Oxidation of ethanol by ozone and analysis of probable structure of activated complex

Using the kinetic isotope effect, it was shown that the limiting stage in the reaction of O/sub 3/ with ethanol is rupture of an alpha-CH bond. With the aim of studying the mechanism of this stage, the authors have applied quantum-chemical calculations as a means for analyzing possible models of the activated complex; also, within the framework of transition-state theory, they have estimated the values of the preexponential factor. The data are compared with results obtained from kinetic studies of the reaction in various solvents. It was found that ozone reacts with ethanol in CC1/sub 4/, 1,2-dichloroethane, acetic acid, or a mixture of CC1/sub 4/ and 1,2-dichloroethane in a second-order reaction. The MO LCAO method in the CNDO/2 approximation has been used in analyzing possible models of the activated complex.