Flow pyrolysis and direct and silicon tetrafluoride-sensitized laser-induced decomposition of tetralin. Identification of retro-[2 + 4] cleavage as the primary homogeneous thermal decomposition channel

In an effort to determine the products and mechanism of the truly homogeneous thermal decomposition of the aromatic hydrocarbon tetralin, we have examined the products formed from this compound upon energization by conventional flow pyrolysis, infrared multiphoton excitation, and SiF{sub 4}-sensitized infrared laser thermal activation. Six major products are formed in these reactions, but the product ratios depend upon the mode of energization. Flow pyrolysis gives a result analogous to those observed earlier; i.e. almost exclusive dehydrogenation, leading to dihydronaphthalene and naphthalene. Direct and sensitized IR laser-induced decomposition, however, leads to ethylene loss (presumably by an initial retro-[2+4] reaction) as the predominent decomposition mode, giving benzocyclobutene. We believe these results are due to the fact that direct thermal decomposition, both in our experiments as well as in previous studies, involves predominant surface-catalysis. In the laser-induced reactions, which are uncomplicated by problems due to surface-catalysis, the true homogeneous decomposition takes place, and this involves retro-[2+4] cleavage. Mechanistic details of these processes were studied by examining the isotope distribution in the products formed on SiF{sub 4}-sensitized laser photolysis of 1,1,4,4-tetradeuteriotetralin