The pyrolysis of azetidine: Shock-tube kinetics similarities and contrasts with two analogs

The kinetics of decomposition of azetidine {(CH2)(3)N-H)} was measured using single-pulse shock-tube techniques, over the temperature range 855-1100 K, in high argon dilution. These data confirm and extend an earlier investigation that utilized the very low-pressure pyrolysis method. A brief survey of many reports regarding the interesting features of azetidine is presented. In two appendices the thermodynamic and kinetic data on trimethylene sulfide, oxide, and immine are intercompared. New ab-initio calculations are cited for the parent species and their fragmentation products. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.