Decomposition and isomerization of 1,2-benzisoxazole: Single-pulse shock-tube experiments, quantum chemical and transition-state theory calculations

Isomerization and decomposition of 1,2-benzisoxazole were studied behind reflected shock waves in a pressurized driver, single-pulse shock tube. It isomerizes to o-hydroxybenzonitrile, and no fragmentation is observed up to a temperature where the isomerization is almost complete (∼1040 K at 2 ms reaction time). The isomerization experiments in this investigation covered the temperature range 900-1040 K. The lack of fragmentation is in complete contrast to the thermal behavior of isoxazole, where no isomerization was observed and the main decomposition products over the same temperature range were carbon monoxide and acetonitrile. In a series of experiments covering the temperature range 1190-1350 K, a plethora of fragmentation products appear in the post shock samples of 1,2-benzisoxazole. The product distribution is exactly the same regardless of whether the starting material is 1,2-benzisoxazole or o-hydroxybenzonitrile, indicating that over this temperature range the 1,2-benzisoxazole has completely isomerized to o-hydroxybenzonitrile prior to fragmentation. Two potential energy surfaces that lead to the isomerization were evaluated by quantum chemical calculations. One surface with one intermediate and two transition states has a high barrier and does not contribute to the process. The second surface is more complex. It has three intermediates and four transition states, but it has a lower overall barrier and yields the isomerization product o-hydroxybenzonitrile at a much higher rate. The unimolecular isomerization rate constants k_∞ at a number of temperatures in the range of 900-1040 K were calculated from the potential energy surface using transition-state theory and then expressed in an Arrhenius form. The value obtained is k_first = 4.15 × 10¹⁴ exp(-51.7 × 10³/RT) s^-1, where R is expressed in units of cal/(K mol). The calculated value is somewhat higher than the one obtained from the experimental results. When it is expressed in terms of energy difference it corresponds of ca. 2 kcal/mol.