The Pyrolysis of Tetramethyltin

Abstract
The pyrolysis of tetramethyltin has been studied in a toluene carrier flow system from 803–941 °K using total pressures of 10.6 to 52.4 mm. Contact times varied from 0.49 to 13.8 s and the amount of decomposition from 1.35–98.7%. The progress of the reaction was followed by measuring the amount of methane, ethane, ethylene, and ethylbenzene formed. No appreciable heterogeneous reaction was detected and the first order rates constants appear to have been determined at the high pressure limit. The quantity of undecomposed alkyl was also measured and was found to be in agreement with the product analysis if four methyl radicals are released for each molecule undergoing reaction.Least squares analysis gives[Formula: see text]with an estimated uncertainty in E of ± 1 kcal mol−1. The activation energy should be a good approximation to D[(CH3)3Sn—CH3].