Rotational activation energies

TaUe 4. Dynamic parameters of cholestane spin probes in liquid crystal side chain polymers and low molecular weight analogues Rotational activation energies and anisotropy ratios... 

Inspection of the logoithmic plots reveak several discontinuities, whidi occur at the phase trandtimis. Within a pmticular phase the plots are linear. From the dopes of the straight lii the rotational activation energies have been determined. 

Shape of potential energy diagram is identical with that for ethane (Figure 3 4) Activation energy for rotation about the C—C bond is higher than that of ethane lower than that of butane... 

Activation Parameters. Thermal processes are commonly used to break labile initiator bonds in order to form radicals. The amount of thermal energy necessary varies with the environment, but absolute temperature, T, is usually the dominant factor. The energy barrier, the minimum amount of energy that must be suppHed, is called the activation energy, E. A third important factor, known as the frequency factor, is a measure of bond motion freedom (translational, rotational, and vibrational) in the activated complex or transition state. The relationships of yi, E and T to the initiator decomposition rate (kJ) are expressed by the Arrhenius first-order rate equation (eq. 16) where R is the gas constant, and and E are known as the activation parameters. 

Hence the activation energy barrier to dimethylamino group rotation in dimethylacetamide (41) is calculated from equation 9 with k,. = 17.8 at the coalescence point 353 K (Fig. 2.26) ... 

Figure 4.3. Energy versus bond rotation in methylsuccinic acid (schematic). The diagram shows the greater stability of staggered as compared with eclipsed forms, and the effect of size and dipole moment of substituents on the barriers. The slope of the curve at any point represents the force opposing rotation there. ( = energy of activation of rotation.) (After Gordon )...

Sketch a potential energy diagram for rotation around a carbon-carbon bond in propane. Clearly identify each potential energy maximum and minimum with a structural formula that shows the conformation of propane at that point. Does your diagram more closely resemble that of ethane or of butane Would you expect the activation energy for bond rotation in propane to be more than or less than that of ethane Of butane ... 

The activation energy for rotation about a typical carbon-carbon double bond is very high—on the order of 250 kj/mol (about 60 kcal/ mol). This quantity may be taken as a measure of the tt bond contribution to the total C=C bond strength of 605 kJ/mol (144.5 kcal/mol) in ethylene and compares closely with the value estimated by manipulation of thermochemical data on page 191. 

C) The error in AE" /AEq is 0.1 kcal/mol. Corrections from vibrations, rotations and translation are clearly necessary. Explicit calculation of the partition functions for anharmonic vibrations and internal rotations may be considered. However, at this point other factors also become important for the activation energy. These include for example ... 

For 6, the activation energy for rotation about the MSi bond has been measured as AG = 40.3 (+ 5) kJ/mol [143]. According to MO calculations, a genuine Cr = Si double bond has no rotational barrier worth mentioning. This applies also, with some restrictions, to the discussed base adducts. 

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