Catalytic activation of C–H bonds of alkanes, ethene and aromatic hydrocarbons by the adducts of active carbons with metallic potassium

Abstract

It has been shown that the adducts of active carbons with metallic potassium are able to activate C–H bonds of alkanes, ethene and aromatic hydrocarbons and introduce these compounds into the hydrogen–deuterium exchange reactions at room temperature. This paper describes the reactions of the redistribution of hydrogen isotopes in CD 3H, C 6H 5CD 3 and C 6D 5CH 3 catalysed by the potassium–carbon adducts as well as the similar isotope exchange reactions in the systems C 2H 4–C 2D 4, C 6H 6–C 6D 6, n-C 6H 14– n-C 6D 14 and CD 4– n-C 5H 12. A study of the isotope exchange between C 6H 6 and C 6D 6 has shown that the efficiency of the process is strongly dependent on the potassium content in the catalyst passing through a maximum at the K:C molar ratio of 1:7.45.