Metal alkanes

Many related complexes of iridium and rhodium undergo the oxidative addition reaction of alkanes and arenes [1]. Alkane C-H bond oxidative addition and the reverse reaction is supposed to proceed via the intermediacy of c-alkane metal complexes [4], which might involve several bonding modes, as shown in Figure 19.5 (for an arene the favoured bonding mode is r 2 via the K-electrons). 

The first reports on c-alkane metal complexes date back to the 1970s, the work of Perutz and Turner on photochemically generated unsaturated metal carbonyls of Group 6 [4], which is well before the C-H oxidative addition studies of alkanes. The enthalpy gain of formation of c-alkane metal complexes... 

Figure 19.7. Isotope effects in alkane-metal reactions...

Another method found to be useful for the direct observation of alkane metal complexes is fast time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy.- - - Upon UV irradiation of a metal-carbonyl complex, such as Cp Rh(CO)2 in liquid rare gases, an intermediate is formed, which, in the presence of an alkane, forms a weakly bound alkane complex [Eq. (6.93)]. Finally, the latter complex rapidly transforms through the transition state 112 into the alkyl hydride [Eq. (6.94)]. 

Alkane Metal Form D2/HC /kJmoi In A Inr 3 Matr/K References... 

Alkane Metal Form /kJmol- In A lnr 23 MatTTK References... 

The electroreduction of the carbonyl group in aqueous or partially aqueous electrolytes primarily yields the corresponding alcohol and alkane, metal alkyl compounds, and a 1,2-diol ... 

Metal-alkyl complexes are characterized in NMR by upfield signals compared to alkanes. Metal-alkyl complexes can undergo a-, 3- or y-elimination, CO, NO, O2, SO2, olefin or alkyne insertion, and react with electrophiles d° metal-alkyl complexes undergo a bond metathesis... 

Alkanethiols and other sulfur-bearing hydrocarbons covalently attach to metal surfaces alkanethiol onto gold is the most widely studied of these systems [27-29,31,32,45]. These SAMs are ordered provided the alkane chain contains nine or more carbons [32]. Binary solutions of two alkanethiols also appear... 

Luntz A C and Harris J 1992 The role of tunneling in precursor mediated dissociation Alkanes on metal surfaces J. 

Sheppard N and De La Cruz C 1998 Vibrational spectra of hydrocarbons adsorbed on metals. Part II. Adsorbed acyclic alkynes and alkanes, cyclic hydrocarbons including aromatics and surface hydrocarbon groups derived from the decomposition of alkyl halides, etc Adv. Catal. 42 181-313... 

Vidal V, Theolier A, Thivolle-Cazat and Basset J M 1997 Metathesis of alkanes catalyzed by silica-supported transition metal hydrides Soienoe 276 99-102... 

The zinc alkyls, of which this is an example, are vile-smelling inflammable liquids. They were the first organo-metallic compounds prepared by Frankland in 1849. With water, they decompose giving an alkane ... 

Catalytic hydrogenation is mostly used to convert C—C triple bonds into C C double bonds and alkenes into alkanes or to replace allylic or benzylic hetero atoms by hydrogen (H. Kropf, 1980). Simple theory postulates cis- or syn-addition of hydrogen to the C—C triple or double bond with heterogeneous (R. L. Augustine, 1965, 1968, 1976 P. N. Rylander, 1979) and homogeneous (A. J. Birch, 1976) catalysts. Sulfur functions can be removed with reducing metals, e. g. with Raney nickel (G. R. Pettit, 1962 A). Heteroaromatic systems may be reduced with the aid of ruthenium on carbon. 

The uncatalyzed addition of hydrogen to an alkene although exothermic is very slow The rate of hydrogenation increases dramatically however m the presence of cer tain finely divided metal catalysts Platinum is the hydrogenation catalyst most often used although palladium nickel and rhodium are also effective Metal catalyzed addi tion of hydrogen is normally rapid at room temperature and the alkane is produced m high yield usually as the only product... 

Alkynes are completely hydrogenated yielding alkanes in the presence of the customary metal hydrogenation catalysts... 

Chlorine Ammonia, acetylene, alcohols, alkanes, benzene, butadiene, carbon disulflde, dibutyl phthalate, ethers, fluorine, glycerol, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, sodium carbide, flnely divided metals, metal acetylides and carbides, nitrogen compounds, nonmetals, nonmetal hydrides, phosphorus compounds, polychlorobi-phenyl, silicones, steel, sulfldes, synthetic rubber, turpentine... 

Metal complexes prepared by reacting less than one mole of an alkan olamine with an excess of a polyhydric alcohol, such as polyethylene glycol 200—400 or glycerol, reportedly impart a greater degree of thixotropy to systems containing protective organic coUoids (501). 

Chemical Properties. Like neopentanoic acid, neodecanoic acid, C2QH2QO2, undergoes reactions typical of carboxyHc acids. For example, neodecanoic acid is used to prepare acid chlorides, amides (76), and esters (7,11,77,78), and, like neopentanoic acid, is reduced to give alcohols and alkanes (21,24). One area of reaction chemistry that is different from the acids is the preparation of metal salts. Both neopentanoic acid and neodecanoic acid, like all carboxyHc acids, can form metal salts. However, in commercial appHcations, metal salt formation is much more important for neodecanoic acid than it is for neopentanoic acid. 

Hydrogenation of Acetylenes. Complete hydrogenation of acetylenes to the corresponding alkanes, which maybe requited to remove acetylenic species from a mixture, or as a part of a multistep synthesis, may be accompHshed using <5 wt % palladium or platinum on alumina in a nonreactive solvent under very mild conditions, ie, <100°C, <1 MPa (10 atm). Platinum is preferred in those cases where it is desired to avoid isomeri2ation of the intermediate olefin. Silver on alumina also can be used in this appHcation as can unsupported platinum metal. 

Precious Meta.1 Ca.ta.lysts, Precious metals are deposited throughout the TWC-activated coating layer. Rhodium plays an important role ia the reduction of NO, and is combiaed with platinum and/or palladium for the oxidation of HC and CO. Only a small amount of these expensive materials is used (31) (see Platinum-GROUP metals). The metals are dispersed on the high surface area particles as precious metal solutions, and then reduced to small metal crystals by various techniques. Catalytic reactions occur on the precious metal surfaces. Whereas metal within the crystal caimot directly participate ia the catalytic process, it can play a role when surface metal oxides are influenced through strong metal to support reactions (SMSI) (32,33). Some exhaust gas reactions, for instance the oxidation of alkanes, require larger Pt crystals than other reactions, such as the oxidation of CO (34). 

Pyrolysis of alkanes is referred to as eraeking. Alkanes from the paraffins (kerosene) fraetion in the vapor state are passed through a metal ehamher heated to 400-700°C. Metallie oxides are used as a eatalyst. The starting alkanes are broken down into a mixture of smaller alkanes, alkenes, and some hydrogen. 

Highly fluonnated alkanes are also reduced by alkali metals Lithium amalgam converts polytetrafluoroethyleneto acarbon polymer composed of monolayer nbbons of six membered rings with hthium atoms bound to the edges [i]... 

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