3263.     STAVELEY, L. A. K., AND HINSHELWOOD, C. N.  Reaction Chains in the Decomposition of Organic Compounds.  Jour. Chem. Soc., 1937, pp. 1568-1573; Chem. Abs., vol. 31, 1937, p. 8329.

        Decomposition of an organic molecule involves either an internal arrangement to stable products or the production of free radicals and chain reactions.  The addition of NO inhibits the latter.  With this reagent, it has been found that the decomposition of ethers, aldehydes, from MeCH₂CHO up the series, and C₂H₆ involve chain reactions, whereas the decomposition of AcH, ketones, MeOH, and HCO₂Me do not.  A discussion of the theoretical aspects of the chain length in the chain reactions indicates that even when these occur, it is unnecessary to change any fundamental views on the mechanism of activation in unimolecular reactions.