REACTIONS OF 3-OXETANONE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

The pyrolysis of 3-oxetanone, O(CH$_{2}$)$_{2}$CO, has been studied in a resistively heated SiC tubular reactor at 400-1200$ ^{circ}$C. Products of pyrolysis were identified via matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy and photoionization mass spectrometry in separate experiments. While 3-oxetanone is expected to dissociate into ketene and formaldehyde, these experiments show that ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide are also produced. Methyl radical and ethylene were observed as additional products and are thought to be the result of reactions involving ethylene oxide