Journey from n-heptane to liquid transportation fuels. 1. The role of the allylic radicals and its related species in aromatic precursor chemistry

The Utah normal heptane mechanism compiled from submechanisms in the literature was extended into a detailed normal decane combustion mechanism, which is a subset of the Utah surrogate mechanisms. Few species have greater impact on the concentrations of other species than the allyl radical CH2CHCH2. Reactions involving the allyl radical and its isomers determine the concentration levels of all olefins, most higher unsaturated species, and benzene. To correctly predict the concentration of benzene, the reaction rates involving allyl-radical-related species need to be accurate and the concentration profiles of these species need to be satisfactory. Kinetic rates found in the literature are compared in the current work for various reference reactions that involve the allylic radicals.