Spontaneous Decomposition of 1,3-Cyclohexadiene: Curiosity or Reality?

[Char. Limit]

I was wondering if 1,3-Cyclohexadiene would spontaneously decompose into the more stable benzene + hydrogen gas. Would it?

 

[alxm]

At what temperature/pressure?

 

[Char. Limit]

Oops, sorry about that. I'm too used to assuming STP.

273 K and 1 atm.

 

[alxm]

It doesn't, no.

To answer the question more generally, the reason why things don't spontaneously combust is that you've got an transition-state barrier. You need an 'activation energy' for the reaction to happen.

 

[chemisttree]

Aldrich sells 1,3-cyclohexadiene for $45.60 per 5 mL, $534.00 for the economy-sized 100 mL vial...

 

[Char. Limit]

Ah, I see.

Thank you for expanding my homegrown knowledge of organic chemistry.