摘要:
The dynamics of the orbital symmetry controlled ring closure of the trans-ylide, formed upon the 266 nm photolysis of trans-2,3-diphenyloxirane, to produce cis-2,3-diphenyloxirane is examined in a variety of n-alkane solvents as a function of temperature. An unsuccessful attempt was made to model the kinetics within the theoretical framework developed by Kramers for a one-dimensional reaction coordinate. A model developed by Grote and Hynes that employs a frequency-dependent friction was found to give a significantly better fit to the experimental data. The possibility that a multidimensional reaction coordinate is necessary to describe the reaction dynamics is discussed.