Reactivity-Structure-Based Rate Estimation Rules for Alkyl Radical H Atom Shift and Alkenyl Radical Cycloaddition Reactions

Intramolecular H atom shift reactions of alkyl radicals and cycloaddition reactions of alkenyl radicals are two important reaction classes in hydrocarbon combustion and pyrolysis. In this work, we derive high-pressure rate estimation rules that are based on the results of electronic structure calculations at the CBS-QB3 level of theory combined with transition state theory calculations. The rules for the H atom shift reactions of alkyl radicals cover the 1,2- up to the 1,7-H shifts. The rules for the cydoaddition reactions of alkenyl radicals are for both the endo- and exo-cycloaddition and include the formation of three- to seven-member ring products. The results are in good agreement with available experiment measurements and other theoretical studies. Both types of reactions proceed via cyclic transition state structures. The impact of ring size and substituent groups on pre-exponential factors and activation energies are discussed in the context of a Benson-type structure-reactivity relationship. Similar relationships between the pre-exponential factors and the number of internal rotors lost in formation of the transition state are derived for both H-shift and cycloaddition reactions. The activation energies are found to be more complicated. The ring strain contribution to the barrier is much lower for the exo-cycloaddition reactions than it is for the other two investigated reaction systems. The ring strains for the H-shift and endo-cycloaddition are similar to one another and are comparable to that of cycloalkanes for three- to six-member rings, but are significantly lower for the larger rings. The results suggest that the 1,6-H shift and 1,7-endo-cycloaddition reactions might be faster than previous estimates.