Methyl radical

Methyl radical
IUPAC name Methyl
Systematic name λ3-Methyl
Other names Hydrogen carbide(-III) Methyl radical
Identifiers
CAS number	2229-07-4 Y
PubChem	3034819
ChemSpider	2299212 Y
MeSH	Methyl+radical
ChEBI	CHEBI:29309
Beilstein Reference	1696831
Gmelin Reference	57
Jmol-3D images	{{#if:[CH3]|Image 1
SMILES [CH3]
InChI InChI=1S/CH3/h1H3 Y Key: WCYWZMWISLQXQU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
Properties
Molecular formula	CH3
Molar mass	15.03 g mol−1
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Methyl (also systematically named λ³-methane and trihydridocarbon) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH
3 (also written as [CH
3]). It is a metastable colourless gas, which is mainly produced in situ as a precursor to other hydrocarbons in the petroleum cracking industry. It can act as either a strong oxidant or a strong reductant, and is quite corrosive to metals.

Chemical properties

Its first ionization potential (yielding the methenium ion, CH+
3) is 9.837±0.005 eV.^[1]

Redox behaviour

The carbon centre in methyl can bond with electron-donating molecules by reacting:

CH
3^• + R· → RCH
3

Because of the capture of the nucleophile (R·), methyl has oxidising character. Methyl is a strong oxidant with organic chemicals. However, it is equally a strong reductant with chemicals such as water. It does not form aqueous solutions, as it reduces water to produce methanol and elemental hydrogen:

2 CH
3^• + 2 H
2O → 2 CH
3OH + H
2

Structure

The molecular geometry of the methyl radical is quasi-trigonal planar, although the energy cost of distortion to a pyramidal geometry is small. Substitution of hydrogen atoms by more electronegative substituents leads to radicals with a pyramidal geometry, such as the trifluoromethyl radical, CF₃.^[2]

Chemical reactions

Methyl undergoes the typical chemical reactions of a radical. Below approximately 1,100 °C (2,010 °F), it rapidly dimerises to form ethane. Upon treatment with an alcohol, it converts to methane and either an alkoxy or hydroxyalkyl. Reduction of methyl gives methane. When heated above, at most, 1,400 °C (2,550 °F), methyl decomposes to produce methylidyne and elemental hydrogen, or to produce methylene and atomic hydrogen:

CH•
3 → CH^• + H
2

CH•
3 → CH
2 + H^•

Methyl is very corrosive to metals, forming methylated metal compounds:

M + n CH•
3 → M(CH₃)_n

Production

Acetone photolysis

It is produced by the ultraviolet dissociation of acetone:

C
3H
6O → CO + 2 CH•
3

Halomethane photolysis

It is also produced by the ultraviolet dissociation of halomethanes:

CH
3X → X^• + CH•
3

Methane oxidation

It can also be produced by the reaction of methane with the hydroxyl radical:

OH^• + CH₄ → CH₃^• + H₂O

This process begins the major removal mechanism of methane from the atmosphere. The reaction occurs in the troposphere or stratosphere. In addition to being the largest known sink for atmospheric methane, this reaction is one of the most important sources of water vapor in the upper atmosphere.

This reaction in the troposphere gives a methane lifetime of 9.6 years. Two more minor sinks are soil sinks (160 year lifetime) and stratospheric loss by reaction with ·OH, ·Cl and ·O¹D in the stratosphere (120 year lifetime), giving a net lifetime of 8.4 years.^[3]

Azomethane pyrolysis

Methyl radicals can also be obtained by pyrolysis of azomethane, CH₃-N=N-CH₃, in a low-pressure system.

In the interstellar medium

Methyl was discovered in interstellar medium in 2000 by a team led by Helmut Feuchtgruber who detected it using the Infrared Space Observatory. It was first detected in molecular clouds toward the centre of the Milky Way.^[4]

References