Discussion When sec-butyl acetate is pyrolyzed a mixture of olefins is formed in nearly quantitative yield. This mixture contains 5770 1-butene, 28% trans-2-butene and 15% cis-2- butene.* The composition of this mixture is practically independent of reaction conditions and is extreniely reproducible. The amounts of the various olefins formed can be rationalized in terms of steric, thermodynamic and statistical effects. An interpretation of ...
