Alkali metal catalysis

Aziridines can add to carbon—carbon multiple bonds. Elevated temperature and alkali metal catalysis are required in the case of nonpolarized double bonds (193—195). On the other hand, the addition of aziridines onto the conjugated polarized double or triple bonds of a,p-unsaturated nitriles (196—199), ketones (197,200), esters (201—205), amides (197), sulfones (206—209), or quinones (210—212) in a Michael addition-type reaction frequendy proceeds even at room temperature without a catalyst. The adducts obtained from the reaction of aziridines with a,p-unsaturated ketones, eg, 4-aziridinyl-2-butanone [503-12-8] from 3-buten-2-one, can be converted to 1,3-substituted pyrrolidines by subsequent ring opening with acyl chlorides and alkaline cyclization (213). 

The ability of MSCB to undergo ring opening with the subsequent formation of C-Li, C-Na, and C-K bonds was used to generate carbanions (i.e., SCB as a carbanion pump) via their reaction with 1,1 -diphenylethylene with the aim of preparing various block copolymers [54-56]. This seems to be the most interesting polymerization application of alkali-metal catalysis of MSCBs. With the use of a fourfold... 

Base catalysis is most effective with alkali metals dispersed on solid supports or, in the homogeneous form, as aldoxides, amides, and so on. Small amounts of promoters form organoalkali comnpounds that really contribute the catalytic power. Basic ion exchange resins also are usebil. Base-catalyzed processes include isomerization and oligomerization of olefins, reactions of olefins with aromatics, and hydrogenation of polynuclear aromatics. 

Lewis acids are defined as molecules that act as electron-pair acceptors. The proton is an important special case, but many other species can play an important role in the catalysis of organic reactions. The most important in organic reactions are metal cations and covalent compounds of metals. Metal cations that play prominent roles as catalysts include the alkali-metal monocations Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and Rb+, divalent ions such as Mg +, Ca +, and Zn, marry of the transition-metal cations, and certain lanthanides. The most commonly employed of the covalent compounds include boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, titanium tetrachloride, and tin tetrachloride. Various other derivatives of boron, aluminum, and titanium also are employed as Lewis acid catalysts. 

Acid anhydride-diol reaction, 65 Acid anhydride-epoxy reaction, 85 Acid binders, 155, 157 Acid catalysis, of PET, 548-549 Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of nylon-6, 567-568 of nylon-6,6, 568 Acid chloride, poly(p-benzamide) synthesis from, 188-189 Acid chloride-alcohol reaction, 75-77 Acid chloride-alkali metal diphenol salt interfacial reactions, 77 Acid chloride polymerization, of polyamides, 155-157 Acid chloride-terminated polyesters, reaction with hydroxy-terminated polyethers, 89 Acid-etch tests, 245 Acid number, 94 Acidolysis, 74 of nylon-6,6, 568... 

Filaments are usually refractory metals such as tungsten or iridium, which can sustain high temperatures for a long time (T > 3000 K). The lifetime of filaments for electron sources can be prolonged substantially if an adsorbate can be introduced that lowers the work function on the surface so that it may be operated at lower temperature. Thorium fulfills this function by being partly ionized, donating electrons to the filament, which results in a dipole layer that reduces the work function of the tungsten. In catalysis, alkali metals are used to modify the effect of the work function of metals, as we will see later. 

Acidification with trichloracetic acid catalyses oxidation , the fractional increase in the rate coefficient per mole of acid added, viz. Ak/ko)/[sicid], being of the order of two. Strong catalysis by alkali metal acetates has been observed for several oxidations, e.g. of m-cyclohexane-l,2-diol °, formic acid , methyl mannoside and galactoside and several a-hydroxycarboxylic acids °. 

Table A6.4 Alkali metal ion catalysis of ethoxide attack on diphenylphosphinate " and (b) p-nitrophenyl benzenesulphonate. (a) p-nitrophenyl...

Sulphonic esters have been obtained from the sulphonyl chlorides in high yields under mild conditions for a range of alcohols and phenols [e.g. 18, 19]. Of particular value is the protection of glycosides possessing a free hydroxyl group and hydroxy-steroids, which are tosylated readily under phase-transfer conditions [20-22]. Alkyl sulphinites have been obtained in a similar manner [23]. Alternatively, preformed tetra-rt-butylammonium sulphonates or their alkali metal salts have also been alkylated with haloalkanes or alkyl fluorosulphonates [24,25]. In contrast with more classical procedures, tosylation of alcohols, which are susceptible to E/Z-isomerism, e.g. Z-alk-2-en-l-ols, occurs with retention of their stereochemistry under phase-transfer catalysis [26]. 

