The thermal decomposition of 1-ethoxyethyl chloride and the reverse combination

Abstract

1-Ethoxyethyl chloride decomposes cleanly at 164-221° into vinyl ethyl ether and hydrogen chloride in a first-order manner with k₁ = 10^10.52exp(-30300/RT) sec^-1 (1) The equilibrium of the system at 128-221° approached from either direction at various pressures is well represented by (K_p in atmospheres) 1.987 In K_p = 31.1 ± 0.9-(16500±500)/T (2) and this leads to ΔH°_f,298(g) = -71.9 kcal mole^-1 for 1-ethoxyethyl chloride. Combination of (1) and (2) gives k₂ = 10^8.7exp(-14700/RT) sec^-1 ml mole^-1 for the reverse reaction and rate measurements verify this. The reactions are molecular, and relative rates indicate a polar transition state.