Reactions of metastable ionized γ, γ-dialkylallyl methyl ethers: relative rates for elimination of alkyl radicals by formal γ-cleavage

The reactions of seven metastable ionised allylic alkenyl methyl ethers of general structure, R1R2C= CHCH2OCH3+ [R1=CH3, R2=C2H5, n-C3H7, n-C6H13, or iso-C3H7; R1=C2H5, R2=n-C3H7 or iso-C3H7; R1 = n-C3H7, R2 = n-C4H9] with two different γ-alkyl substituents are reported and discussed. Two common reactions are observed: loss of a molecule of methanol or elimination of an alkyl radical. The second fragmentation is interpretable by a mechanism in …