Exchange reactions ethane/methane

Ni-Pd. Moss et al. (252) reported that 60% Pd (in bulk) catalysts (i.e., those which have almost 100% Pd in the surface) had almost the same activity in ethane hydrogenolysis as pure Ni, although pure Pd itself is not very active. This might be an indication that for this reaction mixed ensembles of Pd-Ni can operate. In this respect it is interesting that Driessen recently found that in contrast to this, a 75% Pd (bulk) catalyst [the exchange reaction detected (255) the presence of some Ni in the surface of a catalyst of this composition] showed no activity in methanation, compared to Ni. 

Similar results have been obtained for methane 12) and for ethane 19). The values quoted in Table II also illustrate the point that the distribution of deuterium between hydrogen and propane differs from the value expected for a random distribution. With the ratio of pressures used, the expected percentage for the mean deuterium content of the hydrocarbon would be 33.3, which is substantially less than the experimental value of 40.9 %. This type of deviation is also found with other hydrocarbons, but it does not affect the validity of using classical theory for the calculation of the interconversion equilibrium constants in studies of mechanism of exchange reactions. More accurate values for these equilibrium constants are necessary, however, if one is interested in the separation of isotopes by chemical processes. 

A point which has not been examined is the nature of the surface during exchange reactions carried out at high temperatures such as those required for the exchange of methane. Surface carbides may be formed under these conditions. The inactivity of iron films and the comparatively small activity of cobalt films at 300° for the exchange of ethane 19) may possibly be due to the tendency of these metals to form not only surface but also bulk carbides. 

R H) is much faster than alkylation, so that alkylation products are also derived from the new alkanes and carbocations formed in the exchange reaction. Furthermore, the carbo-cations present are subject to rearrangement (Chapter 18), giving rise to new carbocations. Products result from all the hydrocarbons and carbocations present in the system. As expected from their relative stabilities, secondary alkyl cations alkylate alkanes more Teadily than tertiary alkyl cations (the r-butyl cation does not alkylate methane or ethane). Stable primary alkyl cations are not available, but alkylation has been achieved with complexes formed between CH3F or C2H5F and SbFs-212 The mechanism of alkylation can be formulated (similar to that shown in hydrogen exchange with super acids, 2-1) as... 

Silica-supported Ta hydride (=SiO)2Ta-H (93a) presents unusual properties in the activation of alkanes. It catalyzes the metathesis reaction of alkanes to give higher and lower molecular weight alkanes, and the hydrogenolysis of alkanes such as ethane to methane. This hydride also activates the C H bonds of cycloalkanes to form the corresponding surface metal-cycloaUcyl complexes, and catalyses the H/D exchange reaction between CH4 and CD4, prodncing the statistical distribution of methane isotopomers. ... 

In addition to these exchange reactions, a number of alkane/alkane and al-kane/arene exchange reactions could be studied as equilibria (benzene, toluene, cyclopropane, methane, ethane, neopentane, cyclohexane). Determination of equilibrium constants allowed calculation of AG° values and estimation of relative metal-carbon bond energies. Wolczanski concluded that the differences between metal-carbon bond energies and the corresponding carbon-hydrogen bond energies were essentially the same [82]. 

Most of the investigations into disproportionation reactions have mainly concentrated on chlorofiuoro derivatives of methane and ethane. When trichlorofluoromethane is refluxed with aluminum trichloride or aluminum tribromide, dichlorodifluoromethane and carbon tetrachloride are obtained. Dichlorofluoromethane yields chlorodifiuoromethane and chloroform chlorofiuoro derivatives of ethane and longer chain homologs exhibit a tendency towards isomerization as well as disproportionation, i.e. intramolecular halogen atom exchange. In this case, both types of reaction take place simultaneously. In other words, disproportionation of l,l,2-triehloro-1.2,2-trifiuoroethane (1) forms l,l,1.2-tetrachloro-2,2-difluoroethane (2) and... 

Methane and ethane, the weakest cr-bases, which are extremely difficult to ionize, will exchange hydrogens without side reaction in any acid having an H(i value of —12 or below. 

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