ABSTRACT
Aromatic amines are known as to be efficient inhibitors of hydrocarbon and polymer
oxidation (see Chapters 15 and 19). Aliphatic amines are oxidized by dioxygen via the
chain mechanism under mild conditions [1,2]. Peroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals participate
as chain propagating species in the chain oxidation of amines. The weakest CH bonds in aliphatic amines are adjacent to the amine group. The bond dissociation energy (BDE) of
CH and NH bonds of amines are collected in Table 9.1. One can see that the BDE of the NH bond of the NH2 group is higher than the BDE of the a-CH bond in the amine molecule. For example, DNH¼ 418.4 kJmol1 and DCH¼ 400 kJ mol1 in methaneamine. However, the BDE of NH bond of dialkylamine is lower than that of the CH bond of the a-CH2 group. For example, DNH¼ 382.8 kJ mol1 and DCH¼ 389.0 kJ mol1 in N-ethylethaneamine.
