Shock Tube Investigation of CH₃ + CH₃OCH₃

The title reaction has been investigated in a diaphragmless shock tube by laser schlieren densitometry over the temperature range 1163–1629 K and pressures of 60, 120, and 240 Torr. Methyl radicals were produced by dissociation of 2,3-butanedione in the presence of an excess of dimethyl ether. Rate coefficients for CH3 + CH3OCH3 were obtained from simulations of the experimental data yielding the following expression which is valid over the range 1100–1700 K: k = (10.19 ± 3.0)T3.78 exp(−4878/T) cm3 mol–1s–1. The experimental results are in good agreement with estimates by Curran and co-workers [Fischer, S. L.; Dryer, F. L.; Curran, H. J. Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 2000, 32 (12), 713–740. Curran, H. J.; Fischer, S. L.; Dryer, F. L. Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 2000, 32 (12), 741–759] but about a factor of 2.6 lower than those of Zhao et al. [Zhao, Z.; Chaos, M.; Kazakov, A.; Dryer, F. L. Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 2008, 40 (1), 1–18].