Reaction of Cobalt with Diiodomethane

A slurry of 1 (1.9500 g, 6.2 mmol of cobalt iodide 0.5009 g, 12.8 mmol of potassium 0.7878g, 6.2 mmol of naphthalene 20 ml of THF) was treated with 5.2331 g (19.5 mmol) of diiodomethane and 0.0714g of -tridecane (GC standard). After 14h ethylene was identified by mass spectroscopy in the gases above the reaction mixture. Analysis of the reaction mixture by GC showed that 57% of the diiodomethane remained unchanged. 

8 Young, R.S. Cobalt Its Chemistry, Metallurgy and Uses. ACS Monograph 149 Reinhold Publishing Corp. New York, 1960. 

Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, 4th Ed. Van Nestrand Reinhold New York, 1975. 

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