Kinetics and mechanism of thermal gas-phase elimination of β-substituted carboxylic acids

Abstract

3-Phenoxypropanoic acid (1), 3-(phenylthio)propanoic acid (2), and 4-phenylbutanoic acid (3) were pyrolysed between 520 and 682 K. Analysis of the pyrolysates showed the elimination products to be acrylic acid and the corresponding arene. Pyrolysis of ethyl 3-phenoxypropanoate (4) and its methyl analogue (5), ethyl 3-(phenylthio)propanoate (6) and its methyl counterpart (7), and 3-phenoxypropane nitrile (8) were also investigated between 617 and 737 K. The thermal gas-phase elimination kinetics and product analysis are compatible with a thermal retro-Michael reaction pathway involving a four-membered cyclic transition state. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.