have been degraded to determine the distribution of the radioactivity. Evidence is presented that there is an effective partial interchange of α and β carbon atoms in the formation of styrene, and probable mechanisms of formation for this, and other, compounds are discussed.