Dependence of the Decomposition Rate of Furoxanes on the Polarity of the Solvent

The decomposition rates of diphenylfuroxane and a number of 4-nitro-3-alkyl-furoxanes in dilute solutions are measured by the manometric and calorimetric methods. An increase in the reaction rate with an increase in the polarity of the solvent is not detected in any instance, which corresponds to the absence of an increase in the dipole moment of the molecule during the formation of a transition state (TS). Based on this result, a conclusion is made about the biradical (BR) mechanism of the decomposition of uncondensed disubstituted furoxanes (FOs) in solutions.