Reactions of keten. Part III. Kinetics of the spontaneous and acetic acid-catalysed reactions of keten with water

Abstract

The gas-phase spontaneous and acetic acid-catalysed additions of water to keten have been studied kinetically in the range 224–324 °C. The uncatalysed addition is heterogeneous, with an apparent activation energy of 10·7 kJ mol^–1, and is inhibited by acetic acid. The catalysed reaction is homogeneous and first order in all three reactants, k= 10^4·34 exp (–20,500/RT) l² mol^–2 s^–1. The activation parameters agree with those calculated from the back reaction and equilibrium constant.