ELECTROPHILIC CHARACTER OF OXYGEN ATOMS

Abstract

The relative rates of reactions of oxygen atoms with a number of olefins in the vapor phase determined in previous work are summarized and supplemented by some additional results. The uncertainty in the values of the relative rate constants is now believed to be reduced to only a few per cent. A number of simple correlations observed previously have been re-examined on the basis of the more complete and more accurate list of values available at present. These correlations show a distinct electrophilic character of oxygen atoms in their reactions with olefins and their potential significance for the understanding of the finer details of these addition processes is discussed.