Thermal Decomposition of Some Acetoxyoctadecenoates and Acetoxyoctadecadienoates

Abstract

The rates of the thermal decomposition (dehydroacetoxylation) and the activation energies of the following three samples have been determined: A) acetylated methyl ricinoleate; B) methyl ester mixture of vicinally unsaturated acetoxyoctadecenoates prepared by reacting methyl oleate and mercuric acetate in acetic acid; C) methyl ester mixture of vicinally unsaturated acetoxyoctadecadienoates prepared by reacting methyl linoleate and mercuric acetate in acetic acid. The thermal decomposition is shown to be a first‐order reaction.