Another method at the molecular level is the inhibition of oxidation catalysis by alkali and transition metal impurities. In particular, alkali metal oxides in traces serve as effective catalyst with almost ubiquitous presence in technological environments. The mechanism of operation is well described in the literature [64,72-77] despite its complex and multi-pathway behavior. 

The reaction of alkali metal phosphides with appropriate halides, sultones or cyclic sulfates is a generd method for preparation of a variety of tertiary phosphines useful in aqueous organometallic catalysis. These... 

The total yield of 2-vinylpyridine formed from 2-methylpyridine can be as high as 90%. 2-Vinylpyridine may also be obtained in almost quantitative yields by heating 2-alkylaminopyridine derivatives (which are directly available by cobalt catalysis) with a supported (e.g., AI2O3) alkali metal hydroxide [Eq.(8) R = R = alkyl, cyloalkyl, etc., RR N = heterocycle] (76SZP14399 78MI1). 

The activated Ba(OH)2 was used as a basic catalyst for the Claisen-Schmidt (CS) condensation of a variety of ketones and aromatic aldehydes (288). The reactions were performed in ethanol as solvent at reflux temperature. Excellent yields of the condensation products were obtained (80-100%) within 1 h in a batch reactor. Reaction rates and yields were generally higher than those reported for alkali metal hydroxides as catalysts. Neither the Cannizaro reaction nor self-aldol condensation of the ketone was observed, a result that was attributed to the catalyst s being more nucleophilic than basic. Thus, better selectivity to the condensation product was observed than in homogeneous catalysis under similar conditions. It was found that the reaction takes place on the catalyst surface, and when the reactants were small ketones, the rate-determining step was found to be the surface reaction, whereas with sterically hindered ketones the adsorption process was rate determining. 

It can be expected that solid bases could be successful for commercializing the alkylation of toluene with methanol as a route to styrene, or for selective alkene coupling. There is no doubt that achieving success in several important commercial processes will boost the field of solid base catalysis. Because it appears to be difficult to achieve superbasic organic resins, much more attention should be paid to enhancement of the base strengths of solid superbases. Further work should be done on supported alkali metals and mixed metal oxides. Development of new solid superbases will be improved by increasing our understanding of how alkali metal clusters (302-304) interact with supports and become stabilized. 

This type of alkoxylation chemistry cannot be performed with conventional alkali metal hydroxide catalysts because the hydroxide will saponify the triglyceride ester groups under typical alkoxylation reaction conditions. Similar competitive hydrolysis occurs with alternative catalysts such as triflic acid or other Brpnsted acid/base catalysis. Efficient alkoxylation in the absence of significant side reactions requires a coordination catalyst such as the DMC catalyst zinc hexacyano-cobaltate. DMC catalysts have been under development for years [147-150], but have recently begun to gain more commercial implementation. The use of the DMC catalyst in combination with castor oil as an initiator has led to at least two lines of commercial products for the flexible foam market. Lupranol Balance 50 (BASF) and Multranol R-3524 and R-3525 (Bayer) are used for flexible slabstock foams and are produced by the direct alkoxylation of castor oil. 

It will be seen that there is an almost equal distribution of the charge between a and Y positions in THF for the heavier alkali metal counter-ions. If we suppose that increased charge produces an increased reactivity at a given position, then more vinyl unsaturation will be produced in THF than in hydrocarbon solvents and the highest vinyl content with heavier alkali metal counterions. The order in THF is however reversed, i.e. the highest, vinyl structures are produced by lithium catalysis (17) although microstructure determinations in this solvent normally apply to reactions with an appreciable free anion contribution and hence cannot be simply interpreted. In dioxane (18) and diethylether... 

Catalysis by metal ions has also been demonstrated in the hydrolysis of esters containing an a- or /I-carboxylate ion. The alkaline hydrolysis of potassium ethyl oxalate and potassium ethyl malonate is catalyzed by calcium, barium, hexaamino-cobalt(III), and thallous ion, in that order (22). The oxalate ester is catalyzed to a greater extent than the malonate ester, which in turn is more susceptible to catalysis by metal ion than the corresponding adipate ester. Alkali metal ions, on... 

Introduction of Fluorine with Alkali Metal Fluorides, Including Ammonium Fluoride and Tetraalkylammonium Fluorides (Including Special Methods of Fluorinations, e. g., Phase Transfer Catalysis, Activation by Crown Ethers, Reagents... 

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