DISPROPORTIONATION AND RECOMBINATION OF CYANISOPROPYL RADICALS: REARRANGEMENT OF DIMETHYLKETENECYANISOPROPYLIMINE TO TETRAMETHYLSUCCINODINITRILE
Evidence is presented that the ketenimine intermediate formed in the thermal decomposition of azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) rearranges quantitatively to tetramethylsuccinodinitrile (TMSDN), mainly by a molecular mechanism. Interpretation of experimental data on the basis of a reaction scheme consistent with the nature of the main products and the features of the kinetics of the decomposition permits estimation, by means of a simple diagram, of the extent of disproportionation, as well as that of the normal and abnormal recombination of cyanisopropyl radicals. The result obtained for the latter is in good agreement with that determined previously by an alternative method. The analysis does not exclude absolutely the possibility of side reactions in which the azo-compound partly decomposes by a molecular process, and the intermediate decomposes into free radicals. However, it is concluded that these side reactions, if any, must be of minor importance.