The chain mechanism of ester oxidation

The oxidation of esters is a chain process with initiation by the reaction RH + 02 R- + HOj  

Acid Monomethyl esters (mole%) of dicarbonic acids with number of C atoms 

RT) 1 mole 1 s 1 for diisopropyl sebacate [311]. However, in the oxidation of methyl esters of oleic, linolenic, and linoleic acids [312], the chains are initiated by a third-order reaction 

The rate of initiated oxidation of esters obeys the equation 

Values of the ratio kp/ /2kt are given in Table 18. The absolute rate coefficients of cumylperoxy radical reactions with various esters were measured by Agabekov et al. (see Table 19). It is of interest to note that the reactivity of the esters of monocarboxylic acids is much greater than that of dicarboxylic esters (compare, for example, propionates and glutarates). 

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