Factors affecting the rates of addition of free radicals to alkenes-determination of absolute rate coefficients using the persistent aminoxyl method.

The rate of coupling of alkyl radicals with the persistent aminoxyl radical 1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-N-oxyl (1) has been used as a kinetic probe to determine absolute rate coefficients for the addition of alkyl radicals to methyl acrylate. The results are discussed in terms of the role of the structure and functionalization of the attacking radical on the rates of addition, particularly as they affect steric, polar, and enthalpic factors. The aminoxyl method is assessed against other methods for determining free radical addition rate coefficients.