M. Torrent et al., Mechanisms for the formation of epoxide and chlorine-containing products in the oxidation of ethylene by chromyl chloride: a density functional study, CAN J CHEM, 77(9), 1999, pp. 1476-1491
Citations number
94
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE CHIMIE
The reaction between CrO2Cl2 and ethylene leading to the formation of epoxi
de and chlorohydrin precursors or directly to 1,2-dichloroethane has been s
tudied by density functional theory. The formation of the epoxide precursor
(Cl-2(O)Cr-OC2H4) was found to take place via a [3+2] addition of ethylene
to two Cr=O bonds followed by rearrangement of the five-membered diol to t
he epoxide product. The alternative mechanisms involving a direct addition
of oxygen to ethylene or the [2+2] addition of the olefin to a Cr=O bond we
re found to have much higher activation energies. The formation of the chlo
rohydrin precursor (Cl(O)Cr-OCH2=CHCl) was found to take place via a [3+2]
addition to one Cr-Cl and one Cr=O bond. Pathways involving initial [2+2] a
ddition to a Cl-Cl or Cr=O bond had much higher activation barriers. The ge
neration of 1,2-dichloroethane is highly unfavorable with an endothermicity
of 44.7 kcal/mol and an even higher activation barrier. It is suggested th
at the formation of epoxide and chlorohydrin from the respective precursors
requires the addition of H2O.