Algorithm for the generation of an exhaustive primary mechanism

The alkane molecule undergoes unimolecular (ui) and bimolecular (bi) initiations which result in the formation of two free radicals. 

Any free radical enters into the reactions of addition to oxygen (ad), of isomerization (is), of decomposition by beta-scission (bs) or by cyclization (cy), of oxidation (ox) and of metathesis (me). Some of these propagation reactions (bs, cy, ox, me) contribute to the formation of the primary products of the reaction. 

Starting with a given radical R, the propagation reactions generate other free radicals R which in their turn systematically undergo generic propagation reactions, until no new free radical, or no free radical included in the basic set, appears. This iterative process ensures the exhaustiveness of the mechanism. 

All the free radicals created previously by initiation and propagation reactions enter into two by two combination (co) and disproportionation (di) reactions. 

Unimolecular decomposition of free radicals by beta-scission (bs) 

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Figure 3 Algorithm for the generation of an exhaustive primary mechanism.

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