Hydrogen atoms, heterogeneous removal

On heating, many hydrides dissociate reversibly into the metal and Hj gas. The rate of gas evolution is a function of both temperature and /KH2) but will proceed to completion if the volatile product is removed continuously [1], which is experimentally difficult in many systems. The combination of hydrogen atoms at the metal surface to yield Hj may be slow [2] and is comparable with many heterogeneous catalytic reactions. While much is known about the mobility of H within many metallic hydride phases, the gas evolution step is influenced by additional rate controlling factors. Depending on surface conditions, the surface-to-volume ratio and the impurities present, the rate of Hj release may be determined by either the rate at which hydrogen arrives at the solid-gas inteifece (diffusion control), or by the rate of desorption. 

A survey of the heterogeneous oxidation of olefins shows quite clearly that the results depend strongly on the structure of the olefin. Skeletal isomerization normally does not occur, and the rates and selectivities vary markedly with the position of the double bond and the nature of the substituent groups. A large amount of experimental evidence has accumulated to show that many oxidations occur by removal of a hydrogen atom at the allylic position, i.e., the H atom in... 

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. 

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