Atoms reactivity

LaS0r Evaporation Methods. The reactions of atomic carbon have also been investigated by evaporation from graphite with a laser While this method has received little attention in studies of C atom reactivity, it is important in... 

REACTIONS OF ATOMIC CARBON 3.1. Overview of Carbon Atom Reactivity... 

Since many of the reactions of C atoms are extremely exothermic, it may be that they proceed without an enthalpic barrier. Thus, selectivities observed in C atom reactions may result from free energy barriers in which entropy considerations are the major factor. In discussions of C atom reactions, we shall see that carbenes are often intermediates. Two ways in which carbenes can be produced in C atom reactions are C—H insertion (Eq. 7) and deoxygenation of carbonyl compounds (Eq. 8). In several cases, the same carbene has been generated by both methods. When this comparison has been made, the reactions will be discussed together even though they represent different aspects of C atom reactivity. 

Since molecular beam investigations of C atom reactivity differ from other C atom studies with regard to dissipation of reaction exothermicity, it is difficult to compare them with other methods. A hallmark of carbon molecular beam studies is the fact that addition of C is followed by loss of H. This reaction path is unimportant in other reactions of C atoms. 

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