ABSTRACT
The low molecular weight analogues of polymers, such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, and esters, are oxidized by dioxygen in the liquid phase through a chain mechanism. The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of these compounds have been studied in detail (1-15). Free radicals are generated in oxidized RH substances in reactions with dioxygen (see Sec. I.E), as the result of an initiator decomposition (see Sec. I.B), or on decomposition of hydroperoxide ROOH formed by the oxidation of RH (see Sec. I.F), as well as under the action of light. The simplest scheme of chain oxidation of RH includes the following elementary steps (6,10,15).
