Gas phase surface-catalyzed HCl addition to vinylacetylene: motion along a catalytic surface. Experiment and theory

Gaseous mixtures of HCl and vinylacetylene were permitted to react in Pyrex IR cells (NaCl windows). Gaseous 4-chloro-1,2-butadiene and 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene (chloroprene) were the major products. Kinetic data (FTIR) generated a rate expression in concert with surface catalysis. Computational studies involving surface associated water provide a view that accounts for the experimentally determined orders and a bifurcated pathway producing both products. The results are in accord with wall-adsorbed reactant(s) as well as previously reported computational studies on the reactants.