Measuring Bond Energies in Organic Chemistry

Explore the intricacies of measuring bond energies in this guest lecture by Prof. G. Barney Ellison, part of Yale University's Freshman Organic Chemistry II course. Delve into the complex world of spectroscopic determination of bond dissociation energies, focusing on both diatomic and polyatomic molecules. Learn about advanced techniques such as flowing-afterglow mass spectroscopy and negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy, and how they combine with data on free-radical kinetics and heats of formation to precisely determine O-H, C-H, and C-O bonds in methanol and other compounds. Gain new insights into chemical bonding and resonance through the interpretation of reliable data. The 48-minute lecture covers topics including diatomic bond dissociation energy from spectroscopy, O-H BDE from acidity in the flowing afterglow, C-H BDE from radical equilibrium, C-O BDE from radical heats of formation, potential errors, and interpreting BDEs. Conclude with a Q&A session addressing hot bands and resonance stabilization, enhancing your understanding of this fundamental aspect of organic chemistry.