Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran

With the advancement of new synthetic techniques, 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran (5-MEF) has emerged as a promising renewable biofuel. In this study, the potential energy surfaces for the unimolecular dissociation reaction, H-addition reaction, and H-abstraction reaction of 5-MEF were mapped at the CBS-QB3 l...

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Main Authors: Wei He, Cheng Wang, Qichuan Zhang, Kaixuan Chen, Linghao Shen, Yan Li, Kang Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1595
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author Wei He
Cheng Wang
Qichuan Zhang
Kaixuan Chen
Linghao Shen
Yan Li
Kang Shen
author_facet Wei He
Cheng Wang
Qichuan Zhang
Kaixuan Chen
Linghao Shen
Yan Li
Kang Shen
author_sort Wei He
collection DOAJ
description With the advancement of new synthetic techniques, 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran (5-MEF) has emerged as a promising renewable biofuel. In this study, the potential energy surfaces for the unimolecular dissociation reaction, H-addition reaction, and H-abstraction reaction of 5-MEF were mapped at the CBS-QB3 level. The temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants for these reactions on the potential energy surfaces were determined by solving the master equation, using both transition state theory and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory. The results showed that the dissociation reaction of the C(6) site on the branched chain of 5-MEF has the largest rate constant and is the main decomposition pathway, while the dissociation reaction of the H atom on the furan ring has a lower rate constant and is not the main reaction pathway. In addition, the dissociation of H atoms on the branched chain and intramolecular H-transfer reactions also have high-rate constants and play an important role in the decomposition of 5-MEF. H-addition reactions mainly occur at the C(2) and C(5) sites, and the generation of the corresponding products through <i>β</i>-breakage becomes the main reaction pathway. With the increase in temperature, the H-addition reaction at the C(2) site gradually changes to a substitution reaction, dominating the formation of C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub> and 2-methylfuran.
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spelling doaj-art-e0ee6a55ec254db68979b36705702e672025-08-20T02:15:58ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01307159510.3390/molecules30071595Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuranWei He0Cheng Wang1Qichuan Zhang2Kaixuan Chen3Linghao Shen4Yan Li5Kang Shen6Eastern Michigan Joint College of Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaEastern Michigan Joint College of Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaWith the advancement of new synthetic techniques, 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran (5-MEF) has emerged as a promising renewable biofuel. In this study, the potential energy surfaces for the unimolecular dissociation reaction, H-addition reaction, and H-abstraction reaction of 5-MEF were mapped at the CBS-QB3 level. The temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants for these reactions on the potential energy surfaces were determined by solving the master equation, using both transition state theory and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory. The results showed that the dissociation reaction of the C(6) site on the branched chain of 5-MEF has the largest rate constant and is the main decomposition pathway, while the dissociation reaction of the H atom on the furan ring has a lower rate constant and is not the main reaction pathway. In addition, the dissociation of H atoms on the branched chain and intramolecular H-transfer reactions also have high-rate constants and play an important role in the decomposition of 5-MEF. H-addition reactions mainly occur at the C(2) and C(5) sites, and the generation of the corresponding products through <i>β</i>-breakage becomes the main reaction pathway. With the increase in temperature, the H-addition reaction at the C(2) site gradually changes to a substitution reaction, dominating the formation of C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub> and 2-methylfuran.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/15955-Methyl-2-ethylfuranpyrolysistheoretical calculationsrate constant
spellingShingle Wei He
Cheng Wang
Qichuan Zhang
Kaixuan Chen
Linghao Shen
Yan Li
Kang Shen
Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
Molecules
5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
pyrolysis
theoretical calculations
rate constant
title Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
title_full Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
title_fullStr Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
title_short Theoretical Kinetic Study of Thermal Decomposition of 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
title_sort theoretical kinetic study of thermal decomposition of 5 methyl 2 ethylfuran
topic 5-Methyl-2-ethylfuran
pyrolysis
theoretical calculations
rate constant
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1595
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AT kaixuanchen theoreticalkineticstudyofthermaldecompositionof5methyl2ethylfuran
AT linghaoshen theoreticalkineticstudyofthermaldecompositionof5methyl2ethylfuran
AT yanli theoreticalkineticstudyofthermaldecompositionof5methyl2ethylfuran
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